Disclaimer: Horatio hasn't called yet, so I am unable to make any claims of ownership to his character, nor that of any other CSI: Miami character or situation mentioned below. Also, while Iown a copy of Fun with the Family in Florida, I have no claim on its content or copyright. It was a Christmas gift from my very amused brother and his wife. I should also mention the same about If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, which is my favorite picture book. Since I'm not claiming anything, I'm also not claiming Checkers, but I love their hamburgers and really wish there was one in New York State.

MttS

He watched as Speed pulled his gun out and motioned to the armed man crawling on the floor. Stepping up to his friend, Horatio raised his gun, shouting, "Miami-Dade Police! Put down your weapon!"

He heard the gunshots as the man fired. Horatio squeezed the trigger. And his gun clicked. He looked at the gun, squeezing again. Again it clicked. He heard Speed shout his name as the bullets from the assailant –

Horatio sat up in his bed. His t-shirt was soaked and his could smell the tang of his own sweat. He waited as his heart began to slow to a more normal pace, taking deep breaths.

The same nightmare. He had been reliving the shooting in the jewelry store that killed Speed. But again, his was the gun that failed.

Horatio looked out his window, past the pool, to the moonlit lake beyond. Nearly a year later, Tim Speedle was still dead and he was still alive.

"Mmh." There was stirring in the bed beside him, catching his attention. Horatio turned back and looked down to see long red hair splayed across the pillow and a stuffed bunny in Madison's grasp. She was sound asleep and had briefly fretted when Horatio woke up.

Horatio watched her, surprised to find her sleeping next to him. He hadn't noticed when she climbed in bed. He tentatively reached out to brush the hair away from her flushed face. She was peaceful in her sleep, long red eyelashes against freckled cheeks.

Well, he couldn't let her stay. With a deep sigh, he slid from his side of the bed and walked around, gently lifting the sleeping child. She lay cradled in his arms, head against his shoulder, as he carried her back to her own room.

Once there, Horatio managed to set her on the bed, lightly drawing the sheet over her. Madison made a suckling sound and snuggled into the pillow with her stuffed bunny.

Horatio returned to his own room, comforted by her small presence. He missed Speed terribly – his best friend had been killed in front of him – but he was still alive. He fell asleep again, not with the empty ache that his nightmares usually brought, but with the thoughts of what it would be like to have a daughter.

MttS

Stuck to the door of his office with extra-durable duct tape was a large, green, stuffed gecko. Attached to the three-foot tropical lizard was an incident report for "a suspicious gecko" signed by Calleigh and Eric.

Horatio stared at the gecko for a minute, certain he heard Calleigh laughing from below the stairs to his office. He considered, for just a moment, shooting the thing, but decided that wouldn't get the best reaction in the crime lab. But then, he could send it down to Alexx for a gecko-topsy.

"Very nice," he finally said, loud enough for the conspirators to hear. "I love how the eyes are the exact same color as Calleigh's."

This time the giggling was joined by Eric's laugh. He opened the door and entered his office, leaving the gecko in place. He would probably take it home for Madison, but right then Horatio was mentally examining the possibility of stuffing it into one of Eric's wetsuits.

MttS

The Miami sun beat down as Horatio and his team finished processing the scene of a hit-and-run. The pedestrian was at the hospital while the driver hadn't made it very far before crashing into a palm tree. Ryan was with him now, administering a breathalyzer test. Calleigh and Eric were bantering while taking pictures and collecting shards of glass.

The cellphone at his hip rang. "Horatio," he said automatically on opening it.

"Mr. Caine?" a woman he didn't recognize asked.

Horatio frowned and looked at the caller ID on his phone. It was Madison's daycare center. "Yes," Horatio said. "Is something wrong?"

"Madison is complaining of a stomach ache," the woman told him. "She doesn't have a fever but she is flushed and listless. Is it possible for you to pick her up?"

Horatio checked his watch. It was just past eleven in the morning. He still had to finish the case he was on, so he would have to bring Madison back to CSI. He hoped she had some coloring books in her backpack.

"I'll be right there," he told the woman and closed up his phone. "Eric," he called. The younger man looked up from his place photographing tire tracks. "I have to go. See you back at CSI."

Eric nodded. "Alright, H." Calleigh glanced up but said nothing, concern appearing on her face.

Horatio went back to the Hummer and made his way through the city of Miami to Suzie's hotel. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel while waiting at the stop lights and was tempted to turn on the vehicle's flashing police lights.

