A/N: I do not own CSI Miami or any of it's characters, affiliates...etc. This is just my imagination running with it! I hope you all enjoy!

"H. We have a situation. I need you to come to the crime scene."

"I'm on my way." and he drove to the location. Stepping out of his Hummer, he walked into the abandoned building and immediately noticed Calleigh standing around a group of people. He approached. "What have we got?"

Calleigh stood back to reveal a girl who looked to be in her late teens and was in the corner. "No one can get close to her. There's blood everywhere and we don't know what of it, if any, is hers. But every time someone gets within ten feet..." and the girl screamed a blood curdling scream and tried to back up farther into the corner. "We've already removed the dead body."

Horatio saw the fear in every part of her being, from her light auburn hair to her worn out tennis shoes and instantly told everyone to back up and to move to another part of the building. He helped usher everyone away from the immediate area and walking to within fifteen feet of the girl, he leaned against the wall and scooted down until he was sitting on the floor, linking his arms loosely around his knees. After a half an hour of silence, he moved a little closer. He cocked his head slightly and looked at her. "You okay?"

She had stared at him the entire time, untrusting emerald eyes, waiting for him to rush her like everyone else had. But he hadn't. He'd just sat there. Not asking her questions, not making her talk, just sitting there.

Calleigh watched as the time passed by. She noticed a familiar figure walk into the door and she smiled at the girl. "Hey." and she reached out, giving her a hug, and noticing the new badge.

"Hey." she said back quietly. "What's up?"

"He's trying to get her to talk. No one can get close to her."

"If anyone can do it, it's him." she spoke from personal experience. It had been a long six months since Sky's memorial. And he had stayed true to his nature the entire time, being there when she needed it, and even a voice on the phone or a returned letter when she was going through the police academy. This was her first day back and she hadn't seen any of them since the ceremony a couple of weeks before for her graduation into the force, and even then had been a quick dinner and congratulations before they had to all leave and go back home. She knew he hadn't seen her yet so she hung back and watched him work.

He scooted just a little closer, gaging her reaction to his advancement. She didn't move, but she didn't freak out either. "Are you hurt?"

She simply stared at him, waiting still, for him to make his move. She'd seen him inch closer, but for some reason, he seemed harmless. And that he actually wanted to help her. She wondered if she would ever feel like someone wanted to help her. He had not only lessened the threat by just sitting there, but when he first got there, he had moved everyone out of there completely. He had done that to keep her from feeling threatened.

No one ever took that much time and worry into making her feel secure. It was definitely different. And he wasn't talking down to her when he asked her questions either. There didn't seem to be an ulterior motive behind his asking if she was alright and if she was hurt. After another long silence, he moved closer and asked her if he could call her something.

She debated talking to him and telling him her name was Justice. She hated her name. She swore her mother had been high when she named her. But instead, she stayed quiet. Then suddenly he asked out of the blue, "I'm going to get some water brought over here. Are you thirsty?"

He had asked so innocently that it was impossible not to answer. She nodded lightly.

He looked up and noticed a familiar smile that made his face almost light up. "Hey Charli? Can you bring a couple of bottles of water over here?"

Smiling bigger she nodded and slowly approached. "Hey H." she said quietly, handing him the bottles. He pushed one of them toward the girl in the corner, then grinned at the one who had now squatted down to him, as if completely ignoring the fact that the other was huddled there.

"Hey sweetheart. See the badge."

"I know right!" and she posed, showing it off with a proud smile. "It's so strange not juggling school and work now!"

"Is today your first day back?"

"It is. Do you need a hand with anything?"

"Nope. Just having a conversation. We're good. Thanks for checking though."

"No problem. I'll be over there with Calleigh if you change your mind. Remind me to hug you later, when you're not sitting."

"Alright." and he took a long drink as she turned and started to walk away. "Charli?" and she turned. "It's good to have you home sweetheart."

"It's good to be home. I miss my apartment."

He chuckled as she met back up with Calleigh on the other side of the building. Looking back to the girl who had damn near finished off the water he scooted a little closer. "You want some more?"

She shook her head. Then glancing at Charli she asked shakily. "Sh...she's a cop?"

Her voice was so soft and so filled with fear, Horatio knew not to get too excited. He nodded. "Just graduated from the academy a couple of weeks ago."

She looked into his eyes and moisture gathered. "I'm in a lot of trouble, aren't I?"

