Second Servings, Second Chances

Chapter Eight: Bad News

Disclaimer:I neither own nor profit from any of the CSI Miami franchise or any of its relations. Any characters you do not recognise are my only property featured in this story.


Previously on CSI Miami:

"If you hurt her, you've me to answer to."

Aaron smirked, though it seemed to be more of his teeth bearing.

"Don't worry, I aint gonna have Wolfes knocking at my door."


Breathing deeply as he walked swiftly through the lab, Eric Delko scanned each glass room with a furrowed brow. His hands were balled into fists by his side as he paced, determination fuelling his haste.

H, where are you?

In a side thought, Eric realised how hard it was to pin the Lieutenant down in the maze of glass labs. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a head of red waiting patiently for him.

How does he do that?

Shaking his head, Eric approached his Lieutenant with a grimace; he hated to be the bearer of bad news, but it seemed to be the only news around the lab lately.

"Eric...what is it?"

Releasing a breath, Eric's frown deepened. "Not good H."

Though Eric couldn't see, Horatio's eyes flashed, saddened behind his shaded eyes.

"We've gone through everything from the scene but nothing. Only that chip Wolfe thinks was part of the blast."

Horatio remained unmoved, the deepening of his lined features were the only sign that he was emotionally affected.

But he was...greatly.

Dan's charred face, a blur of red and black, pain and panic stung his mind constantly like an agonising bee content on causing him misery.

Tim and Dan's un-beating hearts drowned out all other noises, many years of loss and pain clenching his heart. Swallowing the lump clogging his throat, Horatio heard Eric speak, concern present in his tone.

"H? What do we do, that chips our only lead."

"Work with what we've got Eric, work with what we've got."

Nodding once, Eric stood aside, allowing Horatio to take his leave. Thinking to himself, he looked towards the AV lab, where their one shred of hope was being tested.

Curiously, the new kid, Aaron was not the one processing the chip. Eric smiled lightly as he saw Ryan, arms crossed and waiting. He admired his younger colleague's dedication to the case, knowing Ryan would be the type to never rest nor let any outsiders work on Dan's evidence.

But a second look at his friend confused him; his eyes were not on the evidence. Following Ryan's line of sight, Eric couldn't help but chuckle at the scenario in front of him.

Come on Wolfe...really?

Sighing, Eric left Ryan to his staring game, thinking of what this would mean for his friend.

He chuckled to himself as he waited for the elevator.

'Fraid it's bad news for you, man.


Inside the AV lab, Ryan stood stiffly, eyes narrowed and focused on the lab two doors over.

Glass walls, great place for secrecy.

Failing to smirk at his own sarcasm, Ryan continued to gaze at the pair, wondering what "slick moves" this kid was gonna try. Aaron seemed to be flexing his arms, tracing a finger round the sharp, snake-like design of his tattoos.

Losing his patience, Ryan swung the glass door open, needing to hear what this show off was saying. Pacing the corridor, Ryan strained to hear through the distant glass, first hearing mumbles before any clear words.

"You ever get ink done Nat?"

Frozen on the spot, Ryan waited for Natalia's answer, curiosity overriding his sense of eavesdropping boundaries.

"Me? No, I'm scared to death of needles."

Ryan chuckled to himself then heard another voice.

"Hmmmm...good to know." Aaron said with a smile. Outside, leaning causally against the wall, reading an old text message with no interest, Ryan clenched his jaw, eyebrows furrowing.

Good to know? What is he, studying her?

Snapping back from his thoughts, Ryan re-focused his attention to the DNA lab, noticing the conversation topic had changed. Looking up, he noticed Natalia eyeing Aaron's sidearm with interest. Aaron was smiling, talking again.

"-passed on the first go. What 'bout you, how many till you got your qualifies?"

Natalia looked down to the gun on her hip with slight frustration, a light blush forming on her cheeks. "You don't wanna know."

Aaron chuckled, "That many huh?"

Natalia only nodded to the laughter, "I've a bit of a..."

"Bad aim?"

Natalia frowned playfully while Aaron continued to laugh. "A bit of one, yes."

Outside, Ryan struggled to contain his laughter. Though he had been supportive of Nat's determination to pass the firearms exam, he would be lying to himself if he didn't say he was doubtful at best.

But he was happy when she passed; after all, he was sort of her mentor through it all.

"Well, if you want, I could take you out to the gun range, learn from the master."

Ryan felt the plastic in his hand almost snap in two, his free hand balling into a fist, his eyes narrowed to slits. He waited for Natalia's response, hanging on a hope that she'd turn him down, or maybe she didn't think of it as "their spot" as much as he did.

A crackle of static shot through the lab, attacking every tech ear with a sharp thud. Instantly, eyes began searching for the source, scouring the maze of glass labs with furrowed brows.

Ryan was first to see it, and immediately wish he hadn't.

"No, no, no, no, no!"

Racing into AV, Ryan was instantly hit by the heat of the small but growing fire. Bouncing on the balls of his feet, he quickly rounded the table and grabbed a fire extinguisher, fumbling slightly to grip the hose.

A moment of spraying gas, then silence surrounded him. Ryan was caught up in the shock; he missed the calls and yells of his fellow workers, but focused on the disappearing smoke.

Once it cleared he looked away, a glimpse telling him the damage.

The chip was destroyed.

Stupid, stupid! What was I thinking?

"Ryan?"

A single voice stood out to Ryan in the fuzzy mumbles of his mind. Waving the smoke away and coughing slightly, Ryan exited the lab.

"Ryan! Are you okay? What happened?"

Not being able to look his colleagues in the eye, guilt closing in.

"The evidence, the chip...it's gone."

Several gasps reached his ears, placing more shame on his already burdened shoulders. A scoff caught his attention and looking up, Ryan found himself face to face with Aaron.

"Thought you were watching that man, fall asleep on the job or something?"

Anger swelled inside the CSI, every surrounding tech feeling the tension building and stepping back. Fists clenching, Ryan took a sharp breath, never breaking eyes with this challenging newbie.

Ryan didn't care if he was in a crowded lab, surrounded by colleagues and superiors, he had to voice his thoughts, listen to his screaming gut-instincts.

This kid is bad news.


Oh! Tension!

And what happens when you put two hot, angry, fist ready Miami guys together?

Ding-Ding-Ding!

Stay tuned guys and gals, it will get juicy ;)

-Mel out ;D