Everything was dark in the Miami Dade Crime Lab, everything except one office. The office of Horatio Caine was lit up as if it wasn't eleven o'clock at night. The lights were on and obviously someone was moving around inside but it was eerily quiet. That someone didn't want anyone else to know he was there. And for good reason too.

Boxes were scattered around the spacious office. The boxes weren't empty but rather packed full of items. Some contained manilla folders full of papers while others held pictures and other personal items. But the one thing that tied all these boxes together was the bold writing on the sides. The words Los Angeles and CSI was marked clearly across the front of each and every one of the boxes.

With a sigh the man inside rested his hands, flat, on the desk in front of him. His red head was bowed in defeat. Something this man rarely experienced but this was one of those rare occasions. Something else this man wasn't was a coward but here he finds himself packing his things in the dead of night, no one around to know what he was doing and leaving before anyone could find out. He was a man of honor and respect and he felt sick. Sick because he was sneaking out on his friends, who also happened to admire and respect him beyond belief. People that went to bat for him time and time again and he returned the favors. It felt like he was leaving his family. This thought got a snort of him and he seemed to sober and continue with his packing.

Within about an hour the man was finished. Sunglasses were removed and tossed, carelessly, upon the desk as he surveyed the room. Horatio Caine wasn't a very happy man at this point in time.

Two items were left on his desk. One was a picture of himself, Calleigh, Eric, Alexx and the late Speed at a Christmas party hosted by Alexx. The other was of him, Yelina and Raymond Jr. taken at an amusement park. It was a family vacation. Actually, it was the last vacation that they took together. He picked up the silver framed picture of his team and placed it, gently, into the box while his eyes lingered on the gold framed picture. A sad smile tugged on his lips as he picked that photo up and placed it on top of the previous one, with the picture side down. He was so caught up in the picture that he didn't notice that he was no longer alone. Another person was leaning against the doorframe, watching him, silently.

"Planning a little trip?" The question seemed to float out of thin air until Horatio focused his gaze towards the door. His smile faded and soon he was moving around his desk, placing lids on the boxes. "You could say that." He tensely replied. He offered nothing else. "I was driving by when I noticed the lights on..." Came the accented explanation for her being there. Horatio grunted in response as he lifted one of the boxes onto his desk and slid a lid over top of the folders inside. "And you thought you'd stop and make sure everything was ok, right?" He didn't mean to sound so cold but he couldn't help it. "You could say that." Came her copy response that held just a hint of amusement within it.

Horatio sighed and sat down on his chair, turning around to face the window. He kept his eyes on the dark crime lab below hoping she'd leave but knowing she wouldn't. Without turning around he began to speak. "Los Angeles is in need of a good cop. A good CSI. I've had offers from them before. Same with Houston and Chicago but I never even considered them. Then a few weeks ago the head over the Los Angeles Crime Lab called me personally and lets just say I couldn't refuse his offer." His voice was soft yet at the same cold. "Los Angeles?" Was her reply. "You're leaving Miami and moving to Los Angeles?" She was shocked beyond belief. Never thinking in a million years that Horatio would leave. "Why?" This time her voice was soft, a whisper. "Why?" He spun his chair around to look at her. This was the woman that he loved but never dared to think about it. Or act on it. This was his sister-in-law. His brothers wife. That's all he used to see for the first few years after Raymond died. Then he started to see more than his brothers wife. He started to see a beautiful woman who he loved long before Raymond did but never got around to acting on his feelings. "Yelina..." He started then stopped, gathering his thoughts. "It's time for me to move on. I've trained these people good and they will be fine without me."

He couldn't bring himself to tell her the real reason for him leaving was her relationship with Rick. He couldn't stand the guy but he made her happy so he stepped aside. Stepped aside right when he was ready to be there for her in the ways she needed. Again he never got around to acting on his feelings. The last he heard was that they were getting serious and Rick was going to pop the question soon. No doubt in his mind to what her answer would be.

"Do they know?" Yelina asked. It was a logical question and she already knew the answer but she wanted to hear it from him. "No. I've left two letters at the front desk. One for Eric and one for Calleigh." He looked down at his hands.

"Horatio..." She began but stopped. How could she tell him that she didn't want him to go? He hurt her beyond belief when she found out he had a daughter. A kid that he never spoke to her about. Never even mentioned her before. She cared for him deep enough for it to border on love but he lied to her. That reminded her so much of Raymond that it scared her. So she grew cold towards him. Started dating Rick Stetler. The change in their relationship was noticeable. There was always tension between them and arguing that stemmed from their personal problem but always managed to surface during a case they worked together. "Are you going to...come back to visit your daughter?" That was the only thing she could think of to say.

"No...Susie and Madison are moving to Los Angeles with me. I'm in the process of buying a house in Pasadena." He knew his words would hurt her so that's why he was volunteering so much information.

