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Chapter 3

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"Calleigh, if you need anything- you know how to reach me." Horatio said with his hand holding the door of her Jeep open for her.

"I've got your number." She beamed him with her million-dollar smile.

He leaned into her personal space and brushed her cheek with his thumb debating on whether or not to kiss her.

She made the choice for him with a full-blown kiss.

Releasing her hold on him, she murmured, "I'll call you when I get back."

"I'd like that." His eyes burned with anticipation.

"Thought you would," she veered and hopped in her Jeep.

He took a step back to let her back up and, before driving off to the marina to meet Eric, she said, "You're a wonderful man, Horatio Caine."

She was gone, but he whispered to himself, "You're an amazing woman, Calleigh Duquesne."

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Horatio gently knocked on the door to Susie's home. He heard rattling as she took the chain off the door and opened it, inviting him in.

"I'm really happy you came - it means a lot to Madison."

"No problem," he responded head swivelling, "Where is the pretty girl?"

He'd spoken too fast when he saw her come running towards him. He kneeled to make it easier for her to give him a hug. Releasing him, she gave him a cute smile.

"Hey Madison," he held her small arms, "What do you say we go for a walk?" He looked up at Susie, "if that's okay with you - "

Susie removed her hands from her pockets and shrugged, "Sure."

Horatio stood saying, "We'll be gone a little while, but don't worry."

"With you - how could I?" she smiled. "Wait, just a sec, I'll be right back," she said walking into the first room in the hallway.

Horatio had just finished helping Madison with an undone shoelace when Susie came back with a small bag, "Here sweetie," placing it over Madison's shoulder. "Now, you listen to everything Horatio says, okay?"

Madison nodded to her mother. "Bye mommy!" she waved happy to be in Horatio's care.

"I'll see you later, Susie," Horatio smiled as he closed the door.

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They had been walking hand in hand for a few minutes before Horatio asked, "Madison? You said you wanted to talk to me..." trying his hardest to ease into the subject, even though, he had to ask, "what did you want to talk about?"

Madison avoided his eyes by looking at the sidewalk and at her feet. Horatio made a note of the way Madison didn't make eye contact either when she had something important she wanted to say.

"Hey, what do you say we go for some candy," he told Madison as he noticed a candy store across the street. "I'm sure you like chocolate."

Madison looked up at him.

This might work, he thought, looking both ways to cross the street with her.

Pushing the entrance door, he told Madison to go in and he followed her.

The woman at the counter immediately caught sight of the man. Pleased by what she saw she asked, "Can I help you, sir?"

He looked down at Madison, "What would you like?"

A smile grew on her face as her eyes landed on something she wanted. She looked up at Horatio and said, "Chocolate."

"Sounds good. How 'bout we get a bag of different candies and share?"

He had her approval. "What about licorice? Do you like licorice?"

She nodded.

"We'll take a few of those," Horatio pointed to the lady.

"What about caramels?" Horatio asked the little girl.

Another nod.

He went ahead and asked the woman to fill the bag with different kinds of candy.

"There you go," the woman handed the bag after Horatio had told her to keep the change, "Enjoy."

"We will," he smiled.

Exiting the shop, Madison immediately found Horatio's hand. It surprised him, but he lovingly stroked the little hand with his thumb and guided her to a bench in the shade under a palm tree.

"Here, why don't we sit here and eat some of those delicious chocolates - "

Madison scooted beside Horatio and he handed her the opened bag.

"Go ahead - " he told her, offering her the package.

"Thank you," she said with a soft little voice, popping a milk chocolate covered almond in her mouth as Horatio chewed on a stick of black licorice.

"Horatio?"

"Yeah." He glanced at her, happy that she had decided to talk to him; the plan had worked.

"Mommy said Daddy's in jail - "

He thought for a moment. He wasn't known to her as her 'Uncle Horatio' yet, and maybe Susie wanted to keep it that way.

"Yes. He is. Did she tell you why he was in jail?"

"Uh-huh." Madison took another chocolate. "She said he did a very bad thing. That's why they put people in jail... if they're bad?"

"Yes, that's right...but you know it has nothing to do with you - you know it's not your fault if your dad went to jail... right, Madison?"

"Yeah." She sounded sure and looked adorable with a smudge of chocolate on her chin.

"Good girl."

After a few minutes of silence and eating candy, Madison told Horatio, "I miss him."

He put a consoling arm around her small shoulders and with a soothing voice said, "I know. I know you
do - "

She rested her head against his body.

"I want you to be my dad."

Horatio almost choked on a caramel.

"Madison, I uh, I can't - I'm sorry." He kissed her head apologetically.

The little girl's eyes went down to her swinging legs.

"It's not that easy, it's more complicated than that - " He suddenly understood Yelina's assessment on the situation. Being a father, in secret or not, was complicated... whether it's your child or not.

"But, you know what, Madison, I can be your friend." He gently stroked a strand of her red hair that had fallen from her pigtails.

Madison chewed on her lip trying to figure out if this was a good thing.

"So you'll play with me?" she asked, looking at him, eyes big with hope.

"Of course I'll come and play with you. I'll come see you whenever I can," he said taking out his handkerchief to wipe her chin.

"Really?" This was too good to be true for this little girl. She was thrilled to have a big friend like Horatio who was also a police officer.

"Mmhmm. Is that what you wanted to talk about?"

"Yeah and," she lifted a foot to rest it flat on the bench and wrapped an arm around it, "Is it scary being a police officer?"

"Well, sometimes, but what helps me be less afraid is knowing that I do it to protect other people's lives."

"Like mommy. You protected mommy."

Horatio now knew that Madison had been aware of her physically abusive father.

"Daddy hit my mommy. Is that why he's in jail?"

"I can't keep anything from a smart girl like you." He told her endearingly.

His face turned serious, "Madison, did your dad ever hurt you?"

"No."

Sighing in relief, he looked down at her delicate hands toying with her shoelace.

"We'll tie your shoe and then you can hop on for a piggy-back ride." He wiped the chocolate off her little fingers and asked, "How's that?"

Taking the candy bag and closing it, he watched Madison attempt to tie her shoelace like she had tried earlier at home. Seeing her struggle, he asked, "Did your mom teach you to do the bunny ears?"

"Yeah. It's hard," she sighed exasperated.

"Don't give up. Here, let me show you what my dad showed me when I was a boy your age - " he took her leg and balanced it over his knee. "He said you loop it, swoop it and pull."

He untied her shoe and saw the look on her face saying 'why did you do that for? It was tied.'

"Loop, swoop and pull. Now you try."

He watched and encouraged her, "Yeah, that's a good loop."

"There you go, swoop it and then pull."

"How?"

"Pass it through this part then pull." He showed her.

"Okay, try it one last time."

Her tongue stickling out, she started over again.

"Loop, swoop and pull." Horatio reminded.

It was a loose bow, but a successful one.

"You got it." He applauded.

"Wait until I tell mommy." She smiled proudly.

"She's gonna be so proud of you - just like I am."

Madison batted her eyelashes at him, smiling. He smiled as well, then turned his back at her.

"Ready for the piggy-back?"

"Ready."

He hoisted her up on his back making her lock her arms around his neck.

"What do you say we go get your mommy and go to the beach, huh?"

"Yeah!"

TBC...