One Night Stand

by rachelAbendstern

Ryan stumbles over a drunken Eric in a bar. Inspired by a Christmas!challenge. SLASH!

2. Chapter 2

Title: One Night Stand 2/2
Author: rachelAbendstern
Summary: A slightly unconventional Christmas for the boys...
Warnings: SLASH! Again, remember common policies!
Disclaimer: Never was and never will be mine ;; Songs this time: Wham – 'Last Christmas' and Aventura – 'Obsession'.
AN: Like promised, part two. Hope you like that as well. And for anybody who cares: I made a few changes in the first part based on the corrections sunhawk was so kind to point out :) Yes, including Rufus Wainwright ;)
(There's an NC-17 version on 'Ryan Wolfe and Eric Delko romance's Journal', but really, it's just about one or two paragraphs more...)

III.

Christmas was approaching fast now, only two weeks left. Even the lab had the few obligatory mistletoes hanging under some doors. Ryan wasn't too thrilled about that. Neither the mistletoes nor Christmas in general. He did make sure to have a small present for everyone on his team, but all things considered, he would have rather skipped the holidays entirely. As it was, he was not even allowed to work those days. When he had asked Horatio about it, his boss had told him that they had come to an agreement with nightshift a few years back. One year, nightshift would handle 24th/25th of December and dayshift 31st of December and 1st of January, the next year vice versa. Sleeping through the whole two days was starting to sound like a good idea.

Alexx didn't make it any better when she came up into their break room, reminding Calleigh and Eric not to forget her dinner on Christmas Eve. The way they had talked about it, it sounded like a longstanding tradition. Alexx had not spared him a glance. Ryan felt like it was just another way to make him feel excluded. Granted, the M.E. had toned down her hostility considerably, but that only meant that she now ignored him all together. Somehow, it had felt better when he could at least raise some emotion in her even if it was anger.

Shaking his head at his own thoughts, Ryan opened his locker to get changed. He was starting to fall into a full-fledged holiday depression, that was all there was to it. Even if it did hurt, Alexx didn't act any different than he expected her to act and he could not very well blame the others for looking forward to Christmas only because he himself didn't know what to do or where to go to not feel lonely. Had he felt a bit bolder, maybe he would have asked Eric to spend some time with him on Christmas Eve. But Eric already had plans of his own and, aside from not wanting to look like a fool, the other man had family to visit as well. He hadn't; at least not in the way he wanted to.

"She might not have looked like it," a familiar voice beside him claimed, abruptly bringing him out of his thoughts, "but Alexx meant you, too, you know."

Ryan turned around to his friend with a small but genuine smile. He couldn't deny his feelings for the tall Cuban anymore and he loved him even more for trying to cheer him up now.

"No, she didn't," he argued nonetheless. "I would only feel like I'm imposing if you're planning to drag me there nevertheless. And it's ok." Eric's sceptical look made him add quickly: "I have... somewhere else to be anyway."

And he did. He had for the last three years. It didn't really matter that he had to go to the churchyard instead of the brightly decorated house he had used to love so much. They were still his family.

"Family dinner, huh."

"Yeah, something like that."

Why had he never told Eric about his family? Ryan didn't exactly remember. Family was something that rarely came up in their conversations. Had they not had that... interesting dinner with Eric's mother and sister, the only things he would have known about them was their names. He knew a lot about Eric's father by now, but that was only because his friend had needed to talk about him after what had happened.

"That didn't sound particularly enthusiastic."

No, it didn't. It wasn't like Ryan minded to visit the graveyard, not anymore. After three years he had come to terms with what had happened. It was simply this time when everybody was so big on family that drove home just how alone he was without one.

"Just drop it, Eric, please." Now was neither the time nor the place to tell Eric all that.

The other man merely watched him as he placed his lab coat back into his locker and put on his shoes.

"So, your place or mine?" What?

"I can even do the cooking for once, but I have to warn you, there's nothing healthy about the food that I actually can cook!" Yeah, that figured, but...

"I didn't realize we had anything planned for tonight."

"We didn't. You just look like you could use some cheering up, so come on, let's go."

Not like Eric left him any choice on the matter, Ryan thought more grateful than anything else as he was dragged by a hand on his neck towards the exit with several pairs of eyes following them in wide-eyed confusion.

