Chapter 26 - Moving Forward

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. She contributed a great portion of the writing to assist in fleshing out this chapter.

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

With the Waterson trial completed, Mr. Waterson being sentenced to serve a long time in jail as well as the rest of the Mala Noche clan, a loud and clear message went out to all local gangs even considering drug trafficking in the city of Miami – the law would be watching out for them and they would be taken down! Horatio was so proud of his little Sara. She did a bang up job giving her testimony on all levels – as a professional biologist, as an under cover agent, and as a concerned citizen of the Earth and the city of Miami.

When all was said and done, the couple sighed a collective breath of contentment – the case was over and life could move forward. Focus was set on the path that lie ahead, and with that, Horatio requested a special conversation with his lady when she came in to visit her friends at CSI.

"I wondered if you thought about when you'd like to… to get married."

Sara hesitated. Wow, she really hadn't thought about it. Her mind immediately screamed that she wanted to do so as quickly as possible, but she was tongue-tied at the moment. This instantly drew concern from the redheaded Lieutenant. He nervously shifted his stance before addressing her.

"You aren't afraid, are you?" he asked.

"Why would I be afraid?"

Horatio wanted to tell her he knew what she was feeling, but he didn't want to add to her deliberations. He wouldn't push – he'd accept whatever decision she ended up making. Yet, he wasn't sure he would handle her rejecting him at this point.

"I just want to be sure you know what you are getting into – with me," she said.

He grasped her hands thumbing the engagement ring on her left hand. As he glanced at it sparkling in the sunlight that drenched his office, he said"I do, Sara. I do."

Oh, hearing the phrase "I do" sent shivers up her back. This was really going to happen and the Lieutenant didn't want to wait. She could tell he was anxious to move forward quickly perhaps out of fear of losing her somehow. He'd suffered so many losses in his life and she could completely understand the fear. However, she began to question herself again – would she make the transition from girlfriend and lover to wife and life partner to his satisfaction?

"Horatio, you know I worry about how I've messed things up when it came to men. I don't want to do that with you."

"Are you having second thoughts?"

"Absolutely not! I'm just afraid of screwing it up with you. I don't want to do that."

He pulled her close in reassurance realizing Sara still was insecure in her abilities to take that final plunge – not so much in becoming man and wife, but in her ability to fulfill her role in the partnership. There were big changes coming for both of them – a solidification of their relationship, a unification of their lives – no longer would they live life alone – and it certainly scared Sara. Horatio had experienced marriage before – even though it was terribly brief – and he had experienced deep love before. Sara had not – until now. Marriage would certainly challenge her previous views of what life would be like.

"I know you have your work and I know you will need to be away from time to time – and I accept that." He looked upon her lifting her chin with his finger until their eyes met. "We love each other and I have no doubt we'll manage. We've spent nearly a month living under the same roof, and I don't mean to speak for you, but I think we're doing ok."

"You mean that?"

"I do." He watched a broad smile cross her face as a sense of relief washed over her – there was that phrase again. "In fact, I think we should make it official as soon as possible."

"Horatio, something tells me you already have everything ready to go. Is there time for me to get Shannon, Kit, and Tyler here to witness our union?"

Sara was just way to perceptive when it came to Horatio.

"Sara, I admit I went ahead with plans. I guess I am just so anxious to make you my wife."

The excitement in his voice was priceless. And yet, his voice informed her that he was indeed feeling a little insecure – he was afraid of loosing her.

"How does a sunset wedding on the beach next Friday sound to you?"

She was shocked. That was exactly what she had been wishing they could have. Yet, they never had discussed the actual ceremony. She had to assume he knew her just as well as she knew him.

"Um, if I haven't figured out by now that you love the sounds and smells of the sea, then I've been living on another planet," he stated proudly. "In fact, I am having a section of Biscayne Beach sanctioned off just for us. I want you to become my wife next week."

"Yes, Horatio. Yes!" she said with great excitement. There was no time to think – he made all the plans and they were perfect – and there was plenty of time to get her friends down to Miami.

"Have you a dress, yet?"

"Of course not, silly," Sara rebuffed gently, "It's been in the back of my mind that I do need to do some shopping, but I've been far too busy dreaming of a certain redheaded Lieutenant and dealing with Mr. Waterson and dodging more bullets to make the time to look. So, I guess since you have already made all the plans and we are settled on them, then I better hop to it."

