Summary:
Eric has a race against time to save Ryan, with the help of Esteban and Francesca. Will they arrive on time?
Notes:
The last completely direct continuation chapter.
Hope you enjoy ^^
and thank you again for all your reviews and for sticking with this far.
Eric gulped and fear shot through him again.
"What weakness?"
"Others like ourselves. The stronger we grow the more likely we are to become truly immortal. But those of us that are young, that are weak, like Ryan, can be killed by other immortals. The immortal that we are hunting is strong, almost as strong as me, because he is extremely old and immersed in the old ways and the methods that can kill an immortal. It is unlikely that he brought any of the provisions he needed to kill an immortal, it is very complicated, but many immortals carry the needed things with them just in case they come across a rogue immortal that needs to be dealt with. We do not want humanity to find out about us, that was why I did not want Ryan to grow too close to you." Esteban explained. "If we do not find Ryan soon then…then he-."
"What?" Eric demanded but he knew the answer and dreaded to hear the words come from Esteban's mouth.
"He will be dead." Esteban whispered.
"Horatio you don't understand!" Eric yelled down the phone, "Ryan could die!"
Esteban was stood next to him wringing his hands and pacing up and down. He was desperate to get to where Ryan was and help his son but Eric had insisted upon calling Horatio to inform his boss about what had happened.
"Eric if Ryan has indeed gone to chase down an immortal there is little any of us can do. We cannot kill him, maybe Ryan has a chance."
"Horatio this immortal could kill Ryan! His father just told me so!" Eric continued to yell even though he knew that Horatio was not going to like the tone Eric was taking with him. They could deal with his rudeness later on when Ryan was safe.
"What does Ryan's father say Eric?"
"H wants to know what you suggest we do." Eric informed Esteban who stopped pacing and grabbed the phone.
"I will go after my son with my wife and you will remain behind. This man could easily kill any police officer or CSI and none of you will be able to kill him." He snapped.
Eric grabbed the phone back off him. "I want to go with them Horatio."
"Eric-."
"Wait." Eric growled. "While Esteban and Francesca are fighting with this immortal I can get Ryan out of there. Especially if he's injured. They're going to need help, even if it isn't with fighting."
"If anyone asks Eric you're off the case. I may not be able to help you if there is an inquest."
"I don't care about that H I just want to help Ryan," Eric replied quickly. There was a pause and Eric took this as Horatio accepting this and closed his phone.
"I wouldn't advise this Eric, you could get seriously hurt." Esteban warned him.
"I'm coming with you." Eric asserted and Esteban fell silent.
"We'll take your car to the quarry, Francesca will meet us there." He finally spoke and when he did Eric grinned, though it turned into more of a grimace than anything.
Without a word both men moved to Eric's Hummer, Esteban knowing that they may already be too late and Eric with a grim determination about saving Ryan.
/
The coral quarry seemed empty when Ryan arrived, sporting two guns and long knife – for protection more than anything, he knew they were not going to disable the killer for very long, if at all – but something immediately caught his eye. There was a building in the depth of the quarry, quite a way down and hidden slightly behind a large pile of sand and rock, a building that did not seem to belong. If the killer was anywhere, it would be there. Ryan knew this very same coral quarry had been the scene of another murderers games, a sniper that had hit downtown Miami before he had joined the police, or the CSIs, but he did not let himself dwell on that, he had other matters to think about.
Finding the easiest way down to the building while trying to be discreet took Ryan a few minutes, but eventually he was at the doors and steeling himself to go in. As he reached for the handle the doors flew open and Ryan was suddenly on his back with a knife threw his chest, pinning him to the ground.
The man on top of him looked rather crazed, but Ryan knew it was just from the exertion of throwing himself bodily at Ryan. He wore no disguise, letting his true form be the last form that any of his victims ever saw. Perhaps they even thought he was an angel. Ryan took a breath and pushed up from the ground, pulling the knife from the ground and flipping the man off his body. Ripping the knife from his flesh Ryan threw it aside and stood as the man watched him warily.
