julia holding hostage

"Kyle, it's okay," said Kaya.

"Your mummy will be okay. Daddy won't let anything happen to her. I promise," Kaya said honestly. It was what she believed.

"Still," said Kyle.

"It's okay honey," said Horatio.

"Want something?" he asked as he hugged Kaya.

"She'll get the help she needs Kyle." Horatio felt horrible for letting Frank arrest Julia, but she had given them no choice.

Natalia made room for him beside her, resting her head against him. She had a sixth sense for when he was hurting and knew he was hurting now, for what had happened and what he'd had to do.

"Daddy, are you okay?" asked Kaya.

"Yeah, sweetheart. Everyone's okay."

"Kyle isn't. He's sad."

"Well, yeah, baby, everyone's sad," Lina told her gently. "But we're a family and we're together. It's going to be okay." She was telling her brother that as much as she was her sister.

"Kyle, come and see my room. You haven't seen it for a really long time." Kaya took his hand.

"Bab..."

"It's okay, Lina," Kyle stopped her. "Yeah, Kaya. I'm coming." He stood, walking with her.

"Yay, Lina, come too?"

"If you want, sweetheart." She was used to Kaya leading her around.

"Cool." Kaya wanted to show them the new addition to her room, a present for being good on her first camp.

Natalia waited until the kids were out of the room. "Are you okay?"

"I had to get Frank to arrest her. I don't know if that was the right thing to do or not."

"Horatio, she broke the law. Regardless of the people she did it to, she held people at gunpoint for over an hour, in a crime lab."

"I know. I just feel bad for Kyle."

"I know. I do too."

"What should I tell him?"

"What Lina said was a good start. That we're a family. We'll be okay."

Horatio smiled. "I love how optimistic you are."

"Hey, somebody has to be," she teased slightly. "I mean what I say. Lina's already family; now Kyle is too."

"Thank you."

"Nothing you haven't done for me." Kaya couldn't have adored Horatio more habd he een her biological father.

"I love you."

"I love you," she whispered, about to say something else when there was a knock on the door.

Horatio stood and opened the door. Ryan was standing there, but when he saw his boss, the nerves came back.

"Mr Wolfe, can I help you?"

"I wanted....I wanted to check on the girls. I wanted to check on Lina."

"Come in. She's with Kaya. You know where her room is, right?"

"About time," Natalia said, grinning, teasing, as Ryan came in.

"Sorry?"

She looked at Horatio. "Nothing, sweetheart. Why don't you help me make some dinner?"

"Sure. Just knock first Ryan, Kaya's got a surprise in there."

The siblings were being anything but quiet so it was easy for him to find Kaya's room. Ryan knocked and Kaya said to come in. Lina was sitting on the bed near her sister, the puppy between them, Kyle in Kaya's desk chair, facing the girls and the puppy.

"Hey Kay, Kyle. Do you guys mind if I borrow Lina?"

Kyle grew protective even as Kaya hugged him and approved. Lina kissed Kaya's head and smiled for Kyle before going with Ryan.

"How are you?" asked Ryan.

"Still a little shaken."

It was the first time she'd admitted that.

"Want to get some air?"

She paused, realizing that her dad could handle Kyle and Natalia was distracting herself, as was Kaya. "Yeah."

"Come on, let's go get some coffee."

She held his hand as they walked out together. Horatio looked up when they came in, staring when he saw their hands.

"Hush," Natalia whispered where only he could hear.

"But...my little girl..."

"Is happy. For the first time since Julia came into that room."

"Fine..."

"Thank you." She gave him a hug.

"Where are you two going? Dinner's nearly ready."

"We'll be back, Dad," Lina called.

"Okay."

The door closed behind them.

"I love you Lina."