Yes, I've finally gotten time to write this and update it. Thanks for patience and my loyal readers!
Within ten minutes, two Bomb Squad teams and three patrol cars, plus Horatio, had all shown up to the scene. Frank and Melissa hurried out of the warehouse to meet them, Frank leaving his patrolmen at the entryway to guard the bomb.
Horatio walked over to Frank, and the two began discussing the bomb inside. Their faces did not look delighted.
Meanwhile, out of one of the Squad cars trooped a team of five men, all suited up in protective gear. Their leader began to issue orders, but when he turned and saw Melissa standing a few feet behind him, his face broke out in a grin.
"Melissa Hawkins," he exclaimed, striding towards her. Melissa too, smiled warmly.
"Alex Mathews, it's great to see you again." They shook hands.
Mathews, a middle-aged man with slightly greying brown hair, took a quick survey of the scene. "I expected as much to see you on a scene like this," he said. "I hear its right down your alley."
Melissa nodded. "One of the ones that trigger light. Good for a dark warehouse."
"I'm sure we can handle this one. After all, we've got you," Mathews stated, grinning.
Melissa looked sheepishly at the ground for a moment. "I had great training."
"I had a great trainee."
At that moment, Frank walked over. "We've got the area secure. We're ready for you guys to head on in."
Mathews nodded. "Great. We'll just get Melissa geared up here, and we'll be ready to go."
Ryan, standing off to the side, heard this and hurried over. "Wait a minute," he told Frank. "They're letting her defuse the bomb?" His face showed his incredulous disbelief.
Mathews heard and turned around from where he was suiting up Melissa. Her once big smile was now a stony stare. "She knows the ins and outs of these like the back of her hand. Besides, I trust her alone to do it. I should know." He turned back to helping Melissa. "I trained her myself for two years." Her finished up, checked her gear, and then ushered her along. Over his shoulder he called back to his crew: "Greg! I need three pairs of night-vision goggles!" And they entered the scene.
Melissa, Mathews, Horatio and the bomb squad crew disappeared inside, leaving only the patrolmen, Frank, and Ryan standing around anxiously. Ryan immediately paced around a few feet in the dirt, biting his lip. He turned to Frank. "Do you think she can do it?" he asked. But it was not a question of her ability. He sounded concerned for her safety.
Frank shrugged. "From what I hear she's extremely qualified." Ryan looked up at the sky in frustration. "And the bomb squad and Horatio are in there too, if that makes you feel better." It didn't.
For the hundredth time in the last two hours, Frank ran his hand over his shiny, balding head. He was sweating in this stupid heat, and they'd been standing there for almost two hours now. He glanced over at Ryan, who was about to wear a hole right through to the other side of the world soon. Poor kid, he thought. He couldn't sit still, and the added movement made it hotter. Ryan was casting as many glances as Frank was over at the warehouse. They were both worrying. What was taking so long? He knew that these things took time, but it bugged him that he couldn't inquire about the status, not without interrupting them, and he knew he couldn't do that.
Five minutes went by. Then ten. When two hours and fifteen minutes total went by, there was finally a sign of life. The officer standing next to Ryan suddenly reached for his walkie-talkie sitting on his shoulder. "All clear," it squawked.
There was an audible exhale of relief from the group standing outside. Frank ran his hand over his head, but this time it was for relief. Ryan passed his hand over his eyes, and everything there read complete exhaustion, and tension.
And then the group filed out of the warehouse. In front lead the bomb squad, looking indifferent and in one piece, and they were followed by Horatio and Melissa. Both looked extremely exhausted, and Melissa's clothing stuck to her sweaty skin, and her hair was flying out of its once tight braid. Her night vision goggles sat atop her head. She looked pleased with herself, but extremely tired. Behind them came an officer holding a large box, presumably containing the bomb.
Horatio led Melissa over to the bomb squad car, one hand on her shoulder, as she looked like she was about to collapse on her feet. There, Mathews unsuited her and gave her one final hug. He said congratulations, before packing up and driving away. Frank was already over there, shaking Melissa's hand, and discussing with Horatio about the bomb processing. Ryan stood where he was, ten feet away. He wasn't quite comfortable about going over to the group. His mind was in turmoil and there was only one way to put it at ease.
Horatio turned and told Melissa that she could have the rest of the day off, if she'd like. She nodded, and started towards her Hummer. Ryan knew this was his one chance. He sped up to catch up with her.