666

He loved Alexx' Christmas dinners. He did. The table was set in the family's huge backyard next to the barbecue, Alexx' cooking was excellent and more often than not enough to last them for days after, the company was well-loved and familiar, Alexx' children and Ray Jr. always pestering them about presents, each year asking the same question ('just one today, please?'). But this year all that did not feel quite right. There were presences missing. Speed and Ryan to be exact. And while he could do nothing about the former, Eric felt a twinge of guilty conscience for not dragging the latter along, kicking and screaming if necessary.

For the last few days, Ryan had gone terribly quiet even for his standards and Eric had not been able to figure out why. Every time he tried to ask, the younger man had found a way to distract him or avoid having to answer his questions. It was frustrating to say the least and it did not do anything to alleviate his concerns. And concerned he was. There was no denying his feelings anymore.

Actually, it had come as somewhat of a shock for him to realize just how deep Ryan had managed to worm his way into his heart without Eric even noticing. Even more embarrassing had been the fact that he had needed the help of his mother and sister to figure out his own feelings. Oh, they had not said anything obvious that day when his mother had tried to force-feed Ryan to a healthier weight – in his mother's eyes anyway – but all those little looks they kept sharing over the course of the meal at the men's interaction had told a story all of their own. That is once Eric had been willing to listen.

He was in the kitchen at the moment, waiting for Alexx to put the dishes on a tray so he could carry them outside, all the while wondering if perhaps he could just sneak out and go looking for Ryan instead.

Obviously he was not the only one concerned about their youngest team member, he thought strangely grateful as Horatio stuck his head through the door, asking: "Where's Ryan? Didn't you invite him, Alexx?"

But before Alexx had even opened her mouth, the Cuban took pity on her and answered the question himself. "He said he had somewhere else to be. Visiting his family or something like that."

Which was not even a lie. Ryan had said he wanted to visit his family. Eric had watched Alexx all afternoon, noticing how bad she felt for yet again disregarding the younger man, especially on a day like this. For the last week or so the woman had been trying to make amends with the young CSI but this ceasefire was still too new for her to swallow her pride and ask him to come to her dinner. She was not a bad person by nature and she already felt bad enough without them rubbing it under her nose.

Only Horatio's next statement not only made Alexx feel like an insensitive fool.

"His family is dead, Eric." The older man looked from one stricken face to the other. "They died four years ago in a car accident. If he said he had somewhere to be, he's at the graveyard most likely."

And suddenly, Ryan's behaviour those past days made so much more sense. Why hadn't he ever told him? Christmas Eve was not a day to be spent alone and Eric would be damned if he let his friend go through that.

"They are dead?" he heard Alexx ask through the sudden roaring in his ears. "How do you know?"

"Well, for one it's in his file," his boss answered, stepping inside and leaning against the kitchen counter while watching them with a sad smile. "And... about one week after he joined our team I met him at the graveyard. First I thought he wanted to pay his respects to Speed but then... The grave of his family is right next to his."

"What?" Eric couldn't keep from blurting out. "But I never..."

"Neither had I," Horatio interrupted him with his confession. "And neither had he. Ryan was just as surprised to see me as I had been to see him."

They were silent for a few moments, only the laughter of the children and Calleigh's and Yelina's voices outside could be heard in the kitchen. When Eric looked up he saw Horatio pinning him with his eyes, but he didn't need the encouragement in them to know what he had to do. He would worry later about how his boss knew about his feelings for their colleague, for knew he obviously did.

Turning around to face a guilt-ridden Alexx, he started: "Alexx, I..."

"Go!" She didn't even let him finish, fixing a hard stare on him. "Find him. And don't you dare leave him alone, no matter where you end up tonight!"

Now Eric grinned. This was the Alexx he knew and loved. Pulling her in for a quick hug he left the house without a backwards glance, heading for the graveyard where Horatio had told him he could find his friend.

Eric watched Ryan from the gateway, leaning against the tall stone wall, arms crossed over his chest. Why hadn't he ever noticed that the grave where Ryan's parents and sister were buried was right next to Speed's? All the times he had visited this place and he never even noticed.

He pushed away from the wall when he saw Ryan stand up and walk towards the gate. The younger man faltered in his pace for a moment when he noticed Eric waiting there for him, then made his way over, a curious gleam chasing the resident sadness away.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Eric asked in way of a greeting when Ryan was but a few feet away.

