No Other One, Chapter 49
Title: No Other One, Chapter 49
Author: Duckie Nicks
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Yelina Salas, Horatio Caine, the whole Caine family
Author's Note: WARNING: SPOILER FOR SEASON 6.
Summary: Almost two decades ago, Horatio made a decision that would change his family forever. Will they ever forgive him? Will he ever tell Yelina how he feels? This is an alternative to the beginning of season 6. A Horatio and Kyle story; H/Y romance in the future.
Previous Chapters: Prologue, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13, Chapter 14, Chapter 15, Chapter 16, Chapter 17, Chapter 18, Chapter 19, Chapter 20, Chapter 21, Chapter 22, Chapter 23, Chapter 24, Chapter 25, Chapter 26, Chapter 27, Chapter 28, Chapter 29, Chapter 30, Chapter 31, Chapter 32, Chapter 33, Chapter 34, Chapter 35, Chapter 36, Chapter 37, Chapter 38, Chapter 39, Chapter 40, Chapter 41, Chapter 42, Chapter 43, Chapter 44, Chapter 45, Chapter 46, Chapter 47, and Chapter 48.
Disclaimer: I don't own the show.
“Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way.” - Al Franken
By anyone’s standards, this was a bizarre sight.
The normally bland break room had been decorated for her return, immediately bringing a smile to Yelina’s face. Bright yellow police tape dangled from the thrumming fluorescent light fixtures. Evidence seals had been arranged on a large banner to say, “Welcome Back, Yelina!” And perhaps playing the role of stripper jumping out of the cake was, ironically, Frank.
A bowtie also made of police tape around his neck, he had a Boston Cream donut in his hand. Tiny yellow and orange candles poking holes in the chocolate-frosted top, Yelina couldn’t help but think once more that this was bizarre - and absolutely perfect.
His meaty arms throwing themselves around her, Frank said in his gruff tones, “Hey, Mama, how you been?”
In that moment, Yelina hugged him fiercely. His thick gut pressed against her, it surprised her how much she had missed him. In all the time they’d worked together, they’d rarely worked together. Their cases had generally diverged, just as their interests and hobbies outside of work had.
But at the same time, he was hardly inconsequential to her. Constantly dotting her Miami landscape, Frank had represented a quintessential part of America that she loved; he was rough and hard, deadpan and straight to the point. More a brother than a friend, he’d always been protective of her, in a way that was so unassuming - unlike the way her brother-in-law seemed to call attention to himself in those times.
“Frank,” Yelina said happily, sweetly.
Handing over the donut, he told her, “We woulda lit the candles, but IAB Pansy Ass was afraid we’d start a fire.” Said loudly enough so that Stetler, who was standing in the corner, could hear, the words forced an honest, wide smile on her face.
“Probably,” Ryan interrupted, looking older and more tired than she remembered him being. “Because he was afraid we’d ‘accidentally’ set him on fire,” he joked.
Of course, there was something in the young CSI’s voice that made her think he wasn’t kidding. And as Yelina and Ryan kissed one another on the cheek, she wondered what exactly he meant.
That Stetler really was worried about being hurt?
That there were people in this room where contemplating, half-heartedly, such an act?
Of course, given the well-known tension between IAB and everyone else, Yelina didn’t doubt that both might have happened.
Pushing the thought aside, she focused on the steady trail of well-wishers. A seemingly never-ending parade of “Welcome back” and “Good to see you” bombarded her. Hugs and the occasional kiss, one right after the other, left her feeling completely overwhelmed. Because at some point, the people she was talking to ceased to be memorable individuals and had congealed into one giant conversation of endless small talk.
Handfuls of unfamiliar faces talking to her, it was rare after Frank and Ryan to see someone she knew. And amidst all of it, Yelina couldn’t help but notice who was not there.
Horatio.
Of course, it was impossible to miss that fact, seeing as how people kept bringing it to her attention. The first had been Alexx who casually, regrettably, mentioned that she couldn’t stay long; Horatio would need the autopsy reports. And from there, it had gotten worse.
Lab techs she hardly knew - and some she clearly had never met - had said the same thing. Told her they were sorry, but that they had to leave, as though she had demanded they be front and center for her return.
The whole thing leaving a bitter taste in her mouth and a sour expression on her face, it was no surprise that things reached a head when Calleigh approached her.