"Would you please wear white? I know it's a bit old-fashioned, but..." he stammered in embarrassment.

Sara's gamine grin poked through her happy tears as she empathized with the now red-faced redhead standing next to her. She had no intention of wearing any other color, as these would be her first and last nuptials in this lifetime. So she said sweetly,

"Of course I'm wearing white, my love. I'm a first and last bride, so I wouldn't dream of wearing any other color. I'm just surprised that you're so shy about this subject, since you've been married once already."

"Mari and I never discussed any of the plans, Sara. We agreed to marry quickly and both of us just showed up at the courthouse for a short ceremony before a justice of the peace. There's one other request I have, if you'd oblige me, sweetheart..."

The poor man was hopelessly tongue-tied when it came to discussing anything remotely related to marriage. He'd obviously been alone way too long, still Sara quietly stood and waited for him to make his request, knowing full well she'd do whatever he asked just to see him smile at her tenderly in that special way he had. When he was still at a loss for words, she prodded him softly, asking,

"Are we saying our vows from a canoe in the middle of the 'glades? Whilst hanging upside down from bungee cords? What? Now I'm dying to know."

Horatio looked dimly down on his bride-to-be, his mind on his first wife. He had to forcibly clear his head to ask this question correctly, or risk offending her. "Um, uh," he stammered hoarsely, "I'd like us to be married properly by a priest. I have a special one in mind. He's a cardinal of the church I attended in New York. He's in Miami next week and I've asked him if he'd marry us. I figured..."

"I was wondering how to broach the subject with you, anyway. I'm not big on religion even though I was raised by strict Catholics." She looked deeply into those beautiful blue eyes as he waited for her to consider the methods by which their binding would be done. "Horatio, let's do this the right way and have your friend wed us."

Horatio breathed a sigh of relief that spoke volumes to his beloved. He'd really been nervous of this request because he didn't know how she felt about being married by a Catholic priest. It wasn't something they'd discussed, so she wasn't surprised at his nervousness. According to Calleigh and the others, their leader was a deeply spiritual man who swore an oath to protect and watch over Miami 's hard-working citizens, protect them from evil, and speak for those who'd already been victimized.

His faith had been badly shaken for several years, first by the loss of his partner Tim Speedle in a jewelry store heist, then first wife to a drug lord, then the near loss of his brother-in-law to an assassin's bullet, his brother to Riaz few years later, and finally the near loss of his own life while bringing down the notorious Ron Saris just last year. But he seemed to be making a steady, if somewhat wobbly recovery nowadays.

Sara reached up a delicate hand and gently traced the arc of sweat that had begun to emerge along his furrows; this led to a prolonged kiss that took her breath away for several seconds. When he finally released her, she was flushed a brilliant red hue from their exertion. God how she loved this man holding her! More than she'd ever thought it possible to love someone.

"Oh, and Horatio," she asked shyly, "I have a request of you, too. It's a superstition of mine that I've had for a long time. I know it flies in the face of your faith a little, but please wear this. You know I have a thing for whales, and dolphins symbolize family and togetherness. I know it's a little silly, but..." Here she handed him a small, sterling silver pin of a pair of dolphins. When he saw the tender expression on her face, he knew it was very special to her and wondered who'd given it to her. "Horatio, I have great interest in Greek legends and mythology as well as Native American views of the natural world. So, as a special prayer to the water god, Poseidon, would you wear this for me?"

"Sara, honey, who gave this to you? It's beautiful."

"My Great Aunt Matilda left it to me in her will when she passed away a few years ago. Of all my family, she understood me the best, because she actually bothered to listen to my ideas when I spoke to her. She was a college professor and one of her specialties was Greek and Roman mythology." Here she smiled mistily up at her giant and entwined her loving arms around his trim waist, seeking both his warmth and his kiss.

He'd just bent his head to answer her silent request when the 321 call came over his pager. He lifted his head regretfully from her lips, sighing deeply as he strapped on his Beretta for yet another day on the job. "Sometimes," he thought angrily, "I'd love to give this job the heave ho."

