Title: When Curves Were Straight 4?
Author: Shadowfax27
Fandom: CSI: Miami
Pairing: Eric/Ryan
Rating: PG-13 or T for language
Disclaimer: Me no own. You no sue. Okay?
Beta: Mistakes make me human…
A/N: Damn these plot penguins! It seems that the more I write, the longer this story gets, and the more chapters I have to add to fit every plot that they're continuously spawning into this neat little package of a fic.
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Chapter 4 – In The Shadow Of Speed
By the time the two criminalists had finished eating and Eric had paid for their meals despite Ryan's staunch protests, it was nearly 7:15 pm. They had spent nearly two hours just talking and laughing and sharing fond memories of their mutual friend over dinner, and Eric had learned a great deal about the nature of Ryan's relationship with Speed.
"So, he took you under his wing, huh?" Eric asked, slightly amused.
"I guess you could say that," Ryan agreed with a chuckle. "He mentored me and looked out for me like a big brother. But he was a lot worse than Alexx, though. I can't tell you the number of times I felt like he was my mother hen, and I was one of his chicks… He was always hovering over me, wanting to know how I'm progressing from Patrol to CSI, like he couldn't wait for me to join the team and surprise everyone, you know? He was always watching my back, too, which was a good thing, but sometimes I wondered if I was ever gonna get out from under his wings."
Ryan fell silent for a moment and the smile he had on his face vanished momentarily as he thought about the ramifications of what he had just said. He looked down at his hands and frowned, and Eric could sense the guilt radiating off of him.
He breathed out an ironic sigh, "Most of the time, though, I'd gladly take being under Speed's wings anytime if it meant that I could have him back… if it meant that he was still alive."
He said it so quietly that the Cuban almost didn't hear him. Yet he did… And now it was his turn to feel guilty about the whole thing. Here was Ryan, who, unbeknownst to the team, had been under Speed's protective wing all along, mentoring and training him to become a hell of a CSI.
And what did he get?
Not support, that's for sure.
No… Ryan Wolfe got ridiculed and scorned behind his back, got unfairly compared to someone who had far more experience and know-how than he did, got labeled as a replacement and pushed aside as insignificant and naive, even as they all put Tim Speedle up on an impossibly high pedestal, a pedestal that they themselves had set up for Ryan never to reach.
In effect, they had inadvertently set up for Ryan to fail. They never wanted him to replace Speed. They never intended for him to last this long as a CSI. They never counted on him being this damn good.
They never knew who Ryan Wolfe really was…
The irony of it all was that it was Speedle, himself, who had trained and mentored Ryan and who had had a hand at preparing the young man to become a criminalist. So, really… when they were putting Ryan down, belittling his abilities, treating him with contempt, and wounding him behind his back, weren't they insulting and hurting Speed as well?
And to add more irony to the mixture, it seemed to Eric that whether alive or dead, Ryan couldn't seem to get out from underneath Speed's shadow: he was either trying to branch out from under Speed's protective wings and influence when the stubborn man was still alive, or he was still trying to prove himself worthy of Horatio's hand-picked honor from under the shadow of Speed, their beloved friend and fallen comrade – the CSI he had unintentionally replaced.
He was supposed to be an addition… not a replacement.
That was Speed's plan all along…
Where did it go so wrong?
Eric knew the answer, of course, and it wasn't Ryan's fault. Never was, never is, and never will be… it was just too damn convenient and too damn easy to lay the blame on him because he was the rookie, the 'replacement,' the one who could never understand the loss and the grief that their team was going through due to Speed's unfortunate and untimely death.
It was too damn easy to dump all that hurt and anger on the newbie, too damn easy to point the finger on him instead of dealing with the real issue at hand, instead of dealing with the truth, which was still too bitter to completely digest.
And he took it all in stride, took it all with quiet patience, with unmatched understanding, with silent dignity, and without a sliver of contempt for anyone who was still grieving over Timothy Speedle's death, even though he, himself, was secretly mourning and hurting and grieving all the same.
He didn't deserve it. He didn't deserve any of it… yet he took it all like a man.
