Time flies
You live inside a dream
Where everything tastes as sweet
As long it agrees with how you feel
Your dancing in your sleep
Till all the eyes turn and look at me
Awaken your anxieties
Horatio looked across at the girl, who was watching the scene. Her face told a story of indifference, although her body language was far too tense for the face to be believed, as he came closer, and saw her green eyes showed nothing. "Hi" He said quietly. The girl didn't react immediately, but she eventually turned to look at him. Her eyes flickered onto his badge. "Hi" She replied, looking back at the scene.
"My name's Horatio, what's yours?" He asked
"Samantha… Have they found my brother yet?" She asked him.
Horatio looked at her. "Your brother is still in there?"
"Yeah… I was at the shop, and when I came home I found that… I couldn't find my brother anywhere. He's only six, He'll be scared and wondering where I am"
"Ok, how about you and I go and look for him"
"Am I allowed?" She asked
"You stay with me, and don't touch anything, we'll be fine." Horatio reassured her. Samantha nodded "Ok, lets go"
Your so afraid
So you try and break me
"Billy?" Samantha called, as her and Horatio walked into the house. She didn't seem to notice the blood that was on the walls, or on the floor. She was so focused on her brother, that she didn't see the body of her mother, and the ME leaning down next to her. "Billy it's ok, You can come out now"
"SAMMY" Horatio heard a voice yell. Sam's reaction was quicker than his, and she'd disappeared into one of the rooms. He followed her, and saw the Sam leaning in the closet. "Billy its ok baby come out" She whispered.
The door pushed open, and a small boy crawled out. "Sammy" He whispered. The boy had been badly beaten, for a long time Horatio noted to himself. The bruises and cuts that seemed to cover his arms, and Samantha's, were old. Horatio allowed the pair to speak for a moment, then came across to them. "Samantha, we need to leave" He spoke quietly. Sam looked up at him and nodded. "Ok" She whispered, pulling her brother as close to her body as she could manage. Horatio walked slightly in front of them, protecting the boy from the sight of his mothers corpse.
Well I don't really care
And I don't really hate
And I don't want to see you fall to far away,
All because of fear
"I was playing with my cars in my room" Billy said quietly. He looked out into the hall where Samantha was standing, her black hair swung over her shoulder, and the anger of being outside apparent in her features. When she caught Billy's eyes, she smiled encouragingly, and she nodded slightly. The stranger sitting next to Billy looked over at Sam, and her eyes were emotionless. Horatio watched Sam watch Billy. It was similar to what he'd been through when his mother died. He walked over to Samantha and handed her a hot chocolate. "This should help" He said quietly. Sam smiled, and nodded "Thanks Horatio" She said sipping it. "Can't you go in there with Billy?" She asked after a moment.
"Conflicting interests" Horatio replied. "When we find the person who…"
"killed" Sam interrupted
"Killed your mother, they could get your brothers statement thrown out of court if I was in there with him"
"I understand' Sam sighed, "I'd just feel better if someone I knew was in there with him not a total stranger."
"They'll take care of your brother, Samantha, You don't need to worry"
Samantha glanced at Horatio. "Your like us, aren't you"
Horatio didn't answer.
'Cause when your afraid you lash out and blame
And say all the things you never meant to say
And try to break me
But in the end
What leaves you broken
In the end
Makes you better
Horatio arrived at the small apartment that Samantha and Billy were calling home a few days after their mothers death. Billy answered the door after Horatio knocked. "Is your sister home Billy?" Horatio asked
Billy nodded, and ran to get Samantha, as Horatio waited in the living room. Sam walked in wiping her hands on her top. "I was trying to clean out the bathroom. I think something died in there 'cause it stinks" She said, a small smile on her lips. Horatio returned the smile. "We need to talk Samantha"
Sam nodded at Billy, who ran out of the room "What's up?" She asked, sitting down on the sofa.
"Is Billy really your brother?" He asked
"I was adopted as a kid… he doesn't know that, and it doesn't worry me, so we're brother and sister."
Horatio nodded. "You mentioned your father left your mother when Billy was born… Do you remember how he was with your mother?"
"He loved her. He didn't leave, he was in the army, and was stationed overseas… I've forgotten where now. He was killed. Mom was so depressed she became a drunk, and a druggie." Sam looked a the floor. "Look Horatio, I wish I could say that my mother dying is the worst thing ever, but its not. She never really got over my father's death, and it's probably the best thing for all of us." She looked up at Horatio who nodded "Sweetheart I understand" Horatio said quietly "I understand"
"Wanna talk about it?" Sam asked
Horatio looked at her, and saw the concern in the girl's eyes. "My mother died when I was your age. For twenty years she put up with my fathers abuse."
