Horatio looked horrible.
No- correction: Horatio looked dead, but his chest was still moving. Even if it was barely.
Ryan glanced over the man's naked body and took in his visible injuries.
The most obvious injury was the whip marks that littered the elders body. There were welts where a stun baton had met skin and burns where a hot brander had been pressed in.
Taking a step closer to Horatio, he realized something more. There was a wire that went from the rack that held up Horatio to a small brief case.
Kneeling down Ryan opened the box, and was not exactly shocked at what he found- emA bomb./em
He closely examined the box; there was only 6 minutes and 39 seconds left on the timer, not long enough to call in the bomb squad or any of the others. It was then that Horatio let out a low moan.
"It's gonna be alright, H." Ryan said, standing up and brushing the ginger hair out of the man's face. As he did so he examined the man's hanging chamber and realized something horrendous- When he disarmed the bomb, if he didn't kill them, the four clips that held the handcuffs in place would released sending Horatio pummeling into the concrete floor beneath him.
Looking at the timer, Ryan read only 4 minutes and 14 seconds left. He would not have time to grab something to break his boss' fall. He had to hope that the fall would not hurt his boss anymore than he already was.
Ryan now focused his mind on the bomb. It was as simple as a bomb could be. Two wires, red and blue, connected the timer and a small amount of C4 that could take out the building, and anyone in the surrounding area.
Now here was the decision that would either kill everyone or send Horatio into unimaginable pain.
Ryan took a deep breath and cut the red wire. He had about two seconds to react to the sound of the clips that held Horatio a foot in the air, releasing.
"AHGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!" Screamed Horatio as he found himself on top of Ryan, wrapped up in soothing arms, a voice cooing him back into reality.
"Shh, H. It's gonna be OK, alright? We're gonna get you and Frank out of here, ok?" emFrank! How was Frank!?/em
"Frank?!" Ryan yelled, frantic for an answer.
"You did well." The Texan said quietly. He was now much paler, and Ryan knew he was losing a lot of blood.
"Hold on, Frank. Let me get him ready, and we'll get you outta here."
The Texan smiled and closed his eyes, trying to focus on his breathing.
"OK, H," Ryan stroked Horatio's hair and moved himself out from under the man slowly, trying not to cause anymore pain, but failing "I'm gonna cover you up. Then I'm gonna get you and Frank out to Alexx and Tom, OK?"
Horatio did not respond, but instead, he looked Ryan in the eyes with his own dull blue eyes, as if to give him a smile of approval.
Moving to examine Horatio quickly, Ryan realized the consequences of the gingers rape, seeing the blood dripping down onto the floor. He also noticed the dislocated shoulders, broken wrists and ankles, as well as gun shot wound to his thigh, but most importantly, he noticed how cold his unrequited lover was.
Ryan moved to his backpack, which was still next to Frank and pulled out a shock blanket, wrapping Horatio up in the warmth. He relished the feeling of being able to care for the man he had loved for years.
"OK." Ryan breathed, "Let's blow this Popsicle stand." Ryan help Frank to his feet, and held him up as he adjusted to the the dizziness. Then, by some feat of God, Ryan managed to place Horatio into a fireman's carry.
The three moved slowly towards the first door and soon passed the body of José Riaz.
They welcomed themselves into the once home of Horatio's captors. Trying not to pay attention to the luxury of Horatio's former captors.
Finally, they reached the stairs on the other side of the small apartment right as Calleigh and Walter were climbing the stairs.
"Oh my God!" Walter exclaimed, seeing Frank and Horatio. Frank was to the point that he was almost being carried by Ryan, and Horatio was being fully carried by the young brunette.
"Take Frank." Ryan gasped under the weight of both Frank and Horatio.
Calleigh and Walter moved to take Frank and did so with ease.
As soon as Frank was safe in the arms of both Calleigh and Walter, he shifted Horatio and the blanket into a princess carry, hoping to cover, and comfort H. better than the fireman's carry did.
"OK." He whispered into Horatio's ear, which was now much closer to Ryan's mouth, "This is gonna be the hard part, H, the stairs."
Each step brought a moan from either Ryan or Horatio, as the weight of Horatio, coupled with Ryan's lack of sleep, began to take a toll on Ryan's strength.
Soon they reached the bottom of the stairs, where Calleigh was already holding open the door.
"How is he?"" She asked worriedly.
"As good... as he could be." Ryan said, his voice labored, "I had to... drop him to save us all... SO he isn't exactly... happy with me."
Horatio's head moved slightly against his shoulder in response, as to say, 'Shut up!'
"Why?" Asked Calleigh.
"Bomb." He said without flinching, "I had... to disarm it. There was... enough C4... in there... to blow up... the whole building... It was connected... to his cuffs... dropped him... when I disarmed it."
"Wow," She beamed,"Nice going Ryan! You disarmed a bomb and saved Horatio all in one day."
Ryan blushed, "Aww it's nothin'." He joked as they came up on the coroner's van.
Calleigh opened the door to reveal Alexx working hurriedly over Frank, who was already telling her that he was fine. Eric had a bandage tied around his arm, and Natalia was holding and ice pack to her head.
Ryan was about to comment on their state, when a comment from Alexx stopped him dead in his tracks,
"We've got ourselves a problem."