I was just informed that I made a mistake when I last updated. Here's the real next chapter for this story.

This was one of those chapters that got a little weird for awhile there, and then I just didn't care to try and make it make more sense.

They All Fall Down

Ryan's chest was burning. He coughed and grasped his chest. He felt queasy and weak. He fell towards his lab table and heaved in gulps of air as he grasped the table with every ounce of his strength. His knees became weak and he slid towards the floor. He heard someone cry out his name and his eyes rolled in their socket. Someone was standing in the room. They were small, almost childlike. It was a woman, maybe a little girl. She knelt beside him and Ryan looked into hazel eyes before the world went black.

"Come on, Ryan, breathe!"

Someone pounded on his chest and lips were pressed against his blowing air into his lungs. Ryan gasped and took in a lung full of clean air. He coughed and gasped as his head pounded. His eyes fluttered opened and lights flooded into his vision.

"Oh thank god, Ryan!" Strong arms wrapped around him and held him tightly against his chest. "Oh god, I thought you were gone!"

Ryan continued to fight to breathe and a familiar scent filled his nose. "H," he finally managed, "What happened?"

"Someone filled the lab with Halon gas," Horatio explained as he helped Ryan sit up. "When I got here everyone was unconscious."

"What did you do?" Ryan inquired as Eric entered the room, handing Ryan a bottle of water.

"Shot the window out, of course. I had to get some kind of clean air in."

Ryan chuckled and leaned his head into Horatio's shoulder. "God, I feel like shit," he muttered.

"You're probably going to for awhile," Eric said, "You weren't breathing there, buddy."

"I wasn't breathing?" Ryan inquired as he drank his water.

"No and you scared the shit out of me," Horatio quietly said as he tightened his grip on Ryan. "I thought you were gone."

"But you saved him," Eric said. He chuckled lightly. "H wasn't going to let you go quietly. He started pounding on your chest and performing CPR and swearing like a sailor."

Ryan chuckled quietly. "Thanks Horatio," he whispered.

"Jessica finally found a good one that I like," Horatio said, "I wasn't about to watch you leave."

"Oh my god! Someone get in here!" Natalia's voice shrilled through out the lab. "We need help! He's not breathing!"

Ryan walked into the morgue. There he was, lying on the table in his uniform. He looked so peaceful, just lying there. Ryan walked over to him. Ryan placed his hand on top of his where they were folded on his stomach. His hands were cold and he didn't move when Ryan touched him. Ryan's thumb grazed over the back of his hand as he stood there.

"Hey Jesse," Ryan said, "I just wanted to come and say good-bye. Horatio says they're shipping you back to California to be with your family." He looked at Jesse's lifeless face. "I'm so sorry this happened to you. It shouldn't have been your time. You're a good man Jesse and a great cop and CSI. You've helped us so much. You're done great things. You saved Jessica. You helped me bring her back. Because of you I can hold her again." Ryan brushed a tear from his eye. "And that's the greatest thing anyone has ever done for me. I can't thank you enough. You brought back her trust in people. You protected her when I couldn't. You were there for her in ways I couldn't be. You were there for me, too. I don't think I could have survived that week without you and Horatio. Thank you so much."

Ryan squeezed Jesse's hand. He was saddened when there wasn't a reaction, though he knew there wouldn't be. "I hope you're with your wife now. I know you've missed her. I'm sorry it had to end this way." Ryan smiled to himself. "Tell you what Jesse if you see my little girl let her know I love her and I miss her everyday. Take care of her, she needs someone to be with her. She's probably alone and scared. Keep her safe, there isn't anyone I would trust more with my little Elizabeth.

"Thank you Jesse, for being the brother I never had. You're a great man and I'll miss you. Good-bye Jesse." Ryan lowered his hand and looked at Jesse one last time.

Ryan walked in the dark. It was warm and felt like the sun was shining though it was dark. It felt like there was sand under his feet and the smell of salt lingered in the air. He saw someone walking towards him and almost instantly recognized her.

