(A few hours after Sierra arrives at the hospital)
Sierra groans, and Ryan's eyes watch her carefully. Slowly her eyes open and she gets this confused look on her face. Ryan sighs in relief, kissing her hand, then her forehead. When he pulls back he sees Sierra looking at him, with a raised eye brow.
"Happy to see me?" she asks.
Ryan laughs, "You have no idea," he answers reaching down to kiss her again.
"What…uh, what happened?" She asks looking around, again confused.
"What do you remember?" Ryan asks.
"I remember being kidnapped…and hitting the guy…and a lot of pain…" her eyes get big as she remember, "Ryan the baby!"
"She's okay," Ryan says gently, "She's okay."
"I was..." Sierra starts but doesn't have time to finish before the nurse comes in.
"Good to see you awake," the nurse says, "I'll call the doctor."
"I'll call the team," Ryan says rubbing Sierra's hand with his thumb. He turns over his shoulder and calls out the door, "She's awake guys."
Sierra laughs when she sees Eric, Calleigh, Natalia, Horatio, Catherine, Greg, Stella, and Mac file through the doorway. "What were ya'll going setting around waiting?"
"Sorta," Calleigh answers with a smile, "you gave us a big scare."
Sierra moves a little but groans, "I feel like a mac truck hit me."
"You should," Natalia says, "He beat the hell out of you. Although…."
"How are you feeling?" Horatio interrupts, giving Natalia a pointed look.
"I'm fine, I guess, you guys should go home," Sierra answers.
"We wanted to make sure you were okay," Stella says, "And I'm not leaving for NY until you come home."
"You have to, look I'm fine…" Sierra moves again and winces in pain.
"I think we're over stimulating her," Eric says, "You shouldn't be moving around."
"Shut up," Sierra answers with a glare, "I'm fine, know tell me what happened. Did you get the guy?"
"Well…." Eric begins looking at Horatio.
"Sierra," Horatio says softly, "I don't want you to worry about him. There is no chance he will ever come back to hurt you."
"He's right," Mac says, "And right now you need to focus on getting better."
"So he's in custody?" Sierra says looking from face to face confused.
"She's gonna find out eventually," Catherine says, "I think telling her know would be better…"
"Telling me what?" Sierra demands, pulling her hand from Ryan's, "What happened?"
Everything is silent for a moment before Calleigh speaks up, "The guy that done this to you, he's in the morgue…"
"Oh God, who…." Sierra looks around.
"Blunt force trauma," Eric says quietly.
"But…" Sierra frowns, "Oh God, did I???"
"It was self defense, we've already talked to the prosecutor, no charges will be filed or anything," Stella says.
Sierra sets quietly for a moment, then takes a deep breath, "I'm not sorry."
"I don't think any of us are," Natalia says, "We're just relieved that you're okay."
"Speaking of, I thought I said one at time," Alexx asks coming into the room.
"She's awake though," Calleigh says, "We wanted to see her."
"Well you've saw her know out, all of you, even you," Alexx points at Ryan.
"Alexx!" Sierra says brightly, "When do I go home?"
"Next week," Alexx answers, "And if you can't promise me you'll stay off your feet you won't go home then."
"Next week?" Sierra groans "That's not fair!"
Alexx sets down beside her on the bed, and chuckles, "Baby, I am not about being fair, I'm about keeping you safe. And that baby." Alexx smiles softly, and reaches out to touch Sierra's ever so rounded stomach.
"So a week huh?" Sierra asks.
"Yes, you were showing signs of pre-term labor, which is to be avoided at all costs." Alexx answers.
Sierra sighs, but smiles at Alexx.
True to her word Alexx let Sierra go home the following week, with strict bed rest orders. Sierra followed them, for the most part at least. Mac headed home, but Stella stayed around for the first couple weeks. She insisted on taking care of Sierra.
Stella hugs Sierra then pulls back and looks her over, "Are you sure you don't need me to stay? Just for a few more days?"
