INTRODUCTIONS

It was Monday, the twentieth of August '07. It was getting late and Horatio was getting off the phone with one of the best schools in Miami. He was making final arrangements for enrolments, while continuously looking at his watch.

He jumped out of his chair when he saw that the clock on his desk read eight p.m. He looked back down at his watch and noted that the second's hand didn't move. How did I not notice that? he questioned himself. He got another fright when he heard a knock on the door. He looked up eagerly, but his face became disappointed when he saw that it was Calleigh.

The pretty blonde stuck her head in the door, smiling. " You Ok?"

" You just startled me, that's all," he replied chuckling. " Everything ok?" he asked, shrugging on his jacket.

" There's someone at reception for you," she replied.

Horatio grabbed his keys and wallet. Horatio smiled and thanked her and she left. He walked to the reception area looking at the floor as he went. When he reached the reception desk he looked up and scanned for his visitor and spotted her staring out the window. " Morgan!" The girl turned to face Horatio.

" Hey, Dad," she said. She abandoned her bags and walked up to give him a hug. He eagerly accepted it but found it was a brief embrace.

" It's been a while," he said looking at his daughter, smiling.

" Yeah..." She pulled away from him and avoided making eye contact. " We talked just before my summer exams, but the last time I saw you was Spring break." She walked over to her bags.

" Yeah, well..." There was a long silence. Horatio searched for something to say. Luckily Calleigh came up just then. She noticed the tension and thought it would be best to break it.

" Hey... sorry if I'm interrupting something..." she said.

" No, you're not..." Horatio replied.

" Told you it would only take a second," she said to Morgan smiling.

" Calleigh Duquesne, this is Morgan, my daughter," Horatio said.

Calleigh's smile grew. " Ohh, I'm so sorry... I didn't recognise you... Horatio's shown me pictures but you were so young in them... It's nice to meet you!" She extended her arm and Morgan took it.

" It's nice to meet you too... Dad talks about the team a lot."

" Trust me, we're a lot more fun and nice away from the job..." She glanced back from Horatio to Morgan. " So you've probably had a long flight and you two probably want some time to catch up but and we were planning on going across the road when Ryan and Delko are finished their case... They just left to pick up a suspect... It should be about nine or so... You both are more then welcome to come if you like." She smiled.

" Thanks, Cal... We'll keep it in mind... We should probably head home, though..." He turned to Morgan. " Get your bags out of the way."

The three said goodbyes and Morgan and Horatio made their way down to his car. The loaded the bags in and drove to the house in silence.

As Horatio brought in her bags, Morgan stood near the door, taking in her surroundings. The entrance was in the living room, to the side, and the kitchen was connected with no separating walls. There was a hallway to the right, which led down to Horatio's bedroom, a bathroom, a guest bedroom/ storage room and Morgan's bedroom.

She walked to the mantle above the fireplace where Horatio had some framed pictures. She picked one up of him with a little girl around three years old at the beach. She replaced the picture and wiped away a tear that had fallen when she realised Horatio was standing behind her.

" I remember that day," he said, smiling.

" I don't," she lied, turning grabbing some of her bags and walking down to her room.

Horatio followed. When he reached the room, he found her sitting on the bed, staring at her hands. " Are we going to talk?"

" We are talking, Dad..."

" How was your trip?"
" Great!" she said sarcastically.

" Morgan..."

" What Dad?" she asked turning around. " What do you want to talk about... About how you decided to make leaving the place where I was born that bit harder for me by taking away the only friends I had... or the school where I actually liked my teachers... Or do you want to try to explain to me why you and mom didn't just send me down here when I was a nobody up there, when I had nobody...?" she said, raising her voice. She turned to face Horatio and he could see the tears she was trying to hold back.

" Sweetheart, I know you didn't have the best childhood, but..."

" Not the best childhood is an understatement, Dad... The only good memories I have before you left are of you and mom not in the same room... I cried myself to sleep night after night because you were always yelling at each other..." Morgan took a pause. " Most kids want their parents to stay together and all I wanted was for you and mom to just call it quits... I was considered weird for that..."

" Sweetie... I'm sorry..." Horatio moved to the bed and sat next to her, putting an arm around her shoulder. "...I truly am... I would have given anything to have you come with me..."

Morgan stood up, took a deep breath. Horatio stood too. " Ok..." she whispered. " Dad I don't want to fight with you... The only reason I agreed to leave New York was so I could be a part of your life... So we could spend time together..."

" Maybe we should go to the bar after all... You should meet the people in my life..."

" Do you want me to?" she challenged.

" Of course I do sweetheart..." He walked up to her and brought her into a hug.

" Ok... I just need to freshen up a bit." She walked out of the room and into the bathroom.

They arrived at the bar a little after nine. " You sure you can handle this?" Horatio asked after entering. Morgan looked up smiling. She had a reputation of being clumsy and falling.

Horatio must have spotted the team because, just then, he grabbed her hand and led her to a table full of people.

" Hey guys!" he said.

Morgan instantly recognised Calleigh and smiled. Calleigh smiled back. " Glad you two could make it."

