We would like to thank ALL our loyal readers for your support while we have been away. In the next few weeks, you will see our stories being reposted here for all of you to read along with several NEW stories we've written while we've been away.

We appreciate all the kind messages we've received for our readers...we didn't realize how many of you were reading our stories, lol. It has brought HUGE smiles to us and we hope you'll continue to stick with us as we re-post some old favorites and hopefully new favorites. Thanks again!

CaineSpeedle & Speedfanatic05

Now for the good stuff!

**WARNING: STRONG SEXUAL CONTENT AND LANGUAGE! You Are Warned**

"Thy soul shall find itself alone, 'Mid dark thoughts of the gray tombstone, Not one, of all the crowd, to pry Into thine hour of secrecy. Be silent in that solitude, Which is not loneliness-for then, The spirits of the dead who stood, In life before thee are again, In death around thee-and their will, Shall overshadow thee: be still. The night-tho' clear-shall frown- And the stars shall not look down, From their high thrones in the Heaven, With light like Hope to mortals given- But their red orbs, without beam, To thy weariness shall seem, As a burning and a fever, Which would cling to thee forever."

From "Spirits Of The Dead" by Edgar Allan Poe

Moving slightly and opening her eyes slowly, Calleigh blinked slowly, adjusting her eyes to the on coming light of the morning sun. After being up and down for most of the night, she'd finally drifted off, her dreams taking her to dark places she didn't wish to go. A shiver ran through her body as she thought about the one that had awoken her, the vivid images of the man she loved dying right in front of her at the hands of a monster…a monster that had taken her from the life she knew and loved. The feel of his arm tightening around her caused her to glance back behind her, seeing his eyes still closed and his breathing slow.

Reaching carefully for his hand and moving it gently from her, she slipped away from him and looked around as she sat up. The horse was still tethered to the brush and nibbling away at some of the sparse leaves, the animal totally unaware of the evil it had been pulled into. Slowly getting up, the need to releave herself hit Calleigh hard and she began to move, heading towards some rocks so she'd have some privacy. Going around them and out of sight of Christopher, Calleigh whispered to herself softly, "I can't do this anymore…I have to get out of here."

Awaking to his arms empty, Christopher sat up quickly, scanning the area for her. The night had been enjoyable but a dreadful feeling hovered about him, as if he were experiencing a once in a lifetime occurrence. As they laid to sleep, he'd maneuvered himself next to her, cuddling easily. Faintly, he recalled her stiffening, but then she relaxed, going soft in his arms. Instead of filling his mind with doubt, he receded into darkness, relishing the feel of her warmth.

Now, in the coolness of the early morning, he was on pins and needles again with no sign of her. Standing, he ran a hand through his hair and reached behind him to take the gun out of his trousers, pulling back the hammer. He'd given her a modicum of trust, but now, he was rescinding. He felt the end was near for them, and he was going to take every precaution he could. Walking around a little, he called out, "Calleigh! Where are you?"

Pulling up her panties, Calleigh let the dress fall back into place and she moved from behind the racks that had been hiding her, "I'm here." Seeing the gun, she stopped, her eyes staying on it, "I…I had to use the bathroom."

Waving her towards him with the gun, he stared behind her and then frowned, "How long have you been up?"

"Just long enough for me to go." Seeing the look on his face, she stopped walking again and stood there with her arms crossed over her chest, "Are we gonna play this trust game again? If you don't believe me then go look for yourself."

"I woke up and you weren't around, what am I supposed to think, Calleigh?" Anger that he didn't know he held scratched at the surface and he shook his head, "Things…things are confusing me. Why would you want to comply now? After all the time we've been together…Why now?"

Raising a brow, Calleigh stood her ground with him, "Would you rather have me hating you and fighting you every step of the way? Do you not think people can change…feelings can change?" Shaking her head, Calleigh began to pace back and forth, "What the hell do you want me to do, Chris? What? I can't be Evie because I'm not her! I'm sorry about what happened to her, I wish it would never had happened for you…but it did…and now, you have me."

Stopping with her back to him, Calleigh smirked and dropped her head, working up tears, "I'll never be what you want…"

The sound of her tears tore at him and his expression relaxed, "It's not that, Calleigh…I…I just can't believe that after everything, you'd…fall for me." Dropping the gun, he released the hammer and then shook his head, "I want you to love me, but…but…I know this isn't real."

