This is a short sequel to Crossed Wires. Ryan is back at work after his injuries, and a few things are getting in the way of his being able to cope. There are also some complications that he is trying to ignore…with potentially fatal consequences. I decided to post this up because it's finished, so I might as well.

Pain

The shrill buzz of an alarm clock blared through the bedroom. A mound of duvet shifted aside, a hand appear and brought a fist down upon the clock which cut off its wailing abruptly. A few choice phrases came from beneath the duvet.

Ryan threw the covers off and quite literally fell out of bed. He clambered up, rubbing sleep from his eyes and stumbled across to the door, trying to find the bathroom in a sleep dazed, vaguely confused manner.

It was the same now every morning. A bad night's sleep, a painful waking up and a series of minor injuries on his way out of his apartment work. Mainly from stubbed toes, burned fingers from accidentally spilling coffee and the occasional head hitting the table as he fell asleep over breakfast.

It was a wonder to Ryan that he actually managed to get dressed in the morning and so far, hadn't arrived at work missing some vital item of clothing. Earlier in the week he had turned up with mismatched socks, which had afforded Eric hours of amusement, but so far that had been it.

His head was hurting. He poured himself some coffee, double-checking that he had everything he needed for the day. The coffee was hot and burned his tongue. He didn't bother to eat, he'd get something later. The headache wasn't shifting but he was able to ignore it. He'd been having bad headaches for quite some time.

He coughed and almost choked on his coffee. He gave up and poured it down the sink, still coughing. Great, now it looked like he was getting the beginnings of a cold. Just what he needed right now.

Ryan glanced at his watch. On time. He left his apartment, locking it behind him. As he went to put his keys in his pocket, they slipped out of his fingers onto the floor. As he bent to pick them up, pain lanced through his head. He cried out and grabbed his keys, leaning against the wall for support.

'That's it,' he muttered under his breath. 'Tomorrow, I get the afternoon off and go to the doctor.'

Not that he would, he refused to admit to himself. He'd been vowing for the past week he'd go and see his doctor about his increasingly painful headaches, but so far he hadn't. His last appointment had been a little after he had come out of hospital and the doctor had been pleased with how quickly Ryan had recovered.

He hurried down the stairs to his car. A new car. Eric had offered to sell his old one, an offer which Ryan had agreed to with a large degree of relief. He was unable to drive it, even after he had got given it back from evidence. The smell of his own blood permeated the entire car, even though it had been cleaned several times. Eric had got a decent price for it, had refused to take any money as payment for getting rid of it and Ryan had got a new one.

He got in and doubled up over the steering wheel, coughing violently. His head was pounding and his back and arms were hurting. Definitely a cold coming, if not flu, he thought miserably. Just what I need right now.

Ryan started the car and drove to work. Resolutions of going to see his doctor had flown from his head. No, all he needed was a few days off, get over this cold and then he'd be fine.

'Morning,' Valera greeted Ryan cheerfully. 'How are you feeling?'

'I think I'm coming down with something,' he said, walking with her into the lab. 'How are you?'

She smiled. 'I'm fine, thanks,' she said.

Ryan blinked, wondering what he'd done to deserve such a delighted smile. His train of thought was derailed when Horatio stepped out of his office and said, 'Morning, Ryan. You're in the trace lab today, there are some samples for you to run.'

'All right,' Ryan said. 'I'll get onto it.'

He made his way into the lab, where Calleigh was examining some results. She looked up and smiled at him. 'Morning,' she said.

'Morning – ' he began and then winced in pain, a hand going to his stomach. He smiled weakly at Calleigh who was looking at him in concern. 'I'm fine,' he said quickly.

'You don't look it,' she said. 'In fact, Ryan, you look terrible.'

'Thanks,' he said dryly.

'You've looked terrible for a few days,' she said. 'Have you seen your doctor?'

'You know the hours I work,' he said impatiently. 'You think I have time to see my doctor?'

'Go see a doctor,' she said. 'Before I set Alexx on you.'

Ryan ignored this last comment. 'So, what can I do?'

'Do?' she said, looking confused.

'I'm confined to the lab,' he said shortly.

Calleigh frowned, then understood. 'You failed your shooting.'

'I didn't even take it,' he said. 'Horatio says I take it when I'm ready, not before, but until then I'm confined to the lab.'

'If it makes you feel any better, we all understand why,' she said gently.

He smiled. 'Thanks. It does.' He hesitated. 'I am sorry, though. I know you and Eric are working hard to cover my back – '

'Ryan,' she said, stopping him. 'We are doing it because you need us to. You're not putting your work onto other people – '

'Yes, I am.'

'Fine, if that's how you want to see it. You have a reason for not being in the field. Eric, Horatio and I all understand why you don't want to be near a gun at the moment. Of all people, I understand that,' she added for extra emphasis.

He smiled again, a better smile this time. 'Thanks, Calleigh.'

'You're welcome. See you later.'

'You out on a case?' he called after her.

'Yeah,' she called back. 'Just your usual, run of the mill murder.' She waved as she walked away.

Ryan sighed, a little disappointed that he was stuck in the lab. Still, the fact that he couldn't quite face handling a gun at the moment told him very emphatically that he was not yet ready to go back into the field. He swallowed his disappointment and turned to his work for the day.