TBITC chp. 6

Mike Delko parked in the visitor's lot at Mercy General Hospital and got out of his truck. In addition to the motorcycle that was his off duty form of transportation, he drove a 1985 Chevy Blazer. He collected his go bag from the back seat and walked to the service entrance Jack had told him and Kenny to use, and found his fellow former Seal already there. "Que pasa, dude."

"Nada. What'd you bring?" Kenny asked, nodded toward the bag over Mike's shoulder.

"M-14 EBR, plus twenty magazines. Fifteen magazines for my Glock." Mike said, referring to the Glock 22 .40 semiautomatic pistol on his left hip. "You?"

Ken's eyes widened. "You don't mess around. All I brought was my Mossberg and my Sig."

"All you need." A voice behind them said, and both automatically reached for their pistols and turned towards the sound.

"Relax," Jack said, holding up his hands, "I come in peace. Thanks for coming."

"Sure thing." Mike said, extending his hand. Jack shook it and did the same with Kenny.

"So, Kenny told me this was V.I.P protection. Whose the protectee?" Mike asked as the three former Operators rode the service elevator to the tenth floor Pediatric wing, where Sam had been moved to another private room. Horatio, and Alexx, believed that keeping Sam on the first floor, near the E.R. was dangerous.

"Kid from the crime scene last night, first name Sam, last name unknown. And Alexx."

The mention of the M.E., woke both former Seals up. They now knew that the mission was a personal one to their Army counterpart. Mike and Kenny knew that Jack cared about Alexx as more than just a friend, but at the same time played his feelings close to vest.

Because Kenny, Mike and Horatio, were the only one's who knew that the real reason Jack had stayed away from Miami for the past ten years was because when he'd come home from a particularly nasty mission, He'd taken some leave time and brought his wife, Jenny and their three year old son, Matthew, home to Miami for some much needed

R&R. But when the little family was enjoying a quiet dinner, a Mala Noche gang member staged a drive by to take out Horatio. But instead of killing him, he killed Jack's wife and son. And that was why Jack had stayed away for ten years, because he blamed his father and the city; every day for the last ten years, Jennifer and Matthew Caine's killer or killers had continued to draw breath, feel the sun on his face, make love, hold his children…if he had them.

Jack forced these thoughts from his head as the elevator car stopped. He heard the scrape of metal on metal of a semiautomatic rifle being chambered and the loud and intimidating crunch of a pump action shotgun also being chambered. He checked his own Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun and stepped out of the elevator. All three men wore tactical vests with SWAT printed on the front and back in block letters. Which was why there weren't the usual screams of terror and panic that generally accompanied armed men entering a room. Jack took the lead and the other two followed him to Sam's room. Kenny and Mike took up positions on either side of the door, their faces each baring expressions that clear said 'go away.' Nurses usually aren't intimidated by anyone, but two armed men who looked like they knew how to handle themselves generally had that affect on people.

Jack walked into the room and found Alexx and Sam on bed. Alexx was reading a picture book and there was a stack of similar books on the night stand next to them. Jack stayed just inside the room for five minutes, watching the scene before and not wanting to break its spell. Memories of happier times with his deceased wife and child flooded the former Special Forces soldier. A thought came to him unbidden. Could he start over, have the wife and child he always wanted? Jack again pushed the distraction from his mind and walked into the room. "Horatio on his way?" Alexx asked, when she noticed Jack had joined them.

"Yeah, he'll be here in twenty." Jack said.

"Is he nice?" Sam asked again, genuine fear in his voice. Jack stayed silent, figuring Sam would trust Alexx's word over his.

"Sam, baby, look at me." Alexx said, gently and he did. "Have I hurt you?"

Sam shook his head. "Ok, do you think I would let anyone hurt you?"

"No, Alwexx." Sam said, and Alexx hugged him.

"Ok, sweetie, what'd you say we read another book while we wait for Horatio?" Alexx asked with a smile.

"Ok, Alexx." Sam said, grinning back at her. Jack watched the scene, amazed that a child who had surely had unspeakable horrors done to him, could find reason smile in something as simple as having a story read to him. But Jack suspected that such kindnesses had long been absent from Sam's life. Jack hated what Sam would be asked to recall when interviewed, but he promised himself and Sam that he would visit upon Sam's torturers pain the likes of which they had not yet seen. And he would enjoy every minute of it.

