( Okay, I'm finally back. That may or may not be a good thing. Who knows really. So, did you like how i added the little insight into how Ryan and Nicole met? If you didnt let me know and i'll stop writing about it...Also, story is no where near finished. I still have a lot more ideas that need to be added into it. Alot more angst for sure but this time its going to happen to Ryan. Enjoy. )

(Btw, im starting the story out as a flashback...)

Nicole sat in the dark corner of the food court. She slowly put a french fry into her mouth as she eyed the door suspiciously, she had done it, it had taken a year but she had come up with her master plan and soon they would pay.

"Nicky!"

The poiny tailed agent jumped out of her seat and spun around, gun held out in front of her. "What!"

Emily blinked twice. "I just asked why you two were sitting way over here."

Nicole stared at her for a moment and slowly sat back down. "No reason, change is good isn't that what people always say? Besides, me and Ryan are talking."

Emily stared for a moment and then turned on her heel's and headed back to her table.

Nicole and Ryan watched her depart, although not necessarily because she wanted to make sure she was gone. "Excellent, they don't suspect a thing." The duo smirked at each other.

On the other side of the room Emily leaned over and looked at Hotch and Morgan. "I think Nicole's up to something again. This time it seems that Ryan is helping her out."

Morgan didn't even look up at Nicole, he simply nodded in silent agreement.

Back at Nicole's table she watched her friends/nemeses which she liked to call friendeses, she greedily stuffed several fries into her mouth and stood up on her table in glee. "Finally Nicole shall have her revenge!" She yelled around a mouth full of half chewed food.

She looked at a group of secretaries passing her, quickly she swallowed her food and waved a fist at them. "What like you're so perfect!"

Putting one hand to her throat she moaned to Ryan. "Maybe I shouldn't have swallowed without chewing a bit more thoroughly."

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Eric looked up from his watch, eyebrows drawn together in an expression of confusion. The noise was quiet, but the timing was too bizarre—right when the bathroom door had closed. Delko's eyebrows shot up. Because whoever it was thought he had left.

Eric did nothing to indicate he was still in the room, simply finished tightening his watch and quietly walked toward the source of the noise. The stalls in this particular bathroom had an odd design—there was space between the floor and the bottom of each stall door, but the walls between each reached all the way to the floor. It was impossible to see into the empty corner of the bathroom unless you were standing directly in front of it. He walked towards it, listening to the low thump, thump, thump, and looked into the dimly-lit corner.

It was wolfe. He had shoved himself into the tiny space between the wall of the end toilet stall and the radiator, knees drawn, eyes closed, and was softly and viciously hitting his head against the wall.

"Wolfe!" shouted Eric, surprise coloring his words. "What are you doing!?"

For a brief second Ryan's eyes popped open, and there was a hiccup in the rhythmic thumping, (and that split-second of startled eyes looking into his own was the only indication Eric had that Ryan had been taken by surprise) before he'd closed them again and was back to hitting his head. Harder.

"Ryan!" Eric barked. "Ryan, stop!" and then he did something he'd wanted to do for a very long time, but for completely different reasons. He grabbed Ryan by the hair, jerked, and forced the CSI, whose eyes had flown open at the sudden pain in his scalp, to look at him. "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?"

Ryan blinked up at him, and when Eric saw that he had his attention, he let go of his hair. Ryan suddenly broke, looking up at Eric as he struggled for the right words to say...

They were silent, each trying to figure out what to say to the other. Ryan stopped thinking. It didnt matter what he said to anyone. He knew if he would have found her sooner... he went back to staring at his knees. Delko watched as Ryan's head teetered dangerously close to the wall, ready to grab his hair again (which, he had to admit, had been kind of fun) before Wolfe could resume the self-inflicted head injuring. Concussing yourself probably wasn't an accepted form of therapy. A mere three hours ago he would have said that concussing Wolfe was a great form of therapy, and probably meant it, but somehow, here and now, it wasn't funny anymore.

As they sat on the floor, the former cop in the corner, knees drawn up to his chest, and the CSI crouched in front of the space he had shoved himself into. "Wolfe, its not your fault. Nothing could have changed what happened here."

Ryan was quiet, but suddenly, in the direction of his lap, he cracked a small grin. He shot a look upwards, catching Delko's eyes. "Oh, Eric," he said. "Who knew you were a closet optimist?"

