Stay With You

Chapter 4

Calleigh sat on the edge of the examination bed as she waited for her doctor to come in. She nervously shook her leg on the table, feeling the vibrations under her. There was no reason for anything to be wrong, she had taken it easy since she found out that she was pregnant, but she had been going through a lot of stress since Horatio's shooting. Instantly, her mind went to her family and she felt the intense need to call and check up on them. She moved to get to her clothes when the door to the room opened suddenly. All thoughts of a cell phone evaporated when her doctor walked in.

" So, Calleigh, how have you been feeling?" the doctor asked as she flipped open her file. Her glasses sat on the edge of her nose, making Calleigh think of past school teachers.

" Fine, just stressed, is all," Calleigh replied as she exhaled. " Why , is there a problem?"

" No, no everything looks fine. Your blood pressure was slightly elevated, but I expect that this won't become a problem. Just keep yourself calm."

" Okay," Calleigh replied simply as she nodded her head. There had been so much to be stressed over, she was amazed that it wasn't higher.

" How are things with Horatio? Is he getting any better?"

" Day by day, but he still has pain. I worry about him," Calleigh said as she closed her eyes and laid back on the bed. At that moment, she was worried.

"Calleigh, if he is doing well, there's nothing to worry about. This is the type of stress that you need to avoid."

" I know, but sometimes I just can't help it. I think about what could've happened. I could've lost him..."

" Calleigh, you didn't. He's still here and now you have to focus on being mentally as well as physically well for the baby. Can you work on it?"

" I'll try, doc," Calleigh replied as she opened her eyes to smile.

" Good. I want you back in two weeks for your first ultra sound. Continue to take the prenatal vitamins and, by all means, try and stay calm. Any questions?"

" No, I think I'm good," Calleigh returned as she sat up straight. The doctor smiled and then handed her the file.

" When you check out, make the appointment. Have a good day, Calleigh," the doctor said as she opened the door and walked out.

Calleigh got up quickly and dressed, looking at her watch. She still had to take the twins to the babysitter's before she went to work. It had been bad enough that she had taken sometime for this appointment, and she didn't want to compound the problem with being late.

In a matter of minutes, Calleigh was back in the H3, headed for the park. She could hardly wait to see her family.

S/S

Sascha woke up slowly , letting her eyes focus on their own time. She strained her ears to hear any sounds , noticing that the house was eerily quiet. Sascha shrugged and figured that Sam and her father had retreated to be alone. She smiled to herself at the thought of Sam becoming her step mother, and got up gingerly off of the bed.

As she walked out of her bedroom, she saw the table as she left it, with three cups and three plates. They didn't have anything, she thought as she continued to walk. Coming to the stairwell, Sascha could hear soft cries in between the sounds of gagging.

" Dad? Sam?" Sascha called from the bottom. When silence returned, she began to panic. "Dad! Sam? Are you guys okay?"

Sascha waited for another minute and when she heard nothing, not even the sounds of crying, she grasped onto the banister and lifted herself up onto the stairs. She climbed the stairs as quick as she could, not knowing what her eyes would see when she got up there. Coming to the top of the stairs, she took a moment to catch her breath, then walked into the master bedroom. She saw Sam's luggage on the bed untouched. Sascha let her eyes wander in the master bedroom before being satisfied enough to move on. She then went into the hallway, and glanced into the bathroom, seeing her legs as they lay at an odd angle, jutting out of the door way. Sascha immediately went to her and knelt down slowly, trying to get a better look.

" Sam! Are you okay?" Sascha asked as she moved her long blond hair out of her face. Sascha knew from her skin color that everything wasn't okay. She checked for a pulse before getting up slowly to get to a phone. Her hands shook as she tried to dial her father's cell phone number. While waiting for him to pick up , she saw Sam's cell phone lying on the bed. She flipped it open and dialed 911,heading back into the bathroom.

" 911 what is your emergency?" Sascha heard the dispatch say.

Sascha hesitated for a moment, hoping to hear her father's voice on the other phone. But when she didn't hear it, she replied, " My step mom is passed out on the bathroom floor. She doesn't look well, she's blue."

" How long has she been like that?" the dispatcher asked.

" I don't know! Can you send someone, please?" Sascha asked somewhat angrilyas she glanced down at Sam. Her color seemed to be getting worse.

" Okay, okay, remain calm..."

" I am calm," Sascha replied trying to hold back the tears. " Just send someone. 1325 S . Sycamore Ave. Hurry!"

" A unit has been dispatched to the location, stay on the line."

Sascha nodded as she heard her father's voice on the other phone.

You've reached Tim Speedle, leave a message ...

"Daddy! There's something wrong with Sam. We are on the way to the hospital. I'll have Sam's cell phone," Sascha said as she heard the sirens blaring in the distance. She hung up the phone and sat it down on the sink. When she heard the sirens closing in on the house, she flipped Sam's phone down and caressed her face. " They're here, Sam. Hold on, they're here."

Sascha felt a tear drop as she heard the paramedics at the door. Moving to go downstairs, she hoped that it wasn't too late.

S/S

"Speedle, I know that you have been on the job only for three weeks, and that most of the cases reviewed fall under Horatio's watch ,but you've got to know how this looks for your lab," Stetler said as he sat behind his desk. He used his hands as he talked, a gesture that drove Tim insane. He wasn't in the mood for this , but he sat through it , knowing that the faster he got through this, the faster he could talk to Sam. Stetler continued, " That being said, I want you to help the independent investigation as much as possible."

" I will do all that I can to help this along, Rick. But what I don't understand is where did this come from? Up until now, we've had a sterling conviction rate. Horatio's team was second to none."

" I guess this is where the investigation will help us," Stetler replied smartly. " My advice to you, Speedle is not to try and cover for anyone. If something is in error, it will be found out and dealt with. No matter who it is."

" Right," Tim said sarcastically. It was no secret how Stetler felt about Horatio, " Are you sure that this isn't some revenge game that you are playing with H?"

Stetler let a glare come on his face, but just as quickly, replaced it with a tight smile, " I'm going to let that slide, Speedle. Just be warned, if a discrepancy is found, the one responsible will be out of a job. Don't let that be you."

Tim glared at Stetler then felt his phone vibrate at his side, " Are we done here?"

Stetler nodded and then stood, giving Tim the chance to hit the door without saying anything. When he got out into the corridor, he flipped up his phone to see a message waiting on his voice mail.

"Daddy! There's something wrong with Sam. We are on the way to the hospital. I'll have Sam's cell phone..."

At the sound of his daughter's calm yet fear laced voice, he felt his heart plummet. He began to dial Sam's cell phone number as he raced through the corridor.

Hi you've reached Samantha Spade, leave your name and number and I'll get back with you...

As he heard her voice ,he cursed under his breath and fished into his pocket to get his keys to the SUV and sprinted across the parking lot. He threw the hulking SUV into reverse quickly and spun out heading for the hospital.

TBC...