For a full disclaimer, please see chapter one. In short, I'm still waiting on Horatio's phone call.

Madison was sprawled out on the floor of Horatio's office, Eric the Gecko next to her, coloring in the new coloring book he had picked up for her on the way back from lunch. She would occasionally stick her tongue out of the corner of her mouth as she considered what crayon to use next or she would absently pat "Eric" on his plush head.

"Uncle Horatio," she said at last, just as Calleigh knocked on the slightly open door and walked in, "I'm bored."

Horatio looked up from the file on his desk, nodded at Madison and said brightly, "Calleigh."

"Oh, no," she drawled, all too familiar with that particular tone of voice. She noted the little girl and the stuffed gecko on the floor. Calleigh knelt on one knee to get a closer look at her. "You must be Horatio's niece."

Madison nodded and grinned. "You're pretty," she told Calleigh.

Calleigh laughed. "Why, thank you," she said. "I think you're pretty, too."

Madison beamed happily.

Calleigh stood back up and took the seat across from Horatio. "You wanted to see me?"

"Yes," Horatio said, glancing toward Madison, who was again coloring. "I'm – I'm taking the rest of the week off, at Alexx's suggestion." Calleigh raised an eyebrow and followed his gaze back to Madison. She nodded. "So, you'll be in charge of the lab until Monday." Horatio passed her the file, along with a list of needs. "I'm confident that you can see to things until I get back."

"Of course, Horatio," she said, looking over the file. "I can still reach you if something big comes up?"

"Yep," he told her. "Either at home or on my cellphone. I'm finishing a few things up here and plan to leave in an hour."

Calleigh closed the file. "Alright," she said. "Anything else you need?"

A playful smile graced Horatio's lips. "As a matter of fact, there is one thing," he told her. "It seems, it seems Madison is bored. And she's fond of geckos."

Calleigh looked confused, then she started to laugh again. "You like geckos, Madison?" she asked the little girl.

"Uh-huh," Madison said, patting the toy beside her. "I want to catch one and keep him for a pet, but they always run away from me."

Calleigh slid from her chair to sit on the floor next to Madison. "Well, you know who's good at catching geckos? My friend Eric is really good at it. In fact, the police academy spent a lot of time teaching him how to find little things like geckos."

"Really?" Madison squealed happily.

"Really," Calleigh assured her. "I know where he is right now. I bet we could get him to help you catch a gecko."

Madison hopped up, coloring long forgotten. "Can I go, Uncle Horatio? Please?"

Calleigh was sure it was the first time she had seen Horatio's eyes twinkle. He seemed so at ease and his body language was turned toward his niece. Calleigh's life had depended, at times, on her ability to read people: she read his devotion to Madison in his every glance, every word. It amazed her.

"Yes," Horatio said easily, his voice holding back his evident amusement. "Just have her back in an hour," he told Calleigh.

Calleigh tucked the file under arm and extended her hand. "Come on, Madison, let's go find Eric."

Madison took her hand and skipped beside her. The last thing Horatio heard as they left his office was, "Did you know my stuff gecko is named 'Eric,' too? Uncle Horatio told me so."

About a half an hour later, Horatio leaned back in his chair to catch his breath. The never-ending paperwork of running a crime lab was almost as done as it would get that week. He glanced out the window and laughed out loud.

On the lawn below, Eric Delko was on his hands and knees, a sample container held above the sidewalk, with Madison hoping around him, clapping her hands gleefully. Eric lunged, landing spread-eagle on his belly, before scooping his hand under the container and triumphantly holding it out for Madison to see.

There was a flash from the corner of his eye and Horatio turned in time to see Calleigh lowering a camera, a grin across her face.

MttS

Horatio and Madison arrived home, grocery bags and a new plastic aquarium from Wal-Mart in tow, an hour earlier than the day before. As Horatio put their groceries away, she skipped out to the lanai with her new pet gecko and its "house." He listened to her show the poor creature around, calling it by its new name, "Tim" (having been so christened by Eric, who felt that just because Speedle was dead, he shouldn't be able to get out of this gecko business).

After setting Tim in a shady spot, Madison bounced through the kitchen. She tugged at Horatio's suit jacket until he bent over and was eye-level with her.

"Yes?" he asked.

Madison smiled and kissed his cheek. "I like you," she told him. With that, she bounced into her bedroom to change into her swimsuit. Smiling, he watched her go.

Done with the groceries, Horatio poured a diet Coke and sat on the lanai with Alexx's book. Madison heaved the sliding door open, carrying her beach towel and the inflatable dolphin.

