A short (I think) series that lines up with my birthday, the 11th. I have no idea how long this will be yet.

Slashy slashy. This fic shall contain Horatio/Stetler, Stetler/Ryan, Ryan/Eric, Eric/Travers, and Travers/Ryan. If you have a better idea when it comes to labeling, please share.

Summer Nights

Chapter One: You, Me, and Five Other People

It was early afternoon when a large clearing suddenly found itself inhabited by seven men, their eyes wide as they took in the scenery. Horatio, Frank, Jesse, Walter, Eric, Ryan, and Michael Travers had all been in the city for so long, they had almost forgotten what the wilderness looked like. Frank, Walter, and Ryan were all shouldering large and rolled up tents on their backs; the others were toting backpacks full of food or supplies.

"This has to be it," Frank panted, the humidity starting to get to everyone. "I don't think that there's any other clearings like this".

Horatio nodded and pulled a map out of his pocket. "I think you're right, Frank. Let's set up camp".

Tired little noises of contentment came from the three men carrying shelter. The others plopped their bags down and immediately began fanning themselves with the first leaf or piece of paper they could find.

Horatio turned to the Sergeant. "And Frank, if you can set us up in the northernmost corner, that would be much appreciated". He held up a hand before his friend could begin grumbling. "Don't worry. I'll pitch. You rest".

Nodding, Frank trudged his way over to the far north section of the clearing, nearly growling at Walter when he was about to take the spot. He dropped the tent in a heap on the dirt and leaned against a nearby tree, deciding that the best way to escape the heat and a bit of hunger was to nap until the smell of cooking meat woke him up. He slid down the trunk onto the ground, resting his hands on his stomach as he tried to get comfortable.

"Ryan?" a soft voice behind the young Ryan Wolfe said timidly.

He turned around and looked right into the soft blue eyes of Michael Travers, making a soft smile cross his lips. Over the past year when Eric couldn't be around as much as he would like, there were some days when Travers was the only one he could bear to talk to. He was so much more polite than Walter, and much friendlier than Calleigh. It seemed like lately she had gotten kinda bitchy and distant. But then… Eric did tell him that they were having some living-in-close-proximity issues.

"Yeah?"

"I would like to thank you for inviting me on this," he said gratefully, his English accent making Ryan grin. "I know not everyone thinks of me as one of the guys… because I don't do field work". He paused and ran his fingers through his wavy blonde hair. "I know Mr. Cardoza doesn't think much of me".

"Mr. Cardoza doesn't think much of anyone besides himself," Ryan commented as he watched Jesse watch Walter set up their tent. "Besides, you've been more than patient with me. Some of these guys make me feel just worthless and-"

"Now don't say that. I'm sure that you have broken more cases wide open than even you give you credit for".

"Or Horatio gives me credit for," Ryan grumbled, shoving his hands into his pockets.

Travers sighed and smiled weakly, he heard it all a million times before. "Ryan… if Horatio didn't admire you, he wouldn't have asked you onto his team".

The two of them watched as Walter tripped over the tent bag and collapsed on top of the half-pitched tent. Ryan arched his eyebrow at Travers, begging an explanation.

"Walter just showed up".

Ryan couldn't help but to chuckle at that. He was promptly rewarded with a playful little shove to his shoulder.

"There, I made you laugh," the trace analyst smiled. "Now you go rest for a while. Catch up with Eric. I'll pitch".

"Oh… thanks".

Ryan stepped back and watched as his blonde co-worker bent over and began pulling posts and canvass out of the tent bag. He didn't know exactly what about Travers just seemed so charming. It was probably the accent. It made him sound so gentle and intelligent compared to everyone else. But it had to be something more… he just couldn't put his finger on it.

And why can't I stop watching him?

"Ryan," a smooth voice called welcomingly to him. He looked up into Eric's nearly black eyes. "We didn't really have much time when we met up back at the Hummers. How've you been?"

Ryan just sighed and leaned against his friend, all his frustration and self-doubt audible in that one little breath. Eric put his hand on the opposite side of Ryan's head holding him as much as he needed to be held at the moment.

"That bad?"

He nodded.

"Poor Wolfie," he cooed. "But if it makes you feel better, I'm happy to see you again".

Ryan sighed happily before he felt the other man let go of him and back up. Their eyes met before Eric reached out and ruffled already mussed and sweat matted brown hair. His eyes drifted over to the blonde setting up their tent.

"What's Travers doing here?" he asked softly enough so only Ryan could hear him.

"I invited him. He looked so lonely cooped up in his lab all the time. He doesn't even get to go outside".

Eric bit his lip in thought before looking up and saying in all seriousness, "you two have gotten pretty close with me gone, haven't you?"

