-1Title. Better Angels.
Author: Samantha.
With great thanks to: Sammie (not me you twat the other one) Ruth, Cath and the other Ruth (oh my god two Samantha's and two Ruth's...Jesus)
Part: two of about fifteen.
Pairing: H/C baby!
Spoilers: 3.01 - Lost Son
Disclaimer: Unfortunately I do not own CSI:Miami the people who own them do. Trust me when I say this (along with Ruth a.k.a quarryquest) we would treat them so much more better than you arsewipes. (DONT SUE!)
Summary: Sometimes we all need to open up...but will Horatio learn his lesson before he loses his daughter and wife

Chapter Two:

Since when did Millie behave like this? And more to the point why hadn't he found out sooner. He sighed sitting down and looking at the blank T.V. He blamed himself and he knew why. He remembered the tears in her eyes at the hospital as he was released. How she begged him to take it slow and not to go back to work. Then it hit him. Had he gone back to work too soon?

"Hey honey." Called the angelic voice of his wife.

"Hey." he replied sadly.

"What's wrong?"

"Calleigh…You should have a look at this." Horatio said handing her Millie's report card.

"How on earth did this happen?" She asked turning to see her daughter at the door.

"I think you owe your mother an explanation."

"What?" Millie asked raising an eyebrow and looking from her mother to her father back to her mother. She placed her hands back in her pocket. She could feel her heart in her chest as she walked into the room.

"You know perfectly well what I'm talking about Millie."

Millie held her breath for a few minutes. Her mothers eyes found hers.

"Spit it out Millie."

"Well, I've been skipping school." Millie told her. Hiding her hands in her pockets,

"Why?" Her mother asked her quietly. Placing her hand on Millie's shoulder. Millie shrugged.

"I don't know. I just can't be bothered with school."

"C'mon sit down." Millie did as she was told. She could tell her mother was upset. "Millie honey. I want you to know that I am very upset with you." Calleigh told her truthfully. Millie however seemed more interested in the carpet. "Look at me Millie. I really can't believe you would do this. I want you to make something of your life. Even if its not science like us."

Millie could feel her heart breaking. She looked back at the carpet.

"Millie. The full story." Horatio stated. Calleigh looked back at her daughter.

"All right! I've been smoking pot. Happy now?" she spat at her father. Her mothers face fell. Silence griped the room for the umpteenth time that day. "Don't worry dads already grounded me taken my computer, iPod and my gig ticket so its all nicely wrapped up in a neat little fucking package!" the sarcasm lingered in the air for what seamed like an eternity.

"How many times have I told you not to touch the stuff. You know what it does. Technically I should be arresting you for possession." Horatio began.

"Go ahead I don't give a shit." the venom dripped from her voice.

"Millie don't you dare talk to me like that." Horatio said scolding his daughter.

"C'mon Millie. Were going out. Go upstairs and get changed out your uniform and well go get ice cream."

Millie simply blinked. She did as she was told. Thanking god it would get her away from her father. She bolted up the stairs. Only to know her parents would be arguing about it.

"I can't believe your just dismissing it like this." Horatio said turning to face his wife.

"Well if I don't diffuse this situation now you and Millie are going to end up arguing and its not going to help the situation at all. Yes I agree she has to be punished. But let me talk to her. Mother to daughter."

"Okay."

"Thank you Horatio."

"Where did we go wrong?" Horatio asked Calleigh as they hugged.

"God I don't know." Calleigh said as she sighed. "All I know is that something is wrong." That they both agreed on.

"Okay but the punishment stands. She is not going to that gig."

"Okay. Agreed."

Millie appeared at the bottom of the staircase. Instead of her usual attire of offensive t-shirts with inane saying. She stood there dressed in a pair of jeans and a plain black t-shirt. Her blonde hair pulled into a lose ponytail, and her head hung cautiously towards the floor.

"Right you ready." Calleigh asked her. She nodded without saying a word. "Right give me two minutes to get changed. "

Millie felt the tension in the room as she was left alone with her father.

"So you and mom managed to go five minutes without arguing." Millie told him flatly.

"Millie your mother and I can still love each other you know."

"I never said you didn't I'm just saying it's a new record." She said her voice cold as she opened the fridge and rummaged around inside. Her father never said anything, but sat down looking defeated. Calleigh emerged ready and they left, with Millie munching on an apple. They got ice cream and settled down in the park.

"You know honey, you can always talk to me. Tell me why you skipped school." There was nothing said while Millie formulated the words in her mind.

"Dad expects so much of me. He expects all these great grades. He wants me to do science. I don't want to. I can't stand it. The teacher stands and talk about all this stuff that I don't understand. What's the point in it I'm going to fail anyway. I'll disappoint him anyway."

"Oh honey. You know we will always be proud of you. Science isn't for everyone. Some people find it easer than others."

"Yeah…but dad…he expects so much of me and I can't deliver it. So in the end he's going to be angry at me either way."

"You know he wouldn't be angry if you had just told him."

"How am I meant to. He doesn't listen to me. He never will." Millie said sadly as she finished her ice cream. "Point is he is angry now."

"He's angry at you because you didn't tell him. He only wants what is best for you. However he is disappointed in you."

