Second Servings, Second Chances

Chapter Ten: In A Dark Place

(Wow oh wows 10 chapters! I never thought this story would go so far! Thank you all guys n gals, it's your support doing it! Round of applause for you all! Only two more chapters to go!)

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

He could barely breathe through the fallen hope; he was drowning.

Ryan Wolfe could barely look up as he approached his Lieutenant, the taped off AV lab attraction his attention. He felt like a child who did wrong, being caught by his disappointed father and about to be punished.

The deep frown and cringe in Horatio's eyes added to his misery; the disappointment was accompanied by lost hope and flashes of anger.

"Mr. Wolfe."

Ryan fought the urge to repel from Horatio's deep tone, the embarrassment flushing in his cheeks. At the time, he thought there was justice behind his actions; he was in the right.

But now, under the intense gaze of the red-haired Lieutenant, Ryan felt as guilty as the scumbags in lock up.

"H, I don't know what happened. I left the evidence alone for two minutes-"

"Mr. Wolfe, it shouldn't have been alone at all."

Ryan took a deep breath, "I know H, I know." Horatio heard the apology behind his young CSI's voice but still felt the matter was too important, and too deadly to let go so easily.

"That was crucial evidence in there Ryan."

The rare use of his first name added to the punishment for Ryan, Horatio's gaze softening from steel blue wrath to seas of soft annoyance.

"H...I'm sorry."

It was the only thing Ryan could offer, but Horatio needed to speak his mind.

"I'm disappointed in you, Ryan."

The harsh use of his first name stung like a whip lash, Ryan gritted his teeth against the pain forming in his chest.

"I'm sorry H."

The Lieutenant said noting more, but walked away without looking at his youngest CSI. Ryan stood for a moment, recovering from the crushing disappointment. His felt five feet smaller, like he was sinking right through the floor.

The sinking feeling grew rapidly, Ryan was drowning in quicksand.

And this time, no one was coming to save him from the darkness.

"Ow!"

"Sorry!"

Aaron smiled slightly, towel fibres slipping past his lips and tipping his red-coated teeth. Natalia quickly moved her hand back, glancing at the bloody towel in her hands with a grimace.

Aaron chuckled lowly, causing Natalia to raise a confused eyebrow.

"Sorry, it's just...I didn't realise you could ruffle a Wolfe's feathers."

Natalia remained quiet, her eyes still locked on the blood-dropped towel in her hands. Her mind replaying the fight-scene like a bad movie; constent and getting worse each time.

Ryan, why'd you do it?

Aaron seemed to read her mind and sighed lowly.

"He hit me over you, you know."

Natalia instantly looked up into Aaron's eyes and noticed he didn't seem upset over the subject. Her throat was dry; she wouldn't know what to say even if she could speak.

Aaron read her mind again.

"He seems to be jealous of us hanging out. I guess you two don't that often."

Natalia's first thought was to correct Aaron, to tell him how wrong that statement was...but then she heard a voice that had been hovering for quite some time.

He was becoming more distant...they were more distant.

Whether it was her mind or eyes, Aaron noticed how quiet Natalia had become and instantly knew the reason why.

So she does like Wolfe...crap!

He decided to change topic, but stick to his plan.

"No offence, but by Lord you Americans are violent, even your supermarkets sell weapons and guns on sale!"

Natalia didn't know whether Aaron was joking or serious, but another question bubbled on her lips.

"Supermarket? Do you mean the mall?"

Aaron sighed again, "Yes I do! Oh Natalia, you understand me so well."

Natalia felt goose bumps shoot up her arms, though found it impossible to distinguish whether it was from excitement or alarm. Her eyes darted back to the towel in her hands. Focusing, yet seeing nothing in the droplets and pools of crimson.

"Hey Nat, can I ask you something?"

She raised her head and first noticed the cut splitting Aaron's lower lip in two, striking crimson against pale pink. She was glad to see no more blood oozing out, the towel in her hand was useless, she was about to get up and toss it out when she felt her eyes playing tricks on her.

Her eyes seemed to be zooming in like a microscope on the cut, the large plump area of red was breaking up, more details becoming visible.

Natalia almost gasped audibly when she noticed it was Aaron's lips that were moving closer to her.

Calleigh Duquesne stood alone outside the lab, her eyes locked on the officers removing the crime tape around parking spot 274, the black ash being washed off with a water hose and the white paint making the spot parkable in again.

They're giving up already?

Though the cell phone chip, their only lead to Dan's killer was gone, Calleigh didn't think the case deserved to be shelved, forgotten in a pile of un-solved cases.

Left alone in the darkness of Miami Dade...Calleigh felt as though she would be leaving Cooper behind in the dark too.

She glanced to her left and noticed her Lieutenant had appeared; fiddling with his glasses in his hands as he also looked on at the work with revulsion.

"Stetler stopped by, said there was a lack of evidence to work on. The city needs us to work on current cases till there's a break."

Horatio dipped his head, noting what Calleigh had said with slight disappointment, he had hoped the city would be on his side...but he was wrong.

"Does he know about the mishap in AV?"

Calleigh shook her head, "No, I left that out."

Horatio almost smiled, knowing to never doubt his second-in-command. "Good, keep it that way please."

Both Lieutenant and CSI knew Stetler and IAB would jump on a chance to blame the lab for something. He had to protect his people, especially Ryan.

Another strike and he's out of here...for good.

And the Lieutenant knew the next time; he wouldn't be able to rescue the young CSI.

Horatio pulled out of his thoughts to notice Calleigh slightly grimacing at the scene, her eyes un-focused, also thinking.

"You shouldn't have been so hard on him Horatio. He made a mistake, a big one yes, but he didn't mean it."

The Lieutenant looked down at his glasses, letting them fall between his fingers before catching them lightly and repeating the circuit.

"Maybe, but next time he'll know."

Calleigh nodded, showing how she understood Horatio's "questionable" ways.

"The case is still open Horatio...I'll take forever to close, no leads, no witnesses, no suspects..."

Calleigh kept the last one to herself, though Horatio silently heard it.

No hope

His response was to twirl his glasses once, taking a breath to think. He then placed them over his eyes, gazing out at the seemingly innocent parking space that once held flames from hell.

"Forever is a long time Calleigh..."

The Southern CSI turned to look at her wise Lieutenant, waiting for him to continue.

"And criminals...can't hide for forever."

Boom! I must tell you, I was planning on ending it here, but TWO MORE CHAPTERS have popped into my mind.

You guys are lucky, cause I wouldn't be starting the next instalment for another while, gotta catch up on my studies ;)

So...question time!

The case has run cold, but nothing can stay cold in Miami...(this was originally H's line but the Forever thing seemed to fit better ;)

Will the team ever find Dan's killer?

Will Ryan ever recover from his bad luck streak?

And what will happen in the locker room?

Stay tuned to find out guys n gals!

-Mel out ;D