By Alysha Taylor
NOTICE! The characters are all owned by the actual writers for the shows/books I do my fan fictions on, unless otherwise stated for original characters made by myself. This particular fanfiction is a CSI: Miami fanfiction. Depending on how I go, it can be unrealistic of reality at points. This is after Eric wakes up. But still in the hospital and much left out of this story.
CHAPTER TWOHoratio had left the crime scene with Mackenzie, and left Ryan looking after in wonder and confusion. It wasn't to often a smile was painted over the older mans face. But the sight of the girl, and by the time he had left, he had a smile, the girl looked like she didn't know if she should. Her eyes catching Ryan's eyes as she walked by in a silenced manor, and he felt bad for her. Her eyes looked withdrawn just from seeing Horatio, though his boss might seem happy to see the woman, the woman didn't look to happy to see him… But he couldn't be sure really.
Horatio opened the Hummer door for the younger persons, his eyes pleased. He truly was. The last time he saw her she had been in a wheelchair and with a low chance of standing again, let alone walking. Looking over at Horatio the girl looked at him, forcing a smile. Looking away as she climbed into the passenger seat, the door closing with a sharp thud as Horatio made his way over to the other side of the vehicle.
"So, you're now CSI, Mr. Caine"
The woman forced herself into speech, truly forced, as if seeing him was like walking into the fire lined walls of hell. She had thought, or memory, crossed over her face. She had gone from a good helping Officer for Wolfe, to a withdrawn child with Horatio. But she had a good reason to feel lost and withdrawn around him. Most people praise their hero's. But she's not most people. She saw her hero and the memories of agony came back, the bad old days fresh in her head as if she was still experiencing that dreadful agony she had endured.
"Yes, I am. And you, Sophia, are an officer. I'm proud for you"
She flinched at her real name, looking over to Horatio as he spoke to her, shifting and the hummer was off to were ever, for they had not talked since she disappeared into the sea of the witness protection program. He had tried to find her, but because of her paranoia, and the brutality and extent of the cause, she had been extremely covered. And the fact that six, of the ten assaulters, had never been caught.
"Please… Its Mackenzie now Mr. Caine. I don't like reminders much"
He looked at her for a moment before his eyes returned to the road ahead of him, starting to see the resentment of such a strong reminder, He knew how brutal her past had been, the pure terror he had seen in her face when she was just a young girl, nearly still a child. But he saw behind the terror, he had seen such strength in her. And here she was, walking fine, moving fine, breathing, and in law none the less. It was startling, a shock even to Horatio.
Mackenzie's gaze was that of a pleading girl who truly was begging him to never mention that little girl named Sophia again. She looked away from the elder male, her eyes were to betray her, and she knew it was too much to ask to face her problems, she felt it would send her into an unstable life, to break. She didn't want to face what she endured as a child. Sharp objects… Hot flames and things… Bullets. Such memories made her want to take a live wire into the bathtub with her.
She had scars all over to remind her, but she didn't have to see them all, she did her best to cover them up and play make believe, avoiding facing her abusive past. Hers was not just any old sob story; it was true, real, and ultimately devastating, showing the heart of true heinous crimes, of the dark side of men. Then to look into the tortured blue eyes of this past victim in memory was only the slightest glimpse into what she had ordealed.
"Mackenzie, how have you been doing, in school, and on the force"
Horatio asked, as his eyes didn't leave hers, as to get a straight answer from the shaking girl, he had driven a few blocks, now slowed to the side. Mackenzie hadn't even noticed. She took in a breath before she was able to compose herself enough to talk and pass as simply okay.
"Honors in school, finished Bachelor of Chemical Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering Sciences, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service, Bachelor of Science in Languages, Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement, then just finished my Master of science. The police force was ecstatic to get me. Found I can be quite physical. Might look little, but I can throw my weight and my aim is lethal"
She listed off the accomplishments she had over the years. Horatio looked like a proud father as he listened to her. His lips turning into an evasive smile, his eyes still on hers. She finally took note that they weren't moving and shifted uncomfortably. She trusted this man with her life, she owed him for her life… But she didn't like memories. Memories as bad as realities. If not worse. In reality she only endured the agony once. In memory, it was ongoing and unending.
"Well, well. You have been doing very exceptional with yourself Mackenzie. And you have my attention, I think its safe to say I would like you to join the team. You're well qualified. And I do believe you. Question is, do you want on? Anyone with such qualifications, 26 or not, disserves a place on the team"
It wasn't like Horatio to do something so… So much like this. It was funny how he jumped to the gun, without checking if what she said was true. Looking into the trapping blue eyes was all that was needed. And she looked completely shocked and stunned out of her right head. Horatio saved her from her temporary lost voice.
"You can get back to me on that one, Mackenzie," he paused, starting to drive, "now, were would you like me to take you? To your base, or dinner"
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Horatio looked into the past of Mackenzie to show his team and the others who the new girl would be. She hadn't been lying. And she had been modest, not saying she had a Ph.D. and M.S. Her professors and teachers over the last years he hadn't seen her, had praised her, even feared her. The mind of hers was said photographic, and for lectures, professors found it as if her head had a tape recorder in it. But she had something… Strange about her. Horatio just thought it to be because of her brain… The team was voicing opinions. They saw her, as Eric's replacement… And Eric lay fighting in the hospital, and was losing it, a massive infection had started setting into his body, treatments failing. They felt insulted that Eric should be replaced ever, let alone while he lay still alive, on a his very deathbed!