Before anyone could even think about stopping him, Horatio had reached across and pulled Rick's service weapon from his holster. He steadily pointed the gun at Raymond.

Rick heard the patrolman behind him draw his weapon and click off the safety just as Horatio growled, "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't send you straight back to hell?"

"Because you would be no better than our father," Raymond countered unfazed by Horatio's actions.

"I've been compared to worse people," Horatio retorted and squeezed the trigger.

&/&/&

The loudness of the shot finally woke Rick from his daze. He grabbed his gun from Horatio and ordered the patrolman to check on Raymond while he did the hardest thing in his life.

"Horatio Caine, you're under arrest for the attempted murder of Raymond Caine."

"Kinda hard to kill a dead man," Horatio quietly remarked the anger he felt toward Raymond had drained from his body as Rick returned the handcuffs to his wrists.

"That's beside the point," Rick muttered. He escorted Horatio back into the station.

TBC...