"Yeah we- wait! No! It's… Eric. When you left I didn't have anyone to talk to, and Travers was nice and open towards me and…"

"Just how 'open' are you talking about?"

"I just mean that he's easy to talk to, Eric," the young CSI nearly growled, knowing exactly what the Cuban was implying. "Do you have any idea how frustrating everyone has become after you left?"

"You two have gotten pretty close, haven't you?" He repeated accusingly, crossing his arms across his chest.

"Nowhere near as close as we have been. I don't think he's even interested anyways".

"Are you?"

"N- well… I… erm…" Ryan sighed and looked away. There was no point in hiding it for much longer. "Yes".

Eric winced, his heart tightening in his chest. He knew he should have listened to the little voice in the back of his head, telling him that it was time to stop bouncing around and just settle down beside his best friend. Maybe if he would have been there for Ryan just a little more, it wouldn't have looked like he was pushing him away.

"He listens to me, Eric".

"I listen!"

"And he's still at the lab".

"They always say that you shouldn't date your co-workers".

"And he's not bi".

Eric's chocolate eyes widened, his heart screaming that it wasn't fair. He slept around with women to quench a thirst, he stayed with Ryan because he means so much to him. He actually filled a place in his heart that Eric was positive nobody could after Speed passed away. Ryan blamed the women, not wanting to think of this as an addiction Eric has. If Eric would sleep with other men Ryan could accept that there was a problem, but it would break his heart. That was the only reason why he held back.

"That's no reason," Eric said sternly, trying to keep his voice from quaking.

Ryan heard a loud click come from behind them. Horatio had just finished putting up his and Frank's tent. The others couldn't be too far behind.

"We'll talk about this later, Eric," Ryan half-suggested half-declared, wishing he could move on but at the same time never wanting to let go of him.

The older man nodded and bit at his ruby lips nervously. "Yeah…"

"I'm… I'm going to dig a fire pit. You can go chop wood with Jesse… or make a rig to raise our food up into the tree at night".

Eric's heart sank to his stomach as he watched his friend walk to the middle of triangle of tents and begin digging a large and shallow hole for the fire. Eyes wandered around the camp, finally landing on Travers, straightening out the canvass of the tent, making sure it was taught. The sight of he and Ryan within the same view was too much, the illness it gave him going to both his head and his stomach at the same time. He picked a length of rope and a small pulley system out of his backpack and turned towards a tree, away from the rest of the camp.

oOoOo

It was getting dark relatively early for a summer night, the thick grey clouds that filled the sky threatening to burst at any moment. A cold wind was blowing in, following through on the promise of a night falling into the 50's. Walter was slowly making his way around the camp, lighting the lanterns that hung outside each tent. He shivered and pulled his blue fleece jacket just a little bit closer to him, knowing that he would warm up once he got into his tent and out of the wind. Jesse still hadn't returned, although the echo of an ax plowing through wood gave him the idea that his friend was still okay.

He looked over at Eric, still fiddling with the food pulley system after a few hours. It was obviously done, and he seemed to be running enough tests to make sure it would work for the next few years.

"Aren't you cold?"

Eric turned around to see Walter light a lantern outside of Ryan and Travers' tent. It was their tent now. He didn't really feel welcome anymore. Maybe he would ask if he could stay with H for the night. He and Ryan can discuss things tomorrow.

"I don't get cold," Eric called back, trying to suppress a shiver. "And I gotta make sure this rig works. We can't have bears pulling down our food in the middle of the night".

Walter felt a bit of color drain from his face. He had forgotten about the bears that lived around here. And once he and Frank started cooking, it might just be enough to coax a few out of their hiding places.

"Do you think bears will really be a problem?"

Eric shrugged, "Do you want to risk them being one?"

Walter tried to look nonchalant as he pretended to shrug it off. "Guess not".

"Good. Because if they were, I think you'd be the first to get eaten".

Eric turned to see the youngest CSI's eyes dart around the darkened forest nervously.

"I'm kidding".

"Oh," Walter sighed, doubting that. "Good".

They fell silent, noticing that the constant chopping sound had finally stopped. Turning towards where Jesse stepped out of the clearing, the two watched as a familiar figure walked back into the clearing. Jesse had apparently gotten too hot while chopping and had removed his shirt, showing off his sweat covered body, gleaming in the dim light of the woods.

"Do I have to do all the work around here?" He smirked, dropping an armful of chopped wood into a heap next to the fire pit. "Hey H! We have fire wood!"

Without waiting for a response, he ducked into his and Walter's tent. The two men left outside shared a glance at one another before Jesse walked out, a large bag and hose in hand.

"We passed a small lake about a half mile back," he said, nodding in the direction they came from, "I'm going to take a cold shower and fill it up for the rest of you".

