Ello! This one came a little faster. I hope you enjoy it. Not the best one, but it leads up to more. The usually disclaimer of course. Mistakes are mine, and, apparently, a lot of random, unknown people. Sadly, CSI Miami and it's characters are not on this list. CC is welcome. I love reviews. (Thank you everyone for the reviews from the last chapter. They were so lovely.) Now on with the chapter. :)

Numb, that's how Ryan felt right at that moment, numb. He was in one of the seats in the room he saw so often everyday, but never expected to sit in. The case was moved to the nightshift, he knew by the fact that their somewhat familiar faces walking around. They looked tired. 'Probably not as bad as you look right now.' his mind whispered.

He saw the people looking in his direction, whispering and shaking their heads. When he looked directly at them, they would look away. It was as if he did it, as if he was guilty of killing his brother, his brother who had a beautiful wife and a daughter he adored. Ryan felt guilty, even if he didn't do it.

Walking into that autopsy room, another place he was familiar with, he never thought he would find anyone he knew, let alone his older brother. It was a living nightmare, one out of a horror movie. Ryan looked up to see the nightshift detective walk up to him. He couldn't think of the mans' name at that time. "Mr. Wolfe, Lieutenant Caine called your mother. She's on her way here." Ryan only nodded. He didn't want to speak at the moment. The last words he spoke were when he told Alexx she was basically performing an autopsy on his brother. "Sergeant Stetler is going to want to talk to you." Ryan nodded in response. "You know I'm going to have to ask you questions as well, right?" He nodded once more. "This means you have to speak."

Ryan glared at the man before him. "I know. I do work here. Now can I have some time by myself before Stetler comes? I just walked into autopsy to find my brother lying on one of the tables cut wide open."

The detective let out a frustrated sigh. "I'll be back later to ask some questions." He walked away.

Ryan's mother came running in soon after. "Ryan! Are you ok? Horatio called and said I was needed here. He said it was about my son. Did something…?"

"It's not about me this time mom." Ryan interrupted. "It's about Joseph."

"Is he in trouble? Where is he? I didn't know he was in Miami."

"I didn't know he was here either."

"Where is he?"

"He's in the morgue."

"What's he doing there?" What he said went right past her.

"He's gone."

"Oh god. No, Ryan, he's not." She was becoming hysterical. "This isn't funny Ryan. Did Joseph put you up to this?" There were distinct tears on her face.

He looked her in the eyes. "I wouldn't lie about this."

"Oh god." She only cried as Ryan hugged her close.

"That was reckless Rebecca."

"I know. I'm sorry sir."

"I never expected that from you. I expect that from a young vampire, but you, never."

"I didn't mean to disappoint you. It was only a message to John."

"Well, you just made my work harder. We want the boy to come to us. We want him to like us, not loath us before he even knows our faces and names."

"I'm sorry, my anger got to me."

"I'm letting you off with a warning this time. Specially considering he probably wouldn't exist if it wasn't for you. Think with your head. That's what they do." She nodded. "I want you to keep an eye on him."

"Of course."

"And keep your distance. We don't know what he's capable of."

"As always."

"Now go, leave my presence before I change my mind." Rebecca walked out. "I have a lot to do."

Horatio stood by watching the exchange between Lily and her youngest. Losing Joseph would be hard on her. Horatio himself would feel it. The last he saw of the man, who he later found to be Ryan's brother, he was nothing more than a baby, a year old at the most. Soon, Horatio felt a familiar presence beside him. "Rick."

"Horatio."

"Have you come to speak to me first?"

"You know its standard…"

"Procedure. Of course."

Stetler looked in Lily's direction too. "Is that his mother?"

"Yes, it's Ryan's mother."

"I was talking about the victim."

"Him too."

"Where's their father? Isn't she married?"

"Those aren't standard questions Rick."

"This is off the record. Just answer."

"You'll have to ask her that. She's very particular with how she answers her questions."

"Horatio, this could help with the investigation. Narrow the suspect field down. I mean, the note was nailed to his chest. That cannot be a coincidence."

"It's not."

"Then help."

"I can help you right now. I know who the note was written for."

"You need to tell me."

"May Lillian forgive me." He whispered, though Rick heard it clearly.

The nightshift CSI couldn't believe her ears. The dayshift M.E. just told her the condition of the body. "You're kidding, right? This is just a big joke because I'm working on the case instead of the dayshift."

"Honey, I wouldn't lie about something like this, especially when it comes to one of their family members."

"None though? He's completely drained?"

"Like a desert when it comes to water, only a desert would have more water."

"Yet no puncture wounds?"

"I couldn't find any. I examined the entire body, twice."

"Not a drop?"

"Like I said, there is not a drop of blood in this boy's body. It's like the blood just evaporated into thin air."

"That's the cause of death, but what caused the cause?"

"That's for you to answer. I have a friend to comfort. You need to look him over, he's in here." Alexx walked off, leaving an astonished CSI.

"This has got to be a dream." she whispered to herself, trying to figure out how this could possible happen. "Completely drained of blood and not a puncture wound in site, this is so weird."