Disclaimer: Not my characters.

Spoilers: Teeny reference to Dispo Day. Blink and you'll miss it.

A/N: Thanks to Nath for betaing. I'm going with version #1 of Calleigh's past here.

". . . So there I was, knee-deep in water and face to face with the 'gator. I've never been so scared in all my life! Good thing the 'gator wasn't hungry, else I'd have been lunch."

Horatio shook his head as Calleigh retold that day's event. Only she would make light of something like that. Of course, it was easy to joke about the whole thing now that Calleigh was safely at his side. When Eric had first called to tell him, it had taken all of his self-control not to rush out to the Glades and see for himself that Calleigh was fine.

He held the door to the CSI building open, allowing Calleigh to enter before him, and couldn't resist flirting just a little. Part of it was relief, and part of it was because he just felt like it. "Maybe he thought you were too pretty to eat."

Calleigh didn't skip a beat. Glancing over her shoulder, she let her eyes fall on his mouth. "Hmm."

Horatio smiled, enjoying the banter. The past few weeks had been strained and he was glad that things between them seemed to be going back to normal.

"Still," Calleigh continued, "at least it wasn't a total loss. The cocaine was exactly where Rico said it would be, all wrapped and ready for us to pick up."

"I take it you refrained from sampling any this time."

Calleigh whirled around, her lips parted in protest. Then she saw the twinkle in Horatio's eye, and winked. "Nah. I got enough of a rush dodging that 'gator."

"What? It tried to attack you? Eric said—"

Calleigh laughed. "Sometimes it's just too easy."

He was about to respond when a voice called, "Calleigh!"

"Nate!"

A dark-haired man pulled Calleigh into a hug, then kissed her cheek. Horatio refused to acknowledge that it was jealousy simmering in his veins, and quietly waited for an introduction. Calleigh was obviously pleased to see Nate, whoever he was, and if Calleigh was happy, then Horatio was happy.

Of course, he would prefer that he was the one making Calleigh happy.

"It's so good to see you," Calleigh said. "I can't believe you're here."

Two blonde girls ran to join them, clamoring for Calleigh's attention. Horatio gave a discreet cough to remind Calleigh of his presence.

"Oh! Horatio, this is my baby brother, Nate, and his girls, Simone and Nicole."

"Baby brother, huh? You're only a year older."

Horatio tried to ignore what felt suspiciously like relief. This was just Calleigh's brother. Good.

He shook Nate's hand. "Pleased to meet you."

"Likewise. I've heard so much about you, I was starting to wonder if you were real or someone Calleigh made up."

Horatio turned to Calleigh, whose face had gone an interesting shade of red. She glanced away. "Umm, so, what are you doing in Miami, Nate?"

"Don't tell me you've forgotten it's your birthday in a couple of days."

"Of course not. I hope you brought presents."

"Aunt Cal," Simone, the older of the two girls, tugged at Calleigh's hand. "Daddy said we could see where you worked."

"Another day," Nate said. "When she's not so busy."

"Oh, I don't mind." Calleigh looked at Horatio, her eyes asking the question. He nodded – as if he could really say no to her, he thought.

Calleigh smiled. "Horatio says it's okay."

Nicole took possession of Calleigh's other hand. "Let's go."

Calleigh laughed, glancing back as the girls pulled her away. "Uh, Horatio--?"

"Nate, can I get you some coffee?" He chuckled, watching as Calleigh steered the girls in the right direction.

"Thanks, that'd be great." Nate's gaze was also on his sister. "There's nothing, uh, dangerous lying around, right?"

"There's nothing to worry about."

The men walked to the break room in silence. It was only when Horatio handed Nate his coffee that conversation resumed.

"What do you do, Nate? Calleigh doesn't talk about her family much."

"I'm a lawyer. My firm's based in DC. My cousin quit her job and talked me into going into business with her. It's all politics and such. Nothing as exciting as going after bad guys." Though his tone was light, Horatio could tell Nate was holding something back. Still, he didn't know the man well enough to pry.

"How old are your girls?"

"Five and seven."

