Don't call me that

Kyle walked to the door when he heard the doorbell ring. He opened it to find Ryan standing on the other side.

"Hey Ryan," Kyle said, stepping aside to let him in.

"Hey Kyle, you're still here?" Ryan said as he walked into the house.

"Yeah I have to go back Wednesday. They army gave me an extra five days off after the trial concluded. Dad's going back to work tomorrow and I get to stay home with Jessica for the next three days."

"How's she been?" Ryan asked as they walked down the hall to the living room.

"Well she seems less stressed out, but she's still having the night terrors." They entered the living room and found Horatio and Jessica asleep on the couch. Horatio was lying on his back with Jessica cuddled up on top of him. Kyle had thrown a blanket over them as they snoozed. The menu for a DVD was playing on the TV screen. Kyle picked up the remote and turned off the TV.

"I don't even know if they slept last night. She woke up around three in the morning crying." Kyle shuddered, "I could hear Jessica's screams from my room. She hasn't been able to sleep without Dad." Kyle turned to Ryan. "I'm worried about her. Jessie looks so sick and weak. Her final presentation is coming up for her internship. If she fails this then she has to start all over again at a new location with another internship. I don't want that to happen, she's been through enough already."

Ryan watched Jessica and Horatio sleep. Jessica twitched and whimpered. Horatio's hold on her tightened and he mumbled something to her. Kyle couldn't help but chuckle lightly.

"It's gotten to the point where Dad doesn't even wake up sometimes. Only when Jessica starts screaming and hitting him does he actually regain consciousness." Kyle explained. "Sometimes the dreams are really terrible. Dad told me one night he woke up to Jessica beating the shit out of him in her sleep. He said she got him where it hurts a few times."
Ryan raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You mean-"

"Right in the baby maker," Kyle finished. He kicked himself for his choice of words, knowing the wounds were still fresh for Ryan over the loss of his child.

Horatio stirred in his sleep. He slowly opened his eyes and scanned the room. He looked at Ryan and a small smile graced his face.

"Mr. Wolfe," he said, "I didn't expect to see you here."

Ryan smiled and stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jeans. "Well it was kind of a spur of the moment decision. I just had to see Jessie again."

Horatio lifted his hand and subconsciously began stroking his daughter's hair. "Well I'm sure she misses you still." He paused briefly before continuing. "She was crying your name in her sleep last night."

Ryan was surprised by this news. "Was it a nightmare?"

Horatio shook his head. "No, I don't think so. She just kept saying your name again and again. I think she needs you."

Ryan smiled a little. "Well I think I need her just as much."

"It's difficult living without a part of you, isn't it?" Horatio asked.

Ryan nodded his head. "Yeah, living without her for the last couple of weeks has been hard."

Jessica groaned and swiveled her head around. She yawned quietly and laid her head on Horatio's chest again. "What the hell were you dreaming about old man?" she asked.

Horatio chuckled and kissed the top of her head. "Excuse me but I just woke up."

"Again, what were you dreaming about old man? God, freaking morning wood at what? Two o'clock in the afternoon?"

"Actually it's three," Ryan replied.

Jessica slowly opened her eyes and sat up. She looked at Ryan with sleep filled eyes and messy hair. "Hey," she said to him, "When did you get here?"

"Only a few minutes ago." Ryan said, "I needed to see you."

Jessica smiled and looked at him. She reached across Horatio and picked up her glasses from the table. She whimpered in pain when she stretched and grabbed her ribs.

"Does it hurt Bug?" Horatio asked her, sitting up.

"Just a little."

"Ryan can you go retrieve the Advil from the guest bedroom while I go get some water?"

Ryan was a little surprised Horatio asked him but he agreed anyways. "Yeah sure, I'll be right back. Which room is it?" he asked walking towards the stairs.

"Second door on the left. If you get to the room with the toilet you went too far. Which reminds me, Kyle go clean the bathroom walls."
"Why?" Kyle asked.

"Some hooligan pissed all over them the other night." Horatio said as he stood up.

Ryan chuckled and headed up the stairs. He found the guest bedroom and grabbed the Advil off the nightstand. He passed Kyle in the hall grumbling about having to always clean up his father's messes. Horatio met Ryan at the bottom of the stairs with a glass of water.

"Now there's something I never thought I would see." Ryan said, taking in his boss's clothing choice. "Lieutenant Horatio Caine in sweatpants and a t-shirt. I didn't think you even owned sweatpants H."

Horatio smiled. "Well there are a lot of things you don't know about me, Mr. Wolfe."

"Yeah like you piss on the walls and make your children clean it up."
Horatio laughed at Ryan's joke. "Well that was because Jessica was having a rather terrible nightmare and I had to get back to her as quick as I could." He held out the glass of water. Ryan looked at it tentatively but took it. "Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to eat something since I slept through lunch. Tell Jessica I'll have something for her in a few minutes."

Ryan nodded his head and walked back to the living room.

Jessica looked nervous when he walked in alone, but didn't try to hide from him. Ryan held out the water and Advil for her and she took the bottle with one shaky hand. She skillfully uncapped the child proof lid and set the bottle in front of her. She scooped out three and popped them into her mouth. She held out her hand and Ryan gave her the glass of water. Without thinking he reached down and took the bottle and lid and closed it, setting the bottle on the coffee table. Jessica didn't even flinch when his hand grazed her leg.

Ryan sat on the coffee table and looked at her. Jessica didn't speak for a moment but instead held out the glass for Ryan to take. He set it on the coffee table next to him and continued to look at her.

