Title: His Last Case

Disclaimer: Angst. Violence. Slash.

POV: Calleigh

Chapter Fifteen: A Means To An End
Friday Evening- 9:30pm

I sit in the lab, alone, surrounded by guns. I am so exhausted. This week has been hell. Thankfully, things seem to be working themselves out.

Hagen's shoulder is healing nicely. Yelina is doing well. Delko's stitches will come out soon. My dad is innocent. Best of all, Speed is home.

I sigh in boredom.

Delko strolls by. Why is he here? I quickly track him down in the locker room. He's sitting on the bench.

"Why aren't you with Speed?" I ask.

Delko looks at me. "I'm only here for an hour or so. Speed told me to get out, to get some fresh air."

"So you came here?" I sit beside him.

"I didn't know where else to go."

He's playing with a key. A locker key.

"Speed's?"

Delko actually blushes. "I came for the bottle of cologne he keeps in his locker. He wants something that isn't hospital related."

I kiss him on the cheek. I can tell he wants to be alone.

"I have to talk to Horatio. Don't stay too long. I'm sure Timmy will miss you."

I leave and make my way to Horatio's office. He's sitting inside, looking exhausted. I can only imagine what is going through his mind. There's a single piece of paper on his desk. Odd.

I knock softly on the open door. He looks up.

"Come in."

"Working late again, H?"

I slowly enter the room.

"Not really; just thinking some things over. You?"

"I was just checking on Delko when I saw your light on."

Horatio sighs. "How is Delko doing?"

"As bad as you and I. Probably worse, but he won't let on. You know him."

"It's been hard for all of us."

"We should take time off, H. The Lab will be fine. The swing shift can cover for us. No one would be surprised if we didn't come in for a week. What do you say?"

Horatio eyes me. "Can you leave, Cal? Can you just walk out that door?"

I sit in a spare chair. "It's hard, Horatio. A lot has happened this week. A lot of bad things. But we did what we could. No one could expect more."

Horatio says nothing.

In an attempt to brighten things, I say, "Let's go fetch Delko and go out. We all need it. What do you say? Want to get a drink? Have a bit of supper?"

Horatio stands, picking his sunglasses off the desk. "I'm sorry, Cal, I'll have to take a rain-check. Why don't you and Delko take tomorrow off?"

Horatio leaves before I can reply. Horatio's attitude takes me by surprise. Something on the desk catches my attention. It's the sheet of paper. I know not to snoop through my boss's stuff, but my curiosity gets the best of me.

Fifteen minutes later Delko finds me still in Horatio's office.

"Here you are, Cal. I've been looking all over the lab for you."

I say nothing. My eyes never leave the paper in my hand.

"Whatcha' got there?"

I hand the paper to him without a word.

Delko reads aloud, "I am Lieutenant Horatio Caine, head of the Crime Scene Investigation Day Team, and this is my letter of resignation…'"

The End
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