The men lapsed into silence again. Horatio wondered where Nate's wife was, but didn't ask. He studied the younger man instead, mentally comparing him to Calleigh. Nate was taller and darker, though his eyes were the same compelling green-gray color. His accent was less Southern than Calleigh's; Horatio guessed that was his way of running from the past.

Then, suddenly, he realized that he was under scrutiny as well. Nate smiled when he discovered he was caught but didn't try to hide it. "Be careful with Calleigh's heart," he said.

Horatio was caught off-guard. "Excuse me?"

"Calleigh's been through a lot. I don't want to see her getting hurt again."

"Calleigh and I are friends." Horatio chose his words carefully.

Nate's expression was doubtful. He sipped his coffee, then broke into a smile as Simone and Nicole came skipping into the room.

"Aunt Cal showed us her lab!" Nicole said.

"And we saw . . . uh, the DNA thing—"

"And look, Daddy, we got gloves—"

"And she showed us where they keep the dead people!"

At that, Nate gave his sister a disapproving look. She held up her hands. "Simone asked."

Nate shook his head. "Sorry. She's developed an addiction to Buffy. I know she's too young to watch it, but I can't seem to say no to her since Holly . . ."

"Yeah." Calleigh squeezed her brother's hand. "If it makes you feel any better, they didn't get to see any actual bodies."

"Hey, Daddy," Nicole said, "Aunt Cal took . . . ev, uh, evince . . ."

"Evidence," Calleigh supplied.

"Yeah," Simone added. "With a Q-Tip."

"Wow, that sounds pretty exciting." Nate smiled, though there was a hint of sadness in it now. "But I'm sure she needs to get back to work. Cal, you want to join us for dinner tonight?"

"I'd love to."

They exchanged good-byes, and then Calleigh and Horatio were left alone in the break room.

"So, that was your brother."

Calleigh nodded distractedly. "I don't suppose he mentioned what he was really doing in Miami?"

"You don't think he's just visiting?"

"Since Holly died, he's . . . I don't know. Maybe he did come to visit."

"Holly was his wife?"

"Yeah. Car accident, two years ago. She was hit by a drunk driver. Nate's had to raise the girls all on his own." Calleigh shrugged, then smiled. "Anyway. I'd better get to the lab. My boss is a slavedriver."

Horatio watched her leave, missing her company almost immediately. Then he banished the thought; Nate had picked up on his feelings for Calleigh. He'd have to guard them more carefully.

Then again, maybe it was time to move things forward.

"So, Sis, spill it. I want all the juicy details." Nate smiled at Calleigh across the table. They were at Barnacles, a casual restaurant right on the beachfront. The girls were too busy studying the menu (though Simone was the only one who could actually read) to pay attention to the adults' conversation.

Deliberately misinterpreting, Calleigh leaned forward and lowered her voice conspiratorially. "Well, Eric and I were working on a double homicide, which ended up being a cover-up to hide the trafficking of cocaine. We eventually found the dealer, who confessed to hiding the drugs out in the Glades—"

"Calleigh, come on. You know what I mean."

She sat back. "You don't want to hear about my encounter with an alligator?"

"An alligator, huh?" Nate grinned. "What did Horatio have to say about that?"

Damn. She was caught. She went for blasé. "He was relieved that I didn't get eaten. As anyone would be. Except, apparently, you."

"I take it he hasn't asked you out yet."

"Nate, he's my boss." Calleigh wasn't all that comfortable discussing her love life – or lack thereof – with her brother. "Besides, it's not like he's even interested."

Nate laughed. "Of course he is. Trust me. I'm a guy. I can spot interest a mile away."

Calleigh picked up her menu, ignoring her brother.

"It's upside-down."

She turned it the right way, then dropped it as something occurred to her. "You didn't say anything to him, did you?"

"Uh, I may have warned him not to break your heart."

"Nathaniel!" She hid her face in her hands. "Please say you're just kidding. Oh, Lord, how can I ever look at him again? What he must think—"

"Gather ye rosebuds, Cal."

"Oh, you are insufferable." She smiled at the waitress who appeared, pen and notepad in hand. "Girls, do you know what you want?"