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**

"The most natural, and, consequently, the truest and most intense of the human affections are those which arise in the heart as if by electric sympathy."

From "The Spectacles" by Edgar Allen Poe

Slowly blinking as she looked towards the window in her hospital room, Calleigh remained silent as the nurses got her settled into the room. Since her arrival, she had been asleep from both exhaustion and medications they had been pumping into her system, and in some ways she was glad she'd been out. Her ordeal with Christopher Larken was over, but another one was starting that would be much harder to push behind her.

The feel of a warm gentle touch on her hand brought her back to herself and Calleigh turned her head, seeing his caring blue eyes looking down at her. Holding onto him, she barely whispered, "When can I go home?"

Taking a seat slowly, he took her hand into his and squeezed it lightly, "In a couple of days, they want to observe you. I want to make sure you're okay." Staring at their hands, he exhaled lightly and shook his head, his brow furrowing under strain, "You've been sleeping for a while, it's good that you're getting your rest."

"You need to rest too…" she replied softly as she continued to look at him. "You don't have to stay with me, Horatio…I'll understand…"

"That's where you're wrong, sweetheart," Horatio said as he looked up to her. His eyes crinkled into a smile and he pulled her hand to his lips, "I have to stay with you…I need to stay with you."

Watching him, Calleigh then dropped her eyes, "He loved his wife so much, Horatio…he would have done anything for her."

"He did do anything for her." The air about them hung silently and he shook his head, "The amount of devotion he had for her was…almost insurmountable. It was like…even though she was dead, to him, she was alive truly alive." Meeting her gaze, he wondered if she would ever be able to talk to him about her ordeal. When she averted her eyes, he reached slowly to move her hair out of her eyes, speaking softly, "What are you thinking, sweetheart?"

Shaking her head slightly, she sighed, "I…I just wish he would have came to me at least instead of doing what he did. He was afraid I wouldn't talk to him, that I would reject him. I…I could have at least gotten him some help."

"I don't think that he wanted help, Calleigh. He saw you…and he saw his wife. If you would've went to him, he may have taken you…gotten away with you quicker. We probably wouldn't have been able to find you." Horatio could feel his temper rising and he sighed, "I just…I just think that he would've taken this path no matter the cost."

Looking towards the window again, Calleigh then closed her eyes, "All he wanted was to be happy…and he was willing to be happy with just me, not me as Evie."

"His happiness came at a price, Calleigh. He made the choice to abduct you, to…to do things to you." Feeling her hand tense in his, he winced and shook his head, "I'm sorry, Calleigh…I shouldn't…"

"He treated me a lot like he did Evie…" Calleigh whispered as a tear slid from her eye. Keeping her eyes on the window and the darkness of the sky, she shook her head, "He was scared of being alone."

Horatio watched her and narrowed his eyes, "Are you…Calleigh, are you okay?"

Dropping her eyes at his question, Calleigh took in a deep breath, releasing it slowly, "He didn't want to hurt me, Horatio…he never wanted that. And…Chris he…he didn't hurt that man when we took the horse cause I asked him not to. He trusted me…"

"Calleigh, he killed seven men, he took you away from your life in Miami…He violated you. I hardly think that's what I would call not hurting you." Shaking his head, he frowned, "Calleigh…you're…you're not feeling bad about Larken, are you?"

Remaining silent for a moment, Calleigh seemed to come back to herself and looked over at him, "No…no, Horatio. He needed to be stopped."

Moving closer, Horatio furrowed his brow in confusion, shaking his head, "Calleigh,…you were just vouching for him a second ago, now you're telling me he needed to be stopped? Are you okay?"

Looking at him, Calleigh shook her head, "I'm fine, Horatio…I just…I guess I'm still worn out, that's all. I'll…I'll be okay."

Worried about her state of mind, he nodded, giving her a small smile, "Maybe you should try and sleep some more. I won't go anywhere."

Nodding her head, she kept hold of his hand, "Am I allowed to eat? I'm kinda hungry. All I had to eat last night was ravioli and some rattlesnake."

Disgusted, Horatio shook his head, "You're allowed anything you want, Calleigh. You don't need permission to eat."

Looking into his eyes, she held tight to his hand, "Can I have a BLT and fries then with a soda?"

"Sure, I'll go and get that for you, Calleigh." Looking to their hands, he smiled slightly, "I have to go and get it, Calleigh."

Realizing she was holding onto him, Calleigh slowly let go of his hand and gave him a faint smile, "Thank you, Horatio."

