| It was a cold night, and everyone was one edge. For five months they had been trying to keep the young boy safe and hidden until the trial began. It was less than 24 hours before he had to be in court, and they were hiding out in a motel by the docks. Anxiously Harvey eyed his watch and then pacedthe floor. After about an hour Cassidy fell asleep in her chair. Back and forth he went, waiting and hoping that nothing else would go wrong. Already they had been forced to move him about fifteen times, and he was nearly killed twice. Both Harvey and Cassidy had grown rather fond of Mackenzie in last few months, and were anxious to get things over with so that he would have no more to worry about. At 6:30am the alarm went off, and Harvey woke Cassidy and Mackenzie. "It's time Cass. We've got to move him...Come on Mac, today is your big day." Cassidy awoke and began to talk on the phone while Harvey spoke to the boy. "I am scared Harvey. What if I get up there and..." he paused "Don't worry buddy, everything will be just fine. Your gonna be ok." "Are you sure?" "Yeah I am sure. All you have to do is tell the judge what you saw and this will all be over." The boy began to smile and then reached his hand towards Harvey. "What's this Mac?" "It's my lucky Angel. My mommy gave it to me, but after today I won't need it. I want you to have it." "Why won't you need it?" "Cause after I talk to the judge, everything will be ok, just like you said. I won't be in danger anymore. I want you to have it so it can protect you while you look after everybody else." He smiled back at the boy. "I tell you what you hold on to it until the trial, and after it is done then if you still want me to have it, I'll take it." Mackenzie shook his head in approval and then gave Harvey a hug. Hanging up the phone "Ok Harv, Joe and Antwon will be here in fifteen." Quickly he helped the boy change and they all went for the door. Cassidy checked the peep hole and saw two men standing outside the door with guns. "How the Hell did they find us?" she whispered, as he checked for himself "Maybe we can go out the back." They headed for the window, and Harvey helped them both out. Before he could follow, the men broke through the door and began firing. Bullets flew back and forth, and then there was silence. Cassidy ran with Mac as soon as she they were safely out the window, and called Joe as soon as they were a few blocks away. Within minutes Joe and Antwon arrived. "Where's Harvey?" Joe asked "I think he is still in the room, they came in shooting before he could get out the window." "Joe go ahead and get them to the courthouse and I'll see about Harv." "OK man" And with that Antwon headed back towards the motel. Harvey crouched behind the bed for what seemed like an endless amount of time before getting up. Surveying what was left of the room, he saw that both men were dead. Turning around he reached for his cell phone, then he heard a click from the door. Aiming his weapon he spun around. "Nice to see you too." Antwon responded "Dammit, don't sneak up on me like that!" "Sorry man...you all right?" "They knicked me, but I'll live (grabbing his arm)...Did Cass get Mac out ok?" "Yeah, Joe's taking them to the courthouse now." "Good, let's call this in and get going." On their way to the courthouse, Joe's car began to smoke, and he quickly pulled over and got out to see what was wrong. "Come on girl, not now..." He continued to talk to the car while Cassidy called for another. A few minutes later a uni showed up and Cassidy got in with Mackenzie. They arrived safely and proceeded through the trial. Part way through, Harvey shows up to watch the testimony and support Mackenzie. Afterwords Mackenzie slipped the Angel into Harvey's pocket without him noticing. Later at the SIU Harvey and Cassidy went back over their paperwork, and tried to figure out how anyone found out where they were. "Only a handful of people knew where we were gonna be. There's no way they could have known unless someone..." "I know what your thinking Harv, but-" "It is the only answer Cass. I don't like it either, but someone here is working for Chambers. How else could his goons have found us?" "I guess that is the only logical answer, but I just hate to think that one of our guys is..." "I know what you mean...hey, it's 10:30, we should go see Mac and tell him good bye." "Yeah, let's go" Twenty minutes later Harvey and Cassidy got to the safehouse where Mac was supposed to be waiting to be put into protective custody. There were bullet holes in the front door when they arrived, and they armed themselves before entering. A quick sweep of the rooms found Mackenzie as well as the five officers assigned to watch him shot to death. They called it in and waited with the bodies. When they returned to the SIU, Nash told them to take off and come back late the next day. Reluctantly they left, and Harvey gave Cassidy a ride home. When they arrived at her