Smiling the Countess glanced around the room and narrowed her eyes, "Well now that you two have finally sorted things out, I can get this year's ball organized…"

Mich gave her grandmother a sharp look. "What's that supposed to mean?"

The Countess chuckled, "My dear, you know we always have a charity ball here in the summer, the invitations are ready to go, I just needed to finalise a date."

"So why didn't you do it yet?"

The Countess smiled and raised an eyebrow, "Because from the moment I saw the two of you together, I knew something was going to happen and I wanted to be able to pass on the good news…"

Mich sighed, and traded glances with H, they had both agreed that they wanted something quiet for their wedding, but Horatio had pointed out that the Countess would have other ideas when it came to an engagement.

"You are her only grand-daughter Mich, it's obvious that she would want to celebrate a little and as you'll be living in Miami, she won't get much chance to see you. It'll give her a chance to show how proud she is…"

H gave her a slight nod, accepting the Countess' request, but Mich still wanted to know some details. "How many Gran… and when?"

The Countess gave a warm smile, "Well it'll be about 200 people – including your team and Horatio's of course and I thought the day before the opening of the Games would be good. This year we were raising money for the para-Olympic team – it would be great if they could meet you. We can also treat it as a 'Good Luck' party."

Mich was stunned, her grandmother had obviously been doing some serious thinking, "but Gran, it's only two weeks away…"

Her grandmother laughed… "Everyone has already been asked Kerys… I just had to give them a date, it won't be a problem."

Mich muttered under her breath and gave in, "Ok Gran… Now what do you want from me?"

The Countess gave H a wink and smiled softly, "You, my only grand-daughter are going to play your part for the last time and then you will be able to leave your title behind forever, never to use again… I know its what you want…" Mich dropped her head a little, finally realizing that her grandmother knew how much she hated it, how much she just wanted to be an 'ordinary' person.

"Horatio will be a wonderful escort, your dad will have to take him up to Saville Row for a new dinner jacket, the one he has is excellent, but it won't hurt to have a new one. We need to find an escort for Kyra though – she is the right age to introduce to everyone."

Mich grinned, "That's ok Gran, I know who we can ask to do that. Are you planning on getting the family heirlooms out?"

"Of course, do you have a preference?"

Mich thought for a moment and then began to smile, it would be a perfect way to say thank you to H for the night before, though inviting the team would be a problem, they couldn't let Jo find out… Resolving to speak to H later to arrange things, she turned to the Countess, "You know what Gran, I think I do… I need to see if I can get a new dress to match first though."

The Countess smiled and nodded, "Then take Kyra with you and find something for her, we have that set that belonged to your aunt when she was young, I think it would suit Kyra perfectly."

Mich nodded in agreement, but when H saw the look in her eyes, he knew she was up to something…

Calleigh sat in H's chair and stared out of the window, the Chief had passed by and congratulated her on the job she was doing so far. "You're keeping up Horatio's standards perfectly Calleigh, even pushing them a little. I'm recommending that your temporary promotion becomes a full one as of next week."

"But what will happen when H comes back? You can't keep us both on as Lieutenants; one of us will have to move."

The Chief just smiled, "Calleigh, Horatio only has six months left, I'm sure we can work something out when he returns, don't you?"

He had left at that point, Calleigh staring after him, not knowing what to think.

Rick Stetler was furious, the rumour of Calleigh's full promotion had just reached him and he couldn't help but throw the file he was reading across his office. Not only had he been passed up for promotion to Lieutenant when Horatio had come along, but now he was being overlooked again.

He went to speak to the Chief, but was blocked by his secretary, who informed him that the Chief was in a meeting and could not be disturbed. Hunting around, he found out that people avoided him and did not want to be drawn into conversation.

Looking at the clock he headed for the lab, Calleigh would still be on duty, though most of the team would have left by now, unless they had cases backed up too far. As he had hoped, most of the lab was in darkness and Calleigh was alone.

"So, I hear that you've been bumped up to full Lieutenant, CSI Duquesne."

Calleigh tried to ignore the note of sarcasm in Stetler's voice, "Yes, though I have to admit I wasn't expecting it."