Starting for the door, he turned and gave her a small smile, "Are you sure you're going to be okay? I won't be gone long."

Nodding her head, she adjusted the sheet around her some, "I'll be fine, Horatio. If I need anything I'll buzz the nurse."

Unsure if he should leave her, he hesitated slightly, "Calleigh, I can probably call Speed up and get him to make the run, besides, he said he wanted to come and see you. Would that be okay?"

Thinking about it for a moment, Calleigh then nodded, her voice remaining low, "Yeah…I want to thank him anyways." Looking at Horatio, Calleigh sighed, "I do want you to eat also. If I know you, you haven't."

"Don't worry about me, I'll get something." Taking his phone out, he dialed his number and waited, giving her a smile. When he answered, he turned as he spoke, "Speed…where are you?"

"Still in the waiting room…why? Is everything okay?" Tim asked, turning his gaze back into the waiting room. After talking on the phone, he decided he needed some time out of the waiting room and had sat outside for a brief moment. Walking into the waiting room, he felt the familiar wave of concern coming, "Is Calleigh okay?"

Raising a brow, Horatio placed a hand onto his hips, "Calleigh's fine, Speed. She's in her room now and said it'd be okay if you came up. Also, I was wondering if you could make a food run for her as well. She's hungry."

"Sure, I can do that, what does she want?" Tim asked as he started towards the doors again. A sudden urgency hit him and he moved quickly, "What does she want?"

"A BLT, fries and a soda," Horatio replied and he lifted his hand to the back of his neck and rubbed it. "Also bring some fruit, just incase she wants a snack later."

"Got it, what about you? I'm sure she's wanting you to eat, you might want to catch me while I'm going," Tim said stepping outside. Smiling, he added, "You don't want to further upset her, do you?"

Knowing Tim was right, Horatio sighed, "Yeah, you're right…the same then, okay? I'll pay you back when you get up here."

"Don't mention it, it shouldn't take long." The idea of seeing her with his own eyes had him walking even faster, wanting to capitalize on the time available. He didn't know how long she would be up or eager to talk.

Watching as Horatio closed his phone back, Calleigh rolled onto her side, facing him. Flinching some as her sore muscles protested, she sighed, "He didn't mind did he?"

"Not in the least bit, he actually seemed like he wanted to go." Taking his seat back, he reached for her hand and then encased it with his, eying her cautiously, "Are you okay, did you want to rest a little before Tim got back?"

"I'm fine, Horatio…really." Looking at their hands, she raised a brow and spoke softly, "Did they say how long it'd be before I could return to work?" Looking back up at him, she saw his expression and sighed, "I just want to put this all behind me and move on with my life, Horatio."

"You need time, Calleigh. You've been through a lot, you shouldn't want to rush coming back to work." Narrowing his brow, he shook his head, "I don't think it's such a good idea for you to come back until you're ready."

"I've missed enough time already. Besides, if I sit home it'll do nothing but add to my frustrations. At least I'll be being productive if I'm working," she stated as she held his gaze. "I'm fine, Horatio…really."

He broke the gaze first and shook his head firmly, "Calleigh, you've been through something traumatic, you have to take time for yourself. Besides, you have to be cleared to go back."

Sighing heavily, she let go of his hand and turned back onto her back again. Staring out across the room, she huffed, "I'm perfectly fine, just a little sore…and pissed." Rolling onto her other side, she looked towards the window again, "I'm not all that hungry anymore, I'm going to sleep."

Growing annoyed, Horatio stared at her defiance and exhaled roughly, "Listen to logic, Calleigh. You've been through a lot, you need time to deal with this. Until you do, you won't be at the top of your game." Seeing that she wasn't going to respond, he stood swiftly, "You need to make some good decisions here, Calleigh. You don't eat, they're going to keep you here longer and you said that Speed could come up and visit…"

"I'll see Tim…but I don't need you babysitting me any longer," she bit out as she continued to stare out the window. With her temper rising, Calleigh clenched her jaw and narrowed her eyes, "I took care of myself with Larken, I'm sure I can do the same now."

Stunned, Horatio watched her for a second and then cleared his throat roughly, glancing away from her, "If…that's what you…um, if that's what you want. I won't bother you again." Moving towards the door, he stopped and then implored, "I ask you, Calleigh…think about this."

Continuing to stare out, Calleigh remained silent losing herself into her own world. Blinking slowly, she could still feel Christopher, smell his scent, even hear his words. As her body seemed to relax some, his words began to fill her thought's.

