Post by NV Oracle on Sept 8, 2009 12:04:55 GMT -10
Hey, gang.
Part of Stevie's view point does stem from the fact that his life has been altered so dramatically.
The other part is that I've always felt as if I've been from another planet (LOL), and unfortunately, I've written Stevie that way too. My parents always incouraged me to look things up in dictionaries, and encyclopedias, and on the internet, when they came into being, so I've always been what other people called a 'thinker', so to a degree, I've written Stevie that way too.
Anyway, this is the start of the 'fallout' from Horatio's revelation, as it will stem over several chapters. The team will get more of the story than Stevie got, and Frank will be brought up to the same page every one else is on.
Anyway, please enjoy. Here we go.
****************
Chapter 95
The team sat in the cafeteria, with Stevie and Jessica, enjoying their break. Suddenly Calleigh’s phone began to ring. The team traded looks as she answered it.
“Duquesne.”
It was Oscar on the other end. “Calleigh, are you still with Horatio?”
“Of course. Hold on for a second.” She held her phone out to him. “It’s Oscar. He’s asked to talk to you.“
Horatio took the phone, with a grin. “Ok, Beautiful. Thanks.“ He put the phone to his ear. “Horatio.”
“I‘m sorry to bother you, Horatio, but, we have a scene and we need all hands on deck.” Oscar told the man.
“It’s not a problem, Oscar. What’s the scene?”
“We have a drive by at a movie theatre in Hialeah. Multiple injured, multiple dead, and multiple bullets and casings. Like I said, all hands on deck.”
Horatio chuckled. “It certainly sounds that way, Oscar. Have an M.E. van meet Alexx at the scene. I’m sending her, Eric and Ryan now. Calleigh and I will be along momentarily.“ He got the address from Oscar, then hung up, and passed the phone back to Calleigh. “Stevie, I’m sorry to have to cut this short, but we’ve got to go.“
The youngster nodded. “I gathered, H. You guys can take your smoothies to go, and Mom and I can take ours upstairs with us.” Stevie pushed himself away from the table. “Come on, let’s go.”
They made it upstairs in record time.
As Horatio put Stevie in bed. He told the others. “Eric, you, Ryan, and Alexx go ahead and head on over to the scene. They need you as soon as possible. According to Oscar, there is a lot of ballistic evidence as well. Catalog it, and Calleigh and I will meet you there shortly, ok?“
Eric nodded. “It’s not a problem, H. We’ve got it covered.”
Horatio grinned, and looked down at his hands for just a moment, then tilted his head to look over at Eric. “Of that, gentlemen, I have no doubt.”
Stevie chuckled. “Thanks a lot for all your help with my lesson today, gang. I do really appreciate it.”
“You did great today, Stevie. We’re very proud of you.” Eric told him.
“Yeah.” Ryan agreed. “We’ll see you tomorrow, Stevie.”
Alexx stopped in front of the youngster. “Do I need to get you a pain killer, Stevie?”
Stevie shook his head. “Nope. I’m fine, Dr Alexx, but thanks, anyway.”
She nodded. “Ok.” She looked over at Horatio. “We’ll see you two at the scene.”
That shy grin made a quick appearance. “Yes, Ma’am. We’ll catch up with you there.”
Alexx, Eric, and Ryan left the room, and made their way to the elevator.
Back in Stevie’s room, Horatio asked the youngster. “Do you mind if I get a quick shower, Stevie?”
The boy shook his head. “I’m not sure if you’ve got the time, H. I suppose, thought that you’d better make the time. Dr Alexx will get really mad if you show up still in your swim trunks and your t-shirt is still wet.” Stevie’s eyes suddenly twinkled. “Besides all of which, you wouldn’t be very intimidating, looking like a drowned rat.”
Even Horatio laughed at the picture that thought brought up. “No, I wouldn’t, would I?” He grabbed a towel, a washcloth, and his shower items out of his duffle bag. As he put his hand on the knob of the bathroom door, he also said. “I’ll be right back.”
The instant the door was closed, Stevie made the ‘come here’ sign. “Come here, Aunt Calleigh.”
Calleigh stepped up to the side of the bed. “What‘s up, kiddo?”
“Please tell Dr Alexx I said thanks for agreeing to be his adopted Mom, for me, please?”
Calleigh smiled gently at the youngster, as she nodded. “I’ll tell her, Stevie, but you know what he needs most, is friends like you.”
