Authors Note: Wow! A great big THANKS! To all who reviewed, put my story on alert, and even favorite list. You guys are so nice! I hope you stay until the end. Here's the next chapter. Happy reading! Remember this is fiction!

Horatio practically ran from the building to his Hummer. He jumped in pressing his speed dial for Frank. "Frank, Mr. Wolfe is at Mercy General...I'm on my way there now. Can you meet me?"

"What happened! Is he alright?"

"I'll fill you in when you get here. Right now he's in critical condition and is going into surgery."

"You know I'll be there H, see you in fifteen!"

"Thanks, Frank!" Horatio then called headquarters to talk to personnel. He arrange three weeks of vacation time for himself and medical leave for his CSI. Finally he made it to the hospital and rushed inside.

"I'm here for Ryan Wolfe, the nurse called to tell me he was being taken to surgery."

The young woman at receiving looked up and smiled, "Let me just see where you need to go...you need to take the second set of elevators to the fourth floor. Just exit to the left and you'll see the nurses station, I'll let them know you're coming, Mr...?"

"Lieutenant Caine," Horatio filled in as he started for the elevators. As he exited on the fourth floor he quickly made it to the nurses station. Guilt was starting to crowd his thoughts. If Ryan died it would be mainly his fault. It all came down to him and his team not looking for the missing young man. 'Damn, this shouldn't have happened!' Lost in his thoughts he jumped a bit when a nurse addressed him.

"Are you Lieutenant Caine? Sorry to startle you." He nodded yes so she continued, "I'm nurse Michaels. Mr. Wolfe is in surgery, I just need you to fill out the paperwork." She handed him a clipboard with forms and a pen.

"Do you know anything about his condition?"

"Mr. Wolfe was severely beaten and suffered some mild strangulation. He has four broken ribs, cuts and bruises across his upper body. The surgery is being done to stop the internal bleeding and fix a tear in his lung. He lost a lot of blood which has weakened him. The doctors will do their best, though it will take some time. I'll update you when I can."

" Thank you." Horatio slowly walked to the waiting area forms in hand and tiredly took a seat. 'I can't believe how oblivious I've been! How did Ryan function with all the pain he must have been in? How could I not notice how hurt he was when he told me about Billy? Damn! I failed him as a boss, and we certainly failed him as a team. We all owe Ryan an apology.' He finished filling out the paperwork and as he handed it back to the nurse, remembered the letter in his pocket. H took it out with a shaky hand and opened it as he sat. He was truly saddened by what he read:

Horatio,

Thank you for the opportunity to be on your team. I need to leave at this time. I'm afraid

I've lost whatever trust the others had in me with what I've done. I never felt I really

belonged so I know you guys probably won't miss me. Take care of your team, don't let the Russians break you apart. Thank you for saving Billy and tell Frank good-bye for me.

Sincerely,

Mr. Wolfe

Horatio was stunned. He did not want Ryan to leave. What a mess! Movement in the hallway caught his eye, Frank had just arrived. "Frank."

"Hi, H. Any word on Ryan yet?"

"Nothing yet."

"Tell me what happened. Ryan looked fine yesterday though he was moving kinda slow."

"Have a seat Frank," he sighed. After Tripp sat he reluctantly started relating the information.

"Mr. Wolfe...Ryan, was beaten severely. He has broken ribs and suffered some internal bleeding. Frank he worked the whole day with these injuries and no one noticed! Just this morning he told me about Billy and what had happened to him the night before. Adrenaline must have kept him going, I had no idea he was hurting so much."

Frank interrupted. "Wait a minute, what did happen to him? Who beat him up? And what's this about Billy?" he angrily asked. "Tell me what happened, H."

Horatio sighed deeply and looked away guilt weighing on him heavily."The Russians kidnapped Ryan and tried to force him to withhold and destroy evidence against them. He wouldn't give in, so they grabbed Billy Gantry somehow. They threatened to kill Billy if Ryan didn't cooperate." He paused to take a deep breath then spoke in a low voice, "They underestimated Mr. Wolfe. He was able to analyze the trace elements on his own clothes to figure out where they held him and Billy. He asked me to go after Billy while he stalled for time...I almost didn't make it on time." A shiver went down Horatio's spine as he recalled Ryan's terrified scream over the phone. He closed his eyes briefly to get his thoughts together. Frank could tell there was more to tell. "When I got Billy back safely and Ryan wasn't there to meet us, I knew something was wrong."

Frank had listened, but now he had to ask,"What I don't get Horatio, is why no one told me he was missing? Why didn't you look for him, or did you not know he was missing?"

"We were so busy with the other case we never followed up to see what happened to Ryan...damn, one of our own was missing, and we let him down. He could die from our inaction!"

"Too busy!? What a bunch of crap!" Frank was stunned and angered by Horatio's admittance. It made him furious to think that no one tried to look for Ryan. He looked down trying to get a grip on his anger and noticed the letter. "What's that H?"

Horatio handed the letter over for Tripp to read. He could see the mans hands tighten in anger as he read it.

"You better straighten this mess out, H! I hope you're not going to let him quit."

"Not if I can help it Frank, not if I can help it!"

"You all have a lot to make up to poor Ryan, if he lets you. I wouldn't blame him if he did leave. From day one you guys have made him feel less than welcome. Heck, you hardly ever call him by his first name." He handed the letter back to Horatio. "I take it you're staying?"

"That I am! I'm not leaving Ryan's side until he gets better. I owe him that much and so much more."

As mad as Frank was, H was still his friend. "Do you need me to clear anything with HQ?"

"No I've taken care of that."

"I'll stop by your place and pick up some of your things once I get off work."

"Thank you Frank. Can I ask you to let the others know about Ryan? I left in a hurry leaving Calliegh in charge."

"I'll let them know Ryan's in the hospital, but not why. They should come and talk to you about that."

"Fair enough Frank."

"Listen I have to get back, call me as soon as he's out of surgery."

"I will! So I'll see you later?"

"Yeah, I'll be back with your stuff tonight."

"Thanks!" Frank left a dejected Horatio sitting, waiting for news of his CSI. A blanket of ugly truth covered his thoughts. There was no excuse for what happened to Ryan.