Author's Note: I can't believe it's been over a year since I posted this. I keep going back to it and writing more. Here's a little bit for you. I'm sure more will come eventually. I can't keep away from these two!
Murmurs caught his attention and caused him to turn and see Jenna racing towards the scene. Her partner, Jack Wilkes, fumbled on his cell phone as he followed. Horatio straightened and braced himself for the predictable onslaught. "Jenna," he said.
"Why didn't you call me immediately?" She stepped right up to him, not quite reaching his eye level.
"Jenna, you were in court and I have things under control." countering her high volume with a low one of his own.
"Really? You call this under control? Where's my sister then?"
"We are looking for her."
"No! I am going to look for her. You should have called me."
"There was nothing more for you to do. I knew you had to be in court. And you are not working this case."
"Court?" Her elevated voice drew the attention of everyone in the room. "You think I care about court? Where are my nieces?" she asked, the thought just occurring to her.
He reached for her elbow in an attempt to maneuver her out of earshot.
"Do not touch me!" she said, yanking away.
"Jenna," his voice lowered into that warning tone that churned her stomach.
"Detective Quinn!"
The familiar, harsh voice permeated her anger and she froze. Eyes, boring through Horatio's, she felt a new hand grip har bicep, but this time, did not pull away. "Lt., where are Det. Quinn's nieces?"
"At the crime lab with my people."
"Then that is where we will be." He turned Jenna away from the scene and , flanked by her partner, she went to retrieve the girls.
MMMMMMMMMM
Both girls were fast asleep in the double bed that served as Kyle's when he was in town. Jenna lay sprawled across the bottom of it, but managed a comforting hand on each child. Her eyes were closed. Horatio walked forward and rested a hand on her hip while the other went to her head. "Sweetheart," he said. Her eyes opened. "Come on. Come to bed."
She moved her stiff body and stifled a moan. "They might wake up and need me."
"We'll hear them if they wake. Come on. You need to go to bed."
She stood, kissed each of them again, and followed Horatio out of the room. "What I need is a shower."
He closed the door over, leaving it slightly ajar and directed Jenna to the shower.
As tired as she was, Jenna lingered under the cascade of water. She tried to close her mind to the horrors of the day, her frightened nieces and missing sister.
"I don't know what to do," she said. Standing in the middle of the room with her wet hair hanging around her face, she looked impossibly young to Horatio.
"Get into bed," he said. When she didn't move, a light touch on her back propelled her forward. "We will figure everything out tomorrow. You don't need to think any more." He laid down beside her and pulled the comforter over both of them. "Just sleep," he said.
MMMMMMMMMM
Jenna woke the next morning in an empty bed and checked on the sleeping girls before entering the kitchen. Horatio, dressed for the day with a half filled cup of coffee in one hand, spoke on the phone in a quiet tone. She listened to his end of the conversation in an attempt to decipher the level of response being given to her sister's case. He turned his back when he noticed her arrival, and that enraged her. When the call ended she said, "What is going on?" All pretense of calmness was gone.
He pocketed his phone and filled a cup of coffee for her. "Everything is being handled."
She reached for his arm causing some of the hot beverage to spill over the top of the cup. "Knock it off, Horatio! Where is my sister?"
He placed the drink on the counter and used a dishrag to wipe up what had spilled. "We are on top of things."
"Is she still alive?"
"Yes."
"How do you know that? Someone contacted you? Tell me what you know!"
"You know everything you need to know at this point. You are not involved in this investigation."
"So I've spent all this time making sure I am honest with you and you lie to me?"
"Jenna. That's not fair! I told you what I can. I'm only keeping things from you for your own -"
"Don't even think about finishing that sentence. You just want me out of the way!"
"So I can find your sister! And get her home safely. And for the record, you have not always been completely honest with me. Far from it." This was the wrong time to start this argument, but the words escaped before he could pull them back.
"We've been through that. We dealt with that."
His voice lowered. "We have. And we will deal with this, too. But don't stand there accusing me of being a liar. I am doing my job to the best of my ability and keeping you, the girls, and your sister safe."
"Me? Not me! I do not need your protection. And I can take care of the girls and my sister!"
"That is your downfall! You call me prideful, what the hell do you call yourself? You are fiercely independent and it gets in your way. You have got to learn to let go a bit and allow others to help you."
"Oh, and let me guess, you're going to teach me that lesson? No, Horatio, I don't have time for this. I am going to go find my sister." She turned to exit the kitchen so she could change her clothes.
"Jenna! Jenna, this isn't a game."
"I know that! But my sister is in danger and I'm going to find her."
"Jenna, stand down!"
She froze in her tracks and spun to face him. "Don't you dare pull rank on me. This is my family. I will lay down my badge."
She took a step back as he reached for her, but he was faster and stronger and anchored himself to her arm. 'You have got to trust me. There is a plan in place. You will ruin it. Trust me. I will get your sister."
"Momma," Zoe's cry from upstairs caused them both to pause.
Horatio threw the rest of his coffee down the sink and said, "Take care of the girls and I'll be in touch," as he exited their home.
Jenna knew her only mission now was to care for her nieces. That is what her sister would want.
AN: Hope you liked it! Thanks for reading.
