I past 150 reviews... -begins happy dance- And this story is turning out so much better than I ever anticipated!
WARNING: Deep stuff ahead. Really deep stuff ahead. As in, angsty deep.
As for the quote... -points below-
Thanks for the really sweet reviews Jag Lady, cabot007, daxy, lily moonlight, PunkPrincess145, EmilyProctorslittlegirl, Blue Shadowdancer, Carrro, princess moon shadow, FernClaw, Le Pecore Nere, CSI Junkie Aly, Hope06, CSIBabs, Geolina Bartilonee
I don't know what he can do to save us. But I do know that as long as there is a single breath left in his body he will not give up and neither can we.
-Morpheus, The Matrix Revolutions
11. Angst Fortuna
One swift kick was all it took, and Horatio was on the concrete floor, grimacing and clutching his stomach. Ron clamored to his feet and stood over Horatio with a look of fury, his fists clenched. "So you decided to save your son, did you? Well, I can assure you that you did that. You saved Kyle, and now you can be considered a hero amongst the city of Miami, Florida." His hand reached down and grabbed the lieutenant by the neck, pulling him to his feet. "You seemed so intent on bringing me down, but all you simply do is tackle me to the ground. C'mon, Caine. I thought there was more in you than that."
Horatio didn't speak for a few moments. His blood seemed to spike with adrenaline, his head swimming in a sea of fog. His own hands clenched into fists, tears of fury and of slight pain coming to his eyes. This man had done enough to him and his friends... he had killed Alexx... kidnapped his own son... abused his son... He clenched his teeth, forcing himself to stay calm and closing his eyes. "I seemed so intent on bringing you down? You act as if I don't want to do that sort of thing anymore, Ron. You act as if I don't want to do such a thing anymore."
Saris chuckled lowly, dangerously. "Do I? Maybe I want to meet the shit out of you, Horatio. Maybe it's time you've stopped being a hero and finally get what you deserve- the real pain from those you think of as villains. Are you prepared for that?"
The eyes shot open, and Saris was shocked to see Horatio facing him fully. The lieutenant never faced anyone fully, unless something was about to happen that involved serious blows, or if he was just plain angry at someone for something they did. There was a familiarly haunting smile etched in his features, his eyes eerily calm. "Yes. I'm prepared for it. I just hope you're prepared for what is about to happen to you, Ron."
Ron raised an eyebrow. "No one-liners?"
Without warning, Horatio's fist suddenly connected with the killer's face and sent him stumbling back what measured to be ten feet. His eyes suddenly flamed. "You don't deserve any, you son of a bitch."
The personal fight between two completely different men, both of whom had the same goal, had begun.
He just stood there out in the rain, the right side of his face nearly covered in blood. He looked so worried, his hand on the door handle behind him. His hair began to droop in front of his eyes as it gathered water from the continuous downpour. He looked down at the pavement under his feet, swallowing and shaking his head. His father was still in there, fighting for maybe his very life, and he was out here in the rain.
It felt so wrong. He suddenly felt like a heavy burden, his own weight weighing down on his father's shoulders.
But suddenly, he heard the splashing steps of a woman's footsteps in his direction. Kyle turned to the direction of the noise and gasped in surprise and happiness. Julia was rushing towards him as best as she could in the rain, another male following from behind her. He opened his mouth, but no words could come out. Julia suddenly embraced him moments later, weeping with joy and worried fear. "Oh, my god. Kyle. My baby..."
"Mom," was all he could get out before being overcome by his mother's sobs. "Mom, it's okay."
She shook her head. "No, it's not okay! I was with Ron for the longest time, thinking it'd be a better life for us, but I was wrong! I was so wrong, and now I know what he meant by the fact that we were going to die!"
Kyle didn't know what to say. He looked at the brunette standing awkwardly next to the reunited family of two. "Who are you?"
"Rick Stetler, Internal Affairs agent," he introduced himself to the teen. "Your mom has been really worried about you, son. She wanted to talk to me for a bit, and we've gotten to know each other."
The teenager narrowed his eyes. "Fine then, Rick. Can I ask you one thing?"
Stetler grimaced. The kid was just like his father.
"Don't ever call me 'son.' Only my own dad can do that to me."
The agent smirked. "Suits me. Where is your dad anyway?"
Kyle's face broke out into a worried look behind him. "He's still in there with Ron."
Julia's breathing quickened. "Still in there? Why?!"
Stetler's featured tightened. "I don't know. But if he's only in there to kick Saris's ass, then I'm kicking his once he gets out here for pulling a stunt to get you out. I swear on my badge I will get him for this..."
Horatio was never one for big, epic battles with his archenemies, with the exception of Antonio Riaz. Usually, he just wanted to get the case done and move onto the next victim of a sadistic murderer. But today was another one of those special cases. Today, he felt as if he was simply facing another Antonio Riaz... except this one had really hit home, and his soul was nearly like the depths of hell. He allowed the dark waves of hatred flood his body for what seemed to be the first time in many years.
Hatred for hurting Kyle... for killing Alexx... hatred towards others for the death of his wife... his brother... Speed... his mother...
The evil, incoherent rage suddenly burst towards the surface as he landed yet another fist to the face. Ron felt his head snap towards the side and grimaced, blood beginning to trickle out of his mouth. His own fist managed to connected with the side of Horatio's head, his voice dripping with venom. "Are you feeling emotions?"
"More than you'll ever know," the lieutenant muttered, his mind seeming to drift to some place.
Where that place was, Ron didn't ever intend on finding out. He was beginning to discover the consequences of making Horatio Caine a ticked off father.
