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Free Falling

Ch. 2

Eric grumbled angrily under his breath as he attempted to match the carpet fibers to one of the carpet samples he'd colleclted. So far, all he'd been able to prove was that their suspect had entered the hotel lobby the night of the crime, but not that he'd gone any further. The body was found in a room ten stories up.

He leaned back down over the microscope to glare at it for making him work overtime.

"How's it coming?" Eric jumped violently, jerking his head up and immediately colliding it with Calleigh's.

"Shit," Calleigh muttered, rubbing the bridge of her nose.

"Oops, sorry Cal. You scared me." He gave her an appologetic grin as she glared at him over a slightly swollen nose.

"I just thought you'd want to know Ryan Wolfe is here, and he's pissed at hell. Whatever you did, I'm gonna go to my office where I can watch the explosion from a safe distance." She made for the door and motioned to someone out in the hall. Ryan walked, no, stalked past her, like a cat with his eyes on the kill. A white box was also in his arms, which he slammed down on the lab table before gliding over to Eric with a look that made Eric grateful that looks couldn't kill.

He came close enough to Eric that their chests were touching, almost nose-to-nose. The Cuban could feel Ryan's heartbeat and stifled a quiet groan at his close proximity. Then Ryan spoke, distracting him.

"What the hell were you thinking?" he hissed. Eric blinked, not expecting this greeting.

"About what?"

"When you suggested my transfer from Patrol? I was told to clean out my locker and pick up a CSI parking pass! What the hell have you done?" Eric had a difficult time swallowing. He hadn't expected this kind of reaction.

Now what?

"Weren't you serious back at the gym?" he asked, feeling sick. He probably shouldn't have acted so spontaneously. Shit, shit, shit.

"Well, yeah, but I didn't mean this week! You don't just transfer someone based on a comment they make in passing, especially when you've only known them a few hours! And I know it was you, so don't try and lie your way out of it."

"I don't know what you're so worked up about. You wanted the transfer, I got it for you. And I didn't just do it on a whim, I talked to your boss, he said you'd already filled out a form for one and he was waiting to submit it. I just speeded up the process a little." Ryan stared at him for a minute as if he was doubting his sanity.

"I am sincerely starting to doubt your sanity... and your sense of ethics. You're supposed to get a job based on objective opinion and qualification, not because you had an inside 'friend' who bribed his boss. I can't believe-" Eric stemmed the flow of words with his hand.

"You think I bribed the boss to let you in?" he demanded indignantly. "You're being ridiculous. Yes, I went and asked your boss about a transfer sheet, put it into a file folder, and put it on my boss's desk. With about twently others. The Trace lab is looking for someone to replace one of the rookies. He got fired, the fifth one to fill that position. I'm hopin' you can break the curse."

Watching Ryan struggle to remain angry while trying to find some even ground was worth the heart attack that had almost occured. Finally, he resigned to the fact that Eric had actually helped, not hindered. They both jumped as Calleigh bounded into the room, closely followed by Speed.

"I could hear through the glass. Speed already knew. So you're joinin' the team, huh? I can't wait for you to meet Horatio. Have you done an interview yet?" Calleigh asked, giving Ryan a wild grin, causing him to take a few steps back.

"Erm, no, that's why I came. He wanted to meet me before I was officially hired. Um, what department are you in?" he asked, trying to remain polite and not run away screaming at her answer.

"Weapons. You know, guns, bullets, that sort of thing. Are you okay, you look kinda sick?" Speed laughed.

"I think he's debating whether or not to quit. I would," he commented, doging the blow Calleigh aimed at him. "What time's your meeting?"

"Two o'clock. Where's the leiutenant's office?" Ryan asked, looking around at Eric.

"Come on, it's near the back." Deciding the party was over, Speed and Calleigh trooped away, and Eric started to lead Ryan back out the door. Ryan, however, was staring down at the evidence on the table.

"What?" Ryan looked up at him.

"Why are these labeled carpet fibers?" he asked, staring at the small hairs in the microscope. Eric raised an eyebrow.

"Because they're carpet fibers. Why?"