Turning to him with tears streaking down her face, she shook her head, "Then what I feel isn't real?" Bringing up more tears, she moved away from him, wiping at her cheeks, "You're just like all the rest of them…"

Questioning himself, he strode towards her, reaching for her, "Calleigh…what do you feel?"

Turning to face him as he held onto her arm, Calleigh pushed herself to say the words she didn't mean, "I…I love you…I want to be with you…" Releasing a sob, she turned to move from him again, only to be held back by his tightening grip on her arm and then his body moving to hers and his other arm coming around her.

"You don't have to cry," he whispered into her ear, "I'm here, Calleigh. I'm here." Pressing his forehead to hers, he smiled as his eyes closed, "We'll leave this place today, and go somewhere where we can start over." Opening his eyes, he parted from her and tilted her chin, shaking his head lightly as he wiped her tears away, "You'll know nothing but happiness…"

Her thoughts went to Horatio and how much she wanted to be within his arms, and Calleigh nodded, "All I want is to be happy. I don't want to hurt anymore…"

"You won't," he answered, holding her tightly. Caressing her hair, he smiled lightly and chuckled, "I'll make you happy."

Wrapping her arms around his waist to add to the effect, Calleigh stayed still there in his arms, sniffling slightly. When he finally pulled away and cupped her cheeks she looked up into his eyes, "I'm sorry for scaring you."

Moving her hair away from her eyes, he smiled, "It's alright, Calleigh. I'll have to get better at that." Leaving her embrace, he laughed, "This is going to be great…"

Running her hand through her short hair, Calleigh sighed and looked around, "Do you want me to fix you something to eat or get the horse ready to go?"

"I can fix the food, being that I have no idea on what to do for the horse. What would you care for, there's left over ravioli and," he said as he moved towards the saddle bag. Rummaging through, his eyebrows rose and sighed, "Two cans of mixed fruit."

"The left over ravioli will be fine. That way we can save the fruit for later." Going over to the horse, she petted his forehead and smiled, "Well need to also refill the water before we head out."

"I'll do that while you eat, okay?" He smiled at her and then moved towards her, capturing her at the waist, kissing her exposed neck, "When we get back to civilization, I'm going to treat you to a very nice massage."

"I'd like that," she smiled faintly as she saw some movement at the top of one of the ridges. Not wanting him to see, she decided to distract him. Smiling more, she turned to him, "Maybe we can take a vacation somewhere together. Maybe we could go overseas."

"Overseas, I like that idea," he leaned in to kiss her and then picked her up, "you'll like Europe. It's really nice."

"I've never been," she replied as she put her arms around his neck. "It'll be a new adventure for me…and for us."

Staring into her green eyes, he nodded, "I think a tour of Europe would be great. We wouldn't have to come back to the states for years. Who knows…maybe we can settle somewhere in Europe. Have a life together… kids." Pulling her closer, he rested his head on her shoulder, "We can grow old together."

Turning up her nose some and with her eyes only, looking up to the area she'd seen movement, Calleigh nodded, "That would be wonderful. Do you…do you think we could go to Morocco? I've always wanted to go there and the food I've had from there is wonderful."

"We can go anywhere you want," he responded pulling away from her. Seeing her eyes light briefly on the ledge, he turned, "What is it?"

"I was thinking, maybe from up there we could see which direction to head in. That way we won't get lost out here," Calleigh replied as she looked back at him and smiled. "I want to get back soon so we can start our life…away from here and everyone."

"That sounds like an idea. I'll get our things together, we should be going soon." He leaned to kiss her and his hands slid down her slender waist and inching towards her thighs, "Maybe we can…um…solidify our relationship…"

"In a comfortable bed. I don't want to be having to pull rock's and dirt out of my ass," she smiled as she ran her fingers down his jaw to his chin. "Maybe…maybe we could go shopping for me some things to wear for you also."

Licking his lips at the thought of her in lingerie, he allowed his hand to travel further down, skimming at the frayed hem. He pulled up the skirting and touched her thigh, exhaling heavily, "The very first second…after we bother with a shower…I want to take you in bed."

Giving him a seductive smile, Calleigh whispered to him, "Then I guess we'd better hurry up and find a shower and bed then."

"Let's get going," he answered with a thin smiled. He caressed her skin and smiled, "I can barely wait."

"Neither can I." Leaning in and whispering softly to his ear, she smiled, "Then I can show you all the bad things I can do."