The blond, giving her a loose hug devoid of any real friendship, explained, “You know, I’m sure he’d be here if he hadn’t been called out.”
She hadn’t mentioned his name, Yelina would realize later. But there was no need to; who else would she have been talking about? “Horatio doesn’t need you to protect him, Calleigh,” Yelina told her simply.
As soon as the words had been said, she realized that they weren’t the nicest. Because, even though there’d been a friendliness to it - a light quality in it - the brunette was sure it sounded colder than she had intended.
But the truth was that everyone’s presumption that she cared irritated her. Not only was it silly to assume that it was Horatio’s norm to be around, but also… everyone else’s concern for her relationship with Horatio was only going to make things worse. Odd as it was, Yelina knew that that was the case.
For herself, she had never cared for the way her relationship (such as it was) with Horatio had become a centerpiece in the office gossip. Whatever her feelings for him were, and vice versa, it was -should have been - a private matter. And though Calleigh was no doubt trying to help, in reality, she was doing the opposite.
Because Yelina understood her brother-in-law was… terrified of how a relationship with her would look. The juiciness of an inner-office romance aside, gossip lovers would relish the fact that she had been married to Horatio’s brother. Which only made a potential relationship with her seem like a tawdry romance novel and absolutely wrong.
Those things working against them, it seemed impossible that anything between the two could happen. Especially when they both worked so hard to do the right thing, it was unlikely they’d be able to ignore those facts.
Not that it really mattered anymore, Yelina thought grimly. For all his trying to do the right thing, Horatio had screwed up - in every way. And if she had done any better than he had in this area, it could only be by a very, very small measure. So miniscule in fact that she couldn’t help but wonder where they’d both went wrong.
Having had tumultuous childhoods, they’d both aspired for more, for a relationship with someone who… wouldn’t make things overly complicated and hostile. Which was something Horatio had had - or could have had - with Marisol Delko, but… Yelina had already lost all hope for herself to ever have that.
How could she when she never fell in love with the right man? How could that ever happen when all the men interested in her showed no regard for what she wanted or needed?
No, thanks to her husband, Rick… herself, that dream had been shattered.
In that moment, Calleigh smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to -”
“It’s all right,” Yelina told her, waving her off.
“No, you’re right,” the other woman interrupted quickly. “I shouldn’t have stuck my nose in your business.”
Shaking her head, quickly, Yelina explained, “It’s not that.”
Which wasn’t exactly true, she realized. Calleigh being officious probably did play a part in how she was feeling. But there was more to it than that. And biting down on her lip, the brunette tried to find the words she wanted to say.
In the end, did she truly care about Calleigh meddling?
Almost immediately, Yelina decided she did - if only because she deserved to hear the truth from Horatio herself.
But like a domino effect, the answer to that question only served to bring up another.
Did she really want to know what Horatio’s truth was? At this point, after everything he had done to their family, did she even care enough about him to care about the answer?
No.
Instantly coming to her, the resounding, surprising NO echoed in her mind.
As much as she cared for him - or had cared for him, he had hurt her. And she’d had enough.
Or maybe that wasn’t exactly true. Because Yelina was sure if she looked deeply enough, she would find the strength and desire to keep fighting for this.
But rationally, Yelina believed this should be her limit - no, knew it should be. In the past, she had continued to go beyond this point. With her husband and Stetler, she’d always kept going, never accepting defeat. She’d known that they’d hurt her, but she had kept working on the relationship, convinced that she could make it work.
And it had never worked.
And now… Yelina couldn’t see the point in trying to do the same with Horatio.
What had pushing through ever gotten her except more pain?
Oh, maybe abandonment, tears, and a son so screwed up and miserable that, if she weren’t careful, would explode.
But nothing good came from it.
In the past, Yelina had ignored that fact and had insisted on seeing a silver lining when there obviously hadn’t been one.
And she wasn’t going to keep looking for it now.
Taking a deep breath, she explained to Calleigh, “I just think… for now, things are best left as they are.” Her voice terse, she left no room for discussion.
Conversation no longer an option, Calleigh nodded her head and left.
Soon afterwards, the crowd began to disperse. If it was because the shock of her return had worn off or everyone remembered they had jobs, she didn’t know. But slowly, one by one, they all left until the break room was empty, save for her, Stetler, and Delko.
