Author's Note: This chapter may seem a bit superfluous but I hope it creates some build up to the forthcoming chapters. I wanted this chapter to be a bit relaxing for them both, and to have them interact when they're on a date. The words 'Katja' and 'Ekky' are just intimate forms of Ekaterina. The hate crime case Horatio refers to is Double Jeopardy (Episode 18, I think). Pardon any mistakes you may find and reviews, as always, are very welcome. Thanks to all those who have reviewed this piece of work so far!!!

Disclaimer: See the last 10 chapters...but here we go once more...the characters belong to CBS and Jerry Bruckheimer et al. But The 'Old Man and the Sea' does belong to me! also I'm sure CSI:M have more ballistics experts hidden away in the lab, so I'm just making their names up for the time being till we get shown more lab techs.

Favors

"Hey!" Marisol called out, walking into the compound as Horatio was getting out of the car.

"Morning to you too." replied Horatio taking off his sunglasses. He brought his hand up to shield his eyes from the glare of the sun. He kissed her on the cheek when she got close enough. "Shall we?" he asked, crossing over to the passenger side and opening her door for her.

She flashed him a bright smile, "Sure." She lowered herself into the seat. He closed her door and crossed over to the driver's side.

He revved the engine and let it idle for a while. He stared at her.

"What?" she asked smiling.

"Nothing." he replied, a smile forming on his own lips.

"Don't be a spoilsport! C'mon do tell." She urged, tugging his jacket impatiently.

"Well…" he paused longer for effect, "I have to admit you look more awake than I thought you'd be."

"Well you did say bright and early." she retorted

"I guess I did. Still… the last time I woke you up, which was for the picnic you seemed pretty…"

"Pretty…."

"Pretty…uhm…uh…lost to the world still, until you had freshened up."

"Well actually I didn't sleep." Seeing his concerned look, she quickly added, "I did doze for a while. I was just really worried I'd oversleep even with six alarm clocks on. So I basically did a bit of spring-cleaning to pass time. Since the kids were here with Blanca, there were sheets and ironing to do, and oh I could go on and on and on….but I think I'll spare you."

Horatio laughed, "You went out quite early then."

"Yeah, thought that since I was up, I may as well catch the early mass." She sat up straight and gripped his arm, "Oh my God Horatio! You wouldn't believe the sister in charge of my ward, she was a nun and although she was holier than thou, she was still so un-nun like in some ways. Almost like Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I mean she's around sixty, you know old-school nun….dancing and stuff out of the question for them but not for her. She teaches some of orderlies how to dance. She's actually quite good. I guess you can take the person out of their Latin environment but you can't take the Latin out of the person. I mean there were some moves that had me blushing because of how inappropriate they seemed, but she just had a flair for doing them, didn't look inappropriate at all when she did them." Marisol blushed again just remembering it.

Horatio laughed seeing her blush.

"So how are your nieces and nephews?"

Marisol brushed away invisible grit from her dark jeans and fiddled with the hem of her blouse as she replied, "They're good, I guess. I mean Carmen was a darling. She made me a card and got me juggling balls with her saved up pocket money. The last time I saw her I promised I'd teach her to juggle. I did try but lets just say it's going to take a lot of work. They were all really sweet. I just…I just wasn't quite up to being the spontaneous aunt that I normally am with them, Eric took over that role."

"I'm sure they understood, especially the twins."

"Yeah, the boys…what can I say about them, they're definitely my blood. They drive Blanca up the wall because of all the mischief they get into, in and out of school." She grinned, "They should be my kids not hers. I think they compete to try and outdo each other. Although, as I'm sure my mother would confirm, they seem like angels compared to what I was like when I was fifteen."

"I'll take you on your word for that Marisol." said Horatio as swung the car into a small parking lot. He switched off the engine and got out. He went over to Marisol's side to find she had really gotten out.

"It's just a door Horatio. I'm sure I can manage."

"You never know." he smirked.

"Funny Horatio, real funny." She pushed him against the car and kissed him lightly.

He took her hand and led the way to their breakfast venue which turned out to be a quaint restaurant outside the Little Havana region, called the 'Old Man and the Sea.' The décor consisted of various sections taken off from boats. Huge bottle green glass globes wrapped with delicate hemp hung from the ceiling, adding to the dusky atmosphere. Oil paintings of the sea and contemplative elders hung from the walls.

"Where did you find this?" asked Marisol sitting down after being shown to a table for two.

