It was a new day and Eric sat in his father's room. Joseph had survived the surgery, but he was in a coma. As Eric sat and looked at his father. He thought about how much Joseph had changed.

When Eric was young, Joseph had never said much, except how important it was for Eric to take over the family business and make sure his sisters didn't screw up. He never really showed much affection for his children, or his wife. In fact, Joseph hadn't been much of a father for Eric. He had found his father figure in his uncle Miguel instead. Eric had wanted to be just like Miguel, calm, kind and unbiased. Miguel had been and still was a big inspiration for Eric.

But in the last few weeks, he had seen a different side of his father. He had seen the real Joseph. Joseph reminded Eric of Miguel in many ways. Eric and his sisters had given their father a second chance, and they didn't regret it. Joseph had proved that he cared about them. He had showed them what a great father he could be. And for that, he had paid a prize. The prize of being shot by his wife. Soon to be ex-wife.

Eric had been told that Horatio's bullets were meant for him. It made him angry. He wished that he had been shot instead. He also knew that he couldn't possibly have prevented the drive by shooting.

"Have you been home at all?" The voice of Trish was heard from the door.

Eric sighed.

"I'm going home soon." He said.

"Don't beat yourself up over this Eric." Trish said and sat down next to her brother.

"I should have been shot. Horatio's bullets were meant for me. And dad certainly don't deserve this." Eric said.

"No one does Eric. Not you, Horatio or dad." Trish said.

Eric nodded. Trish was right, she always was.

"Why are you and Alexx always right?" Eric asked.

"We're women. And let's not forget that Calleigh, Natalia, Valera, every woman you know are also, always right." Trish smiled.

Eric chuckled.

"Now go home and get some sleep, food and a shower." Trish said.

"You sound just like Alexx. Are you taking lessons?" Eric asked.

"Yeah, every Friday at 8pm." Trish grinned.

Eric laughed and hugged his sister goodbye.

As he arrived at the parking lot, hoping to get a taxi, he ran into Rebecca Nevins.

"Eric Delko." Rebecca said, "How are you?"

"Hi Rebecca, I'm fine." Eric said.

"Good. Have you been informed about why it's a risk that I won't be able to get a conviction on Raquel?" She asked.

"Yes, I have. I realize that it's going to be hard." Eric said.

"Yeah, but I'll do everything I can." Rebecca said.

"I know, and I really appreciate that." Eric said.

Rebecca nodded, "It's my job Eric."

Eric nodded.

He knew Rebecca would really try her hardest to get Raquel in jail. Even if Rebecca wouldn't admit it, she didn't just take the case because the team had begged her. She also took it because she liked Horatio, maybe she was still in love with him. And she probably felt like she owed something to Horatio. But Eric wasn't sure. It was gut feeling.

"Well, anyway, the trial starts in two months." Rebecca said, "But Raquel won't make bail."

"Really? No one is willing to pay?" Eric asked, "Can't she pay for herself?"

Rebecca laughed.

"Only if she has 14 million dollars." She said.

"Wow, that's a lot of money." Eric said.

"Yeah, I think it was Judge Holden that made sure she wouldn't get out." Rebecca said, "He will also be our judge during the trial."

"Good." Eric said.

Judge Holden was one of the best judges in the state of Florida. He made sure that dangerous people stayed were they belonged. And he was famous for often giving long sentences.

Eric and Rebecca said goodbye to each other as Eric managed to find a taxi.

On the way home, he couldn't help but to think about his mother.

Did he really like the idea of her going to jail?

Yes, she had shot his father and boyfriend. However, deep inside of himself Eric couldn't help but to feel sad. His world had tilted; never in a million years would he have thought that his mother was crazy enough to plan a murder. How could she be such a cold-blooded person?

How had she become like that? Had she always been like that?

Eric wasn't sure if he would ever be able to see his mother again. He didn't know if he could ever look into her eyes and call her mom. It was a nightmare. He wanted to wake up and realize that his mom and dad accepted him for who he was and that Horatio would be waiting for him at home.

If his mother hadn't showed up at the lab that day, several weeks ago, this would never have happened.

-I-

Calleigh was determined to find more. She was almost addicted to Jason Ash's house.

And she dragged Ryan along with her.

"Calleigh, honey, darling, my sweet love. This is the third time we've been walking around in this house." Ryan said, "There is nothing here Cal."

Calleigh didn't answer. She shined her light on every millimeter of the house.

