Okay, as you guys noticed the chapters of this story are mixed. This is because I've been busy lately and need to catch up on and finish stories. But anyway, I'll always tell you which episode it is based on and note each flashback when it is one. So here's events after 720: Wolfe In Sheep's Clothing.

That evening, after all the day's events, every C.S.I. had some form of warning. Each in their own way. Few expected a worse impact than the other, felt for one another and just wanted to catch every Russian out for them...but it was gonna take a while. Today was Ryan's brutal warning:

Hunched over, he sat on the hard bench aching from his wounds. After his hair being pulled, his neck being pricked, his tooth being plucked and his stomach being punched: he survived what might have been death. He stared at the gun and badge held safetly in his palms, rubbing them over with his thumbs... The quick stealthy movements of Andrei still haunted him, the deadly looks the pliers and gun gave him the chills, the hard punches he received painfully and the thick, musty smell of his own blood surfacing in his throat and mouth made him nauseous.

Suddenly Calleigh stubbled upon him, sitting near the entrance of the room. She gasped causing him get frightened. His head shot up in an instant to notice it was only her, her surprized face calming.

"Ryan, I'm sorry... you scared me," she sighed with a friendly smile. She continued to her locker remembering nothing but the large puppy dog eyes he gave her, he seemed more frightened than before - maybe even scared. He just remained seated in silence while she retrieved her belongs, so distant and without saying a single word. Calleigh kept sneeking quick glances over at him, which over a time prolonged as she wondered about him. Soon she locked the locker and moved towards him. As she neared him she felt the need to pry.

"Ryan, are you okay?" she asked unsurely welcoming him to talk. For a while he hesitated and for a while she waited. "Well, if you don't wanna talk, I'll just leave you alone. So..." She began to exit when he stopped her.

"No," he called, "you need to know." Calleigh took a seat beside him on the bench and listened. "You diserve to." He faced his fumbling hands in front of him and then her. Her bright green eyes just stared a deep hole in his.

"I know I should've told you a long time ago, but I..." he paused again.

"What happened?" she questioned. Her voice became its softest and most calming now.

"The Russians kidnapped me yesterday. He, knocked me out, took me to this place and tapped me down to a chair. He uh, he kept torchering me for information, but I wouldn't give it to him."

"Oh my God, Ryan, you should've told someone." Calleigh's expression changed to worried.

"I couldn't," he half shouted in a cry, "Cal., he threatened to kill Billy Gantry and I just couldn't let him. I just let him beat me up instead. You were right, there was no dentist but a fight... I needed to save him."

Calleigh placed her palm on his back. He hesitated with tears in his voice.

"I hid the bullet casing from you, then I had to get that suspect off the hook in interrogation. Before you dusted all the prints I forged the security guard's print, just to throw you off track... if Delko got even angrier I wouldn't blame him."

"But he didn't," she rubbed his back, "he just wanted to know the truth, that's all." Ryan nodded. He was now fighting his tears.

"I know," he admitted on the verge of breaking.

"Come here," he turned and she hugged him, "I knew there was something wrong, it just wasn't you."

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to."

"Don't be, I understand, I've been there and I know the feeling. It wasn't your fault, babe, you did what you had to do... you're very brave, Ryan - it's gonna be okay."

She felt his head nod against hers slowly. She could remember the day when she got kidnapped and knew how scary the situation was...and most importantly the person who comforted her that night. Thank God she didn't go home alone. This was exactly what Ryan needed: comfort. Her heart almost broke to see him in the state and she couldn't stand the hurting.

He breathed and sniffled against her neck as they remained in the loving embrace.

"They're comin', for all of us, Calleigh," he warned through a sob.

"I know, I know," she reassured more, "but we'll, get through this."

Calleigh's words slowed to a stop. Eric stood at the doorway shocked but got quite some understanding of what was going on. She stared up at him from Ryan's shoulder.

ECECECECECECEC

Eric sent a confused look to her as they climbed into his car. What was that all about? it asked. She saw him and patiently waited until the doors were closed.

"Don't give me that look, because I know you know we weren't doing anything..." she began to shield herself.

"No, Calleigh... I didn't mean it that way," he clarified gently. She sighed to herself leaning back into the leather seat. He totally discarded that assumption. "What happened in there?"

"Ryan didn't mean to throw us off in the investigation, he had a reason," she said.

"And?" he waited.

"And that's why he did it," she tried to finish, "he got kidnapped and was forced to do it so that an innocent boy wouldn't die, okay?" Eric's features dulled and suddenly he felt horrible for the guy. She saw his instant reaction and knew he blamed himself for getting upset. "Eric, he got kidnapped just like I did and, I think he's going through alot...please don't beat yourself up about being mad at him, it's no one's fault." She stared him sadly in the eye.

"I'll apologise tomorrow," he finalized starting the engine of the car. Calleigh nodded.