Disclaimer: I do not own anything from CSI: Miami, wouldn't want to!
A/N: Thanks again for all the reviews, alerts and encouragement! Just so you know, all the medical stuff is not accurate. Just enjoy it for what it is, FICTION!
Calliegh and Eric hesitated before they opened the door to Ryan's room. Frank, when he saw them come in, patted Ryan's hand and told him he would be back later. He quickly exited without looking at or acknowledging either of them. The pair caught sight of their co-worker and gasped. He looked pale and lifeless, what was visible of his chest was mottled with ugly bruises. They took in the many bandages on his arms, the garish mark around his neck, the IV's, monitor and ventilator, it was overwhelming!
Eric was the first to find his voice, "Oh my God! Why didn't you tell us Ryan!?"
"Oh Ryan," Calliegh sighed.
Ryan hearing Eric's outcry started to panic, his heart racing. ' 's...mad at me...' His fuzzy brain was not understanding what was happening. He started having trouble breathing causing the monitor alarms to sound.
The nurses and Dr. Spencer rushed past the two men in the waiting area into Ryan's room. They hurried the couple out to the hall and started to settle the sick young man. "Nurse get a light sedative ready, we may need it to get his breathing under control. Michaels get the lieutenant to help us!"
Nurse Michaels came back quickly with Horatio. "Talk to him, please, we need him calmed."
Horatio stepped to Ryan's side and took hold of his hand gently, laying his other hand on the young man's weakly thrashing head, "Ryan...Mr. Wolfe! I need you to calm down son! You're going to be fine...settle down now, please."
His calm voice and grounding touch soon had Ryan's vitals stable. "Ryan can you open your eyes... Ryan?" Horatio disappointed at his lack of response, turned to Dr. Spencer, "What just happened?"
"Let's just step outside a moment."
They both stepped into the hall. "Is he all right?"
"It appears Mr. Wolfe can hear voices at times. He suffered from a panic attack. Right now he's stable."
"How can that be possible when he's not even conscious?"
"As I've mentioned , people in comas sometimes have some awareness and can often hear people talking. The onset of his attack seemed to be when that young couple were in his room. Is there some kind of tension between them?"
"There was a misunderstanding, right before he was admitted," uttered Horatio.
"Well it would be wise to restrict visitation until Mr. Wolfe is out of ICU. I don't want to risk any complications. Why don't you go ahead and explain things while I finish my regular check up with Ryan?"
Horatio found a very troubled threesome waiting for him. They had been quietly waiting each wrapped up in their own worry. Seeing H they all asked at once, "What happened?! Is he all right??"
"It seems Ryan suffered a panic attack, he's stable now. Can you sit with him a few, Frank?"
"Sure Horatio," he gave him a light pat on the shoulder as he passed by.
"I need to talk to the both of you," he ushered them to take a seat. "According to the doctor, coma patients have levels of awareness and sometimes hear voices. He suggested that Ryan have limited visitation for now."
"Did we cause his attack, H?" Calliegh asked quietly.
"I don't know what to say. I know we want him to recover so it will be for the best to wait before you visit again."
"You'll let us know when he wakes up, right?" asked a teary eyed Calliegh.
"I'll let you know. Right now you'll continue to be in charge of the caseload."
"Okay H, let him know we're thinking of him."
"Yeah H, we'll make it up to him somehow," Eric added.
Horatio nodded then turned making his way back to Ryan's room in order to spend another night. Frank traded places with H and quietly took his leave. He was still angered about what Ryan had gone through. He saw his co-workers still in the waiting area and had to bite his tongue. He had hoped not to run into them, so he walked quickly to avoid them.
"You okay Frank?" Eric asked the hurried detective.
Not slowing down, he gruffly answered no.
Calliegh called out, "Frank, wait up!" As she and Eric followed him to the bank of elevators.
"What's wrong?" Eric asked worriedly.
"What's wrong?!" exclaimed an irritated Frank. Lowering his voice, "This just isn't the place to discuss it!"
The elevator arrived and the three got aboard.
"Can we buy you a drink and talk, please?" asked Calliegh wanting to know why Frank seemed so angry at them.
Frank's mind was in turmoil, he knew he needed to tell them how he felt. Knowing he needed time to cool off, he kept silent on the ride down. Stepping out of the elevator he turned to his co-workers, he couldn't look them in the eye,"There's a bar on Main and Creek, the La Brae, I'll meet you both there." He quickly left, not waiting to see if they agreed or not. He purposely picked a bar that was thirty minutes away so he could get his emotions under control before talking to them.
Calliegh and Eric were a little surprised by Frank but quickly decided to meet him. They rode together in silence each in deep thought. About forty minutes later they wandered into the small, cozy bar. Along one wall was an old fashioned dark wood bar, the opposite wall contained high-backed booths, covered in dark red leather. The lighting was low so they walked further in looking for their friend. They noticed Frank as they approached the last booth. Quietly they slid into the booth opposite him and waited until their drinks were brought over.
Frank knew he had to initiate the conversation. After the waiter left the table he began solemnly, "You guys realize that you've let Ryan down, as a teammate and as a friend. Lord knows why he keeps trying so hard to be apart of your team. If either of you had gone missing, he would have busted his butt trying to find you! You know it too!...He shouldn't have been overlooked!"
The two chastised CSI's were devastated. They knew Frank was right. Both were speechless, so Frank continued, "What I don't understand, is how you could just ignore his absence like he was habitually irresponsible. He was supposed to be picking up a suspect right? How is it no one was moved to action when he never returned?" He paused to sip his drink not really tasting it. "I checked the logs, no one even put out a BOLO for him . You would think someone could have run a trace on his phone or the GPS on his Hummer! NOTHING! If someone would have told me , I would have at least tried." Frustrated he put his head in his hands and sighed.
"We're so sorry Frank... I...I didn't even let him explain what happened..." tears were streaming down his face, "What if he doesn't wake up...it's all my fault?!"
"No, Eric," a brokenhearted Calliegh replied, "It's all OUR fault, yours, mine and Horatio's! You are so right about everything, Frank especially how hard Ryan would have worked if he had to find us. We don't know where to begin in making it up to Ryan... or if he'll let us."
They all silently finished their drinks not knowing what more to say.
Finally Frank got up to leave, "He deserves better, he really does!" The saddened detective left two heavyhearted co-workers, hoping things would work out.