Horatio had been at the hospital for a week, which had been more than expected. His fever had risen again 48 hours after he had gotten better and it had forced Horatio to stay at the hospital longer than he wanted. Now he was finally home and even though his doctor had ordered him stay away from work for another week and rest as much as possible, Horatio was doing anything but that.

What Horatio didn't know was that Alexx was at his and Jessica's beach house on his first day back at home. Horatio peeked outside the bedroom door, thinking it was safe and started sneaking towards Sophia's room to say hi to his little girl.

"She's not going to be in there." Alexx called from the kitchen, where she was sitting with Jessica and Sophia.

Horatio stopped and sighed. He should have known he would be caught sneaking around sooner or later. He had already managed to sneak passed Jessica five times to call his team and to play with Sophia.

"Alexx, how nice to see you!" Horatio smiled as he entered the kitchen.

The two women and little girl in the kitchen all gave him the same look. It was the look that told him not to try and talk his way out of the situation.

"Horatio sweetheart, next time you want to sneak passed me you should try not to drag your feet on the floor." Alexx smirked.

Horatio hung his head. He hadn't even noticed that he was dragging his feet.

"There won't be a next time will it, Horatio?" Jessica asked.

"I promise I won't do it again." Horatio grinned playfully.

Both women laughed and shook their heads. Horatio sat down next to his wife and gave both her and his daughter a kiss on the cheek.

"So what brings you here Alexx?" He asked.

"Other than to keep an eye on you?" Alexx smiled, "Visiting my two friends and their adorable little miss sunshine."

Sophia giggled and demanded to be put down on the floor. While she walked around opening different cabinets in the kitchen; the adults talked.

"Let me check your fever." Alexx said and pulled out a thermometer from her purse.

"There is no need to do that." Horatio protested.

Alexx gave him a stern look, "Since when did you become a doctor?"

"I know my own body and I know that there is no need to check my fever." Horatio said.

"Well you never want to be checked out by a doctor, unless maybe if you're missing a limb, but that's just maybe." Alexx smirked and stuck the thermometer in Horatio's mouth when he was about to protest.

Horatio growled low and pulled the thermometer out when it beeped. Alexx checked it and smiled.

"102, 2. Good." She said.

"Good enough for me to spend more time out of bed?" Horatio said in a suggestive tone.

"No." Alexx said.

"Come on Alexx… I've spent more than a week in a hospital bed and now you want me to spend a week in my own bed here at home?" Horatio whined.

"Not the whole week, but until tomorrow yes." Alexx said.

"What happens tomorrow?" Horatio asked.

"Tomorrow Jessica will check your temperature again and if it's below 102 you can start spending more time out of bed." Alexx smiled, "Doctor's orders."

"You can't force me to lie in bed all day long."

"I will tie you down if I have to." Jessica warned, but then caressed her husband's cheek.

She was sure she would be pretty tired of lying in bed too if she had done it for as long as Horatio, she understood how tired of it he was.

"Alexx, maybe Horatio can at least rest on the couch, watching TV and play a little bit with Sophia? If he promises to take it easy." Jessica suggested.

Alexx thought for a moment.

"Alright, I guess that's not a problem." She smiled, "But you have to take it easy?"

"I will."

"You better, your fever could still rise and no one wants to see you back at the hospital again." Alexx said and then gave her friend a warm smile, "And while you're home for a week you two can start working on baby number two."

Jessica choked on her coffee and chuckled. There was no secret that she and Horatio wanted to give Sophia a sibling, but they hadn't planned it yet.

"What?" Alexx asked innocently, "I thought you once said you wanted four children Jessica?"

"I was drunk that time Alexx." Jessica said, remembering a party a few months earlier.

"Not very drunk." Horatio said.

"I do want more children, but for now Horatio and I are happy to wait." Jessica smiled and Horatio nodded in agreement.

Alexx just chuckled. An hour later, Alexx had gone home to her own family and Jessica was making dinner. Horatio was resting, like he was supposed to do, on the couch and Sophia was lying on his chest, holding on to her father tightly. Sophia had understood that daddy was sick and she had almost refused to leave his side since he had gotten home.

"Look!" Sophia exclaimed happily and pointed at the TV.

There was a show with puppies on the TV.

"Yeah, that's puppies. Maybe one day daddy will buy one for you, but don't tell mommy that." Horatio grinned.

"I heard that!" Jessica called from the kitchen.

"I know." Horatio smirked, "Don't worry Sophia; daddy will give you a puppy, a cat and a pony if you want one. Daddy has ways to make mommy agree to all of this."

Sophia just looked at her father and then smiled, probably not understanding anything he said.

"What ways are those?" Jessica asked as she had entered the living room.

"What?"

"What ways do you have to make me agree to buy her a puppy, a cat and a pony?" Jessica asked smirking.

"It's X-rated stuff, so I can't say them now." Horatio smiled and nodded towards Sophia.

Jessica laughed and went back to the kitchen to continue her cooking.

"Do you need any help?" Horatio asked after a while.

"No, remember the doctor's orders."

"Well the doctor ain't here now."

"Horatio." Jessica warned, "You may not obey the doctor, but I will and he told me to make sure you rested. I've already warned you that I will tie you down to the bed if I have to."

"Okay, I will be nice." Horatio smiled.

"No." Sophia said.

"No?"

"No." She said again and giggled.

"You don't want daddy to be nice and obey the doctor?" Horatio asked.

"No." Sophia giggled.

"Good girl!" Horatio grinned and caressed her cheek.

Jessica came back to the living room.

"She did not say that." She chuckled.

"She did!" Horatio smirked, "Should daddy obey the doctor's orders?"

"No."

"See?" Horatio grinned.

"Should daddy rest all day long?" Jessica asked.

"Yes." Sophia smiled.

"Should daddy obey mommy?" Jessica smiled.

Sophia nodded. Of course Sophia had no idea exactly what was going on, but no and yes were her choice of words.

"She switches side all the time." Horatio muttered playfully, "Once I give her a pony she will jump right back on my side."

"Then I will give her a car." Jessica smirked.

Sophia just giggled.

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