A/N Hey guys this is just a short fic set after the death of Leo's wife and daughter.
I just wanted to explore his feelings more on the situation and how he managed to cope with it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Silent Witness…wish I did though: (
By the way, check out the new Silent Witness crossover with Dr Who and Torchwood and review it
I know the writer and Whovi10 would like to know people's thoughts on the fic
It's the first of its kind!!!!
Don't Shoot the Messenger
Leo's Point of View
My blood ran cold and my vision was filtering in and out. My eyes seemed unable to focus on the man before me as the burning tears clouded my vision and cascaded down my face. His words echoed dully in my ears…words I had never dreamed nor ever thought I would live to hear as the officer said, "Professor Dalton, your wife and daughter where involved in a serious accident. I'm really sorry…they didn't make it." After that, I zoned out, his sympathetic words lost as I collapsed mind and body. The man droned on and on describing the sickening details of the accident that I was determined didn't happen.
Who cares? What's the point of life if we live to die? My heart thumped dully in my chest and I began to detest that insistent erratic sound. My wearied heart was still beating, yet Teresa and Cassie's had stopped. My beautiful wife and daughter… were gone? What sort of God is there if he chose to end life so abruptly and cruelly showing little compassion and love? My life is over…it withered and died with Cassie and Teresa.
"I cant…I ca-…I…why them?" I choked out as the officer patted my shoulder and reassured me with a slightly uncomfortable look on his face.
The officer launched into a further tirade of words and I picked up on eleven solitary words that turned my misery into a burning anger.
"…it was a hit and run but the driver got away…" The officer continued.
"What-!" I spat venom in my voice as a deep loathing consumed me. "You mean…what you're trying to say… was that it wasn't even an accident. It was murder! That cowardly bastard that killed my family saw what he done and ran? He didn't even attempt… to help…call the ambulance…anything?!" My voice raised a few octaves and I was shouting, roaring, screaming and venting my anger towards the officer who stood frozen with shock, a look of deep rooted pity on his face.
"N…n…no," the police officer stuttered, "An old lady who saw the incident rang the ambulance. But…it was too late. Their injuries were too severe." With that the man gave me another sympathetic look then walked out. At least he could.
Harry walked through the doors of the Lyell centre after buying two decaf coffees for himself and Nikki in the University canteen. They had been at work for simply ages. They had been called to the scene of crime at three in the morning and were still here over fifteen hours later. Lack of sleep and severe exhaustion had encouraged Nikki to beg and plead with Harry to get them coffee before she "fell asleep on him and drooled all over him."
Harry recalled the further bickering and squabbling with Nikki before he finally agreed. Nikki drooling over him is not what he thought of as a "nice image."
He spotted Nikki at his desk and walked slowly over to her taking care not to spill their drinks all over himself.
"Ah Harry…at last!" Nikki smiled tiredly as she saw him approach. "What took you so long? Get lost?"
"Shut up Niks. It wasn't even my turn to get the coffee. I always do it! But then you speak in that high pitched moany voice with the puppy dog eyes, "B-b-but Haaarrry…I neeed coffee." I mean, what am I your slave?" He could imitate Nikki's 'whiney' voice perfectly. Mainly because she used it daily. Nikki knew rightly that he was powerless to that voice. She had him right where she wanted him!
She got up slowly, through him her dirtiest look and grabbed for the steaming cup of hot coffee.
Suddenly, close by, a familiar voice screamed, shouted, ranted…mourned. Harry and Nikki looked towards Leo's office simultaneously as Harry dropped the coffees in surprise. The cups of coffee exploded on impact with the hard floor and Harry and Nikki got soaked with the hot liquid inside. Harry and Nikki stared at each other worry in their eyes simultaneously spinning on their heels and running for Leo's office. Automatically, they both knew that something awful had happened…they just didn't know what. Leo had not shouted in his "angry work voice." His shout was one of anguish and pain.
Harry and Nikki ran full tilt into the corridor were they met a young saddened officer heading in the opposite direction. The man had obviously just left Leo's office and was the source of Leo's pain. Nikki quickly walked up to the man, "What is it? What's happened?" she demanded her worry increasing as she expected the worst had happened.
"Ma'am are you friends of Professor Dalton?" the officer asked directing her question at both Harry and Nikki.
"Yes," Harry answered quickly, "We're colleagues and close friends. Now tell me what has happened!"
"Professor Dalton's wife and child were killed in an accident earlier today."
Nikki and Harry gasped audibly at the officer's response.
"No!" Nikki cried out, "Oh no…not Teresa and Cassie. They mean everything…everything to Leo." Her eyes filled with tears as she recalled her friend's mournful wail.
Harry too was white with shock and overcome with sympathy.
"Look, Mr Dalton didn't take the news very well. He needs his friends right now," the officer finished before walking out.
Nikki turned to Harry. "Harry, what are we going to do?"
"I don't know Niks," Harry began his voice thick with emotion, "be there for him and support him I guess. Come on, he needs us."
"Poor Leo!" Nikki whispered and Harry nodded silently. They crept slowly towards Leo's closed office door and opened it slowly and stepped inside.
The sight that met them was one neither would forget. Leo was staring vacantly at the wall with dead eyes. Fresh tears rolled down his face. This happy-go-lucky man who was always smiling was shattered and broken. Leo did not even acknowledge their presence.
Nikki reached out and gently grabbed Harry's hand for comfort as she absorbed the sight before her.
Leo's head snapped up suddenly and he whispered, "Their dead." The sound was so weak and hopeless.
"Leo…I'm…I mean we are really sorry. I can't even begin to contemplate how you're feeling but we're here for you if you need us…me and Nikki we're both here. I really can't believe it. An accident the officer said?" Harry said slowly.
Leo leapt into action at his words, "Murder!" he shouted advancing towards Harry who retreated at the expression on Leo's face. "My family were murdered today. Some evil man killed my family then ran away without a care in the world. Because of him I will never kiss my wife again or walk my daughter down the isle. I will never see my grandchildren nor talk to them ever again because of one selfish selfish prick!" The tears increased on Leo's face as he grabbed for the laptop on his desk and launched it at the wall. The laptop crashed into the wall and broken debris littered the ground. Nikki looked terrified between Harry and Leo unsure of what to do or say.
Harry was unsuccessfully trying to calm Leo down with reassuring words but to no avail. Leo was throwing everything in site. Vases, case files, chairs and plates reached their end at Leo's wrath. Once his office lie in desecration and with nothing else in reach to throw, Leo broke down completely sliding down the wall to the floor. His heart wrenched sobs shook Nikki out of her revere and she went over to him and threw her arms around him. He clung to her mercilessly. She was his support and her lifeline.
Minutes passed and Leo's sobs slowly subsided. Nikki looked to Harry and saw the tears glistening on his cheeks. Her own face felt raw and dirty from the dried tears and mascara.
Leo jumped up suddenly and spoke harshly, "I'm going to find that man. I don't care what it takes but I'll do it. And when I find him, I'm going to confront him and I'm going to kill him. I'm going to find out why he did it then look into his eyes as he dies. He deserves it after what he did to my family!" Leo strode out of the room leaving a painful silence in the room. Harry was shocked at Leo's words. Leo had sounded so serious and adamant. Harry didn't deny that Leo meant it and he understood completely.
A/N Thanks to Whovi10 for the proof read. Her help is much appreciated.
If you want the next chapter soon, review and let me know what you think, the good and the bad.