"Well, let's start with the basics first then. I was born, August 23, 1961 in Rhode Island to Marion and Jack Larken. I didn't know Dad much, as he left when I was just two, but my mother," he paused for a second, feeling a darkness coming over him. He couldn't help the feelings that were coming, allowing them just a sliver of access to him now. Gripping her hand slightly, he pulled himself back from the damning images and shook his head, "Mother had her own way of raising me. She was abusive, both psychologically and sexually, and that led to…well, let's just say difficulties in being able to relate to people." Sure that the silence was telling of her disgust, he bit the inside of his cheek and continued on, "I got into a lot of trouble, and by the time I was a teenager, I had the choice, either do something with my life, or perish. I chose to do something."

As more words seemed to come, so did the images of him, them in the car talking, having a quiet dinner, even there last night in the canyon. Suddenly her brow crinkled as his final words to her rang through her head causing her whole body to tense and begin to shake.

"I love you, Calleigh."

The silence was eerie and Horatio tensed as the hairs on his neck stood on end, causing him to turn around. His heart stopped in his chest as he saw Calleigh's body begin to tense up, her look haunted and other worldly. Crossing the room in two strides, he came to her side, frantic at her ghostly expression. It looked to him that she wasn't seeing anything but what was in her mind, and it petrified her.

"Calleigh! Calleigh…sweetheart, are you okay?" he asked, the urgency giving way to concern. She wasn't answering him and that scared him even more. "Calleigh…tell me what's wrong….Calleigh…"

"I've been addicted to everything about you, the blushing is just the added bonus… You in dresses…gives another meaning to heaven on Earth…This is perfection… I'm never going to leave you. I'll never hurt you…I was born to love and protect you, Evelyn. I'll do it until my last breath, understand?... No one's going to take you away from me. We'll die before we're separated again. I won't live without you, Evie…and you, you won't live without me… I want you forever, Calleigh… I love you, Calleigh…"

His words rang through her head, all of it seeming to run together into one. Closing her eyes tight and pulling her legs up towards her chest until she was in a fetal position, Calleigh suddenly released a sob as her tears spilled forth and she cried out, "NO!"

Frightened for her, he depressed the call button and reached to touch her, keeping his eyes on her. The concern held him at odds and he felt his heart breaking at the sight of her in the grips of fear.

"Calleigh, sweetheart…It's alright, you're safe, you're okay." The more he talked to her, the more he saw that she was losing it, the tears now flowing. She flinched away from his touch and he cringed, "Calleigh…please, you have to believe me, he can't harm you anymore."

"The most beautiful words would be put to shame next to you… I love you, Calleigh… No one's going to take you away from me…We'll be together always…I love you…" His words haunted her, seemed to stay with her no matter how hard she tried to block them out. The feel of a hand touching her caused her to flinched and move away from it, as images of his face seemed to flash before her eyes.

"Calleigh…he's not here, he can't hurt you anymore," Horatio attempted as he reached out again. Hoping that she would allow his touch, he whispered, "Calleigh…you have nothing to fear anymore…I'm here…I…I love you."

Dissolving into more tears, Calleigh continued to cry before she felt strong arms move her and then wrapped her into there warmth. A strong heartbeat made it to her ears as her head rested against his chest, the steady beat of it calming her somewhat. After what felt like forever, Horatio's soft words began to break through to her and Christopher's faded.

Horatio continued to hold her close, feeling her begin to respond. The tremors stopped completely and he sighed softly, "It's true, Calleigh. I'm in love with you, have been for years." He could feel how anchored she was to him and he sighed, knowing that something deeper was occurring. "Let me love you, Calleigh. Let me take care of you."

Moving one arm hesitantly, her head lifted slightly, only to move up some to his shoulder and crook of his neck. Finally lifting her arm, she moved it up, her hand going behind his neck as she remained close to him. Closing her eyes, she nodded slightly as a shiver of fear ran through her entire body, causing a small tremor.

Rubbing her back slowly, he whispered, "You don't have to fear anything, Calleigh. Christopher Larken is dead, he's not coming back for you." Pressing his cheek to her head he kissed it gently and smiled, "As soon as you're released, we're going home, to Miami. Then…then I can take you away. Remember we talked about it just being the two of us? I can make that happen, Calleigh."

Releasing a shaky breath, the slow movement of his hand rubbing her back and his velvety soft voice seemed to lull her. With her eyes still closed, Calleigh body began to relax as she started to drift off in his arms. Not even the soft knock on the door seemed to phase her as she remained motionless.

