If you haven't noticed I'm one of those writers who will write stories completely out of order. When I get writer's block sometimes I'll brainstorm and just write sections of chapters for future stories. This chapter is one of those cases. You'll probably notice about halfway through one scene seems a little similar to a scene from my story "Sixteen Weeks." That's because "Sixteen Weeks" was the spawn of an idea that hit me while writing this chapter. I got writer's block while working on a different story and I knew where I wanted my Jessica/Ryan series to go so I decided to write a chapter for something way in the future. While doing so an idea popped into my head and thus a story came flowing from my fingers.

Enjoy! :D

What happens in Berlin…

Ryan stopped at the receptionist's desk to sign in for the day. He was only working part of that day because he and Horatio were leaving for Berlin later that afternoon. Ryan had a few cases he needed to tie up some loose ends before he could leave.

Lucy snorted inside her portable crate that Ryan had set on the floor next to him. She bit at the bars on the carrier and tried to paw at the lock.

"Sorry girl," Ryan said as he picked her up, "But you have to stay in there until Calleigh picks you up."

Lucy growled at him and bit at his fingers. Ryan chuckled and set her back on the floor.

"Oh Ryan, before you go a letter came for you," the receptionist said.

"Thanks Mel, that's exciting," Ryan said.

Ryan looked at the envelope. It was addressed to him at the crime lab. There was no return address and the stamp had been canceled in Arizona. Horatio looked over his shoulder. "I think we better get a closer look at that first." He said to Ryan.

They walked to one of the lay out rooms with a light table. Horatio pulled on a pair of gloves and lifted the envelope. He weighed it. "It's not heavy enough to have anything hazardous in it." He commented, "In fact it almost feels empty." Horatio picked up an exacto knife and carefully cut open the end. He peered inside and a confused expression washed over his face. "What is it H?" Ryan asked.

Horatio lifted the envelope and dumped the contents onto the table. Pieces of x-ray film landed on the light table. Horatio looked at Ryan. "I don't know Ryan." Ryan picked up a piece. He held it close to his face and squinted. "There's something written on this one." Ryan placed it on the table. The x-ray glowed with the backlight from the table and the words "don't wanna" appeared in silver marker. "It looks like a rib." Ryan said. He started spreading the pieces out on the table. "It's one picture." He said looking at Horatio. "We have to piece it together."

They started scrabbling to piece the picture back together. More words appeared and sentences began to assemble as the chest x-ray appeared. It took several minutes of trying and retrying pieces but they eventually had the full message. Horatio and Ryan looked at the x-ray and Ryan felt his blood run cold.

"hey big pop drop it like it's hot never gonna make it stop to the top because you're so hot but she's Stone cold how you gonna hold if you're stuck don't wanna take her junk better get her drunk make her take your shit get another hit what you going to do when she's gone what do you want got another hot better make it stop it's your blood on top hey big pop what you going to do?"

"What does this mean?" Ryan asked out loud.

"I don't know Ryan." Horatio answered, pulling out his cell phone. "But I think we need to investigate this."
Ryan looked at him, the fear evident in his eyes. "You don't think this is another death threat, do you H?"

"I'm not sure Ryan. I'll be back in a moment." Horatio left the room as he lifted his phone to his ear. Ryan stood there staring at the x-ray. He could feel his hands shaking as he re-read the message. It didn't make any sense.

Ryan started writing down the message, trying to decipher the code. There was no punctuation except for the last question mark. It took Ryan several minutes but he finally started to see what the author was saying.

"Hey big pop, drop it like it's hot. Never gonna make it stop to the top because you're so hot but she's Stone cold. How you gonna hold if you're stuck? Don't wanna take her junk. Better get her drunk. Make her take your shit, get another hit. What you going to do when she's gone? What do you want? Got another hot? Better make it stop. It's your blood on top. Hey big pop, what you going to do?"

Ryan stared at the message confused. Eric and Calleigh walked into the room. They stopped and stared at the x-ray on the table.
"Ryan, what's this?" Calleigh asked.