"Mr. Wolfe," Horatio's voice sounded from the kitchen, "Get off my coffee table!"

Ryan jumped at the command and stood there confused. "How did he know?"

Jessica chuckled briefly and smiled. "Daddy's seems to have bad guy senses. He knows when someone is doing something wrong."

"Are you saying I'm a bad guy?" Ryan smirked.

Jessica seemed shocked at his response. "No! No, Ryan you're not a bad guy! I'm sorry I didn't mean to say you were bad!"

Ryan chuckled. "It's ok Jessie, I know you didn't mean it. So, where am I supposed to sit?"

"How about on the couch?" Horatio yelled again.

Jessica rolled her eyes and glanced over the couch. She turned back to Ryan and smiled. "I swear he has this room bugged."
"No I don't!" Horatio quickly protested.

Ryan and Jessica laughed together.

Ryan looked at her tentatively. "So is it ok if I sit on the couch?"

"Well…" Jessica nervously responded.

"I'm the dad and I say yes!" Horatio yelled, "Just sit on the damn couch!"

"Daddy!" Jessica sassed over the back of the couch. Jessica turned back to Ryan and rolled her eyes. "I'm sorry, he's impossible sometimes."
"I heard that!"

"Good you crazy old man!"

"Hey!"

Jessica looked at Ryan and pushed one of the throw pillows to the side. Ryan slowly sat down next to Jessica. They sat there for a few minutes in silence, not really sure what to do.

"Touch her!" Horatio yelled. Ryan felt his ears burn at the command but didn't move.

"Dad can you have just one conversation with Ryan that doesn't make him turn red?" Jessica yelled to her father.

"He's only red? I was hoping for purple!"

"Geez," Jessica said, rolling her eyes again.

Ryan looked at Jessica's hand. It was sitting on her leg, palm down. Ryan carefully slid his hand under it and intertwined their fingers. Jessica jumped a little at the sudden contact but didn't run. She closed her fingers around Ryan's hand and held it. She leaned her head against his shoulder and smiled.

They sat there for awhile without speaking. Ryan could feel the heat radiating from her body and breathed deeply. She smelled like honeysuckle and oranges, different than the last time. Jessica smiled and nuzzled her head against Ryan's shoulder.

"This is nice." she said, "Just sitting here with you. I've missed this."

Ryan smiled and leaned his head on top of hers. "Yeah, I've missed you, too."

"When are you going back to work?" Jessica asked him.

"Tomorrow," Ryan answered, "I had this week off because of the trial."

"Oh, ok," Jessica responded. She thought silently to herself for a moment. "Where have you been living? You know, since I was in the hospital."
"I've been staying at my apartment." Ryan chuckled lightly. "My neighbors apparently thought I had moved out because they hadn't seen me in so long. They didn't ask me where I had been though. I think they've been watching the news for once."

Horatio walked in and set a plate of chips and queso dip on Jessica's lap. "Eat up, kids," he said. He looked at Ryan and gave him a quick smile and winked at him.

Jessica just looked at the plate without moving. "Are you not hungry?" Ryan asked her.

"I am," Jessica responded quietly, "But I don't want to let go of your hand."

Ryan smiled and reached for the plate with his free hand. He pulled it closer to him and picked up a chip. He dunked it in the cheese and held it up to Jessica's mouth. She graciously accepted the chip with a smile. She crunched on it loudly as she continued to smile at him. "Problem solved," Ryan whispered in her ear. He leaned in and gently kissed her neck. Jessica didn't jump when his lips grazed her neck. Her skin tingled where he had kissed her.

Ryan continued to feed Jessica and ate some of the chips himself. He set the empty plate on the coffee table. He released her hand and wrapped his left arm around her waist and slipped his right hand into her good hand. Jessica melted into his touch and nuzzled her head against his chest.

"I love you Jessica." Ryan said, "I always will. Nothing can ever change that." He kissed her neck again and rested his head on her shoulder. "Watching you in the coma in the hospital was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I would sit there for hours, talking to you, hoping you would come back to me."
"You're the reason I woke up." Jessica said, "I smelled James on your clothes and I knew you were in trouble. Alexx said I was yelling her name and then I just woke up. Thank you Ryan for always being there for me. I…I….I really appreciate everything you've done for me. This has been the best eight months of my life and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world."

Ryan smiled against Jessica's neck. "I should probably go now. Rachael asked me to come over for dinner. She says Taylor and Selena miss their uncle."

"Alright" Jessica responded, "Have fun. Tell Rachael and Rodger and the kids I said hi."

"Of course, the kids always enjoy hearing from their Aunt Jessica."

Jessica sighed and blinked back tears. "Don't call me that. We're not married Ryan." Jessica pulled from his arms and stood from the couch. She walked up the stairs and into her room, slamming the door behind her.

Horatio suddenly appeared in the doorway with a concerned look on his face. "What happened?"

Ryan stood up from the couch, looking glum. "I don't know."
"What did you say to her?"

"I told her Rachael's kids miss Aunt Jessica. She got pissed at me and said not to call her that because we're not married." Ryan shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't understand why it made her mad this time. Rachael's kids have been calling her that for the last four months. At Christmas Selena asked her if she and Taylor could call her Aunt Jessica. She smiled and hugged them and said she would love it if they would."
Horatio placed his hand on Ryan's shoulder. "Don't worry about it Ryan. She's been through a lot lately. Give her some time; she'll be back to the same old Jessica before you know it."

"I hope you're right." Ryan said.

"Of course I'm right, I'm the dad." Horatio smiled at him. Ryan couldn't help but let a smile grace his face. "Thanks H."