"Horatio," Sara asked timidly, "do you think the Cardinal will allow me to marry you without having practiced the religion as I was originally raised to do? I do know there is a rule against worshiping other gods."

"Sweetheart, I'm sure my lady will be happily embraced. I'm honored that you made your request, and I'll gladly wear the pin. I take it as proof that you're starting to trust me with your more private side."

Sara just stood there; the joyful tears streaming down her face. How could she possibly love this gentle giant any more than she already did? Yet somewhere deep within her soul, she knew that every day would only deepen that feeling; maybe finally freeing her to accept the love he was offering without reservations.

"I'll see you at home," he said before stealing one last kiss.

"Um, Horatio, I want to talk to Kyle about our plans," Sara stated as he was opening the door to leave.

Coming to a quick halt in the doorway, Horatio did a double take. "Without me?" he asked sadly.

"Horatio, honey, I think the boy and I need some time alone. I really want to feel him out – to make sure he's ok with us being together. He's been through so much and I will not do anything to stand in the way of your still developing relationship with him."

Stepping back into the room, he looked confused.

"You'd seriously give us up?"

"Yes, Horatio. I would."

Horatio was astounded by her reply. Panic began to fill his heart. What if Kyle didn't accept them together? What if the boy made him choose between having his son or having a wife? Oh, dear lord, what was he going to do?

"Horatio, I doubt he'll find fault with our union, but I want to talk with him alone – to show him I have no intentions of stealing you from him or not being completely open and honest with him. I want him to trust me."

"OK, Sweetie. I have to go, so we'll have to discuss this later."

Sara also realized she had some shopping to do. The man amazed her. He had proven how much he loved her by making all the plans for the wedding without her even knowing, but the incredible fact of the matter was that everything was as she wanted it to be – a sunset wedding on the beach. All she needed was a dress now – and to call her friends to be present when she wed her man next week. Then, she called Kyle on his cell phone and asked if he'd like to go out into the Glades to observe some of the lizards she was continuing to census to determine population size. Horatio was a bit uptight over her not inviting him, but she wanted some time to bond with the boy a little bit better. And the only way she could do that was having some time alone with him.

As Sara drove her Toyota Tacoma, she prompted some discussion by asking him about some of the sketches she'd seen in his room at Yelina's.

"I love to draw," Kyle said.

"I hope you don't mind, but your father has shown me some of your work. It's really good."

"There's not much work for sketch artists, but I was thinking of maybe studying criminal law and becoming a sketch artist for MDPD."

"Oh, that would excite your father. You'd be excellent for that!"

Pulling over to the side of a promising area, they walked the hard path scanning the area for the elusive invasive reptiles.

"Kyle, there's something I need to know. Your father and I are…"

She was quickly interrupted. "Sara, I know my father is marrying you. He told me right after you both came home from New Mexico. I'm happy for you – really, I am."

"Kyle, I want you to know that after we marry, I want to adopt you – officially. But, I need to be sure you are ok with me being with your father. I know that your relationship with him is still blossoming, and I am so happy that it's on a good positive path."

"That's all thanks to you. You really made me open my eyes. Sara, you really want to adopt me?"

The thought of having a mom – even if she wasn't his biological mom – thrilled and scare him all at the same time.

"I want to be there for you. Over the last few months, we've gotten to know each other. But, marriage changes things and I need to know that even though you are Horatio's son, I'm soon to become his wife – and I want to be your adoptive mom. It's not going to be right if we are not all in this together."

"Miss Sara," Kyle started as he leapt into her arms, "all I have ever wanted is a real family."

"Your dad and I intend on giving you just that."

Kyle smiled happily. For the first time in his life, he felt like he could let his guard down. Sara had an uncanny way of breaking through the tough outer defenses of the men around her. She made Kyle feel safe – just as Horatio did the same for her.

"When is the big day?" he asked curiously.

"Next Friday afternoon – sunset at the beach. Your dad is so excited he already set everything up."

The boy bowed his head. Part of him felt a touch of sorrow for his missing mother. She wasn't the strongest person in the world, and he couldn't help but feel a touch of guilt in betraying her by accepting this stranger as his new mother. Sara could see the confusion in his eyes and her extreme patience knew that there would be some second thoughts as Kyle processed the information. She peered into his sky blue eyes.

