A/N: I am so pleased that this story is such a great success! And of course, you've all made that possible! But I honestly am glad that you're enjoying it, cause I'm totally loving writing it! It's opened up some new challenges for me as a writer, so it's safe to say that hopefully every party involved will benefit from another chapter!! So, a big SHOUT OUT to everyone that's reviewed up until now, and even to all those people who've added this story to their favourites, to their alerts, and to their C2's, too!

Now, a note, for all you dedicated reviewers and those undeniably curious as to Kagome's "female" presence at the Miami Dade Police Department...

Last chapter, I did mention that Horatio still sees the child in Kagome, and Kagome still sees the comforting, fatherly-presence in him. This is still true. That being said, I would also like to point out that Kagome isn't a little girl anymore... she's a full grown, adult woman. She is now surrounded by hot-blooded, full grown men... and I think you can connect the dots that I've just placed right here to screw you over. Whether or not Horatio is one of those men has yet to be seen... and while I did say that KH is not likely, I would like to point out that I've neither confirmed or denied anything. This is a mystery, after all...

I have plans for the general future of this story... and I've alluded to a likely scenario, but I would like to point out that things might not turn out as one might expect... and that there are many different paths to the same destination. Just some food for thought.

Always - IV

By ancient-relic

--

And if you ever come back-

Well,

I will let you;

Always

--

Calleigh readjusted her goggles around the earmuffs, before marching briskly over to the firing tank, calling out,

"Two shots!"

and rapidly firing the gun with precision at the water-filled tank. The shots echoed dully in her ears, muffled. Her mind, however, wasn't on the bullets that went whizzing into the tank; no, it was on the mysterious woman who had appeared at the front of the station several hours prior.

Horatio had answered her question(s?) in all fairness, and she hadn't exactly pressed him for information. He had seemed rather nonchalant about it though, and had looked off with a fond sort of smile as he answered. It was not a new expression; Horatio was likely the nicest person she had the pleasure of knowing, even if it was sometimes in a roundabout sort of way. No, it was not new… but there was a different dimension to it. Like he was keeping a secret, maybe.

Perhaps it was just her 'female instinct' going into overdrive, and compounded with her curiosity and scientific analytical deduction abilities… Calleigh was almost certain that there was more to the young woman than Horatio cared to share. Calleigh didn't want to lower herself to the level of the boys (aka her betting, gossiping co-workers,) but she knew she wanted to learn more.

Catching the bullets with a magnet, Calleigh pulled them out gingerly, careful not to drag them across any surface, lest it create a scratch. Perhaps I'll pop my head into his office? She mused. Sounds like a good enough place to start.

--

Kagome gave a contented moan, rolling over and tucking herself into the back of the couch with a rested, happy sigh. Horatio looked up from his desk at the noise, but realized she'd just been repositioning herself.

Immediately after calling Frank, Horatio had set himself to work; calling and leaving messages with several important friends who owed him a favor or two, and learning what he could about the murder of Kagome's family. Without pulling rank and making a proper inquiry, Horatio was able to access little more than news articles and police reports through several databases as well as public search engines, but what he learned was enough to make his stomach churn with grief for the woman who lay resting several feet away.

He knew that she'd had a fairly strict upbringing, losing two fathers; one to illness, and one to a drunk driver. However, the remainder of her small family had pulled together and walked away from both losses stronger than most. The Higurashi family were very close-knit and old-fashioned in that sense; sitting down for dinner every night, spending at least one afternoon or evening a week together. They had been most pleasant, he remembered, upon their circumstantial first meeting.

Years ago, before he had been made head of the Miami Dade CSI department, he had simply been a homicide detective. He had been investigating and questioning witnesses to a shooting, and young Kagome had been close enough to hear loud arguing before a gun had been fired.

Unfortunately, because Kagome was young and English was her second language, she had been of little help, but it had introduced him to the girl and her family. He'd had the pleasure of meeting Kagome's real birth father, who was a commendable individual and deceptively intimidating; her mother, who never seemed disgruntled and took everything in stride; and her grandfather, who was both witty and spry despite his obvious age. Horatio had enjoyed their company, and was pleased to find that they had enjoyed his almost equally so; and they had spent an afternoon together, with Horatio acting as the ever-helpful tour guide.

