21.

Over the course of the next few days, Horatio saw what it was that he had sensed in Schell Demereau that night on the beach. The shock of her situation had at last worn off, and as Captain Payton, the District Attorney's office, and the lawyers they recommended for her, began to walk her through the upcoming processes of what was to come, he could see she was beginning to 'stand on her own two feet'. The DA was thrilled to have someone of Horatio's caliber on the prosecution witness list and confidently assured Schell that what they had accumulated regarding evidence would send Thorpe away for a good long time.

That, in turn left the civil case, highly recommended -- by the lawyers in the DA's office-- for her to pursue against Thorpe, as she was determined that the unfinished Santa Clara Wreck painting would not go into his hands. As for the Glenesslin painting, she decided it should be donated to the museum the Thorpes originally intended it for.

That sense of peace, despite the turmoil of lawyers meetings etc. et al. had persisted and he was seeing her at last in her more natural state. She had gained badly needed confidence, both with his and the legal professionals' help and was beginning to feel more relaxed.

On the fourth day after the trip to see the Iredale wreck, he was helping her pack more of her belongings on the 'Amalia Blue' when his cell phone went off. Willing now to let her out of his sight, she had run a load of laundry to the on-site facility.

"Horatio Caine," he said as he answered it, not immediately recognizing the number.

"It's Payton…" came the Captain's voice.

"What can I do for you?" Horatio asked as he stashed away the last of the kitchen utensils into a box.

"I just got an SOS call from a Chief Burton…" Payton said, trying to hide the humour in his voice. "I think you're needed back at home."

"Oh?" Horatio asked, pausing in his work.

"Said something along the lines of the Clavo Cruz case going to trial in two days, come home ASAP."

"Clavo Cruz…" Horatio murmured as a predatory smile appeared on his lips.

"Big case?" Payton asked.

"Very big case; a long time in coming." Horatio confirmed.

"Sounds like daddy is pulling the chain." Payton mused.

"In this case, I certainly don't mind." Horatio responded.

"Sounds like you're gonna be leaving our fair city, then, Lieutenant." Payton said. "And I can't thank you enough for all the help you've supplied in this case."

"My pleasure," Horatio smiled, "I'll be back, though, courtesy of your District Attorney's office."

"When you do, let's meet up, dinner will be on me!" Payton said.

"I will do that, Captain," Horatio said with a smile. "Thanks for passing on Burton's message."

"No problem, give Miss Demereau my regards."

"Of course," Horatio replied and Payton hung up.

Pausing a moment afterwards, Horatio turned and found a local phone directory under the nav station in the boat. His face suddenly looked troubled as he flipped through the book looking for the number of the airline he would be flying out on. It was time for him to go, but how was he going to tell Schell?

He was sitting there, at the nav station, the phone book and his cell phone on the table before him when Schell returned from the laundry facilities. He had been softly stroking the corners of his mouth with his long fingers when he heard her stepping onto the upper deck.

He was up instantly, opening the cabin door for her as she came down the steps.

"Thanks!" she said, making an abrupt right turn and taking the basket into the master bedroom where she deposited it on the bed.

"Lucky I got in there when I did, the place is packed, now," she commented, turning around and reentering the main salon. She spotted the phone book and his cell phone and stopped.

One look at his face told her everything in a split second of time. A part of her had known it was coming and had tried to prevent her from getting so used to his being around, but the reality of his leaving was staring her in the face and she knew deep down that she wasn't as prepared for it as she had hoped to be. Nor was she prepared for the abruptness, either.

"Um…" he murmured seeing the shock of realization in her dark eyes. "Captain Payton called while you were out. My chief was trying to track me down."

"Y- your chief?" she stammered, looking away suddenly, confusion in her eyes.

"Yeah…" he said, toying with the edge of one of his fingernails, and looking at her with concern. "I umm," he paused, blinked, and couldn't look at the disappointment being mirrored in her eyes. "I, uhh, I have to go."

She started to say something, but then shut her mouth and nodded.

"I'm needed back in Miami, Schell," he said gently.

"Yeah…" she said, blinking and reaching up to pull her hair from her face. "I know, I understand…" she said distantly. She forced a smile, glanced at him, and nodded her head again. "Of course, you have to get back."

A sudden sea of awkwardness expanded between them. Unable to look at her, he sighed a little, then moved towards the forward bunk, where he began to gather some of his personal things.

"Are you going now?" she asked, perplexed.

"Um…" he paused again. "Alaska Airlines has a non-stop flight that I can take to get back to Miami by tonight, but I have to leave in three hours."

"Three hours…" Schell echoed, looking at him as he began packing his things.

"That should give me time to get the rental back and catch that flight." He said, turning to gather some of his other things from the head. He didn't see the stunned look on her face as it sank in.

He couldn't help but notice it when he turned back, to see her standing rooted in place and looking at him with shock and despair in her eyes. He paused in his packing, blinking again before he started to say something, couldn't, and sighed again.

"Schell…" he started, searching for the right words. He looked up at her again. She was looking away from him, her eyes searching but not seeing the galley as she tried to absorb the abruptness of his plans.

