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Post by sanne on Aug 17, 2009 21:05:50 GMT -10
The question is: if, how and when will we find out WHAT it is she's hiding and WHY...... Sandra
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Post by celticgirl39 on Aug 18, 2009 6:14:26 GMT -10
Glad you enjoy it so far....stay tuned for surprises all around! Celticgirl
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Post by sanne on Aug 18, 2009 7:28:02 GMT -10
I would....if I wouldn;t go on vacation in a few days..... Guess I have a lot to catch up to when I'm back..... Sandra
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Post by NV Oracle on Aug 18, 2009 9:59:15 GMT -10
Very, very interesting, Celticgirl.
So, Horatio had managed, at least for a little while, to turn off his emotions? That doesn't come as a surprise. Unfortunately, it's a coping mechanism. But now, they're coming back, huh? That could get interesting.
Terrific chapter. Can't wait to see what happens next.
Your friend Oracle
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Post by celticgirl39 on Aug 18, 2009 10:36:16 GMT -10
Thanks NV! Glad you enjoy!
I am off to Long Beach/Seal Beach for some RandR for a couple days....see ya when I get back!
Celticgirl
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Post by deborah on Aug 18, 2009 12:34:53 GMT -10
Have a good time. And be careful. See ya when you get back.
Deborah
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Post by celticgirl39 on Aug 19, 2009 12:58:46 GMT -10
Thanks Deborah, I had a lovely time with a good friend of mine...nice to unwind by the ocean definitely! New chapter later
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Post by celticgirl39 on Aug 19, 2009 15:49:07 GMT -10
Chapter 3 Alexx Lends a Hand
Horatio sat and watched Alida as the drugs took their full effect. Her pain filled eyes became sleepy and as she succumbed to sleep, her breathing soon became slow and steady, her whole body relaxing as the pain receded.
He sat there watching her for some time, not removing his eyes from her face, as if trying to memorize her features for fear of forgetting them.
This was how a nurse found him as she came in to check on Alida. She suggested to Horatio that he go and get some rest, something to eat as she would be asleep for some time yet. Perhaps tomorrow would be a better day for her.
Horatio nodded and stood up, looking at her once last time before leaving. ----------------------------------------
Arriving at the hospital the next morning, Horatio made his way back to Room 4450. He could see through the glass window that she was lying on her right side, her left arm lying over her hip. He walked into the room and approached the foot of the bed so as not to startle her.
Alida, sensing another presence in the room, twisted slightly to see who it was that entered the room; she had been lying on her side, gazing out the window and upon seeing who it was, turned away from the window and slowly sat up.
"Lieutenant Caine..." she said in mild surprise.”Would you like to sit down?" she asked.
He flashed a brief smile at her and nodded, pulling the chair over closer to the bed. “You are looking better today.” He commented, noticing the oxygen had been removed.
She nodded briefly, “I feel a little better; still sore, but am told I will survive.” She answered, smiling at him.
"Have they decided when they're going to let you go?" he asked.
“Probably day after tomorrow if I continue to do as well as I am now.” she replied, looking out the window.
He nodded again, and as his eyes flicked from her face to the nightstand, he noticed a city map laying there. He looked back at her, and to him she still looked tired.
“What is the map for? He asked her.
Alida looked at him, “Well, I have no more vehicle and I need to find my way home. Even I knew it was a total loss Lieutenant.”
“I will come pick you up and take you home.” He replied simply.
She smiled briefly at him, “No thank you. I don’t know where-“she stopped. “Listen Lieutenant Horatio Caine,” she said, looking at him; “I appreciate everything you have done for me, but I can take it on my own from here on in.”
Horatio looked at her; she was still refusing his help. Clearly she was not going to make this easy, so he decided to try the direct approach.
"What I want to ask you, Alida is," he paused a moment, studying her tired face, "What are you so scared of?"
The look she shot him told him that he had hit a nerve straight on. She couldn't answer him, and she just stared at him, her hazel eyes wide with terror, her breath catching as she froze in place.
"I...." she started, looking away as bewilderment washed over her.”I..."
Alida started to panic, terror and confusion taking over, her breathing becoming rapid as she began to hyperventilate. Horatio attempted to calm her down by sitting on the bed and taking her hands, but she then began thrashing around, and fearing she could hurt herself, Horatio quickly called for a nurse to take care of Alida, while another nurse pushed him out the door and was told to wait outside as the door closed in his face.