Ryan Wolfe had taken it all alone…
"You wanna get out of here?" Eric finally asked, when the silence seemed pregnant enough.
Ryan gave him a thin smile and nodded, "Sure."
And with that, they left the table, got into Eric's car, and drove off. A heavy silence fell between them, each avoiding the other's gaze as Eric drove aimlessly, not really thinking about where he was taking them until he had pulled up into a half-filled parking lot right across from the beach.
He shut off the engine, and opened his door, thankful that Ryan hadn't asked him what they were doing there. Instead, the younger man simply opened his door and got out as well without any prompting from Eric. And as if on cue, they met up at the front of Eric's car, almost simultaneously tucked their hands in their pockets, and began walking down the unusually quiet beach together.
The sun had already set beyond the horizon, casting an orange and purple glow in its wake and allowing them to still see enough of the beach and what little activity was going on around them. It was the 'perfect' setting to just walk and talk and meditate on the fond memories of their friend.
They walked in comfortable silence for a few minutes before Eric decided to break it with a chuckle.
Looking over at the older man with a confused frown, Ryan asked, "What's so funny?"
Eric shrugged, "Nothing… It's just… hearing you talk about how Speed seemed to have invaded your life reminds me of how he'd tried to do the same with me."
"Oh?" Ryan's eyebrow quirked up and he curiously asked, "What did he do?"
Eric took a deep breath and reached back into his memory before responding with a thin smile, "He once tried to set me up on a blind date."
"Really?" Ryan asked, surprised and amused at the same time. "He did that to me, too."
This time, Eric's eyebrow quirked up curiously, and he stopped walking, "Really, now? So, uh… how did it go?"
Ryan shrugged and continued to walk, "It didn't go… it didn't happen."
"Why not?"
Ryan shrugged again and stated simply, "Date never showed."
"Oh…" Eric said quietly, wondering who would be stupid enough to leave Ryan hanging like that. Heck, if it had been him, he would've… "I had the same thing happen to me, too," he added sympathetically.
"You?" Ryan asked incredulously. "You mean the great Eric Delko, woman magnet and certified ladies' man, actually got stood up?" he asked, amused.
Eric cringed at the label, but forced a chuckled anyway to hide his discomfort at what Ryan thought about him, "Yeah, once."
"This I gotta hear," Ryan chuckled as well. "So, what happened?"
Eric sighed heavily, not really wanting to share that 'embarrassing' experience, but Ryan had asked him, and he wasn't about to turn him away… he wasn't about to put a needless strain on their newly formed friendship. He stopped walking again, turning to face the ocean, before taking a seat on the sand. Ryan watched him sit down before following his lead, sitting down on the sand next to him, but not too close.
"Speed just came up to me one day and was sort of asking about my 'love life.'"
"And he was being purposely vague about it, too, wasn't he?" Ryan added with a knowing smile.
"Yeah, he was," Eric smiled back. "He was acting really strange, and when I finally got a hold of him, he just said that he had found someone who would be perfect for me…"
"Hey, Eric," Speed greeted his friend with a mischievous smile as he walked into the layout room, where Eric had been pouring over photographs of their latest crime scene.
"Hey, man, what's up?" Eric greeted, pausing from his work as he noticed a suspicious-looking grin on his friend's face.
"Your love life," Speed answered vaguely.
"Huh?" Eric frowned, confused.
Speed chuckled, "Your love life, man," he repeated. "You're not seeing anyone at the moment, right?"
"Not at the moment, no. But that doesn't mean I'm not…"
Speed put up a hand and cut off his friend with an even bigger grin, "Great! That's all I need to know. Thanks, man!"
And with that, he turned around and proceeded to walk out of the layout room in haste.
"…getting laid," Eric finished, half-muttering to himself as he watched the other man leave abruptly.
He blinked in bewilderment a few times, trying to make sense of what had just taken place, but he was getting even more confused, and thinking about it was starting to drive him nuts. He was so baffled by his friend's devious behavior that he dropped what he was doing and quickly followed Speed out of the lab, catching up with him on his way to the locker room.
