A week passed, and then Alexx was headed into work when she saw a car pull up that was unfamiliar. She looked at it, and saw three men in it, and got a clear view of all three of them. She immediately committed their faces to memory, and then turned and began to walk briskly into the lab. She heard shots and dropped to the ground, but not in time. Two bullets struck her back and she crumpled, still conscious.
Meanwhile, Calleigh had heard the shots and ran outside, pulling her gun. She aimed it at the car and shot twice. She hit one of the tires, and then hit the engine, effectively blowing it up. She holstered her gun and dropped to the ground next to Alexx.
"Call a bus!" She heard an officer shout, and then heard Horatio's voice say roughly,
"Why? Let me through, let me through!" Calleigh's eyes found Alexx's and Calleigh murmured,
"Hang in there, Alexx, stay with me, c'mon now, stay with me, Alexx,"
"Oh my God, Calleigh, are you okay?" Horatio said, kneeling down next to her, and she looked at him with anguished eyes and said,
"I'm fine, but, Alexx, she's been shot, twice in the back,"
"All right, then, let's get a bus here right now!" Horatio called over his shoulder and then an ambulance roared up and loaded Alexx up.
"Go, Horatio, I'll process and then meet you there," He looked at her and she added,
"I'll call you if I find anything, okay?"
"All right, thanks," He said quietly to Calleigh, and then murmured to an officer,
"I want at least three officers here at all times with her, no less, and keep an eye on her. If something happens to her on your watch, it won't be pleasant,"
"Yes sir," The officer replied, and Horatio jumped in the ambulance with Alexx. Calleigh processed the scene, and then documented all the evidence. The car that had blown up had killed two men, but one had gotten away. And, like the other cases, the DNA of the man that had gotten away was consistent with one man from all the other cases. She had their names, addresses and everything, but couldn't find the three men that were missing themselves. She sat at her lab, going over all the evidence, not finding anything. Finally, she called Horatio and said, frustration in her voice,
"I cannot find a single thing, Horatio! It's, it's so frustrating!"
"I know, Calleigh, I know," Horatio said, his voice weary, yet ringing with emotion, so Calleigh snapped out of it and said,
"How's Alexx?"
"She'll be okay, it wasn't too bad,"
"How're the others?"
"They're getting better. Eric might be released in a few weeks if he's good,"
"Well, that's good,"
"Yeah," They talked about the case, and then Calleigh said,
"I'm going to get back to work, Horatio, I'll call you if I get something."
"Yes, keep me posted,"
"Always," They hung up and Calleigh went back to the evidence.
She worked late, but barely noticed the clock. Then, she felt a hand on her shoulder and jerked to the side to see Horatio standing there, a half smile on his face.
"She's going to be okay?" Calleigh asked, and Horatio nodded, saying,
"She's going to be fine, her husband and kids are with her now,"
"Good," Calleigh sighed, and then Horatio said softly,
"Go home, Calleigh,"
"Is that an order?"
"Yes, it is. Actually, I'm taking you home,"
"Is there any point in arguing?"
"None,"
"Fine," Calleigh sighed, and packed up the evidence. She walked with Horatio out and got in his Hummer, and he got in the drivers side. On the way to Calleigh's house, they were silent, both of them thinking about the vendetta that had seemed to have been released on the team. When Horatio parked in Calleigh's driveway, she said quietly,
"Thanks for the lift, Horatio,"
"No problem," He replied, and then she slid out. He followed her and then made sure she locked her door before driving away. She watched him go, praying for his safety.
That night, they both lay awake, sleepless and Calleigh got up and went through the evidence. She discovered something, but had to wait until she could confirm it at the lab.