MOSCOW, DOMODEDOVO AIRPORT : ONE MONTH, ONE WEEK AGO

Without warning, the second the two had landed in Moscow, police roughly drug them off the plane and took them into back rooms. They sat for eight hours with two officers that only spoke to offer them drinks and magazines. They wouldn't say anything more. Then two armed men in black suits arrived and without answering any questions, ushered them through the bowls of the airport to where an old man waited with a pickup that looked ready to break down. There was a short exchange of words…

"Eric?" Horatio asked.

"They're telling him where he needs to take us. It's an airport just outside of the city and…"

Eric stopped when the men gave the old man a stack of cash that he quickly pocketed. He motioned the two to follow and they got in his pick up. He drove them out a gate where the guard appeared to be dozing. Eric asked the man if he knew what was going on, he told them he didn't know or care. They paid him not to ask questions and he was doing just that.

At the airport the man leaned out the window and in Russian told Eric, "There's a white plane with this number on it. The pilot is waiting for you. Get on and he will take you somewhere else. That's all they said." The man then sped out of the parking lot, leaving the two baffled CSI alone.

They found the plane and the pilot refused to talk to either of them beyond, "Get in."

He flew them to this military base…

Horatio and Delko climbed out of the fixed wing plane and were greeted by American Ambassador Dalton Pierce. He didn't even wait to shake their hands or greet them before herding them into the waiting Hummer with tinted windows. Inside they found President Ruslan and a young woman dressed like a maid: sandy blonde hair pulled back into a tight bun, knee length black cotton dress, thick stockings that disappeared into sensible shoes.

"Horatio Caine, Eric Delko," Dalton began as soon as the door was shut. "This is President Ruslan and this is Agent Anja."

There was a brief moment of handshakes. The vehicle lurched forward and left the small airstrip.

"Anja tells me there is a policeman this woman has taken captive." Ruslan pulled a photo of people out of his suit pocket, and pointed at Chrissie.

Horatio took it, looking at her. He nodded. "Yes. She kidnapped one of my officers."

"For what purpose?" Ruslan questioned.

Horatio handed the photograph back. "She became infatuated with him. From the letter I received from someone, it appears she tried to force him to marry her."

Ruslan sighed. "We have finally tracked a large portion of our drug traffic back to this woman and we have enough evidence to deal with her. In a few days—"

"Deal with her? What does that mean?" Horatio asked.

"You not want know," Anja told him. "It is how we deal with the problem, not how American's do."

Delko glanced at Horatio, openly concerned.

"You're going to kill her."

They didn't agree or disagree, but it was a loud enough yes.

"And when you do this, I imagine it won't go well. I was told he is guarded."

Anja nodded. "All times. He is her possession and her weakness. I must use him."

"Use him? How?" Delko asked.

She leaned out, laying a hand on his knee. "I know he good. I do what I can to protect him, but I must use him. He is her only weakness. He is only thing she will come into open to get back. Nothing else worked."

"You plan on kidnapping him from her," Horatio stated.

"Yes," Anja told him. "And lure her to him."

Horatio didn't like this plan. "You set me the letter, didn't you?"

"I did. I am glad you contact us, that you here now. The night before we kidnap, I believe he need see you. Make him calmer."

"Allow me to have one of my officers join you. It will help calm him."

"No. She likely know you if she took him. I can't—"

"Look, I know this bust is important to you. I get that," Delko blurted. "But Ryan has been through hell for two years now. Chrissie tied him in a coffin when she kidnapped him. It was recovered and there's evidence that… He won't know you. He's not going to know if he can trust you, even if you did tell him you were sending a letter. Let one of us be there to convince him he's safe and he will cooperate."

"We not go in tomorrow, Eric," Anja told him. "I will speak to commander. We decide if to include you. You will stay on base where we tell you. She see you, this all over. Understand?"

"How long will we have to wait?" Horatio asked.

"I not know. Have to wait for time we can get Ryan separated. We are always prepared for this. When happen, be fast."

"You understand we haven't seen him in two years. We don't know if he's okay. We're anxious to know that."

Anja looked down. President Ruslan looked at her and nodded once. She picked up a purse that had been hidden under the edge of her dress and pulled out a photograph. She handed it to them. Delko took it, staring at Ryan. He looked like he was dead. Where his full beard didn't hide skin, he was sallow, his eyes and cheeks sunken slightly, and there were fresh bruises and cuts. It almost didn't look like Ryan.

"This…" Delko caught a breath. "This isn't Ryan. This can't be…"

"It is your Ryan. He hardly eat. He sad all time. She drug him now to stop him fighting so much."

Delko let Horatio take the photograph.

In Russian she told him, "It is Ryan, and he is alive. He must be strong. He's survived her abuse for two years now. He knows I am going to help him, somehow, and he trusts me. I ask you to do the same. I will bring him to you alive and safe. I promise on my life. I promise."

Delko nodded.