Disclaimer: I am the queen of the world! I am queen of all that I see! My name is Elmer J. Fudd, millionaire! I own a mansion und a yatch! I – I have been give a statement from my lawyer: "I do not own CSI: Miami nor any reference made to CSI: Miami and submit the following as a work of fanfiction, done for my enjoyment. I am making no profit from this venture."

Oh, drat. I hate it when she's right.

A/N: You've been so patient! Thank you all, and thank you for your comments. I like hearing what you like and your constructive criticism.

The tour boat glided through the water of the bay, hugging close to the mangroves lining the northern shore of the mainland. Water birds shot into the air as they approached. Madison stood on the small edging to better see over the high walls of the boat.

"We are cruising the longest undisturbed mangrove shoreline on the East Coat of the United States," Savannah described as they past the trees. Tall and slender, the mangroves reached tendril fingers into the water. "The mangroves filter water and prevent coastal erosion, in addition to giving shelter to the many kinds of fish in the bay." She looked around at their passengers with a smile. "How many fishermen do we have on board today?"

Horatio was one of five men who tentatively held up their hands. Savannah nodded while Madison eyed him with a little suspicion.

"We also have 28 miles of coral reef, some of which we will visit this morning," she continued. "We have more than 400,000 people coming each year to visit our reef, which is the third-largest barrier reef in the world. And, our bay is the resting place of 43 ships, sunk during various storms, hurricanes and the occasional collision with the 28 mile reef."

There were a few chuckles as she said that. The boat glided along the shore before turning away and heading into the bay. Madison stopped listening to the guide's speech and leaned over the caution rail and through the glass bottom of the boat. Colorful fish darted beneath the glass and the bay floor rolled by.

Horatio watched her for a moment, head intently bowed, as she studied the bay under her feet. A bright green, blue and orange colored fish with what appeared to be teeth came into view, munching on a floating piece of seaweed. It turned an eye up to the boat and Madison giggled as the fish looked at her. She tugged at Horatio's hand, wanting him to see, also.

"That's a parrotfish," Savannah told Madison, noticing the little girl's interest. "We have more than 200 species of fish in the park."

Madison looked up at the guide. "Do you have dolphins, too?"

"We have dolphins, too," Savannah assured her. Madison turned to Horatio with a big a grin.

The chug of the engine turned and the boat began to slow down. It came to hover just south of Featherbed Bank. As it drifted slightly, the wooden mast of a sunken sailing ship came into view. Fish darted in and out of the broken hall and a shadowy stingray moved smoothly over the vessel.

"We are above the Andrew," Savannah explained. Madison was again leaning through the rail, wonder across her face. "The Andrew sank in 1925 during a storm. He was attempting to smuggle bottles of rum from the Bahamas to Miami and went to the bottom of the bay with a full cargo of rum in its hold. Occasionally, divers still return with bottles from the hull."

The bottom stayed above the Andrew for a few more minutes so that everyone could have a chance to see the sunken boat. Then Captain Bubba started the engine up and the boat continued on its way. They passed Featherbed Bank and cut between Boca Chita and Elliott keys. Horatio alternated between watching Madison's fascination with the bay floor and looking out over the waters of the bay, with a glance towards Miami. From the calm waters of Biscayne Bay, his city looked peaceful, reflecting the sun as if it were painting by a Caribbean artist.

Madison was delighted when the boat paused again above the coral reef in Hawk Channel. The aquatic city below was swimming with exotic life. Another stingray floated beneath the boat while more angelfish swam past and a moray eel struck out for its dinner. A large barracuda sulked between coral shelves.

"This is our coral reef," Savannah described. "Because Biscayne Bay is a shallow bay, we're more of nursery. You find more fish and sea life in infancy or juvenile stages than you find adult in our reef. You can see some sea fans and plumes over there and an example of brain coral here."

Captain Bubba let the small boat drift for ten minutes while the tourists continued to enjoy the reef. Horatio let the sun and the ocean breeze relax the knot at the back of his neck and he found himself enjoying the slow hum of the bay. With a small jump, he realized he had almost been lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of the boat. Madison climbed into the seat between him and the gate to the diving platform at the back of the boat. She leaned over the edge, the bay breeze blowing the wisps of red hair loose from her braid. Horatio thought she looked like the child of a sea maiden from an ancient story. She held her shell in her right hand like a talisman of good fortune.

