A/N: Kleenex chapter. A lot of agony and tears.
Thank you for the reviews! I apologize for not updating the story sooner.
Chapter 6: 58 hours ago…
"Caine, what a pleasure." Kevin stepped forward. Horatio was bind to the wall with chains attached to his ankles that only allowed him a few inches of movement and his hand was tied behind his back with a rope.
"Kevin, I can't say the same to you."Horatio sneered at Kevin.
Kevin spited at Horatio then he walked over to Ryan and kicked him on the side. Ryan groaned at the contact and tried to curl into a ball to protect himself from the pain.
"We are done for today. Let's pick it up a few hours later." The man instructed and left with his men and Kevin.
"Mister Wolfe, are you alright?" Horatio asked at the sound of the door closing. Ryan lifted his head from the floor and looked at Horatio.
"I been better 'H'" He answered.
Other than the burns on his hands and feet, Ryan also sustained a couple bruised ribs and whip marks on his back. Because of the second degree burns on Ryan's hands and feet, he couldn't stand-up and walk.
He pushed himself onto his elbows and knees and crawled inch by inch towards Horatio.
"Mister Wolfe, don't aggravate your injury any more, just rest where you are." Horatio said.
However, Ryan didn't stop and continued to crawl towards Horatio.
"Mister Wolfe, Ryan! Ryan!" When Ryan didn't stop moving, Horatio got worried and tried to get his attention. While Mr. Wolfe has not earned him Ryan's attention, his first name certainly stopped Ryan dead in his track.
Ryan paused just two or three feet away from Horatio and looked up at his boss, who is kneeing on the ground calling him.
"Are you mad?" Ryan asked with a child-like tone.
Of all the things Ryan could have asked, this certainly was not what Horatio was expecting.
"No, off-course not. Why would you say that Mr. Wolfe. "Horatio asked quietly.
"You used my first name and when you do that, it means you are mad at me." Ryan answered with a somewhat afraid tone.
Horatio smiled at Ryan. If it was not for the situation, Horatio thought he would be talking to a child that just got caught stealing the cookie from the cookie jar.
"Ryan, I am worried about you right now. You are aggravating your injury by moving. Just rest where you are". There was nothing in Horatio's eyes but honest concern for Ryan.
"I'm fine 'H' I can untie your hands and see if we can figure out a way out of this place." Ryan said. In honesty, there was no way out. But Ryan was afraid, he was afraid to be left alone in the middle of the room and that they would come back anytime to torment him again.
Slowly Horatio watched Ryan reached him and untied the rope that was binding Horatio's hand.
"Almost got it." Ryan said as he loosened the rope around Horatio's wrists. Even though the knots weren't tie, Ryan had a difficult time undoing them. Partly was because his second degree burns on both hands were causing him a great deal of pain.
The minute the knots were untied, Horatio loosed the rope behind him and supposed Ryan by the shoulders. Ryan was completely out of energy by the time he finished freeing Horatio's hand and he fell into Horatio's embrace.
Horatio slowly shifted Ryan and laid him against his chest. When he opened Ryan's hand to look at the burns, his paternal heart broke to pieces. Red skin patches colored his palms and Blisters decorated his once smooth skins.
"I'm ok." Ryan said as he realized what Horatio was looking at.
Horatio smiled at his agent and said "you been saying that a lot."
Ryan smiled back and enjoyed the warmth of Horatio's body.
They stay like this and lost track of time. Horatio sitting on the ground with his arm protectively holding his young agent against his chest and Ryan rested on his boss's lap with his eyes closed. It was a heartwarming scene in a dark and cold room. Horatio thought about what had happened 24 hours ago and guilt overwhelm him. If Ryan had not ride with him to the crime scene, he wouldn't be here right now suffering. This was his battle, but Ryan became the victim.
Ryan tensed up at the sound of the door opening and Horatio tightened his hold on Ryan.
