@tealeavesandthorns asked: "you're not actually going to go to bed, are you?"
Horatio was on high alert. Every noise, he heard. Every noise, he investigated. For the time being, at least, it was quiet. Calm. Save for the waves crashing against the shore behind his house that he could hear from where he was standing, from where he was watching, in the front yard. From where he was standing guard.
Though his house was protected, surrounded by metal fencing with the gate shut and locked tight, save for the back which was mostly open because of the beach, he couldn't bring himself to sleep. He couldn't bring himself to relax. Not with him out there. Not with Adam god knows where right now. Possibly somewhere close. Too close. Because that's exactly where he had been today. Too close.
Too close to Maria. Too close to Maddie. Though, she'd been in school when it all happened, Adam being in the city of Miami was still far too close for comfort. Even if he didn't care about her, didn't even know she existed, Horatio could not, and would not, take any chances. He wouldn't relax. He wouldn't let his guard down. Not so long as he was out there. Because his number one priority was keeping Maria safe. Keeping both of them safe and if he had to stand outside all night to do just that, then he would. Though, he wasn't sure if it would do any good considering he'd been in the city for a while now. He still couldn't believe the prison failed to alert Maria of his release, failed to warn her. There was no excuse for it, absolutely none, and Horatio wouldn't be letting that go anytime soon.
After picking up Maddie from school, much to her surprise, they headed home and Horatio made damn sure no one had been following them on their way home. He wondered if Adam even knew where he lived and given that he found out where Maria worked, it wouldn't surprise Horatio if he eventually put two and two together and figured out she was living with him. It made him feel uneasy, Adam knowing so much.
There was no telling how long he'd be out here, how many nights he'd be standing guard because at some point, he'd need to sleep. He couldn't work without rest, he couldn't protect them like he should if he didn't rest, but... tonight. Just for tonight, at least, he wanted to stay awake. He wanted to stand guard, he wanted to protect them.
He made a promise, after all. He made a promise that Adam wouldn't get near her. That he wouldn't let him near her or Maddie, that he wouldn't let him hurt Maria ever again. He made that promise and he was going to do everything in his power to keep it, to make damn sure he didn't get close to her like he had done today. The way he reached for her, almost touching her, Horatio could feel that fury intensifying within him just at the thought. And the things he said to her, the things he said about her, it only added to the seething rage within. To the resolve that burned stronger than ever within him.
Telling her that she was glowing, that he forgave her, refusing to believe the restraining order came from her and claiming that they could be together again, thinking he owned her, like she was his property. His jaw clenched at the thought of it and he had to take in a deep breath to calm some of that anger, to calm some that rage, but it only solidified his decision to stay out here, at least for tonight. He couldn't take any chances, he couldn't let her get hurt, he couldn't lose her, couldn't let Maddie lose her.
He swallowed the knot in the throat, and with it, those distressing thoughts, and it was then that he heard the sound of a door opening, followed by footsteps. He didn't flinch, he didn't turn with urgency. No. He remained, only because he knew who it was. His body knew, his heart knew, especially when her voice cut through the silence, cut through the worrying thoughts in his mind and the fear in his heart.
"You're not actually going to go to bed, are you?"
It was more of a statement than it was a question, because she knew. She knew how seriously he was taking Adam's return, how their safety was paramount to him. The lengths he'd go to ensure their safety, to make sure they were protected and that no harm came to them. She knew him.
Horatio stood and turned to her, offering her an apologetic smile. "Not, um, not just yet." He answered honestly. He could tell her that he did plan on going to bed soon, but at the moment, that'd be a lie and he'd never lie to her. Never. Besides, he didn't think he'd be able to sleep, anyway. "Maddie fall asleep okay?" He asked, head slightly tilted as he watched her, his warm blue eyes looking her over. "And how are you feeling, sweetheart?" He added, because he knew all day she hadn't been feeling well. Not just because of everything that happened with Adam, but the pain she'd been in since this morning and her earlier nausea. If it continued, he'd push for an appointment with the doctor. He just... he needed her to be okay and he couldn't help feeling a little more protective than usual because of everything going on.
