Disclaimer: I dwell within dream worlds and dream possibilities. However, I don't get paid for doing so. The characters and situations of CSI: Miami & Judging Amy are not mine, at least not while I'm awake.
A/N: Thank you for patience! There will be more, this I promise. The writer's block is better and my lovely students will be going home in a week for Thanksgiving. Now all I need is a new coffee shop and we'll be all set.
Somebody mentioned the chemistry between Horatio and Suzie and suggested them as a 'ship. In this story (and the possible third – I'm not kidding, I've been sketching it) I have no plans to 'ship them, but I like the idea. Maybe in a short-story at some point I'll explore that idea. I just want to let you know it's bubbling somewhere in my imagination.
After an hour of staring out the atrium windows, Maxine decided this waiting was a waste of her valuable time. She had reviewed the file pertaining to the custody of Madison Keaton for the third time and drew a diagram for herself to better understand this family's structure. Mother, child. Paternal uncle as co-parent. Separate residences with the child splitting her time between mother and uncle. Grandmother from another state, no previous contact with the child, demanding custody. Half-brother who seemed to have disappeared into the night with his mother. Father dead in the line of duty; an undercover narcotics officer who had an affair with the child's mother.
Maxine took off her reading glasses. Taking a deep breath, she slid the last file away in the folder.
Such a soap-opera, she thought. People really need to consider how their actions affect their children a little more often. Well, she mused, if they did I guess I'd be out of a job. Again.
"Mrs. Gray?" A man with red hair asked as he approached her from the elevators. He took off his sunglasses and tucked them away in his jacket pocket before extending his hand. "I'm Lt. Horatio Caine. How may I help you?"
Maxine stood and shook Horatio's hand. "Lt. Caine," she said pleasantly. "Good to meet you. I was hoping we could talk about Madison."
Horatio nodded. "Of course," he said. He motioned her back toward Paula at the reception desk. "Let's get you a pass and we can go up to my office."
Paula had the pass waiting when they stepped back to her desk. She handed it to Horatio and passed the sign-in board to Maxine.
"Our desk sergeant, Paula Martin," Horatio introduced. "Paula, Maxine Gray."
"We've met," Paula said, taking the board back from Maxine.
Horatio led Maxine through the crime lab, past trace, and up to his office. He frowned to himself, checking the the lab again in a second glance. From the corner of eye he thought he saw someone, head bent over evidence on the countertop, ears covered by headphones. He shook his head slightly and continued on, Maxine behind him, leaving the empty lab behind.
Maxine took a seat in the chair across from Horatio's desk, settling comfortable with her notepad in the open. Horatio eased himself into his own chair. From inside his desk he took out a slim vocorder and clicked the button.
She eyed the vocorder. "You feel a recording of our conversation is necessary?" she asked.
Horatio smiled tightly to himself and chuckled without humor. "I do," he said.
When he didn't elaborate, Maxine pulled out a sheet of question. "As I'm sure your aware, lieutenant, there is some concern about your niece, Madison Keaton's, custody arrangements. I was hoping you could explain it to me. Also, I'd like to make an appointment to visit your home."
Horatio laced his fingers on the desk. "That can be arranged," he said, his voice noncommittal. "What would you like to ask me?"
Maxine took a notepad from her bag and settled against the back of the chair. She nodded to Horatio. "Let's start at the beginning, then. How did you come to know Madison and take responsibility for her support? You are, after all, her uncle, so this is an unusual situation."
Horatio pressed his lips tightly together as he planned his answer. Maxine sat expectantly, face neutral, watching him. Horatio tilted his head to the side. "Suzie asked for assistance following a traffic stop," he said. "During the course the investigation, I met her daughter. She bears a striking resemblance to my mother and, knowing Suzie's friendship with Raymond, I ran a genetic test to confirm her relationship." Horatio paused, leaning forward on the desk with hands folded. "She is my niece. Therefore, her well-being is my responsibility. Suzie has become a dear friend and I have an interest in her well-being, also. Does this answer your question?"
Maxine offered her helpful smile again. "Well, I can understand taking on the financial responsibility for your brother." She checked a fact sheet from her file folder. "He was killed in March of 2001, correct?" Horatio nodded in reply; that particular fiction needed to continue. "However, sharing custody with Suzie. Now why does an uncle do that when he's not required to do so?"
Horatio shifted ever-so-slightly in his chair and fixed Maxine with a stare. "Because," he said slowly, "because she is my niece and Suzie and I have agreed to raise her together."
"Still, you have no other children," Maxine pushed. "I see that you're divorced. You also are in charge of the crime lab. I'm having trouble understanding why, especially when you don't have to do so."
Horatio slid Maxine's card across his desk, the better to read it. Finally, he said, "Mrs. Gray, do you have children?"
"Three," she told him. "Plus, I raised my brother's son."
There was silence as they continued to sit at the desk. The tape in the vocorder ground onward.