"You never asked." His friend shrugged self-consciously. "And besides, you had enough problems of your own already."

Shaking his head in amused exasperation, Eric slung his arm around the other man's shoulders and led him towards the parking lot. "You never change, Ryan, do you?"

"I try not to," he replied with a little quirk of his lips.

"Is there anything else I should know about you?"

"Mh, I don't think so. You already know about my worst faults. And anyway, surprises keep life interesting."

Eric laughed, giving him a playful shove to the head for that remark.

When they reached Eric's SUV, the Cuban deftly pushed his startled companion into the passenger seat before walking around the car and entering himself. He had to smirk at the glare he received when he turned to Ryan. The kid was really something.

"So," he began. "You planned on spending Christmas Eve all on your own, by your family's grave..."

Turning his head away, Ryan shrugged, a sad smile on his lips. "That's how I spent it the last three years, Eric. Who else am I supposed to spend it with?"

The young man sounded so utterly lost that moment. Christmas was supposed to be a time for family. Didn't he have anyone he could go to when things got too lonely? Scolding himself an idiot for not noticing something sooner, Eric reached over and placed a finger on Ryan's chin to gently turn his head towards him again.

"Spend it with me..."

"Eric..." Ryan sighed but before he could say what he wanted to say, the Cuban interrupted him forcefully.

"I won't allow you to spend Christmas alone, Ryan, so you can either suck it up and come with me to Alexx' party or we're doing something on our own!"

"You have to go back," his friend argued. "They will miss you."

Eric just snorted at that. After hearing Horatio's explanation Alexx had all but kicked him out of the house to go get their youngest team member, remorse and embarrassment over her actions clearly written on her face. "They'll survive. Besides, it has been brought to my attention by various parties that, if I didn't do something to cheer you up, there would be dire consequences for me to face." He really had not needed Horatio to say anything to know there would be consequences if he didn't.

A small grin tentatively made its way on the younger man's face and Eric silently cheered. "Well now, we can't have that, can we?"

"Hell no, we can't!" Eric smirked and sat back in his seat properly, turning the key in the ignition. "So, where do you want to go?"

666

Ryan wasn't exactly sure why he had let Eric talk him into spending Christmas Eve together, but it was nice. It was nice to be able to just lean back while listening to the stereo playing Christmas songs or Dickens' Christmas Carol and not feel lonely. It seemed so long that he hadn't been lonely this time of the year.

After a short stop by his own apartment, they decided to stay at the Cuban's for once. Ryan was surprised to find it decorated with a little glistening tree and fake snow on the windows until Eric laughingly explained that his mother had invited herself over to 'bring a bit of a woman's touch into your home, because, Lord only knows, men have no sense for preparing a house properly for the holidays what so ever'. Perhaps Mss. Delko was right with that, Ryan acknowledged amusedly as he thought of his own half-hearted attempts at Christmas decoration. But the tree was nice, too, definitely. He hadn't bothered with one since the accident and, until now hadn't realized how much he actually missed it.

They had shared a small, utterly non-traditional but enjoyable dinner, conjured up from leftovers and almost forgotten food in Eric's fridge and were now washing the dishes, Eric's silent concession to Ryan's need for cleanliness – because both knew if it would have been up to him, the dirty dishes could have waited until tomorrow; or the day after. Or rather, Ryan was drying up the last of the plates and Eric had already gone off into his living room.

The young man had to smile when the music unexpectedly changed from 'Last Christmas' to 'Obsession', the warm, rhythmic tones of the Latin song filling the air and creating a strange atmosphere of contentment and anticipation. When Ryan curiously joined Eric in the other room his friend looked up from his collection of CDs, a warm smile grazing his features. Not a lopsided grin or shit eating smirk the other liked to sport but an honest to God smile. Ryan could not help but smile back. Standing up and walking over to the younger man, Eric asked: "Dance with me."

"What? No, Eric, I..."

"Why not? We've already established we're not exactly straight, so come on." Now, Eric did grin and Ryan was sure it had to do with the blush that crept up his face at the memories.

"That's not it," he clarified, while Eric already took his hand and pulled him into the middle of the room. "Eric, I can't dance!"

"I'll show you."

