Need a Favor

Chapter 2

"Friends like David and Jonathan in the Bible"

Ryan follows Valera into the church and realizes that it's been quite a while since he's stepped foot in church too. Maybe this would be OK. Even more, what did Valera mean by saying it only seemed right with him? His mind is doing a strange dance and he isn't even sure he knows the steps to it.

Valera slides in and sits down and glares back at Ryan to hurry up. He sits down beside her and hisses at her, "I was going to be a gentleman and let you in if you had waited two seconds!" Valera whispers back in a hiss, "Gentlemen don't gawk like they've never been in church before." Ryan shakes his head and sits back. He wonders why he can't ever win with her. Valera is sitting beside him thinking how sexy he is when he is annoyed. She looks over to watch him purse his lips and frown. She just wants to reach over and kiss him. She then wrinkles her nose and wonders if she can think these thoughts in church.

Ryan is still sitting and fuming because Valera has gotten the best of him when he hears a deeper laugh and the pew move beside him. He looks over to see Eric and Calleigh slide in next to them. Calleigh is grinning and Eric is glaring.

"What the &&(?" Ryan mutters.

"What're you doing here Wolfe? Need some divine help?" Eric grins at him.

"I'm just supporting Valera, man. What about you? Need some forgiveness for the pot incidents?" Ryan shoots back.

Valera smacks Ryan's arm and hisses to both of them, "You two are not going to go at it here. Go out to the parking lot if you need to beat each other up. It's really ridiculous that you two cannot get along for 10 seconds and in church for crying out loud." Calleigh nods her head. "That's right. And Eric this was all your idea so don't be knocking Ryan for being here too." Ryan raises an eyebrow at Eric, "You're idea Delko?" with a smug grin on his face. Eric glares back and Valera pinches Ryan's arm hard enough that he almost yelps out loud. "I mean it Ryan!" she says. "Don't make me regret this."

Calleigh quietly gets up and sits in between Eric and Ryan. She rolls her eyes across at Valera, "I feel like their mother." Both men sit back and fume at why the other had to show up and ruin what might be a decent time. Eric knows that Calleigh's mad after he's begged her to come with him. Ryan knows that if it felt right to Valera before that he may have totally blown it now. The men try to focus on the priest rather than each other and find that he's talking about the friendship of David and Jonathan in the Bible.

Eric feels his heart twist because it makes him think of Speed and the friendship they had. He fights emotion and Calleigh reaches over and takes his hand. He is calmed in the fact that she totally understands. No one has to say a word and Calleigh knows his heart. Eric knows that should frighten him, but instead it gives him peace. Eric also feels bad because he knows that he never gives Ryan a chance. The guy is smug and cocky, but if he hadn't been the one to take Speed's place as a CSI then he might not despise him so bad. Eric is feeling convicted about the way he treats Ryan. He wonders if Ryan has ever had a friend like that.

Calleigh can feel Eric's pain beside her. She knows he misses Speed. She does too, but she knows that Eric and Speed were like brothers and that he sees the loss of Speed every time he looks at Ryan. She feels sorry for Ryan because he has such big shoes to fill. Ryan's really a good guy. He tries too hard sometimes, and he resents Eric for not giving him a chance. Calleigh glances over and thinks he needs someone like Valera to loosen him up. Valera could be a friend to Ryan like David was to Jonathan in the Bible.

Valera is lost as well. She knows that she's had a lot of girlfriends in college and they had a good time, but no one seemed to ever understand her. She thought for a while that Ryan might eventually become that kind of friend, but now she's beginning to wonder. He is so focused on this pissing contest with Eric and trying to impress Horatio. She can feel him next to her and knows that she cares far more about him than he realizes. She thinks he's hot and she'd love to jump him, but there is more. There are deeper feelings and if she allows herself to go down that road, it could be really bad.

Ryan sits and looks straight ahead. He feels like he blows every chance he has with people. He knew coming into this it would be hard to fill Tim Speedle's shoes. He so wishes that he could make everyone realize that he isn't trying to take the guy's place. He knows just from what they say about the guy that he was an awesome CSI and an awesome friend. He wants to be able to make his way as a CSI without having to live in Speed's shadow. He thinks that if Eric would just get his head out of his ass and give him a chance they could at least be civil. Ryan knows that he needs to learn how to bite his tongue and not fire back when Eric starts something. He also realizes that he starts as many of the fights as he finishes. Calleigh is pretty hard on him too, but at least she gives him a chance. Ryan thinks that he doesn't mind having to prove himself and at least with Calleigh and Horatio it doesn't seem like a pipe dream. Hell, the only one who seems to really believe in him is Alexx and she believes in everybody. The world needs more people like Alexx. Ryan looks over at Valera and thinks that under her tough exterior she looks a little sad. He fights the urge to reach over and take her hand. She'd probably slap him. He hasn't done much to tell her that she's beautiful and that she makes him crazy every time she's around him. Valera is so tough and so flippant that he isn't sure what's really underneath. He has got to figure out a way to find out. He doesn't know how to explain it, but he knows he needs Valera. For some reason, she is a need.

The service wraps up and the four walk out into the sunlight pretty quietly. Valera, ever uncomfortable with silence, pipes up and says, "So! Let's all go back to my house for a four for all!" All of them laugh and Eric hugs Valera and says "Girl, you always know how to lighten the mood!" Valera grins and explains the phone conversation with her Mom. Calleigh and Eric laugh. Calleigh speaks up and says, "That sounds really familiar! Does your Mom know Eric's Mom?" Eric adds, "Yeah, My Mom gave me the same guilt trip and I had to beg Cal to come with me so I didn't have to make my church appearance alone." Ryan nudges Calleigh and says, "Oh! So you at least knew where you were going when you got in the car!" They all laugh. Eric ribs Ryan, "You mean you got in the car with her and had no idea where she was taking you?" Ryan for once, enjoying the ribbing, says very dramatically, "Got in the car? Hell no, I drove her!" They all laugh hysterically. Valera looks a little uncomfortable and Ryan thinks this may be the place to get brownie points for a rescue. He pops Eric on the arm and says, "Look at her man! Are you gonna say no to a beautiful woman like Maxine Valera?" Valera's face turns red and Ryan fights the urge to yell, "SCORE!" and Eric and Calleigh grin at each other and Eric nods to Ryan and says, "Good Point, Wolfe. I'll give ya that."

Calleigh looks to the three of them and asks if they want to go get coffee. Valera shakes her head and says, "No way, Cal. Eric and Ryan have been civil and gotten along for 10 minutes now. I want to savor the moment." Eric and Ryan grin at each other and realize that getting along wasn't so bad. Calleigh laughs and says, "Good point. I guess we will see you all tomorrow." Ryan waves to them both and opens Valera's car door. Valera winks at Calleigh, "He's making brownie points. I think I'll take him home and jump him." Ryan blushes and Eric and Calleigh laugh. He shuts the door before anyone else can comment.

More to come. The next 2 chapters will be focused on each couple. One will focus on E/C and the other will focus on R/V. Please keep reviewing and reading!