Chapter 4
Horatio walked through the sleeping Miami streets haunted. He lost control and as a result, had just hurt Jo. The last person who deserved pain in this world. The sight of her, face drawn and eyes clouded with pain clawed at him like an angry beast. What's worse was the simple fact that HE caused it. And couldn't fix it. Silent tears spilled from his eyes. He found himself at the causeway, the rail. He pounded at the rail. "Fucking great Caine. Why didn't you stop sooner..." Silence and the waves against the bridge answered him. That only made his temper worse. He didn't know where he was going, or for how long. Until the sun rose on the Miami crime lab. He sighed and decided oh what the hell. He walked into the darkened halls ignoring the stares from the night shift workers. Horatio climbed the stairs to his office and unlocked it. At the moment he was thanking his cautious nature. Because he always had a spare change of clothes in his desk. Even toiletries, if necessary. As he dressed he thought about his fiancé waiting at home. He'd have to answer innocent curious questions but at the moment he couldn't have given a damn if he wanted to.
The next morning Jo braced for the day of hell. She sighed and pushed through the glass doors. Horatio looked up as she passed. She looked worse than him. The light in her eyes was gone, her face was tired, and her shoulders carried the weight of the world. Her jeans and button up were rumpled. Her hair was up half heartedly. And no make up. Yeah definitely worse than him. He followed her to the lab. She was already working on a blood sample from her knife fragment, had it going through Codus. Horatio pushed the door open thankful she was alone. "Joanna." She didn't look up from her work. "Mornin' boss." He nodded. "Morning." Jo glanced at him. "Did you want somethin boss? Evidence?" My soul? She thought sadly. He rubbed his neck clearing his throat. "Ah.. No..." Jo leveled a cold, dead stare at Horatio. "What is it then?" Horatio did his best to not look away. "We need to examine the crime scene." Joanna got up pulling her jacket on. Horatio sighed eyes closing in regret. "Jo-" Joanna held up a hand effectively silencing him. "I'll meet Eric and Calleigh. Sir." Jo walked out. Horatio bit his cheek until he tasted the tang of blood. As he walked out a result came up. And blinked and buzzed the DNA match. The face on the screen would prove to be interesting. The particular suspect liked to drop in and watch as the officers cleaned up his handiwork. Arrogantly believing they wouldn't catch him. He hadn't learned how wrong he was. Not yet.
Horatio headed to the break room for a stout coffee. He savored the feel of the scalding liquid coating his throat. He breathed the steam, self hating and hurting. "Save Jo the trouble.." That earned him a concerned look from a passing Frank. The big man laid a work hardened hand on Horatio's shoulder. "Horatio?" Horatio rubbed the stiff muscles of his neck. "What do I do Francis..." Horatio only used that given name when needed, man Horatio was in a deep, dire situation. Seeing the way Jo walked in, it wasn't hard to figure out what was wrong with the redhead. "You hurt her real bad... You can hope or kiss her ass for forgiveness.." Horatio nodded. Frank squeezed Horatio's shoulder. "And Horatio she's southern. Hell hath no fury like a southern belle turned bitch." Horatio winced. "Good luck brother." Frank patted his shoulder. "You'll need it." Frank walked away. Horatio sighed and headed to the crime scene. Something was nagging at the back of his brain. As he left Jo's lab he could've sworn he heard the beep of a positive DNA match. But he wasn't so sure. Maybe he had? Or was it just his mind playing tricks on him? Maybe he should double check if they didn't find anything at the scene. Surely that would at least help them find the killer. At the very least it should point them in the right direction.
Jo worked with Calleigh and Eric trying to focus. She looked up and for the third time saw the same tatted up biker dude watching them. Eric looked up and cocked a brow, eyes troubled. "Priest?" Jo looked at him. She bit her lip. "Can I ask you somethin?" Eric shrugged. "Sure." Jo looked away. "Not here it's kinda... Personal." Eric thought for a moment. "Ok..how about dinner?" Joanna nodded smiling a little. "After work?" Eric nodded. "Thanks." Horatio walked on. "What do we got?" Jo went still. "Other than that biker? Nothin." The second she said it everyone stilled. Horatio pulled his gun. "Joanna..Eric. Go. I'll cover you." The three walked out. "There." Horatio pointed. Eric and Jo started, guns up. "MDPD!" Horatio yelled. The man ran. "Got a runner!" Joanna's eyes sharpened and she took the lead. Horatio and Eric hung back, letting her have this one. The man jumped a fence. Jo was faster than him. She launched from the top of the fence and tackled him, they rolled into the street. She landed on top. The team, Horatio, Eric Calleigh, Frank, Ryan and Natalia, even the uniforms. And the civilians were stunned into silence. The biker punched her but she used that to her advantage. She cuffed his hand and flipped him cuffing the other. "You're done!" The man laughed. "Girl Scout!" Joanna stood yanking him up with her. Still stunned, the others walked over. Frank took the man into custody. Horatio cleared his throat. "Well done." Joanna nodded and got in her car with the suspect, driving off.