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Horatio waited outside the door, pacing and feeling guilty; he should not have pushed her like that, but he had to try to get information from her. He could not protect her if she refused to tell him what was going on.
The door to Alida’s room opened some half hour later and the nurse motioned Horatio over to the side;
“She is resting comfortably now Lieutenant; once we got her calmed down we checked her sutures and luckily no damage there. We put a sedative in her IV so she is sleeping now, and will be for a few hours.” The nurse paused.
“I get the feeling there is something you are not telling me nurse.” Horatio replied.
“Yes, Lieutenant, there is. I am sorry to have to tell you this, but you must understand our patient is our first priority here,” she paused, “but she has requested that you not be allowed to see her again.”
Horatio felt like he had been punched in the stomach.
He shot a look at the nurse. “You have to understand, someone is trying to kill her, and for me to help her I need her to tell me what is going on.”
“I understand Lieutenant, I really do. Your reputation in this hospital is well known, but so far you haven’t been successful,” she explained apologetically; “Perhaps, if you sent someone else, someone, not you.”
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Horatio left the hospital at a complete loss. He couldn’t understand why this woman was refusing his help; he couldn’t of course force her into accepting his help, she was an adult and therefore presumed to be able to make her own decisions, and the thing to do would be for him to just let it go, but for some reason he couldn’t, or perhaps wouldn’t let it go.
Since Alida wouldn’t see him right now, he would send in someone else, someone with maternal instincts and could charm the birds out of trees. He would send in Alexx Woods.
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Alexx Woods was the pathologist for the Miami Dade Crime Lab and she was one of the best. Her claim to fame, if it can be called that was her empathy for the victims that crossed her table. She talked to them, and they talked back to her, not in words, but in other more important ways. She treated each and every one of them with respect, not lifeless bodies; they were someone to somebody she would always say.
Her other position at the crime lab, albeit an honorary one, and one she wore proudly was that of mother. Ryan, Calleigh, Eric and the late Timothy Speedle were her children and she always, without fail knew when they were in trouble and needed help. That help was always there for them without question and they had, over the years, come to rely heavily on her; she had never failed them yet.
Knowing this about Alexx, Horatio approached her and briefly explained the problem to her; she was as usual, willing and able to help.
“So it was not road rage that landed her in the hospital.” Alexx stated.
“No it was not, and she knows it Alexx; she knows someone wants her dead but she refuses to talk about it and she refuses my help. Then yesterday, out of frustration I used the direct approach with her and hit a nerve. She began to hyperventilate and almost pulled out her sutures in terror Alexx.” Horatio explained. “I pushed her too hard and now she refuses to even see me.”
Alexx looked at her boss, her friend and smiled. He certainly was taking the rejection personally, very personally indeed. It was the first time in over two years that Alexx had seen any emotion emanating from Horatio and she was extremely curious about this woman who could cause Horatio this kind of misery in such a very short time.
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A few hours later, Alexx approached the nurse’s station on the 4th floor first and introduced herself. She explained the purpose of her visit, and she promised not to upset Alida. The nurse smiled and agreed to let her try and talk to the woman.
Alexx knocked on the door and opened it, walking in; she could see Alida sitting up in bed, her brown hair tied back in a ponytail, staring out the window. It appeared to Alexx that she had been crying.
“Alida, my name is Alexx Woods,” she said introducing herself, “and I was wondering if we could talk for a few minutes.”
Alida turned her head away from the window and looked at Alexx, seeing a very attractive African-American woman with long black hair, high cheekbones and large brown eyes.
“I am willing to bet Lieutenant Caine sent you here to talk to me?” she inquired.
Alexx blinked in surprise, staring directly into Alida’s hazel eyes.
“Well, yes in a way he did, since you banned him from your room.” She replied smiling.
Horatio was right about those eyes. Alexx thought.
“Dr. Woods, I have nothing to say, it is my choice and I choose not to accept his help.” She replied. “Sending you here was a waste of time, and very likely county resources.”
Horatio was right, she is a stubborn one. Alexx thought.
“Just give me a minute of your time Alida, and if you are still not interested, I will make sure Horatio leaves you alone.”
Alida stared at Alexx for a few minutes, and then nodded in agreement.
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"I can't tell you the details,” Alexx began, “because that is not my place; he is a very private man and if he wants you to know, he will tell you himself. But what I can say is that for the last two years or so, his life has been a living hell and he had managed to suspend himself from feeling any emotion whatsoever." she explained. “At least until yesterday, when he saw you in that wreck.”
