Disclaimer: I do not own anything from CSI: Miami, wouldn't want to!

A/N: Thanks again for all the reviews, alerts and encouragement! Enjoy!

While Calliegh and Eric were looking for Ryan, Horatio was worriedly stroking his hand across the young CSI's fevered brow. It seemed his temperature was getting worse.

Ryan felt as if he were floating in a warm dark place. He could hear voices , but not what they were saying. Sometimes it was Horatio, other times it sounded like Frank, some he didn't recognize at all. 'I'm tired...it hurts...Billy? It's dark out...tired...' Confusion gripped Ryan as he once again faded into unconsciousness.

The nurse made her rounds and frowned at the temp of 103 her patient had. She quickly exited the room to get Dr. Spenser. After examining Ryan, he found that an infection was festering in the cut they sutured on his right arm. He cleaned the site and made sure the stitches were alright. Looking at Horatio he started to explain, "We're going to change the antibiotics to find something more effective, try to get his fever down. Hopefully they should start working by this evening. I'll be back then to check on him."

"Do you think he'll be okay?"

"Hopefully he will." The doctor gave H a slight nod as he left the room.

Alexx arrived a few minutes later. "I would have got here sooner, but I had to drop my boys at school..." She gasped when she saw Ryan's pale, still body laboring to breath with the ventilator. She couldn't help the tears that ran down her cheeks, her 'baby boy,' as she called him, looked awful. Horatio gestured for her to have a seat. "Tell me what happened to Ryan!" She sat and took hold of Ryan's hand giving it a squeeze.

Horatio sighed, not able to look Alexx in the eyes, he kept looking at Ryan. In a low voice he explained how Ryan ended up fighting for his life. Alexx was highly upset and wanted to punch Horatio to knock some kind of sense into him. Of course now was not the time for it, but she fully intended to give him hell later! Why did they overlook poor Ryan? She knew if Calliegh or Eric had gone missing, the team and everyone else would have been exerting themselves to find them. Ryan probably would have worked non-stop to find them, it was so unfair. 'My poor baby boy, I don't know why you're so loyal to this so called team. You deserve so much better!'

"I'm so sorry Alexx...I know that's not enough." Horatio knew Alexx needed some time with Ryan. "Can you sit with him for a while? I just want to grab something to eat."

"Sure, go on, I'll stay for a while." Alexx waited for H to exit and then started to quietly talk to Ryan. She talked about her boys and about her new job and small talk about the great weather she enjoyed while on vacation. "I miss working with you Ryan. I just know you're going to get better. You also know that I'll be here for you and help any way I can baby boy." She pushed the hair gently from his forehead, leaned over and lightly kissed him there. "I have to go now sweetheart, but I promise I'll be back when I can." As she turned to leave she noticed Horatio standing just outside the door his hands covering his face. She wanted to scream at him but knew she'd save it for later. "Call me please if there are any changes!"

"I will Alexx, I will!"

Ryan couldn't understand what was happening. More voices, so soft. 'Alexx...at the lab?...so tired...H?' His muddled brain was spinning and once again he let the darkness swallow him.

Horatio once again sat by Ryan's side holding his hand. The constant touch helped him feel hope that the young man would get better sooner. He hoped Ryan was able to tell he wasn't alone.

Dr. Spenser came that afternoon and was pleased that the fever was down. The new antibiotics were working, but Mr Wolfe had shown no signs of waking.

Evening was approaching when Calliegh and Eric made it to the hospital. They got to the ICU floor and saw Frank in the waiting room sipping coffee. When Frank saw them he immediately got up and went into Ryan's room in order to send H out to talk to them. He already informed Horatio about his angry outburst at the lab that morning. Horatio got up and changed places with Tripp knowing Ryan was in good hands.

"I just couldn't tell them about Ryan, H."

Laying a hand on Frank's shoulder, "It's okay, it's my mess and my responsibility to fix it." With that Horatio came out of Ryan's room almost bumping into Eric and Calliegh. He nodded his head toward the waiting room. They both hesitated at first, but sensing an explanation, they turned and walked back.

"How is Ryan? Why didn't you tell us he was hurt?" Calliegh asked with genuine concern. She noticed how tired and sad her boss looked.

"Why don't you both have a seat."

"What?! Why can't you just tell us how he's doing!?" exclaimed a worried Eric.

"Sit! I'll tell you!"

They both slowly sat, wanting to know what was going on. Horatio pulled up a seat across from them and sat facing them. "This could have been avoided," began H.

"What do you mean?" asked Calliegh.

"We did nothing to find Ryan...never questioned why he never showed up with that photographer. We...I did not follow through!"

"I tried calling him twice, H!" exclaimed Eric.

Not looking at either of them, H continued in a low voice, "The Russians had him! They tortured him and when he wouldn't cooperate they kidnapped Billy Gantry, threatened to kill him. Ryan told me everything he had done and begged me to find Billy while he stalled for time." Horatio paused, taking a deep breathe he raised his head to look at his team. "When I did find Billy, it was just in time to shoot his would be killer." He paused again not wanting to tell them of Ryan's anguished scream, how it made him feel. "I was expecting Ryan to meet us back at the lab...I didn't...I couldn't tell how hurt he was that morning. Next thing I know the hospital called."

Eric and Calliegh couldn't look Horatio in the eyes. They both were thinking about how they treated their teammate. Calliegh was the first to break the quiet, "We were so mad at Ryan for withholding evidence. He must have just finished finding out that Billy was safe when he came into the lab with that shell casing...he mentioned extenuating circumstances..."

"We never gave him a chance to explain H," Eric sadly stated. "I was pretty harsh, yelled at him to get out! Never gave him a chance..." he repeated quietly.

Horatio feeling the guilt weighing heavily on his mind let the quiet envelop them. Knowing he needed to get back to Ryan's side he added, "We all owe Mr. Wolfe...Ryan an apology. I don't want to lose him from the team."

"You haven't told us how Ryan is doing," Calliegh softly spoke with genuine concern.

"He's had surgery to stop internal bleeding, he's on a vent to help him breath. He's stable but in a coma." Horatio pointed towards Ryan's room so they could see for themselves. "We'll talk later."