Mind of a Fanatic
Chapter 9
Eric broke the door open on a scene from Hell.
Dupree stood over Calleigh, whip held ready for another blow. Her blood dripped from the tips. She was kneeling in a pool of her own blood, her head down, barely conscious.
"Miami-Dade Police; drop it now, Dupree." Horatio couldn't keep the rage from his voice. "If you so much as twitch that thing at her again, I'll beat you to death myself."
Dupree dropped the whip and put his hands in the air. "There's no need for the gun. I'll accept my penance."
You're going to wish for something as light as penance, asshole. "Lay on your stomach, hands behind you." Horatio cuffed him, and then stood, keeping his foot on the back of Dupree's neck to keep him from moving.
Eric holstered his weapon and knelt at Calleigh's side. With hands that shook badly, he felt for her pulse. It was weak, yet regular. He stroked her dirty, matted and blood-stained hair. "Calleigh, can you hear me?" Please, please let her be…be Calleigh.
"It's about damn time." Her voice was soft, raspy and weak from the screaming. She drew a pained breath. "Start processing the evidence; document, bag and tag."
He couldn't move; he didn't want to. "Calleigh, you need medical attention."
"What I need is him put away." She whispered. "As much as I want your comfort right now, it has to wait. Stop contaminating the evidence. I'm evidence; process me." I'm safe now. I'll be ok, I think. Hurry, Eric, I need help. I need Rescue to get me to a hospital. I'm not stupid enough to think I can walk out of here. I can't walk at all.
Damn it, Delko, you're a CSI and this is your job. Calleigh's going to need expert documentation to make sure this monster is put away forever. Reluctantly, but knowing she was right; Eric stood, drew on gloves and began to photograph her injuries. He felt wrong doing it, like a paparazzi taking embarrassing pictures of people in vulnerable positions. Get over the fact that she's practically your sister in all but DNA and treat this like any other crime scene.
Once all the photos of Calleigh and the post, blood pool and restraints were shot, he knelt again, not caring that her blood soaked into the knees of his trousers. He gently sprung the release on the restraints that kept Calleigh captive. She slumped into his waiting arms, letting out a weak whimper. He tried his best to cradle her without hurting her more, hating the disjointed feel of her normally fit body. Something was terribly wrong with her. He remembered the brief hug on the roof just a few days ago. Her body was trim, fit, hearty, now it felt…wrong, like something tried to pull her apart.
He tried to shift her into a more comfortable position. She let out a cry. "I'm sorry, Cal. I didn't men to hurt you."
"S'ok; I know," she whispered, burying her face in his shoulder. Calleigh couldn't fight it any longer and whimpered like a wounded animal. All she wanted to do was curl up and cry until she had no more tears.
Horatio watched it all from across the room, most of his attention on Dupree and keeping him secure. He had been dimly aware of some sort of conversation between Eric and Calleigh and then Eric standing and photographing her for evidence. His heart twisted. She was evidence. It did not escape his notice when Eric released her from the post and the almost lifeless way she slumped into his arms.
He wanted to be the one that was comforting Calleigh, but he had to keep Dupree from trying to escape. "How is she, Eric?" he asked roughly.
Eric knew what Horatio meant; her physical state was obvious. "She needs medical attention, but she's still our Calleigh. She gave me grief for not processing the evidence first."
A wave of relief swept over Horatio and he almost laughed. That a girl, Calleigh, he thought. He raised his voice and used a tone that was reserved for living victims. "You're going to be ok, Sweetheart. We're going to get you out of here; Rescue is on its way. You hang in there."
"I'm not a four-year-old," she rasped into Eric's shoulder, irritation dripping from every word.
Eric stifled a laugh.
Horatio felt his blood pressure rise. Why was Eric laughing? Just what about Calleigh being nearly beaten to death did he find so damned amusing? "What's so funny?" He asked.
"Change your tone of voice. You're pissing her off," Eric replied with a slight grin. There was the sound of a helicopter approaching and then sounds of sirens wailing in the distance. He cuddled her a little closer, resting his cheek on her head.
