Fixing Things

[Kyle Harmon]

Lips pursed and Adam's apple moving up and down his neck, Kyle stared at the entrance to the Crime Lab. What would they think of him, now, considering he was trying to change his ways, and eventually become like his father? He knew he had made a grave mistake trying to push him away in the beginning, and now, now that it might be too late--he chose to come.

What would happen, he asked himself.

How would they think of me now?

[RYAN WOLFE!™]

Obviously, thing were looking well for our favorite little hero. Ryan stretched, walking out of the lab with a grin. It was time for his break, he'd kick off his shoes, relax, and--

--Kyle?

Hazel optics widening slightly in surprise, Ryan looked towards the Lieutenant's son, unable to comprehend the reason for his coming here. The Trace expert walked towards the teen, waving to get his attention.

"Hey, uh, Kyle. What're you doing here?"

[Kyle Harmon]

Kyle felt himself jump in response, cobalt blue hues widening slightly at the sudden contact with one of Horatio's CSIs. He stared at the taller man, blinking in inquiry and coughing. "I'm looking for my dad. Is he here?" he asked, running his fingers through his cropped blond locks and stuffing one of his hands into his pockets, and looking down at his black and white Vans; his loose-fitting yellow shirt fluttering a little when the wind blew.

He swallowed.

"I-Is he?"

[RYAN WOLFE!™]

Ryan could sense the fear in Kyle's tone, the way he was speaking and the way he looked, like the innocent child he could've been--had those crimes never occurred; had he lived with Horatio rather than being transferred from foster home to foster home. He wondered how it felt, having to be moved around and never having to settle.

"Yeah. Come on. I'm Ryan Wolfe, by the way. If you didn't know that already. Just don't worry about anything. You're not going to get hurt this time," he said, taking the boy's hand and squeezing it reassuringly, before leading him in.

[Kyle Harmon]

Kyle was a little surprised. Ex-felons didn't receive any love from anyone besides their family. Except from Ryan Wolfe. He smiled just a little, feeling a little bit relieved with the way the other one was acting. He nodded at the statement, following him into the lab and looking around at all the glass walls, lights reflecting here and there and creating a kaleidoscope of color and wonder.

It was magical.

No wonder Horatio spent so much time here.

[Ashley Renolds]

Ashley was randomly walking around.. Well, pacing actually. She was still terrified about Michaelan being there, but only Ryan would be able to tell that that was what was wrong. She saw him and walked toward him.

She walked on the other side of Ryan and looked at Kyle. She had only heard of him, but she knew as soon as she saw him who he was."Hey, Ryan... Kyle," she said quietly."I'm not sure where your dad is right now," she said quietly.

[RYAN WOLFE!™]

Ryan blinked at the sight of Ashley, grinning and waving. "Hey!" he exclaimed, then noticed the sudden change in her usually happy, bubbly personality. It was definitely Michaela. Darnit; she just had to ruin everything, just when things were starting to look up. Ryan placed a hand on her shoulder, smiling reassuringly and squeezing it in reassurance.

"Don't worry, okay? We're going to win this battle," he said softly, just enough for the teenager not to hear, before looking back at Kyle's face.

".. Doesn't he remind you of H?"

[Kyle Harmon]

Kyle blinked at the woman, unable to comprehend how she knew him; because he sure as heck didn't know who in the world she was. "Hi," he said, a little shyly, unable to get used to the company of his father's team. They were all so.. professional-ish. He could never be like that: all serious, and ready for danger.

"Oh.. well, maybe I'll just wait for him.." he murmured, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly with a small, nervous sort of grin.

Then; hearing the compliment, he felt a small blush on his face.

He reminded Mr. Wolfe of Horatio?

[RYAN WOLFE!™]

"Sounds good. You could wait for him with me, if you want. I'm not very busy, actually," Ryan said, a small smile on his face as he looked towards the young boy. He seemed to be losing more and more of his stiffness, now, around him and Ashley. Perhaps Kyle simply needed more space--more time to change.

"And, maybe Ash'll even join us. Right?" he added, looking towards his cousin with a playful grin. Maybe this would get her to loosen up, as well. It would be a win-win situation!

