The restaurant was situated between the crime lab and the law firm Marisol worked in. The time it took to drive from either location to the restaurant was about fifteen minutes. The courthouse however, took twenty-five on a good day. Needless to say, by the time Horatio and Kyle arrived at the restaurant, they were a good thirty minutes late for lunch.

Marisol was seated near the large window of the restaurant. Three glasses were set on top of the table, but only hers was partially empty. Her back was to the entrance, a habit Horatio was trying to help her break. She leaned over the table, reading through a small pile of papers in front of her. Her hand hovered over the papers, holding a yellow highlighter, marking passages as she read.

Kyle reached the table first. He walked around Marisol, moving to the seat to her right. He grabbed the chair and eased it from the table. "Sorry we're late Mari."

Marisol looked up from the papers and smiled. She capped her pen and set it down. "Oh I figured you boys would be late. Unfortunately court hearings aren't as predictable and your father thinks."

Kyle sat down in his chair, completely quiet.

Marisol turned from Kyle, looking over her left shoulder where Horatio stood. "Right Horatio?"

Horatio smiled. "That is correct Mari. It would also appear that no secret is kept from you."

"Well I have a wonderful teach to thank for that talent." Marisol said. "Are you going to join us or are you going off to save Miami?"

"I was hoping to join." Horatio chuckled and brought his left arm out. He was holding two purple Calla Lilies wrapped in white ribbon. "So long as I'm forgiven."

Marisol gasped lightly. "I guess I can forgive you this one time." She gingerly took the two Lilies from Horatio and set them beside her. Horatio took the seat to her left and wink at Kyle, who quickly averted his eyes. It wasn't unusual for him to look away when his dad and stepmom acted like romantic teenagers.

Kyle cleared his throat. "This place looks really busy. Are we going to be able to eat or are we taking it to go?"

Marisol smiled. "I already ordered for you both. I figured that your food would arrive a few minutes before you or after you."

As if on cue their server arrived with their meals. One by one their food was set in front of each of them. "Please let me know if you need anything."

Horatio smiled. "We will thank you."

The server smiled and walked off.

Horatio lightly clapped his hands. "Impressive timing."

Marisol smiled and picked up her fork. "You sound surprised."

Horatio shook his head. "Not at all."

"Everything go alright in court? Neither of you will have to go back, right?" Marisol asked, taking a bike out of her chicken and rice.

"Everything went well." Horatio said. "Kyle won't have to go back, however the Defense or Prosecutors may use me to take a forensic point."

Marisol's brows furrowed.

Kyle looked up from his plate. "But you didn't work forensics on the case. Why would they call you back?"

Horatio shrugged his shoulders. "They might feel the need for a second opinion and since I'm the head of the Crime Lab and have the experience of processing crime scenes, I am a candidate."

Marisol shook her head. "But even without your testimony account the Prosecutor already has a solid case. You even have a full confession."

"Yes we did. Criminals are easy to understand. Lawyers, however, are not." Horatio replied.

Kyle glanced between hid dad and Marisol. "Does that include Mari?"

Horatio chuckled. Marisol laughed lightly, nodding. "I knew there was a reason I studied law. Thank you Kyle."

"Speaking of studies," Horatio said. "Now that your units home for good, do you have any ideas what you want to study?"

Kyle hesitated. "Yeah I uh...I have a few ideas."

"Just make sure a Lawyer isn't one of them." Marisol said.

While Marisol wasn't looking, Horatio managed a small forkful of her rice. He managed to avoid her notice, even when his phone rang. He set down his fork and answered. "Lieutenant Caine."

Marisol and Kyle watch as Horatio rose from the table and headed out the back exit. Marisol smiles as she watched him cough outside.

"What?" Kyle asked.

"I think you dad learned not to steal my food behind my back." Marisol winked.

Kyle's brows furrowed. "Huh?"

Marisol smiled. She lifted Kyle's unused spoon and scooped some of her rice. "Try it."

Kyle hesitantly took the spoon from Marisol and sampled the rice. He chewed in silence while Marisol watched the back door. "That's really good."

"I think so to. But you dad thinks it's a little too spicy." Marisol explained.

"No way."

Marisol nodded. "That man can stand the dangers of a firefight but can't handle spicy foods."

Kyle chuckled.

"So, what areas were you thinking of?" Marisol asked. "For school I mean."

Kyle poked his food for a moment. "Well I…I was thinking medical school."

"Really?"

"Yeah I…I really enjoyed working at the morgue. Not in a weird way, but just learning about the human body." Kyle explained.

Marisol nodded. "Would you rather work in a hospital or a morgue? If you became a doctor?"

"Morgue. Just to know if anything could've been done to keep them alive longer." Kyle answered.

Marisol smiled. "What else?"

Kyle glanced over his shoulder, checking where his father was. He turned back to Marisol. "I was kinda thinking about going to Criminology and Law Enforcement."

Marisol arched one of her brows. "Be a detective?"

Kyle nodded. "Yeah I want to but my records gonna stop it from happening."

Marisol leaned against the table toward him. "Don't sell yourself short, Kyle. You might be surprised where you can go."

Kyle shook his head. "Nah. Not from what I did."

"I'm gonna let you in on a secret." Marisol said. "I was arrested a few years ago for buying marijuana."

Kyle's eyes grew wide. "No way."

Marisol nodded. "Yeah. What was worse, the cops saw everything. I was so panicked the only person I could think to call was your father."

"What happened?" Kyle asked.

"He took the case and the charges were dropped. To this day he still won't tell me why. But that was just one of the times I nearly lost everything." Marisol explained. "Everyone makes mistakes, Kyle. Even your father. But there's always a way to move on from them."

