Chapter 12 A Day of Rest and Renewal

Disclaimer: I do not lay claim to any of the characters as seen in CSI Miami, and my fic is written to be fun and enjoyable and not meant to offend the writers/creators of CSI Miami or the actors who play the different characters. I do ask that no one use my original character as she is my own creation. My fic is not to be posted anywhere else unless written permission is obtained from me.

Acknowledgements: I'd like to thank my collaborator, Flora Belle Jardiniere, for all the help they've given me during the draft process of this piece of fiction. She contributed both encouragement and content when I was stuck. To Garth Brooks for "To Make You Feel My Love" that inspired this chapter.

Author's Note - the Dolphin is known to represent family, togetherness, and happiness as well as freedom, playfulness, peace and love.

Out on the pier, Sara prepped her line to cast out as Horatio scanned the water's surface where his bobber sat. She loved him in his usual business attire, but there was something so enticing about him when the redhead dressed in jeans and a tee shirt. For him, he enjoyed her tank tops and denim shorts that teased his hungry eyes. After she cast out, she tied her hair up in a ponytail and stuck it through the back of her baseball cap. Horatio peered at her over the rims of his shades as she worked. As he absorbed all he could of her, he noticed his son in the distance. He called out to him hoping the boy would hear him. Of course, the boy didn't respond but cast an angry glare in his direction and headed off through the crowd. Sara noticed the dejected look on Horatio's face.

"Was that…?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Stay here. Watch my line."

Sara was such a determined woman when she set her mind to something and if anything – that boy was going to hear her out. She had heard plenty from Horatio that they were treading on unstable ground since the ammunitions case that almost cost Horatio his life, took Kyle out of harm's way from the threats of Ron Saris, but resulted in the disappearance of Kyle's mother.

"Kyle! Kyle! Hold up!" Sara called out as she sprinted after the boy.

Kyle had thrown himself onto one of the park benches holding back his anger. He would have done anything to put his fist through a wall or something. Sara sat down by his side.

"Hey, my name is Sara Dolante," she said.

"You know my dad, don't you? I saw you with him."

He was fast to get to the point.

"I do know your dad. I met him as a witness in a case he was working on and then I spent some time employed in his lab. Now, I'm working a case he's helping me with."

"So, what are you doing with him now? Screwing him?"

"Excuse me, but that's not very nice of you. I'm not screwing him. We are friends and simply enjoying a gorgeous day outside today while we discuss work."

"He always works."

"Well, maybe he'd take more time off to spend with you if you let him. From what I heard, you run off every time he tries to talk to you."

"I wish he'd get off my back and leave me alone."

"I don't understand how he's on your back when you are never around him."

Her words struck back with equal sting. Kyle quickly realized he wasn't going to strike without her striking back.

"Hey, I know things are rough between you and your dad, but at least you have a dad who cares," Sara said.

"Why won't he leave me alone?"

"Why did you stop? You could have ignored me and continued on your way.

Kyle shrugged his shoulders unsure of how to respond.

"Maybe a part of you wants to make him hurt for something he didn't do to you. Or, maybe you really want to get to know him but don't know how."

"I don't need a father. I've never had one and I certainly don't need him now."

"That's not fair. I don't think you are giving your father a chance at all," Sara said.

Kyle looked angrily into her eyes.

"How is he really my father besides donating DNA to make me?"

"Now, you listen good right now. Your father had no idea you even existed. Your mother didn't bother to inform him about you. And I am sure if he did know, he'd have made sure to be a part of your life."

"What do you care?"

"I care because I've gotten to know your dad pretty well. He's a good man and you should be happy to have him in your life. It's more than I had."

Kyle looked into her eyes squinting as the afternoon sun blazed down upon them.

"What do you mean?"

"My dad killed himself when I was seven years old. Do you know what that's like?"

"I wouldn't know. I spent nearly all of my life in and out of foster homes with people who didn't care about me."

"I'm so sorry, but Kyle – your dad desperately wants to be a part of your life. He knows he can never make up for the time lost, but he can certainly be a father to you now. He's trying but you won't. My dad copped out on my mom and I. He thought it better to take the selfish route and blow his brains out for me to find after school."

"Why?"

"Pride. Mom made more money than him and he thought he was supposed to be the bread winner."

"That's a stupid reason to kill yourself."

"It was. Your dad didn't know about you, or I am certain he would have been there for you a lot sooner. Your mom didn't bother to find him to tell him about you."

"I wish people would stop knocking my mom. She did what she thought was right for me."

