Inspiration is really hard to come by these days. Is anyone even reading this thing, still?

Thanks for waiting and reviewing FernClaw, AlexCurtis, princess moon shadow, Miriam1, alysandra sunsets, ImmortalPhantom22, Hordak's Pupil, inukagome15, icestriker, Nicky-Pickle-25, SumikaAmayaOblivion, dragon of spirits, Ebony Falcon, Farrahmack, Webster, tbsavafob

20. When the Dawn Rises

"They've been gone for a long time," Calleigh muttered to herself, working fervantly on the computer and beginning to fill out a damage report from that afternoon's attack upon the lab. She glanced up from her screen and coughed, shaking her head in despair and feeling a pair of hands massage her back.

She crammed her neck to see who had gotten her before hearing a motherly voice reply, "Finish the report, Cal. I'll hold off that backache for a while longer."

She smiled softly to herself and shrugged, wincing with relief and letting out a nice "oooh" of happiness. "That feels nice. You think you could- yeah, right there." Groaning and continuing her work, the ballistics expert typed more of the sentences on the page and smiled wearily. "I know this is a comfortable back massage and all, but I still can't help but worry about Ryan and the others. And the fact that Stetler's hovering over everyone like some lost puppy is really annoying."

Alexx looked over her friend's shoulder. "I know that. But for now, put up with the Internal Affairs man and do your job. I wouldn't want you to get fired after being on the job for so long."

There was a loud rush of wind outside. The girls looked up from what they had been doing and gave each other stunned looks. It couldn't be, could it? Calleigh didn't dare have one hundred percent hope, but all the same, she couldn't help but bound up from her chair and move towards the elevator with lightning speed. Alexx followed right behind her, Sam Barrish also on her heels. The ballistics expert's finger mashed on the elevator button a moment later, and the three ladies anxiously waited for the doors to open.

The female computer technician watched the numbers count down and bit her lip. "You think it's them?" she wondered aloud.

No response. The doors opened and the three of them stood together, watching the doors shut and catching a flash of a man running across their view and making his way to the stairs. The ladies exchanged worried glances with one another before casting their eyes towards the numbers counting down.

"You think we should land in the parking lot?" Natalia asked, scratching her head and casting a look at Tucker, who was now fidgeting with the controls.

Sam got up from her seat and walked towards the back of the speeder, where a bloodied Ryan now sat up, leaning his head against a cushioned section of the vehicle and moaning. She sat down with Eric and his friends, running her fingers through her hair and shrugging. "If there are open spots anywhere, we're going to set this thing down there. I'm not exactly sure if Tucker or I know how parking rules apply to the city, but frankly, I don't think we could give a crap right now."

Eric smiled a little for the first time since they had gotten inside. "Just don't land on the Hummers," he joked.

She offered a tired laugh in return and turned to Ryan, who coughed harshly. Her hand went up to his chest, her voice becoming soft. "You should lie back down, Ryan."

"Hard to do that in this thing," he whispered back, giving the teenage Goth a wearied smirk and closing his eyes. "I'm just worried about Horatio and Phantom- knowing Plasmius, who knows what could happen?"

Tucker yelled in surprise suddenly and pointed ahead. "I see a spot!"

With as much grace as he could muster, which was hardly any at all, the technology geek set down the Specter Speeder and collapsed against the seat. It was in this moment that he yawned and fell over considerably, propping his feet upon the seat and attempting to make himself comfortable in a sleeping position. "I am never flying this thing again," he moaned, yawning.

Sam rolled her eyes and walked towards the front again, opening the hatch to the outdoors and gesturing to the team. "After all of you," she told them, cocking her head. "After all, someone else needs to see if their friend is okay- I think."

Eric jumped out first, helping the wounded man down and allowing Natalia to take his hand and help him up as well. Sam glanced back at a sleeping Tucker before smiling to herself and jumping out after the other two. Her eyes widened with surprise, as did the crime scene investigators'. A mass mob of people seemed to be flowing out of the building, cheering ecstatically for the newly returned cop of Miami.

Sam blinked at the response. "Has this ever happened before?"

"Never," Natalia replied, giving her friend a worried glance and trying to push through the crowds as Ryan gave another sharp cough. "Although I can't say we've ever been hailed as heroes like this before."

"RYAN!"

A loud cry from the building was heard, and Calleigh bolted out into the masses, her shoes still inside. Alexx and Sam followed suit, trying to catch up to the blonde and failing to do so miserably. Everything seemed to be swallowed up in one big noise- screams, cheers, jeers, and other various sound effects portrayed the emotions rushing through everyone's body. The teenage Goth found herself grunting and groaning through the crowds, pushing her way through and making sure that her fellow allies could get a breath of air as well.

"Where the hell is Calleigh?" Natalia yelled over the din.

"Wish I knew!" Eric replied back before receiving a shoulder grabbed and was whirled around by someone he knew all too well. His face suddenly split into another smile. "Calleigh!"

She embraced not only Eric, but Ryan as well, her voice shaking. "You'd been gone for so long!"

Ryan gave a joking thumbs-up, coughing again. "Lost track of the days," he cracked, trying to keep his humorous side alive for as long as he could.

As if by some force of nature, the crowd suddenly began to part and grow silent as three people walked in their direction. Two were looking obviously relieved. One was trying to just clear space. That much was obvious as Stetler stood there, his hands jammed in his pockets once more and standing there with this peculiar look on his face. It wasn't disgust, but it wasn't exactly happiness either. He simply looked content, staring at the reunited team with an amused look in his eyes.

Eric glared long and hard into his eyes. "What is it, Stetler?"

"Nothing," he replied simply. "I just wanted you all to get some air before Wolfe passed out from lack of oxygen." He jerked a thumb back inside. "Get in there before I fire the entire county for not doing their jobs."

No one replied to his comment. Natalia nodded quickly and helped Eric carry Ryan up the stairs while Calleigh, Sam B, and Alexx followed close behind. The Goth stopped and glanced at the Internal Affairs agent with a sort of scrutinizing look. "Why did you do that? You don't like any of the investigators except Yelina! And even then…"

Stetler fidgeted quickly. "Who said I liked Detective Salas?"

"You've got that look a guy I know has every time I see him," she replied coolly.

Silence for a moment. The man stared at her for a few long seconds before finally breaking out into a bitter smile. Inside, the team of CSIs were laughing and enjoying each other's company. They moved towards the medical office, but Alexx already began to examine her broken comrade from head to toe on their way to the elevator. Stetler finally sighed and gave Sam a reluctant nod. "Yeah, I love Yelina and all, and I know it's out of spite because I hate Horatio and his former daughter-in-law together and all…"

The Goth shrugged. "But why part the waters for them? Why make the others move? I thought you would have rather had them suffocate amidst sweat unless I shouted at them or something"

"Because it's what Horatio would've done if he was here," he admitted.

Sam finally smiled at this remark and nodded. Inside, though, her thoughts raced with fear.

'Danny- please make it home with Horatio alive.'

And end chapter here. I think I finally have enough stuff to finish this thing off, thank god. I HATED this chapter- it was a pain in the arse to write. I can't lie about that. And… *brick'd* Yep. Is anyone even reading this thing still…?