HORATIO & JOSIE: HAPPY CHRISTMAS Chapter 2 One Week Later …

"Horatio, that is very sweet of you" Jo gripped the phone tighter, keeping an eye on her office door, "but I can't just pick up the boys and run off for a weekend in Miami! If their grandparents found out I might lose custody of them for good!" She reached for the cup of coffee on her desk, noticing how her hand shook when she lifted the ceramic mug.

"No worries, Sweetheart." Horatio's voice was soft and soothing in her ear. "you gave me permission to look over the custody file, remember? I spoke with a lawyer, you don't have to worry about bringing the boys down to Florida for a visit. And, to put your mind to rest further, your lawyer has been in touch with the grandparents lawyer. It's all set. You only need to be at the airport at 5:00 tomorrow afternoon with the boys and pick up your tickets. I'll be waiting for you when you arrive in Miami."

"Horatio, I … I don't know what to say." Jo squeezed her eyes shut to hold back the tears. Before she could say anything further, she heard muffled voices through the phone and Horatio was murmuring he had to go and that he would see her tomorrow night. She was staring out the window at the swirling snowflakes when Alicia appeared in the doorway to remind her of the staff meeting that was to begin in 5 minutes.

Saturday, December 1

"Hello, Dr. Woods!" The twins cheerful voices rang out in the stillness of the morning. The attractive woman held open the door, greeting the boys as she ushered them inside. "Mr. Horatio and Aunt Jo are behind us. They are kind of slow," Kieran's voice was a conspiratorial whisper as he passed by on his way into the house. Dr. Woods had just enough time to hide her smile before her friend came into view, Horatio's hand at the small of Jo's back.

"Thank you for watching them for me today Alexx." Jo smiled and pushed her hair behind her ear nervously. "They have promised to be on their best behavior and follow your rules." Jo took a sip of coffee, both her hands wrapped around the steaming mug. "I don't think they would have much fun or manage to stay out of mischief at Aunt … my aunt's house." Jo took another sip of coffee, too quickly and coughed as the scalding liquid burned her throat.

"I'm happy to do it, Jo. They will be fine." Alexx noticed Jo was avoiding her eyes in much the same way that Horatio did when he didn't want to answer her questions regarding his personal life. "Jo," Alexx's hand covered Jo's, bringing her blue gaze up to meet the other woman's warm brown eyes. "Let Horatio help you get through this. He doesn't want to see you hurting and for him, helping and taking care of things is how he shows he cares." She gave Jo's hand a squeeze.

Taking a shuddering breath, Jo looked at the woman seated across from her. "I want to Alexx. But, I can't help thinking he … has moved on since I've gone back home."

"Wherever did you get an idea like that, Sugar?" Dr. Woods voice was hushed, her brown eyes going to the doorway. She could hear Horatio speaking to Jo's nephews. "He is NOT that kind of man. Surely you know that by now? Why would he be doing all this if he didn't have … feelings for you." Jo felt her cheeks grow warm.

"I don't know Alexx. I'm so confused." Jo finished, with a small sigh. "He … I … wish I knew what I was supposed to do." She finished her coffee and looked at her host with an embarrassed smile.

"Sugar, don't worry about what you are supposed to do. Trust Horatio. The rest will come along." Dr. Woods smiled, then stood up as the object of their conversation appeared in the doorway. Alexx didn't miss his sweeping glance around the kitchen, lingering on Jo. "Horatio, why don't you and Jo make it a late evening? Go out for a late dinner and a stroll on the beach. Kieran and Liam will be fine here. Just text me when you're ready to pick them up – tomorrow morning would be ok." If Horatio noticed Jo's suddenly red cheeks, he didn't let on.

"Ready Jo?" He glanced at his friend, noting the message she was sending to him with her eyes. Nodding his head, he murmured, "Thank you Alexx."

"No worries Sugar. Don't let her work too late Horatio." A slight wave of his hand was the only indication he had heard the softly spoken instruction.

Several hours later at Aunt Florence's house …

"Coffee Josie?" Horatio's voice came from somewhere near the doorway. Jo began to back carefully out of the large walk-in closet on her hands and knees.

"Oh, Horatio, I would love one!" Jo straightened up slowly, arching her back and swiping the back of her hand across her hot face. "You wouldn't happen to have an iced version there with you?" The smile on his face gave her the answer she was seeking and she reached for the tall glass, a smile creasing her face as well. Leaning against the wall as he sipped hot coffee from a "I heart NYC" mug, Horatio surveyed the boxes neatly stacked four and five high along the walls.

