''Lieutenant,describe the incident that took place the night your father died.''
Horatio looked up at the judge.
He was standing in a real courtroom,and his entire team was sitting in the seats behind him,along with the chief.
''He was drunk and my mother was trying to protect me. He...''Suddenly he stopped and another flashback came.
Everyone could see his head drop and eyes close as his fingers tightened around the podium and he grit his teeth together.
Ryan got worried.
...
John smiled at her and withdrew from his pocket a 45.
''Mommy...!''
Horatio ran towards his father just as the handle became visible,intending to push him so he couldn't pull the trigger and kill his mother.
But he wasn't fast enough. Old man Caine fired his gun,and Lyra dropped dead,a single bullet resting in her chest.
''MOMMY!''he screamed and ran for her.
...
''Lieutenant?''
Shaking his head,Horatio continued.
''He raised a gun at my mother. I ran towards him,intending to simply throw his aim off... I wasn't fast enough,and he shot my mother...''
Again he stopped.
''When he... When he shot her,I ran for her,but I guess my father saw it as me running away and tried to grab me. I tried to get away from him and in the process of him pulling me closer,I pushed him,and he fell down the basement stairs.''
The courtroom went quiet. Even Rick had gone quiet.
''Lieutenant,if you don't mind me asking,an answer would be nice,but,what sorts of things did your father do and is there proof?''
Horatio glared. ''He more than often beat me with his hands,and he would sometimes drag me down to he basement if I kept running away. He'd shackle me to the walls or floor and whip me or beat me with the chains.''
The courtroom got even quieter.
''And as for the proof,your honor, I wear that proof. I have worn that proof on my back,chest,and wrists for forty-five years. If,you'd like,I can provide photos of the wounds and x-rays of the broken bones from when I was twelve. But I must warn you...They're not a pretty sight.''
Horatio had twelve folders sitting on the podium,all filled to maximum thickness.
''...Please...''
Horatio handed the stack to the officer near him,who in turn handed the stack to the judge.
The judge opened the first folder and nearly puked. ''The last few folders have x-rays,if you'd like.''
The judge closed the folder and pushed the stack off to the side. ''No thank-you,Lieutenant. I've seen enough.''
Horatio nodded. He could feel the eyes of his team on him,and he sighed.
Ryan especially was worried.
''We we take a reassess to reach a verdict. Dismissed.''
Everyone got up and left,and Horatio soon followed. But Rick stopped him. Horatio didn't even bother to turn and face him. He stared straight ahead an listened to the conniving FBI Agent.
''I still say you're gonna lose.''
''And I say,you have no idea what your getting yourself into,and you have your head shoved too far up your ass.''
With that Horatio walked off.
''You can't talk to me like that!''
''I believe I just did.''
Oops,cliffhanger! Sorry,bad habit! X)
Don't worry. I've got another chapter comin'.