"Okay," Eric shrugged, a little irritated at the nagging feeling that Jesse was just being so helpful because he wanted attention. No use of letting it bother him, given he still had three days left to stay with the man.

Horatio finally emerged from his and Frank's tent, the flap draping over his head as he lazily looked out to see the state of the site.

Walter smirked and leaned in towards Eric, "What do you suppose will happen if he sees his shadow".

"I heard that".

The mass of red hair dipped back into the tent, only to emerge moments later with the rest of him. His grey t-shirt looked rumpled, like he had taken it off and pulled it back on. He rubbed at his soft blue eyes, stretched, and yawned as he stumbled towards the fire pit.

Eric grinned; there was something about seeing his friend so defenseless and casual that he always enjoyed. "Did you have a nice nap?"

Horatio nodded with a light smile across his lips as he rubbed at the back of his neck, trying to wake up a little faster. Kneeling down, he examined the fire pit and the chopped wood. He glared at the items, as if it was their fault the equation was incomplete.

"We need kindling," he sighed, standing back up. He took a little tired stumble backwards before he steadied himself and grabbed the lantern hanging off of his tent.

"And you need help," Eric smirked as he walked towards Horatio, "I'll pick up sticks with you". He spun around to face Walter, "you stay here. We got this".

Walter frowned as he watched the two of them walk off. Either everyone thought he was useless, or it was just all in his head. Whatever it was, he didn't like his present situation.

Another gust of wind reminded him that he was getting cold. And without another word, he ducked into his tent and curled up in his sleeping bag until he was called out to prepare food.

oOoOo

"Something's bothering you," Horatio whispered lowly to Eric as he reached up to snap a small dead branch off a nearby tree. The younger man looked down at the dirt, knowing full well that to Horatio he could be pretty transparent. "Want to tell me what's on your mind?"

For a moment, Eric hesitated, wondering if he should tell his friend about his romantic relationship with Ryan. He quickly decided against it; that would be for another time… once everything sorts out in whatever way it would.

"It's just… I didn't expect Travers to be here is all".

The redhead knew full well where this was going, but decided to play along slowly for Eric's sake. "I didn't know that you two were in bad blood".

"We're not," he replied quickly, "it's just that… has he been out on the field with you guys or something? Because I didn't know that he became really part of the team after I left".

"Well, he's part of the team, but he stays in the labs. It was Ryan's idea to ask him along".

Ryan's idea.

The thought still haunted Eric and tugged at him, Horatio's confirmation just making it all the worse. The younger man picked up several small and dry sticks, trying to distract himself from the ache and frustration that were tormenting him.

"In fact," Horatio continued, "he was so nervous when he asked me; I would feel horrible refusing his request".

Eric bit his lip. "He and Travers have gotten pretty close, haven't they?"

"Yeah. Well, Jesse and Walter have been pretty exclusive, not really letting Ryan into conversation. Calleigh has been a little distant. I guess they just found each other one day".

Found each other.

A knot tied itself in the Cuban's throat, making his breaths labor. If only he would have taken the time to call Ryan a little more often. Then it would have been just the two of them sharing the tent. The only reason why he begged Horatio to let him onto this camping trip anyways was because he wanted some quality time with Ryan. It felt like their relationship had taken a few big steps backwards since he decided to move in with Calleigh.

"Do you think he's upset with me?"

Horatio looked up at Eric, raising his eyebrows, "Eric… did you do anything to upset him?"

"No… I mean… I don't think so".

"What makes you think he's upset?"

Eric bent over and picked up several sticks, collecting them into the small bunch he already had. "I dunno," he shrugged, "He just seems kinda distant lately, like he doesn't like being around me". Actually, it became obvious a few months when Ryan started coming up with excuses not to get in bed with him. Eric was used to having people on the side, and Ryan had been one of them for years. And now… they just drifted apart.

"H?" he asked after trying to shoo away memories of the last time he and Ryan were intimate. "Can I stay with you and Frank tonight?"

"No," the redhead answered, maybe a little too quickly. "Eric, I want you to work this out with Ryan. I can tell it's bothering you, and I know that he thinks of you whenever he's out on the field. He misses you. If he's at all upset it's because he wishes that there was more time for the two of you".

The two of you.

Eric couldn't help but to smile a little at that. For the past few weeks he had been toying with the idea of telling Calleigh about his and Ryan's relationship. It would hurt her, but it would be the only way he and Ryan could possibly be together. However, the nagging feeling that Ryan wouldn't want him back remained.

"I'm sure that this time away from the labs and Calleigh and everything else is just what you two need," Horatio cooed reassuringly, "I wouldn't worry about Ryan. I know that he's been missing you".