His deep, soft voice sent pleasant shivers down Ryan's spine and honestly, he didn't really want to fight Eric about it. So he let himself be pulled against Eric's warm body, one hand placed on the taller man's shoulder, the other held by one of Eric's while the man's other hand snaked around Ryan's waist, pressing him even closer to the Cuban. The first few steps were decidedly awkward, not helped by the fact that Ryan unconsciously struggled against his friend's lead. The younger man laughed self-consciously and leant his head against Eric's shoulder to hide his burning face. He could feel Eric's breath ghost over his neck when he leant down to whisper in his ear.

"Just let go, Ryan. You don't have to always be in control."

Surprisingly, it worked better after that. Once Ryan let himself relax against the other man it was easy to follow his movements. Smiling against the crook of Eric's neck he adjusted his head a bit, closed his eyes and just enjoyed the moment, sudden butterflies in his belly and all. He could come to like this.

"Thank you." The words were just barely audible. And Ryan didn't only mean the dancing lesson, but then, he guessed, Eric already knew that because his words were just as low and serious, his soft lips brushing the hair above Ryan's ear.

"You're welcome."

Time blurred a bit after that, because Ryan couldn't say how long they danced like this. He just noticed when they started to slow down, at last merely swaying on the spot and he looked up to see if something was wrong. His eyes were caught by the intent stare of his friend's dark brown eyes. Wordlessly they gazed at each other for a few short moments and when Eric finally leaned down it didn't really come as a surprise. The kiss was slow, sweet and over far too soon. Drawing back, they watched each other once more. Somehow it felt like they were looking for a proof of sincerity although afterwards, Ryan could not remember if he even thought about it when he reached up to tangle his hand in Eric's short hair and bring him down for another kiss. Abandoning any pretence of dancing, Eric let his left hand fall down and join his other on Ryan's back to bring their bodies impossibly closer while Ryan's hand snaked up to Eric's neck, caressing the soft skin right beneath the hairline.

The world was spinning around him as their kiss became more and more passionate, Eric's hold on him almost painfully tight. When he broke off, panting heavily for some much needed air, the Cuban moved on to his jaw line without pause, breath damp and hot on his overly sensitized skin. A little voice inside his head tried to insist that he was being a fool, that this time it was just as stupid and thoughtless as their first time but he ruthlessly silenced it, not wanting the moment spoiled, not wanting it to end, definitely not wanting it to end. He gasped as Eric licked a particularly sensitive spot beneath his ear and a hot strong hand sneaked under his shirt, pressing against the damp skin of his back. The younger man tugged on his lover's hair, wanting him to lift his head so he could kiss him again, all the while happily arching into his knowing touches.

Ryan escaped a breathy moan when Eric complied and delved back into a burning, bruising kiss, tongues caressing and teasing and short-circuiting any coherent thought either of them might have had left. Moans and whimpers and panting filled his ears and it vaguely registered that they were moving now, stumbling and bumping into various objects not wanting to ease their hold on each other. Eric's straining erection pressed demandingly into his hip, so he unfastened one of his hands from its hold on Eric's shoulder and brought it down between their bodies to deftly cup the bulge in the other man's trousers, rubbing and pressing until Eric caught his wrist to move his hand away and up to his shoulder again. He felt a hand worm its way into his jeans, cupping his butt possessively and moaned into Eric's mouth in appreciation, shivers of anticipation running up and down his spine.

A sudden jolt, the brief sensation of falling and then landing on a soft comfortable surface. The hazy fog around his mind cleared somewhat and he found himself in Eric's bed once again, the sensation of the other man's heavy body covering his own as breathtaking as he remembered. His harsh pants echoed in the room as he tried to clear his thoughts enough to speak. There was something, something he wanted Eric to know before they went any further, but Eric was nuzzling his throat now, grinding his hips against Ryan's groin, eliciting a needy, low whimper from the man beneath him and God! He didn't want this to stop!

"Eric," he finally managed, a breathy moan instead of the steady, questioning tone he had aimed for. He tried again, more forceful this time: "Eric!"

What he got for an answer was nothing more than an inquisitive grunt but it would have to do. Now, if only he could get his feelings to cooperate with his mouth because his ability to form logical sentences just happily waved him goodbye from a distance while Eric softly bit and sucked on this magical spot just under his left ear.

"You don't get to blame the alcohol this time, you know?" Close enough.

Ryan had to bite back a disappointed whimper when Eric stopped with a last soft nip to the tormented area and looked at him with warm laughing eyes. "You don't either. Now shut up!"

