The New Recruits

Chapter7

Raymond pulled up to the house with apprehension running through him. This was the man that knew his father, who tried to kill Horatio and the others all those years ago, and possibly tried it again two weeks ago. He checked his side arm to make sure that it was ready , in the event of him needing it. He surveyed the house, noticing the paint peeling and the shutters hanging by one loose nail. This definitely did not look like a house that someone lived in if they were trying to do better. It resembled a meth house, where the boys and girls would come to get tweaked and reek havoc on any spare electronics that were laying about. Raymond glanced at the uniform that came with him and he proceeded forward, with his gun drawn.

He put his fist up to knock on the door, knowing full well if this house was spilling over with tweakers, he would have his hands full for the rest of the day. Knocking, he listened for any sounds that were coming out of the house. When he didn't hear any, he identified himself.

" Detective Caine ,Miami- Dade P.D. ! Open up!"

Silence returned to him and he inhaled deeply. He knocked again, this time with more force,

" We just want to talk to you, Chaz. C'mon open up the door." Raymond listened again and this time he heard a glass break and then gunshots. He motioned for the patrol to take the other side and then he kicked the door open. As he entered he raised his gun to eye level and walked forward slowly.

" Clear this way Detective Caine," the uniform said as he took the left side.

" Clear," Raymond reported as he saw a body lying on the floor. He knelt down to the body and felt for a pulse, not finding one. His eyes searched the home , which was a step up from a dumpster for anything that could tell him what had happened here. He then got up and walked to the patio door where he saw a blood spot on the cement. Grabbing for his cell phone he dialed the number for the lab, getting Jen.

"Jen, it's Raymond. We've got a scene at the address given this morning. Can you make it?"

" Sure, Ray," Jen said obviously in the middle of something. " I'll grab my dad and head on down there."

" Can you bring Calleigh and RJ as well. We are going to need everyone here," Raymond said as he gazed out into the light blue sky.

" I f I can find them. I'll give them a call on their cells. But we will be there," Jen said as she hung up the phone.

Raymond flipped his phone down and walked back into the living room. The uniform had checked the different rooms and cleared the house. All he had to do was wait.

She didn't know why she was there. After having the conversation with Jacinda, Calleigh had left firearms and got on the elevator. She ignored the questions that arose in her as she got into her car and began to drive. As she came to the house, she gripped the wheel with apprehension.

What do you think you are doing? She asked herself. She sighed and turned her car off and sat there for a minute. Gathering herself, she opened the door and walked up to the front door. Leave, her mind screamed. Instead, she pushed the door bell. After a moment she heard the locks to the door tumbling. Then in an instant he was standing in front of her.

" Calleigh, what are you doing here?" Tim asked truly surprised.

" I had to see you Tim," Calleigh said as she lightly swiped at her bangs that covered her eye.

" Well , come in."

" Thanks, Tim."

Calleigh walked into the foyer of the home and stood by the door.

" Go ahead in the living room, it's going to take me a minute to get there," Tim said as he closed the door.

" How are you doing with your ankle?" Calleigh asked as she watched him tenderly walk.

" Alright, I suppose. I really can't wait to get back to work. I fear, I will drive Robin out of my life with my attitude," Tim said lightly. Calleigh felt the weight in his words despite his attempts.

" So what has you in an uproar?"

" Did you know RJ is in love with Jacinda?" Calleigh asked as she sat down.

" No, but why would this be a cause for concern? He's only doing what his old man couldn't do."

" Which is?"

" Go for the woman that he loved." Tim said not taking his eyes off of her. The intensity between them was heavy and it saturated the air.

" Tim,..." Calleigh started as she got lost in his chocolate eyes.

" Honey, who was that at the door?" she said as she walked into the living room. " Oh Calleigh. How are you? How's Phillip?"

Calleigh could feel the icy glare that drifted off of her as she stood next to Tim.

" I'm fine," Calleigh lied. She glanced at Tim and he saw the despair in her expression.

" Robin, we were just talking about RJ and Jacinda. It seems that they like each other," Tim said trying to thaw out the room. The presence of these two women was unnerving.

" Really?"

" Yes, Calleigh was just..."

