Disclaimer: I don't own any CSI characters. All names or places are fake and any resemblance to real ones is accidental.

Summery: The story is about a criminal, who seeks revenge. And there's only one person who can stop him.

The Protector he is

Chapter 1. New case, old wounds

Horatio was standing in the rather expensive hotel room, staring outside the window. It wasn't the view that had caught his attention. It was the stream of his thoughts that now was speeding through his brain, caring him far away from the room he was in.

At the background he heard Alexx explaining the cause of death to Tim, while the dark-haired CSI was busy taking photos of the crime scene. He heard Frank Tripp conversing with the hotel manager and some police officers speaking to each other outside the room. But his mind was far away from the crime scene.

He needed only one look at the dead girl's face to recognize it. Soft pale skin, wavy brown hair, small well-build frame… There was no mistake. Horatio had seen her only once, but with a kind of memory he had, her face would be added to those, whom he wasn't able to safe.

This all started after that one case, where the team was investigating the death of the man in a peep show booth( Season1 - Episode16). He was ashamed for his city, ashamed for the society, where the young, often smart, if not intelligent women, were forced to sell themselves to survive. He knew that the majority of them hated their so called job, but had no other means of survival. It was out of his powers to stop this, but there were small things he still could do.

Horatio met Sunshine near one of the bars on his way home.

*Flashback*

It was cold and rainy, yet she stood there in her lather mini-skirt, colourfull top and a jacket that hadn't actually provide her with any warmth. In one hand she was holding an umbrella, the other was clenching her small hand-bag, trying to keep it dry.

Horatio had little doubts stopping near her. The girl smiled coming closer, her body moving in the cat-like manner. She had a bright make-up that didn't actually fit well on her pale face, but still did nothing to lover her natural beauty.

"Want something I can help with?" Her voice was sweet, but in the depth of her azure eyes Horatio could see some well-hidden weariness. Her seductiveness was looking real, but the CSI could see that it was no more than a mask, a part of her daily routine.

He stared at her for a while, unsure of what to say or what to do. He moved sideways, opening a door for her. The girl quickly got in, trying not to get too much wet. Horatio pulled a few bills from his wallet, handing it to the pretty surprised girl.

"Umm… How about you and I have a cup of hot coffee, and than… I want you to go home and have a good rest. How does it sound?"

Horatio looked at the girl's eyes and was rewarded with the small grateful smile. Not a fake one that was a part of her daily mask, but a true smile of the tired person who was suddenly given a short, but much needed break.

*End of flashback*

And now the same young girl was laying at the bad with her throat slit and her eyes staring into nothingness…

Horatio turned to face his team.

"Do you have her ID yet?"

"Working on that." Tripp informed, coming closer. "We did know who rented the room, though. Guy's name is Leonard Fammer. He's a co-owner of the net of clubs across the state. Came to Miami for a business trip. I sent a patrol car to find him."

Horatio nodded, approvingly and turned to the bed where their victim was laying.

"Alexx?"

"Time of death is approximately 6 a.m." Alexx said, softly placing the girls hand on the shits, after looking it over for evidence. "You wasn't prepare to leave so soon, were you, honey?" She asked, sadly, looking at the girl's face. "The COD is obvious. Her throat is slit, probably in her sleep. I see no defensive wounds or signs of any struggle at all. I will collect a rape kit, but I don't think it can do anything useful in this case."

"Ok. I'll meet you back at the lab than." Horatio said, his mind already processing the information he had just received. "Speed, I want you to process every inch of this room. We know nothing about how the murderer came inside, so the evidence can be anywhere. I'll call Delko and have him help you. Okay?"

Tim just nodded, moving to stand aside from the bed, so that he wouldn't be in the way when the body is being carried away.

"See you later." Alexx waved her good-buy. "Good luck, Timmy."

She took her kit and left the room.

"I got some news." Tripp said, shutting his phone closed. "Leonard Fammer is on his way downtown right now."

"So lets go have some chat with him." Horatio said, putting his sunglasses on.

XXX

Horatio stopped his car at the parking lot outside the lab. He saw Frank already on his way toward the entrance, speaking to one of the patrol officers. Shortly after that a tall blond man in the early fourties was been escorted inside as well. But Horatio took his time. He had a war going inside his heart. Each time they had a new case, he was taking it personal in a way. He felt responsible for finding truth about who did the crime and why. And what was even more important, to catch the criminal before he or she did something again.

But in the cases like this, where a person he knew, even briefly, was involved, Horatio felt fool pressure of guilt on his shoulders. He was smart enough to understand that he isn't God. But he couldn't help feeling responsible for not being there to protect.

Shooing those thoughts away, he got out the car. He would gave himself some space to grieve. But it would be AFTER he finds the one, responcible for this murderer.

… TBC

Note: I know it's not a wise thing to start a new story without finishing the older one, but I really felt like writing it. I promise to try and keep up with both of them.