"Try Eric's number." Natalia said. She waited breathlessly as Valera dialed Eric's cell.
"I wish I had speed dial." She murmured. Finally, Eric picked up…
Ryan, Eric, and Calleigh waited with their numerous sound devices and equipment that allowed them to listen to the exchange between Horatio and Guzman.
Guzman had gotten a phone call from a partner that released two of the hostages, explaining that they were in an alley some ten miles away.
"Why did you let two of them go?" Horatio asked.
"One of them is going into shock, Caine. She won't last long, so you'd better be able to meet my demands." Benicio said.
"Okay, guys. Let's pick up those hostages and get to work." Calleigh said, taking off down the road toward the alley.
Eric's cell rang before they'd reached their destination. He answered it, thinking it was Horatio.
"Valera? I thought you were in Orlando for the day." Eric said. As he spoke on the phone, his entire face changed, prompting Ryan and Calleigh to ask what was wrong.
Eric hung up and turned a corner, getting closer to the alley.
"The hostages were Valera, Natalia, and Keats. Keats is the one going into shock." He said, blinking quickly. Ryan rubbed his forehead and stayed very quiet.
"Did we get a location on the hideout?" He asked in a quiet, painful tone.
"They've moved her somewhere else." Delko replied, avoiding looking into Ryan's eyes.
Horatio gave Benicio a cold glare.
"What do you want, Guzman?" He asked.
"I want you on the business end of a bullet." Benicio replied.
"I'll tell you what, Guzman…turn over my CSI, and we can have an old-fashioned draw. The quickest gun gets the privilege of leaving here. Alive."
Benicio turned this thought over in his head, finally agreeing. He made a few phone calls, finalizing their arrangements.
"Wolfe! Guzman stashed her in Natalia's car outside a restaurant called 'The Spanish Fly.'" Delko shouted across the alley. Delko and Calleigh were treating Valera and Natalia for several minor lacerations, taking fingerprints and photographs.
Ryan hit the ground running, reaching Natalia's vehicle several minutes later. He bounded on the car, pulling the doors open frantically.
Keats was sprawled out in the backseat. Her skin was clammy and she was drenched in her own sweat. She looked pale and dehydrated.
Ryan clutched her tightly, as though he could warm her. He waited for the paramedics to arrive and accompanied her into the ambulance.
He stroked her forehead, closing his eyes and wishing he had seen it coming.
He rubbed his lips fervently, hoping she would be all right.
"Hang on, Keats." He whispered, holding her hand on his cheek.
A medic began to track her heartbeat, checking her pulse at regular intervals.
"We need to give her something to slow her heart down. Otherwise, she'll slip into cardiac arrest." He said. He began measuring a clear liquid, drawing it into a needle. He injected the needle into her IV.
Ryan's mind raced. He didn't want to think about what would happen to Keats if they couldn't help her in time. He couldn't even say it to himself.
He stood in the waiting room walking back and forth manically. It was cruel to have to wait. He didn't know what to do.
"Wolfe…how is she?" Eric Delko entered the waiting room along with Calleigh, Natalia, and Valera. The latter two were then taken (by Calleigh) to another wing of the hospital to be looked over thoroughly.
Delko and Ryan were left alone.
"I don't know. They haven't told me anything, yet."
"Sit down, Wolfe." Eric pulled up two chairs and they sat down next to each other. Ryan rested his elbows on his knees, keeping his head down.
"I can't lose her." Ryan muttered. Delko placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sure she'll be fine-"
"How do you know," Ryan shouted, his eyes brimming, "…I'm sorry, Delko."
"It's fine. I can't imagine what you must be going through. If it had been Natalia, I don't know if I could have handled it."
A male nurse emerged from the double doors and walked over to Eric and Ryan.
"Are you the fiancée?" He asked. Ryan nodded.
"An infection from a previous wound caused internal hemorrhaging, but we managed to stop the bleeding. We gave her a few pints of blood to recover what she'd lost, and it looks likes she's going to be okay."
Ryan gave a relieved sigh.
"Can I see her?" He asked anxiously.
Keats shivered under the hospital blanket, wondering where she was. She heard Ryan's voice and felt comforted instantly.
Ryan smiled down at her, touching her face. He noted that she was getting her color back, as her lips were a rosy shade of pink. He kissed her gently.
Behind him the sun was setting, casting brilliant oranges and reds across the walls. Keats stirred, opening her eyes to all the bright colors.
"Ryan. Are they okay?" She murmured.
"They're fine. They got checked out with a clean bill of health." Ryan said, running his fingers through her hair.
"How do you feel?" He asked. She laid a hand on his arm and squeezed.
"I'm a little cold." She said. Ryan leaned over the bed and used his body heat to warm her, holding her carefully.
Horatio stood ten feet away from Benicio, his hand lingering over the gun at his side.
"Ready whenever you are." Horatio said. Benicio Guzman wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, uncertain about the entire affair.
He hadn't thought things through, and now he was at the mercy of a cop. Lt. Horatio Caine, to be exact. A man that had undoubtedly been trained for situations similar to this one. There was no way he could be beat.
He stared at Horatio for a moment longer. He took a deep breath and dropped his handgun, lifting his arms to the sky. Horatio watched Benicio, ignoring the swarm of police officers that had come onto the scene to arrest him.
For that moment, it was as if they were the only men present. They shared an unmistakable look that conveyed regret, revenge, and ultimately respect. They seemed to understand each other.
"Take him in." He said, putting on a pair of signature sunglasses.
"What the hell was that about?" Tripp asked him.
"Clavo promised him money for his part in the raid, Frank. He was never compensated."
The men walked into the shadows at a slow, even pace.
Ryan stepped outside the hospital room, closing the door gently behind him. Keats was asleep, spending the remainder of her birthday healing from severe blood loss. He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed.
"Ryan Wolfe. Long time no see. It feels like it's been forever."
Ryan turned around and faced the irrepressible, ambitious blond.
"Erica. What brings you to Boca Raton?" He asked, less than thrilled to see her.
"The continuation of the Clavo Cruz story…this is huge, Ryan. Even from the grave he manages to exact revenge. And despite his best efforts, his victims somehow survived." She said with interest.
"Erica, this isn't the time to do a story. Sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave." He said, his voice low. Erica brushed a strand of hair from her face and gave an indignant frown.
"I have every right to be here." She said.
"Oh, yeah? Why's that?" Ryan asked. Erica gave him a flirtatious smile.
"If you have to ask, you're dumber than you look." She said in a husky tone.