What's wrong with her? She's got nothing to hide, there's no one here but the emergency services, Horatio thought as he glanced back to the vehicle as two officers slammed the doors closed which made Rebecca jump, then gasp for air and reach out for Horatio, alerting him. Immediately turning back to her, he positioned his hands on her upper arms while she held his forearms and trembled excessively. Where she had the tightest grip her muscles would allow, he could feel her fingertips and nails beginning to embed themselves into his biceps, unintentionally. Supporting her fully, he studied her in her petrified state.
"Sit down, Sweetheart," he urged tenderly as he gently pushed her back while continuing to support her. Smoothly seating her on the foot-step of the large Hummer, he slowly crouched and looked up at her downcast eyes. "Slow your breathing down, take slow deep breaths," he encouraged while he watched her gasp for air rapidly as if someone were choking her. She was just stared at the ground as she panicked; she'd not even heard what Horatio had said to her.
"Rebecca, slow your breathing down," he repeated warmly as he moved one hand towards her face to try and lift her head. As soon as his hand made contact with her cheek she gasped again and quickly withdrew from his touch, looking at him with wide, teary eyes. He quickly placed his hand back on her upper arm as her eyes flitted around his placid expression.
"Rebecca, it's Horatio Caine, you're safe. Just try and calm your breathing down for me please," he soothed as he inclined his head to the right and maintained his serene temperament. Gradually, she began to calm herself as she nodded at him after he placed one of his hands over both of hers in her lap. Yeah, she definitely needs to be looked at closely; I think that was a panic attack, he thought to himself as he gently stroked the back of her hand with his thumb.
"I'm sorry," she apologised with a whisper before she swallowed and looked away again, down at the ground to her right.
"Are you sure you don't want an ambulance?" he asked cautiously, but she just shook her head and pulled her hands from under his to cross her arms over her chest. "Are you sure, Rebecca?" he asked again as he shifted to move his head into her line of sight. She looked back to him and saw his eyes glistening with concern.
"I'm sure, I can walk back, there's no problem," she insisted once again, but he just shook his head and sighed. She would rather walk back? That's not right, surely? Anyone in their right mind would rather a lift, but that's just it, she can't be in her right mind, he mused as he moved position when searing hot pain spread through his calf. Okay, she's beginning to calm down, what caused that? he wondered once he was comfortable, then took a quick glance around to try and decipher the cause of her anxiety.
"I'm not going to let you walk anywhere, Rebecca… what's the problem?" he questioned caringly as she glanced towards the officers as they approached the Hummer. She swallowed as she looked back to Horatio, who'd spotted a hint of trepidation emerging from her previously composed eyes.
Glancing away, he realised why. The officers? Why's she afraid of them? Does she know them? he pondered as he gently began to rub her upper arm to comfort her. "Give us a second, please," he requested the two uniformed men and felt the Doctor's muscles tense under his hands. Both nodded at him before they strolled back to their vehicle and continued the deep conversation there were engaged in beforehand.
As he turned his head to look at her, he blinked a few times and continued to try and figure her out. "Rebecca, I can't help if I don't know what the problem is," he said delicately as he looked down to her drenched sweatpants and noticed a couple of rips in the seams. He felt his heart thud in his chest as he swallowed with a sudden peculiar awareness of impending doom momentarily draping down over his shoulders. They were probably ripped by Paul… she's probably afraid of men right now, that's what her problem is. She must trusting of me though, he realised before he looked back up to her to see her wiping a tear from her eye as she sat up straight and took a deep breath.
"With all due respect, Lieutenant, I'm not asking for help; I just want to go home," she asserted confidently, but her eyes screamed desperation and apprehension.
"How about you ride with me? We'll go together?" he asked, hoping to settle her and to sway her from her irrational decision to walk to the Hospital. It was clear she was hesitant, but she thought about it. "I'll get you home much quicker, I promise," he added with a gentle smile, causing her to look back at him before she gave him a small nod.
"Thank you," she replied with a whisper before she bit her lower lip nervously, then looked down to his grubby, blood-stained shirt. He smiled reassuringly at her while he nodded and slowly stood up, he then lightly planted his hand on her shoulder.
"It's not a problem, are you able to get yourself into the Hummer or do you need a hand?" he asked as he held his hands out towards her anyway to aid her to her feet. Taking his hands, she nodded at him and then slowly rose to her feet. She gave him a small, awkward smile before she turned and sluggishly clambered into the high vehicle.
"Thank you," she expressed her gratitude as he held the door. Nodding with a smile, he carefully closed the door and then looked towards the officers. He gestured to them about the change of plan, causing them to nod, and then saunter over to the truck yard. Turning back to spot his two CSI's talking, he called for Calleigh. Making her way over to her superior quickly, she smiled at Rebecca in the Hummer as she stopped.
"Can you make your way to the Hospital, Rebecca will need to be examined… and we'll need to check for sexual assault," he explained quietly as he positioned a hand upon his hip.