"Well well well another young immortal." The man grinned. "Come to join my cause?"
"I've come to stop you." Ryan spat.
"Oh really?" The man asked with another grin. From a pocket of his jacket he withdrew a white piece of chalk, a length of rope, salt, a vial of blood and a knife that was decorated extremely intricately.
"Do you know what these are?" he asked.
"Rope, chalk, salt, blood and a knife." Ryan replied sarcastically, reaching for one of his guns. The bullets would not kill this man but a gunshot to the face would surely slow him down.
"These, my little one, are the tools I need to kill you." The man laughed, not bothered at all by the tone of Ryan's voice.
"You can't kill me, I'm immortal." Ryan pointed out. The wound through his chest was already healing and there was no pain anymore.
"Aha, so daddy didn't tell you?" The man inquired.
"Tell me…what?"
"You're young and I am old. I know how to destroy those that are immortal, and because you are so much weaker than me I can kill you using these things." The man explained slowly as if he were talking to a child.
"You're lying!" Ryan cried.
"Oh really? When daddy used to go and deal with the rogue immortals did he ever bring any home? Or did he just come home and say the job was done?" The man asked with a cackle.
"I…he…that doesn't matter!" Ryan yelled, "I will stop you!"
Without waiting for the other immortal to speak Ryan drew both his guns and fired them simultaneously at the man, aiming for his face. He heard the bullets find their mark and was off, running forward as quickly as he could, which was quite fast thanks to his police coach. Barrelling into the other immortal Ryan knocked them both to the floor and stuck the knife through the immortal's chest, where the knife through his own had been.
"That…hurt!" The other man screamed. Before Ryan could do anything he was pushed backwards before a foot connected with his ribs. The force of the kick sent him flying backwards and he smashed into the side of the building. It hurt, a lot, but Ryan knew it would heal. Before he could drag himself to his feet to defend himself the other immortal was on him, faster than it seemed possible and had tied his hands behind his back. Ryan did not need his hands to fight and he landed a kick of his own on the other immortal, sending him flying as well. Struggling against the rope Ryan kept his eye on the other immortal as he scrambled around the ground gathering up the things he would need to 'kill' Ryan.
He didn't manage to get out of the rope before the man was back on his again, striking Ryan in the throat with a metal pipe. Ryan choked, unable to breathe for a moment, and fell to the floor. Such a blow was enough to knock him out, though he felt sure his own attack should have broken ribs at least.
When Ryan finally managed to regain consciousness he was hanging upside down inside the building the other immortal seemed to have erected himself and there was a circle drawn under him in white chalk with an X through it. Smaller circles of salt had been sprinkled in each section split by the X. Ryan took a deep breath despite the pain in his throat from the strike and smelt blood – mixed with the salt and chalk below him – and Ryan felt sick. Blinking Ryan saw blood dripping down from his cheeks but he knew that cuts were not his own. The other man had drawn something on his cheeks using the vial of blood. Struggling against his bonds Ryan found he felt a lot weaker than before.
Pain exploded in his stomach as the immortal man brought the metal pipe down, again and again in different parts of Ryan's body. These blows hurt more than they should, could it be possible that the man had been telling the truth about being able to kill him?
"Should I make you my next victim? My first white victim hmm? I mean…you are immortal and I don't want to kill you but…you're a little problem." The man wondered to himself as he came to face Ryan.
"My father will kill you," Ryan coughed.
"Ha, he can try." The man laughed. Ryan glared at him before he noticed the knife in the man's hand, the same knife he had had before and he paled considerably.
/
"This is it!" Eric cried, veering towards the coral quarry and just managing to hit the brakes before he crashed into the car Francesca was waiting for them in. Esteban immediately jumped from the car and Francesca ran into his arms for a brief hug. She did not question Eric's presence, deciding silently that this was going to prove Eric's love for her son.
"Now where can they be?" Esteban asked.
