"Hey H-" Eric started. The agents stared him down coolly, a look which Eric promptly shot back.

"Eric," Horatio nodded. Eric jerked his head towards the three men in black.

"H, what's going on?" Horatio looked at Eric.

"They want to speak with me about-"

"That'll be enough, Lt. Caine. Follow me," Rosier snapped. Eric eyed him disdainfully as Horatio suppressed a grin. Clapping Eric on the shoulder, he said,

"I'll be in about the case in a moment." Nodding, Eric walked off.

--

Horatio walked them into his office, where he sat behind his desk. The sooner they got this over with, the better. Rosier closed the door, and the remaining two agents stood shoulder to shoulder against it.

"You are also aware that an unnamed witness vitally important in leading to the capture of the Ramirez boys," Rosier began again. Horatio removed his glasses, setting them down on his desk with a faint clink of the metal.

"Yes," he said, "Gentlemen, if that's all, as I've told you before-"

"Lt. Caine, that witness is in danger of dying if her identity is discovered," Rosier interrupted. Horatio stood.

"Then put her in WPP." The agent cleared his throat nervously.

"We have..reason to believe that you may be well a-acquainted with this witness..." Horatio stood.

"What are you saying, agent Rosier?" He highly doubted that he knew this witness at all, especially if she was, indeed, female.

"We need you to keep watch over her for a week. Just until the Ramirez boys have gone to trial, gotten sentenced, and been thrown in prison for the rest of their lives." Horatio narrowed his eyes at the agents and spoke slowly, putting emphasis on each of his words as he rested his hands on his hips, not as a feminine expression of agitation but as a manly stance of determination, power, and authority.

"I know of your witness, agents, but I do not know her personally. As to supervising her for the week, I have to decline; as you may or may not have realized, I have a job, unlike certain people," the agents made sounds of indignation, "I'd like to return to that job." Horatio knew damn well what they were asking him to do, and he was going to have nothing to do with it. They were entrusting the single person that could put Tony and Stefan behind bars to him. And keeping her alive was not something that he could promise. These things never went as planned. More often then not, the witness and the protecting officers died. And Horatio could not be responsible for another death. Seemingly recovered from Horatio's insult, Rosier snapped at the two agents guarding the door.

"Bring her in."