Stevie’s grin reminded her so much of Horatio’s, that shy one, when he looked down. The real one, the one that showed how much pleasure he got from doing things for those around him that were his family, and not just his friends.
“That’s what Dr Alexx said too, Aunt Calleigh, but a guy’s never too old to have a Mom. I just wish we had someone who could be a ‘Dad’ for him.”
Calleigh quickly came back from her own thoughts. “He used to have someone like that, Stevie.”
“Somebody like who, Beautiful?” Horatio had just heard the last of her comment, as he came out of the bathroom, the consummate professional everyone knew him to be.
“Like Al, Handsome. Stevie was just saying that he wished he had somebody that could be a ‘Dad’ for you.”
Horatio put his bathroom things away, into his duffle bag, then came over to the bed. “Well, Stevie, Al was a friend of mine, who worked with me on the bomb squad. He taught me so much, about being a police officer, and about bombs, and how to take them apart, safely, and how to protect people from them, and he listened, when I told him about my Dad, and about what happened, but mostly, he taught me about the kind of man I knew I wanted to be, the kind of man I knew my Mom would be proud of. Everything I know, Al taught me.”
Stevie nodded. “It kind of sounds like it, H. You talk about Al in the past, though, is that because he’s moved away, or is it because …….?”
“Unfortunately, Stevie, Al was killed a couple of years ago, in the line of duty.”
Stevie shook his head, ruefully. “I’m sorry he died, H. You did have him though, for a short while, to show you the right way to do things, instead of the bad, like what your Dad tried to do.” He gave Horatio the ‘come here’ sign. The instant the red head was close enough, Stevie wrapped him up in a hug. He squeezed tightly for a minute or two, then he released the red head. He looked up at Horatio and softly told the man. “I know that it was really hard for you to tell me about what happened to you, and Ray, and your Mom, but thank you for telling me. I promise to not ever tell anybody.”
Horatio blinked back the mistiness in his eyes, as he returned Stevie’s hug. “I know that, partner, and I appreciate it. Thank you.”
Stevie released the hug after a minute. “You’d better be getting yourselves out of here. Dr Alexx is going to think I kidnapped you.”
Horatio chuckled, as he nodded. “We’re going, Stevie.” He and Calleigh moved to grab his duffle bag, and his suit carrier. At the door, Horatio turned back to look at Jessica. “We’ll be back later to pick you up, Jessica, if that’s ok with you?”
Jessica nodded. “That’s fine, Horatio. Thank you. We’ll see you later.”
Horatio and Calleigh nodded, as they left the room, and went down the hall, to the elevator.
In the meantime, Alexx, Ryan, and Eric were taking the other Hummer to the scene. Eric was driving, and Alexx was sitting in the rear passenger seat, behind Ryan.
Alexx quietly observed the two younger men, both of whom were thinking over the red head’s revelation.
Eric maneuvered the large vehicle out of the parking lot, out onto the city streets. “Alexx, did you know anything about this before hand?”
“Yes, I did, Eric.”
“Why didn’t you say anything, Alexx?”
“Ryan, Honey, I couldn’t. He had told me in the strictest confidence. I couldn’t betray that trust. If it became common knowledge, it would undermine his position in the police department. People could begin to doubt his motives, and his motivations for doing certain things. His reputation, and his work would be ruined.”
“Speaking of which….“ Eric had stopped at a red light. He turned in his seat and wagged his finger at the younger man. “If you so much as breathe a word of this to that ‘woman’, Erica Sikes, I will be all over you like bees on honey. She will ruin his career……”
Ryan put his hand up. “Even I know that much, Eric. Don’t worry, I’ve learned my lesson with her. I won’t say word one to her about this, or anything else.”
“You had better not, if you know what’s good for you.” Eric growled, then turned back, and continued their drive to the scene. “If he’s just telling us now, when did you find out, Alexx?”
Alexx chuckled. “The full story, actually, about two years into our relationship. Now, mind you, he didn’t have as much control over his emotions then, as he does now. Anyway, he came in looking like death warmed over one morning, and he was snappy and irritable with everyone, including me, so I called him on it. At first he kept trying to give me that ‘I’m fine’ business, like he does now, but I threatened to sit on him if he didn’t tell me the truth.”
Eric and Ryan both laughed, being able to picture that scene in their minds.