"Really? Well that does surprise me…"

"What do you want Rick? You're obviously not here to pass on your congratulations.' Calleigh's voice started to rise in volume, she was fed up with him trying to push her around.

"This position was mine… Then along came Horatio and now you. I will not be denied, I will get this office one way or another. Watch your back Duquesne, or I'll be all over you."

Calleigh was about to return with a retort of her own, when a quiet voice came from the doorway, "Making threats Stetler? I would be careful if I were you." Rhys stepped forwards his face a mixture of anger and concern.

"No threats, just promises, anyway, what's it to you? Doesn't affect you."

"But that's where you're wrong Rick, you are undermining my superior officer and that is not a good idea. Did it ever cross your mind that maybe you didn't get the promotion because you're not good enough?"

Stetler swore loudly and pushed Rhys against the wall of the office, "Stay out of this, you are not from this PD, I will run things round here, don't you forget it."

Rhys laughed, "That's not what I've heard, in fact, the word I heard in association with you was less than complimentary. Now what was it? Oh yes… Incompetent…"

Rhys ducked as Stetler threw a punch in his direction, then retaliated with one of his own, connecting with Stetler's cheekbone, before pushing him face first against the wall. "Threaten anyone in this team again, and I will come after you…"

Stetler said nothing, but walked away with a nasty look on his face. Turning to Calleigh, a soft smile on his face, he was stunned when she rounded on him in fury. "jeez Rhys, you think that's going to help? He's going to turn on all of us now. What do you think you were playing at – I can handle Rick Stetler."

She started to walk past him, but Rhys caught her and pulled her close, "Cal, I know you can handle him, but the point is, why should you have to?"

Calleigh melted into his arms, he reminded her of the protective side of H, but he also had a hard edge, almost dangerous that she couldn't help but be attracted to. "And what will happen when you go back to the UK Rhys, he'll come back."

Rhys chuckled, "Not if the CCTV cameras are working, they'll show that Rick threw the first punch, his career is history. Besides, who said I was leaving?"

Calleigh pulled back a little and stared at him, "What do you mean? When H comes back…"

Rhys chuckled, "I've requested a permanent transfer, Derek has agreed and so there are no problems for us, I'll be working for the PD rather than the lab, Frank's quite happy for me to be partnered with him. Is that a problem for you?"

Calleigh's kiss answered that one…

Mich roared with laughter at the look on Horatio's face when Derek told them the news a couple of days later. She was in a happy mood – training was going well with the team and in just a few days Roger had sharpened Kyra's riding up so much Mich was amazed. "So, the love bug has hit Miami too."

H chuckled, "Gives you a problem though Derek, who's going to run the lab if Rhys isn't coming back?"

Derek smiled, "Frank, he's up for it, though I would appreciate it if you could give him the benefit of your experience until you go home."

H nodded, "My pleasure Derek, he's a good choice to lead the team, they all like and respect him. Our only problem will be Jo."

Derek grinned, "Not after she gets fired tomorrow… Stuart is already being watched and one of our people found the file he has on Mich this morning, so he's had it too."

Mich sighed, "You could have let me in on it dad. You've never kept me out of an operation before."

Derek smiled and gave her a squeeze, "Mich, I made the decision to keep you out of it, because you resigned a few years ago remember… Now, after we have the ball next week, win the gold medal at the games and then go back to Miami and live happily ever after…"

Mich laughed and sent a soft look in H's direction, "That's exactly what I plan on doing dad, but at least let me have the satisfaction of seeing Jo kicked out of her job…"

H grinned and gave her a hug, "Actually sweetheart, we were planning on letting you pass on the news personally." A few minutes later Mich was in stitches as H told her of his idea…"

The following day, Mich walked out of yet another Oxford Street store and sighed. Finally she had found something for the ball, Kyra was bubbling over with excitement as the two of them had gone shopping together.

"Oh mum, this was so much fun, I hope we can do it again when we go back home." Mich smiled softly, she didn't really like shopping, but being with Kyra had made the whole afternoon enjoyable. She had asked David to escort Kyra without her daughter's knowledge and couldn't wait to see either of their faces on that particular evening.

