Sarah's POV
There was no use of hiding anymore. Everyone had gathered into the break room to relax, get a cup of coffee, and watch the latest news. As the clock grew closer to 12:00 my heart picked up speed. I looked at Ryan. He was pacing back and forth across the room.
"Ryan, dude, sit down, you're going to make a hole in the ground." Eric commented. Ryan was too focused on what would be broadcasted to the whole entire Miami- Dade County in the next seconds to even respond. I glanced at the clock. 11:59 am. As I heard Erica's voice, my heart sank to my shoes.
"This is Erica Sykes reporting from WNMD-5 with your latest news. Crime, Blood & Love? For those who work in a crime lab, or any lab in that matter, knows that having intimate relationships with another worker is against the rules. So why does this couple get away with it?" At that moment, the pictures of Ryan and me flooded the TV screen. Every set of eyes focused themselves on me and Ryan. My body froze. I felt like fainting.
"In the Miami- Dade Crime Lab, these two CSIs, Sarah Wilson and Ryan Wolfe, are a couple, as shown here in these pictures. Their consequences? They'll be placed in IAB offices with Rick Stetler. One may even end up losing their job. My advice to everyone else, don't date in a crime lab. This is Erica Sykes reporting." I felt like throwing her across the ocean. She never ceased to make my life a living hell. She kept getting better and better at it, and it killed me inside.
"Wolfe, Wilson, my office please." Horatio asked. I knew this wasn't going to be good.
We arrived in Horatio's office full of guilt and shame. Well, at least I know I did.
Ms. Wilson, I understand that you are new here, and you're not quite clear with the rules. But Mr. Wolfe, there's no explanation for you. You have been working here for 2, almost 3 years. You know the rules. Why did you break them? You realize this can cause you your job?" Horatio asked.
"I do sir. And I'm sorry. If I have to leave, that's what I'll do." Ryan offered. I wasn't going to let it happen. Not without a fight.
"Horatio, honestly, it's not like our relationship was hindering our work, correct?" I pointed out.
"That is true." He replied.
"So I like Ryan. And he likes me. What's the problem? The one who you should really be concerned about is Erica Sykes. Yes, I know, dating co-workers isn't allowed in the lab, but how did Erica find out? I know exactly why. She's mixing her personal life with ours. She used her job to take us down. Honestly, she doesn't like me and she's making it very clear by exploiting everything that goes on in the lab on the news. The whole Miami- Dade County doesn't need to know about anything that goes on in this lab, or better yet, me and Ryan." I finished.
"Ms. Wilson, what you said is very true. Erica Sykes had no business mixing her personal life with yours and she didn't have the right to exploit your business on the news. But you must remember, you still broke the rules." Horatio reminded me.
"So I'm going to get fired?" I asked.
"Not my decision. It's Rick's." Just then, Rick Stetler walked through the office.
"These must be my two rule breakers. Sarah and Ryan. I'll take it from here Lieutenant." Rick pulled up a chair.
"Do we all know our consequences here? Somebody, maybe both of you, is going to get fired."
"You know what?" Ryan started. "If you want, I'll make this easy for all of us. I'll just leave. Fair enough?" I couldn't let him take all the blame for all this.
"No, not fair enough. Rick, I just finished telling Horatio that our relationship doesn't hinder our work skills, now does it?" I asked.
"Well no but-" He started.
"Exactly. So I know that we broke the rules and all, but to fire us? That doesn't seem like a good idea. The team will lose two very good CSIs. So all I'm asking is that you let us date. If it starts to hinder our work, which I will make sure it doesn't, Horatio will probably have a talk with us. But I'm not trying to lean towards that." I finished.
"Well, CSI Wilson, you make a reasonable point. Okay, I'll let the two of you date. But the minute your 'relationship' screws up your work, both of you will get suspended from your job for a reasonable amount of time." He made it sound like I was in 6th grade.
"Thank you Rick." Ryan and I said.
"You are free to go now." Horatio told us. I walked downstairs to the locker room to clear my head. I sat on the bench and took a deep breath. I was interrupted by a sudden clap, as if someone was applauding me for something. I looked around and I saw Ryan.
"Nice job out there." He commented. He sat on the bench. Next to me and he placed his hand on top of mine. I looked into his eyes. It looked like a field of just, hazel. I was mesmerized. I had no words to say.