Coming into the room, Nurse Mandy Reed gave the red head a smile as she came over to them, "Was there something you needed, Lieutenant?"

Nodding, he felt Calleigh's body move minutely, her breathing easy. She had fallen asleep in his arms, but that didn't stave his concern. Shifting slightly, he motioned for her to come closer, "If you don't mind, I would like to know what kind of medication she's on?"

Going over to the IV unit, she looked at the bags hanging and then looked back over at him, keeping her voice soft, "Just a normal saline IV and then some antibiotics for her leg infection. Now…" she said coming back around to them, "the doctor does have some vicodin ordered for pain. Why, is there a problem?"

"I was wondering, is there a way that she could be assessed…psychologically? She …" looking down at her, he sighed heavily and felt his throat tighten at what was now presenting itself, "she had a panic attack. Is there some medication that can help her?"

Looking at the blond asleep in his arms, Mandy sighed, "I can let the doctor know and he'd have to order up a psychological exam." Looking up at the clock, she looked back at the red head and smiled, "He's still on duty so I'll go on and page him and see if he can come and talk to you more."

"I would appreciate that," he answered thankfully. Feeling Calleigh shifting, he looked down at her and saw her brow knit and rocked her gently, "Sooner rather than later, ma'am."

Nodding, she whispered, "I'll get right on it, sir." Heading to the door, Mandy looked back at him, "Lieutenant…is there anything else you need? We've got some coffee at the nurses station. I can bring you a cup if you'd like."

"That would be nice, oh…and ma'am, we are expecting a visitor, could you inform him that she's asleep now?" Horatio exhaled heavily and then added, "He's supposed to be bringing food."

"Yes, sir." She replied and then opened the door, leaving out to contact the doctor.

Hearing the soft click of the door, Horatio retained his attention to Calleigh, watching as she slept fitfully. When he moved, he felt her tense and he spoke softly, knowing that she probably wouldn't hear him, "It's alright, Calleigh, I'm just getting comfortable."

After getting a page up to the forth floor, Doctor Eduardo Garcia gathered up the chart he needed and walked to the room. Knocking on the door lightly, he then went in, a smile on his face as he nodded to the Miami Lieutenant as he held the blond in his arms. Coming over to them, he pulled the chair over some and took a seat, "Mandy tells me you have some concerns about Ms. Duquesne, correct?"

Looking up at the doctor, Horatio nodded, "Yes, doctor, she's been through a traumatic incident and…well…and I think she's just had a panic attack. I was wondering what, if anything could be done."

Opening her chart, Dr. Garcia then pulled out a pen and looked back at Horatio, "Can you tell me exactly what happened with Ms. Duquesne earlier then?"

Taking in a deep breath, Horatio glanced down at her and smiled lightly, reaching to brush her hair away from her eyes. His smile faded slightly as he thought about the ordeal, shaking his head, "She was abducted and violated…and possibly …brainwashed. I was wondering if you could give her an assessment. She needs help, doctor."

Writing down the information that was given, he then set the chart aside and stood up. Going to the monitor, he watched her heart rate and blood pressure for a minute before nodding and then pursing his lips. Coming back to the chart, he checked them against the others, making more notes. "The psychologist I like to use is on call and I'll see if he can come in and do an exam with Ms. Duquesne. He'd be the one to order up any medications for her pertaining to panic attacks brought on my her ordeal."

Closing the chart, Dr. Garcia raised a brow as he looked at Horatio, "Do you feel she could be a threat to herself or others at this time?"

Thinking the question over, Horatio looked down at her and knit his brow, trying to make a determination. She hadn't struck out violently, nor did she want to harm herself, she was just…lost. Making a conscious decision, he sighed, "She's not… I'm just worried that she's going to lose herself to this."

"Okay. I'll get hold of him and see about having her seen tonight then. Until then, if she has another panic attack, use the nurse call button. I'll have them watching it closely just in case," he replied as he placed his pen back into his pocket. "If you can, when she wakes, see if you can get her to open up to you about what happened. Sometimes, just talking it out helps more then anything else."

"I'll see what I can do. She might be upset that I requested this. She feels as if she can go back home and start back to work tomorrow. I know that's not the case," Horatio said as he looked down at her again. Giving her a smile, he sighed, "I'm willing to risk her wrath for this. I want to know that she's going to be okay."

Smiling some, Dr. Garcia nodded, "It's good she has someone in her corner that cares about her well being. Just…reassure her, make sure she knows she's not alone and that she has people who care about her…that'll go a long way."

