Speed was quick to leave, but not before making a quick wave to the camera, which confused Horatio greatly.
Horatio was now alone in the dark room, and he decided to inventory his injuries to himself. What a great way to pass the time, he thought sarcastically. From bottom to top he had one broken ankle, the other one was at the very least sprained, both of his lower legs were marked with whip marks, and his thigh had been pierced through and through, by the bullet. Up and down his body, a knife mark was still bleeding, and there were burns from the brander and stun gun. He was also torn and bruised from Speed raping him, both wrists and arms were most likely broken and dislocated from fighting back against the restraints that had held him to the chair and now the bed, and finally he was hungry, bruised, and dehydrated from his stint in this hell hole.
Quickly Horatio's eye's grew heavy, and he wondered how long they would let him sleep this time. As he slipped quietly into sleep he could not but to think about his team again. He smiled knowing they would keep each other safe tonight. Soon his nightmare's over took him, and the night terrors reigned him in his sleep.
"Shut up, Horatio!" Jackson Caine slapped the 17 year old red-head.
The young man had come home to his father once again beating his little brother, Raymond, and had tried to interfere.
"Horatio, just leave it be." Helen Caine combed her strawberry-blond hair behind he ear with her fingers. She grabbed his arm and took him out of the room. Horatio had already been placed in to Juvenile Hall twice. In fact, he had just returned home from his second two-month stay. No matter how many times Police Officer Jackson Caine was reported to the Police Department for child-abuse, the supposed Blue Wall of Silence had protected him every time, leaving Helen Caine to protect her two boys by herself.
"But Mom," the fiery red-head looked at his mother, a green and purple bruise evident along her collar bone. She had married Jackson Caine, a red-head as well, when she was young, but her 38 year old body was worse for wear. The constant years of abuse had left her look more like a fifty year old, but that did not matter to her. "look what he's done to you, and to Ray! Why can't you just leave him, Ma."
"Horatio." Her voice became serious, "You know what The Holy Father thinks about divorce without a just cause."
Helen Caine had always been true to her Catholic religion, and the Bible said that the only reason for divorce was infidelity. To Helen, the abuse of her and her sons was no reason to leave a well-esteemed, high-ranking officer of the NYPD.
Ray's screams could be heard from the other room, and Horatio, at the very least wanted an explanation.
"What'd he do!?" Horatio screamed in his mothers face.
"Calm down, Chipsy." She said in the trademarked, calm, Caine voice, calling Horatio by his nickname. Helen had given Horatio the nickname when he was only one year old and had gotten into a bag of chips, spilling them all over himself. Jackson Caine had proceeded to beat his son, but Helen thought is was the cutest thing she had ever seen, thus giving him the nickname Chipsy. "I forgot to have dad sign his paperwork for school. So Mrs. Stephens sent home a note that your dad was not to happy about. It was my fault, Love." Her smile made her son relax some, and he wrapped her in a hug, letting a tear run down his cheek.
"I'm sorry for yelling, Momma." His 5 foot 11.5 inch figure dwarfed her 5 foot 3 inch one as the melded into each others arms. To be honest Horatio thought of her as the love of his life, but not in any sexual way. She was everything to him, mother, best friend, confidant, and no matter what Jackson did to her or to him, they had always protected each other.
"It's alright, Chipsy." Her delicate hand traced his face, wiping the tear from his eye. Their moment was interrupted by a scream and crash coming from the living room. "Take your brother and leave for the night." Her voice trembled slightly, showing Horatio just how scared she really was, "Both of you can come home after school tomorrow, but your dad had a rough day at work and is going to be pretty bad tonight."
"But mom-" Horatio was interrupted by her serious look and reluctantly went to his room to grab his already prepared go bag. It was not unusual for Horatio and Ray to escape for a few nights to let there dad cool down, but normally they brought their mother. For the first time, their mother had decided to stay to help their father cool down.
"Ray!" Horatio yelled at his 14 year old little brother, "Hurry up, little man."