apartment he walked her to her door, gave her a hug and then began to walk away. "Harvey?" "Yeah Cass." "I hate to ask this but would you stay for bit. I am just not sure I can be alone right now." "Sure" He followed her inside. While inside the two sat and talked. "He was just a little boy. He shouldn't have died like that." She started to cry, and Harvey put his arm around her. "I know-" "It's wrong, Harv. It's just plain wrong. No kid should ever have to see the things he saw. How could anyone be so cruel to a child? Making him watch while they killed his mom and dad. He was so afraid. All he wanted was see his parents again." "Well at least he can have that wish, and Chambers is going away for a long time." "That's not the point. He shouldn't have been put in that position in the first place." "Cass, think of it this way. Now Mac doesn't have to be afraid anymore. He's in a better place." "How can you be so positive right now? Don't you feel any guilt?" "You think I don't feel guilty! Dammit I told him everything would be ok, and now he's dead. Of course feel guilty, but me dwelling on it isn't gonna make it better." "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I guess I am just angry." "That's ok. I am angry too, but anger won't do anyone any good." "Can I ask you something?" "Sure" "Nevermind" They both looked away from one another, and Harvey got up and flipped on the stereo. "Come on. What were you going to ask me?" "Well...what were you thinking when we found his body?" "Huh? What do you mean?" "I saw your face when you checked him to see if he was breathing...what were you thinking?" "It's a long story..." "It doesn't look like we are going anywhere anytime soon." "It reminded me of something. When I was a kid, there was this boy that lived across the street from me his name was Tommy. We weren't exactly friends...actually he used to beat the crap out of me most everyday. But one day I was walking home from school, and I heard a gunshot come from his house. I was curious, so went to the window to see what was going on and I saw him lying there on the floor in his living room. The door was unlocked, and I went in. He was just lying there, except for the blood around his chest he almost looked alive. When I saw Mac lying on the ground, it was like I could see Tommy's face looking back at me...I don't know, I guess it sounds kinda strange huh?" "Not really" She reached for his hand. Harvey had gotten up and was fumbling with his jacket when he felt an object in his pocket. Carefully he removed it, and was stunned to see Mackenzie's Angel in his hand. He fought back the tears, but he was beginning to realize how hurt he was over what had happened with Mac, and a tear eased its way down his cheek. They had both put all their efforts into keeping him safe, and both were feeling as though they had let him down. "What's that?" Cassidy said looking over his shoulder. "Crazy kid must have slipped it into my pocket at the courthouse." He half-smiled, and then turned away from Cassidy. She looked at the Angel and then at Harvey, and she could feel the pain in his eyes. It was the same as the pain in her heart. After a few minutes of silence, neither could find the words to say what they were feeling. Before they could stop themselves they were wrapped in each other's arms and headed towards the bedroom. In a way they knew it was wrong, but they needed something to stop the pain they felt, and their warmth seemed to ease it. The next morning they were awakened by the sound of someone knocking on the door. When she heard her father's voice she quickly jumped out of bed, and hurried Harvey into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Noticing the door unlocked, Nash entered and called out for Cassidy. "Cass, you here sweetie?" "Just a sec Daddy?" After a minute or so Cassidy entered her living room with her robe on and greeted her father. "What do you want Dad?" "Gee don't act so glad to see me, I might get the wrong idea." "Oh you know I am always happy to see you." Giving him a hug. "So is that Harvey in the shower?" Holding up his jacket and beret that had been lying near the couch. "Huh? What? Oh yeah." "Something wrong? You look a little pale." "No Daddy. I am fine, just tired. With the whole Mackenzie thing, we were up most of last night...talking." "Well, you know that you don't have to be in until this afternoon right?" "Yeah, I know." "Well, I just wanted to check and see how you were. I guess I'll go now." "Ok dad. Love you." She hugged him and he left. Then she breathed a very deep sigh of relief. "You can come out now Harv!" She called. He turned off the shower and slowly exited the bathroom. There was a long silence, and finally Harvey spoke. "Uh...I think I should go now." And quickly he grabbed his jacket and beret and left her sitting alone on her couch. * * * |
| Heroes And Angels Part 1 |
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