Trying to avoid the inevitable baggage that would come along with Rick, Yelina approached the younger man instead.
Closer to him now, she could see that like Ryan, Eric had lost that little bit of youth and innocence he’d had let. And where as the former had softened, gained some weight and wisdom, the man before her just seemed… rougher. Sadder. The lines of his body more prominent and harsh, he hadn’t looked this way since Speed died.
“Hey, Detective Salas,” he said, the warmth in his voice not quite extending to his eyes. “Nice to see you back.”
A smile on her lips, she told him, “Thank you.”
The conversation was essentially over; she knew that much from past experience with him. They never said much to one another, always kept it professional. Completely unlike how things were with Frank, Yelina had worked with Eric numerous times, and they’d never really quite gotten passed that.
Which wasn’t to say that she didn’t like Eric or he her, because they got on well enough. Just… when they weren’t working, he seemed to always have his eye on some girl while she was trying to raise a son. And those two things didn’t mesh well together, so they’d never really bothered to bridge that gap.
But in an instant, it seemed, that changed.
“So I guess it’s true then,” Eric said sadly.
Confused, she raised her eyebrows sympathetically. “What’s true?”
The younger man nodded his head towards nothing, making her even more perplexed. “Wolfe was talking earlier about Horatio and this kid they’d taken into custody last week.”
Dread and anger filling her like torrential rain in a tiny paper cup, she could only look away. Her darkened eyes determined to focus on absolutely nothing, she murmured, “Yeah.”
“They’re father and son,” he said, disdain lacing every tone.
“Yes” was her tentative response, practically whispered in her hesitancy to admit it to someone else.
But now that the word had been uttered, the air around them seemed to congeal and thicken. Almost impossible to breathe, it made Yelina feel as though she were being suffocated. Which made the need to escape high, especially since Stetler seemed to be lingering about.
Eric swallowed hard, and as though feeling the same way she did, he suddenly asked, “Fresh air?”
In truth, Yelina wanted to get to work, to avoid this conversation all together. But at the same time, she found herself nodding her head in agreement. Somehow, for whatever reason, she couldn’t deny him. Not when his brown eyes were filled with betrayal and sadness and a certain amount of need.
Following him, she ended up out on the building’s fire escape. The series of cement of wrought iron steps, landings, and railings was so unlike the rest of the CSI lab. Outdated, rarely trafficked, it had a charm that none of the bright lights and modern equipment in the remaining areas of the building did.
Seated on one of the landings, they had a perfect view of the parking lot. And it didn’t escape her that among the vehicles missing was Horatio’s Hummer. Not that she’d been expecting any differently, but… it did make her wonder if Eric noticed this as well.
But instead of asking, she gingerly plucked one of the candles out of the donut Frank had given her. Tasting the chocolate frosting for the first time, she was licking the wax when Delko asked, “Did you know Horatio had a son? I mean… before this week?”
There was no accusation in his tone, a simple question uttered in curiosity. But it made her ill at ease anyway. “No,” she answered bitterly.
“He told you himself, though, right?” Anger and resentment audible in every word, Delko obviously felt slighted. And there was no doubt in Yelina’s mind that if Horatio had told her the truth, the man before her would have gotten up and left as soon as she admitted it.
However…
That hadn’t happened.
“I suspected something was different with this case,” Yelina admitted, recalling quite clearly how she’d asked Horatio what was so important about Kyle. “He lied,” she added angrily. “Rebecca Nevins told me. And…”
Her voice trailed off. The truth she was feeling bubble up inside of her was one she wasn’t sure she wanted to say aloud. It was painful, almost too much so, but for the life of her, it was one she couldn’t deny. “I don’t think he would have told me if she hadn’t.”
It was hard to believe it, given how close their family had been at one point. But in her mind, with the way things were now, she could see Horatio denying it for as long as he could.
For forever if he could get away with it.
As secretive as he was, her brother in law could have so easily taken custody and kept her at arm’s length until the boy was old enough to be shipped off to college or prison. To the uninitiated, it might sound unlikely, but she knew differently.
After all, he had lied about Suzy and Madison.
He’d lied about Bob Keaton being released from prison and the possibility of her husband being alive.
And if something had happened to Raymond on the day he re-entered their lives, Horatio would have no doubt lied and denied the whole thing then too.
He would have let her live the rest of her life in ignorance.