"Hh." His mother chuckled quietly and walked up to her eldest son, "I love you, Horatio Jackson Caine." Her voice hid something, and Horatio knew it.
"I love you too, Mommy." Horatio fell into her embrace, and for the first time in a long time both felt vulnerable.
"Take care of Ray." She said cryptically.
"I will, and you know that." He smiled, trying to read her eyes.
"Take this." She handed him an envelope, "You'll know when to open it, but don't open it until you know."
"What are you talking about, Ma. You're worrying me." Horatio's blue eyes flashed with concern, and Helen stepped back to gaze at her son.
Horatio had grown and matured in the two months he had been in juvy. He had even turned 17 in that time, but that was not what impressed the woman the most. She had always taught him to show his strength in his mind, not in his hand, and that is just what he had done. His jaw was now set, his smile now wide, and the ice blue eyes that once held so much anger, were now ones of bright sapphires. She could not help but to notice how much he looked like his dad with his crew-cut hair and deep-set eyes.
"Don't worry about me, Chipsy. I'll be fine. Just let him cool down, and you can come home tomorrow." She kissed his cheek and wrapped him in one more hug before sending Horatio and his brother off into the night.
Knock. Knock. Knock. The door to Margreta Evans' house was opened by her daughter Alexxandria.
"Again." The black- skinned, dark-haired sixteen-year-old sassed at Horatio and his little brother before being joined in the room by the matriarch of the family.
"Oh, Horatio." The older women wrapped the lanky boy-turned-man in her arms, taking the bag from him.
"Hey, Mrs. Evans." Horatio said with a sigh. He hated when people felt sorry for him.
"Come on boys. Your mom already called me. I have your beds set up in the family room, and dinners on the table." She could not help but to notice the smiles that were exchanged between Horatio and her daughter, Alexx.
"Thank you, Mrs. Evans."Horatio said with a giggle, taking Alexx's hand and leading her to the dining room.
"Those two." Ray smiled for what seemed to be the first time in a million years. They shared a laugh before heading off to the dinner table.
The next morning came slowly for the two boys. Neither had slept well, and Ray had found himself in Horatio's arms half way through the night. It was common for Horatio to have nightmares, and it was increasingly normal for Ray to feel his big brother's arms around him at some time during the night. Ray knew that Horatio always wanted to keep him safe, but Ray loved taking care of his brother as well. So when he had felt Horatio's tears on his bare neck, Ray had turned, wrapping the boy in his arms, and he began to stroke his red hair. The touch instantly calmed Horatio, and he fell back into his sleep.
School was a drag for Horatio. It had been two months since he had stepped into Archbishop Molloy High School, and his day was not short on questions on what old-man Caine had done this time. He had returned to school just in time for finals week, which he had already finished in Juvenile Hall. The day was long, but at the end of it he gathered his belongings and hurried home.
As Horatio arrived at home the screams of his mother had already attracted his neighbors attention, and they were gathered in the street. He dropped his belongings in the driveway and ran into the house. As he reached the door he noticed the blood on the entry room wall, but he kept going until he arrived to the kitchen. His body was forced to stop at the sight of his mother, slightly conscious, covered in her own blood, lying on the floor.
"Mom." Was all he could say, as he fell to her side.
"I love you, Chipsy." She gasped.
"Mom." Horatio repeated, as he heard the scream of his little brother behind him. Ray ran to his mother's side, trying to stop her gored stomach from bleeding.
"Take care of him." She said in a whisper, motioning to Ray, "and, Ray, you keep your Horatio safe, OK?"
"I will, momma." Ray said, but Horatio could not speak.
"My pocket." She said, trying to reach into her pocket. Horatio reached into her jeans and pulled out a small tape recorded, "Now you have proof. Get rid of that monster for good." The woman smiled and breathed her last. Ray's sobs could not hide the sound of the footsteps behind Horatio. He turned to find the man he wished to see most at the moment, his father, Jackson Raymond Caine.
