A/N: Thanks again to everyone who read and reviewed and added this story to their favorites. Hang on for the ride! Warning: Violence in this chapter.
Chapter 3-
"Jake is such a bad driver!" I thought as the car inched forward, I was sitting in the backseat with my back against the door. I gazed out the window opposite me at the many restaurants , and shops zooming past me in a hurry. It felt as if I was frozen in time and the world was flying by me as I stood back and watched. Calleigh and Jake were sitting up front in complete silence, the radio turned off due to the argument the pair had had about which station to play. It was not pretty!
I closed my eyes, stress taking a toll on my body. It had been a long and exhausting day and I was looking forward to relaxing. I had no idea what was in store for me. The car accelerated into the next lane, and stopped at a red light. Leaning my head back against the window I dozed off into a deep sleep.
20 minutes later the sound of car doors slamming shut brought me out of my deep sleep. My blue eyes slowly fluttered open, I was still feeling groggy from sleep but I shook it off and climbed out of the backseat into the sunshine. I glanced at Calleigh who shot me a small smile and lead the way up the path leading to the front door of my one-story brick home.
Digging into the front pocket of my black slacks for my house keys, I unlocked the front door and stepped into the narrow hallway opening up into the medium-sized living room. The sound of high heels clicking on the hardwood floor and heavy footsteps followed me deeper into the house.
"What movie are we watching?" Calleigh's sweet voice drawled. I walked into the kitchen and tossed my keys onto the island carelessly along with my firearm and spun around to answer her.
"What about Prom Night?" I asked, looking at the pair standing in front of me. Calleigh's face had gone pale, she was looking at something in the distance. Jake stood protectively beside her, his right hand moving towards the gun holstered at his side. I had no idea what was going on but I was about to find out.
"That sounds like a great movie, too bad you won't get to watch it anytime soon." An unfamiliar male voice hissed from behind me. I froze dead in my tracks, adrenaline and fear rushing through my blood.
Calleigh stood still, her eyes displaying the fear and panic coursing through her system. The platinum blonde stared straight ahead. Mimicking the brunette detective's actions her right hand moved towards her firearm instinctively.
Before any of us had a chance to react, the intruder pushed me out of the way firing a shot into Jake's chest. He dropped to the ground, clutching his chest. In one quick movement the ballistics expert unholstered her gun. The intruder stepped forward and cocked his pistol to the side. Calleigh's emerald green eyes widened and as I watched helplessly in horror the intruder fired a shot into the blonde's shoulder, knocking her backward. Blood seeped through her white blouse, soaking the front of her shirt. Jake lay motionless on the cold hardwood floor a few inches away from her. She cradled her shoulder in pain, crying out. Calleigh didn't dare glance in Jake's direction; fearing what she might see.
The expression on the intruder's face was blank, his brown eyes were ice cold. I hugged my knees bringing them to my chest, rocking back and forth slightly. He turned toward me, burning a hole into me with one look. Taking long strides he stopped in front of me and reached for my arm, pulling me off the floor violently. He dragged me throughout the living room. I stole a look at the platinum blonde on the way to the front door, my eyes desperately pleading for help. Calleigh looked up ignoring the burning pain in her right shoulder and our eyes locked for a moment. I saw the fear in her green eyes swimming around in the tears flowing down her face.
The moment passed and I was brought back to reality. My arm felt like it was going to pop out of my socket. I was dragged outside, the harsh bright light hurting my eyes which were red from crying. "Keep moving and don't say a word." My abductor whispered. A large white van was parked in my paved driveway. The brown-haired abductor quickly opened the back doors and pushed me inside.
I knew what was coming next; I had seen it many times in movies and cases I worked so I expected the pain. Before the black pistol could connect with my skull and knock me out cold I thought, "Please don't let me die." Seconds later the darkness become my best friend and everything went black.
--
Eric busted through the emergency room doors, panic and sheer terror written all over his tanned face. The moment the Cuban CSI had been informed of the shooting at my home he had raced to Miami General. One image had been engraved in his mind the entire trip to the hospital: Calleigh.
Delko slowed to a walk and entered the emergency room waiting room where Natalia, Alexx, Ryan, Horatio and Frank were gathered all waiting for an update on Calleigh's condition. Horatio stood up and walked over to the younger man, bringing him to the side.
