TW graphic violence

"What the hell does that mean?" Yelled Kelly growing agitated, Jay's words were swirling around his head, "He finally hit back" Kelly had a good idea what that meant and he didn't like it. Matt's father was a tall, burly man, he was bigger than Benny and much more volatile. Fighting back would be futile it would only end in more pain for the gangly blonde.

"Kelly it's bad, it's really bad".

"Spit it out Jay, where's Matt? Where's my brother?"

Donna rushed towards the sound of raised voices, the crowds of teenagers blocking up the halls were quickly dispersing as everyone headed into their classrooms.

"Kelly" she called firmly before the distressed boy had chance to yell again.

"Come on Kelly let's go to my office, we need to talk" she announced in a softer tone, the boy gave her a soft nod before setting off towards her office.

"You too Jay" she added as she took in the appearance of the distraught boy watching Kelly carefully, she was aware the two didn't get along but they both shared a strong brotherly bond with Matt.

Matt's entire body was throbbing with pain, the agony spreading through him was drowning out the voice of the man in front of him. His head was spinning and he felt disoriented, he didn't know where he was, the last thing he could remember was lying in bed trying to block out the pain. He gave up on trying to figure out what was going on and focused on the blood clinging onto his hands. He could feel the red substance burning his skin, in desperation he scratched at his hands and repeatedly wiped them on his trousers but it wasn't working, his hands remained crimson.

Voight sighed as once again his questions were met with silence, they had been sat in a small hospital room for nearly five hours. They needed to examine Matt for injuries, his mother had already been examined and treated but Matt had been uncooperative so far. Every time they moved to touch him he let out a strangled scream, it was the only time the blonde would react, the rest of the time he would stare numbly at his feet as he scratched at his hands. Voight hadn't even realised the boy was bare foot at first, he'd been in such a rush to get the blonde out of the house that he hadn't acknowledged the fact Matt was clad in blood soaked pyjamas. They urgently needed to get the boy checked out and into some clean clothes.

The doctor and Hank had decided not to administer a sedative as they understood that right now Matt needed to feel like he was in control. The busy doctor had left the room a couple of hours ago after telling Maggie the nurse to call him when Matt was ready.

"Matt if you don't let them examine you soon-",

A knock at the door cut Voight off mid sentence but it didn't matter as the catatonic boy hadn't been listening in the first place.

"I'll be right back" he promised but Hank doubted the blonde had heard him, the boy's mind was elsewhere . He stepped out into the hallway where a man with long shaggy grey hair was waiting.

"Any luck yet?" Questioned the man, who was wearing a grim expression that made Voight's stomach twist.

"No. He's shut down" admitted Voight as he scrubbed a shaky hand across his face.

"What about you Al? did the mother talk?" Voight Asked after a few minutes. Alvin looked at his friend sadly. When Voight had told him they'd taken over a case from homicide he'd been confused, it was an open and shut case but Voight was heavily invested in it, which was probably why homicide had handed it over so willingly, everyone knew you didn't get in Voight's way when he set his mind to something. But after catching a glimpse of the boy at the centre of the investigation Alvin had immediately understood why the sergeant was so involved. The boy was only a few years older than Justin and he had the demeanour of a kicked puppy. The boys face appeared to be frozen with fear and his eyes were almost ghost like, they were saturated with a sadness he'd seen in the eyes of many abuse victims. Alvin hoped they could save the boy from more pain, he knew if they didn't Voight would carry Matt's case around on his shoulders for the rest of his life.

"Yeah she talked, she claims it was Matt" revealed Alvin sullenly.

"Damn it!" Cursed Voight, he had suspected that all along but he'd been hoping that for once his gut was wrong.

"But there's been suspicions of abuse for a while and the mothers covered in injuries from last night, a jury will see it was self defence and that he had no choice, he'll be cleared" comforted Alvin.

"That's not good enough! The last thing that boy needs is to be put in front of a court, he's barely holding it together now. Prosecution will rip him to shreds"

"I know but there's no other way" sighed Alvin.

Meanwhile Matt was growing increasingly distressed with every second that passed by. He could hear his mum crying, his dad shouting angrily, plates smashing on the floor and then deafening sirens. As the events of the previous night flashed before his eyes his hands grew itchier and itchier, he needed to get rid of the blood, he needed to forget who it belonged to. Unexpectedly two hands tentatively grasped his wrists,

"Im sorry" yelped Matt fearfully as his eyes darted around the room quickly, confusion flickered across his face as he realised he was in the hospital. He felt some of the tension in his body dissolve as his eyes locked on the owner of the hands, a woman with kind eyes who was offering him a small smile, her muffled voice floated in the air as he tried to pry his wrists from her grip but it was no use, she tightened her grasp slightly and crouched down in front of him causing him to squirm. He could feel her eyes boring into his soul. He wanted to scream at her to let go but no words came out. He began trying to free his wrists again when he was stopped by the sound of the door opening, his movements stopped abruptly and he instinctively hunched in on himself and stared at the floor. His body shook as footsteps approached.