And to make sure Ryan obeyed, the Cuban covered his mouth again with his own, parting his lips and teeth with his tongue, cupping his face and caressing Ryan's cheek with his thumb while fervently exploring his mouth. Ryan didn't mind one bit. He gladly obliged when Eric decided to get rid of their clothes, as well. Then there was skin to skin and – God! – Eric left a trail of fire behind wherever he touched him, licking and biting and kissing and rubbing...

666

A strange clicking sound made its way into his consciousness as sleep slowly faded. Eric groaned in refusal, burrowing deeper into the warm shoulder underneath his head and tightening his grasp on slim hips. Whispering could be heard now and something that sounded like suppressed giggling. There was something wrong about that and as much as Eric didn't want to wake up, his alarmed mind refused to let him go back to sleep. He opened his eyes groggily to find the face of his sister only inches away from his own, a silly grin lightening up her features. Blinking a few times in an attempt to clear his mind from the last sleepy fog his eyes widened as comprehension finally dawned on him. He was in his bed. With Ryan. Naked. And his sister was grinning down at him like a human Cheshire Cat.

"Marisol!" It wasn't a squeak, really, it wasn't. Feeling his face suddenly burn with a rare blush he managed to order in a scandalized whisper: "Out!" It was paired up with a glare and his hand pointing towards the door. Beneath him he could feel the other man stirring, the hand in his hair twitching minutely as Marisol complied, her body shaking with suppressed laughter even as she closed the door to his bedroom behind her. Groaning in embarrassment, Eric relaxed back against his newly found lover, the hand in his hair now moving in a slow soothing caress.

"Whazzup?" Ryan slurred, still mostly asleep. Eric had to smile despite himself.

"Nothing," he whispered, brushing a kiss against the soft throat in front of his nose. Then he began to untangle himself reluctantly, running a soothing finger over Ryan's cheek when he protested in his barely conscious state. "Go back to sleep. I'll be back in a few minutes."

He stood up and donned a pair of sweatpants before dreadingly walking out the door. When he turned around one last time he saw that Ryan had curled up on his side, covers pulled up to his nose. It was damn cute as far as Eric was concerned.

"What the hell are you two doing here?" he asked fiercely but quietly in an attempt to keep the man in his bedroom asleep when he saw his mother and eldest sister looking at something in Marisol's hands. The two women snapped their heads up, guilty conscience written all over their faces and he managed to get a glimpse of a digital camera before the younger woman swiftly hid her hands behind her back.

"Tell me you didn't!" Eric asked mortified. So that was the clicking noise he had heard. God, this was embarrassing. Not enough that his sister and mother had seen him in bed with his lover, they had to take pictures of it, too!

"You two looked so adorable in there, we couldn't help ourselves," Marisol defended herself with laughter dancing in her eyes. Women! Hiding his face in his hands he moaned: "He's never gonna be able to look you in the eyes again if he ever finds out, you know?"

"Will you?" Taking his hands down he glowered at his smirking mother. Somehow, that look never seemed to work on the women in his family. He sighed in resignation when their smirks only broadened.

"We actually came to have breakfast with you but somehow that doesn't sound like a good idea anymore," his mother told him with a huge grin on her face. She then gestured underneath the little tree where a small heap of brightly wrapped presents was piled up. "We also brought you the presents you forgot to take with you yesterday. There are some for you and your colleagues, including the one in your bedroom." And again, Eric could not help but blush.

His mother moved towards him, reaching up and enveloping him in a tight hug which he returned full force despite his irritation.

"Feliz Navidad, hijo."

"You too, Ma."

Marisol mimicked her mother's actions as soon as the older woman stepped away from her son, wishing him a merry Christmas as well.

"Don't forget to take him with you when you come over tonight, Eric," his mother told him in way of a parting.

"Whatever."

He should have known better than to turn his back on them before they were out of the door.

"My, you sure got yourself a passionate one this time, didn't you?"

"Mama!" he cried out in mortification. Eric didn't even need to ask what she was referring to. He had felt the obvious burn of scratch marks on his back as soon as he got out of bed.

"Get out!"

Ruefully shaking his head, he stepped back into his bedroom when he heard his door close, watching the sleeping figure there for some minutes before crawling back under the covers with him. Spooning up from behind him, Eric kissed Ryan's shoulder gently, grimacing at the sight of his own mark he had left there. He could clearly see his own teeth, two crescents of dark red spots surrounded by an area of angry purples and blues.

