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Miami
Jan 13, 2014 2:08:04 GMT
Post by cal54382 on Jan 13, 2014 2:08:04 GMT
Natalia sat on the couch in Lina's living room, holding Kaya on her lap. "What are we going to do H?"
"Ryan's going to go with her to the hospital. I'm going to take you two home." He had no clue after that and he hated having no clue.
"Like hell you are. You and I are going to the hospital too. I'll get Calleigh to look after Kaya until we know how Lina is."
"I don't think that's a good idea right now, sweetheart." Kaya had stopped crying but was still rocking.
"I'm going whether you do or not. Lina said something to me earlier, and she was right. I'm going to be there for her."
It hurt his heart, feeling like he was choosing one daughter over the other, but if Lina died, he would never forgive himself for letting her down, not being there for her. He finally nodded.
"Good, let's go. Kaya, honey, I need you to stay with Mari. Be good for her baby."
"You like staying with Cal and Eric, honey," Horatio said softly. "And we'll be home just as soon as we can."
"I want Aunt Lina."
"Lina's got to go to the hospital, sweetheart. She's got to be checked out." Horatio tried to tell her without making it sound scary.
"She's bleeding daddy. I want to make her better."
Horatio looked at Natalia, silently giving her permission to decide if Kaya could handle it or not.
"Okay Kay, you can come baby. But if you want to go home, I'll take you to Mari."
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Miami
Jan 13, 2014 2:24:00 GMT
Post by cal54382 on Jan 13, 2014 2:24:00 GMT
Ryan rode in the ambulance, Horatio going with the girls, letting Natalia drive so his shaking hands weren't seen.
Natalia was finding it hard to concentrate. SHe couldn't believe that just ten minutes ago, she was cutting up vegetables for dinner while chatting to Lina. It was nearly nine o'clock. In normal time, Kaya would be doing her homework or getting ready for bed. He and Natalia would have just settled down after a hard day of going ninety to nothing. He tried hard but he couldn't seem to think of what Lina would have been doing. Natalia pulled into the hospital parking lot and climbed out, taking Kaya in her arms as they walked into the hospital. Calleigh and Eric were already there, waiting when they came in, Eric already talking to Ryan as they took Lina away from him.
"Hey guys. Are you alright?" asked Calleigh gently, taking Kaya from Natalia and putting her with Mari.
Horatio didn't answer her directly, just said, "Thanks for being here, guys." His hand was in Natalia's, for support and comfort for both of them.
"Of course. Lina is our family too."
He watched as Mari snuggled close to Kaya, both girls worn by the day's events, Kaya a little more so.
"Do you want me to take Kaya tonight?"
"She wants to take care of Lina," he explained. "I don't know how much she saw, but...she saw Lina get hurt."
Calleigh was shocked. She knew that she would be devastated if Mari ever saw anything happen to her family. She couldn't imagine how Horatio and Natalia were feeling.
"Sweetheart...do you need something to drink? Some coffee?" Horatio asked, feeling he was near his breaking point and not wanting to break down in front of his people, especially not Kaya.
"Let me come with you. We'll get drinks for everyone. Cal, can you watch Kay for a few minutes?"
"Sure Nat." Calleigh hugged her friend tightly.
Horatio barely waited for her and then barely waited to get to the drink machine before he finally, silently, broke. Natalia wrapped her arms around him, trying to comfort him without crying herself.
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Miami
Jan 13, 2014 2:35:46 GMT
Post by cal54382 on Jan 13, 2014 2:35:46 GMT
"I love those mutts as much as anyone else, but...over a damned dog..." Ryan said, nearly crying, turned where Kaya couldn't see, couldn't hear.
Eric nodded, knowing that his friend was hurting. "She'll be okay man, I promise."
"She heard the dog was hurt. If she had just stayed inside...there would have been no way of getting past H, Nat, and me. If she'd just stayed inside..."
"She can't leave her baby alone when he's hurt."
"It's not a baby. Mari's a baby. Arguments could be made for Kaya being a baby. A dog is not a baby. And no dog is worth risking..." He paused. "He slit her neck, Eric. Right in front of us. And there wasn't a damn thing any of us could do to stop it. We shot him, afterwards, but it still didn't stop it. She..."
"Stop Ryan. It will be okay."
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Miami
Jan 13, 2014 2:38:41 GMT
Post by Admin on Jan 13, 2014 2:38:41 GMT
He didn't realize there was still blood on his hands where he'd tried to keep her going.
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Miami
Jan 13, 2014 2:52:09 GMT
Post by cal54382 on Jan 13, 2014 2:52:09 GMT
Eric took his friend by the arm and sat him down. "Relax."
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Miami
Jan 13, 2014 2:54:24 GMT
Post by Admin on Jan 13, 2014 2:54:24 GMT
Ryan looked at Eric like he was nuts. "Yeah, like you were real relaxed when Calleigh was in the hospital."
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Miami
Jan 13, 2014 2:59:22 GMT
Post by cal54382 on Jan 13, 2014 2:59:22 GMT
"I wasn't, which is why I'm telling you to relax. Being worried did nothing for her."
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Miami
Jan 13, 2014 3:05:12 GMT
Post by Admin on Jan 13, 2014 3:05:12 GMT
"The dog needs to go to the vet, get checked out." He made a checklist in his head. "How's Kaya?"
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Miami
Jan 13, 2014 5:34:00 GMT
Post by cal54382 on Jan 13, 2014 5:34:00 GMT
"Scared and sad, but she doesn't understand the full extent. She just thinks Aunt Lina needs a bandaid."
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Miami
Jan 13, 2014 12:31:11 GMT
Post by Admin on Jan 13, 2014 12:31:11 GMT
"I can't believe she saw it. Lina never would have wanted..." He shook his head. Lina hadn't wanted any of this.
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Miami
Jan 14, 2014 1:00:45 GMT
Post by cal54382 on Jan 14, 2014 1:00:45 GMT
"Everything will be okay. Kaya is young enough that she'll forget this once Lina is okay."
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Miami
Jan 14, 2014 1:02:11 GMT
Post by Admin on Jan 14, 2014 1:02:11 GMT
Ryan could only hope that was true. They were all crazy about the little girl, but none so more than Lina.
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Miami
Jan 14, 2014 3:17:08 GMT
Post by cal54382 on Jan 14, 2014 3:17:08 GMT
Calleigh walked over, giving the guys a reassuring smile. "What's with you two?" she asked, knowing the answer. "Kaya's playing with Mari. Stop worrying abut her."
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Miami
Jan 14, 2014 4:25:44 GMT
Post by Admin on Jan 14, 2014 4:25:44 GMT
Ryan tried to smile for his friend but found it impossible.
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Miami
Jan 14, 2014 7:04:54 GMT
Post by cal54382 on Jan 14, 2014 7:04:54 GMT
Calleigh took a seat next to Eric, finding his hand and squeezing it.
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