"Thanks. I mean, you saved my ass out there. I wouldn't have known what to say. I would've looked like an idiot." He shyly admitted. I smiled.
"You're welcome. I really had to make them think, so I could save my ass too." I smiled again.
"I don't even know how you could manage that thing. I mean, it's so big!" He grinned. I hit him on the arm.
"Ryan Wolfe, you are an idiot." We laughed. I rested my head on his lap and I looked up to him again. He stroked my hair lightly. I relaxed as he rubbed his hand across my leg. He moved a stray piece of hair away from my face.
"You're gorgeous. You know, I'm really glad I met you." The words that Ryan had said made my heart smile.
"Me too." And we just sat there, motionless. The only thing that was heard was the rhythmic breathing that was composed like music between the two us. But a phone call from Ryan's phone messed everything up. I rose up from my position as Ryan pulled his phone out. A couple seconds, I had received a text, showing the information of a new crime scene.
"I guess we should get going." His eyes filled with doubt, I knew he wanted to stay where we were. I did too. But I just committed myself to not let our relationship get tied in with my work. I opened my locker and pulled out a ponytail holder for my hair. ((believe me if there was a more sophisticated word for that, I would've put it in there)) As I finished tying my hair, I looked at Ryan one last time. I gave him a kiss on the cheek and smiled. I proceeded up the stairs and made my way to the Hummer. I thought about the day's events as I drove to the crime scene.
"What a day. And it's only been 4 hours." I muttered to myself. I got out the car and I met Eric at the scene.
"Hey Eric." I smiled.
"Hey yourself." He started. I had a perplexed look. "I want to know everything." I rolled my eyes and laughed.
"Oh Eric, you are such a gossiper." I managed to say between laughs. We headed over towards the body. Before I was even able to analyze the body, gunshots were fired. Before I could even think about what to do, I felt the heat of the bullet fly past my head and breezed through my hair. I tried to reach for my gun, but Eric had already wrapped his huge arms around me and brought me down to the ground. He covered me with his huge, masculine body. Even though I was covered, I saw the bullets flying overhead. He took his gun and started firing at the car which delivered the first bullets. The car sped off into the Miami sun. Eric removed himself off of my body. He made a call but I was so out of line, I couldn't hear him. I was shaking, trembling. I tried to breath, but something wasn't right. I put my hand on my chest and I started coughing. And I couldn't stop.
"Wilson! Wilson!" I heard Eric's strong voice call out to me, but I couldn't respond. I was scared and I couldn't breath. I looked frantically around.
"Wilson, relax! Breathe!" I tried to do as he told me, but I just couldn't.
"Wilson, take your time. I know you're scared, just breathe." He instructed. And that's all I need to hear. Take your time. I finally regained my composure. I felt tears fall down from my eyes.
"Eric, I-" I tried to start my sentence but he refrained me from talking.
"Just relax chica." He placed his hand on my shoulder. "That's it, just relax, and breathe." I did as I was told. He wiped my tears away.
"Are you okay now?" He asked. I nodded.
"Eric, thanks for saving me. I don't know how I can ever make this up to you."
"Don't try. I rather them take my life than yours."
"Really?" I asked. "That's so sweet." I smiled.
"Yeah. You're like my little sister. And I'd hate to see you go after a month and a half of working together." We both stood up. I shook myself off. Then I gave Eric a huge hug. I felt him smiling over my shoulder.
"I don't know what I would've done. I mean, the bullet was millimeters away from my head, it zipped through my hair."
"I know what it feels like. I've been there before."
"You got shot?" I asked in astonishment. He had never told me that.
"Yeah it was scary. And when we had shootouts after that, I'd be scared. I'd have flashbacks. Trust me, I know what you're going through."
"Wow. That's…wow." I couldn't find the words to say. It was amazing how we were able to open up to each other, as if we were really brother and sister.
"Yeah, how bout we get to this crime scene?" Eric reminded me. I had totally forgotten that we were at a crime scene. As we began to anatomize the body, I heard the sirens. I saw Horatio's figure running towards us.
"Is everyone okay?" He asked, concerned.
"Yeah, we're all good here now." Eric responded. I couldn't help but think how lucky I was to have some who cared enough for me to keep me alive. I'm so grateful.
AYEEEEE ! IM BACK ! IM OFF VACATION FINALLY! I missed writing. So I hope this can make up for lost time. : )