Disclaimer: I disclaim. For reference, "You Got The Silver" appears on the Rolling Stones album "Let It Bleed" (1969), performed by Keith Richards and the members of the Rolling Stones. It appears here without permission, but with respect, and as an integral part of the story, not as songfic. I may be a Parrothead but it seems Horatio is into the Stones.
A/N: Thank you for the reviews! There have been 38 reviews so far and I'm just blown away by how much you like my fic. Between my notes and your reviews, it's been a wonderful conversation that I truly appreciate. As always, let me know what you think and your constructive criticism.
Horatio was not dreading Suzie's phone call in the evening. He just was not looking forward to telling Suzie that her daughter went head-first into the deep-end of Biscayne Bay earlier that day. He considered not mentioning it but knew if he didn't, Madison would and in great excitement and detail.
When they had come home from their adventures at the bay, he sent her to her room for a shower and change of clothes. Madison did both, animatedly telling her dolphin all about the real dolphin that had pushed her to safety. She returned with arms full of dirty clothes from the week as he had asked.
While Horatio sorted clothes quickly by color, Madison helped herself to a glass of juice and went out to the lanai with her coloring books. He listened from the laundry room while she chattered at Tim in his small aquarium. He started the washing machine and went to the kitchen to plan dinner. The telephone rang just as he opened the freezer to consider the possibilities of any chicken that might be in there.
"Hey, Horatio," Suzie said breathlessly. "How are things with you and Madison?'
Horatio cradled the phone on his shoulder and glanced at Madison on the lanai. "Things are well," he said truthfully. "Although we're having some adventures."
"That's good," she said. "My training is almost done. They're going to put me in the advertising office, working on the website."
"Good, good," he said. "That was something you were interested in." He paused. "Uhm, however, I think you should know…well, Madison is fine, but –"
"But what?" Suzie asked quickly. Horatio winced at the panic in her voice. "Is Madison okay? What happened?"
Horatio closed the freezer. He took down the cookbook from above the refrigerator. A half dozen take-out menus slid out.
"Madison is fine," he assured his niece's mother. "She – uh – she ended up taking a little swim at Biscayne National Park."
"A swim?" Suzie quizzed, sounding skeptical.
"Well –" Horatio thumbed through the menus. "Madison, well, she fell in because she was excited to see a dolphin."
"Should I come home?" Suzie asked hurriedly. "I could probably get a flight tonight."
Horatio's head snapped up and he frowned. "No," he told her. "Madison is alright. We pulled her from the water unhurt and she got to see her dolphin. You don't need to cut your training short."
There was silence from the other end and Horatio could imagine Suzie considering coming home early anyway. Finally, he heard her sigh.
"Okay, Horatio," Suzie said. "If you tell me Madison is alright, I believe you."
Horatio let out his breath. "Good, good," he said. "She and I are having a good time. Do you want to talk with her?"
"Of course," Suzie said too brightly.
Horatio called Madison in from the lanai and handed her the phone. "Mommy!" she exclaimed and giggled. "Guess what? A dolphin saved my life!"
Horatio held his breath again as Madison took the phone and skipped out to the living room. He stared down at the menus and wondered if little girls liked Chinese for dinner.
Madison continued to dance around the living room, telling Suzie about their day. Horatio flipped open his cellphone and ordered their dinner. From there, he headed back to the laundry room to change loads. Madison chattered to her mother as he passed her on the way to his bedroom, where he kept his bank envelope in the top drawer of his dresser.
He paused for a moment while opening the drawer. On the dresser he kept his mother's picture and one of himself and Raymond as teenagers. There was picture of Ray Jr. in a soccer uniform and one of Yelina and Ray Jr. from two Christmases ago. Horatio frowned, studying his pictures, his eyes resting on his mother's picture.
What I need, he thought before he could stop himself, is one of Madison, and maybe one of her with Suzie.
He considered a picture of his niece in light of the possibility that Suzie would not leave Madison with him again after her spill into the bay.
"Uncle Horatio!" Madison called from the living room.
Horatio squared his shoulders and headed out of his bedroom. "Yes, Madison?"
She ran over to him and thrust the phone out. "Mommy wants to say goodnight."