000

Horatio got out of the hummer designated CSI 1 and reached into his suit jacket, pulling out his cellphone. He punched two and the phone speed dialed Jack's number. He answered on the first ring. "Where are you?"

"Downstairs. How's our young friend?"

"Ok. You want me to stay for the interview?"

Horatio thought about his son's question. "Let's uh…let's leave that up to Sam, shall we?"

"Sure, see you in a minute." Jack said, and the line went dead.

Horatio rode the elevator and step off on the tenth floor, glancing around in an effort locate Sam's room. He found it almost instantly, and had to smile when he did. Standard practice for suspects, witnesses, victim's, who were in the hospital was to have an officer stationed outside the patient's room, usually only armed with a Glock 17 9mm pistol and two spare magazines. But Jack had upped the ante as it were, and posted two men outside the room. As Horatio got closer, he recognized Kenwall Duqense Jr., and Miguel Delko, and both men were heavily armed.

"Gentlemen." Horatio said, shaking both their hand's.

"Horatio, good to see ya." Kenny said.

"H," Mike said.

"Heavy artillery."

"What Jack asked for."

"Are they in?"

"Yeah," Kenny said, "Good luck." Mike nodded the same.

Horatio smiled. "Thanks, guys." And knocked on the door.

000

Jack, Alexx and Sam looked up simultaneously when there was a knock at the door. Jack got up to answer it and Alexx noticed that his hand was on the grip of his pistol, the hammer back and the safety off. Alexx had no doubt that Jack could draw and fire the weapon accurately before she could even blink. "Alexx, who's your friend?" Horatio asked, coming into the room.

Alexx got off the bed and stood next to it. "Horatio, this is Sam. Sam this is my friend Horatio I was telling you about."

Sam smiled at them. "Hi. Is your name weally Horatio?"

Horatio smiled. "Yeah, it is. I don't know what my mother was thinking." He said with a grin.

Sam smiled. "Sam, did Alexx tell you what I do?"

"She said you were her fwiend."

"Yes, I am that. But I'm also a policeman. I help people."

Alexx sat down on the bed next to Sam and put her arm around him, pulling the boy close. "Like me?" Sam asked.

Horatio nodded. "Yes, Sam, like you. Would it be ok if I asked you some questions. But anytime you want to stop, we'll stop. Ok, buddy?"

Sam considered this for a moment before answering. "Okay, 'ratio."

"So, why were you in the closet?" Horatio asked, gently.

Alexx could feel Sam tense in her arms. "It's alright, baby. Horatio just wants to help you, just like Jack and I do."

Sam looked at Jack, who nodded. "Mandy put me in the cwoset."

"Why did she do that?" Horatio asked after a minute, giving Sam time to collect himself.

"Cause I was bad." Sam said, a sob creeping into his words as he spoke.

Alexx didn't like where this conversation was heading, but forced herself to allow it to continue, knowing that it was better for Sam to get out whatever had happened than to hold it in. "Why were you bad, baby? What did you do?" She asked, her tone soothing and gentle.

"I can't tell…the bad man said he'd kill me if I told."

"Sam, we'll protect you. Nobody will hurt you if you tell." Horatio said.

"Pwomise?" Sam asked, his voice small and fragile.

"I promise." All three adults answered in unison. And Sam knew they meant it.

"The bad man wanted to…do growned up stuff me….But I…" Sam sobbed and Alexx picked him up and rubbed his back gently. "Shh, its alright baby. You don't have to tell if you don't want to."

"It's…it's ok…Alwexx, I…be brave." Sam choked out through sobs. "The bad man held me down and said he was gonna get what he paid for…and he said he'd kill me if I didn't let him do…" Sam sobbed, and Alexx had had enough of seeing her baby in pain. She picked Sam up and rocked him back and forth, gently rubbing his back and whispering soothing words. "Shh, it's ok baby. He can't ever hurt you again. You did good, just relax, relax. It's ok…it's all ok." Alexx whispered, tears in her eyes. She looked at Horatio and Jack and saw tears in their eyes as well. But as Sam fell asleep him arms she saw something besides tears in Jack's eyes. She saw rage… and to her surprised and horror, it made her feel good.