A/N: Well, here you guys have it! The ending of this fic. No worries, more are on their way! Thank you to my wonderful readers and to those who reviewed for every single chapter. Can we say "rockstars"? Also, thank you bringing the reviews up to 70! New record, lovelies!
2 days later:
The front door swung open slowly, Ryan shuffling his barely conscious body towards the living room couch. In one swift move, he threw his bag to the ground and laid flat on the couch, desperate not to move an inch.
Ryan's stare at the ceiling was brief as his eyelids gradually shut, his mind blissfully drifting into a deep sleep.
Then his house phone rang...
Groaning, Ryan blindingly searched for the phone on his coffee table with his right hand, patting this way and that before grasping onto the elongated object.
This better not be work calling me in...
"Hello," he quietly grumbled into the wireless phone, his eyes still shut.
"Hi, Ryan!" peeped a southern drawl.
"Calleigh, why are you calling me at midnight?" He quickly opened his eyes to peer at the phone display, agape at the 9 missed calls he had. This shouldn't have been such a surprise after not being home for 2 days; however, only his co-workers and his family, who he was with the entire time, knew his house number.
"Please don't tell me those missed calls are all from you?" he questioned, closing his eyes again.
"Well, your plane landed at 7pm, so you should have been home by 9pm. When you didn't answer, we got a little worried."
"We? You know what? Don't answer that." Ryan sighed exhaustively. "My plane was delayed, okay?"
"Oh! Sorry about that." Quiet mumbling was heard in the background of Calleigh's side.
"Calleigh?"
"Yeah?"
He opened his mouth to ask what the sounds were but decided to dropped it. His mind was so tired, Ryan just wanted to get Calleigh off the phone so he could go to bed.
"Uh, you never told me why you were calling," he asked.
"Can't a friend call another friend to ask how his sister's funeral went?" she asked sheepishly.
"Uh, sure," he replied hesitantly, sitting up and rubbing his eyes with his free hand. "The funeral was okay, I guess. Both of my parents were there." Pausing, Ryan chuckled at the memory. "It was weird. My mom actually cried."
"What's so weird about that? A mother lost her child," Calleigh questioned curiously.
"You don't know my mother." He laughed lightly, batting his eyes to prompt them open. "So, how was your talk with Natalia?"
"Ha, what do you mean?" Calleigh replied innocently.
"Only two people knew when my plane landed, and I'm pretty sure Horatio wouldn't have spilled the beans to you." A smile appeared as Ryan listened to her stumbling over her words.
"I-well, it's just- Natalia wouldn't tell me what happened between you two the night before you left." Calleigh quietly blushed from the other end. "I just- I was worried."
"Well, if you must know," Ryan began, rolling his eyes with a civilized grin, "we broke it off."
"Are you kidding me?" she exclaimed, clearly disappointed. "Well, was it your idea? Her's? Mutual?"
Not exactly mutual, he thought.
"No," Calleigh stated off to the side, "No, they broke it off."
"Calleigh," he asked confusedly, "who are you talking to?"
"Um, Eric?" she replied shyly.
"Hey, Wolfe!" Eric shouted from the back.
"Eric? But why would he be-." Then the realization hit Ryan like a brick wall. "Oh! Wow, well... I'm happy for you two."
"Thanks," Calleigh answered with an undeniable smile.
"But even after everything that happened? You two were able to get past that?"
"Well, yeah," she replied honestly, as if the answer were as obvious as the hot sun. "We both love each other too much to be apart."
"Well, good," Ryan sighed with relief. Calleigh and Eric had been dancing around their relationship since the Stetler incident, and he was more than willing to see the tension finally fade. "I'm glad because you two deserve every moment of happiness shared together."
"A lot like two friends we know," she joked playfully, her voice ringing with a melody.
"Okay, hanging up now, Calleigh."
"Fine," Calleigh whined, disappointed. "We'll see you at the lab."
Ryan chuckled as he hung up, shaking his head in amazement. Setting the phone down, he reached for the luggage near his feet and began unzipping it, remembering an item he threw on the top last minute before leaving Boston.
Carefully, Ryan pulled out the manilla envelope, un-clasping the gold metal that kept it closed. Out slid a folded letter, the words "Ryan" neatly written on the top fold. Taking a deep breath, Ryan opened it and began reading.
