14.

It was drizzling lightly as they started up the dock, Horatio bundled into his black overcoat and Schell wearing a long, green, wool one. Schell's weary mind registered that it was rapidly getting dark and she realized that Payton and Beckman had been interviewing the both of them nearly all day. There was still a small hive of activity going on around the studio so Horatio nodded towards the distant marina offices. As they mounted the stairs leading to the parking lot, he spotted the single patrol unit parked nearby and ambled over to the tell the two policemen inside what they were going to do.

As the halogen lights of the parking lot were beginning to flicker on, the mist swirled about aimlessly in the beams as the two slowly made their way down Shilshole Marina. They followed the sidewalk that separated the docks from the parking lot. The roar of traffic, and accompanying horns, seemed muted as the lapping of waves --against boats, docks and the seawall-- coupled with the other sounds of a marina seemed to dim out rush hour.

Neither spoke, lost in their own thoughts as they walked. Horatio noted that it was rather colder then he thought and a concerned glance from Schell told him she was noticing him hunkering into his coat.

"I'm afraid I've grown thin-blooded." He said to her questioning look. "It's a lot warmer in Miami then it is here."

"We can always go back," she started.

He just smiled a little and shook his head no. "It feels nice to get out and stretch my legs, besides a good long walk will warm us up."

"So how warm is it there now?" she asked, looking away out over the marina.

"Oh, right around 70° to 80° during the day and humid. Which is why I'm feeling the chill a little a more."

"Tell me a little about it?" she asked, reaching up to tuck a strand of her white hair behind her ear.

"Miami? Well," he paused and she glanced over to see a hint of mischievousness in his blue eyes. "It's buggy."

"Buggy?"

"Bugs, lots of them. Spiders, Fire ants, love bugs in March and October, fireflies, mosquitoes and roaches. The mosquitoes are known to run off with family pets."

"That's appealing," she said dryly and he was rewarded with the first smile he'd seen on her the entire day.

"The Palmetto bugs are something to behold," he commented.

"Palmetto bugs?"

"Roaches the size of my hand," he said holding up his own with his long fingers splayed.

"No way," She said looking at him for signs of teasing.

"Way," he responded with a deadpanned look then a slight twist of his head, before another mischievous smile twitched his lips in amusement. "They also fly. And then we have these things called alligators…" He looked at her with glint of mirth in his eyes.

"Maybe I better rethink this commission," she replied.

"And miss walking on miles of sandy beaches? It's some of the best beachcombing in the world. Then there's road trips down the Overseas Highway to the Keys and Key West. Short cruises to the Bahamas. Some spectacular Keys to go sailing in and around. Airboating in the Glades. Dinner cruises around Biscayne Bay or out around Key Biscayne. Then there are the sunsets…" he added smiling softly. "Can't really beat a Florida sunset."

"Now that sounds more appealing. What did you do? Swallow the state tourism book, Lieutenant?"

Horatio chuckled, glad to hear the humour in her voice, "It's worth it. Miami's a very international city. It's full of great ethnic diversity, like Little Havana, Little Haiti, Bahamian, Nicaraguan, Asian, you name it. "

"You're fond of it aren't you?"

"Yes, yes I am," he paused a moment then looked at her curiously. "Schell, when are you supposed to be moving there?"

"End of April, why?"

"Is there any possibility that moving date can be changed? Can you go earlier?" He asked.

"I have commitments, Horatio…" Schell said slowly, frowning a little in thought as she scrunched her shoulders. "At this stage the paintings can't be rushed…. But I don't know. I'd have to contact my rep with the Florida commision to see. Why?"

Horatio glanced at her, shrugged and replied, "Seems logical if we want to shake off or flush out whoever is trying to do this to you, to move you sooner then expected." He pointed out.

She paused, not speaking as she mulled over his words. "I suppose I could call the rep and see what they say. I'd still have to finish up what's here though."

"Understood. Moving sooner might not be such a bad idea…" He studied her a moment, seeing that she was still considering what he suggested. She looked at him again, uncertainty on her face.

"Let me think on it." she said, looking troubled. He nodded and they lapsed into silence again as they approached the marina offices. Once there they turned and began ambling back the way they had come.