Alexx smiled at the memory. “He asked if I had been taking lessons on how to deal with temperamental supervisors from Doctor McCoy……”
“That’s when you found out about his love of all things Star Trek?” Ryan asked.
Alexx nodded. “I did. I almost laughed at him. I mean, can you imagine Horatio Caine being a Trek fan?”
“Actually, I think I can.” Ryan admitted.
Eric shook his head “I don’t have a problem with imagining it.”
Alexx laughed. “Of course you two would. Anyway I told him not to change the subject. I also repeated that if he didn’t tell me what was wrong, that I’d sit on him.” She chuckled at the memory. “He almost laughed his way past it, but I still managed to get him to tell me. He was over two years past their deaths at this point, and he still had a really hard time even telling me. He was in tears at the end of the tale, but he told it. That certainly wasn’t the only time he’s ever shocked me speechless, but it was the first time. Even then I knew he was someone who was very special, who was destined to do something equally special, and he’s never disappointed me. I told him then that what he had told me didn’t change what I thought about him or his place in my life, or the lives of my family.”
As he pulled up to the scene, Eric asked. “Alexx, I know that we got an edited version of the story this morning because of Stevie, but is the ‘adult’ version of the story that much worse?”
She nodded as she opened the door. “Yes, Honey, it is.”
Ryan’s eyes went wide. “How much worse, Alexx?”
She quickly shook her head. “That’s not my story to tell, boys. You know that.
Please be patient. He’ll tell you when he’s ready, and when he can.”
Both of the younger men nodded.
“Don’t worry, Alexx. When he’s ready to tell us, we’ll be ready to listen.” Ryan told her.
“Yeah.” Eric agreed. “In the meantime, we’ve got a job that he’s taught us how to do. Let’s get a move on.”
Neither Eric or Ryan saw the smile on Alexx’s face, as she realized that Horatio’s secret was safe with these equally exceptional young people. She moved off to get started on the scene.
A little while later, Horatio and Calleigh caught up with them, and wordlessly helped to process the scene. Alexx looked up at the red head’s approach, and winked at him with a short nod.
Horatio nodded in turn, but kept it to business as usual, as they processed the scene.
********************
Please let me know what you think.
Your friend
Oracle
Part of Stevie's view point does stem from the fact that his life has been altered so dramatically.
The other part is that I've always felt as if I've been from another planet (LOL), and unfortunately, I've written Stevie that way too. My parents always incouraged me to look things up in dictionaries, and encyclopedias, and on the internet, when they came into being, so I've always been what other people called a 'thinker', so to a degree, I've written Stevie that way too.
Anyway, this is the start of the 'fallout' from Horatio's revelation, as it will stem over several chapters. The team will get more of the story than Stevie got, and Frank will be brought up to the same page every one else is on.
Anyway, please enjoy. Here we go.
****************
Chapter 95
The team sat in the cafeteria, with Stevie and Jessica, enjoying their break. Suddenly Calleigh’s phone began to ring. The team traded looks as she answered it.
“Duquesne.”
It was Oscar on the other end. “Calleigh, are you still with Horatio?”
“Of course. Hold on for a second.” She held her phone out to him. “It’s Oscar. He’s asked to talk to you.“
Horatio took the phone, with a grin. “Ok, Beautiful. Thanks.“ He put the phone to his ear. “Horatio.”
“I‘m sorry to bother you, Horatio, but, we have a scene and we need all hands on deck.” Oscar told the man.
“It’s not a problem, Oscar. What’s the scene?”
“We have a drive by at a movie theatre in Hialeah. Multiple injured, multiple dead, and multiple bullets and casings. Like I said, all hands on deck.”
Horatio chuckled. “It certainly sounds that way, Oscar. Have an M.E. van meet Alexx at the scene. I’m sending her, Eric and Ryan now. Calleigh and I will be along momentarily.“ He got the address from Oscar, then hung up, and passed the phone back to Calleigh. “Stevie, I’m sorry to have to cut this short, but we’ve got to go.“
The youngster nodded. “I gathered, H. You guys can take your smoothies to go, and Mom and I can take ours upstairs with us.” Stevie pushed himself away from the table. “Come on, let’s go.”
They made it upstairs in record time.