"Okay, thanks, doctor, thanks for everything." Horatio watched as the doctor started towards the door, questioning, "What can I do to stop a panic attack? Is there a certain trigger that I could avoid?"

Stopping and turning back, Dr. Garcia slipped a hand into his pocket, "Unfortunately, it hard to tell what will trigger a panic attack. Just about anything can from a name to a sound…even a memory. If she does go into another one, reassure her, keep your voice calm and low and support her through it until I can get Dr. Johnstone here."

"I will," Horatio assured with a nod. "If I have any problems, I'll call the nurses station if something happens." Receiving a silent nod in reply, he settled with Calleigh, watching for any changes.

Turning slightly, Horatio tried to find a suitable position, the dull ache in his ribs annoying him. The day had been trying with watching vigilantly over Calleigh and fending off questioning from Speed, Horatio felt himself being pulled in all directions. He had watched over Calleigh for hours, concerned that even in sleep, he could see the vestiges of her turmoil. She hadn't taken too well to the assessment done, but with the potential for more help, he rationalized he could take her dismissive looks. Deep down, he knew that she was cognizant of the fact that it would help her.

Tossing once more, he exhaled heavily as he made a complete turn, facing her bed. Opening his eyes, he saw that she wasn't in bed, her covers were thrown haphazardly across the bed as if she had gotten up in a hurry. Sitting up quickly, Horatio rubbed his eyes and worked to focus them as he started to scan the room. His heart settled as his eyes lit on her form, silhouetted by the contrast of darkness and the muted light of the room. No matter how dark it was, he could see that she was troubled.

Getting up, he rubbed a hand through his hair and then narrowed his eyes at her, watching as she sat not moving a muscle. Her face was set as if molded in stone, her eyes never moving. If he hadn't seen her chest rising and falling slightly, he'd though that she'd died.

Moving closer to her, he spoke gently, "Calleigh…is everything…okay?"

Not hearing him, Calleigh continued to stare out into the darkness that seemed to envelope her life now. She could still hear Christopher's voice in her head and continued to see images of him flash in her head. His words had wrapped around her, creating a cocoon of sorts around her mind. She didn't understand how it happened or why, only that it had and now it was as if he was living on in her.

As Horatio knelt down next to her, Calleigh remained still and quiet until his hand gently took hers. As if a spell was broken, she blinked slowly and turned her head, looking at him. Lost as to what was going on, she spoke softly, "I didn't wake you did I?"

"No…I was actually not really asleep. What I want to know is…what's bothering you? You couldn't sleep?" Horatio took her hand and squeezed it, seeing the evidence of despondency, "Something's bothering you, isn't it?"

Dropping her eyes and looking back down to her lap, Calleigh shrugged some. After giving in and talking with the doctor earlier in the evening, Calleigh was still having a hard time with talking fully about what had happened and what was going on now with her. His fingers of his other hand moving her hair from her eyes pulled her from her thought's once more and she took in a deep breath, releasing it slowly before speaking, "I…I can't get him out my head, Horatio. I keep hearing his voice…things he said to me and what we talked about."

"Would it help if you talked about it, Calleigh?" Horatio asked gently. "Maybe talking about it will help get his words out." He didn't want to push her, but he wanted her to be able to open up to him.

Biting the inside of her bottom lip, Calleigh wanted to talk to him, but she was scared at what he would think about her then. Shaking her head, she sighed, "No…I'll…I'll be fine, Horatio."

Stroking her hand softly, he implored gently, "Calleigh…whatever it is, you don't have to worry. I just want you to talk. It would be better."

Finally lifting her eyes and looking at him in the moonlight the filtered in through the window, Calleigh could see the concern in his eyes, the same concern she'd seen so many other times with others. Swallowing hard, she nodded slightly, her lips parting slightly as she took in a deep breath. Releasing it, she started, "Chris…he…he didn't want to hurt me. At first, when I was trying to get away, he subdued me with tying me up and putting me in the trunk…he didn't want that though…all he wanted was to make me happy…"

Despite the feeling of wanting to point out the things that Larken had done to hurt her, he instead asked, "Were you happy, Calleigh? Where you happy that you were away from friends, family…me?"

A single tear slid from the corner of her eye and down her cheek as she shook her head, her voice becoming a whisper, "No…" Biting her lip again, she looked back down and shook her head, "I had to make him think I was happy with him."

"Then why does this have you, Calleigh? If you weren't attached, or felt a bind to him…why are you mourning him?" Horatio looked up to her and sighed, shaking his head, "I don't want you to be this way, Calleigh."

