Author's Note: Here it is. The last chapter. Thanks so much for sticking with me. I hope you've enjoyed reading this story as much as I've enjoyed writing it. I have nothing but love for all of you!
Don't forget to check out that poll on my profile if you haven't already!
On a side note, while I write I listen to music. While I was writing this last chapter, this random song called "Say Hello" by Nitin Sawhney came on, and it struck me as freakishly appropriate :P. It's actually a song I downloaded after hearing it on a CSI: Miami episode, can't remember which, though, sorry. (Just looked it up, it's used at the end of Season 2 Episode 1 "Blood Brothers.") Check it out on iTunes or YouTube if you're looking for some good mood music while you read.
Happy reading!
Chapter 28
Two Weeks Later
Horatio walked the brightly lit hallway alone. He decided he definitely liked it much better up here in the recovery ward than down in the SICU. It was much more hopeful, much more⦠alive. He came to the room he was looking for, the one he'd been in at least once every day for the past week.
Ryan had been moved to recovery a week ago. He was finally breathing adequately on his own now; they had removed the tube from his throat yesterday. He was still pale and hadn't regained consciousness yet, but the doctors assured them that everything was coming back together nicely. The stab wounds were healing, the damage to his kidney had not led to necessary removal, and there appeared to be no lasting effects of either the trauma or hypothermia.
Still, Ryan slept. Despite what the doctors told them, that it was normal for a patient to take a while to come around, the CSIs were anxious. There was always at least one of them by his bedside day and night. They would never be fully satisfied that he was recovering until the day he opened his eyes.
Horatio stepped inside. Natalia was sitting in the chair next to Ryan's bed. Horatio was startled to see she was wiping tears from her eyes from one hand, her other gripping Ryan's hand.
"Natalia?" he asked concerned. Had something happened...?
She looked up at him. He was relieved when she smiled.
"He squeezed my hand," she explained cheerily, flicking the last remnants of tears from her face. "I was talking to him and I think I felt him squeeze my hand just a little bit."
Horatio smiled. "That's good news."
She looked up at the clock. "I wish I didn't have to go to work," she said, letting go of Ryan's hand and standing up. "Call us if he wakes up?"
"Of course," he answered.
Natalia smiled at him and then at Ryan, then left.
Horatio slowly walked over to the chair she had just vacated and sat down. He watched Ryan for a few moments in silence, twirling his sunglasses idly in his hands. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"I thought I'd lost you, Ryan," he whispered, something in his chest tightening up with emotion.
Horatio looked up at Ryan's peaceful face. As he thought about it, it really set in just how close Ryan had been to death. It scared him to no end.
"I don't know what I would've done if you'd..." He couldn't finish. He let out a shaky breath.
"You know, sometimes I think...I think you really remind me of myself," Horatio said quietly. "And that scares me more than anything."
Painful memories flicked through his head as he sat there. His parents, Ray, Marisol, Speed... He'd lost them all, and mostly because of his job.
"I don't want that for you," he continued softly. "I guess that's why I sometimes keep you at a distance... I don't want you to end up like me... Alone... Having your whole life revolve around the job... You're too good for that."
Horatio hesitantly laid his hand on top of Ryan's.
"Ryan, I..."
He sighed, dropping his gaze to the floor. He didn't know how to phrase the words and emotions tumbling around in his heart. He shook his head slightly.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry for everything that's happened to you... I'm sorry for whatever happened to you to make you think you always have to handle everything by yourself..."
He looked up at Ryan again.
"I want you to know you're not alone... I want you to know I'll always be there for you... So... If you have to fight, like you're fighting now... All you have to do is come to me, and I promise I will help you... Okay?"
At first, there was only silence, save for the steady beeping of the heart monitor and the muffled sounds of the hallway as Horatio sat there with his hand on Ryan's.
Then, ever so slightly, Ryan's hand moved.
Horatio looked at it, startled, but he knew it had really happened.
"Ryan?"
(+)
...
...What happened?
...
Where am I?
...
Am I... dead?
...
No... I'm not dead... This hurts too much...
You don't feel pain when you're dead... do you?
Then again... This pain isn't so bad... Maybe I am dead...
...
Wait... I'm in a bed... I'm in a hospital... aren't I?
He stabbed me... We fell down the stairs... Walter... Alexx...
Then... nothing... Now I'm here...
...
Is... Is there someone here?
A voice... Someone's there...
...
Horatio?
(+)
Ryan's eyes flickered open.
His eyesight was much improved. It wasn't just a little bit of light anymore. Everything was still sort of blurry, but he could distinguish the general outline of a window, a door... someone sitting next to his bed.
Horatio.
Ryan's eyes felt heavier than lead. It was a task just to keep them open.
Horatio leaned forward, a tired smile on his face.
Ryan opened his mouth to say something, but words wouldn't come out. His throat felt inhumanly thick and dry.
"Don't try to talk," Horatio told him. "You've been out for a long time."
Ryan's limbs felt weighted down. He looked around the room through exhausted hazel eyes, too weak to even turn his head. He returned his gaze to Horatio. He suddenly realized Horatio's hand was on top of his.
"You really scared us, Ryan," Horatio said quietly.
There was a tiny light of concern and surprise in Ryan's eyes.
Horatio smiled. "Good to have you back, Mr. Wolfe."
Ryan grinned tiredly, closing his eyes to get some more sleep. Just staying awake was too much work for him.
As he slowly drifted off back to sleep, he heard Horatio's quiet voice one more time...
"I'll be right here."
The End