"There!" Eric said, just managing to keep his voice down so as not to alert the killer if he were indeed there. He had spotted the blood pool created from the knife through Ryan's chest, a homage to his skills as a CSI.
All three of them ran quickly towards the blood and suddenly they all heard a piercing scream.
"That was Ryan," Esteban cried and he ran straight for the building. Slamming the door open Esteban was greeted with the sight of the serial killer immortal about to plunge the knife into a screaming Ryan's chest.
"Get away from my son!" He bellowed as he charged the other immortal man and drew him away from Ryan. Francesca went to help her husband as Eric ran over to Ryan.
"Eric." Ryan whispered, barely focusing on his colleague and lover.
"Hush Ryan it's okay, I'm going to get you down." Eric murmured. Bending down he retrieved the knife that the immortal had dropped when Esteban had rushed him, Eric cut at the rope that was holding Ryan up with one hand, supporting Ryan with the other. The rope snapped suddenly and Eric stumbled and fell under Ryan's weight, landing with the CSI on top of him.
"Ryan are you okay?" He asked as Esteban ran past him, chasing the killer who was trying to escape. Francesca stopped beside Ryan and lifted her face so that he was looking at her.
"Get him out of here Eric, into the Hummer and back to your apartment. Wash the blood from his face and give him something that will rid the smell of salt and chalk from his nose." She told Eric quickly. Kissing Ryan's forehead she rushed off after her husband.
Eric stood up and lifted Ryan in a fireman's carry and made his way as quickly as he could out of the warehouse. Ryan was crying from pain, but Eric forced himself to ignore it for now and get Ryan into the car and away from this site. Francesca had the killer pinned down and Esteban was tying his hands with rope.
The Hummer's doors were both open, which made it easier for Eric to lower Ryan into the passenger seat and jump into the driver's seat. Ryan was still crying, moaning, quite like he had been when Eric had driven him to the hospital after getting shot in the eye with a nail gun. This time though Eric was not informing the E.R. that they needed to be set up for an emergency, the first number he called was Alexx's. She would be working he knew, but he hoped she would be able to get out of work to come and help him assess Ryan's wounds, which had not started to heal.
"Eric honey what's wrong?" Alexx said as she answered her phone, her voice concerned.
"Alexx, Ryan is really hurt and I need your help." Eric almost shouted as he tore away from the coral quarry and navigated the streets to try and get home.
"What? What happened?" Alexx demanded.
"I'll explain it to you later, can you get off work?" Eric asked fervently.
"I'll do my best. Where do you want me?"
"At my apartment please. And Alexx, hurry." Eric requested.
Ryan had fallen silent beside him, but Eric did not take this as a good sign. His eyes were flickering between open and closed and his breathing was coming out short and shallow. Reaching one hand over to take Ryan's, Eric tried to focus more on driving than freaking out because it seemed like Ryan was dying in the seat next to him. There was a large bruise coming out on his throat, pipe-shaped and ugly against Ryan's slightly tanned skin.
The drive to his apartment couldn't have gone slower but finally Eric had pulled into the car park and was lifting Ryan out of the seat.
"Eric!" Alexx's voice called and Eric turned to find her rushing towards him.
"Hey Alexx can you grab my keys?" Eric asked, nodding towards the driver's side compartment where he kept his flat keys. Alexx did so, though her worried eyes were on Ryan.
"Eric please tell me what happened." Alexx requested as they hurried to the lift and Eric cradled Ryan to his chest as they boarded it.
"Ryan went after the serial killer after he found out where he was, for attacking my mother and upsetting me. He's an immortal like him, as Ryan told Horatio before and he's older and stronger than Ryan." Eric began.
"And he hurt my baby like this?" Alexx demanded and for a moment Eric wondered if they man would stand a chance if Alexx was released on him.
He said nothing as Alexx opened the door for him and went straight to his bedroom. Laying Ryan on the bed, cringing when Ryan moaned in pain, Eric beckoned for Alexx to follow him into the kitchen.
