-1Again, sorry for the wait. I should definitely get more written over the holiday. Of course I had to overload myself with flute/voice lessons, the musical and pep band, so time is tight. But I'm trying! R&R. Love you all muchies!

A Threat

Two weeks had passed since Calleigh had her little accident in the driveway. She was able to move her arm more now, which was good. She was tired of constantly having to tell people at work about it. Especially Eric, who thought it was just absolutely hilarious that, of all people, Calleigh tripped and fell over a garbage can. Jake was also back in town, which made her happy. The only thing out of place was that she hadn't spoken to Ryan since her accident.

She strode through the hallway at the lab, on her way to DNA. She wondered to herself why Ryan hadn't approached her at all in the past two weeks. I hope he's not made at me. In fact, she hadn't even seen him at the lab. She didn't work any cases with him either. Weird, I wonder if he is intentionally avoiding me. She thought back to that day, to the look she saw in his eyes as he was cleaning up the mess in her driveway. The sad look that she couldn't seem to forget. She suddenly became slightly worried. I really hope he's not sick.

"Calleigh! Hey, come back. I have your results," Valera called out of the DNA lab. Calleigh was so deep in thought that she had completely walked past the lab. Blushing slightly, she entered the room.

"Sorry about that," she replied. "I um…was thinking about something."

Valera smiled slightly. "Haha, you looked like you were possessed. It was kind of funny actually. But I had to stop you before you walked into a wall or something." She frowned slightly when Calleigh looked at the floor. "Are you feeling ok?"

"Um, yeah. I'm fine. Just a little tired," Calleigh lied quickly. "So, you got the DNA results?"

Valera turned back to her computer. "Yes, actually. It took a while but I got something." She turned her computer screen so Calleigh could see. "The saliva you found on that handkerchief belongs to the victim, Riley West."

Calleigh nodded. "We found that cloth in the suspect's car," she said. "It means that cloth was used to gag the victim while he beat him."

Valera looked at Calleigh. "You mean the guy just threw it in his car afterwards?"

"Most likely," Calleigh said, dialing Horatio's number on her phone. "Thanks, Val." She picked up the paper and left Valera's lab, waiting for Horatio to pick up his phone.

"Caine."

"Horatio, I have the DNA results from the cloth we found in the suspect's car," Calleigh said. " The saliva belongs to the vic."

"Ok, thank you, Calleigh. Could you meet me in my office?"

"Sure, H, I'll be right there." She hung up her phone and walked in the direction of Horatio's office. She was almost there when she literally bumped into Ryan, causing him to drop the folder her was carrying and making papers fly everywhere.

"Oh my, Ryan, I'm sorry," she stammered, kneeling down and helping him pick up the papers.

"It's ok, I wasn't watching where I was going," Ryan replied, looking at Calleigh. He was startled slightly when he reached for the same paper Calleigh did, and their hands touched. He felt a weird sensation in his arm, and he pulled away quickly, letting Calleigh pick up the paper. Little did he know, she had experienced the same sensation.

"So, um, how is your arm?" he asked as they stood and put the papers back in the folder.

"Oh, it's better," Calleigh answered quickly. "Hey, I have to be in Horatio's office."

"Yeah, me too," Ryan answered. He waved the folder in front of her. "Tox results."

"Oh, ok, well…let's go then," she said. The two walked together in an awkward silence to Horatio's lab. Once they entered, they both seated themselves in chairs.

Horatio looked up at them and smiled. "You have results for me?"

"Yes," Calleigh answered first. "The saliva found on the cloth belonged to Riley West, the victim. It means that the cloth was used to gag him. We found it in our suspect's car."

Horatio nodded and looked at Ryan. "You have results from the bat?"

"Yes," Ryan answered, setting the folder on Horatio's desk. "The residue we found on the bat was GSR. The same stuff we found on our suspect's hands."

Horatio nodded as he scanned the papers Ryan had given him. "So, our suspect shoots our vic, gags and binds him, then finishes him off with a bat." Horatio handed the folder back to Ryan. "We have our guy in the interrogation room right now if you two would like to speak to him."