The boat turned in the water and threw the cut at the end of Elliot Key named Caesar Creek. The boat dock was in site and Savannah had pointed out Pelican Bank when Madison squealed.

"A dolphin!" she exclaimed, her eyes round in wonder. She turned once to Horatio to make sure he saw it, also.

Savannah nodded and smiled. The tourists all turned to see the dolphin at play in Biscayne Bay. "We get quite a few –"

Madison leaned against the diving gate and in her excitement pushed it open. Horatio sprang after her, his fingers brushing at the back of her t-shirt but unable to grab on.

In a blur of motion, Madison was in the water. Moving too quickly and off-balance, Horatio tumbled in after her.

There was a collective gasp from the other passengers. Savannah shouted to Greg for the life-rings as Bubba cut the engines completely.

Horatio surfaced, choking out water. "Madison," he said, scanning the water, then yelled, "Madison!"

He swam out from the boat, trying to see his niece through the crystal clear water. "Madison!" he shouted again, treading water and feeling the weight of his waterlogged clothes. Greg threw a life-ring to him; Horatio took it with one hand but stayed where he was.

"Where is she?" he shouted to Savannah, who had a long pole in the water for either of them to grab. Horatio couldn't see Madison anywhere. He swallowed the panic burning at the back of his throat and forced his mind to be the police officer. She couldn't be gone.

A spout of water in the air caught Horatio's eye and he spun where he was. The fin of the dolphin broke the surface, racing toward him. The dolphin blew again and slapped the surface of the water with its tail. It rushed forward and Horatio could see Madison's swirling red hair just before the dolphin pushed her into his arms. Madison collided with her uncle and instinctively grabbed Horatio around his neck. Savannah saw them and pulled on the rope attached to the life-ring Horatio held. Greg joined her and together they pulled Horatio and Madison back into the glass-bottom boat.

There was a commotion on the boat as the passengers shifted around. A nurse among them shoved her way forward and immediately began to examine Madison. Madison's eye lids fluttered and Horatio watched as the woman checked her breathing and pulse.

Bubba gunned the engine and the boat took off for the dock at the visitor's center.

Horatio wiped water from his eyes and knelt beside Madison, taking her hand. She started to cough and the nurse pushed her into a sitting position. She coughed up some water, gasped deeply and began to cry. Wordlessly, Horatio gathered her in his arms and held her tightly, squeezing his eyes shut in silent gratitude.

MttS

The park's paramedic hovered over Madison while the nurse from the boat assisted. Horatio looked on from the other cot in the infirmary, shoulders slumped. They wore terry robes while their clothes tumbled dry somewhere in the next room.

A light hand rested on his shoulder. Horatio turned to see Savannah standing behind him.

"Thank you," he told her simply.

Savannah smiled and shook her head. "You're welcome, I guess. But I'm here to apologize – I had tested the lock but I guess I didn't look hard enough. That was quite a fright she gave us."

"Yep," he responded. The paramedic had finished his exam. "But Madison is going to be okay."

"I'm sure," Savannah said. She studied him a moment. "Will you be alright?"

Horatio looked up at her. "There was a moment in the water – when I couldn't see her," he admitted. "But I will be now."

The paramedic waved them over. Madison immediately snuggled close to Horatio when he sat on her bed.

"Your little girl is fine," he told Horatio. "A little waterlogged, but fine."

"I was scared, Uncle Horatio," Madison told him.

Horatio smoothed her hair. "So was I, sweetheart."

She giggled and pointed at the paramedic. "He says the dolphin saved me."

Horatio thought it over, playing back the moment when he couldn't see her in the water in his mind. "I guess, I guess the dolphin did, at that."

Madison frowned again as the paramedic packed up his kit. "I lost my shell, though," she said. "I got to see a dolphin but I lost my shell."

Savannah sat on the opposite side of the bed and took one of Madison's hands. She smiled warmly. "Well, Madison, that's something important for you to know, then."

"What is?" Madison asked. Horatio looked over her head at the guide.

Savannah nodded, as if listening to a memory. She tipped her head slightly as she spoke. "Shells sink," she said. "Dreams float."