"Calleigh." Ryan sighed.

"Ryan! I am trying to put that murderous woman in jail. And we need to find more evidence to have a more solid case!" Calleigh growled.

Ryan grabbed Calleigh's arm and turned her towards him.

"Calleigh, look at me." Ryan said. Calleigh looked at him.

"I understand completely why you're doing this. Believe me, I want a more solid case as well." Ryan said, "But there is no more evidence here."

Calleigh sighed.

"Ryan, we might loose in court." She whined.

"I know, but Raquel will get her punishment. She will screw up sooner or later." Ryan said, "We'll rent a prison cell for her."

Calleigh sighed again. Ryan hugged her.

"Have you talked to Eric?" She asked.

"No, I was thinking we could go and visit Horatio later this afternoon." Ryan said.

"Yeah, I feel awful. We haven't been to visit Horatio or Joseph yet." Calleigh said.

"Cal, they would understand why." Ryan smiled.

"I know." She said.

"Now, let's get something to eat and then we'll go to the hospital." He smiled.

Calleigh nodded.

-I-

Jason Maxton walked with flowers in his hand towards the DNA lab. Valera's lab.

She was listening to music and didn't her him enter.

Jason sneaked up behind her and tickled her.

Valera shrieked and jumped ten feet up in the air. She turned around and saw Jason.

"Are you planning on getting yourself killed Jason?" She asked.

Jason grinned, "No my dear."

"Good, then don't tickle me." Valera said. She turned off her music.

"I brought flowers to you." He said and showed her the flowers.

"Oh, roses!" Valera smiled, "My favorite!"

"I know. I figured my queen could need some." Jason smiled.

Valera hugged and kissed Jason.

"Aww, you are so sweet Jason." She said.

Jason chuckled.

"You're sweeter." He said.

"You're the sweetest." Valera smiled.

"No you are Val."

"Nonsense Jason, you are."

"No, no, no, you most certainly are." Jason smiled.

"Jason, listen to me, you are the sweetest."

"Val, I'm serious. You are."

"If none you want to be the sweetest one, I'm be happy to be." Natalia said from the door.

"Jason is the sweetest." Valera smiled.

"No, Val, you are."

"Oh shut up you two." Natalia grinned.

"Alright, I admit it. I'm the sweetest." Valera grinned. Jason laughed.

"Shouldn't you be working Jason?" Nat asked.

"No, not today. I'm free today." He smiled.

"Great, so you can have lunch with me then?" Valera asked.

"Of course, that's why I came here." Jason smiled.

"It's only nine." Nat said.

"Well, breakfast is also something you need to eat." Valera smiled.

Nat chuckled.

"So Jason, how are Horatio and Joseph?" Natalia asked.

"They're doing fine. Horatio is getting better. Joseph is in a coma though." Jason said.

"He'll wake up." Valera said.

"I heard everything about the case." Jason said, "Ms Nevins seems to be a good attorney."

"Yeah, but its still going to be a though case in court." Natalia said.

"We'll get Raquel one day." Valera said, "Oh and Jason don't forget, we're meeting my parents next weekend."

"I haven't forgotten. I'm looking forward to it." Jason smiled.

Natalia laughed.

"I know, I know. I will get the shock of my life." Jason said.

"Just promise me, that you won't leave me because of my parents." Valera said.

"I will never leave you Val." Jason said,"I love you too much for that." He kissed her.

"Aww, what a sweet moment." Natalia smiled, "Let me get the camera."

"Nat, it's time for you to get a boyfriend." Valera chuckled.

"Do you have a brother Jason?" Natalia asked.

Jason laughed.

"No, I'm an only child." He said.

Natalia sighed.

"Does anyone in the lab have a brother?" She asked.

"Oh come on Nat, you know that Cooper does." Valera said.

"Yeah, but Val. His brother is fifteen." Natalia said.

"Really? Wasn't he the guy who fell into Alexx's pool last year at her barbeque?" Valera asked.

"No, I don't know who that was. Probably Cooper's cousin or something." Nat said, "You know Cooper has a big family. And I mean BIG."

"What kind of a guy do you want then?" Jason asked, "And how big family?"

"Cooper's family? I'm talking 20 cousins, 5 younger sister's and brothers. And god knows what else." She chuckled, "Oh you know the usual kind of guy. Someone with a big check book, big house, a private jet, a huge pool." She smiled.

