Chapter 2

"Doctor? Doctor, how is she doing?" Horatio stood as the doctor approached him in the waiting area.

"She's a very lucky young woman, Lieutenant Caine. She sustained a fairly serious concussion and blacked out after the crash. I understand the officer who found her failed to check for vital signs?"

Horatio nodded. "He did."

The Doctor continued. "We gave her a transfusion due to the amount of blood lost, but other than the concussion and some deeper wounds on her head and neck, she's doing quite well. It could have been a lot worse."

"Thank you very much, Doctor. May I speak with her?"

The doctor nodded. "Go ahead, Lieutenant. She's alert and snapping at the nurses." He smirked before continuing. "And I don't think I have to remind you to please try and keep it brief?"

Horatio nodded. "Of course, Doctor. Thank you."

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"I said I'm fine… no I don't need another pillow!" Samantha Higgins felt bad snapping at the nurses. She knew they were only trying to help her. But damn it, she had one hell of a headache and she just wanted to be left alone! Attempting to scratch an itch she couldn't reach through the white bandage that wrapped around her head, Samantha sighed with relief as the last nurse finally left the room. Looking away for a moment, Samantha's gaze came back to the doorway to find it filled with the presence of a tall and rather attractive red haired man entering her room. She smiled softly. Now this kind of company she didn't mind at all.

He was smiling at her as he moved to stand beside her bed. "How are you feeling, Miss?" He asked softly. She chuckled, wincing slightly at the pain that lashed through her head.

"I'm feeling better. And Miss is better than Ma'am, thank you. But please, call me Samantha."

He smiled, pulling the room's only chair closer to the bed as he sat down. "You remember that huh? For a young woman with a concussion you have an amazing memory."

"Yeah well I have a hard head… it's going to take a lot more than a car crash to keep me down."

Horatio chuckled and nodded his response. "Would you mind telling me what you remember about the accident?"

Samantha snorted. "Sure no problem. I don't remember a thing."

"Nothing at all?" Horatio prodded gently.

Samantha sighed, closing her eyes as she tried to remember. "I was on my way to drop off an application for a job interview..." She paused as if she'd just thought of that. "Damn… so much for that job. Anyway… one minute I was driving and the next…well…" She paused, her cheeks turning slightly pink as she glanced back at Horatio. "…The next I was looking at you." Horatio bowed his head slightly, not sure why he felt flattered to have made her blush. "What did happen?" She asked.

Horatio looked up. "Well… you were driving under a bridge that was under construction. One of the sand bags fell off the bridge and hit the windshield of your car. We're not sure if it was accidental or a prank, but my team is at the scene investigating as we speak." Horatio noticed Samantha's eyes suddenly open wide.

"Your team?" She asked.

Horatio nodded. "Yes. I apologize, I haven't introduced myself have I?" He offered his hand. "Horatio Caine… Head of the ---."

"—Miami-Dade Crime Lab." She finished for him. He nodded, unsure why she suddenly placed her hands over her face and moaned. She peaked out from behind her fingers.

"Can I have a job?" She mumbled behind her hands.

Horatio arched an eyebrow as his mind wrapped around the appropriate conclusion. "You were applying for the open position in ballistics?" She nodded. Horatio smiled sadly and cast his eyes downward, remembering Calleigh's recent resignation as the reason for the open position. Samantha didn't miss the expression.

"You already filled the position didn't you? I knew I should have come earlier."

Horatio shook his head, looking back up at Samantha. "No. The position is still open. I was just remembering the person who previously filled it. She resigned not more than a month ago after the death of a colleague. It was rather sudden."

"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that." Samantha replied honestly. Horatio's eyes flashed an unrecognizable emotion when her hand gently touched his shoulder. She smiled at him when their eyes met and put her hand gently back in her lap.

"Well…" Horatio broke the silence that had stretched between them. "Why don't you get some rest, and we'll schedule that interview when you're feeling a bit better."

She flashed him a brilliant smile. "Really? Do you promise not to hire anyone until I've had my interview?"

Horatio laughed at this, nodding his head. "I promise." He stood then, his hands resting automatically on his hips as he looked down at her. "I'll stop by and see how you're feeling tomorrow. Goodnight Samantha."

"Goodnight, Lieutenant."

Horatio shook his head. "Uh uh…Horatio."

Samantha smiled. "Goodnight, Horatio."