"Are you certain you are alright with me being with your father?"

Kyle thought hard for a moment realizing that his father deserved some happiness too. The boy had indeed matured a great deal and come a long way in learning to trust people again. But, he still had a long road to travel, and when he considered the kinds of people there are in the world, Kyle knew how happy Sara made Horatio – and how she did care for him – a boy who was not even of her flesh. This lady was indeed special – and different from all the women who called him 'son' over the years.

Sara heard a great deal of commotion. She and Kyle jogged down the path attempting to locate the exact place where the source of the noise was.

"Oh, my word! It's got to be…" she trailed off with great excitement.

She thought nothing of running right into the water where she began struggling with an enormous snake.

"Sara!" Kyle said. He wasn't sure what to do especially when she said to stay out of the way.

"Kyle, get the big bag out of the truck!" she requested while struggling with the serpent.

Kyle didn't want to leave her alone. The snake was huge – he estimated twelve feet or better. By the time he returned with the bag, she had the snake on land having wrestled the animal for control of its head. Her body was stretched out over the snake so it couldn't coil around her.

"What do you want me to do?" the boy asked – his voice stressed.

"Put the bag down, open about a foot of it, and start slipping the back end of this guy into it."

She let up on the back half of the snake as Kyle wrestled it into the bag. Once they reached the head, she pushed the snake in and he quickly zipped the bag closed.

"Woohoo!" she cried out. "Now that was awesome!"

"That was insane," Kyle replied as he high-fived her. "What kind of snake is it?"

"Anaconda. Invasive species in these parts. Help me get him into the back seat."

"We're taking it with us?"

"You think we did all this to leave it?" she giggled.

They carried the bag back to her truck where they hoisted it into the back. She realized that her clean clothes were now soaking wet and she didn't have another change. As Kyle drove the truck out of the marsh, Sara was on her cell phone.

"Don, I got a huge snake for you… yeah… anaconda. I can meet you at the beach house unless you are on the road. Oh, you are in town? Meet me at the crime lab."

Arriving in front of CSI Crime Lab, Don was waiting with a van marked 'Reptile Rescue'. Sara jumped out to meet him. As Horatio joined them, Kyle ran over to his father full of excitement.

"Dad! Dad! You should have seen it! You should have seen her wrestle it down!"

"Son, calm down. What are you talking about?"

Kyle took a moment to catch his breath before he started in again. "It's a huge snake! I swear the thing is like 12 feet long!"

Don prepared to receive the delivery as Sara introduced the Lieutenant and his son to Don. Horatio politely shook hands with Don as did Kyle.

"Don's one of the best snake wranglers in the U.S."

"You don't say," Horatio said.

"Sara, you managed this baby all by yourself?" Don asked.

"You should have seen her. Scared me to death," Kyle said.

"Well, let's see what you have," Don said.

Moving to the back passenger door, Horatio opened it.

"It's a good thing you had a few of those reptile bags with you," Don said.

"Yeah, I'm doing that monitor survey, so I had a bunch of them in the truck," Sara said.

"It should fit in the standard tank I carry," Don said. There was rising excitement in his voice.

In the meantime, Ryan Wolfe was walking out of CSI Crime Lab and took note of the small crowd maneuvering the large burlap bag into the van.

"Need any help?" Ryan asked.

"Thanks. We could use another pair of hands. This sucker is heavy," Don said.

Opening the zipper of the bag just enough to let the snake slide out into the tank, they lifted the bag and dumped the snake in before Don lowered the clear top and locked it down.

"Wow. He's a beaut! This baby has to be fifteen feet easy," Don said. "I still can't believe Tiny Dancer here wrestled this guy down."

"Oh, she was just incredible!" Kyle said still trying to contain his excitement.

Horatio stared at the large snake attempting to visualize Sara straddling the reptile as Kyle had described. Taking her arm gently, he pulled her to the side and eyed her nervously.

"Are you crazy?" he asked sternly.

Realizing his fear and concern, she stood her ground and gently attempted to reassure him.

"I had total control over it, and just so you know, it's not the first snake I've wrangled down. I handled one even bigger than this old girl," she said.

After Sara signed off on some paperwork denoting the location of the capture and authorizing release of the animal to Don, Don called his connections to arrange proper airline transport of the reptile.

