When Eric came to it was the sounds he noticed first. Someone was moaning in pain. Someone else was swearing up a storm. And a third person was just breathing hard. Really hard.

Then he remembered where he was and he snapped to full awareness. He sat up quickly and looked around. He looked to his side in time to watch Takedown scoop up Lockdown and take off. Eric thought about pursuing or trying to stop them, but he knew he had no chance against them. And there was something more important to take care of instead.

Icewolf lay on his back obviously trying to catch his breath. The blood from his injuries was beginning to pool around him and there was hardly a spot of white fur left. The ice wielder turned his head to look at Eric, green eyes barely open.

"Eric, help me," the white wolf murmured. "I have to revert to my human form, but I can't do it here."

"Where then?"

"Base."

Eric didn't bother to ask questions. Instead he got up and then carefully maneuvered Icewolf onto his shoulder. He thought the other wolf would be harder to carry, but apparently augmented strength came with the wolf powers. He was able to get them onto the parking garage roof and then continue going from roof to roof following the instructions Icewolf was giving him.

They ended up at an abandoned warehouse, which Eric found a little too cliché. Once inside he found it was still just an abandoned warehouse. At that point Icewolf insisted on being put down. The injured wolf stumbled over to a counter and placed both palms on it. The counter lit up and a white light scanned the surface. What had looked like a solid floor cracked and then slid open to reveal a stairway. Icewolf slumped against the counter and Eric stepped forward to help the white wolf down the stairs. It was slow going, but once they were halfway down Icewolf stopped and put both palms to the wall and the same white light scanned the surface. Above them the floor slid back into place.

"Nice," Eric commented.

"Could be better," Icewolf muttered. "The security isn't nearly what I'd like it to be."

"Do you own the warehouse?"

"No, I just decided to build my secret underground headquarters under someone else's warehouse," Icewolf sneered. He then sighed and slumped against the wall. "I'm sorry. I can't help it."

Eric didn't reply. He simply stepped over and began to help the other wolf down the stairs again. When they got to the bottom the lights automatically switched on and Eric found himself in a familiar room and he was free to walk around instead of being restrained to a table. He helped Icewolf a little way into the room before the white wolf pulled away and dropped to his hands and knees. Eric made a move to go the wolf's side, but stopped as Icewolf suddenly began to change. It was so rapid, smooth, and natural that before he knew it the wolf was replaced by a completely healed human.

A very familiar human.

"Wolfe? You've got to be kidding me," Eric exclaimed. "There's no way that it could be that obvious."

"Puns about my name aside," Wolfe grumbled as he examined his healed hand. "You will keep my identity a secret."

"You're Icewolf? That's—not at all what I expected."

The younger man's face darkened and his hazel eyes narrowed. "Yeah, so sorry to disappoint you. I'm sure I won't have to worry about you insisting to be my partner anymore."

Eric stared at the younger CSI in complete disbelief. No way. No way was the superhero he admired the same man as the replacement he hated. Okay, hated was a strong word, but still. It couldn't be possible. His mind couldn't make that connection. He couldn't come to terms that Icewolf was Ryan Wolfe the replacement for his best friend. But it was right there in front of his face. Icewolf was Ryan Wolfe and there was no getting around that.

Wolfe turned away and leaned against the wall. "Just leave, Delko. You don't want to be here and I don't want your negativity around."

"I'm not leaving. We're going to talk about this," Eric said, finally starting to recover from his shock. "What the hell do you think you're playing at?"

"We're not on duty, Delko, and you're playing in my playground now. Why, two hours ago you were practically hero-worshiping me," Wolfe snapped back. "Funny how all that changes just because you found out my real identity."

"You were being an asshole. You've been shoving cryptic shit down my throat and being a high and mighty know-it all," Eric snarled.

"Doesn't feel good, does it?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Wolfe snorted. "It's funny, man. You can dish it out, but apparently you can't take it."

"God, even now you're still a jackass."

Wolfe growled then and there was almost an inhuman quality to it. "You insult me at work and treat me like shit, but by god you're not going to do it in my own base. Get the hell out."

"Oh no, we've got too much to talk about," Eric retorted, crossing his arms and standing his ground.

"You've got some nerve, Delko. You haven't even earned the right to know my real identity, but I didn't have a choice," Wolfe snarled, fury written all over his face. "You of all people don't have the right to make any demands on me. I knew it was a mistake to let you run with me, but I hoped...well it doesn't matter what I hoped, does it? Because despite what you've learned you're still the same close-minded, judgmental asshole. And you have the nerve to want to be a hero."

"Now wait just a minute--."

"We're done talking, Delko. I don't know what the amulet saw in you and for the first time I think one of them made a mistake," Wolfe muttered. There was a hint of defeat in his voice. "I don't want to fight anymore and we don't have the ability to have a civilized conversation. I'm fighting too many battles to have one with you too."

"How do you do it? CSI by day and superhero by night. When do you sleep?" Eric asked as if he hadn't listened to a word the younger man said.

Wolfe sighed. "I don't have to sleep very much. You probably don't either now."

"Oh."

"Once a week on one of my days off someone from the Justice League patrols Miami for me," Wolfe explained, though he sounded like he didn't really want to tell Eric anything. "I sleep for the whole day and night and that's enough for another week."

"How is that possible?"

Wolfe snorted and shook his head. "I have the power of ice and you wonder about how I can go with so little sleep?"

"I'm trying to absorb a lot of information here, man. Give me a break."