And that was the first time she saw him, sitting in between Calleigh and another woman, whom Morgan thought she recognised. Maybe she did, but she was more interested in HIM. Delicious, dark brown hair, dazzling hazelnut brown eyes, gorgeous skin, and, as she would soon find out, a smile that could possibly cause global warming. There was a dim light on the table, not giving off much light but from what she could see, he was wearing a black, leather jacket over a white t-shirt and he was spinning his glass and coaster around.

" Guys, this is Morgan, my daughter. Morgan this is Eric Delko," he said pointing to the Cuban man, who smiled and said a 'hello'. " Frank Tripp, Natalia Boa Vista, Alexx Woods..."

" We've met before, sweetie... You were very young... you might not remember..."

" Kinda," she replied. What's his name? What's HIS name?

" ... and Ryan Wolfe."And that was when he smiled at her. It was a small smile, a sort of childish smile and she loved it. She smiled shyly back at him. " So, who's buying?"

" Up here," Ryan said, jumping up. "What can I get you guys?"

" Just a soda," Horatio said smiling and sitting down on the bench's against the wall.

Ryan looked directly at Morgan, causing her to blush. " Same..." she said. Calleigh moved over a stool so Morgan could sit down next to her.

When Ryan came back, he placed a glass bottle down next to Horatio, Walked over to Morgan and placed her soda down, before sitting down on the bench's arm next to Calleigh.

" So, Morgan..." Calleigh said. " Your Dad said you were travelling this summer... Where did you go?"

Morgan looked over at her father, who was talking to Delko and Tripp. " Ummm, Europe... a friend of mine's parents brought were going to England to visit her sister and asked me if I wanted to go and when we got there her sister packed a car and drove us to Paris and then we spent some time in Italy."

" Wow... eventful summer."

Morgan nodded. " It was really beautiful."

" Where abouts in Italy?"

" We were in Milan for a few nights and then headed down to Rome."

" Your Dad let you go to Europe on your own... lucky girl"

" I know... I was worried he would call the police there and send me home." Calleigh smiled.

They talked for ages. When it was Calleigh's turn to buy the drinks, Morgan went up with her. Horatio followed the girls. " Morgan, honey... I think it's time to go," he said.

Those were the words Morgan had been dreading all night. " Wh- Dad it's not even eleven," she protested. " I thought you wanted me to enjoy Miami... and to celebrate moving."
" I know sweetheart, but I have meetings in the morning, and I'm exhausted."

Morgan pleaded with her father to let her stay. Calleigh intervened. " Tell you what... Horatio you go home, and I can drive Morgan home when we're ready!"

" You don't have to. "

" It's no problem... Just take a little detour."

Morgan looked at her dad. " Alright," he said. He gave Morgan a hug and left.

When they arrived back at the table, Natalia and Frank had left. Alexx and Ryan were sitting on the couch. Calleigh motioned for Morgan to sit on the couch. Next to him, she hesitated before sitting down. Calleigh was talking to Delko and Morgan was leaning in when realised Ryan was leaning up to her.

" So, it must be pretty difficult for you to leave New York and your mom?" he asked.

She turned. Alexx had begun talking to Calleigh and Delko and Ryan was talking to her. She blushed. " Sure, but I love my dad, so... That pretty much evened everything out!" She smiled.

" So, um, what are you studying in college?"

" Coll...ege..." He thinks I'm in college... " I'm still in High school."

" I'm so sorry... I thought you were older!"

Morgan thought quickly to keep the conversation going. " Know any good clubs?" she asked.

" Planning on hitting the town hard tonight?"

" It's my birthday next week... Sweet seventeen!"

" You're seventeen?" he asked, surprised.

" Not yet... Soon though and Dad's been asking me of I'm gonna be doing anything fun."

" What day?"

" Tuesday... The day after the first day of school! Lucky me!"

Their conversation was interrupted. " Hey guys, hate to interrupt but it's getting late and your dad is probably worrying."

" Oh, ok..." Morgan replied, trying to hide disappointment. She stood. " It was nice meeting you all."

" You too," Ryan said. The two girls walked out of the bar and hopped into Calleigh's car.

They were nearly to Morgan's house when Calleigh asked, " You have a good night?"

" Yeah... It was fun."

" Good... You seemed to enjoy yourself toward the end, alright..." Calleigh threw the young girl a knowing smile.

" Good company..."

" And cute..." Morgan looked away, blushing. " He is though... admit it."

" Never said he wasn't."

" Well Ryan's a good guy... and older so don't get your hopes up." She pulled up outside a house.

" Calleigh... I'm sixteen... he's like what, nearly thirty... I wasn't planning on getting any hopes up." She opened the car door and hopped out.

" Alright... Well, I'll see you around."

" Bye."

Morgan quietly entered the house, checked in on Horatio who was sound asleep in his room. She went into hers, got changed and lay on top of the covers with two word keeping her from sleeping. Ryan Wolfe!!

A/N: I'm not sure if I should have Horatio and Yelina or Horatio and Calleigh paired.