RENEE

Agent Renee Locklear was not easily impressed, certainly not by macho police types. She had heard of Horatio Caine. He had 'a reputation'. A thorn in the side of many authority figures. The tenacity of a pit-bull. A comprehensive arrest record. Ex-NYPD, ex-bomb squad. A tough guy. She didn't expect to like him, expected brawn not brain, but, if they had to work with each other on this case, then she was willing to give it her best shot.

They met when she was under cover. He did not know who she was, and she was treated as a suspect. He radiated effortless authority, which meant he was thoroughly intimidating without being loud or overtly aggressive - and she rather admired that. Although she did have a feeling that aggression - verbal and physical - wasn't too far under the surface… He was a redhead, handsome in a pug-Irish sort of way, well into middle-age, and a bit overweight, though surprisingly light on his feet. Ferociously quick with a gun too… And with an expensive taste in suits…

Once in the privacy of the crime lab, she admitted her identity and was a little startled to find he also radiated charm and charisma. He had very blue eyes, a boyish smile, and a deep growl of a voice. When he also proved to be refreshingly unterritorial about their working together, she relaxed, and decided he might be rather fun.

Their working relationship was largely satisfactory, and seemed to be based on mutual respect. His team were almost as impressive as he was, with that inevitable Miami glamour, while clearly being very good at their jobs. But, over the days, the thing she noticed most was how they were with Horatio. They clearly adored him. And that certainly impressed her. It was rare, and a rare leader that inspired it. She began to watch him more closely, and, as soon as any action was involved, she discovered part of the reason. As head of the crime lab, he could have stayed out of the firing line. Plenty did. But Horatio led from only one place, the front. If there was danger, he faced it first. He led a team, but he didn't send anyone into danger without being there himself. She was amazed he had survived as long as he had, but he also had another reputation - of being 'lucky' - the man who would emerge unscathed when the bullets were flying.

So it came as a shock to her, as well as his remaining team, to learn that he and one of his team, Natalia Boa Vista, had walked into an apparent ambush, and both were now in an ambulance heading for Dade Memorial Hospital. The news came from his second-in-command, a southern beauty, Calleigh Duquesne. The woman was white with shock.

"Horatio's been shot…"

"Oh my God… How bad?" Renee already liked the man. And she wondered if her case had put a jinx on his 'luck'.

"Not too bad, as far as I understand. Flesh wound in his side. Also half-drowned - he went into the water after Nat…"

"He's a tough man, your boss…"

"He is." Calleigh took a deep breath. "I'll go in and see him later - I gather he's not in any danger. That puts me in charge, Renee. Our team's still at your disposal, of course…"

Renee was gratified. The woman was clearly worried about her beloved leader, but was, at the moment, putting her responsibilities first. Doing, Renee suspected, what Horatio would have wanted her to do.

It was barely two hours later when Ryan Wolfe rushed in. "Nat and H are back - I've just seen them get out of a car."

Calleigh looked up. "Wow, that was quick - it must not have been serious… Ryan… everyone's on edge; go and find out what happened, will you?" She looked apologetically at Renee. "Sorry, but they won't concentrate until we know those two are OK."

"I understand. Your Horatio's a bit… special, isn't he?"

"He's the best," she said simply.

Ryan looked worried when he came back. "Nat's just getting changed… She nearly drowned, Cal… Randy North shut her in a car trunk and pushed it into the harbour…"

"She should take some time off…"

"She says she's OK, and she wants to help get North…" He hesitated.

Calleigh asked the inevitable question. "And Horatio?"

"He's getting changed…. In his office… I haven't seen him…"

"Is it true he was shot?"

"Yes, and Nat says he should be in hospital - he was completely out of it in the ambulance, crying Marisol's name… They wanted to keep him in, but he discharged himself. He's got a deep flesh wound in his side. Big blood loss. And he went into the water and got Nat out of the car… Nearly drowned, harbour water in his lungs, affecting his breathing… 'Respiratory distress', the hospital called it… She says she doesn't know how he's still standing."

"Oh God…" Calleigh breathed. She looked up at Renee. "That's H all over. Our super hero…"

"Can't you… I don't know… tell him you'll look after the case?"

"What? Send him home?" Calleigh chuckled. "Sorry, Renee, it doesn't work like that with H…"

"Well, you know him. I don't. But… isn't he going to be a liability? If he's that injured?"

"I very much doubt that."