Alexx already had a pretty good idea of how Horatio felt for this woman before her from their conversation earlier; but she also wanted to know just what this stranger before her felt for her friend, if anything. She was very pleased to see the alarm and concern that suddenly filled those hazel eyes.
"What happ..." Alida started to ask her, but Alexx raised her hand to stop her from continuing.
"I can't tell you details, sugar because they are not mine to give, and I won't break the trust I've earned with him. He's a dearly loved friend who came to me and told me that something bad happened here earlier.” Alexx continued, “Sugar, if you could have seen how sorry he was for pushing you like he did. He told me he felt like a d**n idiot, and to hear him call himself that hurt me deeply. Do you understand what I am trying to say?" Alexx asked gently, moving to sit on the bed.
Alexx watched as a range of emotions crossed Alida’s face; Alexx’s instincts once again were perfect, this woman felt something for her friend.
Alexx continued on, hoping Alida would soon crack, "I am taking a real risk here in making a fool of myself..." she said, "But you feel something for him, don't you?"
Alida crawled into herself as Alexx watched.
"I...." she stammered, looking away "I..." Alexx watched deep pain flash across her face and for an instant Alexx wondered if she had also gone too far. Alida dropped her head. "I cannot talk about this….it is too complicated.”
"You do have feelings for him don't you?" Alexx asked, gently. The look Alida gave her confirmed everything.
Alida began shaking her head in denial. "No, How can I?" she suddenly blurted. "I barely know him! He rescued me, for crying out loud, he was just doing his job, you can't just fall in love with your rescuer and expect it to be reciprocated.” Alida shouted. “It cannot happen Alexx, between him and I; he’s compassionate with everyone, it's in his nature; he did his job and saved me from the car, and that is the end of it.”
Alexx remained silent, letting Alida just shout it out; Alexx knew there was more Alida had to say, so she remained silent, but listening very closely.
Alida suddenly felt all the sorrow and fear she had buried deep down within her over the last few weeks begin to rise, much like lava in a volcano, ready to erupt. She sucked in a deep breath, trying to stem off the explosion of emotion, but she couldn’t.
The tears were coming to her eyes as she sobbed, "There is something wrong with me Alexx,” My memory is scattered Alexx, I cannot remember certain things, I cannot remember parts of my own life!”
Alexx stared at Alida with a sense of dread, “What do you mean honey, about your memory being scattered?”
“I don’t remember where I work Alexx, but I remember where I live; I remember my parents died in a crash, but I don’t remember where they are buried,” she cried. “Alexx, I don’t remember certain things, things that Lieutenant Caine wants answers to; I don’t know, I just don’t know.” She whispered. “I am so scared.”
Alexx’s heart went out to this woman, as well as fear. Horatio was right, someone was out to get her; between the car accident, the bump on her head and now this; her description of scattered memories suggested to Alexx that she had been injected with some kind of drug. It was only by sheer luck and the grace of God that she was still alive.
“You need to talk to Horatio sweetie,” Alexx suggested, “he will find out who is behind all this.”
Alida looked at Alexx, wiping her tears from her face, “No.”
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TBC
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Post by sanne on Aug 19, 2009 19:54:49 GMT -10
Stupid stubborn lady..............*SIGH*.................But I bet Alexx will get her to talk. Alida's already told her more than she is willing to admit..... Sandra
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Post by celticgirl39 on Aug 20, 2009 5:05:12 GMT -10
She does seem stubborn doesn't she? Well, ok, she is....
Glad you enjoy!
Celticgirl
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Post by NV Oracle on Aug 20, 2009 9:49:41 GMT -10
Enjoying very much, Celticgirl. Alida is stubborn, but she thinks it's for a good reason, she thinks she's protecting Horatio from the men who are out to get her. She's right to be worried, because they would.
Can't wait to see what happens next.
Your friend Oracle
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Post by deborah on Aug 20, 2009 10:49:54 GMT -10
Her stubbornness sounds just like someone else we know. Also the protectiveness. They will make a good pair. Anxious for what happens next.
Deborah
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Post by celticgirl39 on Aug 20, 2009 12:55:43 GMT -10
Thanks for enjoying NV, Deborah....this is my particular favorite story I have in my collection
Celticgirl
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Post by celticgirl39 on Aug 20, 2009 13:01:30 GMT -10
Chapter 4- You Can Tell Him No
Alexx pulled into the crime lab parking lot and sighed. Horatio was not going to like this one bit. Granted she had gotten some new information from Alida, but she could not get Alida to budge on her continued refusal to see Horatio.