Sierra laughs, "You've been here two weeks, go home Stella, or else they'll kill me when you come down after I have her, go."
"I just think somebody should be here with you," Stella says with a sigh, "And I have the leave time…"
"No need to stay, I'm here," A voice behind her says causing both women to turn and look. There's a blonde haired young girl standing there, smirking at them. "Heard you might be down here causing trouble, thought I'd get in on the action."
"Oh my God," Sierra says, "Bri?"
"That would be me," the young girl answers.
"I take it you know each other?" Stella asks looking between the two girls.
"Bri and I went to high school together, and college," Sierra answers, making her way down the steps to hug her friend. Stella picks up her bag and follows.
"And I thank you for being so very kind ma'am, but I'll take it from here, and her mother will be here soon as she can get everything in order," Bri says smiling at Stella.
"Bri, this is Stella, she's a friend from New York," Sierra says, "And you're more then welcome here Stella, only Mac called this morning and said if I didn't send you home then he would come down here and drag you back by your ear. And I'm pretty sure he meant it. Then Lindsey called, she wanted to know when you'd be home. And Danny called to see if you'd moved in. So please, before they really do come down here and get you, go home."
"I suppose when you put it that way, you're not really kicking me out. Just take care of yourself," Stella says hugging her again, "Don't get kidnapped again."
Sierra pretends to think about it, "I'll try not to, but I'm telling you it'll be hard."
"Don't worry, I'll make sure she don't get kidnapped or anything till the baby's here," Bri says with a smile.
"Then you'll hand me over so you can spoil the baby?" Sierra asks with a raised eye brow, laughing when Bri fakes a guilty look.
"Thank you Stella," Sierra hugs her.
Stella hugs Sierra, "I'm just glad you and the baby are okay."
"Thank you ma'am," Bri says seriously, "we appreciate everything you done."
"My pleasure," Stella answers, getting into her cab before he can honk the horn, again.
Bri picks up her bags, puts her arm around Sierra and heads for the house, "So where's the hottie that knocked ya up?"
"He's… at work" Sierra says.
"Cool, can we crash?" Bri asks.
"Not exactly, if I'm hearing right, then he's sorta at a crash," Sierra laughs at the confused look on Bri's face, "He's a crime scene investigator, there was a pretty bad crash somewhere, he's probably there."
"So we get a day to ourselves, what first?" Bri asks opening the door and setting her bags down.
"Food?" Sierra asks, causing both girls to laugh.
(later that night)
Ryan pulled his shoes off at the door, looking around for Sierra, frowning when he didn't find her. He new that Stella was leaving, he also new that her best friend was supposed to arrive today. He's just about to holler when he sees a blonde haired young girl coming down the stairs with her finger over her lips, telling him to be quiet.
"She's resting," Bri says quietly, "You must be Ryan?"
"Yeah, you're Bri?" Ryan asks holding out his hand.
"Yeah, there's food in the kitchen, if you want some," Bri says and heads for the kitchen.
"Thanks," Ryan says following her, "How was the flight?" he asks making a plate for himself.
"It wasn't that bad," Bri says setting down at the table.
"How's Sierra?" Ryan asks.
"Exhausted, the doctor cleared her to be out of the house a little longer today so I took her out for a bit, she didn't want to come home," Bri laughs.
Ryan frowns, "She knows not to over do it."
"Don't worry, she's fine, just tired. I brought her home before anything happened," Bri says watching Ryan set down. "So tell me something…"
"Uh oh," Ryan mutters, "What do want to know?"
"When's the wedding?" Bri asks.
Ryan almost chokes on his bite, "Wedding?"
"Well, I figured if you knocked her up, you'd marry her," Bri shrugs.
Ryan recovers, "I asked, but she said it wouldn't be right to get married just because we're having a baby."
Bri rolls her eyes, "Sounds like her."
"I just don't want to push her," Ryan says, "She seems so…fragile."
