A/N: Omg, I apologize for that embarrassing author's meltdown I had earlier. But I thank each and every one of you for replying back so flippin quickly! Because of you, I have found my motivation and plan for this story once again. Seriously, I even wrote this chapter today (I usually take a couple of days to write, edit, re-write, edit again, ask friends' questions...it's a process, lol).
So, here's the deal: I will continue to write this story how I originally planned it out. For those who wanted the other story, you WILL get it but not until after I finish this one (which I plan to do within the month.) For those who wanted me to completely scrap this one, I promise this story will have meaning to the next RaiN saga I have planned. So EVERYONE BEAR WITH ME!
Anyway, your entertainment down there... I bet you've been wondering about Ryan's pain, huh? Find out below...
Chapter 8 – The Next Time I Fall
The pain in his side with nothing compared to his throbbing head. What was wrong? Ryan didn't have time to answer that question. Right now, getting to his appointment with Dr. Gallagher mattered most.
As the elevator doors closed in front of him, Ryan glanced at his reflection. The pale skin that surrounded his eyes was disconcerting. Maybe he was coming down with something. Or maybe I wasn't taking care of that stupid gunshot wound! he thought angrily.
The doors spread open to a better looking corridor than the doctor's original location. Fortunately, the beautiful red-head didn't have to wait long for a more permanent office. Rushing down the hall, Ryan barely caught his step as he flew through the waiting area's threshold. Dr. Gallagher's newest secretary stared worriedly at him.
Maybe I look worse than I thought…
"I'm here for my appointment with Dr. Gallagher," he awkwardly mentioned.
The short blonde's big green eyes widened slightly as she lifted the phone from the receiver. She tapped in the extension to the adjacent room, and soon a mumbled "Is my next appointment here, Miss Bands?" was heard.
"Yes," she answered quietly. "He's here, but he doesn't look too good." She listened carefully, nodding and humming an affirmation sporadically. "Yes, of course."
Moments after hanging up, the Dr.'s door swung wide open, the caring female glaring back at Ryan. "You don't look too healthy, Mr. Wolfe."
"I know, but…"
"No 'buts'," she quipped. "We'll reschedule for another time. You go see a doctor right away."
The CSI grumbled. He attempted arguing with this woman before, but her strong Irish blood left him speechless the last time. Arguing wasn't going to happen with her.
But that didn't mean he had to listen to her…
"Okay," Ryan voiced with a rasp beneath his breath. He stepped back lightly and headed towards the elevator. If she didn't want to see him today, that was fine, but he wasn't going to some damn doctor if he was just sick with a cold… or something.
He made it. He didn't really know how, but Ryan made it to the lab without creating any accidents. He trudged to the elevator and pressed the button for the lab's level, swearing he would beg for Advil from the next person he ran into.
In his case, the action was literal. Papers went flying through the air as Ryan stepped out of the metal lift.
"Oh, God, Calleigh. I'm sorry," he said sheepishly to glob of blonde hair before him. He slowly made his way down to help with the scattered forms.
"Actually, it's Molly," the voice chimed brightly as she lifted her head. Her previously merry smile rapidly vanished the moment she saw Ryan's complexion. "Ryan, you look awful!"
"Thanks," he joked and began to stand up with her. Quickly his knees buckled beneath him, his body falling mercilessly to gravity. With a hard thump to the pavement, Ryan cradled his torso in agony.
"Ryan!" Molly screamed. "I need help here!" she shouted to no one in particular. Soon, Walter and Eric came rushing to Ryan's side and effortlessly carried the young male to the break room, a mix of wonder and worry etched on their faces.
"What's going on, Wolfe?" Eric questioned as he pulled Ryan's arm from around his neck to situate him down to the couch.
"Yeah, you're not looking so hot, Ryan," Walter added.
"It's probably just the flu, guys," Ryan insisted through a labored breath. He continued to caress the side of his body where the pain hurt the most.
Pushing through the small crowd of people he had acquired, the little blonde huffed in detest.
"I will be the judge of that," Molly stated confidently. Bending down to the hurting CSI, she nodded for Ryan to let go and lifted the shirt slowly. "My mother was a nurse," she smiled, a grim look soon following. "Well, it's infected."
"We gotta get you to the hospital, Wolfe," Eric said.
"No!" Ryan protested, "no hospitals!"
"I don't think you have a choice, Ryan," Walter argued.
"Fine," Ryan grumbled, "but no ambulance. I'll just drive there." With a slow temperament, Ryan began to stand back up determinedly.
"Ha!"Eric snorted, his arms crossing against his chest, "not in that condition."
"I'll take him," voiced a man behind the group. Turning around, all eyes met with Jay's as he gave them a small grin.
No way… he thought.
"I know the way," Jay continued, "and, this is off the record, but I have quite a bit of a lead foot." Pausing, he waited for affirmation of the group with little success. "Besides, I'm sure the rest of you have a ton of work on your plate at the moment."
A devilish smile formed on Eric's face as he turned back to Ryan. "It's this or the ambulance."
Grumbling again, his teeth grinding rigidly against each other, Ryan nodded. "Fine." The group started to walk out, Eric and Walter holding Ryan up for support. "This is punishment, isn't it?" he whispered to Eric.
"What? I thought you liked the guy," Eric joked just as quietly. "He's good enough for Natalia, isn't he?"
Ryan remained quiet. Why does Delko have to be right?
"So, Natalia speaks fondly of you," Jay suddenly mentioned. The lab was about 10 minutes away from the hospital, so Ryan hoped the ride would be in silence. "I take it you two have been friends for awhile."
"You could say that," Ryan quietly replied. Where is this going?
"I'll admit, I offered to drive you under false pretenses," Jay admitted. "I know this isn't the best time to talk about it, but I wanted to know just how close you two really are." Jay shot a glance back at Ryan who cringed at the question. "It's okay if you don't want to answer, or can't in your condition."
"We're close, but not like that," Ryan quickly answered back. Hurry up…
"Good," he praised, "because I really like Natalia and can even imagine a future with her someday. But I don't want—,"
"You want to make sure you're not overstepping boundaries," Ryan finished.
"No," Jay contended. "I don't want to deal with jealousy."
Taken aback, Ryan stared at Jay. What? Jealousy? Yeah, sure. I'm far from jealousy.
I've seen it before," he stated bluntly. "A male-female friendship turning into something more."
"I don't see Natalia like that," Ryan lied. "Honest. I even hated her at one point."
"Okay," Jay breathed as he pulled into the emergency bay. Parking, he turned to face Ryan in the passenger seat. "Because if this is some game you're playing to make her jealous or something, I will find out. Natalia doesn't deserve that."
"It's not," Ryan stated, eyes shutting to the pain working through his body.
"Do you need help going in?" Jay offered, his demeanor completely changing into concern.
"No, I got it," Ryan assured him. "I'm pretty sure Eric called Alexx, so it won't be pretty in there," he joked. Looking up, he realized the confusion Jay portrayed. "Inside joke."
A/N: Such a stubborn fool, he is. Alexx will set him straight, lol. And where has Jesse been? Hmmm...
NOTE: ff did some weird kind of thing with all of my italicized sentences by taking all of the spaces out. I tried to fix them, so sorry if I missed any...