Kevin stood by the door with a bottle of water and two pieces of chocolate candy in his hand. He walked over to Horatio and dropped the bottle of water and the two pieces of chocolate down.
Horatio stared at Kevin with untrusting eyes.
"It's not poisoned. If we want to kill you guys, we could do it with a gun. It would be much faster" Kevin said coldly. "Unless you want Wolfe to die from dehydration, I suggest he drinks something." Without another word, Kevin walked out.
They didn't have a choice. Kevin was right. Last time that Ryan had some fluid would be yesterday or wasn't the day before? Horatio completely lost track of time. All he knew was that they have been here for way too long.
Horatio shifted Ryan up against his chest a little and reached for the bottle. He twisted open the cap and shook the agent that lied against him.
"Ryan, I have some water for you." Horatio said.
Ryan peep opened his eyes at Horatio and shook his head. "I'm ok." He said.
"Just one sips Ryan." Horatio persuaded.
"I really don't want anything 'H'" Ryan said. It was the truth. Ryan was sick to his stomach. The session earlier had left him throbbing all over and his hand and feet felt like they were still being burned.
When Horatio refused to provide any information to them, they used Ryan as a bargaining chip. At first they tortured Ryan in a separated room thinking that his screams would affect Horatio. However, when Ryan didn't scream like they had hope for, they thrown him in the same room as Horatio and for Horatio to witness everything.
When Ryan stumped into the room, he immediately locked eyes with Horatio. There was no need to exchange words, they understood each other perfectly. Too much was at stake here and Horatio was about to make an agonizing decision. He wasn't going to tell them anything no matter what happened.
Ryan nodded to Horatio and was fully prepared to die for the cause. Ryan saw something in Horatio's eyes that he hasn't seen in a very long time. It was helplessness. Horatio has found justice for thousands victim and saved a thousand more from their demise. But today, he would not be able to protect one of his own.
Ryan stared at Horatio with determination. If he was going to die, he wanted to go down in history as a hero.
Two men held Ryan straight up. His shirt was already torn off and his bare back was exposed.
It was a couple of wipe lashes onto Ryan's back at first. However, Ryan didn't even let a whisper escape. They switched to punching his ribs, but that only earned Ryan's laughter.
The man finally held a blow torch against Ryan's hand and feet as Ryan was bonded in a chair. The man was very skilled at torture techniques. He held the blow torch just at the right distance. The burning inflicted a great deal of pain, but did not completely burned Ryan's tissue. The result was second degree burn. It was the most painful category of burns. Since the tissues were not damaged, the victim would feel all the pain. Blisters would also form and create complication.
Ryan clinched his teeth together to prevent himself from screaming. If he had to choose one of the worst ways to die from, it would be being burned. He felt like his entire body was on flames.
"Just one sips Ryan." Horatio persuaded against and held the bottle against Ryan's cracked lips. Ryan reluctantly took a sip; however, the reaction was instant. He retched convulsively for the next ten minutes, but only cleared liquid come out. Horatio turned Ryan to his side as he gently rubbed his back in small circles.
When the convulsion stopped, Ryan was left gasping for air and trembling uncontrollably. He felt terribly ill and could not even keep down the smallest sip of water.
"I'm orry." Ryan apologized between gasp of air.
"You have nothing to be sorry for Mister Wolfe. Just concentrate on your breathing and don't try to talk." Horatio advised.
After Ryan's breathing evened out, Horatio gently shifted Ryan so that his head nested within his left arm. Ryan closed his eyes as the movement resulted in another wave of nausea.
"Mister Wolfe, you need to drink something. It has been at least a day since you had any fluid." Horatio said as he wiped the beads of sweat from Ryan's forehead.
"Don' feel good 'H'" Ryan answered.
Horatio thought maybe adding a taste to the water would help. He removed the wrapping from the chocolate bar and carefully poured some water onto it.
"Mister Wolfe, here, I have some chocolate for you." Horatio offered.
However, Ryan shook his head and buried his face against Horatio's chest.
