A/N: Spoiler at the end for the episode "Deapths" . Sometimes I think that while Bobby's father was a louse (to put it mildly), way back when, they must've been some sort of a family.
Don't own nothing.
Riptides
His life wasn't always a horror movie. Way back, before the voices and noises grabbed hold of his mother like a vice, they were a family. Before his father got tired of being a family man, before his brother left home, before...he had a family.
He has a memory, very sharp and clear of a day at the beach. His mother loved the water. His father used to swim out into the waves with his brother and they would ride them into the shore together. Bobby would stand at the edge of the water with the water splashing all around his ankles. One time, a particularly rough wave came in and knocked him down. Before he could pick himself up he felt the warm smooth hands of his mother, lifting him up. "Bobby" she said. "You have to be careful of the riptides, sweetie."
"What's a riptide?" he asked
"A riptide is a strong pocket of water that will pull you out to sea. You won't be able to get back to shore." Bobby looked warily out at the water, at his father and brother laughing in the waves. "But Frank is out there. So is Dad. Aren't they scared of the riptide?" He asked
"They're stronger than you, sweetie. Better swimmers. When you're older and bigger, you'll be able to figure out how to get out of a riptide. But for now, you just play here by the shore. Okay?"
Before he could answer, his mother's arms were wrapped around him tightly. He could smell the coconut oil on her skin and the saltwater in the air surrounding them. His father and brother came over to them laughing.
"What happened Buddy?" His father asked tosseling his hair.
"Did you get knocked over by an itty bitty wave?" Frank teased . Bobby looked up and scowled at him.
"I was just telling Bobby to be careful of the riptides." His mother replied. She let go of Bobby and his father grabbed his mother and threw her over his shoulder running into the water. They were laughing and Frank rolled his eyes and elbowed Bobby. "grownups" he smirked and ran to their towels to grab a football. "Let's play catch" He threw the ball at Bobby.
Later that night, after they went to bed, Bobby was tossing and turning.
"What's the matter, Bobby? Can't sleep?" Frank asked, sitting up on his elbow.
"I'm scared."
"Oh Geez. Of what now?"
"Riptides."
"That's silly." Frank responded
"No, mommy said they could pull me out to sea and I'll never be able to get back."
"Then I would have my own room. Cool!" Frank laughed
"I don't want to go back to the beach." Bobby said with tears in his eyes.
Frank got out of bed and sat beside Bobby.
"I'll tell you what. The next time we go to the beach, I'll take you out into the water with me. Then, if you get pulled under, I'll be there to save you."
"Really, Frank?" Bobby looked up at him
"Sure. I'm your big brother Bobby. I'll always save you. K?"
Bobby smiled with relief. He fell asleep feeling loved and protected.
//
Bobby thought of all this as he made his way to the crime scene. When he got there the CSU technician walked him to the body.
"I hate the beach." He said plainly.
- end-