As Horatio put Stevie in bed. He told the others. “Eric, you, Ryan, and Alexx go ahead and head on over to the scene. They need you as soon as possible. According to Oscar, there is a lot of ballistic evidence as well. Catalog it, and Calleigh and I will meet you there shortly, ok?“
Eric nodded. “It’s not a problem, H. We’ve got it covered.”
Horatio grinned, and looked down at his hands for just a moment, then tilted his head to look over at Eric. “Of that, gentlemen, I have no doubt.”
Stevie chuckled. “Thanks a lot for all your help with my lesson today, gang. I do really appreciate it.”
“You did great today, Stevie. We’re very proud of you.” Eric told him.
“Yeah.” Ryan agreed. “We’ll see you tomorrow, Stevie.”
Alexx stopped in front of the youngster. “Do I need to get you a pain killer, Stevie?”
Stevie shook his head. “Nope. I’m fine, Dr Alexx, but thanks, anyway.”
She nodded. “Ok.” She looked over at Horatio. “We’ll see you two at the scene.”
That shy grin made a quick appearance. “Yes, Ma’am. We’ll catch up with you there.”
Alexx, Eric, and Ryan left the room, and made their way to the elevator.
Back in Stevie’s room, Horatio asked the youngster. “Do you mind if I get a quick shower, Stevie?”
The boy shook his head. “I’m not sure if you’ve got the time, H. I suppose, thought that you’d better make the time. Dr Alexx will get really mad if you show up still in your swim trunks and your t-shirt is still wet.” Stevie’s eyes suddenly twinkled. “Besides all of which, you wouldn’t be very intimidating, looking like a drowned rat.”
Even Horatio laughed at the picture that thought brought up. “No, I wouldn’t, would I?” He grabbed a towel, a washcloth, and his shower items out of his duffle bag. As he put his hand on the knob of the bathroom door, he also said. “I’ll be right back.”
The instant the door was closed, Stevie made the ‘come here’ sign. “Come here, Aunt Calleigh.”
Calleigh stepped up to the side of the bed. “What‘s up, kiddo?”
“Please tell Dr Alexx I said thanks for agreeing to be his adopted Mom, for me, please?”
Calleigh smiled gently at the youngster, as she nodded. “I’ll tell her, Stevie, but you know what he needs most, is friends like you.”
Stevie’s grin reminded her so much of Horatio’s, that shy one, when he looked down. The real one, the one that showed how much pleasure he got from doing things for those around him that were his family, and not just his friends.
“That’s what Dr Alexx said too, Aunt Calleigh, but a guy’s never too old to have a Mom. I just wish we had someone who could be a ‘Dad’ for him.”
Calleigh quickly came back from her own thoughts. “He used to have someone like that, Stevie.”
“Somebody like who, Beautiful?” Horatio had just heard the last of her comment, as he came out of the bathroom, the consummate professional everyone knew him to be.
“Like Al, Handsome. Stevie was just saying that he wished he had somebody that could be a ‘Dad’ for you.”
Horatio put his bathroom things away, into his duffle bag, then came over to the bed. “Well, Stevie, Al was a friend of mine, who worked with me on the bomb squad. He taught me so much, about being a police officer, and about bombs, and how to take them apart, safely, and how to protect people from them, and he listened, when I told him about my Dad, and about what happened, but mostly, he taught me about the kind of man I knew I wanted to be, the kind of man I knew my Mom would be proud of. Everything I know, Al taught me.”
Stevie nodded. “It kind of sounds like it, H. You talk about Al in the past, though, is that because he’s moved away, or is it because …….?”
“Unfortunately, Stevie, Al was killed a couple of years ago, in the line of duty.”
Stevie shook his head, ruefully. “I’m sorry he died, H. You did have him though, for a short while, to show you the right way to do things, instead of the bad, like what your Dad tried to do.” He gave Horatio the ‘come here’ sign. The instant the red head was close enough, Stevie wrapped him up in a hug. He squeezed tightly for a minute or two, then he released the red head. He looked up at Horatio and softly told the man. “I know that it was really hard for you to tell me about what happened to you, and Ray, and your Mom, but thank you for telling me. I promise to not ever tell anybody.”
Horatio blinked back the mistiness in his eyes, as he returned Stevie’s hug. “I know that, partner, and I appreciate it. Thank you.”
Stevie released the hug after a minute. “You’d better be getting yourselves out of here. Dr Alexx is going to think I kidnapped you.”