"Speed!" Eric called him, but the other man didn't turn around. Instead he seemed to have picked up his pace, as if he was trying to get away from him, "Speed!" Eric called him again as he, too, picked up his pace. "Speed, man… wait up!" he said as he finally caught up with him just as he was entering the locker room. "Speed…" Eric began again as he went inside, "What the hell is going on, man?"
It wasn't until Speed had reached his locker, opened it, and proceeded to shuffle around in his bag, looking for something specific, that he even acknowledged Eric's presence. He looked up and grinned brightly at his friend, as if nothing out of the ordinary had just happened.
"Eric, man… What can I do for you?" he asked nonchalantly.
Eric stared at him in wide-eyed disbelief. Oh, something was up. Something was definitely up…
"What did you do?" Eric glared at him suspiciously.
"What makes you think I did anything?" Speed parried, still grinning.
"I know you, Timothy Speedle," Eric replied, not the least bit convinced of his friend's innocence. "And I know when you're up to something."
"Oh, so you're calling me by my full name, now, huh?" he teased, still avoiding the topic. "Does that mean I'm in trouble?"
"You will be if you don't tell me what the hell is going on," Eric threatened.
"Oooh!" Speed mocked, raising his hands up and shaking his fingers. "I'm so scared, Delko… Really… I'm shaking in my pants."
"Well, you should be," Eric replied. "Tell me what the hell is going on, or I'll sick Alexx on you," he threatened once more, knowing the uncanny power and influence the M.E. had over her boys.
Speed merely snorted as he put his bag back in his locker, "Yeah, right… You wouldn't." he dared.
"Oh, I would," Eric replied, grinning this time, feeling like he might just be gaining the upper hand.
"Whatever, man," Speed shrugged stubbornly. "It's not like I'm scared of her anyway," he mocked, knowing full well that he'd be in trouble if Alexx heard him saying these things.
"You sure about that?" Eric challenged, knowingly. He whipped out his cell phone and held it up, "How about I call Alexx right now and tell her what you just said?"
"Tell me what who just said?" Alexx asked as she walked around the corner and approached the now-wide eyed men.
Speed glared at Eric, not wanting him to reveal what he had just said about Alexx, but the Cuban merely smirked.
"Nothing, Alexx," Eric smiled sweetly as he cast a smug look into Speed's direction. "Speed and I were just talking."
"Oh?" Alexx asked curiously. "About what, Speed?" she asked, scrutinizing him with her stare.
Speed coughed and sputtered uncomfortably, "It's nothing, Alexx… we were just, uh… talking about Delko's love life," he evaded, trying to put the attention back on Eric.
It was Eric's turn to glare at him this time. Oh, he's good… but not that good. He straightened up and fixed the sweetest smile he could muster on his face as he turned towards the coroner.
"Yeah, Alexx… my love life," Eric agreed. "Speed here was asking me if I was seeing anyone, and I told him no, but now he wouldn't tell me why he wanted to know or what the hell is going on." He then leaned down and raised his hand as if to cover his mouth, mock whispering into Alexx's ear, but loud enough for Speed to hear, "I think he's up to something."
He looked up smugly only to be met by Speed's glaring eyes. He laughed, knowing that if Speed's eyes could talk, they would say something to the effect of: "Damn you, Delko! Why did you have to bring Alexx into this? When I get my hands on you, you are so…"
"What's going on, Speed?" Alexx now asked the scruffy man.
Speed sighed, knowing that he had been caught, and that there was no way he could keep evading them any longer. Unless…
"Alexx, do you trust me?" Speed asked suddenly.
"That depends," she replied. "What's it about?"
"Do you trust me enough to have Eric's best interest in mind?" Speed asked, putting on the sweetest and most innocent smile he could put on without throwing up himself.
"Alexx…" Eric looked at her worriedly.
She looked back and forth between her boys as if to consider Speed's question, before shrugging an answering, "I suppose I trust you enough."
"Well, alright!" Speed declared smugly. "I guess it's settled then!"