"How…" she started, speaking softly, "How do people handle this stuff? The fear, the worry, the stress…?" She sighed, trying to relax her shoulders as she watched the play of lights on the water. "How should I deal with this? I've never…" her voice trailed off, and he could see her distress as well as hear it.

"Everyone is different, Schell," he said gently, shook his hand loose from his overcoat pocket and reached over to take hers. "I know your frightened, and worried, but you've got a shoulder to lean on here. You don't have to face this alone." He glanced at her, and added with a wistful smile. "And I've lots of experience dealing with this."

"Mighty big shoulders," she commented as he gently pulled her closer, laced his fingers with hers then slipped her hand into his pocket, trying to keep warm.

"They can handle it," he said and smiled, looking out across the parking lot.

"After all that's happened, I am still surprised you haven't packed your bags and headed home."

"It's against my nature to run from trouble."

"No…" Schell mused thoughtfully. "I suppose its not."

"Besides…" he said, blinking a couple of times, glancing towards her, then off down the sidewalk they were walking on. "You've added an interesting diversion to an otherwise typical convention weekend." That shy smile ghosted across his lips again as he added, "I'm not complaining."

"Even after nearly drowning and getting shot?"

"Even after that."

"You're a glutton for punishment."

He snorted softly in amusement, "More then you will ever know."

They lapsed into a companionable silence for a few moments, before he asked, "Tell me about that big painting?"

"The sideways one?" she asked.

He nodded, "The sideways one. How did you work on something that big?"

"I painted it sideways," she replied, then smiled a little at the look he gave her. "Did you see any stepladders in there? That painting is nearly twelve feet tall."

"And you painted it with the canvas laying sideways?"

"If Michaelangelo can paint the Sistine Chapel on his back, I can paint a shipwreck sideways."

Horatio chuckled, his face softening with his smile. "All right, I'll give you that one. That is interesting though."

"So is the ship. She's the Glenesslin. She was built in Liverpool 1885, and proceeded to make several speed records which still stand today. She wrecked at Neahkanie Beach, on the Oregon coast in October of 1913. Her crew was drunk at the time. Up against the wreck of the Peter Iredale, she's one of Oregons' most famous wrecks. That particular painting is going in the foyer of the new Oregon Maritime Museum."

"You do your research," he commented, approval in his voice.

Schell nodded, smiling to herself. "Pays well to study your subject, and get pictures when you can. I've several of the different Oregon wrecks. They're packed at the moment though."

In the parking lot, not very far away, one of the commercial fishermen going home for the night started up his rather old vehicle, which promptly backfired in protest.

Schell nearly jumped out of her skin, her fingers clamping down hard on Horatio's as she gasped in surprise, a wild look flashing across her face. Horatio, startled as well, moved to cover her as his head snapped around for the source. Reason kicked in as his hearing told him it was not gunfire and he spotted the old car, idling roughly as the fisherman made ready to leave.

They were facing one another, Horatio's back to the parking lot. "It's okay…" he reassured, shaking loose his hand, and reaching up for her shoulders. "It's just the car," he nodded towards it as she reached both hands up to her face, shaking like a leaf.

She turned from him, taking in a deep breath of air, her hands covering her nose and mouth as she struggled for composure. "Look at me!" she said agitated, wiping tears from her cheeks with her fingertips. "I'm a nervous, freaking wreck…"

Horatio looked at her in compassion, seeing her struggle with the tangle of wanting to hold up against an extraordinary circumstance, and the inevitability of not being able. Reaching up, he carefully looped back the longer strands of her hair behind her ear. "Schell," he murmured. "It's been a long, hard day, you need to let off some of that stress."

He pulled her to him, and she cast a pleading look at him, still holding her hands to her face before she let out a soft protest of denial. Drawing her in close, she reluctantly began to cry. As he wrapped his arms around her, a fleeting look of uncertainty flashed across his face before he cradled her head to his chest, murmuring reassurances in her ear.

Standing there, his large body shielding hers, Horatio let her weep.

After some time, Schell --feeling drained and worn out-- simply let herself soak in the attention he was giving to her. She had slipped her arms around his waist, had closed her eyes, and heaved a gentle sigh of relief.

