[Action] (Backdated to before all the craziness goes on next door at House 21)

[knightofratatosk]

[There's a lot of snow outside. A LOT of snow. So much snow, in fact, that it's preventing one Horatio Caine (who had stopped by for a visit) from returning to his own apartment. It could be worse; at least they've got food and shelter (even if they are running a bit short on firewood and despite Emil's little excursion out into the worst of it to go rescue Luke), and Emil's got plenty of space for an unexpected overnight guest. Sial is enjoying having a new friend to bother as well.

Right now Emil is trying to coax a few pieces of damp firewood into burning so that the fire doesn't go out completely.]

Comments

[miamijustice.livejournal.com]

Kyle kidnapped a woman, Emil. He did that... do you understand?

[A pause and then he... well, pauses before] I arrested him.

[knightofratatosk]

You arrested your own son?

[This... does not bode well for Emil.]

[miamijustice.livejournal.com]

Emil... I want you to think about what he did. Even if he did it against his will, he still did wrong.

[knightofratatosk]

I know... I know, but wasn't there anything else he could've done to make up for it?

[miamijustice.livejournal.com]

[...That's a good question. One he's asked himself many times. Outwardly, he doesn't waver]

He went to prison... for a while.

[knightofratatosk]

And then what?

[miamijustice.livejournal.com]

And then... [...] Emil, I am going to tell you something. When I'm done, I want you to tell me if you think it was the right thing to do. Alright?

[knightofratatosk]

O-Okay...

[His palms are actually starting to sweat now, and he has to physically force himself to stop shaking.]

1/2

[miamijustice.livejournal.com]

Kyle was going to have a hearing. Here... they were going to decide what was going to happen to him. [A pause, and then...] Of course, the woman he kidnapped was going to be there. She was the one... who would make him go to prison some more.

However... she never showed up. [...] Kyle's mother gave the woman a million dollars not to come.

[miamijustice.livejournal.com]

Do you think she did the right thing?

[knightofratatosk]

I... [He shakes his head.] N-no, I don't. What he did was wrong, and he shouldn't be able to get away with it because someone else did something wrong too.

[miamijustice.livejournal.com]

That's right.

[After all, he told Julia he'd find that woman and make sure Kyle got his trial]

[knightofratatosk]

It didn't upset you at all to have to send your own son to jail?

[miamijustice.livejournal.com]

No Emil... it did. [...A pause] However... no one is exempt from having to make up for their mistakes.

[knightofratatosk]

[Now Emil just looks down at the floor, twisting his fingers in the blankets on his lap.]

[miamijustice.livejournal.com]

But I didn't have him go in alone. Because even if everyone needs to pay for them... sometimes- [...] Sometimes, people need a helping hand.

[knightofratatosk]

... what if no one else can help them?

[miamijustice.livejournal.com]

That doesn't happen.

[knightofratatosk]

Not ever?

[miamijustice.livejournal.com]

Never... ever. [A pause and then a chuckle] Not as long as I can help it.

[knightofratatosk]

[Still not looking entirely convinced there, H.]

[miamijustice.livejournal.com]

[Well-] Trust me.

[knightofratatosk]

I... I'll try.