Ryan and Calleigh looked at each other and nodded. They left the room and proceeded to the interrogation room where their suspect awaited.

Richard Hennesey was the suspect. He was a large, built man with tatoos up and down both of his arms. His flat, brown hair fell over one of his eyes, and there was a nasty looking gash under his right eye. He looked up and snorted when Ryan and Calleigh entered the room. "Come to harass me for taking advantage of my freedom?"

"Freedom doesn't mean you're allowed to kill someone," Ryan scowled as he and Calleigh seated themselves. "Why did you kill Riley West?"

Richard raised an eyebrow. "Who's he? I didn't kill anyone."

"Don't play dumb, Richard," Calleigh said, showing him a picture of Riley West's body. "You shot and beat him."

Richard looked in disgust at the autopsy photo. "I ain't never seen that chump before in my life." He leaned back in his chair and grinned at Calleigh. "Now, why accuse me of sumthin' I didn't do?"

Ryan glared at him. "Where were you two nights ago at 9 PM? And where did you get that gash under your eye?"

Richard stared intently at Ryan. "I was at my work place, closin' shop. And my eye? Well, I cut myself on a piece of machinery. You can never be too careful in an auto shop these days."

"Have any witnesses to that?"

"Nope."

Ryan grinned. "Then how can we assume you're telling the truth?"

Richard was starting to get angry. "Now I told you I don't know that man!"

Ryan was getting slightly annoyed. "Now I'm not-"

"Ryan, calm down," Calleigh looked at Ryan.

Richard raised his eyebrows. "Ryan, hey? Ryan Wolfe by chance?"

Ryan froze in his chair. "Wha…how do you know that?"

Richard laughed slightly. "I thought you looked familiar. You don't remember me, really? I remember you…from high school. I was always shoving you into your locker, beating the crap of you in the hall." He leaned forward and grinned. "You were always a total wimp, you know?" He suddenly got a hard look on his face as he leaned back again. "Too bad your stupid brother was always there to bail you out. David, is it?"

Ryan was shaking in his seat and fuming at the same time. "That's none of your business."

Richard grinned again, fully enjoying Ryan's panic. "You know, he moved in around here, didn't he? I believe I saw him just last week when I drove past his new house. Pretty little wife he has, and those kids-"

Ryan stood up so fast he knocked his chair backwards, Causing Calleigh to jump up from her own seat and stare in disbelief at the two men. Ryan leaned forward, seething. "You leave my brother and his family the hell alone, you hear me?!"

"Ryan, please calm down," Calleigh said, gently taking old of his arm. She was shocked when he shook her off. She was relieved when an officer came in to remove Richard from the room.

Richard glared at Ryan one more time before the officer took hold of him. "You watch your back, Wolfe. I can ruin your life in a heartbeat if I want to. I'll destroy you…and your brother."

Ryan glared at him. "Is that a threat?"

Richard smiled wickedly. "No…it's a promise. Just like always." With that, the officer led Richard out of the room.

Calleigh stood in shock for a moment, coming to her senses when Ryan sank down in the chair. He put his head in his hands and rocked back and forth slightly. She sat down next to him and rubbed his back lightly. "Ryan…are you ok?"

Ryan sat up and looked her in the eye. "I thought I saw the last of him when we graduated…now this." He looked towards the door where Richard had been led out, recalling the painful memories from high school. He finally stood to leave, Calleigh standing up after him. "I have to call David…Richard ruined my life once, I'm not going to let him do it again." He turned to leave. "And I'm not going to let him hurt my brother…I don't know what I would do without David, he's all I got."

Calleigh nodded, still slightly shocked, and followed Ryan from the room. The comment that he had made about David being the only one he has bothered her. You have me, Ryan. Of course she wouldn't tell Ryan that, so she silently followed Ryan down the hall to the break room.

TBC

Wow, this one was longer than I intended it to be. But I now have a pretty clear idea of how I want it to go now. The next chapter should be up soon. R&R!!!