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The next four days came and went without much trouble. Jenny Cole hadn't been found despite the police's best efforts. It seemed that she had gone underground. However, everyone knew she was just waiting for another chance to get to Horatio. She was probably still in Miami, but it was a big city and Jenny could probably find someone to help her hide.

At Natalia's place Horatio was improving very well. He was more awake and was starting to protest about being bed all the time. He insisted that Kyle and Natalia didn't have to be two mother hen's watching his every move. They weren't really buying it though.

It was early morning and Horatio was the only one awake. Kyle had fallen asleep on the couch in the living room and Natalia was asleep in her bedroom. Horatio was bored and wanted to do something. He knew he needed a shower; he had been putting it off for far too long in fear of showing his many scars. Only Alexx knew about his scars and some of his past. Horatio didn't want to risk losing Kyle or anyone else if they saw it; they would probably think he was disgusting and hate him. Wasn't he after all a rotten excuse of a son like his father had always said? Wasn't he meant to fail at everything he did? His father had always told him he would grow up to be a failure.

Horatio shook his head and sighed. He slowly and carefully slid his legs over the edge of the bed and winced a little as his wounds stretched. He carefully lifted himself up from the bed and stood on his feet without having anything to hold on to. He swayed a little as he took a few steps, but at least he didn't fall. Happy with his progress Horatio went to the en-suite bathroom he had in his room. Silently he closed the door behind him, but didn't lock it; just in case he needed help back.

Horatio was happy to be on his own a little and slowly got undressed. He left his pants and t-shirt on the toilet for now and started the shower. He liked hot showers and when he stepped inside he sighed in relief. It felt like heaven. He washed himself slowly, since he was in no rush. When he was done, he realized he had forgot to bring fresh clothes with him. His son and Eric had fetched clothes for Horatio two days ago; several different pants and shirts since nobody knew how long he would need to stay with Natalia yet.

Horatio wrapped his towel around his waist and opened the bathroom door, he smirked to himself when he realized that neither Kyle nor Natalia had heard the shower; but he knew that when they found out later they would give him a tongue lashing.

He swayed a little as he walked towards he closet where his clothes were. He put on a pair of boxers and pants; he was just about to put on a shirt when he heard a loud gasp from the doorway. He spun around too quickly and lost his balance. He sunk down on the bed and closed his eyes hard. In the doorway stood his son and he had a pretty good idea why Kyle had gasped.

Kyle on the other hand, got over the shock of seeing the scars covering his father's back and ran to help him. He had just woke up and gone to see if his father was awake. Now he thought about how to handle the situation.

"Dad! What are you doing out of bed on your own? What if you fall? Why didn't you wake me?" Kyle asked, noticing that his father refused to look at him, "And why the hell do you have scars? What happened to you?"

Horatio fought the onslaught of emotions as he put on his shirt and sat on the bed with Kyle next to him. Would Kyle hate him now? His father was right. Old man Caine had a son that was a failure. After all, Horatio hadn't been able to keep his mother and brother safe, or his friends or even his wife. Everyone that got close to him ended up dying sooner or later. He was a jinx.

"Dad?" Kyle asked.

Kyle wasn't stupid. In those seconds he had seen the scars he had seen that they were the perfect size of a belt and they looked old. He didn't want to think that his father had suffered abuse in his life, especially as a child. But Kyle's gut told him that Horatio had been through hell growing up.

"Yes?" Horatio whispered.

His whole body was stiff as he tried to calm himself down. He wanted to run and hide, but he wasn't really capable of it physically and mentally he wanted to stay. Part of him knew he needed to face his son after what he had seen.

"It's okay. You don't need to tell me about it." Kyle said, "If you're not ready it's okay."

Horatio nodded.

"But Dad! What were you thinking getting out of bed and showering all by yourself?" Kyle exclaimed, "What if you had passed out?"

"I just... I wanted to do something by myself." Horatio said quietly, "I'm not an invalid, Kyle."

"I know that."

"And I don't want help showering. I don't need it."

"Okay, alright." Kyle sighed, "Bust just... next time you want to get out of bed, call for me or Natalia."

"I don't want to stay in bed all day. I'm getting stronger." Horatio said, a hint of frustration in his voice.

"Alright." Kyle sighed, "You're right... want breakfast?"

Horatio smiled. He knew his son didn't want him to dwell on bad thoughts and wanted to occupy him.

"Yes, please." Horatio said.

Kyle grinned and steadied his father as they walked together to the kitchen. While Kyle made breakfast with toast, eggs and coffee his father watched.

The smell of coffee woke up Natalia and she walked into the kitchen just minutes before breakfast was done. She smiled at the two Caine men and they smiled back. Kyle's smile was big and proud; he had managed not to burn anything. Horatio's smile was hesitant and shy.

She sat down across the table from Horatio.

"How are you two feeling today?" She asked.

"Good." Horatio replied.

"Good." Kyle said as he gave everyone a plate of food, "Guess what dad did this morning?"

Horatio blushed and looked down at his food.

"What?"

"Took a shower... by himself." Kyle said, "While we were asleep."

"Horatio!" Natalia gasped, "What if-"

"I've already received a tongue lashing from Kyle." Horatio interrupted.

"It was hardly a tongue lashing." Kyle snorted.

"You could have injured yourself more! You could have passed out from being dizzy or slipped in the shower!" Natalia exclaimed, "Horatio, I understand that you don't like being nursed like this, but please please please tell us next time."