"Ryan!" she yelled. She started running towards him. She embraced him in her arms and felt him lift her from the ground. He kissed her and held her tight.

"Jessica, I've missed you so much!" Ryan said to her.

Jessica looked at him. Ryan took in her presence and marveled at her beauty. She was wearing her white dress from the day they held the memorial service for their daughter on the beach. He realized he was wearing his khakis and a white button down shirt, the same outfit he had worn that day.

"Ryan, where are we?" Jessica asked.

"I don't know." Ryan responded, looking around. "I don't recognize anything."
"Ryan, do you see that?" Jessica said, pointing to the light that seemed to be growing. There was someone walking towards them.

They intertwined their fingers and walked towards the other person. As they got closer they could see it was a man. There was someone else walking with him, much smaller, holding his hand. When they got closer Jessica recognized the man.

"Oh my god, Ryan," she said, "It's Jesse!"

"I think you're right," Ryan said to her.

Jesse Cardoza stood before them. He smiled at them. "Hey guys," he said.

"Jesse," Jessica said, "Is it really you?"

Jesse smiled his huge shining smile. "The one and only."
"Jesse, where are we?" Ryan asked.

Jesse shrugged his shoulders. "No where really."

"Why are we here then?" Jessica asked.

Jesse smiled again. "I thought you would like to meet someone."

For the first time Ryan and Jessica looked at the person with him. It was a small child, maybe four years old. She had dark brown hair and huge hazel eyes. Her eyes lids drooped about halfway and she had a rather round face. Jessica felt herself tear up and covered her mouth with her hand. She felt Ryan squeeze her hand tightly.

"Jesse," Jessica choked, "Is that…?"

Jesse smiled. "Ryan, Jessica, meet Elizabeth Renee Caine Wolfe." The little girl smiled at them and Jessica felt the tears fall.

"Oh my god, is it really?" Jessica asked.

"The one and only," Jesse said.

"Can we hold her?" Ryan asked, his own tears crawling down his cheeks.

"Yes, but you can't take her with you," Jesse said. He knelt to the ground and looked at the girl.

"Is that them?" she asked in a thick voice.

"Yes Liz, that's them," Jesse responded.

"Can I see them?" the little girl asked.

"Yeah Liz, go get 'em," Jesse smiled.

The little girl came running towards Jessica and Ryan. Jessica dropped to her knees and held out her arms. She held her daughter in her arms for the first time and cried.

"Mommy!" the little girl exclaimed, "I found you!"

"Oh Izzy," Jessica cried.

"No, I'm Lizzie." She said, "That's what Uncle Jesse calls me."

Jessica smiled and smoothed her daughter's hair down. "Alright Lizzie."

"Hey Lizzie," Ryan said, kneeling down, "Do you know me?"

"Daddy!" Lizzie exclaimed. She practically tackled Ryan to the ground as she jumped into his arms. Ryan cried, happy to have the chance to hold her again. He buried his face into her hair and breathed in her scent. She smelled like oranges and hand sanitizer. "Oh god, Lizzie Bug, I can't believe it's you," Ryan mumbled into her hair.

Lizzie's eyes brightened and she turned to Jesse. "You were right Uncle Jesse! He did call me Lizzie Bug!"

Jesse chuckled and walked over to them. "Yeah, I guess I'm a pretty good guesser."

Lizzie laughed and wrapped her arms around Jesse's neck. "Thank you Uncle Jesse for bringing them here!"

Jessica looked at Jesse. "You brought us here?"

Jesse looked at her, his warm brown eyes shining. "Yeah, I did. I had to show you, both of you. You both asked me to take care of your little girl, so I had to find her. When I did I knew I had to show you. I wanted you to see how happy and healthy she was here. I know it was a rough ending for both of you. I didn't want you to remember your daughter like that. I thought you would like to see her."
"How old is she?" Jessica asked. She was confused because their daughter wouldn't have even been born yet if she were still alive."
"She's four years and seven months old." Jesse said, "And if you say a day less she sasses at you. Just like her mother." He smiled at Jessica.