"During my tourist days when I first arrived in Miami from New York. I like it here: Not too many tourists venture this way, the view of the bay is fantastic and always fresh," he gestured out of the open window they were sitting next to, "Makes me feel a part of Otis Redding's song, 'Sitting on the dock of the bay' only I wish I had his time to spare. I also learnt my basic Spanish from here. I don't know why but something about this place is just striking. I love coming here. By the way they do amazing seafood, but that's for another time." He winked over the menu he had picked up. Marisol smiled. She glanced at the breakfast menu, decided what she was having, closed the menu, and leaned back in her chair to enjoy the view of the bay.

"Marisol….Marisol." Horatio tapped her hand lightly to bring her out of her musings. She blinked a couple of times and looked at him questioningly. "What will you have?" he asked pointing discreetly at the waiter poised with his pen and pad, waiting for her response.

"Oh…erm…Sorry, I'll…I'll have the chunky pineapple yoghurt and eggs on toast please."

"Drink?" asked the waiter.

"Water please." she answered quickly.

"Sure. And you Sir?"

"Eggs on toast for me too, a side of bacon to go with that. And a pot of Arabica coffee too."

The waiter repeated their order. They thanked him and watched him leave.

"You learnt your basic Spanish from here?" asked Marisol

"Mhmm. I hadn't taken the language course at PD yet. The owner here is actually from Spain, he has Moorish ancestors and he would come and sit with me, jabber to me in Spanish and English about Miami and its problems. He's the one that also got me addicted to Arabica coffee. It's strong when you first try it but you soon get used to it."

Marisol yawned slightly. Horatio chuckled, "Bored of me already?"

"No. I was just thinking how amazing the Arabica sounded before remembering that I'm not allowed to have too much caffeine because they've changed some of my medicines….Caffeine only in small doses!" said Marisol, imitating her GP in the last phrase.

Horatio laughed at the sudden gruffness of her voice. They sat in silence for a while

"Eric?" he asked softly

"Little brother will always be little brother," she rolled her eyes, "He did call to wake me up though."

"It's a start." said Horatio comfortingly. "Your parents?" he asked gently.

"Don't worry about them. I'll win them around…eventually. Papa, I mean my dad is the easy one. It's my mom that's going to take the most effort. But hey why rush getting there?"

"Daddy's girl?" asked Horatio teasingly.

"Kind of." she replied shyly.

"What about Ekaterina?"

Marisol laughed, "Katja and Blanca are like two peas in a pod. I should get Ekky's lecture some time today by my reckoning but like everything the big sibs have told me…it goes in through one ear and comes out the other, I'm never any the wiser." She let out a small, sardonic laugh, "Anyway enough about the family. They're all alive and well and I guess that's all that matters. How's your week been?"

Horatio stretched in his seat, "Okay I guess. Just the normal hustle and bustle of crime in Miami. Had a case where the charges had to be changed, a father was left very much in distress. Sad to think that racism still runs riot in this day and age. Yep so as usual a lot of paperwork on that. The state's attorney's office had us working overtime to iron out every small detail so that there were no bumps. Open and shut case for the jury, all the evidence shows the guy to be guilty of hate crime while his current girlfriend was guilty of murdering his wife."

"Woah! Sounds intense."

"Yes it was. It once again proves the statistic that women are more likely of committing crimes than men."

"I guess we're more passionate." suggested Marisol, folding her arms across her.

"I guess that's debatable Sweetheart." he replied, reaching for her hand and kissing it till she felt shivers shoot up her spine. Horatio smiled as he felt the effect he had on her.

"Touché Lieutenant." conceded Marisol as her hand slowly left his lips. She waited a moment before asking, "There's something else bothering you isn't there?"

He sighed and let his thumb trace over her pale knuckles. "I just hope the case we file brings Mr. Bowman, the victim's father, some peace. He really loved his daughter. He seems a broken man now."

"Hey." She said softly, caressing his hand, "You do great things everyday. At least you're getting the person who did it."

"But it doesn't bring her back for him." he argued back sighing. Marisol saw his shoulders slump.

"We all learn to live without what we love, it's what makes us stronger. It's really hard at first, but we learn to go on, we must. It makes our love for that person stronger."

Horatio listened to her and swallowed the small lump forming in his throat. He couldn't help but make some connection between her words and their future.

"You look tired." she commented before taking another sip of water.

Horatio shifted his gaze and broke eye contact with her. "Uhm…Yes….I'm….I haven't been getting much sleep."

"The case?" she asked seeking his eyes out.

"Mhmm, amongst other things." He remained quiet, preferring to shoulder his dreams alone. Only one person knew about them and that was Ray because Ray had the same dreams about their parents as Horatio. The only difference – Ray didn't have the accompanying guilt that followed waking up in a cold sweat in the dead of the night.