"Hey!" Eric interjected. "I'm right here, people! This is me you're talking about, you know!"
But his protests fell on deaf ears as Alexx smirked knowingly at Speed. Only then did Eric realize that they were now in cahoots with each other and were indeed about to scheme against him.
"Whatever it is that you're thinking about doing… you can forget about it 'cause I'm not doing it!" Eric huffed.
"Oh, come on, man!" Speed whined. "I found you someone who I know would be so perfect for you! Just give it a chance, will you?" he pleaded.
"Nope. Not gonna do it," Eric replied, crossing his arms.
"Now, now, Eric," Alexx intervened. "You did say that you weren't seeing anyone at the moment, right?" Eric nodded reluctantly, and she continued, "So, why not? Why don't you give this one a chance? See if Speed's right?" she coaxed him gently.
"And if he's not?"
"Then you have my permission to gloat and rub it in his face that he was wrong," Alexx baited.
Eric seemed to consider this arrangement for a moment before heaving a resigned sigh, " Alright, fine! I'll do it," he finally relented. "Who is it, and what do I have to do?"
Speed smirked once again, "That, my dear Delko, is for me to know, and for you to find out soon."
"What?" Eric frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"If I tell you now, then it would ruin the surprise, wouldn't it?" Speed evaded once again. "Now, what would be the fun in that?"
"But…" Eric started to protest, but then realization dawned on him, and he looked at Speed incredulously. "You didn't."
"Oh, I did," Speed laughed.
"You set me up?" Eric asked, still incredulous over what Speed had done.
"Yep… I took care of all the details, and all you have to do now is go and meet h-… eurm… this person," he stated, catching himself at the last minute before he could give away a very 'important' detail.
"A blind date? Speed?" Eric asked, more annoyed now than ever. "You set me up on a fucking blind date?"
"Don't worry, man," Speed grinned teasingly. "It'll be the best blind date you've ever had! And if everything goes well, then it should be the last blind date you'll ever be involved in."
"Oh, this isn't over between us, man…" Eric threatened, glaring at his friend. "I'll get even with you…somehow."
Speed only laughed, "I'm sure you will, Delko. I'm sure you will," he replied patting Eric's shoulder patronizingly. "But we'll see… 'cause right now, you're the one who has a blind date tonight,' he added, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.
Eric nearly choked when he heard what Speed had said, "T- tonight?" he sputtered. "Tonight?"
"Yeah… so you better hope we get a break in this case because at 7:00 tonight, you, my friend, are going on a blind date."
"Alexx…" Eric fumed, clenching his fists.
"Oh, Eric…" Alexx walked over and squeezed his arms understandingly as she cast a sideways glare at Speed, who was still laughing heartily. "It's just one night… one date. That's it," she reminded him. "Besides… What's the worst that could happen? If it doesn't work out, then you don't have to go out with her again. That's the beauty of blind dates, you know?"
Speed coughed and sputtered when he heard Alexx's words, earning him another glare from the coroner. Man, they were certainly going to be in for a surprise when they find out…
"So, what do you say, huh?" Alexx coaxed him again. "Why don't you humor Speed and see how it goes?"
Drawing in a deep, calming breath, Eric finally muttered, "Fine." Then, turning to Speed, he added, "But this isn't over between us, Speed. You're not gonna get away that easy."
"Oh, I doubt that," Speed smirked. "I am gonna get away with this because you'll be the one thanking me for this later… You'll see," he promised, a knowing grin on his face.
"Yeah…" Eric nodded none-too-happily. "We'll see."
"Gentlemen…"
Their heads suddenly whipped around towards the direction of the voice, and they stood there in stunned silence as the familiar face of a tall red-head walked inside.
"Alexx…" Horatio nodded, acknowledging her. "Is there a problem here, gentlemen?" he asked.
"No, H," Speed replied quickly. "We were just, uh… setting up some personal things after shift tonight," Speed replied vaguely.
Horatio nodded understandingly while looking at the ground. When he lifted his head to look at them again, he replied, "I understand that personal things are important, but right now, you are both still on the clock and we have a case to solve. So, let's get to work, shall we?" he asked, smiling slightly.
