"No I am not having this Ryan!" Esposito all but screamed at Ryan. "I am going with you and that's that!" Ryan just sighed; he knew telling Esposito that he was going undercover without him was going to be hard. But with Esposito screaming and shouting at him only made it much worse. "Look Esposito…"

"Don't start that look Esposito thing; I am not having you go undercover without backup, let alone without me!" Esposito watched as Ryan couldn't meet his gaze. Ever since Jerry Tyson had knocked Ryan unconscious Esposito felt guilty that he wasn't there for Ryan, now Esposito made sure he was always there for Ryan, no matter what.

Ryan felt guilty when he looked at Esposito's expression, it was mixed with worry and frustration. Esposito was his partner, his best friend and brother. He hated telling Esposito that he wasn't needed. Which was actually a lie, Ryan needed him, but orders were orders and the Captain had said only one detective was needed for the undercover operation and that detective was Ryan. Ryan was going undercover for a couple of months and had to go without contacting anyone at the precinct, he hadn't told Esposito that part. Ryan knew that the only way to get Esposito to back off was if Ryan shouted back. So for the first time since they had been partners Ryan squared his shoulders, looked Esposito in the eye and forcibly said "I have been ordered to do this by myself, so I am going to do this by myself and you can't do anything to stop me" Ryan hated seeing the hurt look in Esposito's eyes, but it had to be said. "But Ryan I am with you until the wheels fall off"

"I know Esposito, but I have to do this"

"But look what happened when you and Castle went to see Tyson-"

"Oh, so now your pulling the look what happened when you were on your own and you failed card, are you?" Ryan yelled, he hated being reminded that because of him Tyson took his badge and gun.

Esposito regretted mentioning Tyson as soon as he said it. He knew that was a sore spot for Ryan, but he just didn't want him going alone. He just stood there helpless as Ryan picked up his keys and jacket and walked out of the precinct. Esposito had no idea that he was going to go a couple of months without speaking to his partner. When he did find out from Beckett, he was furious, but by that time he had no idea how to get hold of Ryan. His partner had slipped of his radar. Something he thought would and could never happen.