"But how can she be that old?" Ryan asked.

"Well here you can kind of decide how old you want to stay and how you want to look. I mean in the afterlife you don't really have much to do. Lizzie decided she wanted to be four years and seven months old." He rumpled the small child's hair. "She wanted to be grown up, but still be a little kid."

Jessica pulled her daughter into her arms again and held her. "Jesse, why does she look like she still has Downs Syndrome?"

"Because that's who I am." Lizzie said, "I was born this way, Mommy, and that's how I wanted to stay. I heard Daddy say there was nothing wrong with me when the Doctor told him I had Downs Syndrome and he would love me anyway. I heard you say it too when Grandpa told you. I know there was nothing wrong with me so I wanted to stay this way."

Jessica's eyes over flowed with tears as she buried her face into her daughter's hair. "You heard us, Lizzie?"

Lizzie smiled and nodded her head quickly. "I could! I watched you and Daddy and Grandpa all the time!" The smile faded from her face and her eyes grew huge. "I was there the day the bad air got into the building. I could see Daddy and I knew he would be with me soon. But I didn't want him to come with me. So I found Grandpa and pulled him back to the building. He shot the window and the noise was loud! It scared me! Uncle Jesse found me though. He held me and told me it was going to be ok. He took me to Daddy and I helped wake him up."

Ryan made a whimpering noise and Jessica looked at him. "That was you, Lizzie?" he said, "You woke me up?"

Lizzie nodded her head again. "I did! Uncle Jesse helped, too!"

Jessica looked at Ryan concerned. "Ryan, what's wrong?"

"When I first woke up I thought I saw someone standing next to me." He said, "It was a little girl and there was a man with her. I only saw them for a second and then they were gone. I thought it was the gas messing with my head, but it was you, Lizzie?"

"And Uncle Jesse!" Lizzie happily exclaimed, "You were right Uncle Jesse, he did see us!"

Jesse chuckled and rumpled her hair again. Lizzie laughed and tried to fix it herself. "You're silly, Uncle Jesse!"

"Jesse," Jessica said, "I have to ask, he's not where you guys are, is he?"

Jesse shook his head. "No, I don't think so. I haven't seen him, but I would never let him anywhere near Lizzie. However, there are a few others that wouldn't mind seeing you again."

Jesse stood and took a step to the side. Ryan and Jessica could see a group of people walking towards them. There were three women, a man, and a short girl. Ryan felt his eyes overflow with tears when he recognized the one.

"Momma?" he said walking towards her. She nodded her head and held out her arms. Momma!" Ryan yelled running to her. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed his head. "Momma!" Ryan sobbed in her arms.

"Oh my baby boy," Melinda Wolfe said, "You're so tall." She pulled him back and looked into his hazel eyes, the same as hers. "My god, look at you!"

"Momma," Ryan choked, "Momma I love you! I'm sorry I got you killed! I'm sorry I made you dead!"

Melinda hushed him and ran her hand through his hair. "It's ok Ry-Ry, you didn't do anything. It was an accident."

"Momma, where's Dad?"

Melinda shook her head. "I haven't seen him since that day. I looked for him for awhile, but then I gave up. I don't know where he went, but to be honest I don't miss him."
Ryan felt new tears form in his eyes and he buried his face into his mother's neck. "Momma," he whispered, "I miss you."

"I miss you, too, Ryan. I miss you and Rachael every day."

Jessica walked over to Melinda Wolfe and looked at her. Melinda smiled and touched her cheek. "You must be Jessica." She said, "You finally found him. You found my boy."

Tears streamed down Jessica's face. "What do you mean I found him?"

"You're his soul mate." Melinda said, "When I died I wandered for a long time, looking for my husband. I saw you one day and heard your heart song. It sounded identical to my son's. I knew you were the one that shared his soul."

