Author note: let's add some drama...

Only family

Celesta rode as fast as she could. She didn't hear the horns of cars being honked at her. She didn't hear the curses of other drivers or pedestrians. All she could think was: 'get to the hospital' and 'don't you dare die on me Horatio'. Eventually Celesta made it to the hospital without any trouble. Afterwards she wouldn't be able to remember how she had gotten there, but she did. Before she barged in however she made a quick call to the Caine resident. Kyle wasn't home so Celesta left a message saying: "Your father is hurt, please come to the Sunset hospital." On the answering machine. Then she left the same message on his voicemail. With a fast pace Celesta walked through the entrance hall. She didn't notice the large light entrance hall, with the gift shops, restaurant, flower shop and pharmacy on her left hand side. Nor did she see the people seated on the scattered wooden benches, patients, nurses, doctors and visitors. Celesta rushed to the reception desk. Panting slightly from the speed she had generated on her bicycle and the quick jog tot the entrance, she managed to ask directions for the emergency desk. "Take the corridor here on the left." The girl pointed to the large corridor. "go to the back, then a right turn on the end of that hall is the emergency desk." Celesta merely nodded. She swung her bag on her back and took off, swiftly moving through the corridors. She didn't see the rooms on either side, didn't pay attention to them. All she wanted was to get to the emergency room as quick as possible. She didn't see the pods merely separated by curtains, didn't hear the wails of the patients in agony. When Celesta finally reached the end of the corridor, she quickly looked around to find the desk. In a far away corner of her mind Celesta registered the large number of policemen standing in the small waiting room. Celesta had to wait while the nurse behind the desk helped another patient. To Celesta it felt like an eternity, in fact it was probably two to three minutes. When the young man finally moved away, Celesta took two hurried steps forward. "I'm here for lt. Caine. I was told he was brought here. Where is he?" the words tumbled out of her mouth, while Celesta felt her heart beat even faster. "Please calm down miss. A mister Caine has indeed been brought here." The nurse calmly replied.

"Can I go see him?" Celesta hurried on.

"Are you his wife?"already hoping for a right answer the nurse kept looking at Celesta.

"No, can I go see him?" nothing really registered with Celesta, all she knew was that she wanted to see Horatio. "Where you the first to be contacted?" the nurse asked calmly.

"Yes, I am his emergency contact." Slowly Celesta started to calm down a little. "I need you to fill out these forms." The nurse got some forms from under her desk. "You are familiar with lt. Caine's medical history?"

"Yes. After I have filled these out I can see him?" Celesta asked once more. Not wanting to disappoint the obviously distressed women, Marge, the nurse said: "Please miss, we need this information, otherwise we can't treat him. No family member has come forward so far." Celesta saw the nurse was serious. "Fine, I'll fill this out for you."

After a few minutes Celesta gave Marge the form back. Marge steeled herself, she was almost positive she would have bad news and she felt for this woman. "Here you go, now can I see lt. Horatio Caine?" Celesta had taken the time to calm down, but she was still frantic to see him.

"Are you his wife?" Marge asked, looking at Celesta hard, hoping to convey the message to give her an answer she can work with. In Celesta's eyes Marge saw understanding dawn, she saw the struggle in her eyes. The despair, fear and the will to fight, but in the end the honesty in the eyes won and silently, almost defeated Celesta said: "No, I'm not his wife." Not ready to give up Marge asked: "His sister?"

"He had one brother and he died. I am not related to him."

"Are you his fiancé?" Marge, like always, felt a desperate need to help this woman, who obviously cared much for this patient. "We live together, we date, but no ring." Celesta held her hand up. "You are only allowed to let family in, aren't you?"

"Yes, I'm sorry." As Marge said it she saw a spark flash in the eyes of the woman in front of her.

"Why? Why can't you let me see him? I was the first to be contacted, I have to tell other people that Horatio is in the hospital and I can't tell them anything. I am the one who had to fill out all those forms. Why can't I see him?" Celesta's voice become sharper with every word. She wanted to see Horatio, wanted to know what was going on, didn't she have that right?

"I am sorry, but those are the rules." Dimly Marge was aware that the other policemen were starting to sow interest in what was going on. One of them came forward: "Miss, we know miss Mahoney, she is lt. Caine's girlfriend. Can't you bend the rules for her?" Marge sighed, but said: "I'm sorry, but I can't. I have strict orders not to let anybody in except family and police officers. A detective impressed this on me, I'm not allowed to let you in, unless you are family. However, when a family member tells me that you are allowed access to the patient, then I can let you through. Are there remaining family members?" With her shoulders down in defeat, Celesta said: "Yes, he has a son. I've already called him. He should be on his way. Is he allowed to see his father?"

"Yes he is."

"But I can't accompany him?"

"No, I am sorry."

"What do I tell him? I don't know anything. Who will explain everything, he is still underage. What if he tells you I am allowed to see Horatio?"

"Miss Mahoney, only with the consent of his legal guardian he can give you visiting rights. I would advise you to call his guardian. He or she can accompany him, or we will have a social worker to explain everything to him."

"His father is his legal guardian, and his mother, but she is in Europe."

"I'm sorry, but I'll make sure he gets a good social worker. You can tell him that his father is in surgery, all right?" Marge tried to be as gentle as possible. She liked this woman, she was honest even though it didn't get her what she wanted. On the other hand Marge knew the police were still searching for the ones responsible for the shooting, they had to be careful. She watched as Celesta sat down on her seat, got up, rummaged in her bag, took a shaky drink from her water bottle, sat down again and finally walked away frustrated. If she could have helped, Marge would have done, but she couldn't do anything.

Please tell me what you think...