Horatio glanced over to the sleeping woman on the couch, remembering the small girl. She was full-grown now, albeit, but the little girl he had met was still there somewhere… it was likely what had brought her here in the first place. Horatio smiled fondly at Kagome's sleeping form before turning to his computer.

A moment later there was a light knock on the door, and Horatio looked up to see Jesse standing there, several manila folders in his hands. Scribbling down a phone number on the printout beside him, Horatio used his free hand to gesture the CSI inside.

"So I was just going over some files from Walter," Jesse began, his eyes lingering on Kagome's sleeping form curiously. "He found some curious discrepancies I wanted to get your opinion on. It looks like they could be signatures, but that would mean that the killer's M.O. is changing each time he kills."

Horatio watched with a ghost of a grin as Jesse's eyes shifted minutely to Kagome, studying her curiously and as closely as possible without openly staring. He took the files as he cleared his throat, opening one and scanning through Walter's messy scrawl.

As his boss studied Walter's notes, Jesse took the moment to surreptitiously crack his neck and pop his shoulders, getting a good look at the woman curled up on the couch. She appeared to be sound asleep, judging from the rhythmic rise and fall of her back. Besides a nice view of her legs, however, Jesse wasn't able to garner much more.

"If it's a serial bomber," Horatio began slowly, "Then it's a serial bomber who doesn't know what he's doing, and he's liable to blow himself up by accident and save us some trouble. Is there anything else I can help you with Jesse?" He handed the folders back with a raised eyebrow.

"Uh, no, actually," Jesse smiled nervously. "Walter just asked me to pop in. Thanks,"

As Jesse turned to walk out, he narrowly avoided getting smacked in the face with the door. Another woman rushed into the room, her long hair- tied atop her head- whipping him in the face.

"Horatio, you should have called the second you heard, and not had someone else do it" the woman scolded. Horatio smiled to himself, chuckling a little. "You know I would have been here at the drop of a hat. The poor thing," the woman turned to glance at the other occupant of the room, who was still sleeping soundly.

"Alexx," Horatio gave his ex-medical examiner a brief, friendly hug. "It's good to see you."

Jesse stood there dumbly, slightly confused as to why so many women were appearing in a hurry to see Horatio. His boss seemed to hear his thoughts, and turned the woman with a hand to face him.

"Alexx, this is the newest member of the team, Jesse Cardoza. Jesse, this is Alexx Woods, our previous M.E."

"Pleasure to meet you Jesse," the dark haired woman smiled politely. "I hope you won't get up to as much trouble as the rest of us,"

She and Horatio laughed like there was an inside joke.

"Same here," Jesse returned her greeting, shaking her hand. He'd heard stories of Alexx from Ryan and Calleigh, but he hadn't the foggiest idea who they were talking about. She was exactly what he imagined, however, as she turned to speak with Horatio. Independent, confident, and successful.

"What is all this noise?" a little voice complained, speaking in the rapid tones of another language. The other three occupants of the room turned to the couch where Kagome was stirring, her hair mussed and her face lined with the pattern of the pillow her cheek had rested on.

"Kagome!" Alexx swooped down on the smaller woman, scooping her up in a joyful embrace. "Oh, it's so nice to see you again,"

"Alexx?" Kagome was a little disoriented. "What- It's good to see you too!"

"English?"

"Sorry, sorry," Kagome apologized. "It's disconcerting waking up to loud voices, is all," She smiled at Horatio over Alexx's shoulder, and Horatio nodded back. The two woman immediately set to gabbing, as it had apparently been 'too long' since they'd seen each other last.

Horatio watched the two women with a reminiscent smile, and Jesse took the moment to slip from the room, unnoticed. He hadn't managed to speak to the woman yet, but he had learned her name was Kagome.

--

tbc.