[Kyle Harmon]

"W-With you?" Kyle blinked at that, unable to comprehend the reason anyone who knew him would choose to be kind. Besides, he was in a pretty bad state--he wasn't a perfect little angel. Quite the opposite, really. He smiled, however, and nodded. "That'd be great, Mr. Wolfe. Thank you," he said, trying to stay polite despite his excitement. Maybe he would get to make a new friend or something, a new friend ten years older than him.

That was a lot.

He then directed his gaze towards Ashley, blinking; wondering if she would be coming along. She did look pretty shaken up..

[RYAN WOLFE!™]

"You're welcome. Now, let's haul our butts over to a place we can sit," Ryan said, grinning and taking Ashley's hand as well, starting to bring them somewhere they could talk or something, while waiting for the Lieutenant's arrival. Perhaps on the bench outside Horatio's office; at least Horatio would find them the moment he gets in. That would be a good start, would it not?

He thought about it for a moment, and nodded. Yes, that was where they would go.

[Kyle Harmon]

Haul our butts? Kyle hadn't quite expected a CSI and police officer to use a term such as that, but then again, today was his day for standing corrected. He smiled, however, and nodded; following, seeing a visitor's pass getting clipped to his shirt by an officer who obviously recognized him, before seeing the lab in detail.

The lab was strange, there were all sorts of colors reflecting off the glass walls, interrogation rooms, and all sorts of things--he even saw some people working on evidence.

However, the room he was in question of, was his father's office.

[RYAN WOLFE!™]

Ryan rolled his eyes at the visitor's pass clipping. Kyle already had an all expense-paid pass, Ryan's police badge. Besides, Kyle was with him right now, which technically made him permitted to walk through the premises. However, when he reached Horatio's office, he found it empty, raising an eyebrow first; before sitting down and rubbing his infected eye. It was a nasty habit, he hadn't gotten rid of it, and it made his eye sting.

Oh well. Might as well wait.

[Kyle Harmon]

Kyle was not a patient person. He had never been a patient person, and he usually wondered how patient people got to be so.. patient. It annoyed him to no end that he could not end up like that, usually wanting things NOW, or perhaps a few seconds after the command was issued. So this situation, all in all, was rather uncomfortable to the boy. He looked side to side with his shimmering cobalt hues, occasionally moving to stand on his tiptoes to find the familiar tuft of light red hair.

But, no, there wasn't any Horatio anywhere.

[Horatio Caine]

Horatio parked in his parking spot in the Crime lab's parking lot. Sighing he got out and grabbed a couple of papers from the middle console in his hummer. He had just gotten back from a big board meeting and it wasn't so good. He shook it off because it wasn't about his lab, it was about his good friends lab up in Tallahassee, Florida.

He strode into the lab with a lone expression on his face. His hair slightly askew told everybody that the meeting did not go so well. He quietly dropped off a few papers at the main desk and started towards his office.

He turned the corner and immediately seen Kyle. Horatio raised an eyebrow. What is he doing here? he thought, I told him to come here only in an emergency, realizing that Horatio quickly strode down the corridor, electric blue eyes giving away his nervousness.

[Kyle Harmon]

The boy swallowed, feeling the familiar aura of his father; closing his eyes before looking towards him, seeing the look in his eyes scared him--just a little bit. He looked downward, putting together his story and trying to get all the details placed in such a way that it would sound sensible once he spoke about it. Sighing, he stood, walking over to his blood relative and gave a limp hug.

He could at least make up for the huge mistake he had made.

"H-Hi," Kyle stuttered, pulling away and shuffling his feet, not sure what he was going to say, but waiting for the Lieutenant to make the first move.

[Horatio Caine]

Seeing his boy so nervous was kind of scary. Seeing him not make eye contact was sad. When he hugged Horatio, Horatio stiffened, Kyle had never gave him a hug. It touched Horatio's heart, but only a little.Shuffling his feet was new. What had gotten into him? he thought.

He had learned not to exepect anything from Kyle after what he has done. ."What do you need?" Horatio asked in a hard stern voice.

