A/N: Shorter this time round.

Disclaimer: Don't own it.

Alexx Woods was wiping down the autopsy table, preparing to go home for the day.

She heard footsteps and smiled. One thing she learned in the silence of the morgue was the footsteps of her colleagues.

Horatio was just opening the door when he heard Alexx ask "What can I do for you, Horatio?"

"I have long since given up trying to find out how you do that." He stood across from her.

Something in his eyes made Alexx stop cleaning. "What's wrong?"

"Um," Horatio pressed his lips together and looked down. When he looked back at Alexx she already knew what was on his mind.

"We're not going to talk about that here." Alexx started cleaning again. "Not just the morgue but the entire building."

Horatio nodded. "Reminds me of him."

"I can meet you in 30." She offered.

"Can me make it 20?"

Alexx looked at him. "Hot date?"

Horatio just grinned and left.

When Alexx arrived at the beach, Horatio was already there. They had done this before, several times. Some cases would get to them or they just needed to talk. Whatever the situation, they would come to this semi-secluded spot on the beach and decompress.

"Okay Horatio." Alexx said joining him by his side. "What's on your mind?"

Horatio was not a verbose man. He said what needed to be said and nothing more. So he took a minute to figure out how he was going to say this….or at least without it sounding so bad.

But there was nothing for it. "I love my brother's wife."

Alexx's first thought was I could've told you that, but that didn't seem appropriate.

"She's not your brother's wife anymore."

He glanced in Alexx's direction, not fully looking at her. "Does that make it any better?" Horatio shook his head, as if answering his own question.

"Horatio, look at me." He did. "Raymond is dead."

"Alexx…" Horatio started.

She held up her finger. "No, I'm not done." Alexx's tone clearly indicated that she was not in the mood. A tone she would take with his team, but never with him. "The only person holding you back from Yelina is you, not your brother."

"It's complicated…"

"How is it complicated?" asked Alexx. "You love her and I know she has feelings for you that are no where near sisterly."

Horatio bit his lip and looked back out at the ocean. The sky was already pink, quickly turning purple. "What about Ray Jr.?"

Alexx shook her head. "Horatio, you've been more of a father to him than an uncle anyway."

Horatio didn't seem convinced. "Who was with Yelina when Ray Jr. was born?" Alexx asked. It didn't really need to be said. They both knew the answer.

I was, Horatio nodded.

"And you've been there for him and Yelina ever since. Even more so when Raymond went undercover." Alexx said. "So what's really keeping you from this woman?"

It didn't take long for Horatio to realize that he was afraid.

Alexx saw that the wheels in Horatio's head were turning. Her work was done. She gave his arm a gentle squeeze and got in her car to go home.

Horatio looked at his watch to find that it was almost six. Probably just finished making dinner. He watched the sun go down before he jumped in Hummer.

Horatio needed to face his fears.