Disclaimer: I don't own anything CSI:Miami and I am not making any profits off of this story. It all belongs to the CBS and whatnot, please don't sue and please don't be offended by the language or situations the characters find themselves in.
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Chapter 4:
The Choice of the Mortal
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The Sun was setting over the city of Miami painting the sky in brilliant hues of reds, oranges, greens, blues, and purples. The colors all swirled together up in the heavens in a perfect sort of chaos. A soft breeze blew in from the sea like a caress to anyone who could feel it.
Ryan Wolfe breathed in the warm salt-laced air from where he leaned against the railing of the ninth floor apartment balcony. He gazed out at the breath taking view of the city the balcony provided and sighed deeply.
" What are you thinking about?" Asked a familiar deep voice from behind him.
Ryan turned around taking his gaze away from the sight of the city and met the pair of amber colored eyes that belonged to the person who had just spoken. Ryan smiled softly at Eric Delko where the vampire lay reclined on a plush Grecian sofa by the sliding glass doors. Dressed in sweats and a plain white t-shirt. He was the picture of total relaxation, as though he had not a care in the world.
Wordlessly Ryan stepped away from the balcony railing and made his way over to the lounging vampire, his bare feet padding softly against the rough pumice like floor of the balcony. He slowly climbed onto the sofa beside Eric. The vampire turned slightly onto his side to give his lover enough room and then he wrapped his arms around the younger man.
They lay there together, Ryan's head tucked under Eric's chin and Ryan's hand resting over Eric's not beating heart. There legs gently entwined with each other.
" I'm okay Eric." Said Ryan softly.
" But there is something on your mind and I'm pretty sure it has something to do with what I told you a few days ago." Said Eric knowingly. Ryan nodded wordlessly against Eric's collar-bone.
" To be with you, am I gonna have to die?" Asked Ryan softly.
Eric didn't answer for a long moment, then he spoke a single word.
" Yes."
An involuntary surge of terror radiated through Ryan at this one word. Eric tightened his hold around Ryan's shoulders and gently tilted Ryan's chin upward with his free hand so that their eyes met as he began to explain.
" It won't be a permanent death. First I'm going to bite you and drink from you until I've drained to the point of death. Then I will cut myself and you will drink from me. My blood in you will start the transformation. It is your mortality that will die, your soul and your love for me will survive. It's what will get you through becoming a vampire like me. And when you've changed we will bond as eternal mates. We will have each other for the rest of time." Eric whispered the last part as he leaned in and gently pressed his lips to Ryan's in a chaste kiss. When the broke apart Eric continued.
" But only when you are absolutely ready to make that choice."
" But Eric, what about-" Ryan began to argue when Eric cut him off.
" Only when you are ready. I have enough strength in me to last a good long while so don't worry. Only when you are ready." Reassured Eric. Ryan nodded mutely and then pressed himself closer to Eric's side. Eric didn't say anything, simply held future mate, understanding the silent need for comfort.
They stayed that way, simply holding each other til the sun had completely disappeared below the horizon line.
Eric smiled down at Ryan who had dozed off a little while ago. With some reluctance Eric lightly shook Ryan to rouse him. Ryan's eyes slowly fluttered open and blinked away the light sleep.
" Mmm, hey." Sighed Ryan.
" Hey back." Whispered Eric before he leaned in and took Ryan's mouth in a deep kiss. Ryan smiled against Eric's lips and returned the gentle kiss. When they broke apart Eric spoke softly.
" let's go inside."
Ryan nodded and reluctantly pushed himself off of Eric and got to his feet. The Vampire followed after him and the two of them headed through the sliding glass door into Eric's apartment. They quietly went about the rest of the night, relaxed and happy in each others company. They had an intimate dinner together, all though with Eric there was more drinking involved rather than eating. They spent the time after that simply lounging in the living room catching a baseball game on the T.V. By the end of the game it had gotten really late.
Eric and Ryan left the living room and walked side by side down the hallway to Eric's bedroom. Once they were inside the went to either side of the bed and started undressing. All the while Eric would steal glances at Ryan and Ryan would take furtive looks at Eric as their bodies were quietly revealed. Once they were both divested of their clothing, Eric turned the lights off plunging the room into darkness as he and Ryan climbed into bed. They got under the cool, crisp sheets and immediately sought each other out.
Unlike several of the other nights that had preceded this one, they didn't give in to fiery passion. For tonight they wished simply to bask in the bliss of intimacy that came with being deeply in love. Holding each other close, leaning into soft caresses, legs and fingers gently entwining, and laying together with barely a breath of space between them, fitting together as though they were the two halves of a claddaugh ring.
As though they were made for each other.
It was with this all encompassing sense of peace that Eric quickly fell into a deep slumber. But for Ryan that same peaceful slepp did not come so quickly.
His mind went to the conversation or earlier and the quandary that came with it. If he wanted to be with the one he loved, he would have to give up his very humanity and at the same time if he didn't give up his mortal life he would loose Eric to the grasps of death.
To become a vampire meant dying and like any person would be, Ryan was scared of it. But he felt his heart ache even more as he gazed at Eric's sleeping features. Not taking that step and becoming a vampire was slowly killing the man he loved.
What was he supposed to do?
Which path was he supposed to take?
He couldn't let Eric die but at the same time he didn't want to die either.
What the hell was he supposed to do?
With these thoughts like this swirling about in his head, Ryan fell into a estless sleep that was remideed only slightly by the Eric's closeness and warmth.
When morning came Eric and Ryan awoke and got ready for another day of work. They got dressed and had breakfast together before they headed in to the lab, now under the guise of being only co-workers who still managed to get on each others nerves on many occasions.
They were somewhat civil co-workers by day, a more than a century old vampire and the mortal man who would soon be his mate by night.
A few days later...
It was another sunset over Miami.
On a small private beach a lone figure waled bare-foot over the light colored sands with cool salt water lapping lazily at his ankles.
Ryan Wolfe looked out at the seemingly endless waters of the ocean as he walked the beach in solitude. The soft breeze caressed him in full. The bottoms of his dark blue jeans were lightly soaked despite being rolled up. The loose white button-up shirt he was wearing billowed lightly in the wind. He walked the shores deep in thought, on hand buried in his front jeans pocket and the other was holding his shoes.
Then he suddenly stopped all together and faced the deep blue waters.
He stood still and gazed at the line so far off into the distance where heaven and earth seemed to meet. He watched as the golden-orange disc slowly but surely lower more at more from the sky towards this far off line.
It was here that a realization dawned on him.
There would be many more sunsets he would have the pleasure of witnessing, but this was going to be the last one he would ever see as a mortal man.
Ryan stood and watched the sun slowly sink til it was disappearing beneath the horizon leaving only the last fading tendrils of light in its wake against a deep indigo sky.
Ryan turned away and started walking back up the beach. He had to get to his car, there was somewhere far more important he needed to be. There was someone he needed to be with tonight.
With the setting of the sun Ryan Wolfe had made the choice about his future.
He was ready now.
Ready to face the death of his mortality and his entrance into the vast expanse of eternity he was to share with the one whom he loved.