Keats could hear voices outside her door and nearly jumped in shock when she heard the name 'Erica' mentioned. The Erica Sykes…as in, possible competition?

Don't be stupid, Keats. He loves you, not her, right?

She crept out of the bed and kneeled beside the door, holding her ear against it to listen.

"Remember that great night we spent at Macado's? I had no idea you were like that…" Erica kept her voice soft and sensual.

Keats eyes widened. Erica Sykes was hitting on Ryan. Obviously, they had shared something. A night at Macado's…Is that a hotel???

He slept with her???

She heard the voices growing dimmer and dimmer, figuring that they were walking down the hall. She crawled back into bed, feeling rather lonely and sad.

Ryan wouldn't cheat on me. He's too good for that.

A tear slipped out of the corner of her eye. She turned to her side and tried to sleep, knowing it would be difficult.

"Oh, God, can you believe that?" Natalia murmured, pulling aside the gossamer shades of the hotel window. Valera was lying in the bed untying her sneakers, which didn't see much walking at Universal Studios.

"What's the matter? Did the air conditioner break?" Valera asked.

"No. Erica Sykes and her news team have camped out in the room across from us. She smells a story, all right." Natalia said with digust. She let go of the curtain and shook her head.

"Hold on a second. Did Ryan just go into the room with her?" She muttered, pulling the curtain back again.

"Don't get involved, Natalia."

"That is so ironic coming from you…fine." Natalia slipped under the covers and switched off the light. After all, it was none of her business.

Keats woke up, but stayed in bed rather compliantly. She hadn't slept at all.

"Miss Remington. I'm happy to see you're recovering." Horatio was standing in the corner of the hospital room with his arms crossed, a light smile on his face.

"I'm all right. Nothing a few days of R&R can't take of." She said with a tiny laugh.

"If you don't mind, June, I'll wait with you until you're released and then escort you back."

"Ryan?"

"He went back with Calleigh and Eric. You don't mind my taking you instead of him, do you?" Horatio wondered. Keats shook her head.

The roads were long and narrow, lined with palm trees and grassy ditches. Keats stayed silent in the front seat, every once in awhile glancing at Horatio.

"She won't bother you, June. I've made it clear to WFOR and Ms. Sykes that they are not to question you about the Guzmans." He said, his eyes never leaving the road.

Keats nodded, thankful for his protectiveness and discretion.

"You know, June, things aren't always what they seem…that's why it's our job to find the facts before we make our move." He said, as if reading her mind.

Her first impulse was to accuse Ryan of cheating even though she knew he'd never do that to her. Even though she had no proof of his infidelity.

I need to talk to him and ask him about her. I can't just sweep it under the rug. But until we discuss it, I shouldn't accuse him of anything.

"You're right." She said. She stared out at the passing cars and wondered what she would say if he admitted that he was still seeing Erica. Could I deal with that???

She sat on the couch in Ryan's apartment. She was battling a fierce urge to rummage around through his things. No, dummy. You trust him.

She went outside and took a long walk, trying to internalize everything. She decided that she was scared. Of everything…graduating, getting married, working as a CSI…it was all so overwhelming.

There were times when she wished she wouldn't have to grow up. Growing up meant getting older, facing responsibilities, standing on her own two feet…

How can I stand on my own two feet with Ryan in the picture?

She placed her hand on a warm tree, circling it as she thought.

Eventually, she began to climb it, reaching to the very top branch. She looked down on everything and marveled at the view. The park near Ryan's apartment was beautiful in the Spring.

So many happy faces and laughing children, yipping dogs and skateboarding teenagers, cheerful elderly couples walking hand in hand. She had never noticed it before but she felt comforted by its very existence.

It was wonderful to know that such a peaceful place existed in the world.

The wind became tangled up in her hair and she decided to set aside her problems and simply enjoy the day.

Cooper stood behind Ryan, watching him examine a few newspaper clipping for fingerprints. He felt a bit out of place, but he wanted Ryan to know that Keats had other options.

"Cooper. Is there something wrong?" Ryan asked, turning around.

"Yeah, plenty. I heard you went into Erica Sykes' hotel room last night." He said with a glare.

Ryan suppressed a laugh.

"Cooper, it wasn't like that. You don't know what you're talking about." He said.

"So you did go to Erica's hotel room." Cooper confirmed.

"Now hold on a second-"

"Listen, I love Skeeter. If you play around on her, I'm not gonna be on your side." He said bravely. He knew quite well that Ryan was stronger and in some ways, larger.

"Cooper, nothing happened. I'm not messing around." He muttered in disbelief.

"Keep it that way." He added as he left the room.

Natalia saw him leave and felt extremely agitated. She hadn't told a soul except Valera that Ryan went into Erica's hotel room. She instructed her not to get involved and yet she blabbed to Dan Cooper. She sighed heavily.

"What have we got, Alexx?" Horatio asked, glancing at the lifeless body of a middle-aged man. He had been strapped down with leather and chains, boasting a bullet in his chest.

"A guy that got a little too kinky for his own good." She murmured. She delicately examined his limbs, finding them covered with coconut oil.

"All that's missing is the whip." Det. Tripp blurted out.

"Do we know who he is?" Horatio asked.

"Um…Felix Stanford. He's the owner of a metaphysical shop several blocks down." He read from a sheet of paper.

"Metaphysical?"

"You know…faith healing, the power of crystals, occultism, philosophy, the study of nature…" Tripp explained.

"How do you know so much about metaphysics?" Alexx asked him with an incredulous look. Tripp shrugged with a nervous smile.