Ok, remember when Eric looked at that picture Calleigh showed him? That guy gave up info on Benningzer, I completely forgot to throw that in, cuz I already know where the story's going, and I keep forgetting you guys aren't me, so sorry. I do that a lot when I write. Anyways. Wow, this story's really getting along better than I thought it would. I'm not in a courtroom, so that means I'm doing good...right? I don't own CSI Miami or its characters. Do I really need to say it again? Yes, and you'll be hearing it in every chapter! Bwa ha ha ha!

Chapter 10

Ryan was awake again. He was in a cool room, a nice cool, not a biting cool. There was no pain, and that scared him. Was he dead? No. He heard beeping. He was in a hospital. The disinfectant smell should have given it away, but he was still out of it.

What in the hell was wrong with his hand? His writing hand. He couldn't write. He couldn't shoot a gun. And his shoulder. A dislocated shoulder, on the same god damned arm. He looked at it for a while. He figured it was a good thing. Benningzer had practically mangled his entire right arm. Dislocated shoulder, swollen wrist, and hand, he couldn't make his hand do what he wanted it to. He had the stab wound between his bicep and tricep. He prayed he would be able to use it again, but praying hadn't helped much in the past.

His eyes traveled the walls of the room, finally stopping when a face blocked his view. Natalia. She was sleeping in a recliner by the window in the corner, curled up on her side. She looked peaceful. Then he heard a whisper. He jerked himself up into a sitting position, startled. The fact that he could even move startled him.

"You're awake, I see," Calleigh stated, pulling up a chair. She glanced at his arm, which was in a sling, but tried not to think about it. His face was badly bruised, and it made her skin hurt.

"What's going on? Why am I here? I mean...how did I get here?" Ryan asked hoarsely.

Calleigh saw fear in his eyes, and it scared her. His voice was weak, his face pale and sweaty, despite the coolness of the room, and his eyes were dark, above sunken cheeks. In every sense of the word, he looked dead.

Ryan lain back down slowly, putting a hand over his eyes.

"Are you in pain?" she asked softly.

"No," he said, his voice still hoarse. He was surprised he didn't have a tube down his throat, but was thankful for its absence.

"Do you remember what happened?" Calleigh asked him hesitantly.

He let his hand fall to his side, and he stared at the ceiling. "Unfortunately." He turned to her and spoke again. "God, Calleigh, it's so good to see you again. And Natalia. I missed you guys; you have no idea how much. I didn't know if I would see you guys again."

"You're gonna be all right, Ryan. We're gonna help you through this," she said.

"How long has it been? Since you found me?" Ryan asked her.

"Three days," Calleigh said.

"How long...was I there?" Ryan asked.

She didn't talk for a long time. She looked at her hands, at the window, at Natalia. But she didn't look at him. Finally, she spoke. "Ten days, Ryan."

Ryan nodded, closing his eyes. Calleigh thought he was asleep, after a few moments, but then he was looking at her. "Thank you," he said. "Thank you for finding me."

Calleigh forced a smile, holding her emotions in the back of her mind, and she said, "I'm glad you're with us, again, Ryan."

His eyes were glassy, and he finally closed them, and kept them closed.

Horatio was waiting outside the room when Calleigh walked out.

"Calleigh, how is he doing?" Horatio asked.

"I'm surprised he was even coherent. The doctors said it was unlikely he was given food or water in the extent of his captivity-" she cut herself off. Captivity. They'd treated him like an animal, tortured him. She forced herself to continue. "He wasn't delirious, like I thought he would've been. He's tired."

"I'm sure he is," Horatio said with a smile. "And how are you doing?"

"I'm fine, Horatio. Thank you," Calleigh said. "I...I need some rest. I'll come by tomorrow night."

"I'll see you here," he told her, and she smiled and left. Horatio stared at the door for a moment before entering the room. Natalia was still asleep. She'd been by his side since they'd found him. Horatio took Calleigh's previous seat and looked at Ryan, who was now unconscious. "Ten days, Mr. Wolfe. I am sorry."

Ryan had been taken out of the ICU the previous day, after having been there for about a week, and now resided in recovery, which was equally distasteful. Everything was so bland, but bland was fine, it was normal. Normal. He needed normal. He needed to sleep. He needed to stop thinking, or sleep wasn't going to happen.

Ryan sighed and wished he could get up, walk around, do something. But that wouldn't do any good, not in his condition, he couldn't walk at all. Then who in the hell sent him to recovery?

Well, I hope you all liked that. I just had a diet Pepsi, and I've typed up two chapters today, and I'm on a roll. Really, it's pretty squishy, too. Ok, then...bie! 8o