DISCLAIMER: I don't own CSI: Miami or anything else that belongs to CBS, more's the pity. I'm just having a little fun and promise to put everyone back where I found them with no harm done. I no own, you no sue, okay?

AUTHOR'S NOTES: This story is set in an ALTERNATE UNIVERSE. This means that the faces and features may differ slightly from Canon. It does NOT mean that they will act out of character, so if you want to see Horatio dress in drag and do the hula, you're out of luck. This story is set post Season 4… hence the AU. It will contain SPOILERS for all seasons, including season 4 and the finale. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED, DON'T READ.

SLASH WARNING: This story will contain SLASH in later chapters. This is the description and/or discussion of m/m sex. If this offends you, DON'T READ.

FEEDBACK: I crave it. I need it. Please be kind and leave a review! Like it, hate it, tell me why!

DEDICATIONS: How could I have forgotten this before? Dedicated to Evendim, who first gave me the courage to post my serious writing; to Eddie (AJ) who keeps me sane and helps me fight off the hysteria when the words won't come; River, who beta's my work and keeps me honest, and is endlessly patient with my rants and insecurity. You guys are my lifeline, and you just ROCK. Hugs for being there for me.

Part Twenty

The waiting room was crowded, but no one wanted to leave.

Eric had almost needed to be forcibly separated from Horatio, but Alexx had finally gotten through to him that she would watch over the redhead and keep everyone informed of what was being done. She had guided him to a chair and placed him in it as gently as if he had been one of her children and gone to supervise Horatio's treatment, hoping the others would be able to keep Eric occupied and not let him worry too much.

Ryan was leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, legs crossed at the ankle, and his eyes focused on the doors to the treatment area. He hadn't moved since they'd arrived, some two hours previously.

Tripp and Rick sat watching Eric carefully for signs of meltdown. He'd insisted on riding with Horatio, which was understandable to both men, but he'd said barely a word since he'd been made to wait. His eyes remained fixed on the doorway the doctors had disappeared through and his face was shuttered and still, so still it seemed carved of stone.

Of them all, only Calleigh remained seemingly untouched. She was talking with the agent from Homeland Security, appearing calm, composed, and professional as always. Then, when they had finished their conference, she returned to the others. "Okay, we've got a reprieve until we find out how Horatio is, and then they'll want to interview us. Which, of course, is standard procedure." She cast a glance to the doors as Alexx stepped through.

Alexx gave them all a small nod but it was Eric she went to first, kneeling to be on eyelevel with him and touching his cheek with one hand. "He's going to be fine, honey," she said gently as she turned his face to hers. "He's in bad shape, but he's going to be fine. His worst problem was the exposure, and that's been addressed. The gunshot wound is shallow, a groove across his lower back, no more than that. And the infection is being treated also. He'll be fine in a couple of days, okay? No more beating yourself up, baby. You got to him in time." She waited until she was sure he was listening to her, that he was aware of what she had said to him. "Come on. He's still asleep, but I made sure they'd let you sit with him. Let's just get you back there where you can see him."

She led him away, back into the labyrinth of the hospital itself, and Ryan detached himself from the wall as the agent approached them. "I'll go first, if it's all the same to you," he said evenly. He'd seen the brittle light in Calleigh's eyes, and he wanted to give her a moment. It was all too reminiscent of the expression she had worn at the lab when she had nearly taken his head off.

Windower nodded amiably and indicated a smaller waiting room just down the hall. "This won't take long," he said quietly as he ushered Ryan inside and closed the door behind them.

Calleigh had watched them go, and she understood what Ryan had done. "I'm going to get some coffee, guys, you want some? We might be here for a while yet. Frank, you take two sugars, right? Rick?" Her tone was as bright and cheerful as ever.

"I'll take mine black, Calleigh, thanks." Rick hadn't missed the flash in her eyes when Alexx had given them the good news; nor had he missed Wolfe's rather obvious attempt to protect her. Too bad she didn't need the protection. She seemed as self-contained as always. Something, though, seemed a little off.

He watched her walk away, unable to put his finger exactly on what was bothering him. But when she hadn't come back by the time Wolfe came out of the interview, he began to be a bit concerned. He nodded to Wolfe as he sat down and watched Tripp take his place, and then got up himself. "I'm gonna get some air," he said as he ventured toward the door Calleigh had disappeared through.

They all knew where the cafeteria was in the hospital; it was an occupational hazard of being a police officer. So when he didn't see her there, he got a little more apprehensive. He stepped back out into the hallway and a soft sound caught his attention.

There was someone in the room next to the cafeteria. The noise was repeated and this time he could identify it: a smothered sob. His hand was on the doorknob and turning it before he had even completed the thought that he should check on the person, make certain they were all right. What he wasn't prepared for was the shock of recognition that hit him when he saw Calleigh.

She turned away quickly, rubbing at her eyes and trying desperately to get herself under control. "I, um, I'll just be a minute, Rick, sorry," she said softly as she dried her eyes on her sleeve.

"Why are you sorry?" He stepped closer and put a hand on her shoulder, not exerting any pressure, just resting it there for support. His other hand retrieved his handkerchief and offered it to her. "As much stress as you've been under, Calleigh, it's understandable. You can't hold it in forever. That's how you get ulcers, high blood pressure, strokes…" He let his voice trail off, the amusement in his words at odds with the concern he felt for her.