"She wants a rich guy." Valera said.

"Yeah I got it." Jason chuckled.

"I'm just joking." Nat laughed.

"Now let's eat. I'm starving." Valera smiled, "Want to join us?" She asked Nat.

"Nah, I'm not hungry. I'll just let you two love birds have a moment alone." She grinned.

-I-

It was now two in the afternoon. Eric had gone by to the lab to ask for some leave of absence.

The chief had given him two weeks. But told Eric to come back if he noticed that he needed more time.

Everybody at PD was smiling. They were glad that their Lt was alive and doing quite well.

And that Raquel was going to trial.

Eric was in the lab. He had been talking a little with everyone. Everybody wanted to know how Horatio was doing. Of course they wanted to know how Joseph was doing as well. Since he was a member of their little family now.

Eric stood in one of the labs with Ryan, who was working on some trace from a quote old break and entering case.

He noticed Valera running around like crazy in the hallways. She ran down the hallway towards the bathroom, and then a few minutes later she came back and ran towards different places in the lab.

She was holding something, but Eric never got a good look at it.

That was until Valera opened the door and squirted water at both Eric and Ryan. Using a water pistol.

And it wasn't a bad water pistol either. It really made you soaking wet.

Valera laughed and left the lab.

"Now I know why everybody goes to the locker room and comes back with new clothes." Ryan said.

"Why is she squirting water at people?" Eric asked.

"She and Cooper are having a water war. Only Valera seems to have decided to make everybody else wet too." Ryan said, "What do you say we have some revenge?" He smirked.

Eric smiled, "If she wants a war, she's going to get one."

Pretty soon every lab tech and CSI were running around with water pistols and buckets.

The receptionist Lilly was the only one not in on it. She tried to explain to Chief Carlton that the people in the lab were not insane. The chief had come down to check on things and what he met was his employers running around with water. And slipping on the wet floor. They were all laughing like crazy and it seemed as if it were the lab techs against the CSI's.

He now stood and watched the show with a smile on his face at the receptionist desk.

He saw Ryan running with a bucket against Cooper, ready to throw it on him, but then in the last second slipping on the floor and getting all the water on himself.

He saw Valera trying to run away from Calleigh. Valera also kept on slipping on the floor, which made her even more wet. Finally, Calleigh caught up with her and squirted all the water she could at Valera.

Then Calleigh ran away getting some new water. While Valera tried to stand up, but failing.

Eric was sitting on a chair, sliding over the floor, while shooting water at every lab tech he could see.

He was the driest person of them all. But he still wasn't what you would call dry.

Ryan had now gotten a new bucket of water and was chasing lab tech Tracy towards the elevators.

What he didn't see was Frank coming out of the elevator at the exact same moment as he threw the water at Tracy.

Tracy, smart as she was, ducked. Making all Ryan's water hit Frank.

Ryan tried to stop himself from slipping, but just like everybody else, he failed. He slipped and slid across the floor right into Frank. Frank fell down on the floor. Now Frank was all wet as well, and furious.

Ryan stood up and ran away. He knew that he was in trouble now.

The chief laughed as Frank failed miserably to get up.

Frank cursed and after almost ten minutes, managed to stand up.

Only to get water all over him again by Calleigh.

Frank sighed and went to find Ryan. He borrowed Tracy's water pistol and filled it up wit water.

Ryan was hiding. He knew Frank wasn't going to kill him, but he would make him pay.

Luckily for Ryan, the chief called of the war before Frank could find him.

"Alright people! You've had your fun for while now." The chief said.

Everybody stopped and stood in front of the chief.

"Now you get to clean it all up." The chief smiled.

Everybody sighed. They knew that he was right. It wasn't fair to let the janitors clean it all up. No, they had created the mess and now they had to clean. It was only fair.

Frank smirked at Ryan.

"You won't be safe until I get my revenge." Frank said, "Be aware Ryan."

Ryan chuckled, "Frank, I didn't mean to throw the water on you." He said.

"But you did." Frank said, "And I want my vengeance." He smirked.

Ryan chuckled.

"Eric, you don't have to clean this up. Go and see H instead, or get some sleep, you look like you could need it." Calleigh said.

"Oh shit, I forgot all about H." Eric said.

"Hey, don't worry about it." Calleigh said, "You haven't done anything wrong."

Eric nodded.

"Ryan and I will come by later to visit him." Calleigh smiled.