Horatio left his chair to close the door for her. "Alright, my friend," he said, "any idea what you would like to do for the rest of the week?"

"Can we go to the beach?" she asked. "Mommy always says she wants to go but we never have time."

"We can go to the beach," he promised her. "Do you want to do that tomorrow?"

"Yeah!" she said.

Horatio watched her play in the pool while leafing through the book. It covered all of the state, with special sections for each major city. Miami had several interesting spots, along with restaurants that focused on family meals, listed.

He looked up and waved when Madison called out, "Watch me!" She jumped from the edge of the pool to the center, bobbing from the floaties on her arms. He tapped the book he held, thinking back to his childhood. His mom had been dedicated to their community, and to Horatio and Raymond. But there had been little time for "family fieldtrips" for the three of them. And then she was gone and Horatio was his brother's guardian. He remembered long, hot nights, helping his brother with homework while making notes of his own, trying to solve her murder.

There was Madison, oblivious to her family's history, her grandmother's death, her father's charade. Someday she would have to meet Raymond, tucked safely away in Brazil. This red-haired child who chased geckos and charmed criminalists, what would she make of this world when she was ready for it?

All the growing up she had to come: sports and girlfriends, boys and dating, college and career. Horatio had taken Raymond's adultery as a failure to teach his brother right from wrong. Now he saw Madison and wondered if her coming into the world hadn't been the reason for her father's behavior.

Horatio had never known his father, and now his brother had done the same to his child. Maybe Horatio was still taking care of Raymond's mistakes; and maybe he was thinking too much about all of it. Madison was here now; she was his flesh and blood. He had the opportunity to fill the gap Raymond had left behind.

And Madison had the opportunity to fill the gap Horatio hadn't wanted to acknowledge to himself.

MttS

Horatio let Madison eat dinner in her swimsuit, sitting at the lanai table. Dolphin had spent the dinner hour bobbing in the pool while Horatio tried to think of what geckos liked to eat.

She jumped back in the pool after helping him clear away the dishes. He sat with his laptop while she played, occasionally climbing out to check on Tim. The evening passed until he noticed the small clock at the corner of the screen: 7:30 p.m.

Horatio groaned. Bath time. And since they had skipped it the night before, she need one now.

"Madison, sweetheart, time to get out of the pool," he called, setting down the computer.

"No, it's not," she immediately told him.

"Madison," he repeated patiently. "Out of the pool."

She pouted, said good night to the dolphin and swam to the stairs. She splashed as much as she could getting out of the water and took as much time as possible to pull the floaties off her arms.

Madison followed Horatio into the house and headed toward her bedroom when he noted her suit and had an idea.

"You know," he said, "I think you maybe old enough for a shower. And," he added as incentive, "if you keep your swimsuit on, it will be all clean for you when we go to the beach."

She looked doubtful, scrunching up her face to study him.

"Really?" she asked. "Mommy said I can do showers when I'm bigger."

Horatio took the risk. Anything to avoid a repeat of Sunday night. "Well, I think you're big enough. And I'll be right there to make sure you don't slip."

Madison folded her arms. "Okay," she said, sounding hopeful in spite of her hesitation. She headed to the bathroom with a very relieved uncle in tow.

Just before eleven, Horatio checked all the locks on the doors, latched one window and set the alarm. He started the dishwasher and swallowed down his vitamins. Finally, he went to Madison's door to check on her one last time before he went to bed.

She lay asleep on her pillow, damp hair in a single braid – he still remembered how to braid a girl's hair – bunny tucked in her arms.

Horatio stood at her bedside, his emotions tugging at him. This was new to him, this protectiveness, this quiet need to see her face before sleep.

Fourteen years ago, Raymond had placed his infant son in Horatio's arms, his face filled with tenderness and awe. "You're an uncle, now," Raymond told him. "I need you – if ever I'm gone – to take care of him."

Horatio had taken baby Raymond, touching his small pink cheek. The baby had cooed and turned toward his hand, latching on with tiny fingers.

Fourteen years later, and Horatio lightly brushed Madison's cheek. She stirred a little, turning toward him, reflexively reaching for his hand.

I'll take care of her, Raymond, he silently told his brother. Leaning down, he brushed her hair with his lips. "I like you, too," he whispered to the sleeping girl.

A/N: Tuesday is done and all asleep. I hope to post again tomorrow (6/12) but that depends on what I have completed. After that…..I will be out of town and I don't know if I'll be able to get online. But, have no fear, when I get back, the story will be done or almost so, and you'll get the rest of their week together then. Thank you so much for your reviews; they have been wonderful and very much an encouragement to continue.