"Okay." Horatio sighed, "I will."

There was a moment of silence as everyone began eating.

"So that's why you smell of my shampoo." Natalia smirked.

She and Kyle chuckled as Horatio went as red as his hair. As they continued with breakfast and small talk Kyle observed his father and Natalia; as he had done the whole time they had been here.

It was obvious for everyone else but them that they were drawn to each other. Natalia was a bit more flirty than Horatio. His father would get this dreamy-eyed look sometimes when he looked at Natalia and then blush. Kyle knew his father was afraid that people would feel he was betraying Marisol by finding love again. However, the truth was that everyone wanted Horatio to be happy again and not spend the rest of his life alone.

Natalia was shy and a bit afraid to make a serious move. Her experience with her ex-husband Nick had made her afraid of love. Although she knew that Horatio would never treat her like Nick had done.

-I-

It was later in the afternoon when Natalia was cleaning and Horatio sat on the couch watching. He had tried to help but had been ordered to just sit down and do nothing. Kyle had been ordered out of the apartment to get a change of scenery. He was having lunch with some friends and for protection he had two officers shadowing him; just in case.

So while Horatio tried to focus on the newspaper he was reading he found his eyes being drawn to Natalia as she dusted some shelves and mopped the floor. When she reached high on the shelves her shirt would ride up and reveal some of her belly. Horatio's eyes were glued to her and he swallowed hard.

Even more difficult was when she sometimes had to bend over or get down on her knees to reach the lower shelves. Horatio would get a splendid look of her behind and sometimes even a peek down her cleavage. He blushed even though Natalia had no idea he was peeking.

He was even starting to sweat a little and swallowed hard again, he had to focus on something else. He could not be looking at his friend and co-worker like that!

"Hello!" Frank called out as he entered the apartment.

Horatio snapped his head towards the door. Natalia answered Frank with a smile and then decided she was done for today. Frank sat down on the couch next to Horatio while Natalia went to the kitchen to make some coffee.

"How are you, H?"

"Better." Horatio said, "Just a little bored since there is not much to do... besides reading the newspaper."

"You're still on the first page." Frank smirked and Horatio opened his mouth to say something and then closed it again.

"I bet you had other things to do just now." Frank said, "Like watching Nat for example."

"No, certainly not." Horatio huffed.

"Right." Frank snorted, "Anyway, I guess you wish you could join the investigation right?"

"Yes."

"I understand. I'm the same way." Frank sighed, "Unfortunately we're not getting any closer to finding Jenny."

"Need me to come in with a pair of fresh eyes?" Natalia asked, as she joined the men with a cup of coffee for each of them.

"Can't hurt." Frank said, "We got her car, which is full of hair, fingerprints, food and so on, all with DNA leading to Jenny. However, it seems there were photos in the car too. But they have been burned apparently."

"But the car is intact?" Horatio asked.

"Yes, but we found evidence that she burned the photos in the car, probably when she felt us getting closer. We haven't been able to recover what was on the photos." Frank sighed, "My guess is though, that it was photos of H."

"Most likely." Natalia said, "I could come in tomorrow and look."

"Great! Calleigh asked me to ask you anyway. She wants you to go over the car." Frank said, "Maybe you find something that we other's haven't. Fresh eyes are always good."

Horatio looked between Natalia and Frank. He knew it was a good idea bringing Natalia in, but part of him also worried that something would happen while she was away. What if Jenny attacked her? What if Jenny came to the apartment?

Another thing that worried Horatio was that if Jenny remained hidden for much longer, the Chief wouldn't sanction Horatio hiding anymore. He would need to get back home and it didn't really feel like a safe place anymore. He was still not his old self physically and couldn't really protect himself if he could barely stand or walk without feeling dizzy.

"Has nobody seen her?" Horatio asked, "Her face has been all over the news every day."

"Plenty of people have seen her, but that was before she abandoned her car." Frank said, "After that she has vanished."

"She is still in Miami." Horatio said.

"That's what we think too." Frank sighed, "But she is like a slippery little eel. Probably has some friend helping her hide."

"We'll get her." Natalia said and gently rubbed Horatio's knee, "We'll get her sweetie."

-I-

Jenny did have a friend. An old woman, blind and almost deaf. She had no idea what Jenny looked like or even that her name was Jenny. For old missus Gates, Jenny was known as Laila and she was hiding from her abusive husband. Missus Gates had even loaned Jenny her car. Jenny had told her it was so she could get to work, but in reality she was watching someone.

Jenny still had no idea where Horatio was hiding, but she had been watching the lab when little Caine, as she sometimes called him, had emerged from the lab talking to Calleigh.

Kyle had got into his car; with a patrol car following him. Jenny had also followed. Now she was watching the young man have lunch at an outdoor café with two friends. Relaxed and laughing. No doubt his father had told him to get some fresh air and spend some time with his friends. It meant two things; Horatio was getting better and Kyle might go outside again. The more Kyle was outside the better chances Jenny had of taking him out.

Jenny was armed with a gun now and she knew how to use it. She had practiced while growing up and she wouldn't miss. It would be so easy to take that fucking little shit out right now. But she knew she had to wait.

Wait for Kyle to feel safer and lose the officers shadowing him.

Wait for Horatio to get better and leave from wherever he was hiding.

Maybe the perfect way to get to Horatio was through his precious little son. All Jenny needed was the perfect opportunity.

To be continued...