And we're still going, even though I noticed the chapters are smaller than in the beginning. But we're quite close to the big show, so maybe it's my way to speed things up a bit. Nevertheless I hope you enjoy it. Special thanks again to DragonFriend95. You seriously rock!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own CSI Miami and its characters. I don't own Harry Potter or the Weasleys

Chapter 14: Almost there, don't give up now

They sat down in the break room, the whole team together: Calleigh, Eric, Natalia, Frank, Ryan, Tara, Nicole, Travers, Valera, Dave, and of course Horatio. He started, "Ladies and gentlemen… it's been a while since we sat here together. I wanted to let you know, before we make any plans, that you did good work. All of you." He looked at Travers, "Are you feeling alright, Mr Travers?"

He nodded, "Not too bad, thank you."

"Good to know. I want to say to you special thanks. It has been a hard day for you, and still you're here, and doing your work, which I can guess is pretty painful. I want you to go home now and rest. This won't be the last case to ever in Miami, and I need my men healthy and strong."

Again, Travers nodded, "I will."

"Thank you. Now, to the rest of you. As Ms Ferguson has found out, thanks to all your help, Los Habaneros are having a group meeting tonight. Now, I want you to know we're not after them today. What we want is Les Invincibles. They will try and crash the party tonight. We will be there with a SWAT team to have a bit of fun ourselves. Nevertheless, I want to let you know that it's gonna be dangerous tonight. And I want you to take care." He looked around to see if his message had sunken in. "Now, I want all of you there tonight, except for our lab techs and Dr Price, of course. The SWAT teams are gonna split up, and I want you, in teams of two, to lead them. Calleigh and me are gonna lead Team Alpha. Eric and Natalia, you're gonna lead Team Beta. Frank and Ryan are gonna lead Team Gamma. Ms Ferguson, you are gonna wait with the back up team outside. I don't want you in if we can help it. I don't know how many of the habaneros know that you have friends there, and I don't want to risk that connection." He looked around again. "That's it. I'll see you later." He got up and left; there were still plans to make.

Ryan went to his locker to have a few minutes for himself before they would go out and crash the party. He felt the exact same way he had felt when racing after Badillo after he had set the club on fire. The thrill of danger. His fingers were trembling with excitement. He knew it was dangerous, and he knew, with a bit of bad luck, they would not only lose members of the SWAT, but also one of the team. There were two gangs there tonight, and sure as hell the habaneros would not sit there and wait, but they would be armed, they probably even had their own back up somewhere outside. And then, the invincibles. They had the courage to go for a known boss of the habaneros, Fuentes. And they had the courage to shoot and later on kidnap a member of the MDPD. Plus, they were known all over the city for the way they treated their victims. Nicole had done some research, and mutilated torsos weren't all they were capable of. The survivors were worse off. Ryan didn't allow himself any illusions about Fuentes. He was sure they would find either his dead body, or nothing at all. And there was something else that bothered him. What if the invincibles got their hands on one of their team whom was still alive? They had spared Travers only because they wanted their men back, not because they had a soft spot for the lab tech. What would happen if they caught Calleigh, or Horatio, or… him? His hands started shaking. This time out of fear. It could happen. It was possible that, if something went wrong, he would be in the hands of their enemies. Again. And the invincibles were not much different from the Russians. If anything, they were even worse. And, they wouldn't need him to clean up evidence or slow down a case, so they probably wouldn't be gentle with him….

"Ryan? Are you alright?" Ryan looked up. Travers stood behind him, looking worried. "Ah, so you do hear me. Are you okay? You're as pale as death."

Ryan raised his head and looked into the mirror. Travers was right. "Yeah, I'm… I'm okay. I guess it's just the adrenaline…"

"I doubt adrenaline makes you look like a living dead…"

Ryan sighed, "Yeah… I was just thinking that something could go wrong tonight, you know? We might not get back safe after all."

Travers chuckled a bit, "Don't you think I've thought about that already? I mean, I was close to not getting back safe. And depending on how this night ends, I might lose someone dear to me."

Ryan hadn't thought of this. But Travers was right. "Don't you want to stop her?"

"Apart from the fact that I doubt anyone can stop her, why would I? It's not like I hadn't known before it's a dangerous job she has." Travers shrugged.

"True, yeah…" Ryan sighed. "But don't worry. At least we know she won't just go and smash everything. There's a SWAT team around her."

"Good to know. I'll go home now. You take care, too."

"Will do."

Ryan got out of the locker room early enough to see Calleigh and Delko saying goodbye to each other. Heartily. "You'd almost think they'll never see each other again…" he murmured.

"Yeah, but lemme tell you, they do that every morning…" a voice next to him said.

Ryan turned around, "Do you have to sneak up on me like that? Seriously, is there anything you don't hear or see?"

Nicole laughed, "I'm sorry, but Calleigh lives just around the corner. I even leave house 5 minutes later than I used to just to avoid the sight of them snogging, but you just cannot run away all the time."

"Come on, don't you like this public display of affection? It shows real love, and passion, and stuff…" Ryan grinned. "You have a heart of stone if you don't like this."

"Be it as it may, I don't want to see PDA from my workmates." She ran her fingers through her hair. "I'm feeling a bit nervous."

"Yeah, me too. I was just talking to Travers and thinking one of us might not get back really…."

"Who's talking about not coming back? I have to stay outside. Do you know how small chances are that I can kick the ass of the guy who beat Travers?"

Ryan frowned, "That's your only problem?"

"Of course."

"And the fact that somebody might die in a cross fire? Somebody of the team?"

Nicole looked at him, "Why do you think like that?"

"It's possible."

"Sure, it is. The Weasley's didn't make it either, at least not all of them. But then again, if you think like this, we can only fail."

"Yeah, but…"

"No buts." She sighed, "I know it's dangerous. And I know that maybe we will mourn somebody tomorrow, and I also know it can be me. But thinking like this will only stop you from taking the actions that need to be taken." She gave him a smile. "Come on, Mr Wolfe, I don't know you like that."

Ryan had to smile too, "I guess it's just… I was thinking that, maybe, one of our guys will fall into their hands. Alive. I guess I'm just a bit nervous it could be me. Again."

"Don't worry. Statistically, every man becomes victim of a crime only once in his life."

"I got a nail in my eye and was kidnapped and tortured by a Russian mobster. Think that proves your statistics wrong." Ryan sighed. "Well, let's just say I had a weak moment. Once I'm there, I'm going to be alright."

"Sure, you will. And if you happen to meet my friend first, make sure it hurts."

"I will." Ryan started walking towards the car where Tripp was waiting. "So, did you say good bye to Travers?"

"No, I didn't. I told him I'll see him later." She turned to face Ryan. "So, Ryan…."

He smiled, "See you tomorrow at the latest."

She smiled back, "See you tomorrow."

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