The Pain of Those Left Behind

Chapter Three,

On the Outside Looking In

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A/N: Sorry it's taken a bit to get this up, I'm trying my best to put much thought and consideration to each character. Because I feel you can't write a good story if you don't capture each character how they really are.

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Horatio tilted his glasses forward."Continue please." He ordered.

The Doctor managed to maintain his professionalism, and continued,"During the middle of the operation, one of the attending nurses noticed she was using more blood than she was losing. We couldn't pinpoint how until the until the anesthesiologist saw blood pooling on the operating table on the left side of her body. It wasn't much blood but enough to be concerned about.I closed her up as fast as I dared to. After that, I had the orderlies gently flip her on her side, so I could get a look at what was causing the bleeding."

"And what caused the bleeding, Doctor." Horatio asked, putting stress on the word 'Doctor'.

"Another bullet hole." He answered, trying not to look nervous. The doctor pulled out a small zip-lock bag and handed it too Horatio."It was the most complicated surgery I've ever performed, but I pulled it off."

He calmly took the bag, it contained two bullets. He managed to keep his cool, but that was not how he truly felt. He was scared- No- scared was an understatement. He was terrified. It was like reliving the same nightmare that occurred three years ago, when Speedle died. "Thank-you. I'll be seeing you again, Doctor Kline." Horatio walked over to the railing where he had left Eric to get some air."Did you get enough air?"

Eric nodded in response."Yeah. I'm ready to go back in."

Horatio patted Eric on the back. "OK, let's go."

Eric stopped leaning off the railing and walked to the door, Horatio following.

"Eric, honey, would you like to see Calleigh?" Alexx asked him."This kind lady right here will take you."

"Yeah.. Could you wait a sec though? " He directed towards the nurse.

The nurse nodded.

"Hey Alexx.. I have a favor to ask."

"Sure honey." She replied."Anything at all."

"Will you take Anna home with you? She needs some sleep and I haven't asked Yelina yet."

"Of course! You know I love as if she was my own."

"Thanks Alexx."

"Hey, while you're on the sleep subject, you might want to try getting some later."

"I might consider it later on." He picked up the sleeping Anna Maria off the couch and gave her to Alexx."You got her?"

"Yeah. Wow, she's getting heavy!"

"Yeah.. They say kids grow up to fast."

"Isn't it the truth.Well... We're off. See you later guys."

A chorus of tired good-byes filled the room.

"Ok... Take me to Calleigh." Eric directed to the nurse.

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"Right this way, Sir..."

"Now it's my turn to ask, what did the Doctor say?" Yelina asked Horatio, they stood outside Calleigh's hospital room.

"He said," Horatio paused to take off his sunglasses, "They found another gunshot wound."

She gasped."You're kidding."

"I wish I was, I wish I wash... " He repeated. "Here... Take them." He pulled them out of his pocket and handed them to her, and then it was her turn to tuck them safely away.

She pulled her phone out of her jacket pocket."I'll call Kevin, the ballistics expert on the night shift, get him to process the bullets right away." She she punched the speed dial with her thumb.

Yelina took his hand, "We'll make it Horatio." She whispered and looked into his eyes.

The receptionist must have finally picked up, because Yelina sudden broke eye contact. "Hello? Yes? This is Detective Salas, I'm calling to tell you to give Kevin Van Kamp a heads up that I've got evidence that needs processing right away. Yes.. Mhhmm, Yes, Ok.. Well have him stop by then. Tell him this is top priority... Ok... Room 202.. Uhuh.. Bye." She flipped her phone together and put it back in her pocket.

Horatio lifted his brows."You're not taking the bullets to him?"

"No. The receptionist- Mandy I think her name is- said that he was just coming back from an active crime scene. He'll swing by and pick up the bullets." Yelina stopped to look at him."You look tired, go home and get some sleep."

"Yelina, you should know, I don't sleep."

She smiled wryly."Right... superheros don't sleep."

A light hint of sarcasm touched his voice."So they say..." He had noticed she had been looking at something for past few minutes, he asked, "What are you looking at?"

"Nothing.."

"Are you sure..?"

She sighedand shook her head."I wish Rick could have loved me like he loves her." Her stare was almost blank.

Horatio glanced past Yelina and looked through the glass window to see Eric holding Calleigh's hand and whispering something. He might have been crying, but there was no way to know for sure. After all, they were only on the outside looking in. "You know," He looked down and played with his sunglasses there were in his hands,"I know someone that loves you."

Yelina turned to face him. "Horatio... I.."

"Detective Salas?" A gruff voice called from behind.

"Yes." She was jolted back into the real world, not the Haven like place being with Horatio usually took her."Horatio, you know Kevin Van Kamp, the ballistics expert from the nightshift."

"Yes.. I do." He held his hand out for Kevin to shake.

Kevin shook it."I'm sorry.. Is this a bad time?" The biker looking guy asked. Leather, metal studs and tattoos covered most of his body, the tattoos ranging everywhere from Jesus to naked women. He looked nothing like what most would consider a successful person.

"No. Not at all Kevin."

"Mandy told me you have some bullets for me. She said it's top shit." He crossed his arms."You got'em?"

"Yes," She pulled the plastic bag Horatio had given her from her pocket."Here. Call me as soon as you process them." She handed him the little bag of evidence.

"You got it little lady! I'll one way you as soon as possible. OK?"

"That's fine. Thanks."

"No prob." He waved good-bye and left.

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Ok... Let me know how this is going. Tell me if it's starting to suck. Or better yet, tell me what you all would like to see happen next. OK?