Conceal, Chapter ten

Last chapter! Please review! I might start a new story soon. I have one plot, but it's just a sub-plot, so I've got to think of one for the main story.

Elliot stared at Brandon. "What'd you say?" He asked, dumbfounded.

"I found out that the bastard in the room that day was her father and I went to her house a couple of mornings later. Her brothers were leaving, and I know her oldest brother because he's on the team. I asked him where his sister was and he told me that their dad was making her stay home, because she was sick. I waited until they were out the building and I knocked on the door. She answered. She had a black eye, and it hadn't been there the day before. Her dad showed up behind her. He just started laughing and saying crap like 'you came back for more?' He was laughing! He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her behind him. I tried to back up, but he grabbed my shirt and pulled me in. He shoved me against the wall."

Brandon stopped, staring off into space.

"He punched me in the stomach, and told me that if I ever told about what happened, he'd kill me and my sister and brother. I knew he was for real because he knew about my family. I just stared at him, because I didn't know how he'd known about my family…Then I remembered that he was a sub, so he had plenty of access to folders. No one would think that Mr. Perfect would do something like that."

Brandon shook his head. "Then what?" Elliot urged.

"Kristin told her dad to let me go. He dropped my shirt and I fell to the floor, because he had punched me really hard. I just laid there because I was trying to get my breath back, but then I heard her crying and I looked up and he had kicked her in the side, and kept kicking her. He kept doing it! He was killing her! I saw a gun-it was just laying there, so I grabbed it and told him the leave her alone. He fucking laughed at me! He stopped kicking her but came closer to me and told me to quit fucking around. I heard it click, and he glared at me and told me to put the gun down, or he'd kick my ass. I told Kristin to leave, and she stared at her dad. She was still scared of him, even though he looked like he was about to piss his pants. I wasn't going to shoot him, I swear! Kristin left out the door and I threw the gun down and told him that I was going to tell about everything. He grabbed me and threw me to the floor and started kicking me."

As if Brandon thought that Elliot didn't believe him, he raised his shirt. Sure enough, there were large bruises on his stomach and chest. "He wouldn't stop, man. He lost his balance for a second and I grabbed his foot and he fell on his face and I shot him. I shot him in the back and then I shot him in the head twice. I didn't-I wasn't going to, but could I do? What could I do?"

"Brandon, what'd you do then?"

"I took a plain red shirt from Aaron's room, then went outside, and ditched my shirt in the alley. Then I went to school. When we were changing classes, I told Kristyn that I had done it and for her not to say anything. She said that she would say that she did it but I told her that she better not."

Elliot and Brandon sat for a moment in silence, Brandon still breathing hard. "Ahh, Brandon," Elliot started, clearing his throat. I need you to write your confession down, okay?" Elliot said. He handed Brandon a pen and a pad of paper, then left the room.

"I guess we can tell Aaron, Eric and Kristyn the good news," Olivia mumbled.

"It's not good news to Kristyn," Elliot said, shaking his head. "That bastard ruined her life. Her father ruined her life."

"She didn't kill him, though. Once we tell Aaron and Eric-"

"Yeah, once we tell Aaron and Eric that Kristyn didn't kill their father, Aaron will still blame her. And none of her family will be able to look at her again."

It was the cold, hard truth that Elliot had grown accustomed to-but it never made it easier. Once you solved a child abuse case, there was always the after-effect. Kristyn had no family that was willing to take her.

Elliot went to the room that they had Kristyn in. "Hey, Kristyn," he greeted her.

"Hi," she said.

"Well, you can go," he told her, trying to sound enthusiastic.

"Yeah, I know. Brandon confessed. But go where, exactly? They're sending me to some foster home. Some family member that I didn't even know about is adopting Eric and Aaron. And here I am," she said, motioning around the room. She had a plastic bag that she was putting her stuff in.

"Keep your head up, Kristyn."

"You know, I wish I hadn't left that room and Brandon had accidently shot me. I really do," she said, not looking at him.

"Kristyn, don't say that-" Elliot started, but he heard someone knock on the door. "One minute, okay?" He told Kristyn.

He walked out, and saw Munch.

"I tracked down a Ms. Dawn E. Clark," he said, "Whom is Kristyn's biological mother. She wants her kids," Munch said, smiling at Elliot.

"Did you ask her why she left in the first place?" Elliot asked. He didn't know why he asked; it was just the first thing that popped into his head.

"He became abusive towards her, but he was always great towards the kids. She suggested leaving to the kids one day and they all protested, so she left. She saw it on the news."

Elliot grinned at him and opened the door to tell Kristyn the good news.

She had been standing behind the door, listening. Her eyes were gleaming with tears. "My mom is here?" She asked. Elliot nodded. Tears began streaming down her cheeks.

Elliot got down on his knees, and pulled Kristyn into a hug.

"Everything's going to be okay from now on. I promise."

How'd you like it? Please review!