She shrugged out from underneath his touch and stepped a bit further away. "I'll be fine in a second. Thanks." She handed him back the hankie after drying her eyes a bit better and pasted a smile on her face, though it felt forced and weak. "I came down here to get coffee for us. Want to help me carry it back?"

Rick got in her space again, not pushing, not touching, but definitely close. "Calleigh, you can't do this to yourself," he said softly. "Being strong is a good thing in our line of work, and you're the strongest woman I know. But even the strongest person has to let go sometimes." One hand strayed upward and caressed her cheek gently. "It's okay to cry, Calleigh. And I promise I won't tell a soul that I saw you do it." He gave her a small, lopsided smile.

She opened her mouth to argue with him, but what emerged was a strangled sob. Once more her tears spilled over, all the fear, frustration, and relief of the past few days finally finding release. She let him hold her, feeling a startling amount of comfort from his arms around her, and when the storm finally passed she took the handkerchief he offered once more with a watery smile.

"Better?" he asked her softly as he helped her dry her tears. "Good. Now you can go be the boss again without the added stress." He gave her another smile, a bigger one this time. "And I promised, I won't tell." Now the smile was a grin.

She gave him a not so gentle tap on the shoulder with a shy smile of her own. "You'd better not," she half-laughed. "Now let's take coffee back before they come looking for us."

A discreet cough at the doorway broke them apart guiltily. Ryan kept his face composed, though inside he was boiling with unanswered questions. "Um, just came to make sure you were okay, Calleigh. You're up." He accepted her nod and let her pass, but got between Rick and the door. He waited until he was certain she couldn't hear and got up close and personal. "I trusted you on her word," he said softly, his voice full of menace. "She's like my sister, y'know?" One finger touched his lips for a moment before he again gave Rick the penetrating stare. "You hurt her, you even think about playing her, and we're going to have a problem. You got that?" He stepped away.

Rick growled low in his throat for a moment before shrugging past. "Get your facts before you make threats, Wolfe," he snapped angrily. "If it's any of your business, which I doubt, there's nothing going on between me and Calleigh. And even if there was, I'd never hurt her. And if I did, you wouldn't have to do anything. She'd take care of it very well on her own." He gave Ryan another glare. "This isn't the time or place. You want a piece of me, wait until this is over." And he walked away, headed back to the waiting room.

***

Eric settled into the chair by the bed, not really paying much attention to Alexx once he saw H. The redhead looked pale and wan, not at all like his normal self, and Eric found himself worrying despite her reassuring murmurs. He gave no notice when she quietly slipped away; all his attention was focused on the still, cold hand he took with his own and the man it was attached to who lay so quietly and so limply upon the bed.

He couldn't help himself; his other hand reached out to lightly stroke a stray hair from Horatio's forehead, the touch feather-light. "I got you, H," he whispered tenderly. "You're safe now. I'm here."

"Good to know." The words were whisper-soft, but seemed as loud as a gunshot to the Cuban. The return pressure on his fingers was hesitant, but welcome.

"Hey, welcome back," he replied softly. "You scared the hell out of us, H, what were you thinking?" He brought Horatio's hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss there, uncaring if there was anyone to see. "Don't do that to me again, please. I thought… I thought you were dead. Never been so happy in my life to find out I was wrong."

Horatio nodded weakly. "I heard your voice," he murmured. "Heard you say I was safe. Felt your touch…" His voice trailed off and his eyelids drooped wearily before he forced them back open. "Eric…"

"Hush, you just sleep now," Eric soothed him tenderly with a brush of his fingers over his love's face. "I'm not going anywhere. Just rest, I'll be here when you wake." He brushed his lips across Horatio's. "We can talk later. Just rest, querido."

Horatio let his eyes drift closed again, but his hand still gripped Eric's. The man had used a Spanish word, and his mind struggled to make sense of it as he felt sleep overtaking him again. Querido, he thought to himself just as the darkness won out. It meant beloved…

***

Cordero stood silently, accepting the tongue-lashing with silent stoicism. He had failed in his duty, he knew it, and he wouldn't defend himself against Carlos' anger. But when Carlos began ranting furiously about Riaz, he decided he'd had enough. "Then I make it right," he said evenly. He must do this carefully. Riaz would want his death if he knew just exactly what Dero had done, and Carlos was just possibly angry enough to allow it. "He's in the hospital. I go in, do the hit, get out. No sweat." His mind was working overtime, trying to plan the move.

"Quickly, before Antonio demands satisfaction," Carlos barked. "Caine must be silenced before he can tell them of our plans." There was a loud thump as he banged a fist off the table again. "He has more lives than a cat, Caine does," he snarled furiously. "If you fail, don't come back. I have no wish to see you die at Riaz' hands."

"What about the others?" Dero asked quickly. "Delko and the rest of his team. He's been leaving them clues." He had to admire Horatio's guts. It had taken real courage to infiltrate the gang and still retain his honor. "We may be too late."

"Dispose of them. All of them. And then get rid of Caine." Carlos became, if possible, even more enraged. "Take everything from him, and then kill him. He will beg you for death." A thought occurred to him and he paused. "Delko. You said he is," he paused for a moment, "involved with the man? Then make certain he witnesses the death and make it as vicious as possible. I want him broken before he dies."

Cordero nodded in acceptance of his orders and withdrew. This would have to be handled quite bluntly. There was no time for planning. He knew what had to be done, and it needed to be done quickly or it would be too late for anyone. With a soft sigh of resignation, he left the house.