"By dumping you off?"

Her words stung him hard.

"You can forgive her for ditching you and you can't forgive your father for not knowing about you and wanting to try to be a father to you now?"

"He will never make up for the past."

"No, he won't – he can't. But, you both can certainly start fresh here and now."

She could see the tenseness in his eyes and the way he slouched over. He was not going to win this battle of wits – not by a long shot.

"Your mom shacked up with that loser Ron Saris who saw no use for you except being in the way of the money he married your mother for. Your father almost died to protect you from what Saris certainly would have done to you. Your mother didn't care too much about that. I know this sounds harsh, Kyle, but your mom could have done more for you – like finding your father. You have no idea how caring and giving he is. He did so much for me when I almost died – thanks to Ron."

Kyle looked into her eyes feeling the sincerity in her voice. He began to let down his defenses.

"What did Ron ever do to you?" Kyle asked curiously.

"Ron almost killed me. He attacked me in ways a man should never do to a woman."

"He raped you?"

Sara lowered her head taking in a deep breath. This boy was smart and intuitive.

"Yes, he did – he tried to – and then left me to die on a hot beach. Your dad rescued me and stayed by my side the entire time I was in the hospital – all because he cares so much for the people he deals with."

Kyle was trying to process all the information Sara was readily handing him.

"Your father goes out of his way for the people he serves because he cares so much – and he goes even further for those he loves. I've seen him do some remarkable stuff when on the job – like how hard he works to get criminals who hurt other people."

She could tell he never really heard these things about Horatio, or that he refused to listen.

"But, he killed Ron and now Mom is missing."

"You need to give him a chance to explain. Kyle, I don't have all the details on what happened during that time, but your father deserves that opportunity. He risked his life for you and almost died because of it – all because he loves you and wanted to protect you. Your mom – I don't know what to say about her except that she had an odd way of showing she cared. I got the impression she was only out for herself."

The boy lowered his head shamefully.

"I know you must think I'm being a total bitch, but I call the shots as I see them."

She put her hand on his shoulder rubbing it gently.

"Look, I know it's going to take time, but I think you need to offer him the opportunity to show you what he's all about."

"Where do you fit into things?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are you his girlfriend?"

Sara took a deep breath. The boy was probing for more than she thought was appropriate at this stage.

"Your father and I are good friends – and colleagues."

He eyed her suspiciously.

"Ok, I can see you are too smart for this. I care a great deal about him. But, that has nothing to do with your relationship with him. I'd never stand in the way of you and him."

"Miss Dolante, I don't know if I can forgive him for what happened."

"Kyle – for one, call me Sara, and you need to try. At least offer him some time to really talk to you. Maybe you would learn a lot about each other and what happened to at least understand. Constantly running from him isn't going to fix things and all it will do is poison your soul and continue to break your father's heart."

"I wish he knew how I hate that mom is gone – that he made her run away."

"Kyle, I don't know all the specifics about what happened, but I doubt he'd do such a thing. It would be out of character for him to chase her off."

"If you are such good friends, why haven't you talked about it?"

"Because that's his private history and he hasn't wanted to share it – and I won't make him. It isn't right. Besides, I was just so happy to learn he was still alive."

"You really do care for him, don't you? You wouldn't be here talking to me if you didn't."

"I do care for him, Kyle. Your dad means a lot to me. But, will you just think about spending some time with him and really listening to him?"

"Maybe - Sara."

His voice was tainted with humor.

"Good," she said as she ruffled up his hair.

"Um, I have to get back to him before he thinks I ditched him for a younger man," Sara joked. "Maybe you'd come down? We're fishing."

Kyle smiled feeling a bit more at ease. Sara returned the smile realizing that even though Kyle was now eighteen years old, he was still a boy inside – a boy who needed his father more than ever. They walked back to the pier.

"Um, Lieutenant, I followed this stray and thought he'd like a little time in our company," Sara said.

Kyle lowered his head shamefully.

"Dad."

Horatio shifted his weight nervously.

"Son."

"I'm sorry, Dad. I… We… I want to talk with you."

The concerned look on Horatio's face was enough to set the boy's mind at ease.

"It's ok, son."

"Maybe you two want some time alone?" Sara asked.

"It's ok. You set me straight," Kyle said.

"Hun, as I told you, I'd never get in the way. You got a gem of a dad here," she replied.

Kyle looked at his father and grabbed onto Horatio hugging him tightly.

"It's gonna be ok," Horatio said softly.

It was time for the healing process to truly begin.