Strolling into Miami Dade P.D Horatio stopped motionless spotting his young CSI holding a beige folder. His face drained. Dreading what'd come next he stood in the metal detectors path, his heart pounding. The pulsating organ threatening to escape its caged home.
"H." Eric walked up to his boss and friend. Whom by the looks understood why he'd been waiting for him. "I'm sorry."
Horatio wasn't able to speak, his mind was lost in the vast emptiness of reality. He merely nodded his head, creasing the brown lunch bag in his hands.
Handing over the results Horatio smiled bitterly as his eyes skimmed the single paper.
A black, bold word mocking him. Sealing his son's dearest friends fate. A fate marked forever by the simple letter's, Match.
Match to Benito's blood.
But deep down he knew for a fact Justin had not committed the unspeakable act. He was nothing more than an innocent boy lost in a world foreign to his kind. He just had to believe that. If he gave in to the small voice repeating Justin's name with shame and disgust he wouldn't be able to live with himself. Not when a sick young man rotted in jail. Not when Kyle saw his brother behind bars for the rest of his life. Not when he could've done everything in his power to declare Justin free.
No, he would not listen to the echo seeking Benito justice. Not when that justice pointed its finger at Justin.
He would continue, despite the growing voice, until he snatched the murderer off the streets and locked her away.
"He's innocent, Eric." He pushed the papers back into the shocked man's still hands. "I will not put Justin in jail."
"I double checked, H." Eric said dismayed. "Its Benito's blood."
Stating truth burned into Eric's weakened conscious like hot sand beneath his feet. It hurt telling Horatio the boy would likely end in jail. No matter their efforts. Justin was a marked target. No prosecutor would ignore his involvement.
"He didn't kill Benito. We have to find whoever did and... now." Putting on his glasses Horatio placed his hands at his sides and lowered his head. "We're not monsters, Eric, we're CSI's. We don't send innocent people to jail."
Lowering his voice, Eric leaned in closer and stared at the blank face of his friend. "What are you thinking?" He asked curiously.
He had the nagging suspicion Horatio was up to no good.
"Bring the car around, I'll meet you out back."
"Who?"
"Not who, but where."
"Where?"
"In the Gardens Mouth slithers the snake, in the waters she hides and waits to strike whoever nears the gates. I don't care how I get in, but when I do I want you go straight to work and wait. Understood Eric? No word of this, to anyone."
"Your not making any sense, H. Who is it?"
"Its better you don't know. There's no telling when the snake will strike."
"Alright, H." Eric sighed, blind to the danger Horatio was about to enter. "You let me know what you found?"
"I can't."
Glancing past Eric's right shoulder Horatio was greeted with the worried blank blues of his kid. His boys stuck on his own crystal gaze. By the arched brows of his sons he knew what he was thinking. What was his father getting himself into this time around and was this logical and sound? More importantly was he going to posses a father when this nightmare was over?
All reasonable questions to contemplate, but at a much later time. Right now he didn't have the luxury to answer all his sons demanding queries. Justin's very fate hung on the tip of his finger, about to fall into oblivion.
"Dad, are we still gonna-ummm." Shaking his head clear he left the question mid air. Instead he went straight to the scared voice that screamed for answers. "What's going on?"
Scratching his head Horatio walked to his son and placed his hands reassuringly on Kyle's shoulders. Trying simultaneously to draw strength from Kyle and give faith and stability back.
"Nothing, I'm fine and will be fine." Kissing the top of Kyle's head Horatio sighed. "Kyle there's someone you have to see."
Looking at Eric for confirmation Kyle grinned before staring back at his dad and saying. "Who?"
Gently Horatio squeezed on Kyle's shoulder "Do you remember Justin Diaz?" He said halfheartedly.
Knitting his brows, Kyle feared the worst was no more than a fear. "Yeah. Why?" He admitted, cooking his head.
"Come with me, he still here."
"He's here, now?"
An erie silence befell the journey to the holding cells. Horatio couldn't speak nor could Kyle. However, they didn't need to, both son and father were thinking alike.
Was Justin going to be alright? If he wasn't could he live imprisoned or would he simply give up hope and surrender to his life's path?
Rounding the limestone hallway Horatio saw Justin leaning against the holding cell across from them. His spikey head lowered, comtemplating. Thus, Justin hadn't noticed who accompanied the Luietenant.
Taking calculated steps forward Kyle stopped in front of the holding cell astonished. He hadn't seen his best friend since he was fourteen and never expected to see him again. Yes, he held hope of reuniting with his brother, but seeing him like this; skinny, boney, frail. This wasn't Justin. Justin was the good-looking, fit guy who every girl wanted to date. Not this. This wasn't Justin, it couldn't be. That's what his heart told him anyways, but his eyes wouldn't lie to him. Would they?
"Justin?" Kyle asked skyptically.
Justin's head popped up and immediately his deep-set forest eyes widened is happiness.
"Kyle?" He screamed, standing he jogged to the bars. "My God Kyle, you look so different!"
"So do you." Kyle crocked. His insides twisted in awed anguish.
It was Justin, but not the way he remembered him. His brother was slowly dieing before his very eyes. His skin was sickly pale, his smile though still ever present didn't shine like before. It was somewhat dulled. Just like when a beautiful B.C portrait loses its sheen over time. Sad thing is, Justin was only seventeen. Not even a full adult.
"Damn, Kyle, you did it." Not daring to show his pain Kyle confidently strolled over and held out a steady hand. In quick response Justin clasped Kyle's hand in a weak grip with a chuckle. "Look at you, man, your all grown. Wow, never thought I'd see you again. Can you believe it? How are you? Are you alright? Well, tell me everything. Don't leave anything out."
"I'm fine, I'm working here. I'ma lab tech. I have my own place and..." He grinned, sadness briefly dashed his handsome features. "I found my mom."
It wasn't fair to Kyle that his brother was dieing. While he had drunk, high jacked boats and partied till twilight in his youth Justin was the perfect brother, the up-standing citizen. He didn't deserve this. To be blunt Justin deserved to be in his shoes, not the other way around.
"How is she?"
"She's good."
Justin diverted his gaze onto Horatio before landing back on Kyle.
"I see you found your dad? Is he treating you good?"
Justin couldn't stop himself from asking his brother all sorts of rediculous questions. Deep down he knew Horatio was a good father. Still, he needed to know. He wasn't going to trust his gut when everything he did with his gut instict went to shit. For one, coming to Miami to meet his father. For another sleeping in that damned apartment. No, he wasn't going to trust his gut anymore. From now on it was all intellectual conclusions.
"At the start we had our rocky moments." Kyle stared at his father empasively, then the grin returned with fierce pride. "But at the end I think we're closer than fish and water because of the stuff we went through."
Justin eyed Horatio once more. He was happy that what he slowly came to conclude during his short sentence in the holding pin was true. Horatio turned out, after all, to be a great father. His only wish now was that Horatio didn't abandoned Kyle like every other foster family they ever had.
"Can I go in, dad?" Kyle asked.
Watching Justin and Kyle interact laid the warm resolution blanket securely around Horatio's shoulders. He realized entering into the battle ground ahead was the right decision. Only thing is if he went through with his plan not only would he be degrading himself, but his own personal moral code. However, Justin was more important than his dignity.
Promptly after calling over a gaurd to open the gate Horatio headed out to meet Eric. In his hearts of hearts Horatio understood he would not halt or faulter in his mission to free Justin. Shame wasn't going to bend his knees.
