Lab Space - for HoratioCaine

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Bruce remained silent for the ride to the lab, watching out the windows of the car, and checking behind them on occasion as if he were concerned they might be followed. He was doing his best to keep nearly a decade of habits to a minimum, but there was only so much he could do to stifle what had become instinct.

Eventually he settled for crossing his arms and using the side mirror he could see to keep an eye out for trouble. He was noting every turn they took, but he had never been to this part of the city, which meant that if he ran he would be blind.

The area they are heading into is a nicer neighborhood, and eventually he notices a building down the road with police cars pulling in and out of the lot. He perks in his seat, eyes rapidly scanning the scene they are approaching. He's nervous, that much should be almost painfully clear. He'd duck and hide his face, but he needs to see if any of the faces recognize him so he can react appropriately before he's in the confined space of the building.

Comments

[horatiocaine]

"I see. Here's what I want you to do. I want you to write out that statement and sit with one of our sketch artists." Horatio was not going to let any lead get away.

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Bruce gives a flustered sigh at that.

"I'll write down the statement, but I can guarantee your artist is going to wind up with a hybrid of every male between 35 and 40 that I saw in a three day period. I can't even tell you how many people I saw in that time frame without looking at my notebook. I was dealing with a minor epidemic of the stomach flu that was working it's way through the neighborhood."

[horatiocaine]

"I...will take what I can get." The shades going back on.

Five minutes later, Bruce is sitting with one of the techs and their computer, working on a sketch. They've returned Bruce's things from the crime scene. H is off across the hall, getting updates from his other people. But he promised to be back soon.

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Having his notebook is helping, but Bruce's details on the 'patient' only go so far as the physical injuries, though it helps him mention a few details which, as long as Horatio follows up before they heal, should help him pinpoint the subject even with an inaccurate sketch.

When Horatio returns, Bruce is rubbing at his eyes, glasses in hand. He's tried his best, even though he feels like he's done nothing but frustrate the tech and take up their time when they could have been working with a more valuable witness.

[horatiocaine]

Horatio comes in the glass door, hands resting on his hip and badge. "Any luck?" He can see the image is only a partial on the screen, the tech shaking his head. "Okay, we will have to try again when we find the suspect." Even if Bruce couldn't ID him on sight, he could identify the voice and injuries. "Thank you." He dismisses the tech, leaving the two of them again.

"Mr. Beckett, I want to know what kind of government work you're involved in." He's deadly serious about this. They just ran his prints off a beaker in his homemade lab and no one could access the results. H wanted to know before anyone showed up and told him to stop investigating.

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Bruce shakes his head as the tech leaves, mumbling a meek apology. He pockets his glasses, and starts to close the notebook in his lap when Horatio's question makes him freeze.

He doesn't know how they connected him to the government, but he figures either fingerprints or DNA had a hit somehow. The fact that he isn't already in handcuffs though leaves him confused, and nervous.

"I..." He debates lying, he also considers the idea of rushing Horatio and trying to escape from an entire building of police, but both ideas are doomed to immediate failure. Instead of finishing his sentence, he shakes his head.

He can't even manage to turn and look at Horatio as he holds his book closed. He thumbs along the edges of the pages nervously, keeping his head down.

[horatiocaine]

H takes a step closer, not letting Bruce have the chance to avoid this.

"You're hiding something. And I will find out eventually, but right now the best thing you can do is be straight with me. I can't help you if you don't."

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"Letting me walk out without any further questions would be the best way to help me." Bruce finally looks up at Horatio with a sigh. It's clear from his expression that he knows that exact sequence of events is the last thing Horatio is going to let happen. Bruce knows all too well the lure of a mystery, an unanswered question.

He still wished Horatio could curb his inquisitive nature just this once. Bruce's greatest secret is one he still thinks is best left hidden.

[horatiocaine]

Quite a mystery too. A practically homeless guy who is a doctor and has his identity shielded by the united states government. Something else was going on here and H was determined to find it out.

His phone rings though, cutting their conversation short. "Excuse me." The tone suggests don't go anywhere, H opening his phone to answer it. Blocked number, he smirk at the display. "That was quick."

Hitting the answer button, "Horatio."

The voice on the other end is very official. Bruce will only hear H's side of it. "Yes, sir....I happen to be conducting a police investigation...." The voice didn't sound happy about that. "I couldn't say..." He's not giving Bruce or any information up just yet.

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Bruce literally jumps when the phone rings, and then there's that terrified look again before the officer even opens his phone. He watches Horatio closely, straining to hear the other side but failing, hoping that it's not the phone call he thinks it is, but any hit on a database and he's certain someone would be getting in touch quickly.

He swallows a lump in his throat, feeling his heart speed up as a pit opens in his stomach. There was the Hulk, barely more than a low whisper this time, but there and gaining force as Bruce grows more nervous with Horatio's words. He takes a calming breath, but it's only so effective as he keeps his eyes focused on Horatio.

[horatiocaine]

"Well we all have problems..." Horatio didn't take kindly to being talked down to. Or being out of the loop. He can definitely read Bruce's reaction as fear.

"No, I don't think I will be jeopardizing this case so you can chase a mystery man. You want my results, you get a warrant for them." He snaps the phone shut with finality.

He almost looks amused behind his eyes. "That...was the army office in New Jersey." H gives Bruce a space of time to reply before continuing. "Do you want to tell me what's going on?"

[improvised_green]

Bruce gapes at Horatio a minute, trying to process what just happened during that phone conversation. H had clearly balked at something, but how much of it was a show for Bruce, and how much of it was real? He inhales, he hadn't been holding his breath but it still felt like it.

"I, I can't. I can't drag anyone else into this. People will get hurt. Please..." Bruce stood up to Horatio, looking him in the eye pleadingly. "Let me go."

Ross is going to be on his way, Bruce is starting to edge into panic because if Ross was in New Jersey, he had a few short hours to get moving. As he stands before H, his eyes waver between the man, and the door behind him. He needs to leave, but he's unwilling to force a physical confrontation yet. Ross doesn't need the help, and Bruce wants to get out of this situation with his clothing and the CSI station still intact.