"I don't know, it came for me in the mail." Ryan explained, "It's some kind of message. I don't know what he's trying to tell me. I think it might be about Jessica though."

"What makes you say that?" Calleigh asked.

Ryan pointed to the word Stone in the message. "Stone is capitalized. When Jessica first started at the crime lab she used Stone as her last name. I think this guy is trying to tell me something about her."

"That's Jessica chest cavity, too." Eric said, "From when she was kidnapped. I remember because Cardoza and I had to examine it as evidence. See the broken ribs and the ring in her throat? This was taken before Alexx operated."

"So someone stole a copy of Jessica's chest x-ray and wrote some bizarre message on it for Ryan?" Calleigh asked, "Why does he keep saying 'big pop?' Was that some kind of nickname for you Ryan?"

Ryan shook his head. "No, I don't know what it's supposed to mean."

Horatio walked back into the lab, tucking his phone back into his pocket. "Mr. Wolfe your suspicions are incorrect, Jessica's fine. I had the same thought as you when I saw this and I wanted to make sure she's alright."
"So Jessica's fine?" Ryan asked, "She's not in any danger?"
"Not at all, I talked to her myself. I asked her about it and she doesn't have a clue what it is either." Horatio sighed and looked at the light table. "My best guess is someone is harassing you Ryan. Jessica was never pronounced dead and is technically still missing. Someone could have done this as a joke to try and get under your skin."

"Well Big Pop did just that." Ryan said annoyed, "Fucking ruined my day."

"Ryan," Calleigh said, "Why did you put a question mark after 'got another hot'?"

Ryan shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, I read that line a few times. I think it's a question. I think he's asking me if I got another girlfriend." Ryan clenched his hands into fists. "I really don't like this guy getting so personal."

Thoughts of the letter still played through Ryan's mind as the plane rumbled onto the tarmac. He gently shook Horatio's arm to wake him and the redhead looked at him with the same sleepy eyes as the woman he loved. The ride to the village in the taxi was long and Ryan couldn't understand what the people on the radio were saying.

The taxi pulled up in front of a large stone house. Horatio muttered a thanks to the taxi driver in German as he paid him. They carried their suitcases to the door and Horatio knocked.

Sami Friedman's shock was evident on the short redheaded woman's face. She looked from Horatio to Ryan and back again. A deep voice called out from somewhere in the house in German and she turned and yelled back in German. A large man appeared behind her. He was extremely tall with broad shoulders and light brown hair.

"Lieutenant, Ryan," Sami quietly said in English, "What are you doing here?"

"Jessica sent us tickets and directions to your house," Horatio explained as they stepped into the house. "She didn't explain really but I assumed the tickets meant she wanted us to come find her."

Sami continued to stare at him confused. "Jessica never said anything to me about leaving."

Ryan wandered through the living room as Sami and Horatio continued to talk. He looked at pictures that hung on the wall and smiled when he found one of a young Jessica and Sami, clearly from their early years in college. Framed diplomas hung from the walls and Ryan read over them. There was one from Adrian College for Sami in Psychology and German and one from the University of Toledo's Medical School for Psychiatry.

"We met when she was an undergrad," a male voice said with a thick German accent. Ryan turned to see Nathan Friedman standing in the doorway. He towered over Ryan by at least a foot, yet he seemed gently as a teddy bear.

"She studied abroad for her German degree and we met in a coffee shop," Nathan continued. "She was so beautiful I knew I had to talk to her. She told me she was a student at the University studying from America. She was leaving in a week but I still asked her on a date. After that I never saw her again. Then I decided to study at the University of Toledo, in order to learn more about international medicine. She was there, studying to be a Psychiatrist. She remembered me and I told her that someday I would marry her. She laughed and told me that wasn't much of a proposal. I told her it wasn't a proposal, it was a reality. I told her someday she would become my wife. Then I returned home after that semester. She had hardly given me the time of day all those months. One day while I was a resident at the hospital an American woman came into the ER who had been in a car accident. It was Samantha. I helped to save her life and when she woke up she told me she would accept my proposal. Two years later we were married and we moved into this house."

Ryan looked at him and smiled. "That's a great story," he quietly said, "I like it."