He stopped what he was doing, looked at her in concern, and went to her.

"Hey…" he murmured as she started to look up at him, trying to hide her sense of hurt. She forced another smile, looking anywhere but at him. "Listen to me a moment?" he asked, looking at her expectantly.

"You don't have to explain…" she started to protest, backing away from him.

"Schell…" he said quietly, stung by her sudden distance. "It's got to do with an important case I was on." He said. "I have to be there and I have to be ready. It's going to trial day after tomorrow…"

He saw her draw in a deep breath as she reached up to grip her arms.

"Of course," she said quietly, trying to smile again. "I'm sorry, Horatio," she looked towards him imploringly, trying to meet his concerned gaze and failing. "It's just a bit sudden…" she managed to whisper.

"I'm sorry for that," he said gently, smiling at her in concern. "If I had any doubts as to your safety, I would do whatever I could to get a continuance…"

"But?" she supplied for him, looking at him then.

He smiled softly. "You're going to be fine, Schell," he said. "You've got a full network of support in place, now," he almost added that she didn't need him any more, but something told him not to. "They are all there to help and there have been no additional attempts on you since Miller was identified as the bomber."

"But was he also the shooter?" she asked.

Horatio winced, looking away in uncertainty. "They haven't determined that, yet," he said quietly, and it was still a sore point for him. "They have Thorpe, though, and since then, Captain Payton and the DA's office have moved mountains to help you out."

"Yeah…" she said, smiling uncomfortably and looking down. "They have, and I am not ungrateful."

"I know you're not," he murmured, smiling fondly at her. "As for me, though, my job is..."

"Horatio, I understand," she said, cutting him off. "I know you have a very important job to get back to." She looked at him frankly. "I understand that." She flashed a sad smile and added. "I'm a big girl, I can handle being alone. I was just caught off guard by the suddenness, is all."

"I know…" he said quietly, looking down at his fingers where he had been toying with one of his nails again. "This kind of thing…" he said awkwardly, "this kind of thing happens with me." He looked at her beseechingly, hoping she would understand.

A silence fell between them as she searched his face.

"I've never lied to you, Schell…" he added softly.

She sighed, looked down again, and rubbed her arms. "You had better finish packing, Seattle traffic is hell this time of day and Sea-Tac is worse, especially since 9-11."

Horatio paused, looking sadly at her, then he nodded.

Twenty minutes later they were both heading up the dock to the parking lot, Horatio carrying his things. It was crisp and clear out, the early Spring sunshine barely shedding any warmth and there was a stiff breeze coming off the choppy waters of Puget Sound.

That strained awkward silence still lay between them as Horatio loaded his luggage into the car, before moving to stand by the driver's side door and looking at Schell. He could see where her jaw muscles had tightened as she grit her teeth, trying to keep her emotions in check. The smile he gave her as he reached down and took her hand in his was compassionate and caring. His other hand slipped into his inside jacket pocket, and pulled out a white business card.

"This is for you," he said softly, searching her face.

Schell looked at him, a little confused, as she took the card with her other hand and looked it over. The badge of the Miami-Dade Sheriff's department stood in stark black ink and exquisite detail on the left. And on the lower right corner was his name and rank, a contact number and a fax number. In pen under that was a phone number he had written in.

"That's my cell phone number," he explained. "When you get into Miami and get settled in, I expect you to call me…" he searched her face again. She looked up at him, unable to speak, but couldn't help but see a look of hope far back in his eyes.

She nodded her head, looked away, and fingered the card. Still holding her hand in his, he tugged gently and pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her. A little hesitant at first, Schell returned his warm embrace, sliding her arms up his back. He held her head to his chest, feeling the softness of her hair, setting his cheek against her for a moment. Then he pulled back, looking down into her face.

Reaching out, he tilted her chin up, leaned forward and very lightly brushed his lips against hers, before gently catching her upper lip in his in an exquisitely delicate embrace. He broke it off, holding her closer to him and heaving a sigh, before he slid his hands to her arms and gently pushed her away.

"Call me…" he whispered searching her stunned face.

Schell said nothing, only reaching up to set her hand on his face. He watched as tears formed in her eyes and she seemed to fix the details of his care-worn features in her mind, her thumb absently brushing over his lips, as her fingertips brushed his sideburn. Reaching up, he clutched her hand one more time, shifting to kiss the backs of her fingers; then he smiled and climbed into the car.

His last visual memory of her was seeing her standing in the parking lot, the hand that she had set on his face now covering her mouth as she struggled not to fall apart. The wind had tousled her extraordinary hair back off from her face and she was staring forlornly off over Puget Sound.

It would be months before he would see her again.

END OF PART ONE

Author's Note:

An open letter to readers...

Okay folks,

Here it is in its entirety. Please do not be afraid of that review button down there, I need to hear your feedback, especially now that this story is finished. I am a big girl, I can take contructive criticism so don't be afraid to post something. If you aren't a registered member of the site, just email me at . Please, review the fic for me, I am well into the second half and your feedback is vital! Go to the button below or just email me at my addie. Your input is very welcome. Thanks.

Teej