"I don't know about you but I hate hospitals, but the sooner you let them check you over the sooner we can escape this rotten place" stated Voight in a calm voice pushing aside the sadness in his chest caused by the scared boys flinching. The blonde boy gulped before nodding minutely, if Voight hadn't been watching the boy like a hawk he would have missed the small movement.

Slowly the nurse let go of Matt, she watched as his fingers twitched as he resisted the urge to claw at his hands.

"Ok Matt can you take your shirt off for me, Voight can leave if you'd prefer",

"Stay" mumbled Matt speaking for the first time since Voight had pried him away away from his fathers body. Matt began slowly pulling his T-shirt off grunting every so often as the movement sent pain rippling through his body. Maggie moved towards a draw and took out a pair of scissors, not wanting to see the blonde struggle any longer.

"On second thoughts this will be quicker and less likely to aggravate your injuries" commented Maggie, as Matt's struggling ceased she began cutting away the fabric revealing bruises of different sizes and colours marring his skin, his ribs were visible and there were various scars covering his torso. She'd treated many abuse victims over the years but it never got any easier.

"Ok Matt you're doing a really good job, do you mind if I get the doctor now?" She asked, Matt hummed in response knowing she wasn't really asking.

The teen had remained rigid for the entire exam, the doctor was confident there was no internal bleeding; Matt had a few broken ribs and he'd likely be sore for a few days. After the examination Maggie had found some clothes for Matt to change into. They hung off the boy making him appear even younger. Reluctantly Voight led the teen out of the hospital and into his car. It didn't feel right treating Matt like a criminal but due to few incidents Voight was being watched closely by his supervisors, meaning the sergeant found himself being forced to do everything by the book.

Three hours passed by with Matt sat in the interrogation room staring emotionlessly at the table, stark white bandages covered his hands hiding the stains his father's blood had left behind. As yet another question filled the air Matt felt the walls closing in. He barely registered Voight leaving the room as he felt himself suffocating.

"What is it?" Voight asked taking in Alvin's blank expression as he entered the hallway.

"Forensics just called, everything corroborated Nancy Casey's story" announced Alvin before continuing sadly,

"The prints on the baseball bat belonged to the victim and the prints on the knife were Matt's"

Matt's eyes landed on his reflection in the one way glass, the longer he looked the more his reflection began to look like his father, people always remarked how alike they looked, same blonde hair, same blue eyes, Matt had always found their likeness unsettling, he didn't want to be like his father, he didn't want to be a monster.

"Matt" called a gravelly voice pulling him out his thoughts.

"We found your prints on the knife and given your mums statement we're going to have charge you. But I promise you I'm going to help you, ok. I promise no more harm will come to you" comforted Voight before adding reluctantly,

"You have a hearing in an hour to find out if you're eligible for bail, but don't worry. Everything is going to be ok"

Voight stood outside the court room with a tired looking Matt beside him as they waited for Nancy to appear, his attention shifted from the boy to Alvin walking hurriedly towards him.

"His mother's gone" whispered the detective as he pulled Voight to one side.

"What do you mean she's gone?"

"She was released after questioning, she took off and no one can get a hold of her"

"Doesn't she know about Matt?"

"We told her about the charges and the hearing but she didn't seem to care" explained Alvin sombrely. Voight shook his head in annoyance before turning towards the teen stood rigidly.

" I'm sorry Matt I don't think your mum's coming",

"Ok" replied the blonde instantly, despite Matt's even tone and vacant expression Voight could see the sadness etched on the boys face, as they walked into the court room tears welled up in his blue eyes.

Matt was granted bail but there was no one to pay it, even if someone did pay his bail he had nowhere go, the courts wouldn't just release him onto the streets, therefore he would probably end up in a group home. Unless his mother returned Matt was facing time in custody.

"Keep your head down Matt, I promise I'll get you out as soon as I can" assured Voight as Matt gazed emptily at the floor as the guards approached him.

"Keep your head down, you'll be ok" shouted Voight as he watched the broken teen being led away.

"Isn't there anything you can do" yelled Voight at Matt's appointed lawyer.

"Not unless someone pays his bail and claims custody" explained the man. A frown appeared on Alvin's face as he watched Voight angrily kick a nearby bin, after less than twenty four hours Voight had become deeply attached to Matt and couldn't bare to see him suffer anymore.

"I helped Erin maybe I can-"

"Hank you don't have the money, not with Camille's treatment still going on and even if you did bail him out where would he go? You can't take home every struggling teenager you meet, you've already got Justin and Erin at home you haven't got the space for Matt" reasoned Alvin.

"He doesn't deserved to be locked up"

The sound of Jay nervously bouncing his leg up and down filled Donna's office.

"Would you stop doing that" growled Kelly slamming his pen down in frustration. They'd been waiting in the colourful office ever since Donna had led them there that morning. She arranged for both of the boys work to be sent to her office, she knew it was best to keep a close eye on them, also she doubted that the two boys would leave willingly without more information on Matt. So far all they knew was that his dad was dead and Matt had been taken in by the police for questioning, Donna was currently with the headteacher searching for answers consequently leaving the two confused and distressed boys alone.

"I'm sorry" mumbled Jay.

