Title: When in Need
Author: Leandrastar2000
Rating: M (for later chapters in case I decide to go in an M direction with this story)
Relationship: Horatio Caine/Original Female Character
Warnings: This story does contain references to rape. Also, if you like the character of John Hagen you may not want to read this story because he is not a nice guy in this one.
Summary: When one of his team is brutally attacked, Horatio comes to the rescue and stays by their side through it all.
My name is Alexia Twofeathers and I have been working at the Miami Dade Crime Lab for almost two years. I worked my way from the trace lab to a field agent during that time working with the best criminalistics team in the county. Horatio Caine, Calleigh Duquesne, Eric Delko and Ryan Wolfe had all made me feel welcome and a part of the team from the very beginning. I had become friends with them all, but especially with Horatio. Horatio and I seemed to share a second sense toward one another and worked well together on cases.
I was attracted to my red headed Lieutenant, but I was afraid to say anything or let anything show for fear of rejection. I did not want to lose his friendship by showing my feelings and not having them returned. So, I learned to live with just being friends and when Detective John Hagen asked me out to dinner, I accepted thinking that at least I knew he was interested in trying to have a romantic relationship.
The first few dates with John went great; he was attentive and sweet and treated me like a lady. Then, on our fourth date, he began to show a different side of himself. He became jealous at the slightest provocation and his words would sometimes be hurtful. Even my speaking about the male members of my team would set him off and I would have to reassure him that they were all merely my friends and nothing more.
As the months passed, he became more and more possessive and jealous and then the night came that would change things forever. We had been dating for six months and I hadn't seen or talked to John all day that day and we had not made plans for a date that night, so I was planning a quiet night at home with my family, but needed a ride home because the Hummer I normally drove had gone in that morning for a routine maintenance check and would not be returned to me until the next day.
I had tried several of my family members to see if any of them could pick me up, but no one was answering their phones. I snapped my cell phone shut in frustration and asked the desk Sargent for a phone book to look for a cab service I could call when Horatio walked up.
"Is there a problem?" he asked.
"No, just can't get any of my bunch to pick up their phones and my Hummer is in for maintenance. I'll just call a cab," I answered and I knew the frustration came through in my voice.
"You don't have to call a cab, I can give you a lift home," Horatio said.
"Oh, I don't want to be any trouble, I don't mind taking a cab," I told him.
"You aren't any trouble Lexi. What are friends for if not to help each other out," Horatio said with a small smile.
"Well, in that case, I'll take you up on your generous offer," I told him and we walked to the elevator.
When we got to the outside door, Horatio held the door open for me and I ran right into John.
"Well now, where are you two off to in such a hurry," John said his eyes narrowing at me and I swallowed hard. John knew that I rode to crime scenes with Horatio sometimes and he never liked it. I always got an ear full when this would occur.
"Horatio offered to give me a lift home because my Hummer went in for maintenance this morning," I stammered and I saw Horatio give me a questioning look.
"I was just coming to find you hoping we could have some dinner and go to that new retro drive-in movie place that just opened," John said eyeing Horatio like a piranha.
"That sounds nice John," I replied and then turned to Horatio. "Thanks for offering to give me a lift home," I told him and tried to keep my voice even because I knew I was in for a verbal lashing once John and I were alone.
"Anytime Lexi, it's not a problem. I hope you have a good time and I'll see you tomorrow," Horatio said staring at John from behind his sunglasses for a moment.
"See you tomorrow," I answered and turned and walked away with John.
"He's being a little more friendly than your Lieutenant should be, don't you think?" John asked once we were alone in his car.
"He was just being nice John, that's all," I replied.
"I think he's being a little too nice and I don't like him offering to take you home," John said, his voice low with warning. "If you need a ride you call me and only me," he growled.
I didn't say another word on the subject because I knew that it would only make the situation worse.
"I'm gonna call my folks and let them know where I am so they don't worry, "I said and he nodded his okay like I needed his approval.
I called my Grandmother and told her I wouldn't be home until later. We had a nice dinner and John was fairly civil through the whole thing, but his reaction to Horatio's innocent offer to take me home had made me realize I needed to break if off with him before things became any more complicated. I couldn't concentrate on the movie we went to and John seemed preoccupied as well.
"John, I think we need to talk," I finally said and he turned to look at me.
"What is it?" he asked his voice gruff.
"I don't think things are working out between us John. I think we need to see other people," I told him and quickly realized I had chosen the wrong place to tell him this.
"You think we should see other people huh, let me guess Horatio, right, well I don't think so, you belong to me," he growled.
"I don't belong to anyone," I started to say and he jerked me against him cutting off my words by bringing his mouth down roughly on mine.
I pushed at his chest trying to get away from him, but he was too strong.
"John, please stop," I pleaded when he moved his mouth from mine to my neck biting down and his hands began to roam.
"You do belong to me and you are not going to see anyone else but me," he growled in my ear as he began to undo my clothing.
"John, no, please, you know I can't and I don't want to. Please John stop this," I pleaded and got a slap across the face for my trouble.
"Shut up," he told me and I began to struggle under his onslaught.
I began to panic now as he continued to tug at my clothing and when I would manage to get away from him enough to get some leverage, he would hit me in the ribs or stomach or slap me across the face. I struggled and I fought, but he was stronger and heavier than me and he took what he wanted. When he was done he sat back in the seat as though nothing had happened, leaving me to put myself back together.
"Please take me home," I whispered and he looked over at me as though surprised I was still there.
He didn't say anything, simply started the car and drove off. He dropped me in front of my house as he always did and drove away. I stood for several minutes, tears streaming down my face, trying to figure out what I should do. I knew I had to report him, but the thought of telling anybody what had happened was humiliating. I should have broken things off with him a long time ago.
Not even really knowing what I was doing, I started walking and ended up at a park not too far from my house. I sat gingerly down on a bench and pulled my cell phone from my purse and dialed automatically.
"Horatio Caine," the voice on the other end of the line answered and for a moment my own voice froze up on me.
"Hello is anyone there," Horatio said.
"Horatio," I managed to croak out from a dry throat.
"Lexi, is that you?" he asked.
"Yes, Horatio please come get me," I whispered back my heart racing.
"Okay sweetheart, tell me where you are."
"I, I'm at Rosewood Park," I told him.
"Okay sweetheart, hang on, I'll be right there," he said and I heard him shut off his phone.
I shut my own phone and put it back in my purse and leaned back to wait. I hissed in pain as my back came in contact with the back of the bench and I leaned slightly forward again. As I waited I began to berate myself for not getting out of my relationship with Hagen before now. How could I have let it get this far. Tears were streaming down my face and I wrapped my arms around my stomach feeling nauseous.
"Lexi!" I heard Horatio call.
"Over here," I managed to call back and then I saw him come around the corner.
When he saw me, he stopped for a moment and stared then he started toward me once more.
"What happened?" he said softly and knelt down in front of me.
At his soft voice I lost all the control I had managed to keep to that point and the sobs started.
"Tell me what happened Lexi, who did this to you?" Horatio said gently lifting my chin so that I would look at him. The compassion in his eyes was genuine and I felt safe with him.
"He raped me Horatio," I whispered sobbing even harder, my vision so blurred from the tears that I could barely see his face.
"Who raped you sweetheart?" he asked his voice deadly serious now, but I knew it was toward my attacker and not me.
"John Hagen," I told him.
"Hagen raped you?" he asked and I knew he wanted to be perfectly clear about what I was telling him before he took the next step.
"Yes," I whispered and he nodded his head and pulled out his phone.