Kyle nodded.

"Is it alright to join to conversation?" Horatio asked, appearing behind Kyle.

"Yeah. Actually I was just about to ask Kyle what his options are for housing." Marisol said.

Kyle froze. He actually hadn't completely thought that one through. For the past few days he'd been staying with a troop buddy. But he could only stay there for so long. "Uh…I…I don't know."

"Where are you staying right now?" Horatio asked.

"On the couch at one of my troop buddies." Kyle answered.

Horatio exchanged glances with Marisol. "What if you stay with us?"

"What?"

"At least until you find your own place." Marisol said. "There's plenty of room with us."

Kyle shook his head. "Nah, no I…I couldn't-"

Horatio smiled. "Kyle, your rooms already been set up."

"My stuff in storage?"

"All of it." Horatio nodded. "Besides, I'm sure your bed sounds better than your friends couch."

Kyle smiled.

"But don't think you're getting out of rent." Marisol said. "Dishes, laundry, and a clean room."

Kyle nodded. "Deal."

Just then Horatio's phone started ringing once more. Horatio rose from the table and answered his phone.

"Guess word spread he was out of court." Kyle said.

Marisol nodded.

Suddenly another phone rang. Marisol turned to her purse and dug out her phone. "Uh oh."

"What?"

"It's my boss. If he's calling me, this can't good." Marisol said. She rose from her chair. "I repeat, don't become a lawyer. I'll be right back."

Kyle nodded. He watched Marisol head toward the exit. He smiled to himself. In a strange way, it almost felt like they were a family. Marisol couldn't replace his real mom, they both knew it. But she was a wonderful stepmom. Always checking in on him, inviting him over to dinner-as a family. It was stability, what he was looking for.

From behind, outside even, Kyle caught the sound of something odd. He turned in his seat, looking out the back exit of the restaurant just behind Marisol. The noise was growing louder, closer. It almost sounded like…the engine of a car.


Horatio walked into the front lobby of the restaurant. Surprisingly there was no one waiting for a table, which provided an excellent empty space for a phone conversation. He opened his phone. "Horatio."

"Horatio, we've got a situation down at Woodlawn Park Cemetery." Tripp said.

"What kind of situation?" Horatio asked.

"The kind with four D.O.A.'s. All of which above ground." Tripp answered.

"I'm on my way." Horatio said.

Suddenly the dining hall of the restaurant exploded into chaos. Horatio first heard the shattering waterfall sounds of glass and walls crashing into the hall. The continuing sound of the crash continued until it came to an abrupt stop. Finally came the recognizable sounds of the screaming injured and terrified.

"What the hell was that?" Tripp asked.

Horatio was already on the move back into the dining hall. In the center of the hall, the source of the chaos was a black Toyota Tacoma. The truck was on lifts; however the crash into the hall had damaged the lift, allowing the front left corner to sink to the ground. Glass, tables, chairs, and china wear, were scattered across the floor. Most of the patrons were on the floor, trying to move from the truck. Several were still lying on the ground, either dead or unconscious.

"Frank I'll call you back." Horatio said. He quickly ended the call and redialed. "This is Lieutenant Caine; I need multiple EMS units and CSI at 3555 SW 8th. We have seriously injured and possible fatalities."

Horatio moved quickly into the tattered remains of the dining hall. He grabbed the discarded napkins and pressed them to the wounded. Many stood in shock, still unable to understand what had transpired merely second ago. Others, who were neither hurt nor in shock, were moving around the hall, trying to help the injured and disoriented. Every chance he could get, Horatio looked around the remains of the restaurant, searching for Kyle and Marisol. But they were so few, he couldn't locate them.

Amidst the sounds of injured and the running car, the sounds of the ambulances could be heard. Horatio looked up from the injured man. Several teams of EMS workers made their way through the dining hall. They separate and began making their way to the severely injured.

"I need some help!"

Horatio looked over his shoulder. "Kyle?"

"Dad, someone's trapped!" Kyle called.

The EMS knelt beside Horatio. "I have him, go."

Horatio rose from the man and headed toward the truck. Kyle was on the ground, trying to lift the fallen wall off a woman's back.. Kyle's face and hair was covered in dust and debris. His hands grasped the base of the wall, but the weight was too much for Kyle alone. Horatio move beside Kyle and grabbed the wall. Together they lived the wall from the woman, freeing her. They dropped the wall in a pile of debris.

Horatio pressed his hand to the woman's neck. He lowered his head, she was dead. "She's gone."

Kyle's shoulders slumped. "No."

Horatio turned to Kyle, taking a better look at him. Amidst the dust and debris, Horatio made out some blood. Whether from the wall or glass it didn't matter. Kyle's hands were cut up, allowing the blood to cover his palms. Horatio grabbed a nearby napkin and wrapped Kyle's hands. Kyle winced, not realizing he was injured.

"Any other cuts?" Horatio asked.

Kyle shook his head. "No."

"Horatio!"

"Frank over here!" Horatio called, standing. "Get EMS to look at that."

Kyle nodded and headed toward the entrance, passing Frank.

"What in the hell happened?" Tripp asked.

"Someone decided Versailles needed a drive through." Horatio answered, moving to an man leading against the wall. He checked the man's pulse, to no avail.

Trip looked around. "How many injured?"

"First guess, twenty, maybe more." Horatio said, standing once again.

Tripp looked at the truck. "Driver gone. Looks like they ran after they crashed."

"Which makes this a hit and run homicide." Horatio said.


let the chaos begin!