Chapter 36

"There you are, Mr Wolfe." Horatio commented. "I take it you didn't have any problems finding us."

The brunette younger man shook his head. "Nope, no problems, H." He pointed to the bed. "Is this Stevie, our victim from the Events Center Robbery?"

"Yes, it is, Mr Wolfe." Horatio confirmed.

"Ryan." Calleigh called him. When he turned around, she indicated the woman standing beside her. "This is Stevie's Mom, Jessica Douglas." Turning to Jessica, Calleigh added. "Jess, this is Ryan Wolfe. We also work with Ryan. He became part of the team after Speed was killed."

Jessica nodded, then held her hand out to Ryan. "It's my pleasure to meet you, Mr Wolfe." She told him.

He shook her hand in return. "Please, just Ryan. I'm still having a hard time, just getting him to say it." He jerked his thumb over his shoulder toward Horatio. "Speaking of which, H." He added, as he watched them transfer Stevie from the gurney back to his hospital bed, then covered the boy back up with the sheet and blanket. "You said something about having something you needed my help with?"

Horatio nodded. "I do, Mr Wolfe. Do me a favor and go get the personnel records for Stevie's PT, Dennis Miller. I'd be inclined to say start in the Hospital HR, but I think you'll ultimately end up in the Therapy Administrative Offices on the 3rd floor." He told the younger man.

"No problem, H." Ryan started to walk out of the room, then turned back. "Oh, yeah. Just a reminder. We need to head out at about 10:30, or so, to be in time over at the Events Center to talk to the cleaning staff."

Horatio nodded. "I haven't forgotten, but thank you for the reminder."

"You're welcome." Ryan told the older man. "Be back ASAP."

Once Ryan was gone, Horatio took a look at the three ladies. "If you three want to go get something to eat, now's the time. I'll stay here with Stevie."

"You sure, Handsome?" Calleigh asked after she traded a quick look with Alexx.

Alexx added. "Horatio, you need to eat something too, Honey."

He grinned up at his M.E. "I know, 'Mom'. I will, I promise."

The three women laughed at him.After the laughter died down, Horatio added. "Seriously, I have every intention of getting something to eat, but I want the three of you to get out of here and go get something. Stevie's asleep, and will be for awhile. When he does wake up, I want to make sure that he's ok after the treatment, this morning. I don't think any of us really realized just how scared he was."

Jessica shook her head. "I'm sorry, Horatio. No, I didn't realize just how scared he actually was, and I, of all people, should have. I'm his mother, for crying out loud. I would have said something if I had seen it."

"Jess, try not to beat yourself up too much over it." Calleigh wrapped her arm around her best friend's shoulders. "I think Stevie's been taking lessons from Horatio, and I think this was one of them. I didn't see it either."

Horatio continued to look down at the floor, but looked up when Alexx replied. "Don't be blaming Horatio for this ladies. With what little I know about Stevie, I think it was really just a case of that he didn't want to worry either one of you, or Horatio, and that's why he didn't say anything about how scared he was. He didn't want to worry you, or let you down."

Alexx shifted into Mom-style 'take over' mode. "Ok, ladies. Grab purses, or jackets. Let's get out of here. Go to the little ladies room if you need to." While Jessica and Calleigh moved to do what she had asked, Alexx knelt in front of Horatio, and met his eyes. She could see how much he was worried about the little boy, and how much he was feeling guilty over his apparent 'lessons' to Stevie. "Horatio, don't take on what they said. You also never saw how scared the little guy was. He tried to bluff his way past you, too. The fear was just too much, though. He got through it though, with your help. Fitzgerald would had to have put him under general anesthetic, if you hadn't been there. You do realize this, don't you?"

Horatio nodded. "I know, Alexx, but I should still have seen how scared he was. I was petrified when they did it to me, and the only thing I could do was to attempt to be brave for Ray's sake. Even then, they had to give me a general. I fought them so hard, not even Ray could talk me past the fear. My heart rate, my blood pressure, all of it, went right through the roof. Also, I was older then than Stevie is now, too. Alexx, I should have been paying attention. I should have seen how scared he was."

Alexx thought about it for a few minutes, as she stared off into space, thinking about how best to answer the red head. "Horatio, please don't take all of this on your shoulders. You heard Jessica and Calleigh. None of us saw just how scared the little guy was. You were the one who kept his mind off the fear, the worry, and the pain. It needed to be you, as the only other man in his life that he trusts. If by chance Dr Fitzgerald has to do another treatment, maybe Stevie will feel confident enough or, at least brave enough to go solo. If not, we'll know."

Just as Horatio was about to answer her, Jessica and Calleigh came back into the room."Ok, Alexx, ready whenever you are." Calleigh told her.

Horatio slipped a motion to Alexx to let her know to let their conversation go. Alexx nodded, as she stood up, letting him know that she understood.

"You sure we can't bring you something, Honey?" Alexx asked.

Horatio shook his head with a grin. "No, thank you, Alexx. I'm fine. I can wait until later."

"Ok." Alexx replied uncertainly. "We'll be back as quickly as we can."

"Take your time, ladies. Don't hurry back on my account." Horatio realized what he said, then changed it to. "Actually, Mr Wolfe and I will need to leave here for the Events Center by about 10:30, so if you could be back by then,……"

Calleigh and Alexx laughed at that. "Don't worry, Handsome. We will." Calleigh replied as the three women walked out of the room and down the hall.

Horatio leaned his head back until it rested against the wall, still smiling at the women's antics. He turned to look over at the bed, his smile fell slightly as he thought. Well, now, Stevie, if I've taught you that lesson, maybe I can teach you how to admit it when you are scared. You do realize that being scared isn't a crime, don't you?