A/N: Low-key turned this into a story with a little casefic included for later reference and Ryan's emotions are definitely touched on. :)

«wolfewolfewolfe»

"I'm surprised you guys don't usually go and look for your suspects. In Miami, we were basically police officers." Ryan said as he and Greg walked through the casino looking for their suspect. As he was a con artist, the strip would be a perfect place to watch someone out. "Well here, we're just scientists that solve the detectives' cases." "I could get used to that, I suppose."

The two exited the casino, only to see a man holding a gun and a woman hostage. "I can't go one place without this happening." Ryan exclaimed, drawing his weapon and taking cover not too far away behind a pillar. He knew why Greg didn't carry a gun and he understood.. but right now that meant he was on his own with a hostage situation. "Stay here." "Ryan, I'm the senior CSI. You're supposed to listen to me."

"You don't have a gun and do I look like I want you to get shot, Greg?"

"No?"

Ryan got out his radio and radioed in for backup, before he moved forward and made himself clear to the shooter. "Simon Perez, LVPD. I want you to let her go." Perez gave him a glare. "And why should I?" Ryan didn't usually do the negotiation however he didn't have any other choice at this moment in time. It was either talk or take a shot and he couldn't find one right there.

"Because I'm sure she has family, and a partner, and kids that are all waiting for her. You don't want to be possibly facing death row charges on three counts of first degree murder, do you?"

Perez took a moment to think. He knew the police were going to get him but this officer was really getting to his head. "You let her go and nobody will get hurt." Greg was anxiously watching, listening to every word his younger colleague used and the way he used it. The negotiating was effective and was clearly making an impact on the suspect which usually was a good sign. It seemed there were a lot of things Ryan was good at that helped in cases.

"And you won't shoot?"

"If you put your weapon down."

The ex-Mala Noche member sighed. He did recognize this officer from Miami, although, there wasn't a way he would remember what he said to him. "You don't need a weapon to be a weapon. Isn't that what your gang said?" Or not. Perez had two ways to do this. Shoot him and run or shoot the woman as a distraction and run. He wasn't sure he could do either though. So he shoved the woman, dropped the gun and ran.

Patrol arrived along with Nick and Warrick. "Hostage situation?" "He's fled the scene." Ryan said, putting his gun away. "You go." Nick told him. As the secondary supervisor, he could give that sort of instructions when they had good intention. "Okay." Ryan went in the same directions he saw Perez go. The others had barely seen him go past and hadn't expected him to just zoom off like that.

"How'd he do?" Nick questioned Greg as Warrick took care of the woman and got her to the paramedics.

Greg sighed. "He wouldn't let me be seen as I didn't have a gun. He negotiated his way out of having to shoot him and really got inside that guy's head. Putting him on this case was probably best. He knows the Mala Noche cases better than we do." Nick nodded. He'd been told by Catherine that she hadn't put the young CSI on the unsolved for no reason. It's because she knew he would have some knowledge that would contribute to the case and find their missing suspect. Nick was proved right by what he just heard. Ryan put a colleague first, didn't fire a single shot without backup present and managed to stop any risk of anyone else getting shot. Pretty impressive for a level two.

"He's good."

The turned around and saw Ryan leading Perez to a patrol car, the ex Mala Noche member's hands behind his back in cuffs. Not even a patrol officer worked that fast.

"Great. And fast too, it seems."

Ryan let the patrol take him and then joined his colleagues that were standing at the side. "You found enough evidence didn't you?" "Yep. And you got us our killer. Didn't know you could run that fast." Ryan low-key flushed bright red and smiled. "Was a track runner in high school. It paid off, I suppose."

All three walked to the CSI SUV with proud looks on their faces. If it was either of them, they weren't sure if they would've caught him and he would've got away. But Ryan was determined to catch a killer. Even if it meant running after him to do so. Nick and Greg knew that things were a little different in Miami, though, he had applied his skills well enough. Especially considering how much younger he was than them. At least five years. So it was a good call from the young CSI's instinct and they had to give him credit where it's due.