"How's Calleigh doing?" Eric asked, his brown eyes locked with the older man's piercing blue ones.
"She's still in surgery." He replied softly, twiddling with his usual pair of sunglasses.
"What happened H?" Eric questioned, his voice almost breaking as he struggled to keep it together.
Horatio shifted his weight to his right foot. "Before Calleigh passed out on the stretcher she told us that an intruder most likely broke in through the back door before they arrived home and appeared out of no where. He shot Jake in the chest killing him and shot Calleigh in the shoulder, later abducting Anna." Horatio replied, his tone even.
Eric dropped into a plastic waiting room chair, his mind going a million miles an hour. He cradled his head in his hands, Alexx scooting toward him and placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. Calleigh's going to be devastated about Jake, I hope Anna's alright.
The group grew silent, each lost in their own thoughts. The ER waiting room was busy that night. To Eric's far left a couple sat together, holding hands and praying for the best for their son. Across from the couple, an older blonde-haired woman consoled a young red-haired woman who was weeping quietly. All the occupants seemed to have their own dilemma's to worry about.
Hours slowly passed before the ER doors swung open and a gray-haired surgeon stepped out into the waiting room wearing blue scrubs. "Family for Calleigh Duquesne?"
The team rose from their seats instantly relieved to finally be updated on Calleigh's condition. The surgeon walked over to them. "I'm Dr. Thomas, Ms. Duquesne made it through surgery just fine and she's being transported to the ICU." He announced.
Eric heaved a mental sigh of relief, Natalia and Alexx hugged each other and patted Ryan on the back.
Horatio and the doctor shook hands and chatted for a few more minutes. The doctor informing them the blonde could have one visitor at a time. Horatio asked him to bag Calleigh's clothing and the bullet excreted from her shoulder. The doctor agreed and walked off.
Horatio walked back over to the group. "Eric you should go see Calleigh first, I'll call her father and inform him about the situation."
Eric nodded and stalked over to the reception desk asking the plump black-haired nurse the ballistic experts room number. She smiled and pulled up the information on her computer. Armed with the room number he made the short trip down the hallway and up the stairs, stopping outside her doorway.
Taking a deep breath, The Cuban investigator stepped into the dark hospital room. Calleigh looked small and fragile on the hospital bed, looking more vulnerable than he had ever seen her. Her eyes were closed and her face was pale. Her right shoulder was bandaged, and she was wearing a standard issued paper hospital gown. Eric tried not to make any noise as to not disturb the platinum blonde. Walking over to her bedside he took the visitors chair and squeezed her left hand. Millions of emotions coursed through his body, he ducked his head the room blanketed in silence.
That's when it happened. Calleigh squeezed his hand back and her green eyes slowly fluttered open. Eric smiled at the sight of her beautiful green eyes.
"How are you feeling?" He asked softly. She smiled weakly and shifted slightly in the hospital bed.
"A little sore but I'll live." Calleigh paused, sadness crossed her beautiful features looking back at him.
"Um… where's Jake?" The platinum blonde carefully asked, her breathing was steady despite the suffocating feeling she felt.
Eric dropped his gaze to the floor, bringing his attention back to her minutes later. He slowly broke the news to her, "I'm sorry Calleigh but Jake didn't make it."
An awkward moment of silence passed between the pair. Tears welled up in her green eyes. She replayed Jake's shooting in her mind over and over again. Eric pulled her into a hug, rubbing her back as Calleigh sobbed into his shoulder.
The intimate moment was interrupted when a nurse entered the hospital room. She watched the interaction between the pair and smiled inwardly. Their chemistry and connection was very strong, obvious to the casual observer. The young blonde-haired nurse cleared her throat capturing the pair's attention.
They broke apart, Calleigh wiped the tears away with her right hand. "I'm sorry to interrupt ma'am but the doctor asked me to inform you the baby was doing fine." The nurse said.
Calleigh couldn't believe her ears, a confused expression forming on her face. The nurse glanced from Calleigh to Eric who wore the same confused and shocked expression on his face.
"You didn't know you were pregnant?"
………….to be continued…..