I sat in the Hummer in the lab's parking lot. I just can't believe it. How could Cooper do this? While I knew Cooper had some issues, I never thought he would do anything this stupid. What happened? The guy just didn't stop to think about the consequences of his actions and now Calleigh… I let out a deep sigh. Now Calleigh was paying for it. I don't want to think about that. I don't know where she was or what had happened to her and it's killing me. I loved her. I've never worked up the courage to tell her, but I love her.

"Why?" I yelled. "Why Calleigh?" I knew screaming wasn't going to help them find Calleigh, but it made me feel better. I would give anything to just see her safe again. I just wanted to see her. Or if I could just know she was going to be okay. Yeah, right. Come on, Delko. You know that's not all you want. You're not going to feel better until you hold her and hear from her lips that she's okay. Still, I would take whatever I could get - any hope that Calleigh was okay. She had to be. I don't know if I'd be able to handle it if anything happened to her. Speedle's death still hurt everyday. Marisol's death was agony, but if anything happened to my Calleigh, that would be a hundred times worse! What would I do without her? She is the one who iss always there for me. She sat with me when I was in the hospital. Helped me through the therapy after I took a bullet to the head. I don't know how I would have made it through, if she hadn't been there. She always knows just what I need. Whether it is her gentle words of encouragement, or teasing to lighten my mood. She is my life. My love. I can't survive without her.

I remember the last time she was in trouble.

Flashback

It was a warm sunny day. Her day off. He would have loved to have it off, too. Convince her to spend the afternoon with him. He still wanted to take her scuba diving, but she didn't feel up to that, so he would have gladly settled for lunch or even just a chance to fix a leak at her apartment. But that wasn't going to happen.

"Eric!" Horatio sounded worried. "Hey, H! What's up?" Eric was always glad to see his brother-in-law. "Calleigh … Calleigh had a little bit of trouble this morning. She was involved in a shooting." Eric's heart raced. "What? She's okay, isn't she?" "She's fine, but she's having a bit of a hard time. She discharged her weapon, and not only did the man die, it would appear an innocent bystander did also." Oh, no! Eric knew what that meant. Stetler was going to be poking his nose around and making Calleigh feel worse than she already did. Calleigh was a strong woman, but he knew she'd have a hard time with this one.

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When I got there, the paramedic was checking Calleigh for any injuries. I couldn't stand to see her like this. She looked so hurt and broken. I hated to see my beautiful Calleigh hurting like this. I just felt so helpless and there was nothing I could do! I'd gladly take her place, if it would just take away the look of pain on her face. She looked so alone. At least there was something I could do about that.

The paramedic had finished, and just left her there, looking like she was going to burst into tears again any minute. I knew I should start processing the scene, but I just couldn't. I had to find out for myself how she was doing. Someone had tried to run her over! I could feel my hands fisting at the thought of it! Someone had tried to hurt my beautiful Calleigh! They'd pointed a gun in her face, and one of them was still out there! I forced myself to calm down. I wouldn't be any good to her like this. "You going to be okay?" I asked. She took a deep breath and nodded her head. "There was a woman in that building," she began, "an innocent woman." She told me all about it, and I just listened, wishing there was something I could do to ease the hurt.

I hated what I had to do next. I knew it would just add to her pain, but I had to ask. "Listen, Calleigh, I gotta ask you something and I don't want you to take it the wrong way. I know you're off duty. Have you been drinking?" I looked at her, hoping she'd see that I didn't want to ask this. It was just part of the job.

She told me she'd had a few drinks , but nothing that would cloud her judgment. After all she'd seen with her father, she knew how dangerous excess amounts of alcohol could be. It was her day off! She has just as much right to enjoy it as the next person! "I understand. I believe you." I put my arm around her. I wanted her to understand. "It's just not me that you've got to worry about." I pulled her into a hug, and she rested her head on my shoulder. For a moment, everything seemed a little better.

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She'd made it through that just fine. She'd make it through this, too. I had to believe it. But sitting here wasn't going to do any good. With H in Brazil, we're already short on hands. I'll be of more use to Calleigh in the lab, working to find out what happened to her. So that's where I'll be.

TBC

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A/N. This is my first fic. I do not have a beta, so if you see a problem, or notice something about my work that you feel should be corrected or improved upon, please don't hesitate to let me know! Constructive criticism is very much appreciated.

If you don't mind, I'd also love to hear your opinion on the story. You know where the review button is. ;)