It had taken so long to see that truth, but she could no longer deny the pattern here; no matter how much she had a right to know something, Horatio… would lie if he deemed her to be too fragile for the truth. Which only ever made things worse and harder to handle, not that he would ever admit to it.
Breaking through her thoughts, Eric asked suddenly, “How long do you think he’s known?”
She looked down at the donut in her hands. Taking a bite of it as she tried to count the number of days, she realized she didn’t know off of the top of her head. Even though it had probably only been a week, it seemed so long ago.
It seemed like a lifetime had passed.
Offering the donut up to her companion, she answered with a shrug. “Not long.”
After a second of gazing at the chocolate-glazed donut, he tore off a hunk. Turning it slowly in his fingers, Eric asked carefully, “When he was married to Marisol?” His eyes slid over to hers. “He know then?”
It hit her then that the man next to her also had Horatio as a brother-in-law. That fact washing over her, she felt something approaching an affinity growing inside of her, and she turned her body towards him to get a better look.
He was distressed, visibly so.
But not at what Horatio had done to him.
Eric was upset at what Horatio might have to Marisol.
The act of brotherly love struck her as sweet, even as it sent a pang of hurt through her. Because frankly, the reminder of Marisol’s existence wasn’t an entirely welcome one, childish as that might be.
But pushing that thought aside, Yelina told him, “I… don’t think so.”
“That’s not a no,” Eric pointed out immediately.
“No, it’s not,” she conceded grimly. “I would like to believe he didn’t - that… to some extent, I do know him.” She shrugged, even as she struggled to find the right words. “But at this point, I have come to expect the worst.”
And yet, when her beeper went off at that second, she hadn’t been expecting the worst, she would later think.
Yanking the pager out of its holder, Yelina casually glanced down at the number. Her eyes turning dark as she read through it, she realized that it was her son’s school.
Which couldn’t be good.
Worry and fear clutched at her, grasped all sense of propriety and ripped it from her, as she read the last three numbers, “911.”
Something was wrong.
Scrambling to her feet, she muttered to Eric, “I have to go.” There was no second thought, no waiting for him to reply. All she could do was get to her car as fast as her heels would allow her.
Go to the next chapter
Author: Duckie Nicks
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Yelina Salas, Horatio Caine, the whole Caine family
Author's Note: WARNING: SPOILER FOR SEASON 6.
Summary: Almost two decades ago, Horatio made a decision that would change his family forever. Will they ever forgive him? Will he ever tell Yelina how he feels? This is an alternative to the beginning of season 6. A Horatio and Kyle story; H/Y romance in the future.
Previous Chapters: Prologue, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13, Chapter 14, Chapter 15, Chapter 16, Chapter 17, Chapter 18, Chapter 19, Chapter 20, Chapter 21, Chapter 22, Chapter 23, Chapter 24, Chapter 25, Chapter 26, Chapter 27, Chapter 28, Chapter 29, Chapter 30, Chapter 31, Chapter 32, Chapter 33, Chapter 34, Chapter 35, Chapter 36, Chapter 37, Chapter 38, Chapter 39, Chapter 40, Chapter 41, Chapter 42, Chapter 43, Chapter 44, Chapter 45, Chapter 46, Chapter 47, and Chapter 48.
Disclaimer: I don't own the show.
“Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way.” - Al Franken
By anyone’s standards, this was a bizarre sight.
The normally bland break room had been decorated for her return, immediately bringing a smile to Yelina’s face. Bright yellow police tape dangled from the thrumming fluorescent light fixtures. Evidence seals had been arranged on a large banner to say, “Welcome Back, Yelina!” And perhaps playing the role of stripper jumping out of the cake was, ironically, Frank.
A bowtie also made of police tape around his neck, he had a Boston Cream donut in his hand. Tiny yellow and orange candles poking holes in the chocolate-frosted top, Yelina couldn’t help but think once more that this was bizarre - and absolutely perfect.
His meaty arms throwing themselves around her, Frank said in his gruff tones, “Hey, Mama, how you been?”
In that moment, Yelina hugged him fiercely. His thick gut pressed against her, it surprised her how much she had missed him. In all the time they’d worked together, they’d rarely worked together. Their cases had generally diverged, just as their interests and hobbies outside of work had.