"Mister Wolfe?" When Ryan didn't answer him, Horatio gently shifted Ryan so he could see his face. Ryan's eyes were closed and his face was twisted in pain.
"Ryan, talk to me." Horatio said as he smoothed Ryan's hair away from his forehead.
"M' leg" Ryan whimpered.
Horatio immediately looked down and noticed that Ryan's right leg was buckled up tight. Ryan was trying to ride out a horrible leg cramp.
Ryan was on the verge of tearing from the pain. Horatio gently shifted Ryan up a bit so that he could reach his leg. He gently massaged Ryan's lower calf and hoping that it would bring some relief for Ryan. A violent shudder suddenly ran through the young CSI and Ryan chocked up a mouthful of blood. Horatio immediately took hold of his CSI as Ryan's body shook uncontrollably.
Ryan tried to control his body, but somehow he couldn't do anything. As he lied against his boss's chest, his whole body spammed and forcefully coughed up more blood. At the peak of his misery, Ryan felt a pair of strong arms encircled him and supported his limp body. It was the arms of his boss. Against Horatio's chest, Ryan felt warmth and kindliness.
" 'H'…I…" Ryan couldn't finish his sentence as he took in another painful breath.
"You have nothing to be sorry about," Horatio interrupted. "I should be the one apologizing for getting you involved in my matters". Horatio dabbed the blood off Ryan's lips and chin with the corner of his shirt.
"Your pant." Ryan was finally able to speak after the spasms slowly let up. Ryan's blood has splattered onto his boss's navy pant.
Horatio placed his fingers under Ryan's chin and tilted his head so that their eyes met. "Don't be, my child. I have dealt with worst. It is you that I am worried about Ryan."
Ryan smiled at his boss's paternal concern. It has been a long time since Ryan felt this cherished. If this was what a parent's love feels like, it was worth whatever the sacrifice.
"Ryan, let's try to eat something, it will help you feel better." Horatio advised and broke off a piece of chocolate and carefully placed it in Ryan's mount. Ryan was completely exhausted from his earlier muscle spasm that he didn't even have the energy to swallow. He let the chocolate melted in his mouth and savored the taste.
Ryan's blood stained lips were parted slightly as Horatio placed another piece of chocolate in his mouth.
As the second piece of chocolate melted in Ryan's mouth, he looked at Horatio and whispered"Please don't leave me. Please don't leave me like he did. Please 'H'."
Horatio thought Ryan was delusion and played along, "I am here Ryan, and I am not going anywhere."
"I was 7 when he left. I already forgot what he looks like" Ryan said.
"Pardon me?" Horatio asked in confusion.
"My father…" Ryan answered and closed his eyes as images of his father's abandonment came to mind.
"I'm sorry Ryan. No child should experience what you have gone through." Horatio apologized.
"It's not your false. He made his choice." Ryan said without any emotions.
"I wish you had a better father figure in your life, Ryan. It makes all the difference." Horatio said.
"I have you."
Horatio was taken by surprise. He realized when he hired Ryan as the newest CSI, Ryan had always tried his best to impress Horatio and gain his respect. He always thought Ryan just wanted to get on his boss's good side. But Ryan actually saw Horatio as a father figure and his hard work was trying to earn Horatio's approval.
The comprehension caused Horatio to tighten his hold on his child.
"You have me. You will always have me, Ryan. I am so sorry Ryan, I couldn't protect you. "Horatio expressed regret.
Ryan shook his head at Horatio's apology and lifted his burned hand up to touch Horatio's chin. Horatio immediately grabbed hold of his child's hand and placed it against his heart.
Under the most dreadful condition, a surrogate father rocking his child to sleep and protecting him from death's grip.
There is nothing that can come between a parent's devotion to his child, not even death.
"If those scratches are from my son, and anything has happened to him...I will come back to this room and you will leave it in a bag." Horatio Caine (Inside Out, Season 6.3)