"All these are from your Aunt's bedroom?" Horatio asked.

"Yes," Jo murmured, taking a long swallow of her drink. "Most of them are clothes that are going to the Goodwill, those smaller ones have linens and blankets that will go to the homeless shelter." She chewed a piece of ice. "It is so quiet without the dogs running around," she commented quietly. "I wonder how Mr. Grundle is getting on with Zeus and Zelda?" She picked up a small collar from the shoebox on the bed, and twirled it in her fingers. "I wonder where Aunt Florence picked this up?" she mused. "It certainly is too small to fit any of the rescue dogs she had been caring for."

"We could stop by his house later this afternoon, Jo." Horatio took another sip of his coffee. "I've got the garage sorted out. What is it, Sweetheart?" he asked curiously, taking a step over to the bed and sitting beside her.

"I … I'm not sure Horatio," Jo murmured, reaching over to set her glass on the bedside table. "Look," she held it up, "it has Belle embroidered on it. I wonder who it belonged to?" Handing it to the man beside her, Jo picked up the shoebox and set it on her lap. "Maybe there's a clue in this box. Hmmm… brush, leash – but definitely for a small dog, bag of puppy treats, tennis ball, chewy bone, jingle bell." She held up a small gold bell, giving it a little shake." The sweet sound echoed in the still house. "I wonder what this is off of?"

Something red caught Horatio's eye and he reached into the box pulling out another small dog collar. "This one perhaps?" Smiling blue eyes met those of the woman seated beside him. Suddenly those blue eyes widened as she noticed the gold name emblazoned on the collar.

"Jingle! Do you suppose she had two small dogs? How could I have not known about that?" Jo murmured softly. "For as long as I can remember she always had some shepherd or shepherd mix breed as rescues." A frown creased her lovely face. "I wonder what was special about these two?" Before Horatio could answer her, several sudden sharp barks pierced the quiet.

Both humans hurried quickly from the bedroom, reaching the kitchen just in time to hear the shrill barks again. The sound of nails scratching the glass made them look down to see two small cinnamon colored dachshunds pacing nervously at the foot of the heavy sliding door. "Help me Horatio!" Jo tugged at the heavy door. She felt him reach above her and the door gave a few inches. It was enough for the small dogs to wriggle through and into the kitchen. Horatio closed the door just in time to see glowing eyes and sharp fangs emerge from the darkness. The animal they belonged to disappeared back into the night as quickly as it appeared. "What was THAT Lieutenant?" Jo's voice was hushed.

"I'm not sure Jo. You stay here, I'm going to check the yard." Pulling a flashlight from his pocket, he slipped out the door. Jo watched him disappear into the darkness, then turned to see 2 pairs of large brown eyes regarding her from beneath the kitchen chair.

That evening at Horatio's home…

"Thank you for letting me bring them home, Horatio," Jo smiled as she turned away from where the two dachshunds were fast asleep in nests of warm blankets inside an orange crate. She took a sip of her wine, looking at the attractive man leaning against the counter across from her in the dimly lit kitchen. "I wonder why she never told me about them?" She pushed some strands of hair behind her ear. "They MUST be Jingle and Belle. But where did they come from?" Swirling the wine in her glass, she mused on, "I guess I could check the rescue's in Miami for starters." She stifled a yawn. "I can't think about it anymore tonight, though. It's making my head hurt."

Horatio pushed himself away from the counter, crossing the kitchen to where she stood hugging her arms around her midsection. "Sweetheart, you look exhausted." His blue eyes never leaving hers, he took the glass from her nerveless fingers. "Why don't I run you a bath," he trailed a finger down her cheek, "then you can take a long hot soak," his fingers gently moved some stray hair behind her ear, "and then we can relax by the fire." Jo could only nod, unable to say anything. Slowly, almost hesitantly, he lowered his head and brushed a gentle kiss across her mouth. "What do you say Sweetheart?"

Twenty minutes later …

"Lieutenant?" Kieran's voice brought Horatio's attention away from the cracking fire. "Liam and I wanted to ask you if …" the youngster hesitated for a moment, "if you could help us with our Christmas gift to Aunt Jo."

TBC