Grinning ear to ear, he growled, "Hmmm, the bad things you can do… Definitely something to look forward to." Moving his hands around to her ass, he grabbed it graciously, "I have a feeling I'm going to like your bad things."

"I think you'll love them," she purred. Smirking, she raised a brow, "You've seen me ride that horse…imagine what I'll do to you."

Gulping, Christopher imagined her atop of him his arousal flushing through his body, grabbing at her more, "We…we need to get going. The sooner we get back, the better."

"Okay. I'll get the horse watered and ready to go," she whispered and then gave him a slow deep kiss. Pulling back she smiled, "That's something for you to think about."

Licking his lips, he reluctantly let her go and then reached to smack her ass, smirking wickedly, "Something for you to think about." Watching as she went towards the horse, he turned around and lifted his eyes to the ridge, seeing faint movement. Peering up at it even more, he growled, "Calleigh…I think someone's here…"

"What! Where?" she asked as she turned back quick and went back to him. Looking in the direction he pointed, she squinted her eyes, "I don't see anything. Are you sure, Chris?"

"I'm positive," he answered with a certainty that he'd never even thought he'd possessed. Taking the gun in hand, he gripped the butt, speaking through his teeth, "You wait here, I'm going to get a better shot"

Grabbing his arm, Calleigh tried to stop him, "Chris wait. If it's them we need to get out of here before they surround the canyon." Looking into his eyes she shook her head, "Please, don't leave me here alone. We need to go now."

Pressing her hand, he shook his head, "If it's them, I owe them a debt of gratitude." Walking away from her, he turned to her, "Be ready to go, Calleigh."

"Be careful, Chris," Calleigh called to him as he headed away from her. Smirking, she looked up at the area, and with his back turned to her and him looking ahead at where he was going, she waved for them to back off some, trying to warn them. Getting an idea, she went over, untying the horse and leading him over to where Christopher had placed the saddle. Picking up the saddle pad they had unfolded and sat on, she shook it out before folding it back and putting it onto the gelding back. Next, she got the saddle, lifting it easily and placing it where it needed to be.

Up on the ridge, Horatio peered from around the boulder they were behind, looking down on the pair. After waking up to get an early start, they had reached the part of the canyon where the tracks lead down to the small creek that ran through. Watching them, he moved back and glanced at Tim, "They are both down there. Calleigh look's to be okay."

"We still need to move slow, H. He could have a plan," Tim answered back as he looked down. He could see faint movement and gripped the reins tighter, "We want this to go easily, H."

"I seriously doubt he's gonna go easily," Horatio replied as he looked back and saw Calleigh waving towards them. Clenching his jaw, he moved back again, whispering, "Calleigh just signaled us to move back…he's heading up towards this direction."

Taking Horatio's cue, he moved back and glanced at Ray before returning his sights to the canyon below, "We're ready for him."

Gripping his gun, Horatio steadied himself, ready to do what he needed to get Calleigh out of there safely.

Finishing up with the horse, Calleigh mounted up and then turned him in the direction that Christopher had gone. Heading up the trail, she soon caught up with him and spoke softly, "Chris, come on, let's get out of here."

Glaring at her, he stopped and then turned to her completely, "Didn't I tell you to stay down there? I'm going to take care of this, Calleigh. They want to take you away from me. I'm not going to allow that." Starting back, he gripped the butt of the gun and turned towards the ridge, "I won't allow them to ruin everything."

"Then let's leave now so they can't try. If you go up there and they are waiting…you could be killed, then what will I do?" she asked as she watched him. "Please Christopher…"

"You don't have to worry about me, Calleigh. I'm not going to be killed. Just wait back at the camp site, I'll take care of everything." Starting off again, made his intent pure, "We won't have to worry about them again."

Torn at her request, he glanced further up and then back to her, wanting to finish this. Instead, however, he mounted the horse and came behind her, holding the gun tightly, "Calleigh…I can finish this. We wouldn't have to worry about them anymore."

"Or they'd kill you and we'd never be together again," she replied as she got a better hold on the reins and nudged the horse forward again. Giving the horse his head some so he'd pick up his pace, Calleigh then set her right hand onto his, "I don't want to risk loosing you."

"You're not going to lose me, Calleigh. But they'll never stop, we will never have a normal life with them chasing us." As they continued to ascend the ridge away from them, he felt the desire to confront them surging through him and he grunted, "They'll never stop, Calleigh." Almost by reflex, Christopher reached for the reins, his intentions to turn them back towards them.