Bri laughs, "Boy does she have you fooled. Look, she's pregnant not fragile. And if you love her, you'll wait until she is ready, but you won't give up. Sierra has marriage issues that come from the whole situation with her real dad. She's tougher then you guys seem to know."
Ryan sets back and studies Bri for a moment, "Maybe you can answer something for me…"
"Sure, if I think it's alright," Bri answers, setting back as well.
"The scar, on her thigh, where did it come from?" Ryan asks, "The one on her right inner thigh?"
Bri is quiet for a moment, "That scar is one of reason's she's so tough," Bri says quietly, "I should have stopped it, I would have…if hadn't been so high…"
"Stop right there," Sierra's voice says from the doorway.
Bri jumps, "Sorry C," she mutters.
"Don't be, he's manipulative," Sierra answers glaring at Ryan, "I suppose I might as well tell you."
"I just want to know, it's such an odd place to have a scar…" Ryan answers.
"I was raped when I was sixteen, the guy cut me pretty bad, if it hadn't been for Bri, I would have bleed to death. End of story." Sierra sets down next to Ryan, "Sweetie, you have to wait for me open up. It's not fair to ambush my best friend."
Ryan sighs and reaches out to touch Sierra's cheek, "I just can't believe somebody would do that…"
"You work the cases ever day Ryan," Sierra reminds him, "It's one reason why a couple years ago, H put me on that case interviewing the victim. I get it."
"Nobody will ever hurt you or her that way again," Ryan says, cupping her cheek leaning and touching his lips to hers.
"Um, guys, didn't making out lead to this little trouble?" Bri heads turn to look at her with a raised eye brow, "I'm just sayin'"
Bri spent two weeks with Sierra and Ryan. Sierra was cleared to go back to work, so Bri reluctantly went back to Kentucky. Sierra's sister had a situation, so her mother wasn't able to make it out after all. Ryan new it bugged her, but there was nothing he could do about it. She tried to act like it didn't, but he could tell.
So he made arrangements for her to come down after the baby was born, and bring the family with her. Mean while his primary focus was on making sure Sierra didn't over do it at work. She was six and half months and showing quiet well.
The whole crew was glad to have her back but also a little, protective shall we say. They were watchful, and it bugged the hell out of Sierra.
Laying in bed after her first day back, Sierra was attempting to get comfortable while talking about her day.
"And then Eric had the nerve to carry the samples for me, Natalia basically kicked me out of my lap, the techs looked at her instead of me for what to do. What did I lose my degree when I took time off? It was only a month, that is still my lab, and tomorrow the whole crew is going to know it! I even caught H watching me, and I'm sure he was telling Calleigh to watch me, because she was too! What is with people, it's almost like they expect me to drop her right there!" Ryan holds back a laugh as he gently turns and pulls Sierra close, "It's not fair, they all used to listen to me, and know they're listening to Natalia. Aaaww, she's kicking my ribs," Sierra pouts.
Ryan puts his hand on her stomach, he hadn't felt her kick yet, it wasn't strong enough or he'd been too late. But this time when he puts his hand on Sierra's stomach, there's a small, steady kick under his hand. For a moment he tones Sierra out as his eyes watch his hand in fasication. That was his child, the child he and Sierra had created. It was his.
It was real. A sudden and unexpected jolt of reality caused him to jerk his hand away from her stomach and look up at her, fear evident in his eyes. He stared for a moment into the confused eyes of Sierra, watching as realization dawned in those bright blue eyes. A smile plays on her lips, as she snuggles closer, and takes his hand. Gently she puts his on her stomach, "Don't worry Daddy, she'll be perfect. We'll be perfect."
Ryan doesn't answer as the slow steady thump of his child's kick once more takes his attention. He couldn't explain it, but it was as if love had surrounded him and taken him hostage. And he was perfectly okay with that fact…
Note: Okay so it's a bit of a fluffy chapter, expect to see Bri again later on maybe…. Hope you enjoyed.