"Until that night" Sam whispered
"Until that night" Horatio agreed. "He was hitting my younger brother, Ray, for something… My mother grabbed his arm, and he threw her to the ground. She hit her head on the countertop. He went at her, beating her. I..." he fell silent, remembering that time
"You tried to protect her?" Sam asked
"I ran into his room, and into the closet. I grabbed his shotgun out of there. I went back into the kitchen, and I told him to stop. He laughed and just ignored me. I shot him… She was still conscious when I pulled him off her. She was badly hurt…"
"You, You killed her too didn't you" Samantha whispered. Horatio's answer was in his eyes, when he looked up at her. Sam nodded "I understand Horatio"
"Do you?" He asked
"I might be a whole lot younger than you, but I know what family means." She said. "I know you had no choice, it was either that or watch her suffer and die anyway."
"I wish I was that sure" Horatio spoke quietly "I've spent my whole life trying to make up for it"
Billy came back in at that moment. "I'm hungry" He moaned at Sam
Sam smiled at her little brother "Ok, lets get something to eat… Care to join us?" She asked Horatio
He looked at her. She smiled at him reassuringly. "I'd love too, thank you"
Your face it looks so green
When the sun is shining differently
And your standing in the shade
Cause face to face your sweet
Like candy sticking to my teeth
But underneath so damaging
As the months passed He came there more and more often, it became his hideaway from the rest of the world, and the problems that he faced in there. Soon it had been three years, and he still spent time in their apartment in New York. Samantha was a great kid and he enjoyed spending time with her and Billy, who had warmed to Horatio after he'd brought Sam and Billy dinner that night. They had a strong friendship, and Horatio felt like taking care of them was helping his chances for redemption. Sam would happily listen to him when he needed to talk about what was going on at work, or in his, how Sam put it, 'other life'.
There is no strength
In trying to break me
She smiled brightly as she opened in the door. "Hey" she said a tired smile on her face.
"Hey" He said quietly he saw the books on the table. "Were you studying?"
"The only chance I get to do my class work" Sam said with a smile. "During the day I'm working then I've got feed Billy and hang out with him"
"True enough… I still think you should of stayed at school Samantha"
"Yeah, well I couldn't… I can't expect you to take care of us, since this was my idea" Sam turned on the kettle and sat on the countertop. "We've argued about this before" Horatio said.
Sara grinned at the memory "And you ended up on your butt" She said laughing at the memory.
"I tripped" Horatio said trying to defend himself
"Yeah, yeah." Sam laughed. She looked at him, and smiled. "You have news" She commented.
"I do" He nodded. "I got a offer for a job"
"Yeah?" she asked
"a job in the bomb squad down in Miami"
"Interesting… when do you start?" Sam asked
"I haven't decided to go yet"
"Horatio, your family's down there… You want to go."
"What about you and Billy?"
"Our lives are up here, and we'll be ok without you or your money… Told Jennifer yet?"
"No… I'm going to stop by tomorrow…"
"I'll keep an eye on her for you H" Sam smiled.
"Thanks Sammy"
"No problem"
Well I don't really care
And I don't really hate
And I don't want to see you fall to far away,
All because of fear
'Cause when your afraid you lash out and blame
And say all the things you never meant to say
And try to break me
But in the end
What leaves you broken
In the end
Makes you better
He grinned when he saw Billy come into the airport. It'd been almost 10 years since he'd met Sam and Billy and seven since he'd seen them. "Hey H" Billy said walking over to Horatio. Grinning, Horatio took the boy into his arms. "How you going?"
"Alright… thanks for pulling some strings for me"
"You know what Billy it's my pleasure… how's Sam?" Horatio asked as they exited MIA. "You hear she went to the feds?"
"I did actually… she's helped me out on a few occasions since then"
"My sister a fed" The pride in his voice was plain for Horatio to see. "So Sam said when she organised this I'm staying with you?"
"I thought it'd be easier for you if you lived with me, at least for the first few months. Miami is a lot different to New York"
"I'm sure I can handle it H… I mean you did" Billy smirked at the older man.
"Funny Billy, very funny"
I don't wanna hate
I don't wanna be broken
I don't wanna hate you
Billy's eyes took in the scene. With a kit in his hand, Billy walked under the tape. "H" Billy called. Horatio turned and smiled at the boy "Billy you ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be" Billy said a small grin
"Which means never" Samantha said from behind Billy.
"Sam What on earth are you doing here?" Billy asked as Sam pulled her sunglasses off.
"Business I'm afraid… the guys up in Washington want this scene Horatio"
"This is our crime scene." Horatio stated, coming up to them
"with the victim a man in which the FBI have had interest in for months Horatio" Sam argued
I don't really care
And I don't really hate
And I don't want to see you fall to far away,
All because of fear
'cause when your afraid you lash out and blame
And say all the things you never meant to say
And try to break me
But in the end
What leaves you broken
In the end
Makes you better