"Oh? A break, huh? You're a goddamn hypocrite Eric Delko and I really am done having any kind of conversation with you," the younger man growled. "It's time for you to leave and if you're not prepared to go willingly, I'll be more than happy to throw you out myself."

"You're going to throw me out? I'd like to see you try," Eric retorted, crossing his arms.

"Don't tempt me, Delko. You deserve a major ass kicking, but that would be very un-hero like of me. Green Lantern would probably read me the riot act for it," Wolfe replied. "Just...leave, Delko. I don't feel like being the object of your scrutiny outside of work and you don't want to be around me anyway."

"What happened to your great speech about how I can really make a difference now? You opened my eyes to what I can do now," Eric said. "I want to defend Miami."

"Miami is my city," Wolfe growled. "What you do as a CSI is your business, but I don't need some hot shot rookie wannabe superhero getting in my way and getting yourself and someone else killed."

"You can't stop me," Eric said defiantly. "Miami is my home and I want to make it safe. I'm tired of cleaning up after the messes and wishing I could have done something to stop it. Now I can and you're not taking that away from me."

Wolfe was silent as he contemplated Eric's words. Eric could see a range of emotions flash through the younger man's eyes. They finally settled on resignation and Eric knew he had won. It wasn't like he wanted to spend time with the damn replacement, but he wanted to use his new powers for good and nothing was going to stop him.

"Fine, but if you're serious about this, really serious, then you're going to have to agree to training," Wolfe said. A smirk filtered across his face. "You can be my sidekick."

"Bullshit," Eric growled. "Call me your sidekick and you'll regret it."

Wolfe laughed and suddenly Eric didn't understand how he didn't make the connection between Icewolf and Ryan Wolfe. They were both insufferable know-it-alls.

"You realize that's a fight I'll win. You're not experienced enough to beat me."

"I don't have to be an experienced superhero to kick your ass."

"Think so? Well, maybe we should get that out of your system," Wolfe said thoughtfully. He took a fighting stance and smirked as his body easily made the transition from human to wolf. "C'mon tough guy. You've seen who I fight, experienced it first hand, but if you really think you can take me then bring it on. It's about time I got a chance to put you in your place."

Somewhere deep in his consciousness Eric knew he shouldn't fight Icewolf. For one he had no chance of beating him. Icewolf was an amazing fighter and Eric had watched videos of him fighting all sorts of bad guys. And that tied in with the second reason not to fight. Icewolf was a good guy and Eric wouldn't be doing himself a favor by fighting a superhero. Not in the eyes of other superheroes. Not for such a stupid reason.

But something else closer to the surface, something ugly and angry, told Eric to take his chance. Take the opening and show Wolfe what he thought of the younger man's arrogance.

So, Eric snorted and feigned disinterest before swinging a perfect right hook at Icewolf's face. The younger man smoothly side stepped with a calm that did nothing to ease his temper. His fury only grew as the white wolf easily ducked, dodged, and blocked everything he threw.

"Fight me, damn you!"

Icewolf shrugged, that infuriating smirk playing across his face again. "Okay."

At Eric's next swing Icewolf caught him by the wrist and jerked him off balance. Eric stumbled into a knee to the stomach and was then shoved onto his face. He got up slowly and turned to see the ice wielder waiting with that damn smug calmness. He lunged forward with the intention of tackling the younger man, but Icewolf side stepped and tripped him. Eric hit the ground hard and it knocked the breath out of him. He was much slower getting up.

"C'mon Delko, I thought you were going to kick my ass."

Icewolf was still avoiding all Eric's attempts to strike him. Eric was getting more and more furious. With a growl of frustration he threw his whole body at the other wolf. Icewolf surprised him by not moving and instead used Eric's own momentum to throw him across the room into an unforgiving wall.

"Oh Delko, that temper of yours is going to get you hurt," Icewolf said and for once it didn't sound completely mocking. "I'm not sure what your element is yet. I'm thinking electricity since you fried Lockdown. Whatever your element is though doesn't matter. Anger is dangerous to all element types."

"Do you get power from being an arrogant know-it-all?"

"Actually, I'm a blue power. I get stronger by keeping a clear head and being patient. The calmer I am the more I can focus my power and the more deadly I get," Icewolf replied, seemingly ignoring the insult. Eric had to wonder if the white wolf even saw it as an insult.

"Nice for you," Eric grumbled as he pulled himself up while leaning against the wall for support.

Icewolf crossed his arms. "Now, have you got that out of your system?" At Eric's reluctant nod he smiled. "Good, I fight my enemies enough that I don't need to be fighting you too. Now, if you're going to be working with me you're going to have to learn how to fight, control your powers, and work cohesively with me."

"I know how to fight," Eric argued.

Icewolf's smile turned into that damn smirk again. "Oh? I think I just proved you need practice and training. Lots."

"If you keep insulting me--."

"Delko, my enemies are going to be your enemies. You think tonight was anything new? I tangle with them at least once a week and that's on a good week. Lockdown had you completely helpless before you could even think of joining the fight. Ask yourself honestly how long are you going to survive against Takedown or Lockdown? They've just been playing around so far."

Eric didn't want to admit it, but the white wolf had a point. His hand-to-hand combat skills were extremely limited. He'd never had the need to be incredibly skilled. Most crooks he faced he faced with a gun and when it did turn physical they usually weren't trained martial artists. Against the common criminal Eric could do just fine.

But if he was going to face Lockdown and/or Takedown he needed training. Lots as Wolfe so helpfully pointed out.

"Fine, what kind of training have you got in mind?"