Chapter 2: Back to Work

Ryan rushed into the coroner's office and found Calleigh and Alexx already there waiting for him.

'Nice of you to join us' Alexx told him

'Yeah, what happened to you?' Calleigh asked 'You left before I did and I made it here before you'

'Took a road that I thought would be a shortcut and would you believe it, traffic was terrible. Then I got here, dropped off the things for DNA and prints and got here as soon as I could'

'Alright…' Alexx said 'Let's get started' She began the Y incision and performed the autopsy, telling them her findings as she went along. Ryan occasionally had the sniffles, making Alexx look up several times. She put the victim's clothes and sowed the vic back up. In the end her findings concluded what they had assumed, victim died of a single stab wound to the abdomen.

'Here you go' She handed the clothes to Calleigh

'Thank you Alexx. I will take care of these. Ryan, do you want to work the trace around the wound?'

'Sure, I'll check up on things in DNA and prints and I'll check up with you later'

'Valera's not going to like you rushing her'

'Well, she didn't have much work. Even if, you know she'll just tell me to come back later'

'Thanks Alexx' Calleigh said and headed out of the coroner's office

'Thanks Alexx' Ryan thanked her too and started heading out

'Ryan, honey? Can I talk to you for a second?'

'Sure what's up?'

'I'd ask you the same question. You were driving me crazy with your sniffling'

'Sorry about that'

'And your eyes are red too. Are you feeling okay?'

'They are? I didn't know. Woke up with a bit of a runny nose this morning. Guess I must be coming down with something. Late nights and early mornings will do that to you'

'Well come here' Alexx motioned to come to her side of the table

'What?'

'You heard me, I said come here' Alexx repeated

Ryan did as he was told and stood before Alexx who put her hand on his forehead

''what are you…?'

'Not only am I a mother, but I'm also a doctor. No sign of a fever' She began to examine him 'throat is not swollen and say ahh...nice and pink. Eyes are now nice and clear. I see no sign of you getting sick sweetie'

'Well that's good news, means that I can keep working. Thanks Alexx' He started heading out

'Ryan' she called to him 'I know that it must be hard coming back to work after what you've been through. I f you ever need to talk…'

'Thanks Alexx' He smiled and left

-xxx-

Ryan stepped into the print lab and found Eric working.

'Hey, Welcome Back' Eric said when he saw him

'Good to be back. Two weeks off was nice, but I'm glad to be back at work'
'Yeah it must be more fun than just slumping down at your apartment'

'I do have a life Eric'

'If you say so' Eric said 'but…' he asked 'how are you doing?'

Ryan could tell by his change in tone exactly what Eric was referring to

'I'm fine' Ryan put it simply

'I don't know if I'd be able to come back to work as fast as you'

'Karen seems to think that it's because I'm stubborn. She may be right'

'How is she anyway?'

'She's good… and engaged Delko'

'I know that Wolfe can't I just ask?' Eric smiled

'Well she's doing well. Calls me nearly every day to ask me how I am and tell me about the wedding plans. They have their date now, the reception hall…She's so excited….So what are you working on?'

Prints, that I lifted off the car where my victim was murdered'

'Oh…your victim, your scene. I thought we do them in order?'

'Yeah, in the order I want' Eric laughed 'it's called patience Wolfe. Why don't you go see Valera, see if she any results?'

'Well I figured that it as safer coming to see you first then rushing her'

'You're probably right about that. Well I'm finished running mine through AFIS and now I will get to work on yours'

'Thanks, Mind if I wait?'

'Would you leave even if I asked you to?'

'No'

Eric started to work on lifting the prints off the knife that Ryan had brought. A few seconds in thee was a knock on the window. There was Horatio and as soon as Ryan met his eyes, he knew that he wanted to talk to him. He went out to join him in the hallway.

'Nice to have you back with us Mister Wolfe' Horatio greeted him

'Good to be back H'

'How's your first day back?'

'Alright, just getting back into the swing of things'

'Now I know that you probably feel that you don't need this, but its department policy. You will need to see the department psychiatrist'

'Come on H, I don't need to see a shrink'

'You had one evaluation to let you come back Mister Wolfe, but policy requires that you continue to be evaluated to see if you're still fit to work'

'Make sure I don't screw up right?'

'I don't doubt your abilities at all Mister Wolfe, unfortunately they don't feel the same. So you have your first appointment tomorrow morning before your shift. And please, don't let me hear that you didn't show'

'I'll try not to let you down' Ryan said

'You never have Mister Wolfe and I know you never will' Horatio said and continued on his way

-xxx-

The next day Ryan stood in front of the office to the department's psychiatrist. He had considered several times not coming, but remembering what Horatio had told him made him come. Now all he had to do was knock. Thoughts started to run through his head. Often people didn't want to see shrinks because they figured they didn't need them, but Ryan knew better than that now. The real reason why people never wanted to go was because they didn't want to face their fears, talk about what they had gone through when all they wanted to do was forget. But there was no turning back now…Ryan took a deep breath and knocked.

So Sorry that it took so long to update!!! Thank you so much for the reviews that I got already. I know how much you want this story updated and I promise the next time won't take as long. Keep the reviews Coming!!! Enjoy!!!!