Madison had been tired that morning. Instead of bouncing, she had dragged her feet a bit. "Do I have to go to school, Uncle Horatio?" she had asked. "Can't I stay home with you?"

"No, Madison," he had told her. "I have to go to work."

So she had gotten dressed and he had taken her to the daycare center, hoping she would perk up when she was with her little friends. Now he cursed under his breath, worried she was seriously ill and he had somehow missed it in his rush to get to CSI.

Horatio strode through the lobby doors and down the side hallway to the daycare center for employees and guests. The sound of playing children filled the hallway. A riot of color and hyperactivity met him when he opened the daycare center door.

Miss Margaret met him in the office, holding Madison's hand. She looked wilted and had little tear streaks down her cheeks.

"Uncle Horatio!" she said and ran to him. "I don't feel good."

Horatio found himself on one knee, taking her in his arms. She immediately buried her face in his shoulder. He picked her up and stood.

"That's what I heard," he told her. Turning back to the teacher, he asked to sign Madison out. The teacher held the clipboard for him to sign and then handed him Madison's bookbag.

He carried her out to the waiting Hummer. Madison's eyes grew bigger when he opened up the back door to buckle her in.

"This isn't your car," she told him.

Horatio fastened the seatbelt around her with a half smile. "No, it's not. It's what I drive for work though." He studied her for a moment. "Have you had lunch yet, Madison?"

She shook her head no. "That's alright," he said. "We'll take care of that in a little bit. I thought we'd go see my friend Dr. Woods first."

"Does she have her kitty?" Madison asked, brighten up.

"Uhm." Horatio shook his head. "Not in her office, she doesn't."

Madison looked crushed. "Oh. Okay."

Feeling bad that he had gotten her hopes up and worried that she could be having a relapse, Horatio started the engine and headed back to CSI and Alexx.

MttS

"Alexx."

Horatio's voice rang through the autopsy theater. Alexx looked from the patient body she had started to wash to see Horatio standing in the observation room window. He was clearly frowning and his arms were followed.

"Horatio," she greeted from below. "What can I do for you?"

"I – uhm – do you have a few minutes for another patient?" he asked. "My niece is here and she says she's not feeling well."

Alexx smiled, trying to be reassuring from the distance. Eric and Calleigh had already told her about the great gecko invasion. She also continued to be Horatio's confident when it came to his concerns for Madison's well-bring.

She covered the patient again with a sheet and took off her rubber gloves. "I'll meet you in my office, Horatio."

"Thank you," he said and disappeared from the window.

Alexx shook her head and headed to the small locker room just off the autopsy theater. On her way back to her office, she stopped at the candy machine for a bag of M&M's.

Madison sat in the chair in front of Alexx's desk, leafing through a picture book, while Horatio paced the small room behind her. Alexx noted the bright red hair, the exact same color as Horatio's, and the pale blue eyes she remembered Raymond Caine having.

"Hello, Miss Madison," she said, using the soothing mother's voice she used when her own kids weren't feeling well. "You uncle says you're not feeling well today."

Madison shook her head 'no.' She looked into Alexx's chocolate brown eyes and then down at the floor, suddenly shy.

Alexx crouched on the floor to better see her. Madison reflected Alexx's smile.

"What I'd like to, Madison, is give you a little check-up," Alexx told her. "Just to figure out what's making you feel icky today. Is that okay?"

Madison bobbed her head. "Do I have to have another shot?"

Horatio looked up, his eyes resting on Alexx.

"I don't know," Alexx said truthfully. "But tell you what: if you need a shot, I'll make sure you get a treat afterward."

Madison opened her eyes a little wider, the promise of a treat making the idea of a shot seem less bad.

Alexx went to her desk and opened the bottom drawer, taking her medical bag out. She took out the thermometer and an alcohol pad to clean it with. Horatio watched her intensely.

"Okay," she said, popping the thermometer in Madison's mouth. "Now sit there and let me get your temperature. Horatio," she caught his attention, "why don't you go get a drink while we girls do this medical stuff?"

Horatio frowned but said nothing after a look from Alexx. He nodded, kissed Madison on her head, and stepped out in the hall.

MttS

After ten minutes, Horatio was pacing. When fifteen minutes passed, he stood outside Alexx's door. If it was taking this long, maybe Madison really was experiencing a relapse. He had her doctors' phone numbers and decided he'd call Suzie on the way to the hospital. She might be able to cut her training short; until then he'd stay with Madison in the hospital. His stomach tightened further with his worries.

