I just HAVE to say thank you to all the reviewers who left such wonderful feedback! I've never had so many reviews from a single chapter! Is that all it took was a cliffhanger to get reviewers to come out of the woodwork? grins Well thank you from the bottom of my heart! As reward to all the kind reviewers, here's another chapter! See how motivated I get when people give feedback? hint hint Thank you again! You're the best!

Chapter 20

Samantha sat numbly in the waiting room, eyes staring blankly ahead. Her hysteria had passed just minutes ago and in it's wake sat a numbing sense of disbelief. Her arrival at the hospital was nothing but a blur. She vaguely remembered being taken into Calleigh's arms when she walked through the hospital doors. She remembered Ryan and Eric looking at her with sympathetic eyes. She didn't want their sympathy. She wanted this to be a dream. Just a horrible dream. This isn't happening. This can't be happening. But it was happening. It wasn't a dream. Horatio was in surgery fighting for his life.

Hours passed and no word came regarding Horatio's condition. Calleigh and Eric sat next to one another, each of them quietly praying that tonight they wouldn't be faced with the loss of their boss and friend. No… friend and boss. After all, that's what Horatio was. He was a friend first, and a boss second. On Horatio's team, friendship was an important part of the workplace. It was those strong ties that helped the team function so seamlessly.

Both Calleigh and Eric found themselves remembering what it had felt like to lose Timothy Speedle over a year ago. If any comfort was to be found in the death of Tim it was that it had at least been quick. Waiting was the cruelest agony.

Ryan sat alone in the far corner of the hospital waiting room. His thoughts were consumed by what his life would be like without Horatio in it. As corny as it sounded, Ryan did look at Horatio like a father. The man had been so willing to accept Ryan into the fold of his CSIs. Without Horatio, would Ryan still be patrolling the streets? Ryan never told Horatio that one of the reasons he wanted to be a CSI was because of him. Horatio Caine and his legendary CSIs. Ryan bowed his head as hot tears pricked behind his eyes. They couldn't lose him.

Samantha had never considered herself to be an unhappy person. She had a loving family, close friends, and always a steady job. She wasn't rich, but she didn't really want for anything either. She had a good life. And she'd always thought it was all she needed.

At thirty, Samantha realized that while she was by no means old, there was a chance marriage and love had passed her by. It hadn't bothered her. She didn't need those things in her life to be happy.

Then Horatio had come crashing quite literally into her life. Samantha had friends who claimed their mates were the product of "love at first sight." It had always sounded so corny to Samantha, like something out of a fairy tail. The world was fast and often cruel. There wasn't time for love at first sight. Of course that had all changed that fateful day when she opened her eyes to find herself lost in twin pools of deep ocean blue. From that moment on, she was lost. A smile came to Samantha's face as she remembered that moment. She really had thought he was an angel. Now she knew he was an angel. He was her angel.

Samantha may have been happy before Horatio came into her life, but if she lost him now… she wasn't sure if she'd ever be happy again.

The silence in the waiting room was broken suddenly by the sound of Samantha letting out a choked sob as she buried her face in her hands. Calleigh came instantly to Samantha and wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulder.

"He's going to be all right, Samantha. Horatio's a fighter. He'll pull through this."

Samantha shook her head. "It's not just that… I'll… I'll never forgive myself if those are the last words I said to him." Her voice cracked and her shoulders shook from her inability to control her weeping.

"What do you mean?" Eric asked quietly, thinking he had some understanding of what Samantha might be referring to. Word, after all, did travel fast at the MDPD Crime Lab.

Samantha sighed dejectedly, trying desperately to avoid breaking down again. "His ex-wife showed up at the lab today. To make a long story short, I attacked her." She glanced down absently at her bruised knuckles. "Horatio was displeased at my conduct. And he was right to be… I knew better than that but… she just made me so angry. And instead of apologizing and telling Horatio he was right… I told him to go to hell! My husband is laying on an operating table fighting for his life and the last thing said to him was 'go to hell!'"

Calleigh smiled softly and placed a comforting hand on Samantha's shoulder. "Honey… couples fight all the time. You can't dwell on what you said last. And you won't have to… because he's going to make it. And the next words you say to him can be 'I love you.'"

Those compassionate words were Samantha's undoing and she broke down into hysterical sobbing once more. Calleigh held her while she cried, coo'ing softly and assuring her as best she could that Horatio would be ok. Calleigh's eyes shot heavenwards and she silently prayed. Please don't take him away from us. Please don't take him away from Samantha.

"Mrs. Caine?" A young dark haired doctor inquired softly from the doorway to the waiting room.

"Yes?" Samantha's head shot up and she turned her bloodshot eyes towards the young doctor. She quickly got to her feet and walked to him. "How is my husband?"

The doctors responding smile shot through Samantha with a brilliant ray of hope. "Your husband wouldn't give up on us, Mrs. Caine. He's unconscious, but I think he's going to be all right. He's heavily sedated to allow his body some time to heal. We'll know more when he wakes up but…I think he's going to be fine."

Tears streamed down Samantha's face as she nodded her understanding to the doctor. "Can I see him?"

The doctor nodded. "Of course. Please follow me."

----------------------------

Samantha stopped abruptly in the doorway when she caught sight of her husband. She wasn't prepared for Horatio's pale and unmoving form in that hospital bed. Half the room seemed to be filled with beeping and ticking machines as tubes crisscrossed and ran in and out of Horatio's body. Though she'd known him only a few months, she'd never seen him look so weak and helpless. Something told her that was because he'd never been this weak and helpless. Horatio was strong. Samantha could only pray he would be strong again. She nodded briefly to the doctor who closed the door softly and left them to their privacy.

Samantha sat down by Horatio's bedside and gently took his pale white hand in hers, careful not to disturb the IV. She trembled softly and let her eyes move to his pale face. "I love you, Horatio." She whispered softly. "I'm so sorry…" Her voice cracked and she took a deep shuddering breath before continuing. "You just hang on for me ok? I… I don't think I would make it without you." Samantha bowed her head and gently kissed his hand. "Please don't leave me…" She whispered brokenly.