Title: His Last Case

Disclaimer: Violence. Hints of slash. (This chapter has a touch of the last episode of CSI)

POV: Eric Delko

Chapter Two: Holy Water

Monday Afternoon- 2:33pm

I hear whispering voices. Two, maybe three people are close by. Why are they whispering? Are they trying to hide?

I hear a very distinct, "Thank you".

I know the voice. It's Horatio. But he didn't come with. Where is Speed?

Movement. "Eric, I need you to open your eyes." Horatio. "Open your eyes, Eric."

Aren't my eyes open?

"Come on buddy. I know you can hear me."

My eyes open. I'm staring at a stark, bright white ceiling. Machines hum around me. Faintly, I hear other voices.

"Hey, buddy," Horatio says.

I turn my gaze to him. He's standing over me. My mouth is dry but I manage to speak.

"Where am I?" I ask.

"The hospital," he replies.

"What?" I must be hearing wrong.

"You're in the hospital, Eric."

I look around. Yep, it's a hospital room. "Shit," I mumble. "Where's Speed?"

Horatio looks away.

"H?"

He sighs. "I was kind of hoping you would tell me."

"Speed is missing?" My heart dies. I try climbing out of bed but H puts a hand on my shoulder.

"Calm down, Eric. You need to remain in bed."

I relax, my head resting against the pillow once again. "None of this makes sense." My gaze falls on Horatio again. "You have nothing?"

He pulls up a chair. "I sent you out to the scene of a disappearance. Speed was to go with you. Both Hagen and Salas report seeing you two leave together."

"We did."

H nods. "I went to my meeting. At ten-o-six I received a phone call from the ER. About you."

"H, how bad is it?" I ask.

"You should be out tomorrow or Wednesday. At the latest, Thursday afternoon. They're not sure yet."

I still can't believe what I'm hearing. "But what about Speed?"

A cloud passes over the sun, darkening the room. "My cell phone recorded a call from him at eleven-thirteen. The call lasted a minute. No one spoke. The connection was lost. We did recover his gun, along with yours, at the scene. Neither one had been fired."

"Speed," I mumble.

"Do you remember anything, Delko?"

"I can't."

He leans forward. "You have to try, Eric. Speed's life could depend on it."

At those words, I cry. I can't help myself.

"Eric," H says, taking my hand, "I know. We'll find him."

My breath catches in my throat. "You know? Know what?"

"About you and Speed."

I feel myself blush. "Uh."

His smile makes me feel a little better. "I wouldn't be a good CSI if I didn't notice things."

I manage a weak smile.

"Look, you rest. I am going to go back to the scene to see how things are proceeding."

Horatio left the room. "Speed," I whispered. My painkillers begin to wear off. I push the call button. A sweet looking nurse in her fifties answers. As the needle hits the IV my brain screams.

"Nurse, please get the man who was just in here back, quickly."

She rushes from the room to catch Horatio. I worry that she won't catch him. I close my eyes to the now fading pain.

"Eric, are you okay?" I hear Horatio ask.

"I remember," I whisper.

"Tell me."

I open my eyes and begin to tell him.

Speed and I hop in one of the Lab's Hummers. I can't believe my fortune in going out with Speed. It's always fun working cases with him. Horatio usually pairs me with Calleigh. Calleigh is a sweet girl but sometimes I think she is a bit too bossy.

We argue over music as we travel to the crime scene. It is one of the few things we never agree on.

Speed looks at a map. "Why the hell are we going to the docks?" Who disappeared?"

"I think H said it was a young lady."

"A young woman on the docks? Doesn't that seem odd to you?"

I'm too busy driving to really think over what he says. "No. What does it matter? It's a case."

He drops the subject. So we rid along in silence. I turn toward the docks. Checking the address I see we're only five minutes away. The siren is getting on my nerves.

"Want to go see the latest Vin Diesel movie tonight?" I ask.

Speed looks at me. "We can't. Remember, our plans are set; dinner with Calleigh." He must see that he upset me. "Tomorrow. I promise."

I park the H2 beside the patrol car. The cop waves us over as we step out. Speed takes charge.

"What's going on?"

The officer flips open his little notebook. "Ruth Joy, sixteen, black hair, green eyes; went missing last night. Her best friend says they came here to meet some guys."

"And?" I ask.

"The best friend and the two boys have solid alibis." The cop points to the other side of his car. "Scene over there suggests a struggle."

"Why don't you let us analyze the scene before you jump to conclusions," Speed says.

"Whatever. I'll be here if you need me."

I follow Speed to the 'crime scene'. The first thing I notice is a torn piece of cloth. Setting down my kit, I take my camera and photograph it from varying angles. Speed stops five feet a head of me. Something on the pavement has caught his attention.

"What have you got?"

"A stain." His voice has a slight echo. The storage containers around us must be empty.

"A stain of what?"

"Might be blood. Could just be oil. Won't know until I get it back to the Lab."

I watch him take a swab. A loud bang makes me jump. I look to see the officer running toward something out of my vision. He's yelling into his radio as he goes.

"Hey, Speed-"

Speed is struggling with a man in a ski mask. His gun lies out of reach on the pavement. I pull my weapon as the attacker places him in a choke hold.

Before I can fire the gun is kicked from my hand. A man grabs my arm and drives a knife into my side. He drags the blade upward. I feel the knife's blade graze over four of my ribs.

Someone yells. I fall to the pavement. The last thing I see before my eyes close is the attacker drive a needle into Speed's arm.

"Then I woke up here," I conclude.

"Do you remember anything else?"

I shake my head I realize that I'm crying again. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Eric. We'll find him."

Horatio leaves. His words don't quiet the nagging feeling that tells me it's too late.