When she saw him, Renee wasn't so sure. His skin had a greyish pallor, a sheen of sweat, and, though he was hiding it well, he was clearly having difficulty getting his breath. Calleigh touched her arm, and whispered, "Don't ask him… He'll only say he's fine."

"He sure as hell doesn't look it."

"I know. I'll try to keep an eye on him…" She thought for a moment. "If I can get him and Eric teamed… Though it's not up to me now."

"Eric Delko?" Renee had not had much to do with the young CSI.

"Yes. He's H's brother-in-law, and completely worships him… He'll look after him. Well, as much as anyone can look after Horatio."

"Stubborn man - I've come across them…"

Calleigh smiled sadly. "He is. Stubborn to a fault. I just wish he'd admit he's… human…" She looked at Renee. "Mind you, in some ways he's more human than most."

"Tough and compassionate?"

"Mmm."

"I've come across them too. Just not all that often."

"You won't come across many like him."

"You admire him."

"Sure I do. And I love him. Oh," She noticed Renee's raised eyebrows, "not like that…"

Renee smiled. "Does anyone here not feel like that? I've never seen quite such a severe case of hero-worship as there is in this lab…"

Calleigh laughed. "Probably true." Her expression changed as her boss approached them.

He drew a short difficult breath. "I want… you and Natalia to talk to North's children… I think…that's how we get to him…"

It was clear she was listening to his breathing problems, but all Calleigh said was, "OK, H, we're on it." And she gave the slightest shrug to Renee, as Horatio turned away.

As he went out of earshot, Renee murmured. "That is one sick man…"

"Yes, but also the boss." And she got up to find her colleague, as he had asked. She hesitated, then turned back. "Tell you something, Renee… He won't stop until we've got North and Toller in custody."

Renee smiled. "Then we'd better do it quickly. What can I do?"

"Perhaps you could see about getting North's little boy here… I just need to see Nat…?"

"I'll do that. You're going to set a trap?"

"Yes. I hate using kids like that, but… we really need to get these two caught. And North did try to kill two of my colleagues, so I guess my sympathy levels aren't too high at the moment. But I'll talk to the boy… See he's OK."

Renee was impressed with the speed and efficiency. A trap set, a felon - and father - caught. Horatio on the front line, of course… At the arrest, and in interrogation. And, thanks to that, they had leads on Toller, and the missing plates.

Not that it was all plain sailing. The plates were recovered, but Toller, somehow, slipped the net. In theory, that was the end of her involvement, but she had grown close to this team, and their ridiculously heroic boss. She left to make her report, but determined to come back later, if only to say goodbye….

When she returned, Horatio was standing outside, watching as Jack Toller arrived in handcuffs. She stood beside him, while the prisoner was taken inside by two burly police officers.

"We got him…" she said quietly. She wasn't sure about the 'we', but hoped she had helped, even if not in the actual arrest.

"Yes, we did." He looked and sounded exhausted.

She watched him for a moment, then said, "Can I ask you something? Who's Marisol?" She had heard Ryan say that Horatio had been calling her name in the ambulance. She had meant to ask one of the others, Calleigh probably, but had got distracted by the case. Now she wondered just who it was that was so deeply ingrained in this man's psyche.

"She was my wife. She was murdered."

She cursed herself for asking. She could have worked it out - they had said Eric Delko was his brother-in-law, so presumably this was the sister… She gazed at the man's face, white with illness, eyes full of pain… Gently, she said, "Are you going to be OK?"

His mouth twitched. Almost a smile, but he couldn't make it. "I don't think so."

So he was giving in. Why to her she didn't know. Maybe it was easier than with one of his team. Why now? Perhaps because he'd done what he had to do - two men were in custody…

She helped him into her car, touching him for the first time, and feeling, with a shock, just how desperate his condition was. He could barely move, easing himself painfully into the front seat. She sat behind him, as her driver headed for the hospital. She realised she was attracted to him. Or maybe she was experiencing the same feelings that half the lab seemed to hold for him. She fought down the sudden frisson of emotion - I don't need this. I don't need a man like you…

There was no way she could become involved, even if he was ready for involvement, which seemed doubtful. To love someone like him would mean living in a permanent state of anxiety; aware of the risks he took, almost daily; expecting him simply not to come home, one day…

She mentally shook herself. Don't go there… Forget him, girl. Get him to the hospital, then say goodbye…