A/N I don't know about you, but I am so angry! I'm still in denial from last night's episode, they did not break up, I refuse to believe it. If she loves him like family then she's damn well incest! I want to complain to CBS and tell them that I hate them at the moment with every bone in my body, and if they do not make Calleigh go up to him and make love to him on the lab floor right now I will hijack the CSI Miami set and kidnap the writers until the write it in! Gosh, ok rant over. But I'm still angry.
Anyway sorry, I feel a bit better know though.
Thank you to my readers and reviewers
X

Chapter 37

It all happened in a flash, one minute she was diving across the room like a true heroine, the next we're swarmed and she's fighting off a guy at least twice her size, in heels may I add. She's holding her own, but it scared me to death. I could barely pay attention to the people I was supposed to be taking out myself, I saw her pull a gun from the holster around her thigh, a sense of relief momentarily washed over me, she had the upper hand. I turned around, briefly diverting my attention to stop the guy that was creeping up behind me. I a second I spun back around to see the entire situation had changed, he had her gun, she delivered a blow to his side, but he wouldn't stop. He was going to try and kill her.

My mind couldn't even comprehend the thought of Calleigh lying on Alexx's table, then her telling me cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. I couldn't have that. Without a moment's thought I raised my gun, he couldn't bring that gun down to meet her head. I aimed for his arm, to take the force out of his blow, with the most precise aim I'd ever had I pulled the trigger. It knocked the blow off aim but it still connected with the side of her head. As she fell I saw read and took another shot that hit him in the head, he hit the deck and I didn't even give it another thought, which normally would have concerned me, except all of my brain was focused on Calleigh.

She dropped to the ground, I the smallest drop of blood before she sunk below the island blocking her from my view. For the second time in less than a week, my whole world slowed to a near stop. Every rational thought was banished from my head, all I could think, all I could do revolved around Calleigh. I had to help her, I ran like a mad man through the bullets, how none of them hit me I don't know, I was just glad the people shooting had good aim.

"Calleigh!" I called as I dashed behind the counter. "Calleigh, Mi amor, wake up! Please come on Baby, you gotta' wake up, you're missing out on the action."

I pleaded with her to no avail. I cradled her head in my lap, and felt for a pulse. The constant shots had something to do with the tiny but of my brain that was comprehending rational things to do. The tiny thumping of her heart beat under my fingers was the only thing keeping my sane. I couldn't move them in fear that it would stop if I let go. Thump, thump, thump. I counted the beats for no real reason. Shouting for a medic was no use, if they could hear me above the shots it would me a miracle, let alone take the time to call rescue.

After what seemed like hours, but in reality was only minutes, the all clear was shouted, and the bullets stopped flying.

"Call rescue." I shouted "Officer down!"

I heard the commotion of SWAT as they made the call, I didn't care how desperate I sounded, all that mattered was getting her out of here. I barely noticed Natalia run over, it took her three tried before I responded.

"Eric, is she ok?"

"What?"

"Is she ok?"

"Oh, I, uh, she has a pulse."

"Thank God. Rescue is on their way."

"Why won't she wake up Talia?"

"She will, she's a fighter. She's just sleeping off the pain."

I couldn't really argue with that, I didn't want her to be in pain, but I so badly wanted her to wake up, I wanted, needed to know she was going to be ok. I held on to her, as if it were a life line. I had no idea as to the outcome of the rest of the fight, and as bad as it sounded I really didn't care right at this moment. I guessed Natalia and Ryan were alright, and I assumed because Natalia had, had the chance to talk to me, Horatio was alright to. At least I hoped.

Finally rescue arrived, SWAT directed them over to us, hopefully if we were top priority no one else had been seriously injured.

"Sir, I need you to let me see her."

"Oh, yeah, sorry."

I saw reluctant to let her go, I didn't want them to hurt her, but I knew it was for the best.

"Sir, what's her name?"

"Calleigh, Calleigh Duquesne."

"Alright, does she have any medical problems I should know about?"

"No. But she was knocked unconscious a few day ago."

"How long was she out for?"

"About 10 minutes, the medic's cleared her, she didn't even go to the hospital."

"Do you know how she happened to become unconscious."

"She was hit on the head with the butt of a gun."

"Approximately how long has she been out for?"

"Uh, 5, 10 minutes, I don't really know."

"It's alright."

Another medic came in with a stretcher and they started to take her out.

"Where are you taking her, is she ok?" I near enough begged the medic

"We're taking her to Miami General, she's ok, but we want to keep an eye on her, at least until she wakes up."

"I'm coming with you."

"I'm sorry Sir, it's family only in the ambulance."

"I don't care, I'm a police officer." I said flashing my badge, it was against the rules but I didn't care "I'm going with her."

"Alright Sir, but you need to keep out the way."

I climbed in the back and took hold of Calleigh's hand. I said pointless, random things, anything really, I just wanted her to wake up and tell me she was fine, give me the famous Duquesne 'I'm fine' smile, and then I'd badger her until she gave in and told me what was really wrong. The medic was bandaging up the gash on her head, and I wanted to scream at her for not being gentle, but I knew it would just end with then kicking me out once we got to the hospital, so I kept quiet.