Jessica blinked back more tears. "You believe it, too. You believe that we share a soul with another being."
Melinda nodded her head. "Yes, and every time you're born you have to find this person. They're always out there, you just have to keep looking. It's difficult sometimes. I watched a young couple miss that their souls were paired and they lost each other. But because they did, you were born."

Jessica's bottom lip quivered. "You mean my mom and dad?"

Melinda nodded her head. "Horatio heard it but Jessica didn't, but sometimes that's just how things work out. Everything happens for a reason."

Ryan turned and looked at Lizzie. "Lizzie, come here sweetheart." He held out his hand and Lizzie ran to him and grasped it. "Lizzie, this is my Momma."
"I know," Lizzie said, "I've already met her, along with Grandma Jessica and Grandpa Brian and Grandma Marisol and Aunt Izzy."

"What do you mean Lizzie?" Ryan asked her.

"She's talking about us." They heard a woman's voice say. Jessica and Ryan looked to see Marisol walking towards them. "Oh my god," Jessica said, "Marisol."

Marisol's eyes lit up. "I've waited so long to meet you, Jessica." She pulled Jessica in for a hug and held her step-daughter for the first time. She looked into Jessica's ocean blue eyes and smiled. "Yup, you're Horatio's alright, I can tell by those eyes. I'm so glad we finally got to meet."
"Marisol," Jessica said, "I can't believe it's you."

"I've been watching you, Jessie Bug. You've been working hard."

"Mari, I miss you." Jessica said.

"I've missed you, too, Bug," Marisol said, hugging her again. "There's someone else who would like to see you though." Marisol wrapped her arm around Jessica's waist and led to the other three people. There was a woman at least half a foot shorter than Jessica and a man Jessica's height. The young teenage girl stood just inches shorter than her mother.

"Mommy, Daddy," Jessie said, "Is it really you?"

Jessica Johnson smiled at her daughter. "Yes Bug, it's us."

"Oh my god," Jessie said, wrapping her arms around her mother. She released her and hugged her father. "I can't believe you're here. I've missed you so much!"

"We've missed you, too, Jessie." Brian said, "You've grown so much." He looked into her eyes. "Horatio's eyes, you really are his daughter."
Jessie shook her head. "No, I'll always be your daughter."

"But you're Jessie," Jessica said, "Our daughter is Izzy." She reached for the teenage girl's arm and pulled her to her side. She smiled at Jessie a wide smile that was encased in braces. She had curly blonde hair with red and purple highlights and olive green eyes.

"Izzy….?" Jessie said.

Izzy nodded her head. "Hey Jess," she quietly said.

Jessie stood there confused. "But I thought…"

"You always said we were different people." Izzy said, "That day you said good-bye to Lizzie I left too. I was always with you Jessie, but it was time for me to leave." She smiled at Jessie. "Thank you for letting me go though. I finally got to be with my parents again."
Jessie smiled and pulled her in for a hug. She was almost a foot shorter than Jessie. "You're welcome, Izzy, and thank you; you made me who I am today."

Izzy smiled. "You're welcome, sorry I caused you so many problems."
"It's ok, Izzy," Jessie said, smiling at the young girl, "I forgive you."

Izzy smiled and hugged her again. "Tell Daddy H I said hi."

Jessica pulled Izzy back from Jessie. "We have to leave now, Izzy Bug." She looked at Jessie and smiled. "Thank you for taking care of our daughter and for finally letting her come back to us."

Jessie smiled and brushed the tears from her face. "You're welcome and thank you for all you've done for me."

Jessica watched them turn and walk away, their shadows fading into the distance. She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Marisol standing next to her. "Take care, Bug," she said, "And don't let that father of yours wait any longer. Tell him to move on already." She winked at Jessica and began to walk away but turned and waited. Melinda Wolfe walked up to Jessica, holding Ryan's hand. She placed Ryan's hand into Jessica's and smiled. "Take care of my son Jessica." She said, kissing Jessica's cheek, "He's needed you for a while now." She turned and kissed Ryan's cheek. "I love you, Ry-Ry. I'll see you again some day. And don't worry if I ever see your father again I'll give him a what for." She smiled cheekily at him.