"Chris!" Calleigh yelped and quickly jerked on the reins to counter him, and at the same time dug the small pointed heels of her shoe into the ribs of the horse. As the gelding reared up suddenly, Calleigh screamed as Christopher's lost his balance and fell off onto the small, narrow trail. Getting the horse under control, she turned him some to see her capture slowly getting up, "Are you okay?"

Wincing in pain, he looked to his hand to see the gun gone and growled, "You moved away…why? Why would you do that, Calleigh?" Reaching for her, he pulled on her arm to bring her down off of the horse, his anger flowing freely now.

Kicking the horse with her left foot so he wouldn't see, she tried to get away, but his grip on her cause her to slip from the saddle and fall into him as he pulled hard. "CHRIS!" Feeling them going down, Calleigh tried to grab for anything within reach to keep herself from going over the ledge behind them.

Holding on to her body tightly, Christopher turned to look over his shoulder at the cavern under them, seeing the deadly drop. Grasping hold of her, he could feel himself slipping and closed his eyes, his voice trembling, "Calleigh…"

Her body began to slide back with his weight and she clawed at the ground, trying desperately to hang on. The sound of hooves caught her attention and her eyes gravitated towards the sound, seeing three riders coming towards them as fast as they could maneuver the canyon. Clenching her jaw, she let herself slip to the edge, hanging on tight as he tried to cling to her, "Let me go, Christopher!"

Fear and panic took over and he grasped at her more, feeling her slipping downward even more. He glanced over his shoulder again and tried to reposition, slipping slightly down her body, "Don't let me fall, Calleigh. Please…"

Her voice became hard as she struggled to hold tight to the edge and Horatio and Tim came into her view. Anger and hatred that she'd been holding back finally came forward, releasing itself, "LET…ME…GO…I…DON"T…LOVE…YOU…YOU…BASTARD…"

Hearing her proclamation, he stopped struggling and looked up at her, the realization coming easily. His heart fell into his stomach and he swallowed hard. Without her love, there was no need in fighting any longer. Closing his eyes, he spoke softly, "I love you, Calleigh." Letting go, a scream ripped from his chest as he felt himself plummeting, waiting for the eminent darkness.

Tim reached her first, diving to grab her hand as she began to lose her grip. Pulling her tightly, he strained, "Hold on, Calleigh! I've got you. H! She's slipping!"

Coming down off his horse, Horatio rushed over to them, his adrenaline pumping through his veins and his heart beating solidly against his chest. Going down to his hands and knees as he reached them, Horatio's eyes met her green one's as he reached for her other hand, holding it tight, "Hang on, sweetheart…"

Tears filled her eyes at the sight of them both and Calleigh began to cry as both men began to pull her up slowly, careful not to injure her. Looking down she could barely make out Christopher's body as it laid still on the boulder's below them.

"You got her, H?" Tim asked as he pulled her to safety. Assured that she was on solid ground, Tim let her go and watched as she dissolved into Horatio's arms, allowing a breath to escape. In what had been a narrow miss, Tim continued to stare at her, seeing her body tremble. "H, make sure she's okay…"

Holding Calleigh as close to him as he could, his heart continued to pound as relief swept over him. Sitting with her there on the ground with her all but in his lap, his eyes scanned over what parts of her he could see. Looking to Tim, he spoke softly, "Get her some fresh water, Speed."

Not wanting to let go of him, Calleigh trembled in his arms, the fear she had been facing over while with Larken finally catching up to her fully. Dissolving into tears, she buried her head into his neck, her voice hitching, "H-Horatio…"

"Shh...it's alright, Calleigh. You're safe now," he whispered into her ear. Joy filled him at the warmth of her body close to his and closed his eyes, thankful that they had come when they did. They sat there for a long time, encased in each others arms allowing the silence to filter over them. He could still feel her body quivering as he attempted to pull away slightly, wanting to see her face once more. When she protested by clinging on to him even more, he relented, "Alright…okay, Calleigh…don't worry…I'm here, I've got you."

