A/N: See the first chapter for disclaimer. Sorry it's been a while. This chapter is a little longer. I hope you enjoy. Please R & R.

With both of their heads down and minds elsewhere, it was inevitable that Calleigh and Annabel had a near collision outside of the station. The notebook clutched in Annabel's hand went flying.

"Damn." Annabel bent down to retrieve it.

Calleigh flipped her hair back. "Annie, I am so sorry."

Annabel waved her apology off. "Not a problem. I know why I'm distracted. What's up with you?"

"Jake Berkley."

Annabel frowned. "That ATF guy you knew? I thought…"

"So did I," sighed Calleigh in frustration. "My murder victim turned out to be a newly minted CI." She looked at Annabel. "All of nineteen."

Annabel grimaced. "Nice."

"Jake busted her for Meth and sent her into a party." The disgust in Calleigh's voice rang through clearly. "A thinly veiled sex party."

"What's an undercover ATF agent got to do with a sex party in Miami?"

Calleigh rolled her eyes. "Jake has transferred from ATF to MDPD."

Annabel's eyes widened. "You're kidding me."

"He had the nerve to blame us for blowing his cover."

"So he's decided to hang with us?" Annabel glanced at her friend. Calleigh's eyes glittered in anger. "What?"

Calleigh shook her head. "We were talking about a murder victim. A young girl. His informant. And he had the nerve to flirt with me. I mean really flirt." Annabel heard something more in her voice.

"Cal, he's bad news."

"Always has been." Calleigh shook her head again trying to clear it. She gave Annabel a distracted smile. "Listen, I'll catch you later, Annabel."

"See ya, Calleigh." Annabel watched her walk away. She pursed her lips and shook her head. Walk away, Calleigh. The thrill wasn't worth it.

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Frank slammed the file down on his desk with a muttered curse. Several people looked over and quickly returned to their own work. Annabel sat quietly watching her frequent partner. He glanced over at her and shook his head.

"I don't wanna talk about it, Annie."

Annabel's lips twitched. She crossed her arms over her chest. "I bet…I can hazard a guess. Horatio's been grumbling about the same bad penny."

"Not a bit surprised. That damned Jake Berkley is an ass. Don't let anything or anyone stand in his way. Just plows pigheadedly on."

Annabel chuckled. "Come on, Frank, tell me how you really feel."

"I wish he'd just crawl back under the rock he came out from. I am tired of him interfering in my investigations."

Annabel grinned and shook her head. "Now, you really are starting to sound like Horatio."

"We'd have this wrapped up already, if Berkley would quit messing with us."

"I hear you. The man makes me want to bathe in alcohol every time I see him. He's the kind of cop that's in this for all the wrong reasons." Annabel shrugged. "Probably won't have to worry about him for long. Guys like that burn hot and fast. They either end up dead or step too far over the line and become guests of the state."

"In the meantime, he's a thorn in my side," growled Frank.

"'Fraid so," Annabel shrugged.

"Thanks for the sympathy," grumbled Frank.

"Oh, you have my sympathy," Annabel sighed. "But we're stuck with him for the time being. Not much we can do about it."

"You haven't had to work on something with the man."

Annabel looked at Frank horrorstruck. "Thank God. No." She sighed. "I can only hope he gets bored with us before I get stuck working with him on a case."

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"The target has been neutralized. Only casualty is the driver. Lieutenant Caine fired the kill shot." Annabel flipped her radio off and started her car. Relief flooded her body. It was tinted slightly with a white hot anger. Horatio had absolutely no business being involved in that road block. Annabel ground her teeth together and backed out of her parking spot. She took deep breaths as she headed for her appointment.

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Annabel knocked on the door. She stood nervously, shifting her weight back and forth. She bit her lip and took a deep breath. She was just about to knock again when the door opened. An older blonde woman smiled at her.

"Detective Caine."

"McGinty-Caine. And it's Annabel."

The other woman nodded. "Annabel, then. Please come in and make yourself comfortable." She stood to the side. Annabel walked past her and turned her head slightly.