Ryan smiled and looked at his mother one last time. "I love you, Momma."

Melinda and Marisol walked away together, leaving Jessica and Ryan standing there. They knew there was only one thing left to do.

They turned to see Jesse and Lizzie playing. Jesse was swinging Lizzie around, holding her hands, laughing with her. He stopped when he saw them looking at him. He picked Lizzie up and walked over to them.

"Lizzie sweetie," he said to the small child, "It's time to say good-bye."
"But I don't want to!" Lizzie whined, "Can't Mommy and Daddy stay with us?"

"I'm sorry, Lizzie, they have to go back. It's our time to go now."
Small tears formed in Lizzie's eyes and she reached out for her parents. Ryan took her into his arms and held her one last time. Jessica wrapped her arms around Ryan and Lizzie and they stood there together.

"I'll miss you, Mommy and Daddy!" Lizzie cried.

"We'll miss you, too, Lizzie," Ryan said, "But don't worry, we'll be together again some day. We can be the family we were supposed to be."

"When will that be?" Lizzie asked.

"I don't know sweetheart, but I don't think it will be for a long time." Ryan told her, "Stay with Uncle Jesse though. He'll keep you safe."

"I love you Mommy and Daddy!" Lizzie cried.

Ryan tightened his grip on his daughter and felt Jessica's arms do the same. "We love you, too, Lizzie." Jessica said, "It was so nice if Uncle Jesse to bring you here."

Ryan set Lizzie on the ground and kissed her forehead. "You be good, sweetie."

Jessica looked at Jesse and jumped into his arms. "Thank you Jesse! Thank you for letting us see our daughter again! And our family! Thank you so much!"

Jesse kissed her cheek. "Anything for you, Jesse Power." He pulled back from their embraces but held onto her hand. Jessica felt him slip something into it. When he released her hand she looked to see a quarter in her palm. It was an Alaska quarter. Jesse smiled at her. "I won't be needing it, you hang onto it though. You might need it some day."

Ryan embraced Jesse in his arms and held him tightly. "I miss you so much, man!" Ryan said, "Without you Walter keeps bugging me to play basketball with him. You know I'm too short to beat Walter!"

Jesse chuckled and patted his back as he stepped back. "Use a left hook; he's too right hand dominate to figure out how to stop it."

Ryan smiled at him and clapped his shoulder. "I'll have to remember that."

Jesse held out his hand and Lizzie slipped her tiny hand into his. "Time to go home, Uncle Jesse?"

Jesse smiled and nodded his head. "Time to go home, Lizzie Bug."

They waved good-bye to Jessica and Ryan and then turned and disappeared into the horizon.

Jessica and Ryan stood there alone for a moment. Then Jessica turned and kissed Ryan gently.

"I guess the only thing for us to do is say good-bye," she quietly said.

"I guess so," Ryan said. He ran his hand through her hair and brought her head to his. He kissed her gently and then again more roughly. They looked into each others eyes without speaking.

"I miss you Jessica." Ryan said, "Everyday I wake up hoping you'll be lying there next to me."

Jessica smiled weakly at him. "I miss you too. We'll be together again though."

"When?"

"I'm sorry Ryan, I can't tell you." Jessica leaned up and kissed his neck. She gently bit at the spot on his neck that she knew drove him wild. She bit harder and felt the skin break and tasted his blood on her lips. She laved over the spot for a moment and then stood back. There was a bruise on Ryan's neck and small scraps with her teeth impressions in it. "There, a little something to take with you," she said with a sly grin.