Their breakfast arrived. Marisol spooned some of her yoghurt into her mouth and enjoyed the mix of flavours.

"Good?" asked Horatio pouring himself some coffee.

"Divine." replied Marisol spooning some into his unsuspecting mouth. "Oops!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening as he choked slightly.

"I wouldn't say divine, but different." commented Horatio after he got his breath back.

Marisol pouted, "Then you're not a true pineapple or vanilla fan." She stuck her nose in the air and pretended to be cross with him.

"Sweetheart, I have nothing against pineapple or vanilla, but honestly I prefer the smell of vanilla, like the one you use in your hair, rather than the taste of it."

Marisol blushed at his words. Her eyes darting to avoid his.

They both tucked into their breakfasts.

"So what are your plans?" asked Horatio.

"Oh I…I have to go and do the accounts for a couple of places. Think of what to get Madison for her birthday, catch some sun along the way. Have to sort a couple of bands out for Isabella. I'll probably see her later on. We may do this spa thing she's been harping on about. Oh and maybe do some shoplifting, buy some marijuana and try selling it…" she saw the alarmed expression in his eyes and laughed, "Just kidding Lieutenant! I'll be good, I promise." She rolled her eyes upwards and put on her best 'I'm a good girl' expression.

Horatio wiped his mouth with his napkin and laughed, "You almost got me there."

"I did get you there Horatio." she corrected. After they finished eating, Marisol asked for some more water. "Can I ask you for a favour?"

"You want me to close my eyes?" he guessed.

She nodded shyly, an apologetic expression on her face, "I'm sorry."

He held up his hand, "Nothing to be sorry about at all." He closed his eyes and waited patiently. He couldn't help but feel that by doing this she was trying to protect both him and herself from acknowledging a shaky, cloudy future.

Marisol's hands were trembling as she took out the relevant tablets and swallowed them hastily. She reached across for his hand and squeezed it, "Thanks."

"Anytime." he responded. Both his hands clasped her hand. One hand traced out the lines in her palm while the other roamed across her fingers. He pressed her pressure points as he decided how to ask her what he was about to.

"You have nice cuticles too." she said after a while.

He looked at her in confusion, she giggled at him. "Why is it that all the women I've dated say that?"

"Because it's true, you do have nice cuticles, very healthy. Do you manicure?" She asked innocently.

Horatio put on his best 'I'm offended' expression, "No I do not Ms. Delektorsky."

"Just checking" she said smirking. "Question…"

"Question?" he repeated.

Her eyes held mischief as she watched him shift in his seat, "You want to ask me something. I can tell; you're not making eye contact and your lips keep curving up but no words are coming out. You want to go ahead."

Horatio blinked a couple of times surprised that she had gauged so much from his normally tightly controlled actions. "I…I uhm…I wanted to ask you for a favour."

"Anything." she replied confidently.

"I…I uh…I was wondering…uhm…I was wondering if you'd let me come with you to your next chemo session?" he held his breath expectantly. There was what only could be described as a pregnant pause.

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely."

"I…I don't know what to say…"

"Yes or no. Fifty-fifty."

"Well if you're absolutely sure you want to, then I guess you can."

"Sure, it's ok with you?"

She smiled at him, "'Course it is. My next session is tomorrow."

His eyebrows jerked upwards, "Tomorrow? Sunday?"

She nodded. He dropped her hand. "Something the matter?" she asked.

"I can't quite make tomorrow because I have to leave town for a seminar tomorrow in Tallahassee. I'm driving there tonight."

"Aaaah, that would explain the sexy suit." said Marisol referring to the neatly pressed suit hanging from one of the hand-rests at the back of the car.

Horatio nodded, he took her hand again, "But I'm serious. I really want to be there for the next one."

Marisol was taken aback by the sincerity and seriousness of his tone. "I'll let you know when I know because they'll give me the schedule for my sessions for the following week after my treatment on Sunday."

"I'm sorry I can't make this one." he murmured.

She gave a short laugh, "Relax, it's no big deal. I'm just glad you're coming."

They both smiled at each other. Horatio got up moments later to pay the bill and have a few friendly words with some of the staff before steering Marisol gently out the door.

He looked at his watch, "How about a walk along the bay?" he asked.

"Sure you won't be late?"

"Hey, there's a reason I'm boss." he said confidently.

"Well I'm sure people will think of lots of reasons why you're suddenly late when you're normally the first one there."

"Hey, don't say that." He protested on behalf of his staff, even though he knew that what she was saying was pretty close to the truth. "Besides how do you know that I'm the first one there?"

