Forever

Trace The Tracks

Henry examined the crime scene before him. People rushed about, bagging evidence and prepping the body for a better look at the lab. Jo stood before him, clearly anxious to get away from the bloody mess.

"People saw this man get shot?" He asked, looking at the blood. She nodded.

"No one had the guts to help him. The other guy ran away and a nearby bank may have caught his face, but who knows? He dragged himself back here, and died......" She stopped a CSI. "How long's he been dead, again?"

"Three to four hours." The woman said, displaying a wallet. "Can I go now....."

"Yeah. So three or four hours."

Henry cocked his head, walking forward and following a smear of red, leading to a trash can. Jo followed, rolling her eyes a little. He reminded her of a puppy- A very intelligent puppy!- But still a puppy. Someone had to keep him on a leash or he could walk off into the middle of the road....... She was slightly amused by the idea as he crouched, staring at the blood smears.

"Henry, you awake in there?" She snapped her fingers in his face as the stretch of his being quiet stretched to longer than five minutes. He started and smiled a little at her, peering up to meet her gaze.

"I may have found the shoe print of the killer."

+++++++++++++++++

"27-Year-Old Kevin S-"

"Detective!" Henry stopped her as in her tracks, frozen next to the instrument table.

"What?" Jo asked irritably. He motioned for her to step away.

"That's a chemical compound, very flammable." He said, scientifically. She gave him a look.

"Be more specific. I'm not as smart as you." She initiated sarcasm.

"Any movement could ignite the compound, especially if from a specific vec- Angle." He replied, going back to the gruesome excercise of analyzing the man's inards. Jo shook her head at him and smirked.

"You know, all you had to do was explain the word once. Humans are repeatative creatures."

He paused what he was doing and looked up, squinting at her like she was some kind of problem and he the problem solver.

"Yes?"

"Nothing..... That's possibly the most intelligent thing you've said in the time I've known you." He chuckled and went back to his work, and Jo felt an involuntary surge of an emotion she'd rarely felt since her husband's passing.

Affection.

Sighing, she deadened the emotion and smiled back at him, turning in her heels and stepping away to go see of Hanson had any new case for her.

"Detective?"

"What?"

"Did you-"

A blast shook the lab, and she head shouts and cries of pain as fire sparked. Her eyes widened as she remembered the flammable liquid Henry had spoken about.

"Henry?!" Jo whipped around, scanning the lab. There he was, brushing fire from the sleeve of his coat. She felt frantic and rushed to help him.

"I'm fine!" He said when she asked. His features looked like he was in pain, but it was hard to tell, as the soot and smoke was bringing tears to both their eyes.

"What was that?" Jo growled, turning around and staring in shock. Henry followed her gaze and his eyes widened as he took in the gaping hole in the side of the building. The moans and cries of the dying filled the air, which was already heavy with smoke and the unmistakable burn of fire. Suddenly, his world shifted.......

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"Medic!"

Henry wheeled around and stared as a truck rushed at him, the soldiers in the back terrified. He waited for it to park and helped unload the injured man, heart thudding in his ears. They got him down into the mud, and Henry peeled his shirt back, revealing his sever,y burned torso. He looked up, at the soldier who was helping him.

"How did this happen?"

The man spat blood onto the ground and Henry saw something white reflect in the sun.

"Bomb went off. They got us with our own mines." He said.

"There's nothing I can do for him here. Can we-"

A shot rang out, and the glass cracked where the driver of the truck had been. Red coated the edges, and the soldier shook his head.

"You'll have to-"

"I can't do anything here! Do you not understand? This man will die, and I don't have the medical tools to help him!" Henry barked, throwing his hands up in frustration. The man said nothing, and people around the camp began screaming as more shots fired.......

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"Henry!!!" Someone kicked him between the legs, hard, and Henry grunted, holding himself and cursing under his breath,

"What was that for??!!" He asked, stopping when he saw it was Jo.

"Sorry-Had to get you to snap out of it. We've gotta go!" She pulled him by the hand to the stairs, but he held back, digging his heels in. "What now?"

"People are dying, Detective. I am not allowing that!" He said, turning and sprinting back for the lab. He stopped and crouched by the first victim, whose face was concealed by a fresh coating of ash. Hands shaking with unchecked energy, he brushed it away- And nearly screamed when he saw who it was.

It was Lucas.