"We need to fill a bowl with water so we can wash the blood from his face Alexx," Eric told her, "And find something that can counter the smell in his nose."
"I'll find something to counter the smell while you wash the blood off his face." Alexx decided and immediately went to Eric's cupboards. Eric grabbed his mixing bowl from a lower cupboard and poured a lot of washing liquid into it before adding warm water. When it was full he carried it to his bedroom and found Ryan pawing at his neck, gasping for breath.
"ALEXX!" Eric yelled as he rushed to Ryan's side, miraculously not dropping the bowl of water in his surprise, and grabbed Ryan's hands to stop him from grabbing his neck. The bruise there was horrid to behold.
"What's going on?" Alexx asked quickly, her doctor's training coming into practise as she sat beside Ryan on the bed.
"Can't…breathe…" Ryan gasped.
Ryan knew, or hoped, that he could not die from choking, but being short of breath continuously was uncomfortable for him. Alexx's hands immediately went to his throat and she prodded around gently, examining Ryan while Eric kept hold of his hands.
"Ryan your trachea has been crushed I need to open a hole in your throat below the crush so that you can breathe." Alexx informed Ryan firmly.
Ryan shook her head despite the fact that it made him dizzy.
"Don't…" Ryan panted, "The wound will…just close…I will heal just…help me!"
"We need to clean the blood off his face and find something else for him to smell." Eric shouted as Ryan gripped his hands tightly.
"Do you have spices?" Alexx asked.
"Yeah, in the cupboard over the sink," Eric replied with an effort to keep his voice quieter. Alexx immediately left again to check through his spices.
Eric turned to Ryan and found his colleague, no his lover, staring at him, his eyes half-lidded and his lips slightly parted as he panted in pain. Sinking a cloth into the warm, soapy water Eric gently reached forward and wiped at the blood staining Ryan's cheeks. Ryan kept his eyes on Eric's, breathing through his mouth to avoid breathing in the smell of salt and chalk. He was sure it was because of the blood on his cheeks and the scent in his nose that he did not feel like he was healing and if he could only avoid it the pain in his body would disappear.
As Eric was cleaning the last of the blood off his face Alexx appeared carrying a mixture of different spices. From the look on her face – one of grim determination – she had mixed together the strongest spices she had found to make sure that the smell was completely gone.
"Help him sit up Eric," Alexx commanded. Eric did so, sliding onto the bed beside Ryan and supporting his full weight as he lifted him up, blocking out the cries of pain that came from Ryan as he moved him.
"Here baby, I need you to sniff this." Alexx said in a softer tone, moving the bowl under Ryan's nose.
Ryan took a sniff and ended up sneezing because of the strength of it. Eric couldn't help but laugh a little as Ryan inhaled sharply and managed to inhale part of the spice in the bowl. A coughing bout followed this and Alexx rubbed Ryan's back vigorously.
"I need some sleep." Ryan choked.
"And some water," Eric decided. He stood from the bed and left Alexx with Ryan so he could get a glass of water.
By the time he returned Ryan's eyes were closed and his breathing was even but Alexx's shake of her head told Eric that he was not asleep yet.
"Ryan take a drink," Eric requested.
Ryan's eyes opened and he struggled to sit up, Alexx automatically going to help him. After two sips of the water Ryan pushed it away with a light retching sound.
"Are you going to be okay alone?" Eric asked.
"Mm," Ryan murmured, his eyes slipping shut again. He snuggled down into Eric's duvet and sighed with a mixture of pain and happiness.
Alexx and Eric swapped a look before leaving the bedroom. Eric left the door open so that they could monitor any sound Ryan made. Both Alexx and Eric sat on the couch and Eric took a deep breath.
"Where is he?" Francesca demanded as she burst in through Eric's front door.
"In the bedroom," Eric replied in a soft tone, "He said he wanted to sleep."
"Did you do the things I asked?" Francesca asked.
"We did," Eric informed her, gesturing to Alexx who was sat next to him watching Francesca in silence.
"Where is Ryan's father?" Alexx asked after silence fell between them.