"Lots of reasons." She said airily, letting the previous subject drop, "Gut feeling, Eric's comments about you, your punctual personality and lots of other reasons that I can't think of at the moment."

"Great instincts." He replied laughingly.

Marisol glanced around them and seeing that they were alone for the moment on the footpath grabbed the lapels of his jacket and pulled him towards her for a heart-stopping kiss.

"Mhh…what was that for?" he asked when they broke apart.

"A thank-you for breakfast." She replied, running her fingers down the light green stripes on his shirt.

"You're welcome. Although I think I'm beginning to change my mind about the taste of vanilla." She smiled as he leaned in for another kiss tasting the sweetness at the edge of her lips. Her arms went around his neck as his arms held the railing on either side of her.

They broke apart as they heard footsteps running down the path towards them. They both cleared their throats nervously. Marisol tucked her hair behind her ears. They both smiled at each other as they stepped off the path to let the jogger past.

"Ouch!" exclaimed Marisol as Horatio accidentally bumped into her when they let another jogger past a few minutes later.

He gripped her arm quickly to stop her from losing her balance, "What's wrong?" he asked worriedly.

Marisol pressed her hand to her side. "Ouch…Oh it's nothing. Isabella's wonder seamstress pinched me a little too hard yesterday when she was measuring me and basically told me to fatten up." She lifted her blouse slightly and showed him the slightly blue bruised area around her navel.

"Would you like your balm back?" he asked his hand slipping into his pocket and drawing out the small object.

Marisol's heart beat a little faster when she saw he had it with him at that moment. Marisol's hand closed around his and folded his fingers around the balm, "No it's yours to keep."

"Sure?"

"Yep. Anyway it's a small bruise should be gone by tomorrow." she said nonchalantly.

She stepped onto the grass and stood against the railing and looked out at the sparkling water as it rippled and lapped against the various boats that hadn't caught the early morning tide. He stood next to her and leant over the railing.

"I'm sorry about yesterday." she said slowly her eyes turning to meet his.

"Sweetheart, I really don't want you to worry about that."

"But I will. I hate doing things that make me look stupid. I just stress and worry over things like this and can't forget about it. I just can't believe I jumped to conclusions about your lunch. I must be getting paranoid with old age." There was a tinge of sadness in her voice.

"Hey. Stop being so hard on yourself."

"Look whose talking." replied Marisol rolling her eyes.

He grinned sheepishly, "Point taken." They stood together for a few more minutes, hands running over hands like ghostly whispers in the night; the lightest of touches to feel the intimacy.

"Do you want to head back now?" he asked softly.

She nodded her head. They headed back to the car.

"So where can I drop you off?" he asked politely.

"Erm…uh… can I come to the lab with you. I'll make my own way from there."

"Are you sure? I can drop you off wherever."

She laughed and shook her head, "Uhm… no I think one chauffeur is all a girl needs."

"Certainly Ma'am." he replied amused.

The conversation to the crimelab was mainly about Isabella and the wedding and how Horatio was trying to schedule everyone's shifts so that they could all attend the wedding at some point in the day because the wedding reception was supposed to run from the afternoon to the early hours of the evening but Horatio knew that a party on the scale that Christian and Isabella were having would not stick to that time frame also given that they were holding it at a private residence, it was bound to go on longer than that. There would still be cases to solve and work at. He was working together with the night supervisor to shorten shifts for that day. After all a balance needed to be set; they worked together to solve the death of one of their own when it occurred, but they all tried to celebrate together when something happy happened to one of their own too.

Horatio parked at the side of the lab on the side designated for staff.

"So what's your seminar about?" asked Marisol,

"New ballistic techniques. And then there's the finger printing seminar on Wednesday that Eric's going to be attending."

"Wow sounds fascinating," she added rolling her eyes.

"Actually it is. I mean my ballistics expert would explain how fascinating it is. The technology coming out these days is really helping us solve cases faster."

"Is she coming with you?" came her terse question.

He stepped up closer to her, glancing around him to make sure there wasn't anyone around, "If you mean Calleigh Duquesne, then yes but so is Maurice Ricci and Lana King our other ballistic experts from the day shift not to mention the night shift ballistics people too." He bent his head closer to her ear and said teasingly, "Jealous?"

"How can I not be?" she asked, "She's blond and bright, and bubbly and knows the world about ballistics plus she's…."

He decided to indulge her even though he thought the idea of him and Calleigh being together seemed ridiculous. Yes there was the odd flirtation but never anything more. He cut her off, "Plus she's not you Marisol." He cupped her chin and lifted her face slightly to look into her eyes. He kissed her on the nose, "You've nothing to worry about."