It was something he never intended on doing again in his lifetime.
Horatio began to tread deeper into the waters of darkness, seeming to dip his foot in- hesitantly at first, but the foot gradually made it in completely. The backhand of a punch knocked Ron square in the chest, sending him back some three feet again. The killer smirked and kicked the man in the side of the body, sending pain right through his whole upper torso. But with this feeling came more darkness, more rage. He took a deep, shuddering breath, a memory suddenly flashing before his eyes...
- - -
"No... Dad, please don't! She suffered too much!"
"Shut up, boy," the older man snarled, bringing his hand across the seven year old's face. "I'm the head of the house, I can do whatever the hell I want!"
The little redhead shook his head, tears streaming down his face. "No more, Dad! Just stop this...!"
- - -
He felt his fist once again connect, this time right between the eyes. Blood spouted out like a waterfall, and Ron howled in agony, clutching the wound with his hand. Horatio heard nothing, though, as he continued his assault, his mind suddenly flashing to another image of pain and suffering. The rain pounded on the roof, thunder shaking the walls of the structure, the two men dancing with death...
- - -
"Horatio?" Ray dropped his toy and began to shake in shock at the sight of the dead white male on the floor, blood pooling under his body. "Horatio, what happened?"
Horatio shook his head. "He killed Mom, Ray... he killed Mom! I just... I took his gun, and I..." His shoulders began to shake with wracking sobs. "I killed him, Ray!"
There were no sounds in the bedroom as the two Caine brothers stood in horror at the new crime scene before them.
- - -
The eyes- Horatio had never seen such a pair of sadistically calm eyes of death. Ron didn't seem to care about his life, merely the thought of taking someone else's. They were taunting him, gesturing to him to make the next move. Ron roared and made a dive for the lieutenant, knocking him flat and punching him right in the stomach- the very same spot where he kicked him before. Horatio felt a sharp pang through his body once again, his mind flashing to a scene three and a half years ago. His eyes shut, the feeling of loss overcoming him once again.
"Come on, Caine!" Saris laughed savagely. "Give me something I'll never forget!"
The blood from his nose dripped onto Horatio's outfit.
- - -
"This is CSI Caine, I've got a man down, shots fired!" he yelled into his link to the outside, his gun in his other hand.
Speed began to breathe spastically, blood gushing out of his mouth. Horatio pulled out a cloth and wiped his mouth, whispering the same words over and over again. "Speed... Speed..."
No comfort come. The breathing slowed. The blood pooled under the body.
Horatio's eyes suddenly went blank, putting his head down to his friend's chest. No heartbeat.
His voice came out in a whisper. "Speed..."
- - -
The pain... the sadness... the rage...
The unyielding rage...
Horatio brought his knee up and slammed Ron in the soft spot, taking his fist and punching him right in the eye. Once again, the killer howled and rolled off him, allowing Horatio some time to get up quickly and collect his thoughts. It was here... it was coming.
He was in the dark waters now up to his ankles, still hesitating to go in any farther. If he did succumb to its great power, then he feared he'd be lost in it forever. But in order to fully take down Ron, he knew he had to become one with the evil within him for some time. But how long would that last?
It didn't matter. With a deep breath inside his soul and a leap of faith, Horatio succumbed to the awesome and equally terrible power of darkness.
Ron cracked his fingers, grinding his teeth and preparing to give Horatio what he thought would be the beat down of a lifetime.
Before he could even ready himself, though, Horatio had flung his fist out once again and knocked Ron right in the side of the stomach, growling deeply.
The pain... the pain of death...
'The memories,' he thought blindly. 'The memories...'
- - -
"You- you aren't planning to stand up for me?"
Horatio smiled weakly. "Never," he whispered in Marisol's ear.
Her hand went limp.
- - -
Horatio's leg shot out, and he kicked Ron right in the solar plexus. The man doubled over in pain, feeling a strange sensation befall upon him. He felt hatred radiating off of the lieutenant as a foot suddenly met his face and crashed into his nose once again. Blood once again flowed freely, and Ron screamed in pain, blocking his face from any more damage this now-apparently psychotic lieutenant could possibly dish out to him. What the bloody hell did he do to deserve this?!
Apparently, kidnapping Kyle and killing Alexx Woods was not one of his better plans.
What he didn't know, though, was that Horatio was hallucinating.
He was seeing faces- Riaz, his father, the Bulgarian who helped in the death of his partner...
All he could suddenly think about was the desire to beat in Ron's face more than he already had.
So much pain and suffering... fuck.
What was wrong with him?
Horatio brought his fist into the serial one last time before he suddenly heard a scream and a rumble of thunder. He blinked, shaking his head slightly.
What he saw froze his blood.
Saris looked sickening. His hand was still over his face, blood pouring out of his nose with no intention of ever stopping. HIs eye was swelling, and he looked as if he could have thrown up at any given second. Horatio stared at him and back down at his own hand. There was blood on it- his knuckles seemed to be nearly caked with it as he looked away from the sight, a feeling of sorrow and despair filling his heart.
He was tainted. He was so tainted with darkness...
There was no noise but the heavy pounding of the rain and the loud, ragged gasps of a now severely-beaten Ron Saris. Horatio turned away from Ron, standing in his normal posture. His voice, however, was low and filled with death.
"You... are under arrest."
Ron didn't argue with him.
-backs away very slowly- Someone said epic, I delivered epic. It said angst, I delivered angst. If I don't get really long reviews for this, I don't know what else will... Hoo-boy. I'm exhausted. Hope you enjoyed that capter. Thanks for reading.