As much as he didn't want his mother to know any details about his love-life, she had been right. Ryan was a passionate lover. Somehow, Eric had not expected that. The younger man's OCD habits sometimes had the sad side-effect of diverting attention from his actual personality. But as soon as Ryan had let himself loose control yesterday he had turned into a purely sensual being. What little he was able to remember from their first encounter didn't even come close to last night. Ryan had been the most responsive lover he could dream of and as much as he might have wanted to, he hadn't been able to hold back once he had felt his lean frame writhing underneath him. And now that he finally knew what he wanted he wouldn't be foolish enough to ever let go again.

About half an hour later – which Eric had spent just revelling in the feeling of his lover pressed close to him, his head buried in the dark mop of hair – Ryan stirred again, this time waking up completely in a matter of minutes.

"Eric?" the Cuban heard him mumble in a somewhat nervous tone. He tightened his hold around the younger man's waist in an attempt to be reassuring without actually having to say anything. "Hmm?"

Turning around in his embrace, Ryan looked curiously up at him, a smile tugging at his lips. "No regrets?"

Despite the calmness, Eric could feel the other's need to be sure about that. Their first time hadn't exactly been an example of making the right choices and the morning after had reflected that. This time was different though and although they both knew that, Eric realized that Ryan still needed to hear the words. Leaning up on his elbows, he assured his friend with a gentle smile: "None whatsoever," before leaning down and bringing their lips together in a languid kiss. Ryan's hands came up around his neck but before anything more could happen, the young man broke off regretfully, telling Eric: "As much as I would like to continue this, I need to use your bathroom."

Eric laughed slightly at his breathless state, releasing Ryan from his grip more than a little bit reluctant. "You know where it is."

Lying back against the headboard, the Cuban watched as his lover got out of bed, raising both eyebrows as Ryan stopped hesitatingly, for the first time seeing the mess they had made the previous evening. He had to laugh as Ryan swore, bent down and picked up their clothing to put it away properly. That OCD of his really was a curse. Taking pity on the kid, Eric got up, took the pile of clothing out of his hands and shoved him towards the door with sparkling eyes. "Go! I'll take care of that."

666

"Where did all the presents come from?"

Ryan stopped short at the sight of the heap underneath the little tree. He stood in the doorway to Eric's bathroom, hair still wet and clad in one of Eric's t-shirts and sweatpants. The shirt was a bit wide and the legs of the trousers a bit too long and he had had to roll them up but they were comfortable and they were Eric's.

Strong arms came up around his waist and pressed him against a hard chest in his back. Ryan could not remember ever taking so long for a shower, but then again, Eric did not join him inside the cubicle during one of those showers. It had been fun and hot and definitely too small. The little voice that insisted you were supposed to actually wash yourself in a shower thankfully was low enough these days that he could choose to ignore it.

"Why, Santa paid us a little visit, of course!" Eric murmured into his ear, once again sending pleasant shivers down his spine.

Turning his head slightly so that he could send a glare in his lover's direction, Ryan countered: "You do realize I'm a bit old to believe that story!"

"Could've fooled me..."

Reaching behind him to swap the taller man's head, Ryan warned: "You know if you intend to keep this up there will be no repetition of last night."

"You're a cruel, cruel man, Ry!" Eric moaned playfully and Ryan could not keep from laughing out loud. "And don't you forget it!"

Extricating himself from the other man's hold, Ryan made his way to Eric's kitchen to see if there was anything in there they could transform into something edible for breakfast. He honestly didn't know how Eric was able to keep his form with all the junk stashed away in his kitchen and the... biological experiments he had found in his fridge. Must be his mother's cooking.

"Actually, my mother came by this morning."

At that Ryan's head snapped up in trepidation. "What?"

"I was supposed to distribute them at Alexx' dinner yesterday but I forgot."

"Eric!" the younger man interrupted him shortly. "You're mother was here?" Oh, please, please, she didn't see anything, did she? "Did she see us?"

The slightly sheepish, slightly embarrassed expression on the Cuban's face really was all the answer Ryan needed to go into a full blown panic attack.