"Of course, would she prefer it if she came with me?" Calleigh asked sympathetically as she stepped closer towards her boss.
"I think it's best if she comes with me, she seems to trust me," he explicated while he fiddled with his shades after removing his hand from his hip.
"Sure Horatio, I'll see you there," she agreed as she took a step back and then glanced to Rebecca with a warm smile before she started off towards her Hummer. "Oh, Horatio…" she called brightly as she turned back to the Lieutenant. He nodded as he regarded her genially. "I think you win the wet shirt contest," she grinned at him before she turned around once more and waltzed back to her Hummer. Pressing his lips together, he looked down and felt a wave of embarrassment flow over him. With his cheeks heating up, he rapidly slipped his sunglasses on and hurried around and into the Hummer.
Notifying Eric of the change in plans, Calleigh climbed into her Hummer and left Eric to tend to the body with Alexx once she'd arrived, while Ryan and Walter were on their way to look for the bomb and any evidence once the blaze was put out.
"Where's she going?" Rebecca asked as she looked towards Calleigh's Hummer and began to fiddle with the seams of the blanket around her shoulders. She then looked at Horatio, wanting to know his response as she had a feeling about where the female CSI was headed.
"She's going to meet us at the Hospital," he explained smoothly as he turned the keys in the ignition and pulled his seatbelt on. Swallowing as she looked back out of the front window, she pressed her lips together, indicating that her increasing hesitation.
"There isn't anything to worry about, okay? She's just coming along as she's our only female CSI," he said softly as he glanced over to her. She just looked away from him and knew what he was getting at, so distracted herself by watching the fire crew control the wild flames. Now she's ignoring me? She's definitely hiding something, that's just proved it, he realised as he reversed back and then put the vehicle into gear. Unexpectedly, she flinched and sprang to the other side of the seat to move as far away from him as possible. While she began to hyperventilate again, Horatio instantly withdrew his hand from the transmission, completely startled himself.
"Rebecca, I'm not going to hurt you, Sweetheart," he assured her sincerely, looking at her comfortingly. Glancing back to him, she swallowed as she bit her lip fretfully, while she studied his calm demeanour before she began to relax once she realised he wasn't a threat to her. As she slowly released her hands from the tight grip she had on the car door, she nodded at him and exhaled away the breath she'd held.
"I…I'm sorry, you just made me jump; I guess a few days in the dark is enough to put anyone on the edge of their seat," she replied as her eyes connected with his. He took a moment to observe the element of panic still glowing brightly in her eyes, but could understand what she meant. I guess she's right, he mused, but he could sense she was being slightly deceitful, or at the very least not telling him the whole truth. She quickly looked away when she began to feel uncomfortable under his penetrating gaze.
"I guess…" he replied quietly, then looked away; he knew he was unsettling her. Gradually and carefully, he reached back over to the transmission to put the vehicle into gear. Once they'd pulled off and started to drive back up the dusty road, he glanced over to her. She'd crumpled herself up to occupy as little space as she could while she looked out of the passenger window, he just knew that she was feeling frail, both mentally and physically and there was nothing he could do about it. I should have found her sooner, it's my fault she's been this harmed, he blamed himself as an upsurge of guilt rippled through his entire being.
"Are you thirsty at all?" he questioned softly, causing her to look over to him with her arms tightly wrapped around herself and her thighs pressed together. When she nodded at him, silently, he reached down to his left and pulled a water bottle from a cup-holder in the side of the door. "It's a new bottle," he added as he slowly handed it to her, being vigilant of his movements so he didn't startle her.
"Thank you, Lieutenant," she said gratefully as she took the lid off while he concentrated back on the road. Coming to a red light, he slowly braked and allowed his calf to relax. Usually, he'd feel slightly impatient if he were in the situation of needing to get someone help, he'd wish that the stoplights were green so he could get to his destination faster. In this case, he was secretly contented with the occasional rest at stoplights. Pulling off again, he could feel the stitches in his calf pulling, causing sharp pain to shoot through his muscle, it however was not enough to stop him driving. I think that maybe a few of the deeper stitches have come out, he thought as he pulled onto the highway and headed towards the Hospital while the Doctor quickly finished the bottle of water and then thanked him again.
Horatio then caught her looking at herself in the mirror as she touched her eye and her nose with a displeased expression before she quietly hissed and removed her hand from her face. She sat back in the seat and relaxed a little as she minded her own business and looked out of the passenger window. However, Horatio's thoughts were far from minding his own business, but he didn't want to question her straight off.
"Are you warm enough?" he asked tenderly and she nodded, but he could still see her subtle shivering through the corner of his eye. Why would she lie about that? She clearly isn't, he thought to himself with a sigh. Even though the Hummer was already roasting, he flicked the heating on to try and warm her up more. I will have sweat most of my bodily fluid out by the time we get there, he thought to himself, but it didn't bother him much at all as he only really thought about Rebecca. She needs to be warmed up more than I need the air-conditioning on, he mused as she glanced over to him with an unsure, thankful smile while he put his hand back on the wheel. Silence once again filled the Hummer while Horatio drove, but it wasn't long before they arrived at the Hospital.
