Chapter 7

After what seemed like hours, Ryan finally spoke, in a slow, deep, claming voice. "Thank you for sharing that with me. Do you feel any better?"

Anya looked at him incredulously. "No, I don't feel better!" She snapped. She immediately felt sorry at the hurt look on Ryan's face. "I'm sorry. It's just...I haven't ever really told anyone that whole story, not even Uncle Horatio, and now...I feel like crying."

"Then why don't you?" He had absolutely no idea why he just said that. He hated crying women.

Anya sighed. "I can't cry because I'm the strong one. I've always had to make sure that my sister was okay. After mom died, I felt that I had to replace my mom as that rock. The same thing happened when Tristan was born." She choked, willing the tears back into her eyes. Ryan caught her chin in his fingers and raised her head to look at him.

"You don't always have to be strong." He whispered. Upon hearing those words, Anya let loose the tears. She cried deep, gut wrenching sobs into Ryan's chest. She cried for her mom, who had died prematurely, she cried for her sister, who was raising a three year old by herself and she cried for Horatio, who lost so much. But mostly, she cried for herself.

Ryan wrapped his arms around her shoulders, engulfing her. She wasn't tiny by any means, but she seemed so fragile right then. He held her and rocked her back and forth until her sobs subsided and her hiccups stopped. When she pulled away from him she was blushing slightly.

"Thank you again Ryan. All you ever seem to do is help me."

He laughed." Don't mention it. So, uh, why don't we get you back to the lab to see what H wanted?"

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Once again the car was filled with silence. Anya couldn't figure out if Ryan needed to concentrate or if he was just a quiet person. She looked out the window, mentally begging for him to start talking. After another five minutes of silence she turned to him. "Do you want to play twenty questions?"

Ryan glanced at her and shrugged. "Sure. You first."

"Okay, let me think. Hmm...Alright we'll start with an easy one. What's your favorite movie?

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Four minutes later found Anya laughing so hard that tears were rolling down her face. Ryan was scowling and glancing at her. "I don't see what's so funny."

Wiping away her tears Anya answered laughing, "You were scared by a guy who was pretending to be dead, you have to admit, it's pretty funny!"

Hearing her laugh like that made him laugh too. He couldn't help it. Her laugh was infectious.

"Alright," she said when her laughter died down. "Your turn."

Ryan thought for a minute before turning into the MDPD parking lot. "Can we call it an IOU?"

Anya smiled. "Sure thing, Wolfe."

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Anya sat in Horatio's office, being bored out of her mind. She was twirling in her chair, making herself very dizzy. She heard someone clear their throat and she stopped abruptly. This turned out to be a mistake and she fell out of her chair. She was caught by a tall Cuban-esque looking man, whose name she couldn't recall. He laughed and stood her on her feet, steadying her before letting go.

"Thanks. Sorry, I don't remember your name." She said feeling embarrassed by the handsome man's stare.

"It's Eric Delko. What are you? Five?" He joked, breaking the ice. She laughed.

"I sometimes act like it." They got along with ease and her bored-ness soon crept away. After a while Eric left and Anya waited for Horatio once again. He finally showed up about two hours late.

"Hello, Anya. Sorry I'm late we, uh...had a situation."

She waved her hands at him, signaling that it was fine. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

"Well, first, I found you a place to stay. It's an apartment on Coconut Palm Dr. Two bedroom, One bath. It's on the forth floor. I know that Valera and Mr. Wolfe live over there."

Anya stared open-mouthed at him. He had already found her a place? She gave an almighty joyous shout and jumped at him, enveloping him in a tight hug. "Oh, thank you, Uncle Horatio Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!"

Horatio gave a short laugh and told her to calm down. He sat on the other side of the desk and stared at her intently, which made her squirm and feel like a five year old again.

"Now about your job..."

Her breath caught in her throat. "Yes."

"How would you like a change of pace?"

She looked at him curiously. "What do you mean?"

"You have a medical degree, correct?"

"Yes, in Internal Medicine, but I can't stand the patients attitudes and-"

Horatio cut her off. "How would you like to be the field medic of the Miami Dade Crime Lab?"

Anya blinked. Once. Twice. Three times. Then she started talking really fast. "Are you serious? I don't think so. I mean I love Alexx and all, but do you really think this is right for me. It's not that I couldn't do it, it's just that I have so much to prepare for. I'll have to re-register and go back to school. Il y a tellement de faire! Ce qui je suffira avec mon autre formation. Est-ce que je suis allé à l'école pour rien? Queest-ce que je ferai à ce sujet? Je pense que j'ai pu-"

"Anya! Were...were you speaking french?" Horatio asked, exasperated at her over-reacting.

"Sorry...it's just a lot to think about. Are you sure you want me to be your field medic?"

"Yes, Anya, or I wouldn't have asked. You were very experienced, and you don't vomit at the sight of a dead body."

"Uncle Horatio I don't know what to say...except- wait! There was never a veterinarian job down here, was there?!" She exclaimed. She wasn't angry, just amused that Horatio lied.

"Well I never said there was. I told you that there was a job position open that would suit you. I never said anything about it being at an animal hospital. So what do you say?"

Anya looked at the ground. Could she make it? "Well, can I borrow some money for school?"

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A/N: Very sneaky Horatio! So I'm finally moved and I had time to update so I did. I just got done crying over the end of JauntyChick's 'Flowers in the Rain'. So if you like my story. Go read her's because she is where I get my inspiration.

PS. The French is " There is so much to do! What will I do with my other training. Did I go to school for nothing? What will I do about that? I think I could-"

R&R! I appreciate them all. They motivate me!

JAUNTYCHICK'S NOTE: Woo, I love this chapter...just make sure and review it! And Kel...you're way too nice!