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The woman certainly was something different then what Miami generally sees. Although attractive, she was so in a quiet, almost demure way. Most women in Miami flaunted their goods, so to speak, leaving absolutely nothing to the imagination. This woman clearly was not a partier, she seemed to prefer, almost seek out solitude. Alexx could see she was intelligent, likely having post-secondary education, and very decisive. She was also a very sensitive person from the way she responded to the news of Horatio’s personal pain.
The decision to refuse to see Horatio bothered Alexx a great deal. Alida clearly wanted to avoid any sort of confrontation or contact with him because of her own feelings towards him; she didn’t trust herself to be alone with him perhaps, but even more likely, thought Alexx, was that she was afraid of being hurt. It was clear to Alexx that Alida had been deeply hurt in the past and trust didn’t come easy for her.
Unfortunately, because of that choice, once she left the hospital she would be in the same position-a target for a killer, because he would realize, if he hadn’t already, that she was still alive. The other troubling situation for Alexx was Alida’s scattered memory loss. She had no idea if it was permanent or temporary; if it was temporary, then all her memories could come rushing back to her, causing Alida to become confused and disoriented.
Alexx had tried convincing Alida that it was in her best interest to let Horatio help her, but to no avail. She had even suggested going to see her friend, Detective Frank Tripp; she could call Frank and he would come right over to talk with her. She refused on the premise Frank would just be acting for Horatio, and somehow she would end up having to deal with Horatio.
Alexx did manage to convince the nurse to let her know discreetly, of course, the day that Alida gets discharged, that it was a matter of personal and public safety as she handed the nurse her business card.
Granted Alexx embellished it somewhat, but it got results; it didn’t hurt that she was a doctor either.
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Alexx parked her car in the crime lab parking lot and turned off the engine. She quickly got out of the vehicle and began walking towards the building. She spotted Horatio standing outside at the top of the steps and sighed.
Might as well get this over with. She thought.
“Alexx.” Horatio greeted her, his eyes focused on the ground.
“Horatio, I did find out a couple of things, but.” She began. “She still refuses to see you.”
“I see…I see.” He replied, “What did you find out?”
Alexx looked at Horatio but couldn’t figure out what he was thinking or feeling, if anything. He had shut down the moment she told him of Alida’s refusal to see him; it was a defense mechanism she knew that, to think he felt nothing would be an erroneous assumption to make, and an unfair one.
“Well, she told me about her memory problem. She talked about her scattered memories; she can remember certain things but not others.” Alexx explained.
“Amnesia from the bump on the head?” he inquired.
“No, I think it is possible she had been injected with a drug,” she explained, “I don’t know which one, and I won’t even hazard a guess.” She stated. “I know there are drugs out there that can affect memory, either temporarily or permanently.”
“I see Alexx.” Horatio replied, looking up at her.
“Horatio, what concerns me is if the memory scatter is temporary, once the memories come flooding back, she will no doubt become disoriented and confused, and if she is alone when it happens, well, I am afraid for her.”
“Anything else Alexx?” he asked.
Alexx, on the drive over back to the lab had thought about telling Horatio about Alida’s personal feelings, but in the end, decided against it… for now.
“One thing, I managed to convince a nurse to call me when she was discharged; although once she is gone, we are not likely to find her again.”
“At least not until she becomes a crime scene Alexx.” He replied, walking away and into the building, leaving Alexx staring after him, a concerned look on her face.
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Horatio walked into his office and slammed the door shut, leaving no doubt to the other people in the lab that he was angry. He ran his fingers through his hair as he stood staring outside his window. He honestly couldn’t understand Alida. What was she thinking?
He realized he made a mistake by pushing her as hard as he had done; he felt badly about it, but he wouldn’t be able to help her unless she was honest with him, but all that he had succeeded in doing was having her push him away.
His anger abated somewhat as he thought of her eyes. Staring into those hazel eyes at the scene of the accident, he had found himself willingly sinking into their depths. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, and if that was true, he had seen one of the most beautiful spirits he had in quite some time, if not ever.
Someone wanted to destroy that spirit by killing her, and he could not accept that, he wouldn’t accept that; yet her constant refusal to see him made it almost impossible for him to help her.