We arrived at the hospital and they started to unload her, I still refused to let go of her hand. They lifted her onto another trolley and wheeled her into a room. The medics stared ranting off some medical jargon about her blood pressure, her pulse rate, I wasn't really paying attention. I pulled a chair over to the side of the bed and sat down, I didn't care whether I was allowed to or not. The doctor and the medics stopped talking and the doctor turned to me.

"Sir, could I take you name?"

"Delko, Eric Delko."

"OK, I'm afraid it's family only until she wakes up."

"I'm not leaving."

"Mr Delko, I'm afraid you have to."

"Does fiancée count as family?"

"I suppose." The doctor admitted almost in defeat

"Then I'm staying."

It may have been a lie, but it was a plan for the future, hopefully the near future at that, a little white lie never hurt anyone. The doctors must have thought we were complete nutcases. I was still wearing a black suit, that was torn on one sleeve and covered in dust, the brown wig had slipped and was now wonky leaving my head half black and short, half brown and relatively long. Calleigh's wig had miraculously stayed in place, but blonde hair was creeping out at the sides, the dress she wore was dirty, twisted and the Kevlar vest was sticking out the top.

As I laid my head on the side of the bed I realised how tired I was, we hadn't slept since England. I felt myself slowly slipping into a world of dreams. I was going to have a bad neck when I woke up, but I didn't really care. I thought I was dreaming when I felt a small squeeze on my hand, but then I felt another, slightly more firm squeeze and I realised I wasn't dreaming.

"Cal, Mi amor, can you hear me?"

"Eric?" she croaked quiet as a mouse.

"I'm here, I'm going to call the doctor, tell them you're awake."

"Don't leave."

"It's ok, I just need to reach for the call button."

"Good." She croaked with a little smile.

"You want a drink?"

She nodded, and I poured some water into the plastic cup and helped her drink it.

"Is Horatio ok?" she asked

"I think so."

"You think so?" she questioned

"Well, the medics didn't rush over to anyone, so I guess so."

"You have no idea do you?"

"I, I uh, was a little preoccupied."

"You could've got yourself killed."

"You remember what happened? That's good, the doctors might let you go, I know you hate hospitals." I tried to change the topic.

"Nice try Delko. Buy my memory doesn't stop the fact you nearly got yourself killed." She smiled a little despite the fact I knew she was deadly serious.

"Oh, last named. That hurts." "I know, but I promised myself that I would die before anyone hurt you, and that son of a... was going to kill you."

"Next time, no bullet dives, understand me?"

The doctor came in interrupting our conversation.

"I see your awake and talking Miss Duquesne." He stated

"Yes thank you Doctor."

"Good, do you remember what happened before you blacked out?"

"Yes. Clearly."

"Well, it seems that apart from the cut on your head you're ok, no concussion, you blood pressure and heart rate are fine. I would like to keep you in overnight for observation though, just in case. We don't usually get people that have been knocked out twice in less than a week."

"Doctor I can assure you I'm fine."

"I understand that you want to go home Miss Duquesne, but it would but mine, and I'm sure your fiancée's mind at ease if you would just stay for tonight. It is after all 2 am."

She shot me a glance and I forgot I was supposed to be her fiancée at the moment. I sent my best 'just go along with it' glance back and she rolled her eyes before turning back to the doctor.

"I'll be allowed to go first thing in the morning right?"

"Yes, I would suggest as soon as visiting hours start."

"So at 9?"

"Yes."

"Fine, if you wish I'll stay here for tonight. On one condition."

"That being?"

"My fiancée stays too."

"As long as he can make to with the chair." He sighed, obviously frustrated with us.

The doctor turned and walked out, and Calleigh giggled.

"So I'm your fiancée am I?" she teased

" You will be soon enough if I get my way. But yes, you are he wouldn't let me stay otherwise."

"You know rules are there for a reason." She joked

"And some rules are made for breaking."

"Like?"

"Well the rule that says I wasn't allowed in here for one. And two."

I leant over the side of the bed, to kiss her gently on the lips, I was careful because she had just woken up, but I'd wanted to do it since she's woken up.

"And what rule what that be?" she teased once I'd pulled away.

"The rule that says you shouldn't kiss an ill patient after they've just woken up from being unconscious for over an hour."

"I have to agree, that rule is made for breaking."

She leant up to kiss me again, I was still gentle, I really didn't want to hurt her. I let my thumb linger on her lips when I pulled away and she smiled.

"You should get some sleep." I pointed out

"Hmm, we haven't slept since England."

"Well technically I got half an hour before you woke up."

"I would hardly call that sleep."

"I guess you're right. Get some rest Mi amor then we can leave in the morning."

"Hmm." She hummed and sunk into the bed.

I leant back down into the seat and took hold of her hand.

"Where do you think you're going?" she asked her eyes still closed

"To sleep."

"Not in the chair you're not."

"I don't think I'm supposed to be up there."

"It was you that said some rules are made for breaking."

"You have a point."

"I know." She smiled her eyes still closed.

I climbed onto the bed, and wrapped my arm around her waist. I'd chose the cramped hospital bed any day as long as Calleigh was there too.

"Now I can get some rest." she whispered and we drifted off to sleep...