Jury selection took three days. The jury pool started with 150 potential candidates, since this was a high profile trial. Rebecca rebutted almost every potential juror that Derek selected. Derek closely questioned jurors and rebutted only three of Rebecca's choices. They finally finished Friday afternoon, giving the attorneys the weekend to prepare. The judge issued a gag order, and closed the trial to the press and anyone who wasn't directly involved. It was Friday, and both Horatio and Ryan felt that this would be the longest weekend of their life.

"So are you going to tell H or not?" Eric asked Ryan, who was pacing back and forth in Eric's apartment.

"No, and don't you say anything either," Ryan warned.

"Ryan, he's gonna find out. C'mon we're dealing with H here."

"Look Eric, just please…I need to figure out how I'm going to deal with this. " Ryan had been receiving anonymous harassment at work, mainly in the form of vandalism of his property. His locker had been spray painted several times with 'faggot' and 'Lenny's Bitch' on it. There were also crude drawings on it. All his clothes had been slashed and bleach poured on them, and his car's windows had been busted out and his tires slashed. He received at least a dozen text messages per day, promising retribution if Horatio was convicted because of him. Clearly, the department felt like they may lose their best man and that it was Ryan's fault. Horatio was never mentioned in unsigned notes, texts, and vandalism. Rick had called him in and closely questioned him to see if he knew who was responsible, but Ryan didn't and frankly he didn't want to know.

Rick walked up to Horatio in the lobby after jury selection was finished.

"Rick," Horatio greeted guardedly. He still wasn't sure of Rick's motives.

"I need a moment alone if you don't mind," Rick said, looking at Derek.

"I cannot advise that," Derek said. "Especially with you being from the department of Internal Affairs."

"Look Derek, it's not what you think; but it is very important."

"Fine," Horatio said. "Just a moment Derek."

He and Rick walked off a ways. "What is it Rick? What's so important?"

"Have you talked to Wolfe or Eric, or anyone on the team?"

Horatio glared at Rick. "You know I'm forbidden contact with them. Why would you-"

Rick waved his hands. "Never mind. Ryan's taking a lot of heat behind this whole trial thing."

Horatio narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"There's been some incidents."

"What kind of incidents Rick?" Horatio growled, losing his patience.

"Well apparently a lot of people hold Wolfe responsible for what is happening to you-"

"It's not his fault!" Horatio snapped.

"I know that. But that doesn't stop others from blaming him, Horatio. They've been vandalizing his locker, his car, and other stuff; writing pretty harsh stuff by the way. I think he's getting text messages too; and he may have been threatened."

Horatio turned away from Rick to calm himself down, and suppress his rage. He had talked to Ryan on the disposable phone twice this week since he turned himself in and Ryan didn't mention it? Why?

"Did you talk to Ryan about this?" Horatio asked.

"I did. And if he knows who it is, he isn't talking. But as soon as I find out, they're gone."

"I have your word on that?" Horatio faced his sometimes nemesis.

"You have my word. "

"Good. One more thing."

Rick turned. "What is it?"

"Why are you helping me?"

Rick sighed. "Horatio, you're every IAB agent's worst nightmare. A very good cop and invaluable asset to the department who somehow feels like the rules don't apply to him, or that the ends justify the means. When I come after you, it's not personal. You are a menace, and no one else in the bureau will deal with you. I took the promotion and new position with the S.W.A.T. team with the understanding that I would still have to investigate high profile cases when called upon, i.e. a certain red headed lieutenant and his team who frequently disregard departmental policy."

Horatio raised his eyebrows and took everything that Rick said in. "I see."

"Anyway," Rick said, changing the subject. "See if you can get Wolfe to cooperate."

Horatio didn't bother to remind him that he wasn't allowed to see Ryan.

Ryan could tell Horatio was upset with him as soon as he entered the apartment that Derek had arranged for Horatio during the trial.

"H-"

"Why did you tell me Ryan?" Horatio asked, cutting straight to the chase.

"Because I didn't want to upset you."

"Mission not accomplished," Horatio countered as he whirled around to face Ryan.

"Look H, you already have enough to deal with. I mean, with the trial and everything. I just didn't want to add more-"

"Ryan, you had to know I would find out. And I wish that would have been from you."

"H, you really don't get it do you?" Ryan asked. Horatio could hear the anguish in his voice.

Horatio took Ryan by the hand and led him to the couch. "No I don't," he answered softly. "So tell me."

Ryan took out his cell phone and pulled up the harassing texts that he had been getting. Horatio forced himself to remain calm as he read all the offending messages, most of them lewd and graphic, and many of them threatening Ryan if he was convicted.

"Ryan, I'm sorry this is happening to you. This is my fault-"

"And how the hell do you figure that H?" Ryan demanded. He was breathing rapidly and his face was flushed.

"Ryan, please calm down. If I had dealt with Lenny some other way-"

"H, there was no other way. I just wish it had been me instead of you who had to put him down."

"Ryan, it-"

"Look H, I don't want to fight about this ok? We have a big trial coming up after this weekend. I don't want you to be stressed or me for that matter. I'm sorry, I guess I should have told you, but I guess my pride got into the way. I didn't want to be seen running to my boyfriend because someone picked on me."

"That's perfectly understandable. But I want to you cooperate fully with Rick. He is going to get to the bottom of this."

"So that's who told you. What's his deal anyway? Why is he helping us so much?"

"He said he had his reasons," Horatio answered.

"Well that man will forever be an enigma to me. But I'll cooperate with him, to please you. "

"Good; because whoever is responsible will be seeking employment elsewhere, it is already decided between us."

Ryan sighed. More people taking the fall for his inaction. Not that he sympathized with whoever was responsible but still.

"Alright H, I'll cooperate with Rick. I don't want to fight about this anymore. I really need you to hold me right now."

"I need you to hold me too, Ryan."

Next chapter, the trial begins! Thanks all you guys, especially luvbillyjoel, who waited patiently for an update and let me know my story was worth reading!