He mentally processed what Alexx had told him about her memory, about her maybe having been drugged at some point, fairly recently. He feared for her safety if her memory did come flooding back as Alexx explained it might. It would be overwhelming for her.
He picked up her wallet and took out her driver’s license; those eyes even mesmerized him from a picture, and he stared at it for several minutes.
He had come to a decision.
Horatio sat down and made a call.
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Alida, still tiring easily, leaned back into her pillows and looked out the window into the clear blue sky of Miami and let her thoughts drift…
Alida had never considered herself to be an unhappy person. She had, until they died, a loving family, and one or two close friends back home that she could rely on without question. When her family died in that horrific crash, she had found herself unable to remain where she was; the memories were too painful, so, she got herself a new job, far away from her old hometown and the painful memories. She found herself in Miami.
At thirty five, Alida realized that while she was by no means old, there was a good chance marriage and love had passed her by, but it hadn’t and didn’t bother her at all. She didn't need those things in her life to be happy, and she also refused to settle for fear of missing those things. She had seen what happened to people who settled out of fear of being alone; they ended up bitter, divorced and alone anyway.
She wasn't rich by any means either, but she didn't really want for anything either and she had begun to build a good life for herself here in Miami. She enjoyed the solitude and being by herself; she had finally believed herself to be healing from the pain of grief and loss.
But now, a mere three months after moving to Miami and beginning her job, someone wanted her dead, and she had no idea why. She had no idea who wanted her dead; her memory was scattered and it scared her; it terrified her not to be able to remember her family, or what her job was. She considered herself lucky that she still remembered where she lived. Her life was slowly unraveling and she had no idea on how to stop it.
Then along came a Lieutenant Horatio Caine, metaphorically crashing into her life as she literally crashed her vehicle on the causeway.
Alida had friends who claimed their mates were the product of the whole "love at first sight” phenomenon, but it sounded so clichéd, or hackneyed to her, like something out of those fairy tales her father used to read to her at bedtime when she was a child.
As far as Alida was concerned, the world moved to fast for her and the people in it too cruel to believe in the existence of love at first sight. She was a grown woman now, not a little girl who dreamed of the knight in shining armor, coming to rescue her on a white horse.
All that changed that one fateful day when a man, trying to kill her, caused her to lose control of her SUV, crashing it on the causeway, and her opening her eyes to find herself lost in the piercing blue eyes of a stranger; a stranger coming to help her, one who made promises on the causeway that day…
“Ok, can you tell me your name?” he asked, smiling at her attempt at humor.
“Alida.” She whispered softly. “Don’t leave me.”
“I won’t Alida…I won’t.” he responded gently. “Is there any family I can call?”
“No,” she whispered, hardly able to talk, “I am alone.”
“Not anymore you’re not.” He replied. “Not anymore.”
She willingly wanted to drown in those blue eyes, and maybe she had to some degree because from that moment on, she was lost. A small smile came to Alida’s face as she remembered that moment. She believed in love at first sight again.
The belief didn’t last long however; she found out he was a police officer and CSI for Miami Dade County Crime Lab and he was just doing his job. She was nothing more then another victim for him to deal with; the only difference was that she was still alive.
He had then come to see her in the hospital, and her heart began racing when she saw him sitting in the chair by her bed, he wanted to know how she was doing. She was grateful that he took the time to come see her, but then his motives became clear; he was there to question her about the accident, and she had no answers to give.
Alida decided at the moment to relieve him of any further obligation. He had done what he was supposed to do; he saved her life, and she thanked him for it. There was no need to discuss her other problems with him, she didn’t want him around. She didn’t want to get hurt again.
So she banned him from her room after the panic attack and she believed that it was the end of it. She would never have to see him again and she found herself crying into her pillow.
This is how Alexx Woods found Alida Marie Hughes.
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Alida was surprised when Alexx Woods showed up. Once she banned Lieutenant Caine from her room she figured it would be the end of the matter and that particular problem would be over.
Clearly she had underestimated him.
She liked Alexx, liked her a lot; she made her feel safe and comforted, and as a result, Alida bared her soul to her, a literal stranger. She had no doubt that Alexx would go back to her boss, and friend and tell him at least some of what had been discussed, but as long as Alida had him banned from entering her room, she would be fine.
Or so she believed.
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TBC
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Post by sanne on Aug 20, 2009 20:09:01 GMT -10
Somehow I'm starting to think the accident that killed her parents....wasn't an accident at all........ Sandra
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