"Your brother's son," Horatio repeated to her. "Then maybe, you do understand." Maxine blinked. "Mrs. Gray, Madison needs a father and I love my niece. Last spring we nearly lost her to cancer. Her life is only just beginning. I decided I wanted to be part of that life, rather than a man who just sends a check to her mother for someone else's actions."
They stared at each for a very long minute, waiting the other to make the next statement. From long experience, Horatio knew not to offer information.
Maxine reviewed her notes and tried that smile again. It quickly fell away. "Yes, Lt. Caine," she said at last. "I do understand. Now, I need you to give me something that will make a judge understand."
Horatio chuckled without humor. He raised his eyes from his steepled fingers. "Alright," he told her. "Tell the judge I love my niece as my own daughter and to that end, I will do everything I am capable of doing to raise her, provide for her, protect her and educate her." Horatio opened his desk drawer and withdrew a file folder. He passed the folder to Maxine. "Inside is a listing of my finances, my bank statements and stock holdings. Also, copies of my past performance reviews from the department." He tapped the folder. "Kenwall informed me what you would be looking for in your assessment. I believe all the pertinent documents are here."
Maxine opened the plain folder and quickly scanned the contents. "I must say, lieutenant, I'm impressed," she said. "Normally it takes a month before I can get this information from a family."
"That would be another month in which Madison is afraid someone is going to take her away from her mother," Horatio told her. "Not if I can help it."
Maxine tucked the folder away for further review. She pulled a small calendar from her bag. "Good," she said, opening the pages. "So when can we schedule a home visit? I would like to see Madison interacting with you."
Horatio reached inside his jacket pocket and took out his PDA, flicking the top open and calling up his calendar. "We can do that," he told her.
They took a few minutes to find a Saturday afternoon for Maxine to visit. Finishing up, Maxine, added, "Lieutenant, I seem to have heard you have a girlfriend."
Horatio nodded, a half-smile on the corner of his lips. "Yep. Katie DeMark. She's a writer at the Herald."
"Do you think it would be possible for me to meet her, also?" Maxine asked.
The smile vanished and Horatio glanced at Maxine with concern in his eyes.
"Come now, Lt. Caine," Maxine said reasonably. "If this woman is part of your life, she is part of your niece's. I would like to know her a little when I make my recommendations."
"That can be arranged, also," Horatio said. "I'll ask her to stop by during your visit."
"Thank you again," she said, standing up. "I've taken up enough of your time as it is."
Horatio stood with her. "You're very welcome. You'll be meeting with Suzie this evening?"
Maxine nodded as they left his office and headed through the lab. "Yes," she said. "Ms. Barnam seemed very pleasant on the phone. She has a tendency to speak quickly."
This time there was a humor to Horatio's chuckle. He made a mental note to call Suzie after the upcoming visit. "Only when she's nervous," Horatio explained. "Suzie is an intelligent young woman. You'll see that she'll slow down as you visit with her."
They reached the doors to the atrium and Paula's domain. Maxine shifted her bag and took in the sight of Horatio, a tall man with her hair and slight slouch. Now why couldn't Amy find someone like this? she wondered. "I'm sure I will," Maxine agreed.
Horatio opened the door for her and they shook hand. Just as Maxine stepped into the atrium, another tall, slender man with dark hair approached. Horatio's face became stern and blank at the other man's appearance.
"Oh, you must be Maxine Gray from Children and Family Services," he said smoothly, almost as if this was a pleasant surprise. "I'm Det. Rick Stetler from the Internal Affairs Bureau." He nodded toward Horatio, who was now frowning. "I heard you were meeting with our head of CSI."
Maxine turned from Horatio, with a confused glance back to him, as Stetler addressed her. "Yes," she said noncommittally. "We've had a nice visit."
"Good, good," Stetler said, rubbing at his jaw. "I just wanted to let you know I'm available at anytime if you have questions." He opened his wallet and took out a business card which he handed to Maxine.
Horatio's jaw worked soundlessly. Stetler glanced from Maxine to Horatio, looking smug.
"Thank you, detective," Maxine said pleasantly. The false smile had returned. "I'll remember that." She tucked the card away. "Gentlemen, if you will excuse me?"
"Of course, Mrs. Gray," Horatio said readily.
Maxine returned the visitor's pass to Paula and she stepped on the elevator. The doors slid shut.
Horatio turned to Stetler. "Rick," he said slowly, "stay out of this. It does not concern you."
Stetler folded his arms. "Oh really?" he countered. "Just like Yelina's whereabouts don't concern me? Where is she, Horatio?"
Horatio met Stetler's eyes. "She's with her family and she and Ray Jr. are safe."
"Yeah, I've heard that before," Stetler said. "I think I have the right to know where that is."
Horatio grinned sadly and shook his head. "No," he said, "you don't."
With that he turned and walked back to the lab, leaving Stetler alone in the atrium.
