Here's the next part, still more questions than answers...

Eric looked at the doctor in concern, frowning the doctor asked Horatio, "Can you tell me what year it is please?" as he began scribbling on the chart he had collected from the end of the bed.

Everything was still blurry and vague, the pounding in his head increasing as he tried to answer the question. "1993" he slurred slowly.

The doctor glanced at Eric as he heard his sharp intake of breath and then continued with his questions, "Who is the president of the United States of America?"

Horatio raised a shaky hand to his face and attempted to rub it, wincing when his hand came in contact with his broken nose. "Bill Clinton. What's with the twenty questions? Where's Andy?"

The doctor looked up from the chart and moved closer to the man on the bed, "Mr Caine, we need to run some more tests. An orderly will be here soon to take you for another CT scan"

The throbbing pain in his head did nothing to soothe his anger as he growled, "Stop calling me Mr Caine!"

Seeing the red head's heart rate and blood pressure increase the doctor attempted to calm him, "Sir, you've got a serious head injury. I need you to try to calm down otherwise we'll be forced to sedate you again"

The doctor's words had an opposite effect on Horatio as he became increasingly agitated. Confused about what had happened to him and the strangers in his room that he didn't recognise only served to compound his frustration. He saw the vague outline of the doctor's hand reaching for his arm but was powerless to stop him injecting the sedative into his IV line. It took only a few minutes for the powerful narcotic to take effect, his eyes grew heavy until moments later the darkness consumed him.

Eric remained rooted to the spot as the drama unfolded before his eyes, the man who had regained consciousness was not the man he knew and had grown to love. Panic overcame him when he heard Horatio's answers to the doctor's questions, how could he think it was 1993 and who on earth was Andy?

He was disturbed from his thoughts as the doctor cleared his throat and guided him from the room, "Mr Delko, I have grave concerns about your friend" he began in what the doctor hoped was a soothing tone. "It appears as if the head injury has caused Mr Caine to suffer from amnesia. He has seems to have no recollection of the last 18 years"

Eric ran a tired hand over his face and head, "Will it come back?"

"It's impossible to tell. There's a chance that when he wakes next he may remember everything but amnesia is a notoriously difficult thing to gauge. It may take months or years for him to regain his memories or perhaps not at all"

"What can we do to help him?"

The doctor took a few moments to consider the question, "He's clearly confused and agitated. It would help if someone who knew him back then could spend some time with him, it may help jog his memory. How long have you known Mr Caine?"

Eric's heart sank, "Not that long. I don't even know where he was back then; I'd have to do some digging"

The doctor gave him a small smile as he nodded and wrote on the chart in his hands, "You're friend will be under the effects of the sedation for at least six hours, it may be prudent to spend that time trying to find out all you can about his past"

With a heavy heart Eric left the hospital and returned to the crime lab, he walked to Calleigh's lab and knocked softly on her door.

"Eric, come in" she said brightly as she carefully laid down the loaded firearm she was holding. "Shouldn't you be at the hospital with Horatio?" she frowned.

"That's what I came to talk to you about, Calleigh" he replied as he sat down heavily on a stool.

She felt her heart skip a beat when she saw the strained look on his face, "What's happened? He's not…..Oh God, Eric…."

It took a moment for her reaction to register; he shot up from the chair and placed his hands on her shoulders. "It's nothing like that. I came to tell you that he woke up this morning"

The relief was evident on her face, "Oh thank God for that, that's good news. Isn't it?"

Taking a deep breath to gather his thoughts, Eric tried to explain the situation to her. "He's awake, but we have a problem"

She couldn't take it; she had to know what had happened. "Eric, please. Just tell me"

"The doctor says he has amnesia, he can't remember anything from the last 18 years"

She visibly gasped in shock as Eric's words registered in her brain, her hand shot to cover her open mouth. "Is it permanent?" she asked shakily once she had regained a little composure.

"They're not sure. He got pretty upset this morning and they had to sedate him again. They've told me he probably won't be awake again until this evening"

"What do we do, Eric?"

He frowned as he answered, "The doctor says finding someone who knew H back in '93 might help to jog his memory. Don't suppose you know how long Frank has known him?" he asked hopefully.

He face fell, "Not that long. As far as I know Horatio didn't transfer to MDPD until 1996"

Eric and Calleigh spent the next few hours researching as much as they could about the lieutenant's past. After reaching yet another dead end Eric threw his pen down in frustration, "God, this is pointless! We're going round in circles here"

"Eric, we knew Horatio was a very private man. It's not like he talks about his past very much. Have HR got back to you yet with his file?"

Checking his email his eyes lit up when he found a new message, "They have now, let's see what it says" he gave Calleigh a small hopeful smile before returning his attention to the computer screen.

Calleigh watched and waited with baited breath, "Well, what does it say?"

Eric threw his head back and growled in frustration, "There's nothing pre-1996"

"What do you mean, nothing? There must be some sort of documentation of his transfer from NYPD"

He looked at her and shook his head, "There's nothing, Calleigh. All of the documents from before 1996 have been redacted, they're unreadable"

Not taking no for an answer Calleigh returned to her computer screen and searched the government and federal employee databases. Each time her search came up bare, "How can he have no history before 1996, that doesn't make any sense!"

"When he woke up this morning he kept telling the doctor that he didn't know who Mr Caine was. I think we need to go and visit him tonight and find out who the hell he thinks he really is"