"Better?" he asked softly, hesitant yet to move. Schell just nodded her head, not willing to speak. She was acutely aware of how very warm and safe it felt to be held.

"Sure?" he asked.

"Yeah…" she reluctantly pulled a hand free and wiped off the remaining tears on her face with her fingertips. Horatio smiled a little, rubbing her arm with one hand as he tilted his head to look at her face. "Thank you…" she whispered, looking at him shyly.

"My pleasure," he murmured, reaching up to tuck back another lock of her hair. He seemed to play with the strands between his fingers a moment, examining the colours that reflected off her white hair from the myriad lights of the marina.

Schell saw a wistful smile drift across his features, before he focused on her again. For a few moments they just studied each other before he blinked a few times and looked away, holding her tighter for just a moment longer.

"We just crossed a line, didn't we?" she asked in a very soft voice.

Horatio blinked again, an eyebrow rising a little as he nodded. "Uh huh."

She looked down, minutely studying one of the buttons on his shirt, and unable to speak. His hands rubbed her arms, before settling on her shoulders as he took a deep breath, Schell had noticeably tensed under his hands.

Finding her voice she stammered, "I umm, I'm sorry, I will totally understand if you…" she started and attempted to pull back away from him.

"Schell…" he said quietly, cutting her off, his hands stopped her from pulling away. She glanced up at him then, and for a fleeting moment he got a good hard look at a deep well of sorrow and despair, before she looked away, closing her eyes and sighing. His hand reached up, lifting her chin to face him again.

"Listen, okay?" he asked. "Just listen.." It tore at him to see the turmoil which further darkened her eyes. "All right?" he asked again, and waited. She paused, met his gaze and nodded.

"Don't jump to conclusions," he said slowly, "Just listen a moment to what I have to say." He gazed at her expectantly. She tried to look away from him again, reaching up a shaking hand to pull the hair away from her face. A sniff, a struggle for composure, then another sigh. His fingers gently nudged her chin up to face him again.

"Right now," he murmured softly. "You are very vulnerable. Ah ah…" he remonstrated with care as she pulled her head away and dropped her gaze down, hiding eyes that were filling with tears again, "Just listen, Schell, please?" He waited as she reached up to clutch her arms, struggling with herself. After a moment he reached back and nudged her to face him again, this time setting his hand on her cheek. He gave her a very tender smile.

"You are very vulnerable at the moment, Schell," he said again, "And it would be against everything I have ever learned and believed if I were to take advantage of you right now," he studied her, choosing his words carefully. "Things are complicated enough with out adding more to it. Do you understand?"

Trying to hold herself together and seeming to crawl back in on herself, she nodded.

"Right now, you need a good friend, someone who can help you through what it is you've been facing, and I am more than willing to do that," he said.

He was glad to see her thinking over what he said and after a long pause she asked in a low whisper. "And after?"

"After?" he said quietly, another wistful smile drifting across his lips. He waited until she looked up at him. "After, we'll see how things are."

Schell carefully considered his words.

"You're hurting enough already, Schell," he continued. "If I were to take advantage of you at this point I would end up adding to that hurt and I simply will not do that."

He reached up and cupped her face in both his hands, smiling at her with infinite care. "So for now, let me just be a friend, let me take you home, make us something to eat and relax. Okay? Can you do that?"

After a long, long pause, as she studied his face, dwelling on his words, she finally nodded aquiescence. "I'd be the biggest idiot on the planet to say no to you. You are this close…" She said quietly as she held up thumb and index finger with the tips pinched together, "This close to being to good to be true."

A faint smirk, more self mocking then anything else, crooked one side of his mouth. "Some people would definitely disagree with you on that point," he said. She smiled a little then, heaved another sigh, dropping her head as he drew her back to him in warm hug.

"I'm so damned tired," she whispered wearily, as he cradled her head, setting his cheek against her hair. Horatio smiled, rubbed her back then broke loose, tugging her arm carfully around his waist as they started back towards the boat.

"Time to go back, it's cold, I'm hungry and we've had a long day," he said. Schell looked out over the parking lot towards the quarantined studio.

"It sure has been…" she murmured.