"Alright, see you then." Eric said.

-I-

Horatio was awake when Eric entered his room.

"Hey." Eric smiled.

"Hey." Horatio smiled back.

"How are you feeling?" Eric asked.

"I've been better, but I don't feel like crap." Horatio said, "Are you alright? Is Joseph alright?"

"I'm okay. I'm so glad that you're okay." Eric smiled and kissed Horatio.

"Hey, I'm not leaving you." Horatio smiled.

Eric smiled, "I know, but I was so scared for a while there."

"Well, my love for you is what got me through it all." Horatio smiled, "It made me fight."

Eric smiled and kissed him again.

"Now, tell me… how's Joseph?" Horatio asked.

"He's in a coma." Eric said, "But we are all pretty sure that he'll wake up soon." He smiled.

"I think so too." Horatio said, "What have you been doing? You're all wet."

Eric laughed.

"There was a water war in the lab." Eric chuckled, "Everyone got wet!"

Horatio laughed slightly.

"I wonder what the chief will think about that." Horatio said.

"Oh, he knows. In fact he stood with Lilly and just watched." Eric grinned, "He laughed his butt off."

Horatio laughed, but stopped when he felt some pain in his chest and stomach.

"Take it easy H." Eric said.

"I wish I would have seen it." Horatio grinned, "Maybe I can get some copies of the surveillance tapes."

Eric chuckled.

"Calleigh and Ryan are coming by later." Eric said.

"Okay. Alexx left ten minutes before you come in here." Horatio said.

"Wow, she'll get a shock when she sees the lab." Eric grinned.

Horatio chuckled.

"When can I go home?" Horatio asked.

"Horatio! You've haven't even been here for two full days!" Eric said, "You can't leave yet.

Horatio grinned.

"I'll heal better at home with you." He said.

"I have no doubts about that. But H, you're not well enough yet." Eric said.

Horatio smiled, "I know." He yawned.

"You're tired. Get some sleep." Eric said.

"I want to sleep… with you." Horatio smirked.

Eric chuckled.

"As soon as you're well enough H. I promise you that I will drive you crazy." He smirked.

"Well, you can always try." Horatio yawned.

"Is that a bet?" Eric asked.

"Yes, you are a Delko, betting is in your nature." Horatio said.

"What do I get when I win?" Eric asked.

"IF. If you win… You'll get… a very wonderful treatment from me, and I'll wash your hummer for two weeks." Horatio said and yawned again.

"Sounds good. Now sleep." Eric smiled.

"What do I get if I win?" Horatio asked.

"You'll get… um… I will…" Eric realized that Horatio had fallen asleep. He grinned.

"You'll get a…" Eric said to himself. Trying to come up with an idea.

"Hmm… I… I will wash your hummer for two weeks and then I'll give you a sensual massage for a whole week. A very sensual massage." Eric smirked.

"Who are you taking to?" A voice said form the door.

Eric looked into the eyes of Ryan and blushed.

"Myself." Eric said.

"You're going to give yourself a sensual massage?" Ryan asked and sat down across from Eric.

"No, I'm going to give H a sensual massage if I lose a certain bet." Eric said.

Ryan chuckled, "What kind of a bet?"

Eric blushed.

"Wait don't tell me." Ryan smirked.

The door opened and Calleigh walked in.

"Now the lab is clean." She smiled.

"Already?" Eric asked.

"No." Ryan said, "But we left early."

Eric chuckled, "Too lazy to stick around?" He asked.

"No, no. But Valera and Cooper said that they had started it so they would clean it." Calleigh said.

"So everybody just left?" Eric asked.

"No, only Frank and us." Ryan said.

Eric chuckled.

The three of them talked for a few hours before Ryan and Calleigh left to go home.

"I left my cell phone in my lab Cal." Ryan said.

"Alright, we'll stop on the way, so you can go get it." Calleigh said.

She stopped the hummer outside the lab and saw Ryan run inside.

Ryan noticed that he was alone in the lab. He shrugged and went to get his cell phone.

Just as he opened the door to his lab, he felt water fall all over him.

He heard laughter and saw Frank run towards the elevators, laughing his butt off.

Ryan just stood there.

Frank had gotten his revenge. But Ryan now felt like it was his turn to vengeance Frank. He would not let Frank get away with this.

"Prepare yourself Frank, I'll have my vengeance." Ryan smirked.

TBC…