"Nathan," Sami said from the doorway with Horatio, "Didn't you say you saw Jessica outside the guest house earlier today?"

"Yes, she was running through the snow," Nathan said, "I think she was trying to escape the cold."

"Did you see her leave?" Sami inquired.

Nathan shook his large head. "No, I never saw her leave the house."

"When was this?" Horatio asked.

"About an hour ago," Nathan answered.

Horatio looked at Sami. "Could we please see the guest house?"

Sami rapped on the door twice. When there was no answer she unlocked the door using her spare key and wandered in. The house was cold and silent. There was no movement; everything seemed to be frozen in time. Horatio and Ryan followed Sami and Nathan inside. Sami turned on a light in the kitchen and lights flooded the small space. They wandered through the house, searching through every inch of space.

Ryan stood in the bedroom and looked around. He felt tears form in his eyes and he choked on his words as he spoke. "She's not here."

"But she was just here," Sami said, "Nathan saw her. She would have told us if she was leaving."

"Sami, Horatio!" Nathan called from the kitchen, "There's something here!"

Horatio and Ryan rushed into the kitchen at the sound of Nathan's voice. He was holding an envelope in his large hands. "It was on the table," he said.

Horatio looked at the blank envelope for a moment before he tore it open. Inside was a handwritten letter on a sheet of notebook paper in pencil.

'Jessica,

They've found you. I don't know how but I've heard word of the Royal Crip Kings finding you in Germany. You need to get out now! By the time you get this they'll already be there.

Tommy Sherzer'

Horatio stared at the letter in shock. He couldn't believe what he was reading. "They're after her again," he muttered, "They know she's alive."

"What's the other paper?" Ryan asked.

Horatio flipped to the next page and read over a letter addressed to him and Ryan.

'Horatio and Ryan,

I don't know if he's serious or if this is a joke or if Tommy even wrote this letter. I don't know how they found me but I'm taking all the necessary precautions. I'm sorry to have led you all the way here for nothing but I couldn't risk someone finding out about you or that I left. Please forgive me and understand that I love you both.

Jessica'

Horatio sighed and shook his head. Anger suddenly burned through him and he didn't know who it was towards. "Ryan we're leaving tomorrow," he said, "We need to return to Miami and visit the Dade County Prison. Sami is there a hotel we can stay somewhere near by?"

"No Horatio, stay here," Sami said, "The storm's getting worse. You need to stay put for now. You can stay in the guest house."

Horatio nodded his head, knowing there was no point in fighting her. "Alright, but we leave tomorrow for home."

"Not if there's a blizzard like they're predicting," Sami informed him. "We'll have dinner ready at six. You're welcome to come over to the main house to join us."

Ryan shivered in his bed. He had several blankets on him and was wearing his sweatpants and a hoodie with the hood pulled up. The storm continued to thrash just outside his window and even with the heat turned up inside the small house he still felt like he was freezing.

There was a loud crack noise and the furnace stopped blowing. Ryan groaned, knowing the power had just been knocked out. A beam of light wandered into the room and Ryan hear footsteps.

"Are you awake, Ryan?" Horatio's voice quietly sounded. Ryan watched the source of the light wander over to the fireplace and logs begin to pile inside. "Yeah, just barely alive," he responded.

Horatio chuckled as he lit the fire. "Have you ever been in a snow storm before, Ryan?" he asked as he built up the fire.

"No, I've lived in Florida my entire life." Ryan said, "My Uncle Ron used his wood chipper to make snow for Rachael and me to play in one year for Christmas when we were kids. That's the closet I've ever been to snow."

Horatio chuckled again as he walked over to the bed. "Move over," he said as he pulled back the blankets.

"What?" Ryan asked surprised.

"How do you expect to stay warm alone?" Horatio inquired as he sat on the edge of the bed. "Besides we've shared a bed before."

"Never willingly," Ryan muttered as he moved over to make room for Horatio.

"You didn't object to me holding you as you cried yourself to sleep that night," Horatio quietly said as he pulled Ryan against his chest. "And I don't see why you would object to another source of heat against your body. It's not like we're having sex."