"What is the real reason you stopped by, Yelina?" He wanted to finish what he was doing so he could start packing at home. Yelina walked over and picked a box up off one of the chairs and sat it on the floor. Then she sat down and crossed her legs. "Ray has been getting into trouble at school. Mostly fighting but lately he stopped doing his homework and just stays in his room. He refuses to leave his room if Rick is around. I don't know what to do with him, Horatio. Rick told me that he must be, only now, grieving for his father." It was clear that she didn't buy that explanation. "When did this all start?" Now this had Horatio's attention. Ray was his nephew and he'd do anything to make sure that little boy grew up happy and healthy. Yelina sighed. She had to tell him as much as she didn't want to. "The fighting started back up about a month ago and the homework skipping about a week ago. Right around the time that Rick disciplined him." She knew Horatio would react badly to finding out that Rick, the man Horatio despised, was disciplining the son of his dead brother. Horatio cleared his throat and his jaw tightened. "Did he hit him?" If he hadn't been sitting down he'd probably have grabbed the nearest object and threw it through the glass in the window. "What? No. Rick would never hit Ray because I would never let him. He yelled at him for talking back. Rick asked him to pick up his toys in the living room and Ray refused. It ended with Ray telling Rick that he wasn't his father so he didn't have to do what he said. The door was slammed and it's been like that ever since."

Horatio seemed to be lost in thought after hearing the problems that Ray was going through. "Yelina, let me take him to Los Angeles with me. Just for a few days, maybe a few weeks." He sighed. "I can understand where he is coming from and in my opinion he needs a break. A vacation to get his mind off of things. He's a good kid but even good kids need a break from the daily routine. You can even pick up all his homework before hand and I'll make sure he finishes it."

He knew exactly what was bothering the boy. About two months ago Horatio and Yelina were working on a very difficult case together. A fellow officer was killed in the line of duty and his six daughter was kidnaped. The kid was recovered but not before she was brutally raped. It was a gruesome sight when they found her. After they made sure she was stable at the hospital they both went out for a much needed drink. But the drink turned into something more and Horatio found himself waking up in Yelina's bed. He had crossed the one line that he swore that he'd never cross. He slept with his brothers widow. When he first woke up he was happy then reality began to set in and soon he felt guilty. He left before she woke up but not before Ray spotted him coming out of his mothers room. The kid was shocked at first then ecstatic. Ray hated Rick and assumed that with Horatio coming out of his mothers room that Rick would no longer be in the picture. He sat Ray down and explained things as best as he could and it broke his heart not to be able to tell the kid what he wanted to hear.

Horatio's suggestion shocked Yelina. "Go to Los Angeles with you? It's not even the middle of the school year yet and you want me to pull him out for a vacation?" This didn't sound like Horatio talking but lately nothing that came from Horatio sounded like him. Her eyes narrowed as she watched her brother-in-law. "You know what is bothering him, don't you?" She accused. Horatio hesitated having sworn to Ray that he wouldn't say anything but did he actually think he could keep something so big from his mother? "Yes, he told me what was bothering him but I don't think I have the right to tell you. It should be him." Yelina leaned forward, resting her hands on the desk top. "I have the right to know what is going on with my son. He's stubborn Horatio. Just like Raymond and just like you. He's not going to tell me. So please..." She was desperate. "Yelina..." He sighed. "Ray is confused. He knows that his father was a good man that died too soon. But at the same time he thinks that you're trying to replace him with Rick. He doesn't like Rick, Yelina. I don't think he ever will. He's a Caine, after all. Once a Caine gets a thought in his head...there is no changing his mind. But I think a vacation will calm him down. And I can have time to talk to him. Tell him about his father so that when he comes back he can be a little more accepting of your relationships. So he can understand why his life is changing so much. He just needs a little time around family. I'm not trying to steal your son, Yelina. I'm only trying to help." He looked down at his hands. Yelina was quiet after Horatio stopped talking. "I didn't... I guess it makes sense now. He's a whole different person when Rick is around. I never even gave it a second thought until now. I'll make the arrangements with the school and pick up his homework. When are you leaving?" Horatio stood up from his chair and moved around the desk to lean on it, close to her. "A few days. I've taken an extended leave of absence until my resignation takes effect." He offered her a rare, comforting, smile. Yelina stood and moved towards the door but stopped before she exited. Without turning around she began to speak. "I hope you find what you're looking for in Los Angeles, Horatio." With those words uttered, she left.

Horatio looked around the empty office and back towards the door that she went through. "I do too." He mumbled, sadly. He pushed away from his desk and towards the door, stopping long enough to flip the light off. He closed the door. The walk out was the longest he ever felt. Things were moving in slow motion as he reached the outside doors. Then he left, without looking back.