"Because they're not. Carpets are made of thick cloth, well, wool really. These fibers are thin, machine made, like what you'd find off a shirt. Probably cotton. You can tell because they're woven, not twisted together." Ryan looked over the microscope to see Eric staring at him as if he'd grown another head.

"Sorry," he said hurridly. "I didn't mean to butt in. I'll go find the leiutenant's office." He scurried past Eric, shoulders slightly hunched. Eric caught him by the back of the shirt collar and dragged him back over to the microscope to stare at it himself. Now that he was looking for it, the difference seemed much more obvious. He returned his gaze to Ryan who looked appologetic.

"I seriously think I'm in love with you," he commented, marveling at all the overtime Ryan had just saved him. Ryan flushed, eyes wide.

"What?"

"You just saved me another few hours of staring at carpet fibers. You are never leaving this lab again," he stated, pushing Ryan back out the door and towards Horatio's office. If you don't get hired, I'll set Calleigh on Horatio untill he agrees."

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Horatio Cane watched with raised eyebrows as Eric led a skinny, brown-haired man down the hall towards his office. So, this was Ryan Wolfe? He was chatting hesitantly with Eric, who seemed very intent on their conversation, even waving off Natalia when she came up to him. Interesting.

He pretended not to notice them until Eric tapped on the glass door of his office. He looked up from Ryan Wolfe's file and nodded. Eric gave Ryan a quick prod and pushed him in. He gave the younger man a fleeting thumbs up before walking away. Ryan himself turned to face Horatio, taking a deep breath and squaring his shoulders.

"Leiutenant Caine, I'm Ryan Wolfe. I'm here for a job interview," he said in a quiet voice that managed to sound calm. Horatio motioned to the chair in front of his desk, observing Ryan as he sat down and met Horatio's firm gaze. Glancing back down at his file, Horatio asked, "Mr. Wolfe, you recently completed a Master's degree in Chemistry, am I correct?"

Ryan nodded. Horatio continued, "I also have your medical records here," he paused as Ryan stiffined, his mouth becoming a hard line.

"I see." Horatio's lips twitched slightly.

"It says here you have a very mild case of OCD. You are aware that crime scene's can be very... messy, are you not?" he asked, wondering if this kid knew what he was getting into.

"Yes, I've seen quite a few things during my time on patrol, so I'm well aware. I wanted to join the lab to be part of the follow up. Just walking away from a dead mother whenever the CSI's arrive feels like... abandonment. I want to help bring closure to their families." Horatio nodded, his interest increasing. He'd found Wolfe's resume on his desk a few days ago with a note from Eric saying that he'd found another applicant. So Horatio talked to his supervisor, his co-workers, even some of the people who'd met Ryan Wolfe while he was on the job. They all said the same thing: efficienct, polite, intelligent. He'd gotten very good reccomendations, and had a better education than any of the others. By the end of their interview, Horatio was sure that Ryan Wolfe would do very well as one of his CSIs.

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Ryan let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding as he stared at his shocked expression in the bathroom mirror. He'd gotten the job. The job he'd been preping for ever since he started his Chemistry degree for years ago. He didn't move until the bathroom door swung open and Calleigh bounced in.

"Hey! This is the men's bathroom!" he reminded her. She responded with a friendly punch in the shoulder.

"I know. Horatio just told us that you're officially part of the team, so I wanted to say congrats before I leave. I'll see ya tomorrow!" With a wave, she turned and walked back out of the bathroom, almost knocking over Eric on his way in. He frowned slightly, but didn't say anything to her as she waltzed past, instead turning to Ryan.

"Hey, man, we just got the news!" Eric walked over and clapped Ryan on the back. "We need to celebrate!" he decided, leading a confused Ryan out of the bathroom and into the lockers. "Ya know, hit a bar or something. There's that place down by the beach... anyways, you up for it? Thanks to you I have a lot more free time than I thought I would." Ryan though for a moment than shrugged.

"Sure. Let's go."

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Okay, end of second chappie. sorry its not as long as the first, but i wasn't really sure what to have happen in the interview. please R&R!!!