With her arms wrapped around him and anchoring herself to him, Calleigh's tears continued to fall. Taking in a long deep breath, his scent hit her nostrils and she took it in, committing it to memory. Allowing him to look her over while he held her, Calleigh spoke softly, "I knew you'd come…I never gave up…"

"You were strong," he answered as he gazed down at the dress. Seeing that it was torn, he bit the inside of his mouth, trying to keep his anger at bay at the thought of her captor violating her. In a measured tone, he spoke, "Calleigh, your dress….he…he didn't…"

"I tore it to bandaged his hand…but…he…he touched me…" she replied as more tears began to come. Closing her eyes tight, she began to shake again, "He…he made me, to prove…"

Knowing that this was neither the time nor place, Horatio closed his eyes against the boiling anger and held her tightly, "We're going to make sure you're okay, Calleigh. You don't have to worry about him ever again." The sudden need to kill him with his own hands over took him and he cringed, trying to hold on to his diminishing control. He had violated her and had deserved more than the escape of the death he received.

"Calleigh…I have to know…Did he rape you?" he asked softly.

"No…" Calleigh replied through her tears as she cried. Feeling him holding her tight, she took in a couple shaky breaths before speaking again, "He…he fondled me…"

His emotions bubbled over and he felt a tear slide down his cheek as he tried to counter it by closing his eyes. Gathering himself silently, he knew he'd have to be strong for her. Never relaxing his hold on her, he finally opened his eyes to see Tim standing above them, reaching up for the bottle of water. Hoping that he wasn't disturbing her, he instructed in a precise manner, "Get a chopper here now. She needs to go to the hospital."

"No…" Calleigh protested softly as Horatio began to rock her, "Want to go home…"

"Calleigh, sweetheart, we have to get you checked out. After that, I promise, we're on a plane back to Miami." Horatio looked to Tim and shook his head slightly and then refocused, "I want to make sure that you're okay, Calleigh."

Trembling some still, Calleigh tried to get closer to him, "Don't leave me, Horatio…"

"I won't leave your side," he promised softly. Wrapping her tighter within his arms, he sighed and tried to comfort her more, "You're going to be safe, I won't let anything happen to you." Caressing her hair, he looked to Tim, "Speed, get Ray to get a medivac chopper here now."

Tim nodded and then turned to go to Ray who was teetering the edge of the cliff a few feet away. Approaching, he glanced down at what Ray was seeing and exhaled heavily, "Definitely not the way I would want to go."

"Catherine has teams on there way. How's Calleigh doing? Was she hurt?" Ray asked as he glanced back to them. Lowering his voice to where only Tim could hear, Ray raised a brow, "We're gonna have to ride her out of here to the where choppers can land, will she be okay for that?"

"From first glance, she seems okay to ride," Tim answered as he scratched his head. He met Ray's quizzical gaze and shrugged his shoulders, "I wouldn't advise her moving without Horatio. She may lose it. I'll go and let them know."

"Okay. I'll have to stay behind with Larken's body. They know our location and I'll meet you at the hospital once we finish up here," Ray replied softly and looked back at them. Taking in a deep breath and releasing it, he sighed, "At least she came out of this safe. I don't think Horatio would have held if otherwise."

Keeping his eyes on the couple, Tim nodded, "Horatio wouldn't have made it. But I don't think you can classify her as being safe just yet, Ray. There's something deeper than physical harm." Giving Ray a pat on the shoulder, he looked over the cliff again, "Not the greatest of ways to stop this, but I'll take it."

"I think we all will," he replied as he watched Tim go back over to them.

Calming some, Calleigh let her eyes close as Horatio rocked and continued to whisper to her, his gentle and soft words doing there job. Tensing at the sound of movement near them, Tim's soft voice met her ears, reassuring her. Opening her eyes and looking at him, more tears began, "Emma…"

"She's fine, she's safe in Syracuse." Tim kept his distance as so not to alarm her and sighed, "We've been on your trail since Georgia."

Nodding, Calleigh closed her eyes back and breathed out, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," he answered. Catching Horatio's eye, he cleared his throat and then moved behind him, leaning to whisper, "We're going to have to move her to get her to the chopper…"

Nodding, Horatio raised a brow, "She'll ride with me. You'll need to lead her horse back for her."

Not knowing what else to say, he stood straight up and glanced to Calleigh, the fear that he abhorred now encased wholly in her eyes. Sighing heavily, he moved away from them to give them space, knowing that she would never be the same.

Once Tim had left them, he looked down at her and managed a small smile, "You're going to ride with me to the surface, sweetheart, okay?"