But at the same time, he was hardly inconsequential to her. Constantly dotting her Miami landscape, Frank had represented a quintessential part of America that she loved; he was rough and hard, deadpan and straight to the point. More a brother than a friend, he’d always been protective of her, in a way that was so unassuming - unlike the way her brother-in-law seemed to call attention to himself in those times.
“Frank,” Yelina said happily, sweetly.
Handing over the donut, he told her, “We woulda lit the candles, but IAB Pansy Ass was afraid we’d start a fire.” Said loudly enough so that Stetler, who was standing in the corner, could hear, the words forced an honest, wide smile on her face.
“Probably,” Ryan interrupted, looking older and more tired than she remembered him being. “Because he was afraid we’d ‘accidentally’ set him on fire,” he joked.
Of course, there was something in the young CSI’s voice that made her think he wasn’t kidding. And as Yelina and Ryan kissed one another on the cheek, she wondered what exactly he meant.
That Stetler really was worried about being hurt?
That there were people in this room where contemplating, half-heartedly, such an act?
Of course, given the well-known tension between IAB and everyone else, Yelina didn’t doubt that both might have happened.
Pushing the thought aside, she focused on the steady trail of well-wishers. A seemingly never-ending parade of “Welcome back” and “Good to see you” bombarded her. Hugs and the occasional kiss, one right after the other, left her feeling completely overwhelmed. Because at some point, the people she was talking to ceased to be memorable individuals and had congealed into one giant conversation of endless small talk.
Handfuls of unfamiliar faces talking to her, it was rare after Frank and Ryan to see someone she knew. And amidst all of it, Yelina couldn’t help but notice who was not there.
Horatio.
Of course, it was impossible to miss that fact, seeing as how people kept bringing it to her attention. The first had been Alexx who casually, regrettably, mentioned that she couldn’t stay long; Horatio would need the autopsy reports. And from there, it had gotten worse.
Lab techs she hardly knew - and some she clearly had never met - had said the same thing. Told her they were sorry, but that they had to leave, as though she had demanded they be front and center for her return.
The whole thing leaving a bitter taste in her mouth and a sour expression on her face, it was no surprise that things reached a head when Calleigh approached her.
The blond, giving her a loose hug devoid of any real friendship, explained, “You know, I’m sure he’d be here if he hadn’t been called out.”
She hadn’t mentioned his name, Yelina would realize later. But there was no need to; who else would she have been talking about? “Horatio doesn’t need you to protect him, Calleigh,” Yelina told her simply.
As soon as the words had been said, she realized that they weren’t the nicest. Because, even though there’d been a friendliness to it - a light quality in it - the brunette was sure it sounded colder than she had intended.
But the truth was that everyone’s presumption that she cared irritated her. Not only was it silly to assume that it was Horatio’s norm to be around, but also… everyone else’s concern for her relationship with Horatio was only going to make things worse. Odd as it was, Yelina knew that that was the case.
For herself, she had never cared for the way her relationship (such as it was) with Horatio had become a centerpiece in the office gossip. Whatever her feelings for him were, and vice versa, it was -should have been - a private matter. And though Calleigh was no doubt trying to help, in reality, she was doing the opposite.
Because Yelina understood her brother-in-law was… terrified of how a relationship with her would look. The juiciness of an inner-office romance aside, gossip lovers would relish the fact that she had been married to Horatio’s brother. Which only made a potential relationship with her seem like a tawdry romance novel and absolutely wrong.
Those things working against them, it seemed impossible that anything between the two could happen. Especially when they both worked so hard to do the right thing, it was unlikely they’d be able to ignore those facts.
Not that it really mattered anymore, Yelina thought grimly. For all his trying to do the right thing, Horatio had screwed up - in every way. And if she had done any better than he had in this area, it could only be by a very, very small measure. So miniscule in fact that she couldn’t help but wonder where they’d both went wrong.
Having had tumultuous childhoods, they’d both aspired for more, for a relationship with someone who… wouldn’t make things overly complicated and hostile. Which was something Horatio had had - or could have had - with Marisol Delko, but… Yelina had already lost all hope for herself to ever have that.
How could she when she never fell in love with the right man? How could that ever happen when all the men interested in her showed no regard for what she wanted or needed?
No, thanks to her husband, Rick… herself, that dream had been shattered.
In that moment, Calleigh smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to -”
“It’s all right,” Yelina told her, waving her off.