"He's always angry at me though. I can never do anything right."

"He is just worried about you and so am I. I just don't want you throwing your life away." Calleigh told her gently. However she was only met by bitterness.

"Yeah well I don't want my father being shot at seven days a week but we don't all get what we want." Millie snapped her voice hash.

"Sweetie is this what this is all about?" Calleigh asked

"He's been shot once already. He almost died. Yet he goes back everyday…and one day he will walk out the door and he wont come back. It's happened once…it will happen again." Millie told her mother as she began to cry.

"I know Millie honey. Your not the only one afraid of losing him." Her mother said holding her close. "Its not going to happen."

"I can't do it mom. If he doesn't watch out he'll end up dead."

"I know. Your dad is committed to his job Millie. You know that."

"Seems like he cares more about his job than he does about his family!" Millie cried outraged.

"That is no true Millie and you know it."

"but…it…is. He doesn't care about me and he doesn't care about this family!" Tears fell as Calleigh held her close.

"C'mon maybe its time to go home yeah."

"Yeah."

The night was silent in the Caine household. Millie had managed to fall asleep early for once and a very lost Horatio stood at the door of the dark room watching his daughter sleep. He couldn't understand where he had gone wrong. Where the fault in his parenting lied, he never noticed his wife sneak up behind him.

"What you doing?" she whispered.

"Just thinking." he said as she slipped his arm around her waist. "Where have I gone wrong Cal?"

"Maybe she's frightened of losing you. Or she feels as if she already has," Calleigh said to him gently as they both watched Millie hug her bed covers closer to her, a smile growing on her face as she obviously dreamed of something.

"Do you really think that?" He asked his wife.

"I already know it Horatio. She wants a father that she knows is going to come home from work." There was no words exchanged but he just watched his heart heavy with guilt. "C'mon to bed sweetie." Calleigh asked him. Kissing him on the cheek. He simply nodded and followed. Knowing tomorrow was going to be a long day.

With the absence of the morning alarm clock the house felt a false sense of calm and around lunchtime a very sleepy Millie managed to drag herself out of bed. Thanking god it was half term.

"Morning partner, pancakes?" Millie stopped.

"Okay stop. You haven't made me pancakes in like years!"

"Well I thought we could spend sometime together."

"Okay dad who's died?"

"No one." A very confused Horatio answered.

"Oh my god moms pregnant isn't she!"

"Um…no."

"Then why in gods name area you making pancakes?"

"Do I need an excuses to spend time with my daughter?" Horatio asked Millie raising an eyebrow.

"OH my god mom is pregnant isn't she!"

"No she's not. Look I just want to spend sometime with you. I was thinking we could go to the beach or something," Horatio told his daughter gently.

"Dad I liked the beach when I was like five plus I was wanting to go out shopping with Lisa and Heather." Millie told her father flatly.

"Your still grounded."

"Then I shall go wallow in self pity in my room." and with that Millie stormed off back up the stairs. She smiled at the laptop tucked away in her room. He never got round to confiscating it. She plugged the broadband cable she booted up and signed on.

Will You All Just Fade Away has logged on.

Hayden says:

You still alive?

Will You All Just Fade Away says:

Yeah but we still have a problem.

Will You All Just Fade Away had added I Want Guys On Bread.

I Want Guys On Bread says:

WHAT PROBLEM?

Will You All Just Fade Away says:

My Dad says I cant go to the gig.

Hayden says:

WTF No way!

I Want Guys On Bread says:

He can't do that!

Will You All Just Fade Away says:

Pfft. Like I am not going to this gig! Seriously you think I would miss Green Day! Its there last tour! it's the last chance I ever have of seeing them! I am no way missing this fuck my dad!

I Want Guys On Bread says:

I smell a Millie Plan!

Will You All Just Fade Away says:

Yes you do.

Hayden says:

Lets hear it!

Will You All Just Fade Away says:

Right. If anyone asks. I'm at Heathers. Heather is at Lisa's and Lisa is at mine.

Hayden says:

So I'm at Millie's house.

I Want Guys On Bread says:

I haven't quite caught this squirrel yet.

Hayden says:

WTF?

I Want Guys On Bread says:

My mind works on metaphorical squirrels.

Why Don't You All Just Fade Away says:

Lisa shut up and listen. I'm at Lisa house. Heather is at Lisa's and Heather is at my house.

I Want Guys On Bread says:

Caught it!

Why Don't You All Just Fade Away says:

Right okay. I'll sneak out…Lisa have the hair dye ready at yours at five and I'll bring my stuff.

Hayden says:

You know your Dad will kill you if he catches you!

I Want Guys On Bread says:

In our defence Heather it is not our plan. He can't blame us.

Hayden says:

True true.

Why Don't You All Just Fade Away says:

Ok that's that sorted. Lisa you better get some more Pot….my dad has mine.

I Want Guys On Bread says:

K done…but bear in mind plants can only grow so fast!

Hayden says:

Right okay.

Why Don't You All Just Fade Away says:

Right, have to go! See you later xoxox.

Why Don't You All Just Fade Away had logged off.

Hayden has left the conversation.

I Want Guys On Bread has left the conversation.

Millie smiled and looking at the computer. She was going to that gig tonight and no one was going to stop her!