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[thecutdiamond]

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[thecutdiamond]

“I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

Which will already tell him what she’s fairly certain he suspects.

“No. I need you here, right now. The only way we’re absolutely certain to find him if he’s not— among the casualties will be to win this war.”

[whisted]

Horatio will listen. He's fairly certain Rachel knows he'll listen.

But there's no helping the brief prickling of tears back to the corners of his eyes as he lets out a shaky breath.

"--please, ma'am?"

[thecutdiamond]

Her sigh is a gentle one.

“If you think it will— help, you can join the people looking on the battlefield for today,” she offers, “But I can’t have you leaving to try and find their base, and we’ll see if you’re able to— look more, tomorrow, if you need to. All right?”

[whisted]

It's better than he expected. It's a relief to exhale into the knowledge he'll be allowed to do something.

His head drops briefly, unbidden, back to Rachel's shoulder--the impulsive gesture of a child curling close to its mother.

"--thank you."

[thecutdiamond]

“You’re welcome, Horatio.”

And he’s absolutely welcome to keep curling close.