Title: Take your breath away- chapter 2
Pairing: Ryan/OC
Rating: K+
Disclaimer: None of this is true. And I own none of the CSI characters. Not one of them. (Unfortunately!)
Spoilers: Season 4, episode 8- 'Nailed'
Author's note: This is just my version of what 'happened' during & after Nailed


Two days later Ryan returned to Dade Memorial hospital, nervously clutching a fresh bunch of flowers in his hand. Horatio had insisted he took some time off to recover, so Ryan had had a lot of time to think about things. And most of his thoughts had concerned Lizzy. He could still feel the bare flesh of her arm on his hand where he had held her arm. He could still remember the way she had smiled at him, her green eyes twinkling. As Ryan lay in bed that morning, he had decided to do something to show Lizzy how much he appreciated what she had done for him plus it gave him the perfect excuse to see her again. Now he just had to decide what to get her.

As he had stood under the shower spray he eventually decided to pick her out a bunch of flowers- nothing too big, nothing too small. Something just the right size not to be too pretentious, or something too small and cheap looking, which is how Ryan found himself nervously approaching the ER reception desk.

The receptionist on the desk did not exactly look accommodating; in fact she looked almost ferocious. Ryan nearly turned on his heels and left, instead he took a deep breath as he approached the desk and asked after Lizzy. "Lizzy Matthews?" She replied, her ferocity melting away before his eyes. "She's just come off shift; she'll be in the locker room honey. Go through the double doors, and it's the first door on the right." Ryan thanked the receptionist, grateful for her friendly demeanour that meant he did not have to use his CSI credentials to find her. Ryan took a deep breath and walked through the double doors, unsure whether he should knock on the door of wait for Lizzy to come out.

Before Ryan had the chance to decide, Lizzy walked out of the locker room, flicking her long red hair out of the back of her jacket collar. "Oh! Hi Ryan."

"Hey Lizzy." He replied. "I, uh, I bought you these to say thank you for the other day." He added, holding out the flowers towards her. "Oh Ryan, you shouldn't have! But thank you, they're beautiful." She paused before she continued. "Listen, do you fancy grabbing some lunch? The staff canteen here's actually pretty good!" She smiled widely at Ryan, half expecting him to say no, and half willing him to agree. "Erm, sure, I'd love to!" He replied, at which Lizzy's smile widened, and she linked her free arm through one of Ryan's as she steered him towards the lifts.

"How's your eye doing?" She asked as they waited for the lift to arrive. "It's much better; the swelling's gone down a lot now." Lizzy turned to face Ryan, gently holding his right cheek in her hand as she took a closer look at his eye. Ryan felt his breath quicken as she touched him. Part of him desperately wanted to pull away before she noticed the change in his breathing, and part of him didn't want the moment to end. Their eyes locked, Lizzy's hand still cradling Ryan's cheek, the seconds seeming endless until the lift announced its arrival with a loud ping, and broke the spell.

Lizzy and Ryan entered the empty lift in silence, and Lizzy pressed the button for the fifth floor and the staff canteen. They began the ride up in silence, neither sure what to say to the other.

The lift was suddenly filled with a mechanical clanging as the lift shuddered to a halt between the second and third floors, throwing Ryan and Lizzy into the back wall of the lift. "Are you ok?" They asked simultaneously as an exterior alarm began to ring. Lizzy pressed the alarm button that was supposed to connect the lift to the maintenance office. Nothing happened, so she tried the buzzer again, pressing harder this time. Still nothing. As Lizzy tried the buzzer for a third time, a mild panic began to spread through her. No answer. "Great, looks like we're stuck here!" She exclaimed, pounding the display panel with her fist. "I hope you're not claustrophobic." She added, closing her eyes and leaning back against the wall of the lift. "I'm fine," replied Ryan. "But are you sure you're ok? You've gone pale." He gently grasped Lizzy's elbow, a real look of concern flashing across his face.

Lizzy slowly slid to the floor, Ryan crouching down in front of her, still clutching her elbow. "Are you ok Lizzy? You don't look good at all." Ryan knelt in front of her, holding her hands in both of his, the flows discarded now. "I just feel a bit…funny." She replied, a hint of a smile touching the corners of her lips. "A great description from a nurse huh?" Ryan smiled briefly as her green eyes flickered open and looked into his eyes. He sat down on the floor of the lift next to her, taking care not to sit on the flowers, holding her hand in both of his, and pressing it against his stomach.

They sat in silence for a few minutes as Lizzy recovered from her panic, just enjoying each other's company. Neither was sure who broke the silence, but they were soon chatting aimlessly. Ryan told Lizzy how he had started out as a uniformed officer before joining CSI. Lizzy spoke without thinking, "Wow, I bet you looked good in uniform!" Lizzy's face fell slightly from embarrassment, as she realised what she had just said, before they both burst out laughing. The uncomfortable moment over, Lizzy and Ryan continued to randomly talk at length.

Three hours had passed since Lizzy and Ryan had entered the lift, three hours in which they had grown a lot closer as they shared the unrepeatable experience of being stuck in a lift. Lizzy had begun to grow weary, and had rested her head on Ryan's shoulder, their hands still entwined on their outstretched legs, Ryan could scarcely believe his luck, to be trapped in a lift with such an amazing woman. The reality of Lizzy was far greater than the Lizzy he had imagined over the previous two days. He squeezed her hand and began to lean in to kiss her forehead. A voice emerged from the control panel of the lift, interrupting Ryan's lips just centimetres away from her forehead. "Hello? Are you alright in there? We'll have you out soon."