She blushed, "Oh no. I'm sorry. I'm like a loose cannon. There I go again." she said wryly, wrinkling her nose slightly, "I really don't know what's gotten into me."

He laughed and kissed her nose again pushing her gently against the car before taking her lips. She pushed him away half-heartedly, mumbling "Horatio you're at work."

"I'll live. I know we both get off on taking risks." He replied huskily against her lips.

"Horatio we're in public." she whispered furiously.

"I've seen far worse things done in public other than kiss." he said playfully.

She felt her cheeks getting hot and was angry with herself because yes she had been one of those couples and the fact that a kiss was making her uptight was unlike her. "Horatio…work." she mumbled between kisses.

"So you keep saying sweetheart." he replied kissing her again one last time harder this time.

They stood looking at each other until a gentle clearing of the throat from the side of them drew them out of each other. Both Calleigh and Eric were standing side by side looking at them as if they'd just found two truant teenagers. Marisol blushed as she pulled her hand away from his.

Horatio saw the mild disbelief and disapproval in Calleigh's expression. "Morning Calleigh, Eric."

"Morning Lieutenant." they both said formally.

"Hi." said Marisol nervously as she shook Calleigh's hand and smiled at Eric.

Just then Rick Stetler walked up to join them, "Horatio."

Horatio groaned inwardly, of all the people to come along now, it just had to be Stetler. Suddenly kissing Marisol in the parking lot didn't seem like such a good idea. Sometimes he hated rationality. He stifled a laugh thinking about what punishment IAB would give out for kissing in the parking lot.

Marisol was panicking now as she saw the newcomer approach. "Uh…I have to go…I really do. Bye." She pecked him on the cheek before grabbing Eric's arm and pulling him away from the group.

"Have fun?" he asked irritated.

"As a matter of fact, yes."

They both stared at each other, neither backing down, "Eric I don't lecture you about your life." she said quietly.

"Not anymore you don't, but I'm not the one dying of cancer. Besides what's the point in lecturing you when you don't listen anyway."

"Exactly, which is why I understand that you don't completely get why I'm doing the things I'm doing at the moment."

Eric shoved his hands in his pocket and looked down. Marisol shouldered her bag patiently. When he looked up his eyes had softened, "I do Marisol, I do. I just want you to get better."

Marisol smiled, "See we have the same goal in mind just different means to get there."

Eric laughed, "Okay number cruncher you win."

Marisol laughed with him and looked over his shoulder at the group that now just consisted of Horatio and the other man she hadn't recognised as he had walked up to them. She could see both their aggressive postures. Horatio, attitude and authority radiating from him was not quite paying attention to what the other guy was saying, standing with his hands on his hips, looking over his sunglasses in a rather disinterested manner. His jacket pushed back to reveal his badge and gun. His gun? Now where had that come from her mind wondered. He surely hadn't had it with him during breakfast? she would have felt it when he held her. He gave what seemed to be a parting shot and walked away. He smiled at her as he made his way towards the building. The other man just huffed angrily and went back to his car.

"Who was that?" she asked jerking her thumb.

Eric laughed, "The biggest IAB ass in the world – Sergeant Richard Stetler. He has it in for Horatio. They just don't get along. But then no one gets on with IAB. Then there's the added thorn that he dated Horatio's sister-in-law, you remember, Yelina. Well she showed up to work one day with a bruised face. Yeah don't think that sat too well with the LT."

"Oh."

"Pulling any missions today with Bella?" he asked, taking out his phone as it began to beep.

"No. She's working, I might see her and Christian later. You want to join us if we do meet up?"

"I can't I'm working tonight." He said straightening himself as tucked the cell-phone away.

"You will take a break?" she asked worriedly,

"Don't worry Mari, we're not all like H." he said smiling, "Okay, I really should go. Call me if you need anything." He kissed her on the cheek and hugged her before leaving.

Marisol's own phone began ringing as she watched him leave, "Hi."

"Hi. Marisol I'm sorry about just now."

"It's fine Horatio, really." She crossed the road and began walking down to the intersection. She looked back at the building once more and smiled before blowing a kiss, "Did you get that?"

"Came straight through my window."

"Brilliant," she could feel him smiling at the other end, there was silence for a few moments. "So…uhm…you have fun at your ballistics conference."

"And you take care." he said softly, his words finding a way to warm her heart even through the mechanics of cellular networking.

"Always. Bye."

"Talk to you soon Sweetheart."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------