Chapter 1

Horatio walked towards the elevator. The doors of the lift opened and a young man walked out hurriedly. He had his head down and he bumped straight into Horatio.

"I am sorry Sir" The young man replied with a look recognition crossing his face

Horatio looked up and saw a young Indian man. He looked to be about 25 and something about him was oddly familiar.

"Its alright. You are in a hurry. Who are you looking for?" Horatio said.

"Detective Daniel Agger" the boy answered looking unnerved.

Horatio recognized the name. It was the team in charge of the second CSI team that was being created.

"He's in the second lab on the right" Horatio answered

"Thank you Sir." The young man answered. "I am Shahid". He extended his hand towards Horatio.

Horatio was stunned. This was his son, his adopted son and the boy was pretending that he didn't know him.

"Lt Horatio Caine" he said playing the game as well now.

The young man shook his hand walked away.

He knew very well that Shahid recognized him but the young man had refused to acknowledge him.

Horatio walked out and got in the jeep.

Flashback

24 years ago.

Horatio was sitting next to Rani who was holding one year old Shahid in her arms.

They had just gotten married, a few hours before. Yes, Rani's husband had cheated her and left her in the early stages of her pregnancy. She has met Horatio a few months prior to the birth of the baby boy and they had fallen in love.

Horatio took in his beautiful wife. Her features asserted her Indian-ness, her big eyes with brown skin. She looked up at him and smiled. She loved this man and she knew he loved them both. He had been so natural at being a father constantly fussing over the one year old boy.

15 years ago

"I can't do this anymore" Rani yelled A man whose case Horatio had been working on had kidnapped Shahid and Rani had panicked. Hortaio had managed to find his step son but the kidnapping had taken its toll on his family,

"I am leaving Horatio, please don't look for me" Rani had left him a note and disappeared..

Present

Horatio's cell phone rang.

"Dad" he heard a voice on the other hand.

"Kyle, what is wrong?"

"Nothing Dad"

"Are we still meeting up for lunch?"

"I can't Kyle. I am sorry son"

"Its ok Dad. I have work to do anyways"

Horatio hang up his phone. Kyle was the 15 year old he had adopted after Rani left. He parents had been murdered when Kyle was 2 and Horatio had taken the boy in and grown to love him. He had missed Shahid very much and Kyle some what made up for it.

He took out his cellphone and dialed Yelina's number. She would know what to do.

They met up for lunch and sat in the café both of them sipping coffees.

"Whats wrong Horatio" Yelina questiond. Seeing her brother in law not being at ease, was new.

" Shahid came to the lab today" Horatio blurted

Yelina was shocked. She was Shahid's godmother when Horatio had married Rani and they had been a wonderful family and she had missed them both when Rani walked away.

"Was he arrested or something" Yelina asked worried because Shahid was a tad too young to be part of the crime lab at 25, he wouldn't have enough experience.

Horatio shook his head sideways.

" He is joining Agger's new CSI team"

"He is a bit too young. Any idea what he has studied?" Yelina wanted to know.

"I haven't looked" Horatio said

Yelina understood why. He was in shock.

"Lets go and look the boy up…" Yelina said

When they reached the lab. The headed to the database where Horatio pulled up Shahid's file.

Yelina looked at the young man's photo. He was handsome and had a look of mischief on his face just like old times. However his academic record was solid.

At 25 he had a degree with first class honours in both criminology(profiling) and Mathematics and a doctorate in Chemical Biology. He was a extremely brilliant student as Horatio gathered from his testimonials. He had been a straight A student throughout high school graduating before his peers and had been on the basketball team and went to the Nationals. He had turned down a chance to go pro and now he was here.

"He refused to acknowledge me" Horatio mumbled.

Yeline shook her head and left.

She was determined. She walked towards Agger's lab and found Shahid scribbling something on the board.

She tapped him on the back and he turned around and a look of recognition registered on his face.

"Shahid" she added

"Aunt Yelina.." he trailed surprised that she had been so bold tp just come up to him.

She pulled him into a hug. He had grown so much and became a fine young man.

Shahid was a little embarrassed.

Horatio came in behind them and Shahid felt himself turn red.

"You want to stop playing games" Horatio asked him

"Yes Da…Sir I mean" Shahid said

Horatio smiled at Shahid's slip of tongue and indicated that they should talk. The three of them headed out for coffee again.

"After we left, Mom went to Washington and we lived there until this year when I got posted to the crime lab here. She didn't want me working in this field but in the end she let me have my way…you know how scared mom is…so me Mom and Sonia moved here"

Horation took a double take. "Who is Sonia?"

Shahid's face changed a little, realizing that he had accidentally revealed too much.

" My sister, your biological daughter" he added

Horatio looked confused how could it be…

"Mom was pregnant when she left.." Shahid added clarifying.

Horatio looked at Yelina who looked just as shocked.

So shes's 15…Horatio calculated.

" I want to meet Rani" Horatio announced

Shahid bristled. "Are you sure that, that is a good idea?" his tone rising a little

Horatio silenced him with a look that Shahid remembered from childhood.

"She hid a child from me" Horatio said with his usual cool demeanor.

Shahid was silent. His dad was right…

" I am going home,.." he added

Horatio nodded, indicating that he would come with him.

The three of them rose from their seats.

Yelina pecked Shahid on the cheek and left.

The car ride was utterly uncomfortable for both of them as they had nothing much to say to each other. They both fell silent as Horatin drove the hummer towards the address Shahid had given him.

They both stood outside the door and Shahid turned to look at Horatio.

"You ready" he asked with a smirk and Horatio realized Shahid hadn't changed much. He was the same mischievous little boy.

Shahid knocked on the door.