Daddy H

Horatio sat at his kitchen table, looking over the newspaper from that day again. He couldn't sleep. He was worried about Jessica and this new guy in her life. So many times she had tried to start a new relationship and it only ended with her heart being broken and running back to Horatio. He couldn't take it happening again. Now this new guy had given her a ring and she still wouldn't tell Horatio who he was.

Horatio walked back to his bedroom, determined to sleep at least a little before his shift started. It didn't take long before he drifted off into a restless sleep of memories.

III

Horatio awoke in the middle of the night. Police instincts told him someone had just entered his room, even though they had been absolutely silent. He could hear the faintest footsteps walking across the carpeting to the side of his bed. He hadn't opened his eyes but he knew the person was too small to be an intruder but too large to be his wife's children. He heard the person's knees pop as they knelt down next to his bed.

"Horatio?" he heard Izzy's small voice say.

"Izzy," Horatio said rolling over and opening his eyes, "What are you doing still awake?"

"I couldn't sleep. Every time I try he's there, shooting my father, stabbing me, throwing me off the bridge. I don't want it to be there anymore. What can I do?"

Horatio's heart broke as he saw the tears running down her face. He sat up and pulled her onto his lap. He held her there as she cried, and wished he could will the pain away.

"I'm afraid there's nothing we can do right now. The memories will fade and the pain will go away some day, but for now its here and we're just going to have to try and cope with it."

"Why did he do it Horatio?" Izzy asked, "Why did he kill my father?"

"They both wanted you. James used force though, and sometimes those that use force are the ones that get the advantage. Your father didn't believe in using violence the way James did. Your father believed he could keep you with love, and he was right. You came back to us."

Horatio thought for a moment about what he would say next. "Did you know your father was going to move you out of Illinois?" Horatio gently asked.

Izzy looked at him in disbelief. "No, I didn't. When? When were we leaving?"

"He was going to take you and move to Michigan to a small town Brian was sure James would have never known about. It's called Adrian, and it's almost on the Ohio state line. You were going to move next month. Brian had just decided the week before he died and he was still working everything out."

Izzy began to sob into Horatio's shoulder. "You mean he wouldn't be dead!" she cried, "It's all my fault Horatio! I should have never listened to James that day I met him. I should have listened to my father and stayed away from him! I should have known better!"

"Izzy, you couldn't have known this was going to happen." Horatio said, smoothing her hair. "You thought you loved James didn't you?" Izzy nodded her head against his neck. "Well, love makes us do some crazy things and we can't always see what's really there because we want to see what we want. You couldn't see the terrible things that James did to you because you thought you loved him. You're not a terrible person because James killed your father, and it will never be your fault. James was the one that shot the gun, not you."

Izzy sat there in silence for a few moments. "Do you hate me?" she practically whispered.

Horatio pulled Izzy away from his body and looked into her mysterious blue eyes. They had been green just a month ago, but when she woke up from the coma they were the same shade of blue as his own. The doctors couldn't explain how it happened, but Horatio knew it had something to do his flesh and blood that now resided within his new daughter.

"I could never hate you Elizabeth Johnson! You were the daughter that I never had and I loved you like my own! Your parents needed someone to help them raise you with your mother so sick. The day they asked me to be your Godfather I was elated! When the doctors said you needed blood right then and there or you would die I gave up my own for you. When you needed a kidney or you would be on dialysis for the rest of your life I gave you mine. Do you know why?" Izzy shook her head. "Because I love you and nothing can change that! You're my world now and always have been!" Horatio embraced Izzy's small frame within his arms. She stood only about four foot nine inches, incredibly small for a child her age of fourteen.

Izzy began to cry again and Horatio held her until she stopped. He pulled her over and laid her down in the bed next to him. The king sized bed was large enough to fit Horatio and Izzy and Horatio's wife, Suzanna. Horatio pulled Izzy close and held her against his body. He could feel her still breathing heavily and the tears running down her cheek.

After awhile she calmed down and Horatio was sure she had cried herself to sleep. Horatio kissed the top of her head and whispered "I love you Elizabeth Johnson and I will protect you until the day I die."
"Caine" Horatio heard her say softly. "I want my last name to be Caine now." Horatio looked into Izzy's drooping eyes as she continued on. "You said I'm your daughter now so I want my name to be the same as yours."

Horatio smiled into her hair. "Alright then, Elizabeth Renee Caine, we'll go and have your name changed."

"Good. When?"

"Soon, we can't go tomorrow, but we'll go as soon as possible."

"Good," Izzy said, drifting closer to sleep, "Because I don't want to be the person I used to be anymore…"

Horatio smiled and held his daughter closer. He felt tears form in his eyes and let them roll down his cheeks. "I love you Izzy Bug."
"I love you, too, Daddy H…." Horatio barely heard Izzy mutter in response.