"Melissa! Melissa," he called. He wondered how he would get her attention without scaring her, but was relieved when her dog stopped her. She turned around, surprise mingled with confusion, and perhaps contempt mingled on her face.
Frank noticed this and tensed. He wondered whether there would be an outbreak of fighting again. "Think we should break it up?" he asked Horatio quietly, as the two CSIs now stood beside Melissa's Hummer, talking. It didn't look bad. Yet.
"No," Horatio responded, looking thoughtfully at them. "No, I don't think this needs breaking up." But they decided to keep a good eye on them all the same.
Meanwhile, at the Hummer, Ryan caught up beside Melissa. "What do you want, Wolfe?" she asked, catching some flyaway strands of her hair, and tucking it behind her ears. She tried to make it sound cold, but all she could manage was a tired tone. She was literally exhausted, and didn't want to hear anything from him about her work.
"I…I wanted to say…congratulations," Ryan finally made out, trying to look every way but at her. "And…that I'm sorry. A-about everything."
Melissa felt the wind being knocked out of her. She blinked a few times, not quite sure she had read his words right. An apology?
"Look," Ryan said, finally looking at her, as painful as it was. "I know I've given you a hard time, and it wasn't fair of me. I've finally realized that." He took a deep breath.
"You just realized that?" Melissa asked incredulously. She'd finally found the words amid her scrambled mind. "Was that before or after you said I couldn't defuse the bomb?"
Ryan looked like he was about to pass out. This next piece he was about to tell her had hassled him all week, and he'd only just figured it out. These things, these personal things, were always so deniable, and you really had to look deeper to figure it out properly. He'd put it off for a while before finally figuring it out today. And that's when he'd finally understood.
"You see, I was actually really worried about you."
She narrowed her eyes. "You didn't think I could do it."
He shook his head, and fixed his eyes on a point over her shoulder. "No, it's just, I was worried. For you," he emphasized again. Melissa frowned, unable to understand.
"You have a weird way of showing it," she replied.
"Melissa," he said again, looking her straight in the eyes. She was suddenly lost in his hazel gaze. He'd finally found the strength to say this hardest bit. "I like you," he said softly.
He left her speechless for a moment. His whole face looked sincere, and she could usually tell a lie from someone's expression. "W-what?" she managed to sputter. She wasn't sure if he actually heard it though.
He stepped closer to her once more. She didn't move backwards. "Yes, I've been a jackass. I don't know why I said those things. I've been unable to sleep at night, ever since I hit you. But today, when I heard you were going in there, I was suddenly worried. What if you didn't come out? It was then that I realized that I liked you. And how could I ever tell you, or get another chance to say that I was sorry if you never came out again? You may still hate me, but I'm going to try."
Melissa just stared into his eyes. She couldn't believe it. She couldn't believe a word of it. What in the world was going on? Had the world gone crazy overnight? Wasn't he the mortal enemy, who hated her and everything she did? Yes, her head replied. But why didn't her heart agree? And why, was the stupid, treacherous thing beating frantically, filled so full with joy that she thought it might burst?
"Can we start over?" she saw him say, and he stuck out a hand. "Ryan Wolfe, CSI."
She tried to suppress a smile, and failed miserably. "Melissa Hawkins, new CSI." Her vocal chords felt strained, and she wondered if her voice wavered. How pathetic, she thought.
But he only grinned. "Miss Hawkins, has anyone ever told you that you're the most beautiful woman in the world?" he asked softly.
She felt her legs turn to jelly, and knew her face was probably as red as a tomato now. He never let go of her hand. She was glad. It was a small reassurance that she wouldn't fall if her legs gave out.
"What about," he asked, "if I started to make it up to you by taking you out to dinner Friday night."
Melissa smiled widely at him. "I'd really like that."
"Seven o'clock? I'll pick you up."
"Great." With a last smile, Ryan turned and headed off to his Hummer, smiling like an idiot. He'd done it! When he sat in the driver's seat, he nearly fainted. God, that had taken so much of his energy.
Melissa watched him go, a smile still lingering on her lips. She then got into her car; unsure whether she was fit to drive herself home. She felt that at any moment, she might just leap into the air with happiness and joy.
Frank and Horatio stared at the departing vehicles, speechless. Five minutes after they were gone, Frank managed to move this heavy tongue. "What the hell happened here?" he cried. Horatio too, was stunned. One minute, they were trying to crush each other, the next, it looked as if they actually smiling at each other. Smiling! In the other's presence!
The two just shook their heads, and headed back to the lab. Oh, life's mysteries!
:D Reviews please! Tell me what you think!!! :D