"Dealing with that man," Francesca said quietly, "I told him to come to your apartment when he was done, but I'm not sure when he'll be here. I'm going to wait with Ryan." She continued.
Eric and Alexx nodded and watched Francesca move to the bedroom. When Eric turned to look back at Alexx he noticed that she had a worried look on her face, but it was not the same sort of expression she had been wearing when she had first seen Ryan in his bloody state.
"What?" He asked.
"How are you holding up Eric?" Alexx asked in return.
"I'm fine, why?"
"Well, Ryan did this because your mother was attacked. I was just wondering if-."
"If I felt guilty or…I don't know, angry or relieved?" Eric asked suddenly, interrupting Alexx despite the fact he rarely would have done so before.
"What are you feeling Eric?" Alexx inquired.
Eric shrugged.
"I'm relieved I guess, but not because Ryan went after this man."
"Relieved that both Ryan and your mother are safe?" Alex suggested.
"Mm," Eric hummed, "As long as they both heal and can carry on as normal I'm okay."
Silence fell between them again and Eric let his head fall back on the back of the sofa and closed his eyes. He did not remember falling asleep.
/
Ryan awoke to the feel of someone stroking his hair and he immediately thought it was Eric. Opening his eyes he found it was his mother, sat on the edge of his bed, her eyes focused on something just beyond him. Ryan turned his head a little bit and found his father curled up asleep next to him on the bed, blood stains on his hands and clothes.
"Welcome back Ryan," Francesca said softly, "How are you feeling?"
"Better," Ryan muttered. He was still sore but his throat felt a lot better, and the rest of his body felt a lot better as well, he had evidently healed while he had slept.
"What time is it?"
"I'm not sure," Francesca replied, "But you've been asleep for at least nine hours."
"Eric!" Ryan cried and sat up suddenly. There was no nauseous feeling when he did, so Ryan carried on and climbed from the bed. Francesca did not move to stop him, she knew he was healing well and that she could not stop him if he wanted to see Eric, instead she turned to see to Esteban.
Ryan stumbled from the bedroom and down to the living room. He found Eric tucked under a blanket, asleep on the couch. He vaguely remembered Alexx being there as well but she was gone now. Ryan wasn't surprised, she had kids to take care of and from what he could gather she had abandoned her work to come and see to him. It was night time now and Ryan was loathed to wake Eric, so he curled up on the couch next to him, drawing the blanket over both of them and kissing Eric's cheek. Eric shifted slightly in his sleep, but apart from that he did not react to Ryan's presence.
/
Esteban was the one who opened the door when Horatio came. Ryan and Eric were still asleep on the couch and Francesca was in the kitchen making them some food so Esteban allowed him inside. Horatio took a seat on the armchair next to the sofa, smiling fondly at how Eric had his arms wrapped protectively around Ryan.
"How is he doing?" Horatio asked, nodding at Ryan.
Esteban sank into a seat on Eric's coffee table and gave Horatio a wan, tired smile.
"He's a lot better now." He replied, "Once Eric helped him he was able to heal while he slept so there are hardly any wounds on him now."
"And the serial killer?"
"A man by the name of Alexandros, quite old in both our and your years. I apprehended him and gave him the true punishment he deserved for both his murders and the attack on my son." Esteban replied.
"Is he alive?" Horatio inquired.
"Yes but barely. He will recover, but slowly I have made sure of that." Esteban spat, "You cannot have him back,"
"I am not asking for him back." Horatio said calmly, "I was just wondering. We will need to have him to interrogate him, but you have the say, as Noah, to take him into your jurisdiction."
"I can do that." Esteban accepted.
"Ah, Mr Caine would you like some food?" Francesca asked.
"No thank you, I just came to see how Ryan was doing." Horatio said.
"How are you going to fit Ryan back into work after this?" Esteban asked.