"God, sex would warm this place right up," Ryan groaned.

"That can be arranged," Horatio slyly said.

"No thank you," Ryan chuckled, "I like fucking your daughter, you not so much."

"When you say it that way you make it sound like we've had sex before."

"Well I don't believe we have," Ryan chuckled again, "I think I would remember that."

"Is that because you think I would be a good lover?"

"Ok now you're just weirding me out, H," Ryan laughed, "Keep talking and I'll go freeze on the couch alone tonight."

"Suit yourself, I'd rather have a warm body against mine right now, no matter who it is."

Ryan laughed as he finally felt himself drift off to sleep in Horatio's arms.

Calleigh's computer binged and she looked to see a chat window open from Ryan.

Rwolfe: Calleigh I'd hate to ask you but can you keep Lucy a few more days?

Cduquesne: Yeah, of course. Are you and H staying in Germany a little longer?

Rwolfe: Unfortunately, there was a blizzard and all air traffic has been brought to a halt until further notice.

Cduquesne: Well that's no good. How's Germany anyways?

Rwolfe: Cold and snowy. I've decided I don't like snow. It's too cold.

Cduquesne: How was your first snow storm then?

Rwolfe: Terrible, the power went out and Nathan couldn't get the generator running until this morning. We were freezing last night.

Cduquesne: Aww, that stinks. Did you and Horatio snuggle to keep warm then?

Rwolfe: Again, unfortunately, but it was better than being cold.

Cduquesne: Lol, have fun with Big Daddy, lover boy.

Rwolfe: I'll try. What I wouldn't give right now for some sun. Send long underwear!

Calleigh laughed as she closed the window. She walked through her house and found Lucy sleeping in the bathroom behind the toilet. She woke with a start when she heard Calleigh walk in.

"Come here you little rascal!" Calleigh said. Lucy scampered out from behind the toilet and ran to Calleigh excitedly. She snorted and snapped at Calleigh's pant leg. Calleigh chuckled and prodded at the small dog with her foot. "You miss your Daddy?" she asked Lucy when she picked the puppy up. Lucy licked Calleigh's face and she giggled. "You're so cute, I wish I could keep you."

Ryan sighed when he walked out of the airport and into the sunlight. It was a cool November day but Ryan didn't mind, at least the sun was shining.

"So what did you think of Germany, Mr. Wolfe?" Horatio asked as they piled their suitcases into the back of Horatio's car.

"I realized one thing," Ryan said.

"And what was that?" Horatio inquired.

"I'm never living somewhere there's snow," Ryan sighed.

Catherine Willows sat alone in her office reading over paperwork. Her phone rang and she looked at the unfamiliar number. "CSI Willows," she answered.

"Catherine, it's been awhile."

Catherine smiled and leaned back in her chair. "Jethro, it has been awhile. How are things in DC?"

"Good, I have a favor I was hoping to ask of you."

"Alright, what is it?" Catherine asked as Nick walked into her office. He politely sat in a chair across from her desk and waited.

"I have a case my forensic specialist can't figure out and I was hoping to borrow one of yours."

"You want one of my CSIs?" Catherine asked surprised. Nick looked at her confused. Catherine held up one finger to him and then quickly put her phone on speaker.

"Yes," Gibbs's voice sounded from the speaker, "Abby's at a loss and we need help or else a guilty man will walk next week."

"Jethro, I'm sorry to say it but I don't have anyone available to send you." Catherine sighed, "We're swamped here and we're up to our elbows in dead bodies."

"Wait, I might be able to help you," Nick said in his southern drawl. "I know of an amazing forensic specialist who probably would love a trip to DC."

"Really?" Gibbs said.

"Yeah she's a frickin genius, too," Nick said. "I've actually been consulting with her for the last six months about different cases I've had."

"Oh is this that Jessica girl you've written about in some of your case reports?" Catherine interjected.

"Yeah, the same one Greg's consulted with," Nick explained.

"Ok, well give me a name," Gibbs said.

"Dr. Jessica Stone," Nick said, "From Miami Dade."