Ryan touched the spot on his neck and felt the droplets of blood on his fingers. "You did a good job this time," he jokingly said. He leaned down and bit her neck in almost the same spot. When he tasted blood he pulled back and admired his work. "And one for you, too," he said with a smile. He kissed her gently and looked into her eyes.

"Good-bye, Jessica, I love you and I miss you every day."
"Good-bye, Ryan, I love you, too, and I can't wait until we're together again."

They released their hands and turned and walked back their separate ways.

Ryan awoke slowly from the dream. He opened his eyes and sat up in his bed. He was alone again. He wasn't surprised.

Ryan pulled his legs up to his chest and stared out the window. He had a few more hours before he had to wake up for work, but he wasn't tired anymore. The dream had been so real. He wished it was. He missed Jessica so badly.

Ryan stood from his bed and walked to the window. He looked out into the clear night sky. He could see the stars for once and smiled to himself.

"Thanks Jesse," he said, "Thanks for letting me see my little girl again."

Ryan walked into the crime lab and signed in at the front desk. He grabbed the two coffee cups he had set down and walked towards his boss's office. He found Horatio sitting at his desk trying to fill out paperwork.

"I take it someone got here early to finish the paperwork he's been putting off," Ryan said as he set a cup of coffee in front of his boss.

Horatio smiled and accepted the cup. "Now you're not trying to suck up to me, are you, Mr. Wolfe? Because I can guarantee you flattery will not get you married to my daughter any faster."

Ryan chuckled and took a drink of his coffee. "No, I just had a feeling you needed a pick me up this morning."
"And oh how I did." Horatio took a drink. He froze momentarily and lowered his cup to his desk. "Ryan, what's that on your neck?"

Ryan set his cup on Horatio's desk reached up and touched his neck. "What?"

Horatio stood from his desk and grabbed Ryan's arm. He dragged him down the hall to the men's room and pushed him in front of the mirror. "That," he said, angrily pointing at Ryan's neck. "What is that?"

Ryan looked at his reflection in the mirror. He gasped when he saw what Horatio was talking about. There was bite mark on Ryan's neck. It was bruised and Ryan could just barely make out teeth marks. He ran his hand over the spot and flinched when his fingers grazed it.

Horatio leaned in very close to Ryan. He could see that his boss was starting to fume.

"Do not tell me you had another woman in your bed," he growled in Ryan's ear. "I will feel no remorse."

Ryan straightened up. "H, if I tell you about something, will you promise you won't kill me?"

Horatio grabbed his arm. "You better start talking and it better be quick!"

"I had a dream last night and Jessica and Jesse and Lizzie were there and so was my mom and Brian and Jessica and Marisol and Izzy and they were all dead but Jessica and I were alive and we got to see them again and hold Lizzie and hold each other and just before we left she bit my neck in that very spot and left a bite mark and told me it was a little something to take with me I swear to god I haven't had another woman in my bed and I love Jessica and she's the only one for me and please don't kill me!"

Ryan covered his face as he finished his sentence. He waited for Horatio to hit him but nothing happened. He lowered his hands slowly to find a stunned Horatio standing there.

"You dreamt this?" he asked Ryan. Ryan nodded his head. "Jesse came to you in a dream and Jessica was there and….what?" Horatio tried to follow the story but was too confused.

Ryan explained to Horatio the dream and how he had held his daughter again and was able to see his mother one more time. When he was done he stood there and waited. Horatio processed everything and looked at Ryan again.

"Do you believe me, H?" Ryan asked.

Horatio shook his head. "I don't know Ryan. None of this makes sense, but how else could you get that mark on your neck." Horatio brushed his fingers against the mark. "It looks identical to the other ones we examined on your body when Jessie went missing. But it doesn't make sense."

Horatio stood there for a moment and then pulled out his phone. "Excuse me, Mr. Wolfe, but I need to make a call really quick." He left Ryan standing alone in the bathroom.

Ryan touched the spot on his neck. It felt like teeth marks. He had seen the spot in the dream. Felt Jessica break the skin. How else could he explain it?