A/N: Okay, Chapter 5 here and guess what? Things are going to start picking up as Savannah's artistic talent brings her a world of joy and, unexpectedly, a world of trouble.

Nemi Jade: thanks for the suggestion, but as you'll find out in this chapter, Eric and Savannah will always be nothing more than friends and the reason will be a good one, I promise.

Thanks to all who have read this and I promise, more is coming.

Chapter 5

Over the next several weeks Savannah and Horatio steadily settled into a routine that was comfortable for both of them. She began taking counseling sessions once a week with a recommended counselor and self-defense classes on the weekend. She also worked with both Horatio and Calleigh to get her weapon's license. To Calleigh's delight and Horatio's surprise, Savannah was a crack shot with a rifle, finding she favored a Winchester .243 bolt-action rifle, mainly for it's accuracy and multi-type cartridge usage. She admitted it was the rifle Sheriff Donaling had introduced her to when she first started learning how to shoot.

For safety and convenience reasons, Savannah had wisely invested in a cell phone and now had Horatio's cell phone number on her speed-dial.

In Horatio's office now hung a framed charcoal and pastel drawing of himself. As a way of saying thank you, Savannah's first 'serious' drawing had been of him, smiling. Another frame held a sheet full of charcoal character sketches of him, also by Savannah. She had blushed furiously when she'd handed him the framed artwork and he'd immediately called building maintenance to have the artwork put up in his office. Since then, he'd received numerous compliments on it.

Savannah had met Ryan Wolfe and the other detectives that Horatio often worked with and got along reasonably well with them, but Eric still made her blush and it didn't help that he knew he made her blush. Once he'd gotten her background from Horatio, he went out of his way to be friendly, knowing it helped her ego. Besides, he liked her, but in a brotherly-type way.

In her off time, Savannah cooked and cleaned for Horatio, finding she enjoyed it knowing he appreciated it. When he worked late, she made dinner for him and dropped it off at his office. She had also found a small park near the condo and spent hours simply sketching the people she saw there, noticing her art grew steadily better.

Horatio came home at a normal time one evening and sniffed the air appreciatively. Savannah had done some baking recently and had also made dinner for him, having done a morning shift at the Seaside Café. It was now sitting in the oven, warm and waiting for him. Now she sat on the couch catching up on the latest news. Her drawing pad sat open on the counter to the day's sketches. Horatio gave them a curiosity glance but froze when one sketch caught his eye. He picked up the pad and studied it closer. What he saw made his blood go cold.

"Savannah?" he asked, coming over to the couch, drawing pad in hand and flipping back over her sketches. He spotted the same man several times over several days, if the dates on the paper were correct.

"Yes?" she asked, looking up at him with curiosity.

He sat down next to her and handed her the drawing pad. He pointed out the man in her drawings. "Where did you see this guy?" he asked.

"At Covington Park, which is a few blocks from here," she said, wondering what was wrong.

"How often?" he asked, his tone of voice very serious.

"Pretty much every time I go there, usually in the afternoon, after three, sometimes four p.m.," she replied. Something was definitely wrong and she was worried she'd done something wrong. "Umm, Horatio, is everything okay?"

Horatio sighed heavily. He didn't want to worry Savannah but if he didn't at least explain what the problem was, he knew she'd start getting nervous. "If I'm right, the man in these drawings is a very dangerous, very badly wanted, drug dealer. This fellow is linked to several gang-style killings and the DEA have been hunting high and low for him for some time. Now, you're telling me that you've seen him at Covington Park several times," he explained patiently. Savannah gulped nervously, her eyes going wide. "Are you doing anything tomorrow?" he asked.

"Just my counseling session tomorrow at eleven a.m. and then I was going to do some grocery shopping after that and some household chores," she replied, still nervous.

"Okay, right after your counseling session I want you to come straight to the lab and bring your drawing pad. Will you do that for me?" he asked. She nodded. "I am going to arrange for a meeting with the DEA in charge of arresting this guy and I want to make sure this guy is who I think he is. I don't want to alarm you, but you may be giving the DEA a chance to nail a particularly big fish in the drug pond." Savannah nodded again. "Once you're on your way to the lab, call me on my cell so I know to expect you. Then, when you get to the lab, head straight to my office. I will either be there or be on my way." Again, Savannah nodded. Horatio realized he needed to reassure Savannah when he caught the look of fear on her face. "It's okay, Savannah. I'm not trying to scare you, but this is very serious business. If this guy is who I think it is, as I said, you may be giving the DEA a chance to take him down, and that, Savannah, that is a very good thing."

