Horatio stiffened imperceptibly at the touch of tiny fingers in his hair. He had seen her approaching from the periphery but was nonetheless caught off guard at her touch. He kept his head half bowed not wanting to frighten her as she investigated him. For a time she played back and forth with his hair and a the end of the braid that fell over her shoulder clearly fascinated by the differences between it and his fine smooth red hair. Once her curiosity with his hair was satiated her hand moved down to his, her finger tracing designs on his skin by joining freckles on his hand like a connect-the-dot picture. She smiled to herself at the little game pulling back only for a second when he unlaced his fingers and rested his arms on his legs giving her a greater surface area to explore. After a time, bored now with her game but comfortable with the feel of his skin and rhythm of his breath, her curiosity turned to his face. He smiled at her but her eyes looked past his her concentration falling first on the creases from the joys, stress and sorrows of life that lined his face and then to the vestiges of the bruise that discolored and marred him. Her fingers traced the crows feet branching from the corners of his eyes, indelible reminders of each burden his heart carried, then down the laugh lines that enclosed his mouth. Time and again she stroked his cheek with her hand enthralled with the tactile sensation of his smooth shaven skin that hinted at the stubble that would be there by day's end. He smiled wondering what she would think running her hand down Speed's thick stubble and her eyes widened with wonder at the dimple that flirted on his right check. She continued to study his features her hands running over it again and again like a blind person memorizing a lover's face, her hands and eyes ever returning to the dimple as it appeared and disappeared with his smile. Her gaze wandered over his face finally fixated on the bruised and inflamed gash on his forehead. Without awareness, her hand sought out the thin scar that laced her otherwise beautiful face her finger exploring it in proxy for his.

"Does it hurt?" she asked.

"Not so much anymore." He assured her.

"Did your mommy kiss it better?"

Horatio smiled sadly at the innocence of the question. "Well, no. See, my mother died a long time ago."

"Oh, she lives at Jesus' house now. My mommy does too." Her eyes dropped from his and she looked out the window to the horizon. "Do you want me to kiss it better?"

"You know, I'd like that."

Her eyes once again linked with his. She smiled before she rose up on her toes and brushed her lips softly against the mending wound, her child's lips leaving a comforting coolness on his heated skin.

"There, that should make it better for 6, 15 hours." She informed him authoritatively.

"There's just one problem. I don't know your name so I don't know who to thank."

"Lydia." She answered shyly, swinging to and fro.

"Thank you Lydia." He said, choking back a sob and blinking hard to stop the sting of tears threatening to break loose. Almost immediately she pulled back, drawing in on herself. "I did something wrong." She stuttered her lip trembling and her eyes filling with tears.

"No." he said urgently. "No." he softened his voice reaching out a hand to gently cup her cheek. "You didn't do anything wrong."

"I made you cry."

He drew her in to him wrapping her tiny frame in his arms. "No, no you didn't. Here's the thing." He lifted her onto his lap, "My mother's name was Lydia."

"Like mine?"

"Like yours. So you see, even though she's been in heaven for a long time, she still kissed my hurt all better through you. So, you didn't hurt me. Okay?"

She studied him, her liquid brown eyes digging into his soul, "I didn't kiss it all better." She said sadly.

"Why would you think that?"

"Gramma says some people have magic hearts." She brushed her hand over his eyes. "I don't see your magic. Did a bad man take it?"

Horatio looked up to see Calleigh watching the interchange, apprehension written clearly across her face.

"Yes sweetheart. A bad man took it."

She looked back out the window and began singing to herself. "friend ...blue sky. You.... again... magic...your blue eyes. lost in the circle.. day ... same, where are you going?" A tear dribbled down her cheek.

"Lydia?"

She looked up drawn back to their joint world by his voice her liquid black eyes locked to his blue. "I don't have enough." She confessed, pulling a small blue stone from her pocket. "But you can have it."

"You know the thing about magic Lydia," he said, folding her hand around the stone, "the thing about magic is that it comes in all kinds of packages even ones you can't see. And no matter how much you give it's always enough."

"Horatio." Calleigh broke in, hesitantly. "I'm sorry. Lydia, its story time and Horatio needs to go home."

"Can't he stay for story time, please? I'll be extra quiet."

"Lydia, he was hurt very badly a few days ago. Its time for him to go home and rest."

"If I promise to take care of him can he stay?"

"Calleigh. It's okay."

Calleigh moved her attention to him, assessing his strength and smiled inwardly at the growing spark that danced in his eyes.

"Okay." She gave in, "story time only. And you answer to Alexx." She added.

"And they lived happily ever after." Rosemary ended the story.

"Hey." Calleigh whispered, sitting beside him. "It looks like you found a friend."

Horatio smiled down at the little body snuggled in peaceful sleep against him. She stirred and he instinctively he pulled her closer taking comfort in the warmth she radiated. "He should be here, Cal. Not six feet underground."

"I know. I guess all we can do now is promise to do the best we can to make sure they stay here and not in the ground." She brushed her fingers across the child's face her hand coming to rest on his arm. It's time to go. Speed's already called twice to check on you. He's threatening to tell Alexx you didn't go home after the funeral."

He nodded, acquiescing. "Goodbye Lydia. Thank you for the magic." He whispered to the child in his arms, gently kissing her forehead. With infinite care he laid her on a blanket and covered her with his suit coat."

"I'll pick it up tomorrow." Calleigh assured him and held out her hand. "Let's get you home."