Wanting him to understand, Calleigh wiped at her cheek with her free hand but kept her eyes down, "We uh…we did a lot of talking…once I gained his trust. Chris…he uh…he was abused as a child by his mother, sexually and all." Taking in a breath, she continued, "It caused him to had problems with people when he got older…but he decided to change himself and joined the Navy."

Sniffling some, she licked her lips again, "He uh…when he finished his time, he went back to school and fell in love with literature…especially Poe. He met Evelyn not long before starting at the university in Vegas…and they fell in love…"

Still not quite understanding, he frowned, "Because he had an unfortunate childhood and then met his wife, are you thinking that he didn't deserve what he got?" Shaking his head, he continued, "Calleigh, I'm trying to understand this…and how you're feeling…"

Crinkling her brow, Calleigh pondered the question before answering, "I got to see him in a different light then you, Horatio. I saw how caring and gentle he could be. He let me in and I saw the love he wanted to share…and the remorse he felt."

"He had his choices, Calleigh. He chose to abduct you, he chose to…to violate you. "Trying to reign back his anger, Horatio exhaled, "He could've shown you in a better way. He didn't have to do that to you."

"He saw me as Evie…not as me, Horatio…not 'til the end anyways. All he wanted was to love her again," she replied softly as tears fell again.

"But…but you know you're not Evie, Calleigh. He was making you someone that you weren't." Looking up to her, he saw that this was getting them nowhere and he exhaled heavily, "I'm trying to understand why you feel…lost."

Shaking her head, more tears fell, "I wish I knew, Horatio…"

Horatio looked to her and shook his head, "Calleigh…you have to start to let go of him. Larken might have had the best intentions, but sweetheart, the road to hell is paved with them." Reaching for her he sighed, "You have to recognize that Larken wasn't the knight in shining armor that he painted himself as."

"I know he wasn't," she replied and took in a shaky breath. Looking into Horatio's eyes, she shook her head, "I just…I don't know why I can't let this all go." Leaning over to him as he moved closer and wrapped his arms around her, Calleigh began to cry more, her voice hitching, "I…I can't…seem to let go…"

Enveloping her within his arms, he sighed heavily and closed his eyes, whispering, "You have to try, Calleigh. In order to move on from this, you have to try to forget." It was then that he realized no matter how much she had tried to deny her connection to Larken was there. Continuing to assure her, he caressed her hair and spoke soothingly, "I'll be there to help you, Calleigh. I'll support you…I love you."

Holding onto him and laying her head on his shoulder, she closed her eyes whispering to him as she cried more, "I…I love you…"

Her admission of her feelings startled him slightly, but not enough to steer him away from comforting her. Holding her tightly, he kissed her softly atop her head and opened his eyes, willing for his strength to be enough.

Several minutes passed by quietly between them and Calleigh began to settle down again in his arms. Once her tears subsided, she reopened her eyes staring out briefly before whispering, "I'm tired, Horatio." Silently, he released her and stood, then leaned down and picked her up, careful of her IV. When he had her back to her bed, she looked up at him as he brought her covers up, "Horatio…can…can you lay with me and just…hold me?"

Smiling down at her, he nodded and pulled the covers back. Gently sliding in next to her, he helped her settle in a comfortable position, her head lying on top of his arm and pulled her close. Bringing the covers back over them, a small tuft of air escaped his lips and he kissed her softly as he pulled her closer into his embrace. He could feel her trembling slightly and his heart broke anew, knowing that until she shed this debilitating hold on her, she would be a slave to her mind.

Stroking her arm lightly, he whispered, "I'm not going anywhere, sweetheart. Get some rest, okay?"

"'Kay…" Calleigh whispered softly trying to relax. After a few minutes, Calleigh felt uncomfortable and turned onto her side, her back to Horatio. Moving herself back towards him until she was flush with him, she then settle back down and closed her eyes.

Listening for any signs of distress, his mind focused on the many questions that were swirling around. There were so many answers that he needed, but until she was able to open up, those questions would continue to go unanswered.

Shifting slightly, Horatio turned towards her more and wrapped his arms around her, encasing her completely within his arms. He felt as if he couldn't protect her enough and he squeezed his arms around her more. Speaking softly, he closed his eyes against the emotion that was welling, hoping that she was still alert enough to hear him, "I love you, Calleigh. I always will."

"Love…you…" she barely whispered back as she began to drift off. The feeling of his arms around her made Calleigh feel somewhat safe, just enough to relax and sleep some. But for how long, would be anyone's guess.