"I don't think making myself comfortable is possible," she stated frankly.

"You don't like therapists," the woman chuckled.

Annabel smiled grimly. "No. No, I don't, Dr. Marsh." Dr. Marsh started to respond. Annabel shook her head. "Don't tell me to think of you as an old friend. That doesn't work either."

"Okay. Then we shall just have to see where we go." She gestured toward a chaise. "Please sit down, Annabel." Annabel sat down and crossed her legs at the ankles. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Annabel took several deep breaths. "Do you mind if I record our session? It makes things easier for me to remember."

Annabel opened her eyes and looked over at Dr. Marsh. "That's fine." Annabel heard the click of a recorder. She glanced over at the dappled sunlight just past the blinds. "You have a pool."

"Yes. You like water, Annabel?"

"Yes. Very much."

"I have a fountain I could turn on."

Annabel frowned and shook her head. "I'm not really into fountains. Lakes, ocean, pools." She turned slightly and looked over at Dr. Marsh. "And before you note something down about still waters, I like rivers too." She looked forward again. "And I love a storm coming across the water. For one thing, a coming storm makes great waves to swim in." She sighed heavily. "But I'm not here to talk about my obsess…my deep interest in water."

"Would you like to tell me why you're here, Annabel?" prompted Dr. Marsh.

Annabel took several deep breaths. "I don't like therapists. This is kind of a last resort."

"A last resort?"

"My husband is also in law enforcement." Annabel chuckled grimly. "Understatement of the century. My husband and I both live, eat, breathe and sleep justice."

"Sounds like you have very similar interests."

Annabel smiled slightly. "Neither of us would change that. We're hard-wired that way." Annabel sat silent for several heartbeats. "Horatio, he's been…" She took a deep breath. "His brother died. Was murdered actually." Annabel glanced at Dr. Marsh and shook her head. "You'll never get him in here. He has an even stronger dislike of therapists than I do. And this isn't about him. It's about my reaction to what he's doing."

"And what is your husband doing?"

Annabel gave another grim chuckle. "His job, actually." She squeezed her eyes shut. "I have no objections to him doing his job. In fact, I'd be more worried if he slacked off. He's just trying to save the world. And I like that he's doing that. He's just…he's just… Well, he seems like he's trying to get himself killed doing it. I can't control that. That's something Horatio has to work out. It's just that I'm just either wanting to strangle him or breaking out into tears. I can't keep swinging back and forth over so hard."

"There are many different ways that we can control mood swings."

Annabel blinked hard several times. "Yes, I'm aware of that. However, chemicals, natural or otherwise, are out of the question. We're trying to get pregnant." Dr. Marsh started to speak. Annabel waved a hand. "I know that a part of this is hormonal. You can't go controlling hormones for most of your life and not expect a backlash when they're given free reign again."

"You seem to know quite a bit already."

"I was a psych major. And I've lived it." Annabel paused. "My mother was crazy. Out of control."

"You keep mentioning control."

"Yes," Annabel stated simply. "I have an extreme need to be control."

"So that you…"

"Don't become like my mother? That's a big part of it."

"So the behavior of your husband…"

"Who has control issues of his own." Annabel sighed. "I don't want to control his behavior. I'm just worried that he's going to get himself killed." Annabel drug her fingers through her hair sending it in different directions. "He's upset that he couldn't keep his younger brother from getting killed. I know that's what his recklessness is centered around."

"His brother's death is recent?"

"Yes. Very." Annabel sighed heavily. She could feel her eyes prickle and fought back the tears. "We are both so damaged." She turned her head toward Dr. Marsh. "I don't really expect you to solve anything here. I just need someone to talk to that isn't somehow related to this. My friends either work with me or are related to me."

"Then I am helping you in some way."

Annabel turned and grinned at the psychiatrist. "Sorry I keep interrupting you."

"It's not a problem."

"Makes you wonder why I came here though, doesn't it?"

"You came here to talk."

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A soft bell sounded when it was time for the session to end. Annabel sat up and held her hand out.