"What will he do with it now?" Kyle asked.

"Don's got connections down in South America. The snake will be shipped back to its native environment."

"Sounds like you had quite an ordeal," Horatio said.

"Naw. Just another day on the job," Sara joked.

"Sure…" Horatio trailed off.

"I couldn't have done it without your help, Kyle," Sara said as she rested her hand on the boy's shoulder after ruffling up his hair.

Kyle lit up like a young school boy. He was so excited to help out and to have been made to feel so important that he did a good thing.

Sara received a call on her cell phone and excused herself to go take it. In the meantime, Horatio and Kyle waited patiently.

"Dad, she's really cool!"

"A bit on the crazy side, you think?"

"I can't wait to tell Ray about this! And I was there to help!"

Horatio could see the ongoing excitement in the boy's eyes and hearing his take on Sara made Horatio happy. Even though he wished he had been there, he was glad Sara was able to make such an impression on the boy. He was ecstatic that Kyle had taken so well to her and her chosen profession, but he was worried that she'd one day come up against a reptile she couldn't handle and wind up inside instead of astride it.

"Hey, dad, can we talk? I mean really talk this time?" Kyle asked timidly, the fear in his voice causing it to crack all over the place.

"Sure, son, any time and about anything; you know that."

"Well, it's about Sara, actually. I was really worried about her in the 'glades this afternoon. She took on a snake that could've eaten us both for lunch and never looked back."

"I know that and I'm as worried as you are. She's such a tiny woman, that she's made up for her lack of stature with bravado..."

"Um, Detective Caine, sir?" Don interrupted hesitantly, "There's something you should know about Sara and animals; they have an understanding that goes beyond normal man/animal communications. She's safer with the biggest salt water croc than she is with any of us. Besides, she's wise enough to know when an animal's too big to handle; so she phones it in with complete coordinates, so we can hunt down any others that might be lurking in the area."

"Sir," Kyle asked softly, eyeing the snake with the fascination of a teen boy for such things, "can I touch it? It looks so soft and smooth; I can't believe it could've eaten us."

"I'm sorry, Kyle," Sara said tiredly, "but the anaconda has to remain locked in her case. In addition to being so large, she's also gravid. That means she's got eggs inside and only came out of hiding during the day to dig a nest and lay them above the tide line so they'll hatch. I know I could deal with her because gravid female snakes move quite slowly and are completely off of their feed."

"Oh, so it's like when a mom's in labor. She's not hungry because she's in too much pain."

"Yes, Kyle," she smiled warmly, gently tousling his hair, "that's an excellent analogy. While certain people who know me assume I'm reckless (here she speared Horatio with a glare, causing him to blush in embarrassment), when it comes to the others that share our planet, I know better than to tackle something that large if it's on the hunt. Bessie there could've easily had me for lunch on a normal day; but this day isn't normal for her. So, this lady will have to be rushed down to South America before she expels her eggs."

Horatio walked over and put his hands on her shoulders. He wanted to be angry with her for being so careless but quickly realized she definitely knew her job well and had plenty of experience with the animals she dealt with far better than he ever would. So, he let it ride while marveling at her courage in the face of danger. Horatio realized he'd need to get used to this part of her just as she would have to handle his going out every day facing the dangers he does.

"Honey," Sara said, "please know I had no intention of doing anything stupid. I know what I can handle and what needs to be handled by someone other than myself. Think of it as the inherent risks of my job just as yours comes with certain risks. We have to learn to deal with that, my husband to be."

"So it's official, then," Don inserted softly, "you're getting married. Congratulations Tiny, it couldn't have happened to a nicer gal."

Sara threaded her arms through those of her two boys.

"I got me two of the handsomest fellas a lady can ask for – one to be my husband, and the other – to be my son. Kyle, I'm getting a family of my own too."

Kyle's face lit up with such enthusiasm and happiness hearing the news as it came from Sara's lips. He didn't have to fear loosing his Dad to the woman whom he intended to marry for she wanted Kyle for her son. One tender look from her was all he needed to reaffirm his heart because that simple glance told him all he needed to know; you're loved, you're wanted, and I'm not going anywhere. And again, Kyle and Sara had another facet in their lives that they could relate to each other about – the fact that they both would have a real family again.