The next day, right after her counseling session, Savannah called Horatio and let him know she was on her way, just as she had promised she would. When she got to the lab, Jane simply waved her by and she headed straight for Horatio's office. He wasn't there yet, so she sat on the couch to wait, feeling drained. Her counseling sessions always left her feeling a bit drained due to the emotion involved, but her counselor, Tina, said she was getting better and warned her, yet again, that it was going to take time. Mind you, the self-defense courses she was taking were also helping and some times, especially when she found her anger getting the better of her, she would go make use of Horatio's punching bag. He had admitted once, when he'd shown her the bag and the gloves, that he would often do the same some times. She was seriously starting to wonder if she shouldn't be taking kickboxing on top of everything else she was already doing. She had said that to Horatio sarcastically once and he'd laughed.

Savannah had nearly dozed off on the couch when Horatio entered the office, a tall, Kevin-Sorboish man in a dark blue uniform behind him, carrying a file. When Horatio saw that Savannah was there, he smiled and handed her a cup of coffee he'd thoughtfully brought from the break-room. She smiled in appreciation and looked at the newcomer with curiosity.

Earlier that day, Horatio had spoken to a supervisor in the DEA department about Clavo Sandoval, the man Savannah had seen in the park, and had been lead to DEA agent Paul Hickoc. Upon meeting Paul, Horatio had asked about the case and the two men had discussed it. When Paul asked about Horatio's interest in the case, he had explained he knew someone who might be able to help him in regards to the case and that she was meeting him in his office.

"Savannah, this is DEA agent Paul Hickoc, who's in charge of the case dealing with Clavo Sandoval," Horatio explained, introducing the man. "Paul, this is Savannah Abbot." Savannah and Paul shook hands and both men sat down. "Now, Paul, there is a possibility Savannah may have seen your suspect in Covington Park recently."

Paul's face lit up. He opened his file and brought out a mug shot, showing it to Savannah. "This the guy?" he asked her.

She studied the photograph carefully before nodding. "That's the guy," she said. She took out her drawing pad and flipped the book open to a page, which she then showed to Paul. He whistled as he flipped through the drawings.

"That's our guy all right," he said. "Covington Park, huh? What does he do while he's there?" he asked.

"Talks to people a lot, chatter on his cell phone some times. I usually don't pay too much attention to exactly what he's doing, just things like his body posture, face, hands, anything that catches my eye," she replied. "Mostly character studies."

"We want this guy and we want him bad," Paul said. "Trouble is, he's a slippery bastard. Just when we think we've got him, he gives us the slip, but if these dates are right, he's been hanging around Covington Park for quite a few days. We just need a positive I.D. on him before we can bust his ass."

"What can I do to help?" she asked.

"It would depend on what you're willing to do," Horatio said.

"Well, if this Clavo Sandoval has got to go down, then I'll do what I can to help. I'm sure I can make positive I.D. if it'll help you guys nail him," Savannah said.

"There is a certain amount of risk involved," Horatio cautioned.

"Nobody ever said doing the right thing was always easy," Savannah pointed out calmly.

"If you're willing, we can set you up with a basic surveillance system, studying his movements for a day or two to make sure, and then, when the time is right, move in," Paul said.

"What if he realizes I'm watching him?" Savannah asked. "Horatio says he's been linked to several gang-style killings."

"Believe me when I say that if you were to do this, you would be watched very, very closely by us," Paul said.

"If I do this, then you better damn well be watching my back, buster, 'cause I didn't come all this way from Alabama just to get my ass shot off," Savannah shot back.

"And that is my concern as well," Horatio said.

"I understand," Paul said. "Which is why I give both of you the option of backing out any time something feels wrong. To be on the safe side, as well, I'll run this whole thing by my supervisor and get his input in it. If he feels it's too dangerous a to risk you, I won't say another word on the subject." Both Horatio and Savannah nodded.

"And if he feels it's worth the risk?" Horatio nodded.

"Then Savannah, here, had better get used to wearing a bullet-proof vest when she's at that park," Paul said. Savannah gulped nervously.

After chatting for a bit more about Clavo's movements at the park, Savannah bid the two men good day, saying she would think about what Paul was asking off her, and said she would see Horatio later. Both men watched her depart.

"She's got guts for someone who's still fairly young, but she seems so damn old," Paul said.

"That, I have been told, is the usual case for victims of abuse, especially children," Horatio said. "They tend to grow up much faster than what they should."

Paul nodded, having seen such a thing on too many occasions for his liking. "How old is Savannah, if you don't mind my asking?"

"Nineteen going on twenty in a few short months," Horatio said.

"That damn young? Jeeze, I would've placed her in her late twenties from the lines around her face," Paul said.

Horatio smiled but it was a smile without humor. "Alexx, our M.E., calls Savannah young in body but old in soul. She has not had a good start in life and I intend to make sure that changes."