"Oh God! Oh God, please, someone just shoot me now!" It was a pity he would not be able to keep hiding his face in his hands; it was a really great way to avoid looking at anyone. Ryan doubted the burning in his face would go away ever again. And the mirthfully laughing eyes of his lover did not help matters at all as Eric forced his hands down to give him a soft kiss to his forehead.

"It's not like she didn't bet on it the moment she saw you standing there in her hallway."

"She's your mother Eric! I don't have any problem with her knowing that we're sleeping together. But she doesn't need to see me in your bed! That's just too kinky! Oh God! Oh God!"

Eric just laughed and drew him in for a soothing hug. "Don't worry. You're not the only one she managed to humiliate today."

He only laughed harder as Ryan hit him on his chest in irritation. Pulling away from his lover, Eric turned around and headed for the heap of presents under his Christmas tree, telling Ryan over his shoulder: "Come on, let's open presents. I know you smuggled one for me in here last night when we stopped by your apartment."

Oh, that arrogant, smug...

"They took pictures, too, you know?" The Cuban's voice interrupted his ranting. Sighing, Ryan stepped out of the kitchen and followed his lover's path.

Hold on...

"They? Pictures? ERIC!"

IV.

About four days later, Eric stood outside the trace lab, intently watching his lover working with Valera through the glass walls. If Ryan had not been so blatantly oblivious to the woman's unmistakable passes the Cuban would have been more than just a little bit jealous. As it was, he had a hard time controlling his urge to laugh out loud when Valera stomped around the table, obviously frustrated with Ryan's lack of response while the young man followed her action with confused eyes.

"Your smile gets any wider and someone might get the impression you're happy that he's so slow on the uptake..."

Startled, Eric looked over his shoulder to see his boss standing next to him, observing the happenings in the lab. The red head seemed as amused as he was judging by the twinkle in his eyes and the smile tugging on his lips.

"That obvious, huh?" Eric winced unconsciously. Much as he liked his boss, Eric liked to think that he was better at keeping his private life and job separate. Then again, Horatio was not known as the best CSI in southern Florida for nothing.

"For anyone who cares to notice..."

And that was another thing Eric was really, really glad for. Horatio couldn't care less about his colleagues' personal preferences. While Eric was well prepared to kick anyone's ass who gave Ryan and him a hard time in the department – and there would be plenty, especially on the police force – it would have been more than awkward if their boss had been one of those homophobic idiots.

Looking back into the lab, he noticed Valera gave it another try, telling Ryan to look down the microscope and stepping closer to him than necessary to explain whatever it was she had found.

"Well, Valera obviously doesn't."

In any case, they had work to do. And if that involved grabbing Ryan and heading out to the crime scene once more that was just tough luck. For Valera anyway. Knocking shortly on the closed door, he opened it and leaned against the doorframe, smiling at his lover when Ryan glanced at him inquisitively.

"You ready to head out to the scene one more time?" he asked casually. "I think we might have overlooked something."

"Sure."

Excusing himself to the woman who kept throwing Eric dark glares now, Ryan moved towards him. Instead of walking past him however, the young man stopped beside him, his eyes on something in Eric's back. The Cuban turned around just in time to see wicked blue eyes laughing at him before he heard Calleigh's mirthful voice:

"You know, technically you two have to kiss now."

"Excuse me?"

Ryan's choked words mixed with Alexx' startled laughter as the M.E. came heading towards them from down the hallway. But, yeah, somehow that's what he wanted to know as well. Following Calleigh's amused finger point upwards Eric saw a forgotten mistletoe hanging just above them. Oh, what the hell... They were going to find out anyway.

"Alright."

"What? No, Eric, don't you d..."

It was a really effective way to shut Ryan up, too. But the younger man pushed him away after a few short seconds.

"Do you just love it so much when I can't look anyone in the eyes without blushing?" his lover groaned and Eric was not too sure if he heard amusement, embarrassment or exasperation in his voice. Probably a bit of everything. Somewhere to his right he could hear glass shattering on the hard floor but right now he really did not want to know what Valera broke in her surprise.

"Yeah, actually I do."

He did not give Ryan anymore time to protest before diving into another kiss. This time, Ryan yielded to him after another moment of shock, bringing his arms around Eric's neck while the Cuban pressed him against the doorframe. He honestly could not help the smug grin when he vaguely made out Horatio snapping Calleigh's and Alexx' mouths shut.

The End