"Well, trouble's a funny thing. It all depends on what you did and why you did it."

She put her head down as tears fell. "I feel so...sordid."

"Is that why you don't want anyone near you?"

"I don't want anyone to touch me." she whispered back.

He could see her body shaking, almost violently. Taking his jacket off, he handed it to her. "Put this on. See if it helps."

She stopped before she got it on. "The blood..."

"Right now, I'm more worried about you going into shock than I am getting blood on my coat." then he watched as she put it around herself.

"It's my fault. It's all my fault." she whispered.

"Can you tell me about it?"

"I...it...he..." and she broke. She'd been trying to keep it in, but she broke. "I can...I can't..." and she wrapped her arms around herself and started rocking as she shook and cried harder.

"It's okay sweetheart." then he offered his hand to her. "Will you let me help you?"

"Will...will you stay?"

"If you would like."

"Pl...please." she whispered.

"Is it okay if I have Charli sit with you if I'm not able to be there?"

Shakily she looked at the girl who didn't seem much older than she was.

"She's safe."

There he was again. Trying to make sure she felt secure. "But you...you'll be there?"

He nodded. "Every step of the way."

Shakily she reached up and took his hand, almost losing the breath in her lungs when he squeezed, until she realized that he was trying to reassure her, not to hurt her. She stood with his help and he called Charli over there.

"Get the EMT's ready. Let them know I'm staying with her, and I want you to come with us. Have Calleigh finish processing the scene and I'll let you process everything on the other end of it."

Knowing what he was talking about she nodded, hesitant. He could see the hesitation and knowing H, he probably would figure out why. But she trusted him, and she would see where this went. Watching him with the kid now, she realized it wasn't her apartment that she'd missed so much. It had been her people. Her family. Her home.

She started to panic once they were in the ambulance and she absolutely would not let go of Horatio's hand when they actually got to the hospital, despite the objection from the nurses trying to get a full assessment.

She had stopped talking again and it had worried him, but he had done everything he could to answer the questions that the nurses and doctors asked, though admittedly there wasn't a lot he was able to answer.

She had stared at a lot of them, shaking instead of answering questions. At one point, she felt a squeeze to her hand and she looked into the blue eyes staring back. "Focus on me sweetheart. They need you to calm down and relax a little. I'm right here. Can you do that?"

She closed her eyes then realized what they were talking about. She was tense, and scared to death. She didn't want to let anyone close to her. She heard one of the nurses scream out that they were going to have to sedate her if she didn't relax. The concept did nothing but make her panic.

Not realizing what took over her, she started fighting. "No, no, no, no, no, no. No drugs. Please don't let them put me under. Please."

But before she got it out, she felt a stick in her arm and felt all of the energy and fight, drain out of her body.

Blue eyes now filled with irritation seemed to swallow her whole. "What did you give her?"

"A mild tranquilizer."

He stared back down as her eyes started closing. "Please...don't let them..." and he felt her hand, squeezing his, go limp and lifeless.

One of the nurses looked at him and pushed him gently back. "Please step back sir. We've got to get a complete assessment."

He stood there, still not leaving her side, even if he had been forced to let go of her hand. Then he turned and looked. Charli was waiting patiently, just outside the room.

They walked her into a room and he followed. Charli knocked on the door quietly.

"Hey sweetheart."

"How is she?"

He looked down at her. "They've drugged her up pretty good. Lots of bruising. Signs of a struggle. No major cuts or scrapes so none of the blood was hers, but she told me before I got her to stand up that she'd done it. What do we have on the body?"

"Alexx said multiple stab wounds, shallow, but all over the place, like she was just stabbing blindly."

He looked back at the kid in the bed. "She probably was." then his phone beeped. He looked down recognizing Calleigh's number. "Yes ma'am?"

"Hey, there's a Cindy Cartwright here, looking for her daughter Justice."

"Hold her. I'll be right there." the he slid his phone in his pocket and looked at Charli. "Stay here. I have to go."

"Okay?"

"I'll be back as soon as I can. Something came up at the scene."

She still looked at him, unsure.

"I'll be back."

She nodded and took a seat next to the girl. She'd noticed the girls emerald colored eyes when they were back at the warehouse, and now that she was cleaned up, could see her hair was almost the same color as her superior's, only a little darker. She looked serene and unafraid for the first time in a long time she was sure.