“No, you’re right,” the other woman interrupted quickly. “I shouldn’t have stuck my nose in your business.”
Shaking her head, quickly, Yelina explained, “It’s not that.”
Which wasn’t exactly true, she realized. Calleigh being officious probably did play a part in how she was feeling. But there was more to it than that. And biting down on her lip, the brunette tried to find the words she wanted to say.
In the end, did she truly care about Calleigh meddling?
Almost immediately, Yelina decided she did - if only because she deserved to hear the truth from Horatio herself.
But like a domino effect, the answer to that question only served to bring up another.
Did she really want to know what Horatio’s truth was? At this point, after everything he had done to their family, did she even care enough about him to care about the answer?
No.
Instantly coming to her, the resounding, surprising NO echoed in her mind.
As much as she cared for him - or had cared for him, he had hurt her. And she’d had enough.
Or maybe that wasn’t exactly true. Because Yelina was sure if she looked deeply enough, she would find the strength and desire to keep fighting for this.
But rationally, Yelina believed this should be her limit - no, knew it should be. In the past, she had continued to go beyond this point. With her husband and Stetler, she’d always kept going, never accepting defeat. She’d known that they’d hurt her, but she had kept working on the relationship, convinced that she could make it work.
And it had never worked.
And now… Yelina couldn’t see the point in trying to do the same with Horatio.
What had pushing through ever gotten her except more pain?
Oh, maybe abandonment, tears, and a son so screwed up and miserable that, if she weren’t careful, would explode.
But nothing good came from it.
In the past, Yelina had ignored that fact and had insisted on seeing a silver lining when there obviously hadn’t been one.
And she wasn’t going to keep looking for it now.
Taking a deep breath, she explained to Calleigh, “I just think… for now, things are best left as they are.” Her voice terse, she left no room for discussion.
Conversation no longer an option, Calleigh nodded her head and left.
Soon afterwards, the crowd began to disperse. If it was because the shock of her return had worn off or everyone remembered they had jobs, she didn’t know. But slowly, one by one, they all left until the break room was empty, save for her, Stetler, and Delko.
Trying to avoid the inevitable baggage that would come along with Rick, Yelina approached the younger man instead.
Closer to him now, she could see that like Ryan, Eric had lost that little bit of youth and innocence he’d had let. And where as the former had softened, gained some weight and wisdom, the man before her just seemed… rougher. Sadder. The lines of his body more prominent and harsh, he hadn’t looked this way since Speed died.
“Hey, Detective Salas,” he said, the warmth in his voice not quite extending to his eyes. “Nice to see you back.”
A smile on her lips, she told him, “Thank you.”
The conversation was essentially over; she knew that much from past experience with him. They never said much to one another, always kept it professional. Completely unlike how things were with Frank, Yelina had worked with Eric numerous times, and they’d never really quite gotten passed that.
Which wasn’t to say that she didn’t like Eric or he her, because they got on well enough. Just… when they weren’t working, he seemed to always have his eye on some girl while she was trying to raise a son. And those two things didn’t mesh well together, so they’d never really bothered to bridge that gap.
But in an instant, it seemed, that changed.
“So I guess it’s true then,” Eric said sadly.
Confused, she raised her eyebrows sympathetically. “What’s true?”
The younger man nodded his head towards nothing, making her even more perplexed. “Wolfe was talking earlier about Horatio and this kid they’d taken into custody last week.”
Dread and anger filling her like torrential rain in a tiny paper cup, she could only look away. Her darkened eyes determined to focus on absolutely nothing, she murmured, “Yeah.”
“They’re father and son,” he said, disdain lacing every tone.
“Yes” was her tentative response, practically whispered in her hesitancy to admit it to someone else.
But now that the word had been uttered, the air around them seemed to congeal and thicken. Almost impossible to breathe, it made Yelina feel as though she were being suffocated. Which made the need to escape high, especially since Stetler seemed to be lingering about.
Eric swallowed hard, and as though feeling the same way she did, he suddenly asked, “Fresh air?”
In truth, Yelina wanted to get to work, to avoid this conversation all together. But at the same time, she found herself nodding her head in agreement. Somehow, for whatever reason, she couldn’t deny him. Not when his brown eyes were filled with betrayal and sadness and a certain amount of need.