Horatio chuckled, as he nodded. “We’re going, Stevie.” He and Calleigh moved to grab his duffle bag, and his suit carrier. At the door, Horatio turned back to look at Jessica. “We’ll be back later to pick you up, Jessica, if that’s ok with you?”
Jessica nodded. “That’s fine, Horatio. Thank you. We’ll see you later.”
Horatio and Calleigh nodded, as they left the room, and went down the hall, to the elevator.
In the meantime, Alexx, Ryan, and Eric were taking the other Hummer to the scene. Eric was driving, and Alexx was sitting in the rear passenger seat, behind Ryan.
Alexx quietly observed the two younger men, both of whom were thinking over the red head’s revelation.
Eric maneuvered the large vehicle out of the parking lot, out onto the city streets. “Alexx, did you know anything about this before hand?”
“Yes, I did, Eric.”
“Why didn’t you say anything, Alexx?”
“Ryan, Honey, I couldn’t. He had told me in the strictest confidence. I couldn’t betray that trust. If it became common knowledge, it would undermine his position in the police department. People could begin to doubt his motives, and his motivations for doing certain things. His reputation, and his work would be ruined.”
“Speaking of which….“ Eric had stopped at a red light. He turned in his seat and wagged his finger at the younger man. “If you so much as breathe a word of this to that ‘woman’, Erica Sikes, I will be all over you like bees on honey. She will ruin his career……”
Ryan put his hand up. “Even I know that much, Eric. Don’t worry, I’ve learned my lesson with her. I won’t say word one to her about this, or anything else.”
“You had better not, if you know what’s good for you.” Eric growled, then turned back, and continued their drive to the scene. “If he’s just telling us now, when did you find out, Alexx?”
Alexx chuckled. “The full story, actually, about two years into our relationship. Now, mind you, he didn’t have as much control over his emotions then, as he does now. Anyway, he came in looking like death warmed over one morning, and he was snappy and irritable with everyone, including me, so I called him on it. At first he kept trying to give me that ‘I’m fine’ business, like he does now, but I threatened to sit on him if he didn’t tell me the truth.”
Eric and Ryan both laughed, being able to picture that scene in their minds.
Alexx smiled at the memory. “He asked if I had been taking lessons on how to deal with temperamental supervisors from Doctor McCoy……”
“That’s when you found out about his love of all things Star Trek?” Ryan asked.
Alexx nodded. “I did. I almost laughed at him. I mean, can you imagine Horatio Caine being a Trek fan?”
“Actually, I think I can.” Ryan admitted.
Eric shook his head “I don’t have a problem with imagining it.”
Alexx laughed. “Of course you two would. Anyway I told him not to change the subject. I also repeated that if he didn’t tell me what was wrong, that I’d sit on him.” She chuckled at the memory. “He almost laughed his way past it, but I still managed to get him to tell me. He was over two years past their deaths at this point, and he still had a really hard time even telling me. He was in tears at the end of the tale, but he told it. That certainly wasn’t the only time he’s ever shocked me speechless, but it was the first time. Even then I knew he was someone who was very special, who was destined to do something equally special, and he’s never disappointed me. I told him then that what he had told me didn’t change what I thought about him or his place in my life, or the lives of my family.”
As he pulled up to the scene, Eric asked. “Alexx, I know that we got an edited version of the story this morning because of Stevie, but is the ‘adult’ version of the story that much worse?”
She nodded as she opened the door. “Yes, Honey, it is.”
Ryan’s eyes went wide. “How much worse, Alexx?”
She quickly shook her head. “That’s not my story to tell, boys. You know that.
Please be patient. He’ll tell you when he’s ready, and when he can.”
Both of the younger men nodded.
“Don’t worry, Alexx. When he’s ready to tell us, we’ll be ready to listen.” Ryan told her.
“Yeah.” Eric agreed. “In the meantime, we’ve got a job that he’s taught us how to do. Let’s get a move on.”
Neither Eric or Ryan saw the smile on Alexx’s face, as she realized that Horatio’s secret was safe with these equally exceptional young people. She moved off to get started on the scene.
A little while later, Horatio and Calleigh caught up with them, and wordlessly helped to process the scene. Alexx looked up at the red head’s approach, and winked at him with a short nod.
Horatio nodded in turn, but kept it to business as usual, as they processed the scene.
********************
Please let me know what you think.
Your friend
Oracle