Having booked in, both Horatio and Rebecca sat in the waiting room while Calleigh had gone to the shop for drinks. Upon her return, she saw that Rebecca had finally fallen asleep and was resting against Horatio. Smiling as she handed her boss a coffee, he slowly took it and tried his best not to disturb the sleeping Doctor.
"She looks comfortable," Calleigh whispered sarcastically as she sat down on the other side of Rebecca and studied her leaning against Horatio with her head on his shoulder.
"I think if I were that tired, I'd fall asleep anywhere too," he replied to his colleague before he took a sip of the hot beverage. She silently agreed as she sat back and watched people pass by hurriedly.
"How long is the wait?" she questioned as she looked back over to him. He doesn't look too uncomfortable, actually, she thought to herself while she studied his comforting posture, as if he welcomed the sleeping Doctor with open arms. She knew her superior just as well as her colleagues, maybe more so, so she knew that he'd do anything to help out or comfort a victim in need.
"Rebecca should be seen soon, she might need you to go in with her, I'm still unsure on where she stands with that. But we need to do a sex kit and we need to process her clothes," he replied while he looked down at his steaming hot coffee. She nodded but could see something was troubling him. "I don't think she's going to tell the Nurse or Doctor of any sort of assault, so if you can go in with her, that would be helpful," he added quietly, glancing at her with a sincere and concerned expression.
"I called forwards on the way here, they know that there's been a possible sexual assault. They've got their specialised Nurse on hand, she might be able to talk to Rebecca better than you or I," she replied quietly and then watched relief fleet across his eyes as he nodded appreciatively.
"Calleigh, can you do me a favour, please?" he asked discretely as he pulled the blanket around Rebecca a little more. Leaning forwards, the CSI nodded as she looked at him intensely. "Can you move those two Doctors and Nurse along, I think they know Rebecca and they're talking about her right now, it's not the sort of conversation they should be having either," he muttered while his sharp glare rested on the group to their right. Nodding again, she quickly got up and ushered the inquisitive people away. That's exactly what she didn't want, he sighed to himself as he looked back down to the sleeping woman and felt very protective over her.
Just as Calleigh sat back down, a female staff member called out Rebecca's name. With a nudge from Horatio, the Doctor woke in a daze and then looked over to the Nurse, squinting in the bright light while Calleigh signalled to her that her patient was there. Walking over with an easy smile and a wheelchair, she greeted the 3 of them kindly.
Lethargically climbing into the wheelchair, the Doctor didn't say much while Horatio and Calleigh both greeted the Nurse kindly. She looked down at her knees as she pulled the blanket around her more.
"Would you like some company, Rebecca?" Calleigh asked warmly as she sat forwards with a sympathetic smile.
"No," she panicked as she looked towards her, shaking her head. The Nurse placed her hand gently on Rebecca's shoulder to try and calm her from her agitated state. "No thank you," she repeated much more politely as she relaxed herself again and then looked to the Lieutenant regretfully. He just smiled at her supportively as the Nurse gently rubbed her shoulder before the Doctor pulled away with a hiss of pain, causing the Nurse to apologise rapidly. Leaning on the side of the wheelchair, Rebecca put her head in her hand and closed her eyes, just wishing to get out of the situation at hand.
"Are you sure, Rebecca? I can stand behind the curtain," the CSI offered once again. It is her choice, but why would she not want Calleigh to go with her? Then again, if I were in her situation, I do think I'd refuse anything of the sort, he thought to himself while he studied her slightly agitated eyes.
"No thank you," the injured woman repeated as she shook her head but looked down at the floor.
"Okay, I'm right here if you need anything, okay?" Calleigh said supportively. The Nurse thanked her as Rebecca nodded and took a deep breath. It wasn't before long that Horatio was called in and also treated.
Languidly walking by the side of the Nurse, Rebecca looked at the Lieutenant and CSI as they both stood. He'd managed to stand on his right leg just fine, she noticed his normal posture straight away but knew it was because he would have had local anaesthetic. Both he and Calleigh smiled compassionately as both she and the Nurse stopped.
"How are you feeling?" Horatio asked as he pulled his shades from his collar and began to fiddle with them while he observed the plain white clothes she was wearing.
"I'm good thanks," she replied quietly as she folded her arms and then looked down to the floor.
"Are they Rebecca's clothes?" Calleigh asked with a bright smile as she gestured to the large brown paper bag the Nurse was holding. Nodding she handed them over to the CSI while Rebecca became a little more disconcerted.
"May I have a word?" the staff member asked smoothly as she tilted her head with empathetic eyes.
"Of course," Calleigh replied as she began to head in the direction the woman had gestured to.
"Excuse me, but whatever you're going to say, you can say it in front of me," Rebecca announced brashly as she turned to them with a scowl. She's becoming confrontational; I think we're going to have a situation on our hands, Horatio dreaded as he knew it was the last thing she needed to be doing was causing commotion.