Delko leaned back in his crouch, shifting on protesting knees, and rolled his eyes. "Thank God," he said dryly. "I've brought the jokes back."

A bark of laughter escaped Ryan and he ran a shaking hand through his hair.

"Hold up," said Delko said frowning. "Put your hands out."

Ryan's eyebrows went up. "No," he flatly refused.

Eric put a foot out, resting on one knee and moving forward in one quick, smooth motion, grabbing Ryan's arms before he could protest and pulling them out in front of the startled young man. Ryan yanked his hands back to their resting place on his legs, hiding them in his lap defensively, but not before Eric saw them tremble.

"When was the last time you ate?" he demanded.

Ryan considered telling Eric he couldn't remember, but that would hardly be a point in his favor. He decided on honesty. "Breakfast."

"That had better mean today," said Eric, and knew it didn't when Ryan wouldnt look at him. "You moron."

"What does that have to do with anything? I mean…"

Eric ignored Ryan's blather, something occurring to him. He reached over and put a hand to Ryan's forehead.

"What the—" Ryan spluttered, taken off guard. He jerked his head away, dodging Eric's hand. "What was that for?"

"I was checking to see if you were delusional," he said. He wiped his hand on his pants. "You're not."

Ryan looked disgruntled. "I could've told you that."

The look Eric gave him was a classic. The "don't be an idiot" face. He got that one a lot. "Your hands are shaking, your eyes are bloodshot, there are bags under your eyes—

"Sweet justice, Ryan," he snapped, tone exasperated,"Should I check for concussions too? Or did you do something other than whack your head against a wall all night?"

Ryan contemplated for a moment. "I paced once. I think." Delko couldn't miss the way his eyes kept drooping to half-mast.

Eric rolled his eyes. "Leave, Wolfe." He stood up, knees groaning, but a couple of quick shakes loosened them. "Go home."

Ryan shifted but remained sitting.

"Come on Wolfe," said delko

Ryan grabbed the edge of the radiator with his right hand, but there was no purchase for the other and he struggled unsuccessfully for a moment. He leaned back against the wall, and in a very quiet and (did Eric's ears deceive him?) embarrassed voice, said, "I can't."

The full implication of Ryan sitting in the same position for nearly 3 hours suddenly hit him and eric moved forward. He gripped Wolfe's arm and heaved the CSI to his feet.

"Ooh," said Ryan. "Little fast."

Eric caught him before he fell, and Ryan hung on his shoulder looking dizzy. "Okay," he said, voice faint. "Just a little light-headed."

Delko worridly steadied the shorter man, pulling his arm more firmly around his shoulders.

Delko seriously considered running to H to let him in on what had just happend, but in the back of his mind he knew that would be considered tattaling on Ryan so he chose to stay quit and help his friend. Ryan was still hanging from his shoulder. He had tried to walk out of the bathroom on his own, but ended up falling back into Eric.

"Do you need a ride home, man?" Delko asked looking ahead. He already knew that Ryan would say he didn't need one. Ahem, more like didn't want one. The least he could do was ask.

Ryan stopped walking, his heart skipped a beat. Home, he thought. I can't go home. Home was with Nicole...and she was taken away from me forever. No. NO, I CAN'T GO BACK THERE. Not now. Maybe not ever. She's never coming back! It's all my fault!

Eric looked at Ryan worriedly. He noticed the change in him, even before the look on his face gave it way. Ryan's face was a mixture of emotions. Mostly rage, perhaps a little bit of confusion added to the mix. "Ryan?" He asked trying to reach his friend.

Why didn't i find her sooner? Ryan thought to himself while trying keep the tears from falling. The only thing i can do for her now is to get revenge. Yes! Thats what i have to do. The team will understand...they have to.

Ryan came out of his thoughts by delko lightly shaking him. "Ryan!"

"No thanks Delko," Ryan answered,"I just want to be a lone for a while."

"It's not a problem. I'll leave as soon as i drop you off."

"Nah, I'm fine. Really. I'm just going to go home and rest. I'll call you if i need you." Ryan lied. "I'll see you later." He didnt even respond...or hear for that matter what Delko yelled to him as he walked out the hospital doors.

Ryan was dead set on findind the man responsibal for Nicoles death. For the good for nothing who started all this drama in their lives. He was going to find Gurrara. Rather it killed him or not. He's going to make him pay for all the injustice!