" Leaving," Calleigh said as she got up.

" Cal, you just got here," Tim said in a pleading tone. He looked at Robin who had a light smirk on her face.

" I told you what I wanted to tell you and..." Calleigh said as her cell phone rang. She breathed a sigh of relief as she flipped the phone up and turned her back to them. When she finished, she flipped the phone back down and gathered herself. " I've got to go. Tim it was nice talking to you. Robin."

" Calleigh, wait." Tim said as he attempted to catch her before she got to the front door.

" I gotta go , Tim."

" Calleigh..."

Calleigh put her hand on the door and paused for a moment. She felt the familiar sting of tears as she felt him stand behind her. She didn't want to leave , but she knew that it could never be.

" I love you, Tim," Calleigh said softly as she swung the door open and walked out. Tim stood there and watched her get into her car. He had heard her. His heart broke as she peeled away from the curb. Again , he had lost her.

Maddison took his limp hand into hers. There had been no change and the doctor was starting to circle. She held out hope that he would hear her pleas and return back to her.

" Horatio, you have got to come out of this. If you don't they are going to take you off of the machine. I can't lose you, Uncle Horatio," she said with tears streaming down her face. " Fight to stay with us."

She squeezed his hand to let him know that she was here then she gently pushed a red strand away from his eyes. He had to come back.

" Ms. Caine, we have to ..." the doctor said from behind her.

" I thought that it wasn't going to be until tomorrow," Maddison said as she looked back at the doctor. She could imagine she looked a sight.

" It's a matter of schematics , Ms. Caine. Today, tomorrow... He's not expected to come out of this," the doctor said rather harshly.

" Aren't you supposed to give the patient a chance?" Maddison asked with acid in her voice. She couldn't believe that this doctor was going this route with her.

" When it's obvious that he's not going to recover..."

" Stop saying that! He could come out of it."

" Highly unlikely, Ms. Caine. We have to do this."

Maddison dropped her head in defeat, there was no talking to this guy.

" Just give me a few more minutes. If he's not going to come out of it, then I deserve to have a few more minutes with him," Maddison said not turning around to face him. The doctor sighed then turned and walked out the room . He would come back.

" Uncle Horatio, you have been the father that I never had. You've been there for me so many times and you've always put yourself on the line just to see me happy. I love you, so you have to stay with me. You can't leave. Please don't leave me."

Maddison sat there watching him, hoping that he would respond. Nothing returned to her and she began to weep heavily. In a desperate attempt she began to shove at him, her emotions taking on a life of their own.

" Dammit, Horatio, wake up! You still have work to do! You can't leave , not now. Wake up! Wake up!"

The doctor heard the commotion and entered the room quickly. He grabbed her arms as she continued to shove at him.

" Ms. Caine, please. It's time..."

" Please give him one more day," Maddison begged. Her eyes had started to match her hair.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Caine, but a DNR is what it is. We have to respect his wishes," the doctor said as nurses entered the room.

" But you are not giving him a chance," Maddison said looking back at him. He remained motionless with the exception of his chest rising and falling. " He deserves a chance."

" I'm sorry, Ms. Caine. We have to do this. If you would please," the doctor said as he gently grabbed her by her arm. The nurses moved into position on either side of Horatio. Maddison continued to watch him , praying at the last minute he would open his eyes.

Maddison stood by as they started to turn off machines. One by one , each machine was turned off and Maddison felt her tears running down her face like a river. She stood there and watched them take his chance, his life away and she was powerless to do anything.

"I'm truly sorry for your loss," the doctor said as he walked past her. " you'll have a few moments with him until they come to get him."

Maddison said nothing in return and continued to watch him. All of a sudden, she saw his hand twitch. She watched him carefully and she saw his eyelids flutter. Her heart leaped into her throat as she hurriedly grabbed his hand and squeezed it. She smiled through her tears as she felt him squeeze back.

" Doctor, I think you need to see this," Maddison said as she stepped away from Horatio.

The doctor sucked in a ragged breath and almost dropped the chart that he was holding. Horatio Caine had opened his eyes.

TBC...

A/N: I was back and forth about this... I just couldn't bring myself to kill H:)