Horatio took the phone from her. Madison hopped from foot to foot and then darted back to the lanai and her coloring.
"Horatio," Suzie said, worry again in her voice, "did a dolphin really save my daughter's life?"
"Well – " he hedged.
"Horatio."
"The dolphin… the dolphin did seem to push Madison toward me," he admitted.
There was silence from the other end of the phone, then he heard Suzie tell someone she would be right there.
"I have to go," she said to him. "I guess I'll see you on Saturday."
"Yep," Horatio agreed. He walked across the house to the kitchen and replaced the receiver.
The delivery guy from Great Wall rang the bell half an hour later. Horatio took the bags out to lanai and set the table with bowls and small plates, placing chopsticks at his place and a fork at Madison's.
He called her for dinner. Madison wrinkled up her nose and informed him "that smells funny" when he served her Moo Goo Gai Pan. She did seem to be interested in the fried dumplings. He led her in Grace Before Meals again, mentally adding his own twin prayers.
MttS
At seven-thirty, Horatio sent Madison to put on her pajamas. He took the laundry from the dryer and carried the basket to the living room. Taking a CD of the Rolling Stone's album "Let It Bleed," he popped in the disk and adjusted the volume. The Stones were an old habit from his teens. Comfort music, of sorts.
He poured the clothes from the basket to the couch. It took a moment to sort Madison's clothes from his. Horatio quickly folded up his clothes, especially the boxers, before Madison could return. The water was running in her bathroom; he guessed she was brushing her teeth before bed.
Horatio shook out the gold t-shirt Madison had been wearing that morning. Then he held it up, examining the shirt from both sides. It was so small, he thought. Of course Madison's clothes would be small, he chided himself, but he still folded her shorts and shirts with a bit of awe. A very small person wears those clothes – a very small person with red hair and freckles and an affinity for geckos. And this very small person looked up to him for some reason, swearing she would never go to Jacksonville and leave him.
Horatio had to give her back on Saturday. He sighed and finished folding the child's clothes. Monday morning, with whatever investigation and DB it might bring, was still a long way off, and Saturday afternoon didn't need to come any sooner than it would on its own.
"You look sad again," he heard a small voice say. Horatio looked up from placing the folded clothes in the basket.
"No, no, not sad," he corrected her with a smile. "Just thinking."
Madison climbed on the couch next to him. "Oh." She watched him expectantly, then frowned. "Who's singing?"
Horatio chuckled. "That's the Rolling Stones."
"Who?" she asked again.
The disc switched between songs and Horatio's eyes twinkled. He stood up and helped Madison to stand on the couch.
"May I have this dance, young lady?" he asked. Madison giggled. She jumped on the cushions until he picked her up, settling her small body on his hip. Horatio traced a box-step on the floor and twirled them both as Keith Richards wailed the jazz-folk combination of "You Got The Silver."
Hey, babe, what's in your eyes?
I saw them flashing like airplane lights
You fill my cup, babe, that's for sure
I must come back for a little more
You got my heart, you got my soul
You got the silver, you got the gold
You got the diamonds from the mines
Well, that's allright, it'll buy some time
Horatio twirled them again and Madison giggled some more. He set her down and gently guided her in the box-step, spinning her in the center of the step. She watched their feet and worked hard to copy his steps, then looked up with a shining face.
Madison grinned and he swept her back up as Richards finished the ballad. She rested her head on his shoulder and he cradled her close.
Hey babe, what's in your eyes?
Is that the diamonds from the mines?
What's that laughing in your smile?
I don't care, no, I don't care
Hey babe, you got my soul
You got the silver, you got the gold
A flash of love has made me blind
I don't care, no, that's no big surprise
Horatio danced with her, carrying Madison to her bedroom. With one hand he pulled back the sheets and settled her in the bed. She giggled as he pulled the covers up to her chin and kissed her forehead.
"Hey babe, you got my soul," he sang to her, "you got the silver, you got the gold. A flash of love has made me blind. I don't care, no, that's no big surprise."
Madison reached up and kissed his cheek. "I love you, Uncle Horatio."
Horatio blinked in surprised, then tucked Madison in for the night. "I love you, too, sweetheart. Now sleep tight."