Dear Ryan,
Okay, so you'll more than likely NEVER get this letter, but I'm kinda being forced into writing this. The counselors said it's an exercise to get me to reflect on my life. I need to write a confession to someone, and who better than my older brother, right?
How do I start? Hell, where do I start? … I'm not in rehab for drugs...this time. I know you've been dealing with my problems, and seriously? I don't know how you do it. I'm..in for something else. Something I've been doing since I can remember. I'm not in Boston, and I'm not near you in Miami. I'm in Missouri for self-harm. There, I wrote it! Ugh.
Ryan set the paper down, rubbing his eyes troublesomely. When he had been told by his father that Reagan left him a letter, he was hesitant to take it. His father suggested reading it once he was home, Ryan more than willing to accept that idea. Exhaling, he picked the letter back up.
You might be wondering "why" yourself?
"Completely," he said aloud.
Well, to tell the truth, there is no ONE "why". There were plenty of reasons why I started, mainly stress and shame. I couldn't bare to look at myself in the mirror and believe I was anything better than what mom thought me of. There's no need to go into details what happened between us. I've forgiven her, but she'll have a hard time forgiving herself. Please help her, Ryan.
Now you must be wondering how you've been getting letters from me this whole time from Boston. Dad knew about where I was, and he also knew how much I couldn't stand to think of you being burdened with anything else. No, I never told him about your gambling problem... that was your secret to keep. Anyway, he would relay my letters to you and vise versa. Give him a hug the next time you see him, okay?
"Already did, kid."
None of this is your fault, please believe this. Just as your gambling was your secret, this was mine. Like I said, I couldn't bare to see you in anymore pain than I already caused you.
Well, I think I've said too much already, =). Oh! One more thing. That Natalia girl you keep talking about in your letters: I know you two aren't together or anything, but she really sounds like a keeper. Definitely better than your last girlfriends. If I didn't know you were secretly crushing on her, I would say that you love her...more than life itself. I promise you it will be my job to make sure you catch her. YOU DESERVE HAPPINESS! Got it?
Eh, you'll probably never see this anyway.
Love Always,
Your silly Reagan.
Ryan set the letter down somberly, his eyes dropping to the table in front of him. Shaking his head, his mouth formed a grin.
"You will always be my "silly Reagan," Ryan whispered under his breath. 'I would say you love her...more than life itself.' Frustrated, Ryan rolled eyes, smacking his hand to his forehead. "Oh, my, God," he exclaimed, "what have I done?"
Briskly, Ryan picked up his car keys and jacket, running for the front door and slamming it shut.
A constant pounding penetrated the cool silence that rang through Natalia's apartment, disturbing her from her sleep. Confusedly, Natalia grabbed a robe to cover herself as she stumbled to the door, the knocking not stopping.
"I'm coming!" she shouted. "Just hold your horses," she replied under her breath. As the door swung open, Natalia's eyes grew wide and bewildered. "Ryan, what are yo-"
Her sentence was stopped by the pressing of Ryan's lips to her, their bodies softening at the contact. Natalia deeply moaned in gratification, her eyes closing at their own will. Pulling apart for air, the two laid their foreheads against each other.
"I couldn't do it," Ryan sighed. "Just, the thought of being without you..."
"But what about a new beginning?" she quietly asked, her hand reaching for his.
"Screw it," he flatly stated, entwining their fingers together. "I'd rather take the beautiful and the ugly with you than without you."
A joyful smile shaped itself, Natalia's heart beating passionately.
"Would you like to come in, Mr. Wolfe?" she asked delightedly, bringing her eyes up to his.
"I would love to, Ms. Boa Vista," Ryan replied, his mind jumping in elation as they both closed the door together.
Lol, I couldn't do it! I like them together! Though, for any fics placed after this one, I'm going to have them keep their relationship a secret. Not like the HipHuggers kinda secret the show did but more like a playful, sneaking around, trying not to get caught by the co-workers kinda secrecy, lol.
Anyway, once again: thank you so much for staying with this fic! I never intended it to go past 15 chapters, but your dedication made it possible. For a treat, I'm giving you a hint into my next multi-chap... "Christmas Angel"? Try "Stupid Cupid."