Reopening her eyes and looking up into his deep blue orbs, Calleigh nodded slightly and whispered, "Christopher…he's…he's dead?"

"Yes," he answered quietly. Moving slowly, he moved a displaced hair and sighed, his brow furrowing, "He's gone, and he's never coming back. You're safe, Calleigh."

Nodding her head, she laid it back against his shoulder again, "He thought I was his dead wife. He wanted me to be her."

"I know, and I'm sorry that you've had to endure that." Running his hand over her hair, he sighed heavily, "He wanted to make you into a fantasy…made you into her image." Taking in the change of her hair, he let it fall through his fingers and then looked to her, "We can fix this if you want to."

Nodding again, she closed her eyes at his touch, "I knew you'd find me…I kept telling myself that…even when he…he…"

Seeing her discomfort, he shook his head and implored, "Don't…you don't have to think about that right now, Calleigh. I'm here now, and you're going to be safe. We're going to get you checked out and then we'll go back to Miami." Bringing her closer to him, he held her to his chest and whispered, "No one's going to harm you again, not while I'm around."

Closing his cell phone, Ray walked over towards Horatio slowly and spoke softly so not to scare Calleigh, "Horatio, it's time to get going. The chopper will meet y'all at the bottom there the trail levels out. Medical staff is on board."

Acknowledging Ray, he pulled Calleigh slowly from his chest and looked to her, tilting her chin up. At first sight, he cringed at the lack of luster in her green eyes, the fear that encased them taking what light she had in her face, leaving her with a haunted look. He wasn't used to this look from her, and it scared him that she was going to be this way for a while.

Jostling her body slightly, he spoke to her, his voice tight with concern, "Calleigh, we have to move now. You're going to ride with me to the end of the trail where the helicopter's going to be. I need you to relax, and let me know if I hurt you, okay?"

"'Kay…" she said softly as Ray backed away, giving them room. Moving from his lap, she watched as he stood up and then bent down, picking her up easily. Seeing him flinch some, she put her arms back around him as her head went back to his shoulder, "Are you still hurt?"

He didn't want to portray any weaknesses, but he wasn't going to lie to her either. Taking a short breath, he exhaled lightly, "I'm still tender, but I'm going to be alright. You're what's important right now."

Holding onto him as he walked over to where Tim had the horses, Calleigh looked and shook her head, "You can't get on with me like this."

Eying the horse he then looked to Tim and nodded, then returned his sights to Calleigh, "I'm going to give you to Tim, but it's only until I get on, okay? He's not going to hurt you, are you okay with this?"

Looking over at Tim, Calleigh nodded silently. When he moved close and gently took her into his arms, Calleigh released Horatio and waited as he mounted his gray gelding. Once he was up, Tim moved close and Calleigh reached up to Horatio, both men getting her up in front of Horatio. Sitting sideways and leaning against him, her arms went back around him as he gathered the reins and waited on Tim to mount his horse.

Horatio looked to see Tim mounting his horse and then started off slowly, heading towards the trail. In the distance, he could hear the helicopter approaching and feeling her stiffen in his arms. Leaning his head down slightly, he whispered, "Everything's okay, we're just meeting the helicopter."

Keeping her eyes down, a tear slipped out and rolled down her cheek, "Why did he have to do this, Horatio…why?"

"He wanted to have his wife back," he answered simply as he looked down at her. He knew that explanation wasn't going to comfort her, but it was all he had. "His grief propelled him into an extreme case of post traumatic stress disorder. He didn't know what was real and what wasn't."

Remaining quiet, Calleigh lowered her eyes back down, more tears coming the more she thought about Christopher and everything she had endured while with him. She couldn't understand what would push a person as far as it did him and it frightened her to know that others might be going trough the same. As they started heading downwards along the trail leading out of the canyon area, Calleigh snuggled closer to Horatio, her eyes closing as the motion of the horse helped her drift off.

Perceiving as she had fallen asleep, Horatio gazed down at her, seeing her brows knit. Even at rest, she was mired with fear, her features jumping erratically. The wind started to blow even more as the chopper landed and Horatio looked ahead to see the crew coming out of the aircraft, dipping their heads below the whirling of the blades. Taking his time to meet them, he finally stopped the animal where the medics stopped, the gurney that would be her mode of transportation, waiting for her.

Watching as the medics approached, Horatio stated sternly, "Be careful with her, she's been through a lot."