[Kyle Harmon]

Staring up at his father now, sent pangs of guilt to his heart. Kyle had never really seen him this affected; and he would've thought that Horatio would simply keep cool. But no, that seemed to be anything but that.

"Mom.. left me today," he whispered, unable really to get over that fact. He closed his eyes tightly, swallowing. "Sh-She.. she told me to wait for her.. two days ago, and.. and she never came back," lower lip quivering as he said this, Kyle looked up at his father with unshed tears in his cobalt optics.

"I should've never.. left you," he said, clenching his fists; resisting the urge to cry.

[Horatio Caine]

Horatio stood there dumbfounded. He motioned for the rest of those who were waiting with Kyle to go away, when they did he continued to stand there searching for words. His head fell and he stared at the ground. "That little......... How could she?" Horatio said looking at Kyle. His blue eyes turned to ice as he said this and when he looked into Kyle's watery optics he sighed. What has he gotten into? he thought.

Now it was his turn to hug Kyle. He took him in and sighed lost in thought.

[Kyle Harmon]

Kyle was taken aback at the sudden hug, whimpering just a little and returning it, burying his head in his father's chest and feeling the liquid drip down his cheeks. It was nice, to be held by someone after these days of loneliness at home. He hadn't even had a bite to eat, except for the occasional fruit, considering he had yet to learn how to cook decent meals.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, closing his eyes. "I should've.. I should've.."

Unable to speak clearly, he just stood there, trembling in fear for what would happen next.

[Horatio Caine]

Horatio stayed frozen there. What do I do? he asked himself franticly. "Kyle I want you to go home and pack your things, you'll be staying with me," Horatio said staying calm. He let go and asked, "Is there anything else you would like to say?" Horatio's eyes dramatically softened, till he was almost about to fall apart, just like Kyle had did only a few moments before.

[Kyle Harmon]

Hearing the statement made Kyle's face brighten, and he looked up at his dad with a tear-stained face. "R-Really?! You'd do that?!" he asked, a cheerful smile appearing on his face; and he exhaled out of relief. "I thought I would have to transfer from foster home to foster home again.. even after I'm studying DNA so I can work for you.. it'd go to waste," he added, though he nodded and coughed.

"Um, I mean.. thanks," he remarked, unable really to hold his excitement in.

[Horatio Caine]

Horatio smiled at Kyle's exitment but then just as suddenly as the smile came he froze once more. "Y-Youre studying DNA?" Horatio said astonished. He wanted to work for me? Ok what has gotten in this boy's mind? he thought looking at Kyle acting all cool, hiding his exitment.

[Kyle Harmon]

Kyle shrugged, a small smile on his face. "Yep. I've been trying to fix things up, you know, change. I read about some of the things you've done, and, well.. it was pretty great. I sort of got influenced and wondered if I could be able to do that, too, and.. I started studying up on DNA," he replied, scratching his cheek sheepishly.

It might seem weird, but it was the truth.

[Horatio Caine]

At Kyle's words Horatio smiled. He dug in his pocket and pulled out his wallet. He stole $40 from it and handed it to Kyle. "There's enough there to grab a bite to eat and a ride, now you should go home and start packing," Horatio said and put a hand on Kyle's shoulder. "Don't do anything stupid," he added and removed his hand, to put his wallet away.

[Kyle Harmon]

Kyle smiled, nodding. "Thanks, dad," he said, a little grateful; and definitely relieved that he had someone like Horatio Caine as a father. He just seemed to care so much about him, despite all his mistakes, and despite the fact he hadn't picked him over his mother. He gave the taller man one last hug, and then turned around, walking; raising the back of his hand at eye level to indicate his leave.

There was some work to do.

[Ashley Renolds]

Ashley stayed strangely quiet through everything. Not even an 'aaww' came to her mouth. She looked down, still not realizing that Ryan was still with her. She left the living world right after Kyle explained his reason for coming to Horatio. She gave a feeble smile to him as he walked away. She looked up to Ryan and sighed heavily. His words couldn't stop the feeling of dread that stayed in her mind.