A/N: Violence and Agony in this chapter.
I appreciate all the reviews!
FYI: I couldn't find Ryan's birthday, so I use Jonathan Togo's birthday, August 25th, 1977, in replaced.
7 minutes ago…
"Caine, your little toy has lasted quite some time. I am impressed to say the least. But unfortunately I still don't have the information I want it. And I am running out of time. Let this be my final ultimatum. I give you 10 minutes to think it through. Either you give us the Right information or we peel your agent's skin right off and you can be sure he will die painfully. Think it through Caine!"
The man walked over to Ryan, untied him and dragged him over to Horatio. He signaled for his men that were holding Horatio by the shoulder to let go.
"Out!" The man motioned for his men to leave with him.
"10 minutes Caine! The information or you get a wolf's skin to take home."
The door closed with a loud bang and Horatio inched forward toward Ryan. Even though they didn't bind his hands, the chains that were attached to his ankles were enough to restrict his movement.
"Ryan…Ryan…" He softly called out to the young agent and carefully wiped the blood off Ryan's lips. Ryan stirred at his name. It was the sweetest sound to his ears. For the past few days, Horatio's voice had been the only thing that reminded him of why he was fighting. When they were beating him, cursing at him and tormenting him, Horatio's voice has been a reminder of why he refused to give-in and struggled not to scream. It was that voice that reminded him he was not alone.
Horatio gently touched Ryan's hand to let him know that he's here and Ryan opened his eyes at the contact. Pain clearly showed thought those beautiful eyes. Even though they were blood-shot from the lack of sleep and pain; they still had power behind them.
"I'm ok 'H'" Ryan whispered. Even though that was a complete lie, Ryan tried his best to reassure Horatio. After all that and more, his first thought was his boss. Ryan understood that no matter what they did to him, everything was all physical. Horatio on the other hand had to endure the sorrow that he couldn't stop this torture.
Horatio smiled at Ryan and said "It's ok to cry Ryan, they are gone." He carefully lifted Ryan's head into his lap and tried to provide as much body heat as possible. Ryan now risked the chance of going into shock.
The movement caused Ryan's lower body to ach and then everything came back to him. Ryan remembered what happened. He tried to push himself away from Horatio and wanted to get away as far as possible.
Horatio sensed the movement and instantly knew what Ryan was thinking.
"Ryan, please don't move, it will make it worst." Horatio gently tightened his hold on Ryan. He didn't want to hurt him anymore, but Ryan has started to pull himself into a ball and away from Horatio. Ryan needed the body heat and most importantly the human contact to let him know that he was not alone.
However, Ryan wasn't listening to Horatio at all. All he could think about was what has happened.
Horatio cupped Ryan's head so that he was now looking at Horatio.
"Ryan." Coaxed Horatio. "Son, listen to me, I am not going to hurt you. Let me take care of you please."
The word Son got Ryan's attention. It was a word that Horatio never used on Ryan. It was a word that was reserved for Eric and Kyle. The warmth and the comfort that the word bought for Ryan was beyond his description.
"Ryan, let me hold you please. There is nothing to be ashamed of. I am here and I promise you, they will not lay a hand on you ever." Horatio promised.
Ryan looked at Horatio with the most trusting eyes. It didn't matter if Horatio could honor that promise or not. Right now, Ryan entrusted everything to him.
Horatio saw the blood gathered under Ryan and knew he had to do something. It wasn't going to be easy, but Ryan would bleed to death before the 10 minutes were up.
"Ryan, look at me, do you trust me?" Horatio asked with a parent-like tone when they asked their children.
Ryan slowly nodded
"You are still bleeding heavily, I need to stop it." Horatio explained.
The full realization hit Ryan and panic began to set in. Horatio saw this and his heart wrenched with grief.
"Ryan, Son, I promise I will not hurt you, trust me." Horatio reassured Ryan.
Ryan nodded again and closed his eyes. He tightened his hold on Horatio's shirt and whispered softly
"I trust you."
Horatio took that as a sign and shifted slightly to grab a towel the men used as a gag on Horatio when he tried to call out to Ryan through the torture.
Horatio turned Ryan carefully to his side and instantly saw the damage.
The flesh around the entrance was torn and blood flowed freely down the side of Ryan's legs. Horatio cautiously wiped the blood around the entrance and Ryan jumped violently as the cold fabric touched his already mutilated flesh.
Horatio noticed Ryan's breathing has accelerated and his whole body shook with terror. He repeatedly stroked Ryan's brow with his other free hand and spoke softly to him.
"Son, just concentrate on my voice and clear your mind, deep breath, one at a time."
"When we get out of here, I am going to treat you to the best steak you ever had. Then we are going to see a baseball game and throw a party to celebrate your birthday." Horatio tried to offer something for Ryan to hold on to.
"You…you remember…? A bear whisper escaped Ryan.
"Yes, August 25th, you will be 33 this year." Horatio answered Ryan.
Tears threatened to escape Ryan's already moistened eyes. He couldn't believe Horatio remember, most of all, he couldn't believe Horatio knew the exact date and the age he would be turning. He felt enormously overwhelmed by this simple act.
Everything they said to him was wrong! Horatio cared about him, right now, before and always has cared about him.
Even his own parents had trouble remembering his exact birthday.
Ryan moved even closed into Horatio's embrace and settled down.
Horatio gently tugged the towel in between his flesh to stop the bleeding. The flow has slowed down a bit, but Horatio could already see infection setting in. The material they used on him had damaged his flesh greatly and it wasn't anything clean.
Horatio gently rocked Ryan back and forth, like a mother would do to her child. He whispered words of comfort and tried to provide whatever body heat he had.
A tiny tear slide down Horatio's face and dropped on Ryan's forehead. Ryan turned his head land looked up at Horatio. This was a moment of rarity. Ryan never remembered ever seeming Horatio shed any tears. Not even when Eric was in the Hospital. He was always cool and calmed and most importantly in control of all emotions.
"Am I dying?" Ryan knew it was a stupid question, but he asked anyway. Off-course he was dying.
"NO! No Ryan, you will not die. Not when I am holding on to you. I promise we will celebrate your 33rd birthday. You will not die here." The statement was more of a reassurance for Horatio than Ryan.
It was then that Ryan realized they had broken Horatio Caine. They have brutally breached his body, but they violated Horatio's sprit. Whatever honor, principle, and pride that Horatio had, he was ready to throw those all out the door to save Ryan. 4 days, that was all they needed to truly hurt Horatio.
As Ryan laid there on Horatio's lap, he felt Horatio's inhaled deeply. It was a sign that he was ready to admit defeat.
There was no stopping the tears. Ryan buried his head in Horatio's lap as his fragile body shook with sobs. He didn't want Horatio to see him like this. He knew that the next time they come, Horatio would not hesitate to tell them the girl's location.
However Ryan would die to protect his boss's pride.
Ryan lifted his head up from Horatio's lap, looked at him with pleading eyes and begged, "Kill me…please…"
Preview of Chapter 3
6 days ago…
"Stetler, this is Young. It is about Horatio Caine."
" O good Horatio, what a wounded name,
Things standing thus unknown, shall live behind me!
If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart
Absent thee from felicity awhile,
And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain,
To tell my story. . .
O, I die, Horatio; "
Shakespeare's Hamlet (V, ii)
Horatio is Hamlet's good friend in Shakespeare's story. When Hamlet was dying, he asked Horatio to tell his story to the world.