Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of CSI: Miami. Unfortunately. Am just borrowing and they will be returned undamaged and in their original packaging.
This Has Gone Far Enough
Valera was becoming increasingly frightened. Luke was now coming around to her apartment. He never did anything she could call the police about. He hung around outside, waiting to see her. He'd leave, come back or stay away at various times. She was never certain when he was going to be there. He usually wasn't there in the morning, for which she was grateful.
This morning she was running late. Mainly because she had been too afraid to look out of the window until the last possible moment and she had left it late. Then she found herself caught up in the traffic of hundreds of others trying to get to work. It was hot and humid and she was in a bad mood even before she reached work.
Her mood didn't improve when she got to the reception and was presented with a massive basket of flowers waiting for her there. The grins and knowing smiles of the receptionist and the other staff there made her even more irritable.
Until she read the card.
I'm sorry. I love you.
Irritation gave way to a cold knot of fear. She ripped the card into pieces and dragged the flowers with her to the lab. Why he had sent her flowers at work, rather than her home, she didn't know. Nor care.
The first person she saw Calleigh who merely raised an eyebrow at the flowers. Valera flung the basket onto a table. 'Could you get rid of these for me?' she asked. 'Do you know someone who might appreciate some beautiful flowers? I don't want them.'
'Maybe you should send them to Ryan,' Calleigh said.
Valera looked confused. 'Why would I want to send Ryan flowers? He'd probably shred them and send them back.' The feeble joke was the only one she could muster and it left a bitter taste in her mouth.
Calleigh blinked. 'You don't know.'
'Know what?'
'Of course, you were late.' Calleigh hesitated. 'Ryan's at the hospital. His car got hit on the way to work.'
'What?' Valera went deathly pale and for a moment Calleigh thought she was going to faint. She caught hold of the other woman's arm and helped her to sit down.
'He's fine,' she said quickly. 'He's fine, but Horatio had him sent to hospital anyway, just to make sure he's fine. I think Tripp said he had a cut on his head and that was it.' She smiled. 'A lot of blood, but it was a small head wound. They always bleed badly. Nothing a couple of stitches won't fix. Valera,' she said gently, 'he's fine.'
Valera nodded, trying to clear her head.
'You do care about him, don't you?' Calleigh said.
Valera ignored the question. 'What happened?'
'Tripp says Ryan said that he was driving along the road, started to pass a red car at turning which accelerated and crashed into his car. Fortunately, Ryan saw it coming and braked. It hit the front of his car, and Ryan hit his head, but other than that he was fine. The other driver took off.'
'So he's fine? You're sure he's fine?'
'He'll be back here in a couple of hours, if I know him,' Calleigh said. 'Eric's at the scene processing his car, Tripp's there, he called the lab to tell us why Ryan wasn't here. He's fine,' she repeated. 'Like I said, no serious injuries. For Ryan's track record, it qualifies as a minor scrape.' She waited a moment and then said, 'I have to go. Are you going to be okay?'
Valera nodded and when Calleigh had gone, she stepped inside the empty DNA lab and closed the door. She pulled out her phone and dialled.
'Luke,' she said when he answered.
'Hey, Maxine,' he said, sounding delighted to hear from her.
'I told you to leave Ryan out of this,' she hissed furiously.
'I'm sure I don't know what you mean.' His tone was dryly amused.
'You hit his car this morning. Didn't you.' She could barely force the words out, she was so angry.
He didn't even bother to deny or confirm it. 'I told you. If I can't have you, no one can.'
'What are you playing at? Practically stalking me, scaring me, sending me flowers, hurting my friends?'
'Just remember what I said.'
'Leave him alone,' she whispered.
'Like I said. If I can't have you, no one can.'
'Don't hurt him. Please don't hurt him anymore. This is between us.'
He hung up.
'You bastard!' she snarled down the phone and threw it down onto the table. She slammed her fists down on the table top and fought to keep from crying.
'Do you want to talk about it?'
She spun around in shock.
Horatio stood in the doorway. He was watching her with an expression of concern.
Valera stared at him. 'I think,' she said eventually. 'I think – I don't have much choice anymore.'
When she had finished, Horatio was silent. He was looking down at the floor, thinking deeply.
'You haven't told Wolfe about this, have you?' he said at last.
She shook her head. 'I can't. It shouldn't be his problem and he's had enough to deal with this year – '
'It's your choice,' Horatio said, although he sounded dubious. 'I'm not sure that I agree – '
'But like you said, it's my choice,' she said quickly. 'I haven't told him and I don't intend to.'
He raised his eyebrows but didn't say anything.
'And there's nothing any of us can do,' she said. 'Luke will hurt Ryan if I do anything, if I report him, and no one can stop him.'
'You have very little faith in us,' Horatio said mildly. 'Actually, I have an idea that will mean that we can catch him and keep him away from you before he even knows the game's up.' He paused. 'It will mean something of a risk on your part, however.'
'I'm willing to take that,' she said instantly. She didn't say that right now she would do anything to make sure Luke didn't hurt Ryan, but she didn't need to. Horatio understood that.
His expression softened. 'Okay. This is the plan.'