Kyra was going to look stunning and she knew that H would make sure that David would be just right too. Checking the time she smiled, it was just after 5.30, perfect. Looking around, she spotted a taxi and waved to flag him down, "Scotland Yard please."

Once they had arrived, Mich asked Kyra to wait in reception with the excuse that she didn't want H to see what they had bought and called him quickly.

H was already near Jo and as soon as he cut the line he walked into her section. Most of the team had left, and only the two of them were left. Quickly glancing in the microscope, to see what she was looking at, he paused as if hesitating to speak.

"Everything ok Horatio?" Jo had taken to using his full name a few days before, rather than the short H that the rest of the team had adopted.

H sighed, "Not really, I've found a few things out that I really can't ignore anymore. The problem is that I don't quite know what to do."

Jo looked at him speculatively, "How about we both get a coffee and sit down. Then you tell me what's wrong and I'll see if I can help you out…"

Leading the way to the break room, she didn't spot Mich hiding in the shadows, or H's smile at how easily he had taken her in.

H sat staring into his coffee cup, Mich had suggested that he draw in Jo as much as possible – if she tried anything, it would be the final nail in her coffin too. Derek had found out that she had compromised several cases through blind ignorance and basic incompetence, which was how Stuart had caught her.

She had also told Stuart that Frank was Kyra's father, being one of the few people that knew – mainly because she and Mich had been working together at the time. Stuart had used his Martin Jackson persona to pass the information on to Jack, who had reacted as Stuart had hoped though he hadn't expected Jack to become so abusive.

When Jack had been killed, Stuart had hoped to move in and take Jack's place, but Mich was so badly traumatized that she hadn't wanted to be with anyone ever again. It had taken all Horatio's sensitivity, compassion and love to help her recover.

Settling on the bench seat as close as she could get to Horatio without them touching, Jo prompted H to begin talking. After a few minutes of his false story, she had dropped her free hand to his leg gently caressing his thigh with her thumb.

"Oh Horatio, I am so sorry that this has happened to you. Mich is great when she is on her good side, but when the dark side takes over, she cannot be stopped and she really becomes scary."

H sighed and put his coffee down on the table, placing his had on top of Jo's and squeezing it gently, "We had an argument yesterday, I've never seen her so angry, she became… violent, I would never have expected it. I don't know what to do Jo, I can't help it – I still love her."

Jo dropped her head and placed her cup next to H's before answering, "I don't know what I can tell you Horatio, maybe you need some space to think things through." As H leant forwards, head between his hands, she moved her arm around his shoulders, holding him closely.

Gently, Jo caught his chin and turned his face so H would look at her, "My offer is still there Horatio, there's space at my place if you want to use it." H used the moment to look into her eyes and disliked what he saw there, though Jo's voice was soft and gentle, her eyes were cold, calculating. She may have been used by Stuart, but H knew that she was quite happy about her role in trying to split him and Mich up.

Leaning a little closer to her, H began to speak, "Jo, I…." Jo stopped him with a finger on his lips and smiled softly, before giving him a soft kiss, feeling his hand grasp hers.

"What the hell is going on here?"

Jo pulled away, startled by the person who had walked into the room, "Mich, I… uh… Nothing's going on."

Mich's eyes narrowed as she placed a box on the table, "Nothing? It looks like it. Get your personal stuff Jo, you are out of here. As ordered by Derek Foster."

It was then that Jo realized that H was sitting back against the chair, relaxed, a half smile on his face. "What on earth is going on?"

Mich chuckled nastily, "You're being fired Jo, for helping someone use their position to dictate their wishes in preference to the security of this country, you're lucky not to be arrested on a conspiracy charge."

"Horatio?'

H stood up and stepped beside Mich, "You could have walked away Jo, told us what was going on, but you chose not to. Now you have to suffer the consequences."