"I will tell my staff that Josh was injured taking down the serial killer and I shall request Ryan wait for a couple of days after you depart before he comes back to work. I hope I can get a full explanation about what Ryan, and you and his mother, are before he entirely returns to work, but I doubt there shall be any problems." Horatio explained softly. "And if there are any problems I am sure Eric will sort them out."
Esteban chuckled. Francesca sat next to him and placed a plate of eggs next to him with some buttered toast. Ryan stirred when the smell of the food hit him and his eyes cracked open.
"H?" He asked.
"Hello Ryan, how are you feeling?" Horatio inquired.
"I'm fine Horatio, thank you." Ryan replied, shifting out of Eric's arms and sitting up. Eric stayed asleep but grumbled a little bit as Ryan moved away from him. Before anyone else could say anything else Ryan leaned forward and grabbed a slice of Esteban's toast.
"I was just discussing with Horatio about your return to work," Esteban commented. He avoided Ryan's eyes and his mouth was set in a straight line, Ryan could tell that he was not impressed with Ryan at all, especially the reckless behaviour he had been displaying recently.
"Oh?" Ryan choked through his toast.
"Don't talk with your mouth full Ryan," Francesca chastised him.
"I am okay with you going back to work in the crime lab," Esteban began, "But your mother and I shall be taking up residence in Miami to keep an eye on you."
"That's not necessary." Ryan argued.
Esteban glared at Ryan. "Oh really? Tell me Ryan if we had not been here today where would you be?"
"I doubt I'm going to come across any other immortals!" Ryan snapped, "Besides, if you had told me that there was a way for immortals to kill immortals then perhaps I would have been a little more careful with what I did!"
Esteban seemed to be a little taken aback by Ryan's outburst for he turned his attention back to his food and picked at it with his fork. Ryan's words seemed to stir Eric from sleep as well because the Cuban opened his eyes and reached for Ryan's hand.
"Eric," Horatio murmured to announce to his colleague that he was there. Eric bolted upright as soon as he noticed Horatio was there and nearly knocked Ryan from his seat.
"I expect you to come back to work tomorrow Eric, I will fill you in on the story myself and Mr Wolfe here have decided on for the serial killer and for Ryan's return to work."
"Okay H," Eric spoke as he muffled a yawn behind his hand and Ryan smiled at him.
"I'll be leaving you to get some rest." Horatio said as he stood and moved towards the door.
Ryan and Eric trailed behind him, hands clasped between them, hidden by their proximity.
"Thank you for being so understanding Horatio." Ryan said suddenly.
"Don't worry about it Ryan, we'll discuss it more when you come back to work." Horatio replied with a smile. Ryan smiled back and scratched at his throat where the bruise had been only a few hours before. Horatio eyes flicked over Ryan's hands and the young CSI blushed.
Eric yawned again and Ryan laughed, closing the door as Horatio walked towards the stairs. "You should go back to bed." He commented.
Eric shook his head, "No I'm fine. How are you?"
"Better now. Thank you for coming to save me." Ryan whispered, working his way into Eric's arms and hugging his lover tightly.
"Any time." Eric murmured, kissing the top of Ryan's head.
Ryan yawned and Eric grinned.
"I guess I should be the one taking you back to bed." He laughed.
"Mm,"
Esteban and Francesca said nothing as Eric guided Ryan back to the bedroom and laid him down on the bed. Ryan watched as Eric lay beside him and smiled softly.
"It's amazing," Eric murmured as he stroked Ryan's throat gently.
"What is?"
"How quickly you heal," Eric replied, "It's…I don't know, like an angel or something."
"I'm not an angel." Ryan declared.
"I'm not saying you are," Eric laughed, "I just thought that it's quite similar y'know, to how some people would view an angel."
"If I was an angel living on earth wouldn't I be fallen?" Ryan asked, his voice taking a rather sulky tone to it.
Eric said nothing, just laughed and drew Ryan closer to him, burying his face in Ryan's hair and closing his eyes.
"Just go to sleep Ryan,"
Ryan rolled his eyes but complied, closing his eyes and relaxing into Eric's hold.