"The cavalry has arrived," Horatio said as the Rescue team arrived. Knowing that they'd be processing and assessing a female victim, the partners were women as well.
"Officer Duquesne, I'm Tina." One of them approached Eric and Calleigh while the other one went to retrieve further supplies from the chopper. She knelt down. "Can you hear me?"
"I can hear you," she replied softly, opening her eyes and looking at the woman. She was slender and had long dark brown hair that was secured back in a braid.
"Good, it'll be easier if you can respond to my questions," Tina said, horrified at the other woman's condition. Her training taught her to reign in her reactions. "Other than your back, where else are you hurt?"
"Try everywhere; my back, shoulders, chest, hips, knees….I hurt everywhere." Calleigh choked. "My right shoulder is the worst. I know I felt it give way when he…he.."
"It's alright," Tina said soothingly. What this woman must have gone through… "I'm going to examine you to assess your injuries better. I'm sorry if I hurt you, but I need to let the trauma center know what to expect."
"Ok."
Tina gently began examining her patient, growing more horrified by the second at the bruises and contusions covering her body. She was not deaf to the soft cries and whimpers her touch elicited, no matter how gentle she was. The woman's ankles had abrasions, but other than that, only slight bruising and a little swelling. Tina's hands traveled up the legs to the knees. Bruised and swollen, they could be sprained, or perhaps strained or even dislocated; the hospital would know better. She traveled up to the hips and found the same story there.
"Alright, Officer Duquesne, are you still with me?"
"Yeah," her voice was almost inaudible. The examination had cost her dearly. She fought unconsciousness.
"You said that your right shoulder was the worst. I need to assess that. I'm sorry if I hurt you, but I need to move it." Tina said, gently taking the right forearm and supporting it. It already felt disjointed and loose. She began to lift it.
Calleigh cried out and went limp in Eric's arms.
"She's out," Eric said tightly. "She's got to be in agony."
"Yeah, she is. Being unconscious is probably for the best now. Her shoulder is dislocated. It'll be torture to move her." She turned her attention to her partner. "Andrea, let's load her now while she's out. It'll be easier on her."
Eric was reluctant to let Calleigh go, but only did so because he knew there was nothing he could do for her and that a medical team was waiting for her. He put her on the waiting gurney. "H, I want to go with her to the hospital. She doesn't need to come to surrounded by strangers."
"Holy shit!" Frank exclaimed, entering the "Chapel", Ryan and Natalia close on his heels.
"Frank, take him. Eric, you run the investigation. Process every inch of this place. I'm going with her." Horatio ordered. He had to be with her; to touch her and assure himself that she was still there. He followed the gurney out without waiting for an answer from Eric. Frank was already shoving Dupree out the door and swearing under his breath.
"Yeah," Eric muttered. He changed his gloves; looking up at the sound of someone fighting retching. He caught sight of Natalia bolting from the room. Eric moved off after her.
"Wait, Delko," Ryan said, stopping him. "You're covered in blood. You should let Rescue check you out."
"I'm fine, Wolfe. None of it's mine; it's Calleigh's." His voice was flat, emotionless. He began to remove his shirt, then his pants. "Bag them; they're evidence."
Horatio waited by the chopper as the EMT's secured Calleigh for the flight. Only when he got the sign did he enter and settle himself next to Calleigh. She was ghastly pale from blood loss making the bruises on her face stand out in stark contrast. He took her chill hand in his warm one. "This is my fault, Sweetheart. I'm sorry doesn't even cut it. He took you on my watch. I should have left you with Eric."
She stirred, opening her eyes. "'ratio? Not your fault."
"Sh-h-h, don't talk. You're on your way to the hospital," he cooed.
"Dupree?"
"In custody; Frank has him."
"Good, tell Frank to throw the book at him."
"Close your eyes and rest now. I'll be here the whole time." Horatio said. He heard her breathe something and then her eyes slid shut. She gave his hand a slight squeeze before sleep claimed her.