"Right on, H," Eric quickly replied, saluting Horatio as he hurriedly walked out of the room, but not before he threw another glare into Speed's direction.
"Alexx?" Horatio turned towards her, raising a questioning eyebrow.
"I'll be right there, Horatio," Alexx replied, nodding at him knowingly.
He smiled in kind and nodded at Speed before he turned to leave, knowing that Alexx needed to have a few words with the CSI. She waited until they were completely alone again before addressing Speed.
"You're not sending Eric on a wild goose chase, are you?" she asked him seriously.
"No way, Alexx… I've never been more serious in my life about this," Speed defended.
Alexx merely nodded as if deciding whether to believe him, "Am I going to like this girl you're setting him up with?" she asked finally.
Speed coughed uncomfortably again and did his best to answer vaguely once more, "Eurm… yeah… I think you're going to like Eric's date."
"Hmmm…" Alexx nodded in thought once again. "Is she pretty?"
"Alexx…" Speed sighed. "Did you really think that I would set him up with someone who wasn't good-looking?"
"Alright… Is she a good person, then?" she pressed.
"Alexx, you have nothing to worry about," Speed reassured her without answering her question directly. "Eric's date has become one of my very good friends and is someone whom I trust entirely. Trust me when I say that Eric will be with the best company he'd ever been with tonight and that I have a very good feeling about this."
Taking in the sincerity in Speed's eyes, Alexx finally relented, "Okay, Speed. Let's just hope it works."
And Speed merely smiled as a promised thought came to mind, 'It'll work. I'll make it work… even if it's the last thing I do.'
"So, that's how he set you up, huh?" Ryan asked, chuckling at Speed's deviousness.
"Yeah, he really was quite devious," Eric agreed.
"Did he tell you who to look for?" Ryan asked curiously.
Eric shook his head, "Nah… didn't even tell me her name. I had no clue what to expect."
Ryan shook his head disbelievingly and whistled, "So, no face, no name, and no clue… When was this?"
Eric leaned back on his palms and looked up at the sky, trying to recall the exact date of the blind set up, "Ummm… Let's see, now… That would be at least two years ago… on the first Monday of August," he replied.
Ryan drew in a sharp intake of breath as his heart began to pound uncontrollably in his chest. He cleared his throat and forced a steady voice as he asked the next two questions, "Did you go?"
Eric nodded without looking at him, "Reluctantly, but yeah… I went."
"And wh- where did you say you guys were s-supposed to meet?" he asked, trying but failing to keep the anxiety out of his voice.
Eric noticed and looked at him with a frown, "Club Space."
"Club Sp- Space?" Ryan sputtered as he swallowed thickly, unable to believe what he was hearing.
"Yeah, the one Downtown," Eric added, still frowning bewilderedly at Ryan's odd behavior. "Why? What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Ryan answered quickly, shaking his head as he turned to look away.
He was blushing furiously now, and he didn't want Eric to see what was happening to him. God! How could he have been so stupid? He really should be laughing about this, but he was already too embarrassed to even think about what he had just discovered in that way, too embarrassed to think about it…period.
But he knew that if Speed could see them right now, he would be shaking his head and laughing his scruffy ass off at…
"Ryan?" Eric now turned towards the younger man, a serious and worried expression on his face. "Ryan, look at me… What's going on? Did I say something wrong?"
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TBCLet me know what you think. Reviews are much loved!
A/N: Oh, yeah… you can blame these plot penguins for the cliffhangers, too. I'm not the only one who's evil, you know? Ha-ha!
Sorry for the long update. As you can see, my chapters are fairly long, and my compulsive need to proofread, rewrite, and proofread again and again until I'm absolutely satisfied takes a lot time and effort.
Plus I've been going through something weird lately, where I haven't had the remotest desire to write at all… shame, I know. (ducks head in shame) But I'm feeling a bit better now, and I hope you guys enjoyed this next chapter! And yes, the next update will take a while as I recover from this 'weirdness'.