Madison seemed to have recovered but the doctors where guarded in their prognosis. They had told Suzie and Horatio that Madison was in remission and they would wait five years before calling her cured. Five years from now, she'd be 10 and in fifth grade. It seemed like a lifetime to come.

The door opened to the office. Alexx stood next to it, smiling, which he took as a good sign. Horatio entered without an invitation.

Madison munched happily on M&M's, swinging her feet under the chair.

"Madison, sugar, I need to talk with your uncle," Alexx told her. "Can you wait for us in the hall? There's a window at the end that you can look out."

"Okay," Madison said cheerfully. She finished her M&M's and skipped down the hall.

The adults watched her go, leaving the door open enough to see her. Horatio played with his sunglasses, afraid to look at his friend the doctor. "What's the bad news?" he asked.

Alexx leaned back on her desk, happy to share good news with a family member. "There isn't any," she told him. "You have a healthy little girl who's just had a bout of homesickness."

Horatio looked up. Relief flooded his features.

"She misses her mother," Alexx continued. "And she said one of the other children in her daycare was talking about how much fun she was having staying her father and then asked about Madison's dad."

"Oh." Horatio nodded. He and Suzie had explained gently one night that Madison had two "daddies" – one that she shared with Ray Jr. and the other the man she had known, who had to go away because he had done a bad thing.

(Suzie took the news gracefully when Horatio had quietly told her Bob was dead, having been killed in a government sting after receiving an unexpected parole. She asked Horatio not to tell her more, that Bob was part of her past and she just wanted to mourn him alone.)

"What are your plans for the rest of the week?" Alexx asked him.

Horatio thought for a moment. "We have the hit-and-run from this morning to wrap up," he recounted. "And some research on another case."

"Good," Alexx said firmly. "Nothing Calleigh can't handle. Here's my prescription for the both of you." She held up her hand to prevent the protest from Horatio. "Take the rest of the week off. Spend the next few days with Madison. She needs to know there is a man who loves her just like a father, that she is important and special."

"Alexx –" he tried to protest anyway.

"I'm serious, Horatio," she cut him off. "I'll write this out and hand it to the senior commander if I have to. You could use a few days off and Madison needs a few days with you."

Alexx crossed her arms, her posture very much one not to be argued with. Horatio stood a moment, trying to find an argument in return. Instead he dropped into the chair Madison had vacated.

"Fine," he said at last. "But what do I do with a five-year-old girl for three days? You've got kids, Alexx. Any ideas?"

Alexx held up her finger, as she had a thought. She went to the book shelf and took out a tourist book, Fun with the Family in Florida. Alexx handed him the book.

"One set of ideas for the greater Miami area," she announced. "Dennis got it for me last year as a reminder to get out of the office more often."

Horatio chuckled, thumbing through the paperback. "Hundreds of ideas for day trips with the kids," read the kicker at the bottom of the cover. He tapped the book with his knuckles. "Thanks, Alexx."

"Anytime, sugar," she told him. "Now finish up whatever it is you have to do today and take that baby on a couple field trips."

MttS

Madison skipped up the steps to Horatio's office and let out a squeal of delight. He had completely forgotten the stuffed gecko was still duct taped to his door.

"You have a gecko!" she said, darting to the door.

Horatio shook his head. "Apparently – apparently I have several," he said more to himself than her. Pulling the toy from the door, he handed it to her. "Would you like it?"

"Uh-huh," she said, taking it and squeezing it tightly. "Does he have a name?"

A mischievous smile flittered over his lips. "Yep, yep, he does. Eric."

"Eric the Gecko," Madison said, dancing into the office with her new gecko. While she talked to the stuffed gecko, Horatio made some phone calls and asked reception to let him know when Calleigh and Eric returned.

"Uncle Horatio." He looked up from his desk. Madison was kneeling on the chair across from him, leaning on the desk. "I'm hungry."

The clock on the wall read twelve-thirty. "You know what?" he asked her. "Why don't we go to Checkers?"

Madison cheered. Horatio smiled and put on his sunglasses, taking her hand. Seeing her happy and not sick again was worth going to Checkers in his book.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews so far and I'm glad you like this! I'm hoping to update at least once more this weekend. The fic runs over the course of a week, although I'll need a little longer than that to finish this. So be patient and let me know what you think; the rest is on it's way.