Eric was hoping for a case when he walked into work with Ryan the next day. It would keep his mind off the rejection of his family. Ryan watched his lover closely. As he'd feared everyone's attention was drawn to the bruise on his cheek.
"Eric, what happened to yo---?" Calleigh broke off at the twin head-shakes of Ryan and Alexx.
"Don't ask I'll explain later," Ryan mouthed. Resigned Calleigh nodded. She wanted to know what had happened to someone who she considered a brother but she would wait for Ryan's explanation. Studying his team closely Horatio couldn't help but wonder where the bruise came from and the sorrowful look in Eric's eyes. He knew there wasn't anything he could do, Eric knew he could come to him with anything, any of them could. Taking one last look at the Russian-Cuban CSI, he began to speak.
"Calleigh, Ryan, and Eric you have a homicide in Coral Gables. Natalia you and I have a murder at the Palm Tree hotel. Okay, lets get to it," Horatio said, slipping his sunglasses on.
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The car ride to the crime scene was a silent one. Eric put all his focus on watching the road. Ryan who was sitting next to him looked at him out of the corner of his eye. He was worried about how easily he was throwing himself into work, but he knew it was Eric's coping mechanism. Calleigh sat quietly in the back seat, observing them. She wanted to know what was going on, but knew she couldn't ask Ryan out right with Eric in the car. She felt her cell phone in her pocket and got an idea. Quickly she pulled it out of her pocket, and began texting. Ryan jumped as his phone vibrated against his hip. Opening it he stared at the text message, curious as to who it was from. He opened it, and, began reading.
"It's later wanna tell me what's going on now? Cal." Confused Ryan looked up and looked in the rearview mirror. He locked eyes with Calleigh and raised his eyebrows. Calleigh just looked back indicating she wanted an explanation. It was a testament to just how distracted Eric was because he didn't even realize that Ryan had received a text. Reluctantly, Ryan formed a reply.
"He told his family about us last night. Let's just say it didn't go well." Calleigh gasped in shock.
"Did his father hit him?" she texted back.
"No, it was his Mom. Marisol's the only one who supports him. They've been disowned. He came home completely shattered. Alexx was over and after I saw the bruise we followed him out to the back porch but he wouldn't talk. All he did was cry." Calleigh locked eyes with Ryan again and could see the tears in his eyes a long with a hint of fear.
"What aren't you telling me, Ry?" she wrote back.
"We finally got him to tell us what happened through sobs, but you know he has stress-induced Asthma, don't you?" Ryan asked.
"Yes," Calleigh replied.
"Well he had an Asthma attack. I sent Alexx in for his inhaler. While she was in the house the doorbell rang. It was Marisol. She told her that she supported him as long as he was happy so Alexx let her in. Meanwhile, on the porch Eric had s-s-stopped breathing," Ryan had to stop to regain his composure. His hands were shaking and his tears were threatening to fall.
"Oh, Ryan," Calleigh texted as she reached up and squeezed his shoulder for comfort.
"Anyway, I yelled for Alexx to come back outside. I saw Marisol and after I knew she supported us I told her to get the inhaler while Alexx gave him CPR. He came around and used the inhaler. Marisol talked to him for a while and convinced him to let his walls down. Finally after crying for about a solid hour he cried himself to sleep. They helped me get him into bed then left. Now here we are," Ryan concluded. Calleigh blew out a sigh before texting a reply with shaking hands.
"Wow, well we support both of you, no matter what. He knows that, doesn't he?" Ryan nodded. Calleigh smiled a tender smile as she closed her phone and put it back in her pocket. They had arrived at the crime scene. It was time to get to work.
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Climbing out of the car Frank Trip came to meet them.
"Hey what have we got, Trip?" Eric asked. Frank stared briefly at the bruise on Eric's cheek before answering the other man.
"Braden Sanderson, 23 his boyfriend found him when he returned from his morning run," Frank answered as he lead them under the tape.
"Mr. Randal, these are Detectives Delko, Duquesne, and Wolfe, guys this is Aaron Randal, the vics boyfriend," Frank introduced. The three CSI's studied the man in front of them. He had blonde hair and blue eyes. A distraught look was on his face and grief was showing in his eyes.
"Mr. Randal, can you tell us what happened?" Calleigh requested.
"Call me Aaron, please," he replied.
"I left for my morning run around 6:00."
"Is that something you do on a daily basis?" Eric asked.
"Yeah and at the same time. I ran for about half an hour. When I got home I found B-B-Braden dead in our bedroom. The blood was everywhere, so much of it, it covered everything," Aaron trailed off as his eyes became unfocused.
"Mr. Randal, this officer is going to take you back to the station so you can submit a written statement," Ryan said, pointing to one of the officers and signaling him to come over to the group.
"Okay, you'll find who killed my Braden, won't you? He is or was I mean my entire world," Aaron said softly.
"We'll do our best to find who did this. One more question, do either of you have any enemies who would want you dead?" Calleigh asked.
"'Brade's family didn't approve of the relationship. He came out to them a week or so ago. He was disowned. It hurt him. He tried to act as if he was okay, but I knew it was tearing him up inside," Aaron answered. Ryan and Calleigh exchanged glances before sliding their eyes to Eric who was looking anywhere but at them.
"If you'll come with me," the officer said, guiding Randal to the patrol car.
"How do you wanna handle this, Cal?" Ryan asked deferring to her as the senior investigator.
"You take the bedroom, Eric, you take the bathroom and the hallway and I'll take the living room and kitchen. Whoever finishes first takes the outside. Oh good Alexx's here so we'll be able to look at the body as soon as she's done with her exam," Calleigh said as she caught sight of the M.E. Both men nodded as they headed into the house prepared to begin processing.
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The sight of all the blood made Ryan physically sick. Braden was lying on the bed beaten almost beyond recognition. Across his chest was carved Fag.
"A crime of passion and hatred," Alexx murmured as she walked into the room and looked at the vic. Jumping a foot into the air Ryan whirled around in shock.
"Jeez, Alexx you scared the daylights out of me," Ryan cried as he placed a hand to his chest.
"Sorry, baby, so what've we got?"
"Braden Sanderson, age 23 his boyfriend found him when he returned from a morning run. The only definite known enemies at this point are the vics family. He came out to them recently and was disowned," Ryan told her. Alexx took in a deep breath.
"This ones gonna hit close to home, isn't it," she stated.
"Yeah," Ryan replied.
"Well, let's see what this young man can tell me. You're too young to be on my table, baby," Alexx said softly. "Well he's covered in bruises from the beating. A preliminary examination seems to indicate that he died from blunt force trauma to the head, but I'll know for sure after I do the autopsy. After you take pictures I'll have the body taken back to the lab," she said. Five minutes later Ryan was done taking pictures and Alexx had supervised the removal of the body and headed back to the lab. I hope this case is solved soon, Ryan thought as he continued to search the room for evidence.
TBC?
A/n, I know it's been a ridiculously long time between updates, and for that I apologize, but please read this chapter. Please read and review.
