MISSING
Chapter 6
It was late afternoon when Calleigh went to the hospital. Inquiries directed her to ICU. In that time, Eric hadn't phoned - she supposed there was no news. Which probably, as the saying went, made it good news. The room was quiet, apart from faint electronic noises. A nurse worked in one corner. Eric sat beside the bed, staring at Horatio. Calleigh stood and watched him for a moment or two. The expression in the dark eyes startled her, although she had long ago realised that Eric loved his boss. Oh, not in any sexual way - Eric was as straight as they came - but as a mentor, a brother… Horatio lay still and ashen against the white sheets. There was a smudge of blood from his head wound on the pillowcase, but he wasn't bandaged. With a sigh, Calleigh beckoned to Eric, who followed her outside, his gaze seeming reluctant to leave the man in the bed.
"How is he?"
"I should have called…"
"Sshh… It's okay… Just tell me."
"Well, they've put his chances up to eighty per cent… They said fifty-fifty when we got here…"
"Is he injured?"
"Fractured skull – some subdural bleeding… But -" He smiled weakly. "- the fact that he was so cold slowed the bleeding right down… which is why it didn't kill him. They say it's quite a minor fracture. They're just monitoring that at the moment."
"What else?"
"Severe hypothermia - I mean severe. There could be all sorts of internal damage, but they don't know yet. They've been warming him up… but his heart went into overdrive, so they've slowed the warming process… They want him to stay in a coma for a while… ease the strain on the organs… So… eighty per cent chance… of survival. They're not talking about a full recovery yet… Oh, Calleigh, we only just got him in time. They said, another hour…"
"But we did get him." She gazed at her colleague's face. "Have you eaten?"
"I can't leave him."
She touched his hand. "I think you should go, just for a while… Shower, change, get some food. You'll feel better. I'll stay with him."
Eric stared through the window at Horatio, then back at Calleigh. "You won't leave him? And if…"
"He'll be okay. And I won't leave him. Take the Hummer." She handed him the keys. "I'll call you if anything happens… But it won't."
"What about the case? The boy? I feel so guilty…"
"I don't want you to think about it. But, if it helps, Frank and I seem to be getting nearer the perps. We found a suspicious car on CCTV going in and out of the 'glades last night. Dave's trying to read the plates. I'll go back and carry on with it in a bit."
"Getting nearer… That's good." Eric was clearly not concentrating on anything but Horatio.
Calleigh took his place beside the bed. The nurse came over to check the monitors.
"How's he doing?"
"Not too bad. His core temperature's still a couple of degrees down…" She smiled at Calleigh. "We were putting warm fluids into him, but his heart rate rocketed. It happens sometimes. So we're only warming him externally. He's lying on an electric blanket. And the sheet's a special one that reflects any heat back onto him. Slower, but less of a strain on him. The doctor's asked me to clean him up a bit, and get him into a fresh gown – we put him straight into a warming process, without washing him. But he's stable enough now. Do you want to wait outside for five minutes, ma'am?"
Calleigh smiled. "If you want. But I could help…"
Together, they gently pulled the sheet back, and wiped his body, a small area at a time. He was scratched and dirty, as if he'd been dragged or crawled over rough ground, and showed some bruising, but seemed otherwise uninjured.
For the first time, Calleigh saw his scars - the very old stab wounds, the more recent bullet wound… And she felt suddenly and unexpectedly uncomfortable at handling her boss's naked body, even though the nurse discreetly draped a towel over his hips. She wished she hadn't volunteered. Not because she minded doing it, but because she was suddenly struck by how much it would have embarrassed Horatio. She was glad when he was cleaner, and they eased him into a hospital gown, pulling the sheet back over him.
"He is going to recover, isn't he?"
"The doctor was optimistic… but he's not out of the woods. I'm afraid it's a bit of a 'wait and see' situation. I'm sorry." The nurse looked at her. "He's your boss?"
"Yes, and my friend."
"You all seem… very fond of him." The nurse blushed slightly. "Sorry, not my business."
"It's not a secret," Calleigh smiled. "He's a bit special. Eric adores him, as you no doubt noticed."
The nurse chuckled. "He'd hardly let me touch him."
"They're brothers-in-law. And very close."
"Do you know what happened to him?"
"He was taken by a couple of bad guys… Dumped in the Everglades. I've left it all with the Police Department at the moment… We will catch them."
"Good. I'm sure you will."
"You know, I have no idea how he survived…. He was in the middle of the 'glades… I mean… snakes, 'gators, bears even…"
"Perhaps because he was so cold. And still."
"I suppose. Or just luck…" She reached out and stroked his face gently, glad to feel some warmth there.
"He's a good-looking man. And tough – got to be to survive what happened."
Calleigh chuckled. "He is that. On both counts. I hope he can't hear us."
She was aware that most people - herself included - thought of him as one of the toughest men around. It was an impression given off by his relentless energy, and his effortless authority. And his apparent fearlessness. He tended to come over as larger than life. Only now, when he was out of action, lying pale, bloodied and unconscious, did his vulnerability show.
Eric hurried to get back. He knew he didn't need to. It wasn't that he didn't trust Calleigh. It wasn't that sitting by the bed was helping his brother-in-law. Trouble was, he could not focus on anything else. He simply needed to be there, even if the man was unconscious.
His steps faltered outside the room, as he looked through the glass. The bed was empty, and Calleigh and the nurse were chatting, and remaking the bed.
He pushed the door open. "Where is he?"
"Whoa, Eric… He's okay!" Calleigh ran to him. "Honestly. He's having a scan."
The nurse joined them. "Sorry if we alarmed you. He's doing well. His temperature's almost normal. They're re-scanning his brain, and they're testing his blood to see if there's organ damage."
"Why are you…?" He gestured to the bed.
"We've stopped the warming process. So normal sheets and blankets. He'll stay in ICU for now, at least till we get the results."
Eric sat down, and chuckled in embarrassment. "Sorry. I thought…" He looked up. "Is he conscious?"
"Probably tomorrow," the nurse said. "You don't really need to stay, you know. We'll take great care of him."
"I know that. I'd… rather be here." He turned to Calleigh. "Look, I'm sorry, but I'm going to be here a while. You'd better put me down for some holiday."
"We'll work something out. Stay as long as you want." She put her hand on his cheek. "I must get back."
Calleigh wasn't surprised that Frank was still working, despite the lateness of the hour.
"How is he?"
"Doing okay, Frank. Thank goodness. How are we doing on the cars?" She could tell by his expression that Frank had good news.
"Still haven't located Rosso, but you'll never guess who owns that old Chevy..."
She shook her head.
Frank grinned. "Lee Robbins."
"The husband?" Calleigh sat down. "I don't believe it! Have we picked him up?"
"As we speak." He chuckled. "Horatio was right – he didn't like him from the start."
"What about the boy? And, the husband had an alibi, didn't he? And how are the other two connected with him?"
"We'll find out, Cal. He's involved, that's the point. We might start unravelling this at last."
TBC