A/N: Tissue chapter! I been rereading the chapters I posted and I apologize for the grammatical errors in them. Due to work and school, I usually write the stories after midnight.

Enjoy and again thank you for the reviews. It is the greatest gift to an author.

Chapter 10: 2:00 am…

The toxic report came back positive for cocaine. The needles that the men stabbed Ryan with must had been used to get high. The doctor estimated that it would take at least a day to flush the drug out of Ryan's system. The doctors hoped that Ryan was experiencing a brief psychotic disorder. The disorder usually is triggered by stressful events and Ryan's experience would certainly fall under this category. But with psychotic disorder it's hard to tell the long term effects and also Ryan had cocaine in him so complications were not out of the question.

Fever plus the cocaine caused Ryan to experience delusions during the night. Alex and Calleigh stayed with Ryan until Calleigh was way too tired to keep her eyes open. Alex took Calleigh home and promised to bring some coffee back for Horatio. Horatio never left Ryan's side even after doctors told him that Ryan most likely wouldn't recognize him. It didn't matter if Ryan recognized him or not, right now his child needed someone to comfort him.

A nurse walked in to dime the light at 2:00am. But Horatio didn't find any rest. He was composed and collected when Alex and Calleigh were here, but now his usual mask failed. As the nurse walked out the room, Horatio lifted his head and looked at the boy that slept before him.

Ryan breathed though the air mask and bathed in his own sweat. The fever had not increase, but it also didn't come down. Horatio would occasionally use a damped towel and wiped the sweat off Ryan's forehead. Ryan moaned irregularly and mumbled something incoherent as if he was hurting or something. The doctor provided a strong dose of morphine before Calleigh left, but with Ryan being in a stage like this; it was difficult for the doctor to draw any conclusion.

"Ryan, if you can hear me, please come back and I promise we will work through this together." Horatio whispered.

He barely said anything when Alex and Calleigh were here. His detachment sense was in place and he acted as if Ryan was just another victim. He sat by Calleigh and helped them switched the cooling packs.

Horatio held Ryan's hand and bowed his head against it.

"Ryan…Ryan, if you can hear me, please pull through." And then a sob escaped Horatio. "I made an agreement with god in the chapel, if one of us has to die, I told him to take me." Tears rolled down Horatio's face and onto Ryan's hand.

Alex stood outside, afraid to enter. Guilt washed over her as she realized she just caught Horatio Caine in a very private moment. She wanted to rush in and hug him tight, but that was not how Horatio Caine operated. The minute he realized there were people, he concealed all personal emotions. Maybe this was good for him; maybe talking to Ryan like that was his way of facing his own demons. Slowly Alex walked away.

Horatio felt Ryan's hand tighten the hold on his and immediately stood up. Ryan's mouth kept on moving under the oxygen mask, however, it was barely a whisper. Horatio carefully lifted the mask and leaned over to look at Ryan.

"Ryan…" Horatio said gently and his voice breaking.

There was no recognition in Ryan's eyes; however, he looked at Horatio with dazed stares and pleaded softly "please….dad… don't hit mommy anymore."

Horatio stared at Ryan and his hands shook violently. He gently placed the mask down and sunk into his chair. He had no idea how close Ryan's childhood mirrored that of his. He took a deep breath, looked away and wept openly for the first time in years. His right hand covered his sobs and his left still held on to Ryan's hand.

Hours later, Alex would find her former boss still holding onto the young CSI and with his head resting against Ryan's hand.

Jackson:" I know you hate it when I use a 100 words when a couple would do, but give us a call sometime.
….Goodbye son."

Gibbs "Bye Dad".

-NCIS, (Heartland, Season 6.4)