Mich wrapped her arm around H's waist, eyes sparkling, "You should know Jo, Horatio has done plenty of undercover work in his time, he was on to you from day one." Mich's words weren't quite true, but the shock on Jo's face was enough, "Frank will show you out, he's waiting for you by your desk. By the way, perhaps you'd like to pass on a message – if you do see Stuart Cook again – nothing, and no-one comes between Horatio and I."

As Mich reached up her hand to H's face and gave him a soft kiss, Jo caught sight of the ring on her finger, "You two are engaged?"

Mich grinned, "Oh yes, didn't you know? Everyone else does…" Jo dropped her head in defeat and walked out of the room to get her things, wondering what she would do now. One thing for sure, she would never get a job on the force again.

Horatio began to fidget with his bow tie, stopping himself when he spotted David doing the same thing. The two of them were waiting in a small ante room at the hall, along with Derek, who as usual, would be escorting the Dowager Countess to the ball.

That morning, he and Derek had dragged David up to London to get him a dinner jacket for this evening's ball, and the 21 year old was getting nervous. Very nervous. H wasn't much better. The Countess had insisted that the whole family get ready at the hall and stay overnight.

Mich and Kyra had been very busy – the team horses had been moved from Gatcombe to their stables just outside London in preparation for the Games and the adrenaline was starting to kick in. Kyra as groom had already been given an Olympic pass, meaning that Mich could give her two allotted 'family passes' to H and Amber.

H smiled, he had teased Mich about the situation "You had this planned all along…" Mich had grinned in return and winked back. He was not so happy when the girls had returned to the hall at 6.30 and promptly disappeared after tea, with a 'see you later'.

He and David had got ready together in the room that he and Mich would be sharing. Kyra was a couple of rooms further along and Amber next door to her, with David being given a small room in the guest quarter. H had expected to get ready with Mich, but was astounded when he was told by Derek that the 'girls' would be getting ready together.

A slight rustle of fabric made them all look up from their armchairs and H began to smile, the Countess looked every inch the aristocrat in her evening gown and he and Derek soon began dishing out the compliments. She chuckled, teasing both of them, "Flatterers, both of you…" spotting David, she smiled and spoke softly to Derek, "Oh yes, he will do nicely."

H raised his eyes skyward, spotting the look in her eyes, knowing that Kyra would be getting pressure from her great-gran to visit during the holidays. He was just about to say something, when he was stunned into silence as Kyra walked a little self-consciously through the door. With just a pair of ear-rings and bracelet as jewellery, the silver grey dress suited her colouring perfectly. She could have passed for someone at least three years older.

Glancing at David he smiled, knowing how the young man felt. Recovering, David gave the expected compliments and held out his arm for Kyra to link hers through and escorted her from the room, followed closely by the Countess and Derek.

"Kerys won't be long Horatio, she was just putting her shoes on."

H nodded, for some reason not being able to speak and walked to the window, needing to focus his attention on something other than waiting. A soft gasp at the door announced Mich's arrival and he turned slightly, a smile growing on his face as he stared at the sight before him.

Mich was staring too, framed by the window, H looked amazing, the navy blue tux enhancing the blue of his eyes and the red in his hair. She began to chuckle realizing the effect that they were having on each other. Unusually, she had gone for red, to match the rubies that her grandmother had lent her from the family collection.

H chuckled, normally accustomed to seeing Mich dressed in either black, white, or various shades of blue, the difference was astounding. Crossing the room, he stood in front of her, eyeing her up and down speculatively. Gently he teased her, "So… how come you don't dress like this at home?"

Mich fluttered her eyelashes seductively, "Why do you think? We wouldn't go out anywhere if I did… I have to admit, I'm tempted not to go tonight, seeing how you are dressed this evening."

Closing the distance between them, she sighed and slid her hand down H's shirt and inside his jacket. Catching her wrist quickly, H pulled her tightly to him, giving her a deep kiss which took her breath away. "Save it for later sweetheart, duty first."

Giving him a cheeky half smile, Mich moved back slightly, "Oh you bet I'm gonna save it for later… Just don't over do the dancing honey; I don't want a tired partner this evening."

H chuckled and led her out of the room to where the ball was in full swing, deciding there and then that he definitely had the best partner for the evening.