"I'm just really worried about Matt" added the upset boy.

"And you think I'm not?" Kelly snapped.

"Well it's not like you've given a damn about him recently",

"Shut up, you don't understand" yelled Kelly but his anger quickly drained away and he slumped down in his chair.

"I was angry but I never stopped caring about him"sighed Kelly, guilt was rampaging through his entire body, he felt bile rise in his throat as he realised how defeated and sickly Matt had looked recently, he had let his anger come between him an Matt, if Andy was alive he'd give him an earful thought Kelly shamefully.

"But you're no different to me Jay, you threw him away like a broken toy, when you didn't need him anymore",

"I know, I should have done more to help him" replied Jay in a quiet voice full of regret.

"We failed him didn't we?"

"No, you didn't" interrupted Donna, she'd been about to enter the room earliwhen she'd overheard the two talking.

"But We knew" replied Jay his voice heavy with guilt. They both knew about the abuse but had been to afraid to say anything.

"We knew about his dad" Jay cried, a sad smile graced Donna's face she knew how close the boys were to Matt, she'd be surprised if they hadn't known.

"It's not your fault boy's, the only person to blame for this is Matt's father",

"Do you know anything more about Matt?" Asked Kelly breaking his silence, Donna's smile faltered and Kelly could see the sadness in her eyes.

"He's being charged with his fathers death, he'll remain in custody until the case goes to trial"

"Isn't there something you can do?" yelled the boys in unison.

"No, I wish there was but all we can do is be there for him" responded Donna hoping the boys didn't hear the cracks in her voice. As soon as she'd heard the news she'd looked into getting Matt released into her custody, her and boden had fostered children before in the past but CPS refused to place someone awaiting sentencing with young children , she understood it was a safety precaution but she had no doubt in her mind that Matt would never hurt Terrence, he wasn't a cold blooded killer he was a desperate boy.

Since leaving the court room Matt had been operating on auto pilot, he'd been taken to the juvenile detention centre and he was now sat numbly on the edge of a lumpy bed, dressed in an orange jumpsuit. As he stared at one of the bare walls surrounding him he began replaying the the events of the last few days in his head in an attempt to work out how he ended up here.

A few days ago the school had called home saying they were concerned about how he was coping after Andy's death, his dad was fuming when he found out, he hated having other people involved in their business, he thought Matt had been spreading lies to the teachers. After that Matt had to stay home until he healed from his "accidental fall" down the stairs. His father had completely avoided him afterwards and the Casey household had been submerged in a tense silence, His father was like a ticking time bomb, both Matt and his mother had been anticipating his fathers outburst but neither of them had expected it to be so severe.

Matt had been curled up in his bed mentally urging the agony to go away, he ached all over and there was a horrible thumping in his head which was buried under a thick blanket, he was desperately trying to shut out the rest of the world. He felt a twinge of pain as a faint rumbling reached his ears, slowly he poked his head out from underneath the covers and fear spread through him as he easily identified the sound of his father yelling. He stumbled out of his room and down the stairs, he lingered by the doorway listening to his fathers booming voice, hoping it was a simple argument which would end with his father storming out of the house and heading to the nearest bar. He could hear his father screaming something about another phone call from school. When his father grabbed the baseball Matt had left by the black door Matt abandoned his hiding place and ran into the room as fast as his battered body would let him. However Matt's arrival didn't stop his father from swinging the bat angrily knocking various items off the counter tops and walls, his mother retreated into a nearby corner and huddled in on herself as plates and glasses were sent flying in her direction, Matt pleaded desperately for him to stop and stood firmly in front of his mother. Abruptly his father turned his attention away from destroying the kitchen and focused on the woman cowering in the corner, he dropped the bat, effortlessly shoved Matt out of the way and grabbed Nancy by the arms pulling her into a standing position, as his father raised his fist Matt's eyes landed on the bat discarded on the floor, his body screamed in protest as he stumbled towards the wooden object.

"Matt no" shrieked his mother as her eyes locked on the teen. Matt froze as his father whipped around, fear washed over him as his father tackled Matt to the ground before he could reach out and grab the bat.

"Nice try boy" Matt's father snarled in his ear, his fathers warm breath grazed his neck, Matt let out a cry as the older man's entire weight pushed down on his already battered body. As he felt the pressure lift off Matt let out a deep breath and scrambled into a sitting position just in time to see his father pick up the bat and head back towards him. He crouched down menacingly in front of Matt and raised the bat behind his head, the blondes heart hammered in his chest and he screws his eyes closed, as Matt placed his hand's on the floor in an attempt to brace himself he felt something cold, he grasped it in his hand and lunged towards his father plunging the blade into his fathers abdomen. As his father gasped in shock and collapsed onto the floor terror engulfed Matt. He let the knife fall to the ground as he rushed to his fathers side, he never wanted to hurt him. He pleaded desperately for his father to wake up as he placed his hands over the dark red patch spreading over his shirt, he could hear his mother whimpering in the corner as his father murmured in shock.

Tears streamed down Matt's face, he deserved to be locked away for the rest of his life. First Andy and now his father. Death followed him everywhere.