"Thank you for your time, Dr. Marsh." Annabel stood and they shook hands.

"This is what I am here for, Annabel."

Annabel grinned. "Are you sure you want me back next week?"

"Do you want to come back next week?"

Annabel looked away as a cloud passed over her face. "I need to. I can't do this on my own right now." She looked back up and grinned again. "In the meantime I promise not to strangle Horatio. Or have a total breakdown and jump off my balcony."

"Annabel, if you need to call me before your next…"

"I am kidding. Really." She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "I couldn't do either of those things." She looked seriously at Dr. Marsh again. "I could never cause wreckage like that. I know what the aftermath looks like. I lived it." She headed for the door. "But that's a story for another time." Annabel turned and grinned. "I can keep you very busy. Luckily, I'm pretty harmless."

Dr. Marsh nodded. "I will see you next week, Annabel."

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Annabel turned into the lot near home. She was surprised to find a Hummer already parked there. She had gone to sit on the shore for a bit after meeting with Dr. Marsh, but didn't think she has sat there for too long. She jogged up the steps and slowly opened the door. Candles flickered in the entryway. She could hear music playing softly. Annabel closed the door and slowly walked into the condo. The blinds were drawn and the rooms lit with candles. Annabel was thoroughly confused. She really hadn't been sitting listening to the ocean for that long.

Horatio appeared from the bedroom. He was dressed in a blue polo and khaki slacks. His hair was damp. "Hello," he said quietly, looking at Annabel trough his lashes.

"How did you have time to pull all this off?" asked Annabel in amazement.

"I had a little help," he admitted sheepishly.

Annabel raised an eyebrow. "Little elves?"

"You could…you could say that."

Annabel tilted her head to the side. She knitted her browns together. "Uh-huh." Horatio walked over to Annabel and pulled her close. She stood stiffly in his arms. Horatio just held her loosely and started to sway to the music. Annabel finally gave in and wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her ear on his chest. They danced through several songs, Horatio's head resting on hers, Annabel listening to his steady heartbeat.

"I hear that you flew out of the station today."

Annabel pulled slightly away and looked up into Horatio's eyes. She placed a finger over his lips and shook her head. She laid her head back against his chest. Horatio kissed her hair and held her tighter. They went back to moving in sync to the music.

"I am sorry, Bella," said Horatio after a while.

Annabel sighed. "No. No, you aren't." She leaned away and looked into his eyes. Annabel ran her fingers along his jaw. She smiled sadly. "You would make the same choice again, Horatio. Saying differently is lying to both of us." Annabel glanced away and then back into Horatio's eyes. "To tell the truth, I'd do the same, so I have no right to be angry or upset with you." Annabel smiled at the flicker that passed through his eyes. "And your reaction would be much the same." Annabel closed her eyes and worried her bottom lip. She burrowed close to him again, her head back on his chest.

Horatio squeezed her. "Annabel, promise me you won't take any unnecessary risks."

"Can you give me the same promise?"

Horatio pulled away. He took Annabel's hands and held them. He focused his gaze on their linked hands. He started to say something, but changed his mind. "There's dinner warming in the oven." He glanced up at Annabel. She smiled.

"I'm kind of hungry."

Horatio nodded and smiled. "Then why don't we have something to eat."

Annabel nodded. She slid back close to Horatio. She swayed her hips against him. "And after dinner a little more dancing." She swayed her hips again. Annabel smiled and licked her lips as Horatio's eyes darkened. She stepped away. "However, I do want something to eat first. I missed lunch." She led Horatio towards the table. "You have a seat and I'll get the food."

Horatio shook his head. "This is my treat. Please sit down, Bella."

"Really, Horatio, I don't mind."

Horatio met her eyes. "Bella, I insist." He picked up her hand and kissed the inside of her wrist. "You can return the favor later." Annabel felt the warmth spread up her arm and through her body. She sat suddenly down in the chair.

"Um. Ok." Horatio chuckled as he headed for the kitchen.

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