Following him, she ended up out on the building’s fire escape. The series of cement of wrought iron steps, landings, and railings was so unlike the rest of the CSI lab. Outdated, rarely trafficked, it had a charm that none of the bright lights and modern equipment in the remaining areas of the building did.
Seated on one of the landings, they had a perfect view of the parking lot. And it didn’t escape her that among the vehicles missing was Horatio’s Hummer. Not that she’d been expecting any differently, but… it did make her wonder if Eric noticed this as well.
But instead of asking, she gingerly plucked one of the candles out of the donut Frank had given her. Tasting the chocolate frosting for the first time, she was licking the wax when Delko asked, “Did you know Horatio had a son? I mean… before this week?”
There was no accusation in his tone, a simple question uttered in curiosity. But it made her ill at ease anyway. “No,” she answered bitterly.
“He told you himself, though, right?” Anger and resentment audible in every word, Delko obviously felt slighted. And there was no doubt in Yelina’s mind that if Horatio had told her the truth, the man before her would have gotten up and left as soon as she admitted it.
However…
That hadn’t happened.
“I suspected something was different with this case,” Yelina admitted, recalling quite clearly how she’d asked Horatio what was so important about Kyle. “He lied,” she added angrily. “Rebecca Nevins told me. And…”
Her voice trailed off. The truth she was feeling bubble up inside of her was one she wasn’t sure she wanted to say aloud. It was painful, almost too much so, but for the life of her, it was one she couldn’t deny. “I don’t think he would have told me if she hadn’t.”
It was hard to believe it, given how close their family had been at one point. But in her mind, with the way things were now, she could see Horatio denying it for as long as he could.
For forever if he could get away with it.
As secretive as he was, her brother in law could have so easily taken custody and kept her at arm’s length until the boy was old enough to be shipped off to college or prison. To the uninitiated, it might sound unlikely, but she knew differently.
After all, he had lied about Suzy and Madison.
He’d lied about Bob Keaton being released from prison and the possibility of her husband being alive.
And if something had happened to Raymond on the day he re-entered their lives, Horatio would have no doubt lied and denied the whole thing then too.
He would have let her live the rest of her life in ignorance.
It had taken so long to see that truth, but she could no longer deny the pattern here; no matter how much she had a right to know something, Horatio… would lie if he deemed her to be too fragile for the truth. Which only ever made things worse and harder to handle, not that he would ever admit to it.
Breaking through her thoughts, Eric asked suddenly, “How long do you think he’s known?”
She looked down at the donut in her hands. Taking a bite of it as she tried to count the number of days, she realized she didn’t know off of the top of her head. Even though it had probably only been a week, it seemed so long ago.
It seemed like a lifetime had passed.
Offering the donut up to her companion, she answered with a shrug. “Not long.”
After a second of gazing at the chocolate-glazed donut, he tore off a hunk. Turning it slowly in his fingers, Eric asked carefully, “When he was married to Marisol?” His eyes slid over to hers. “He know then?”
It hit her then that the man next to her also had Horatio as a brother-in-law. That fact washing over her, she felt something approaching an affinity growing inside of her, and she turned her body towards him to get a better look.
He was distressed, visibly so.
But not at what Horatio had done to him.
Eric was upset at what Horatio might have to Marisol.
The act of brotherly love struck her as sweet, even as it sent a pang of hurt through her. Because frankly, the reminder of Marisol’s existence wasn’t an entirely welcome one, childish as that might be.
But pushing that thought aside, Yelina told him, “I… don’t think so.”
“That’s not a no,” Eric pointed out immediately.
“No, it’s not,” she conceded grimly. “I would like to believe he didn’t - that… to some extent, I do know him.” She shrugged, even as she struggled to find the right words. “But at this point, I have come to expect the worst.”
And yet, when her beeper went off at that second, she hadn’t been expecting the worst, she would later think.
Yanking the pager out of its holder, Yelina casually glanced down at the number. Her eyes turning dark as she read through it, she realized that it was her son’s school.
Which couldn’t be good.
Worry and fear clutched at her, grasped all sense of propriety and ripped it from her, as she read the last three numbers, “911.”
Something was wrong.
Scrambling to her feet, she muttered to Eric, “I have to go.” There was no second thought, no waiting for him to reply. All she could do was get to her car as fast as her heels would allow her.
Go to the next chapter