She immediately thought about Sky, and sat back. She wouldn't get attached. She wouldn't let herself get involved this time. This time she was going to maintain her distance. Well, emotionally anyway.

She closed her eyes. Why was he doing this to her? He had to know she would think about Sky and what had happened. She had just gotten back from the academy, and the first thing he asked her to do was sit on this kid who was probably only a year or two younger than she was.

It was another three hours before Horatio stepped back through the door. She was still sitting next to her, but she was staring off into a different direction. "Hey."

She glanced up. "Hey." she whispered back.

"How's she doing?"

Shrugging, she cleared her throat. "Fine I guess. No change."

"Did they find anything in the kit?"

She shook her head. "Not that anyone at the lab's told me."

He nodded. "Her name is Justice Cartwright and her mom, it would seem, was using her, to pay bills and for drugs."

That angered her, just like he knew it would. She couldn't stand for injustices to happen to anyone, but to have your own mother do that to you, "Is her mom in jail?"

"She is for the moment. We're holding her on felony child abuse and child labor charges. Now we need to figure out what happened between Justice and Gary."

They were both startled when a small voice broke into the conversation. "He tried to...I couldn't let him...not again. He was mean. Always mean. She didn't understand."

"It's okay, don't get upset." Horatio said, grabbing her hand like he had before. "We'll get you through this."

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please, you have to get me out of here, she's just going to get me again. Put me in jail. She can't get me in jail."

"Sweetheart, she can't get you. Not right now. She's in jail herself."

Charli stood up and grabbed her phone out of her pocket. "I need to take this." she said quietly, and stepped out the door. She got to the wall on the other side of the door and just closed her eyes, breathing deep.

Horatio stepped out and looked at her a few moments later. "Are you alright?"

She opened her eyes and he could see the slight moisture behind them. "No." and she cleared her throat. "I'm going to get some air and a cup of coffee. I'll be back in a few minutes." and she walked slowly down the hall.

He knew this was going to have an affect on her, but he also knew she had a long way to go before she fully got over what happened to Sky, and he wanted to help her with that, before she got past the point of no return with it. He walked back in the room.

"Is she okay?"

"Yes ma'am. She just wanted a cup of coffee. So why don't you talk to me for a second. Can you tell me what happened?"

She nodded. "He grabbed my arm and dragged me into that warehouse. I knew what I was supposed to do, but I just couldn't do it." she said, whispering the last part. "There was a box cutter in the floor where he threw me down. I just couldn't do it again. I couldn't do it."

He had set down and grabbed her hand again. "It's alright. We're going to figure this out." and he listened as she repeated over and over that she couldn't do it, until she fell back asleep, still under some after effects of the sedative.

It was about thirty minutes later when Charli showed back up. He looked up at her. "Ms. Gibbens."

"Mr. Caine." she replied simply.

"Anything new?"

She shook her head.

"I don't want you to think..."

"I'm fine." she cut in and sat down in the chair that sat in the opposite corner.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm good." she said, not saying anything else on the subject. "I can't believe I'm home. It feels weird."

He smiled. "I guess it has been a while huh?"

"The academy sucked! Well no, it was actually a lot of fun, I even met a guy."

"Really?"

She laughed. "No. I just wanted to see your reaction. I mean, I met a lot of guys that I went through the academy with but, nothing ever came of any of them."

He smiled and stared for a moment. "I am glad you're home sweetheart."

"I know." she said softly. "And I'm glad to be home. I'm just..." and her gaze wandered to the girl in the bed. She started to finish her sentence when her phone rang. Grabbing it this time for real, she answered.

"Hey kid."

She smiled. "Hey Walter."

"We got something. Can you come in?"

Nodding this time, she answered. "Sure. I'll be right there." then she hung up. "They want me in the lab."

"Alright. Keep me posted. See you soon."

Taking a deep breath once she was out of the hospital and on her way back to the lab, she realized quickly that she wasn't out of the woods on this. It was hard to not care about someone and she hated that she was fighting it all the way. But then she saw Sky, and thought about the fact that she hadn't obsessed over it in weeks, and she didn't want to be back there. She didn't want to remember and she didn't want to care again. Dammit. Why did this have to happen now? It's not like Horatio had planned this girl murdering this guy today of all days. She shook her head at her own stupidity and pulled up into the parking lot of the lab. It was good to be home.