Chapter 7

When Ray was nine and Horatio was thirteen, Ray got into a fight with a couple of older boys. When Horatio found them kicking the crap out of his little brother, he pulled them off him and warned them that if another attempt was made to harm little Raymond, there would be a price to pay.

When their mother asked them what happened, Horatio lied convincingly, telling his mother that the other boys started it and that Ray was just protecting himself when he knew the opposite was true. Later, Raymond thanked him and promised not to get in trouble anymore. It would be almost twenty years before Horatio realized just how little that promise really meant.

'H, I'm in trouble, real trouble.' Ray paced back and forth in front of his desk.

'How many times have I told you not to piss off the higher up's. You know one of these days-'

'No! Shut up for a second will ya?' Ray ran a shaky hand through his rust colored hair. Tina had him all riled up. 'I'm in deep shit, Horatio. One of the guys I've been pretending to tweak with almost made me.'

'Pretending?' Horatio looked at his brother with a questioning stare.

'Yes, pretending damn it! I don't do meth! That's why I almost got made. These guys will kill me if they find out I'm a cop.'

'If the crank doesn't get to you first.' Horatio looked into the eyes of his baby brother and saw nothing. Tina had already taken him away.

'Help me Horatio…Horatio…'

"Horatio!" His eyes flew open as he awoke with a start. Calleigh was standing over him as he lay on the couch. Once he realized that it was her, his heart began to beat normally again. He rubbed his hand over his face as the cobwebs began to clear. "Bad dream?"

"More like a bad reality…how could you tell?"

"You looked tense." She shrugged as she sat down on the edge next to him. She didn't mention the fact that he had also been talking in his sleep. "Anyways, I have to be in court all day but I promise I'll be done in time for the wake tonight. Will you be alright alone today?" Calleigh chewed on her bottom lip. It was-in Horatio's mind-her worst habit because it tore up her beautiful soft lips.

"Sweetheart, I'm not going to do something crazy. You don't have to baby-sit me. I'll be fine. Don't-" She held up a manicured finger to his lips.

"Don't you dare tell me not to worry about you. As your fiancee, one of my duties is to worry about my man. It even says so in the job description." She gave him a little wink and smile. He smiled despite himself and gave her a kiss.

"Get out of here. You're going to be late." She stood but made no attempt to leave.

"Do you want me to come get you or do you want me to just meet you there?"

"Meet me there. I have to go early with Yelena and Ray Jr.." Calleigh bent down one last time and kissed his cheek.

"Okay, I'll see you later. I'll call you when I'm on my break; otherwise, well you know the drill." After one more quick kiss, Calleigh hurried off leaving Horatio alone with his memories again.

'Narco approached me today.' Ray casually mentioned as he and Horatio played darts.

'Oh yeah, what'd they want?'

'They want me to do some undercover work for them. Gather intel and stuff.' Horatio lowered his arm and turned towards him.

'They want to turn you into a tweeker?' Ray waved him off.

'Nah, nothing like that. They just need an inside man to lure these guys.' Horatio still looked worried. 'Ah don't fret about it big brother. There's nothing risky about it. If they get busted, I'm totally covered. Besides, this is my chance H, my way to make a difference. I'm not a scientist, I'll never make Lieutenant like you. But if I do this? Man, people are gonna respect me. I'm making my own destiny, just like mom said to.' Horatio set the darts down and then looked at the younger man,

'What does Yelena think about this?'

'Man, she's totally cool with it. Trust me Horatio, just trust me.'

He had trusted him. He trusted his instincts. They'd been brought up the same way, so he had no reason not to. But he also knew that Ray was easily influenced. He was always desperate to fit in. He went through a lot of crap for it, but he couldn't change his ways ant that's why Horatio had doubts. He knew the extremes his baby brother would put himself through to reach his ultimate goal.

He only hoped that it was worth it.