A/N: Two years. Wow. That is a long time. Things change. CBS decided that they no longer needed CSI: Miami. Jerks. Luckily, I have quite a few years of episodes I can still run through. I know there are some folks who have discovered my little corner of the world during the time I've been gone. Thank you.

I had some recent events and a friend in particular that got me to a place that I needed to be to continue this story. Good or bad. Thank you.

The most familiar folks in this story belong to someone else. I'm just taking them out for a little ride. There are some things pulled directly from "Man Down." Thank you to the great writers, actors and other crew that gave me flesh and bones to work with. Annabel, her family, friends, enemies and some of the dead bodies do belong to me. I don't get any money out of this.

I love the folks who type. You make my day. Please R&R.

Ryan sat slumped in a chair and Calleigh looked like she was ready to fight, when Horatio and Annabel walked into the waiting room. Ryan jumped up.

"H. They said Eric... Is he?"

Horatio looked at the ground. His fingers fidgeting slightly. He looked up first at Ryan then at Calleigh through his eyelashes. He tried to arrange his thoughts, but they were still scattered far and wide. Annabel squeezed his hand. He looked at her and took a deep breath.

"He...Eric...he...lost a lot of blood. It...it went downhill fast. They...they even called it." Calleigh gasped. Ryan slammed his hand into the wall. Horatio cleared his throat. "The doctor pumped Epi into his heart and brought him back. Eric's in surgery right now."

"Thank God," breathed Calleigh.

"He's still in pretty bad shape." Horatio cleared his throat again. "It is still very touch and go." He wrapped his arm around Annabel pulling her close and burying his face in her hair.

"All we can do now is pray," said Annabel softly. "Eric is strong. He won't go down without a fight." Horatio lifted his head. Annabel touched his cheek. "I'll call Eric's family. You need to talk to the rest of your team." He nodded slightly. Annabel brushed her fingers over his face again. Horatio took her hand and looked at it. Annabel gave him a crooked smile. "Yeah. Dr. Hamel called in a favor so I could get it off. How did you think I got back there?" Horatio just looked at Annabel. She grinned, eyes a little watery. "I know. I'm amazing." She squeezed Horatio's hand. "I'll be right back." She looked over at Ryan and Calleigh.

"Do you want help calling Eric's family? " asked Calleigh. Annabel shook her head. She looked over at Horatio. Calleigh followed her gaze and nodded. "We'll help him."

"I'll be right back," she said one more time to Horatio. He gave her a slight nod. Annabel headed outside to make her phone calls. She glanced back just before leaving. Horatio hadn't moved.

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Time crawled as they waited for Eric to come through surgery and recovery and be put in a room. Annabel sat holding Horatio's hand and running her rosary through the other hand, lips moving in silent prayer. Horatio stared forward, thoughts turned inward. Other people from the lab and the department drifted in and out of the waiting room. Alexx, Frank and Calleigh tried several times unsuccessfully to get either Horatio or Annabel to get something to eat or get some fresh air.

A doctor approached the group. Everyone turned their heads.

"Lieutenant Caine?" Horatio stood up. "If you follow me, I can fill you in on Eric Delko."

"Ma'am. These people here would really like to hear what you have to say."

"I'm not sure..."

Calleigh stood up. "He's just going to tell us anyhow. Save the time."

The doctor sighed. "He made it through surgery. There was a lot of blood loss. He had to be revived multiple times. Right now, Mr. Delko is in a coma. We aren't sure if there is any brain damage and won't be able to evaluate him until he comes out of the coma."

"He is going to come out of the coma though?" prompted Annabel.

The doctor looked very seriously at each member of the group. "It's too soon to make that call. All I can say is that we aren't controlling the coma. It isn't medically induced."

"Can we see him?" inquired Horatio.

"One at a time for a few minutes. I'm afraid not for very long."

Horatio nodded. He held out his hand to help Annabel up. "We understand." Annabel stood up beside him and laced her fingers through Horatio's. The doctor nodded and started leading the group upstairs. They were practically silent as they wove their way through the hospital. The doctor came to a stop in a sunlit corridor.

"Who is going in first?" Horatio stepped forward. The doctor nodded. She let Horatio into the room.

Horatio was surprised. He expected it to be dim, but was as sun drenched as the hallway. Eric was still on the bed. A thick bandage wound around his head. Monitors beeped quietly. Horatio silently stared at Eric. He flipped his sunglasses over and over in his hands. He looked out the window then back at Eric. It should have been me. I'm sorry. Horatio paced the room. Finally, he left, feeling so helpless.

Alexx quickly slipped in. She sat down on the edge of the bed and gently touched Eric's leg. She watched his face for signs of movement, but there was only the gentle rise and fall of his chest. Alexx bent her head and sent up a short silent prayer.

Ryan paced the room. His movements were jerky and frustrated. He leaned against the wall and rubbed his face with his hand. His throat prickled. He rubbed his chin again and leaned his face into his hand as he stared at his friend. Ryan felt the rage bubble up. He wanted to hit something. Do something. He stalked from the room. He looked at Annabel and Calleigh. No one spoke. Annabel nodded for Calleigh to go. Calleigh looked unsure.

Annabel broke the silence. "Go ahead, Cal." Calleigh nodded and went into the room. Annabel turned away from the group and looked out the window. Horatio came up behind her and buried his face in her hair. Annabel turned and wrapped her arms around him. She slid her hands up under Horatio's suit coat and lay her ear over his heart. "You do what you need to. What you have to. I'll be here. He won't be alone," she assured him. Annabel met Ryan's eyes. He nodded.

Calleigh felt her chest tighten as she saw Eric stretched out on the bed. She sat down in the chair next to his bed and just stared at him for a couple of minutes. She reached her hand out, but drew it back several times. Calleigh took a deep breath. She took Eric's hand and turned it palm up. She lowered a silver cross on chain into Eric's hand and closed his fingers over it. She sat for a few more heartbeats, her hands covering his. Calleigh got up and walked back out into the hallway. She stopped and looked at Horatio.

"What do you want to do?" she asked. Ryan leaned against the wall scowling. Horatio looked Calleigh in the eye. He stood straight, his face intense. He tilted his head.

"Catch the guy." He walked past Calleigh and headed down the hall. Horatio slid his sunglasses on. Ryan and Calleigh filed out behind him.