Story Title: Revenge is a dish best served Russian
Season(s): Mainly set in season 7, timeline may vary.
Pairing(s): Ryan/Natalia, Eric/Calleigh, (other pairings may occur...I'm making the story up as I go along)
Disclaimer: If I did own C.S.I Miami do you think I would be writing this story instead of snuggling in Jonathan Togo's strong, muscled arms? *sigh* Stupid O.S.F.D (Obsessive Sexy Fellas Disorder) I only owns the OCs...
Now on with the story...
Previously on C.S.I Miami:
Smile faltering, Natalia sighed, her hopes defeated as running away seemed to become more tempting to the frozen CSI.
Staring blankly at the cold coffee cup in front of him, Ryan Wolfe's thoughts were franticly screaming, a thousand voices demanding his attention all at the same time.
Holding his knee along with his head, the troubled CSI wondered with pain was more annoying.
Though he had survived his talk with Eric, something he thought he would have died of shame, Ryan was still conflicted. His Cuban colleague seemed to bring up more questioning voices than silencing them.
Smirking slightly, Ryan realised what the biggest pain was.
Delko.
"Come on Delko, I'm serious!"
Ryan gritted his teeth as he listened to Eric's constant laughter. Though he had expected some sort of taunting from his friend, this was pushing him too far.
"Hold on, I'm gonna need a drink for this."
Ryan sighed deeply as Eric stood up, resting his hands on his knees. Hearing the swift coffee machine pour a drink behind him along with approaching footsteps, the CSI knew his break from the continuous stream of jokes was over.
Great...
With a sarcastic smile to match his thoughts, Ryan waited as Eric sat down and placed his coffee on the small table in front of them. Locking his jaw so no snappy remarks would escape him regrettably, the CSI waited for another round of taunting hell.
"So...we need to talk about your feelings Wolfe?"
I knew Alexx would have been a better choice.
Sighing, Ryan squeezed his right knee angrily as he focused on his temper, his situation was too important to laugh about. "No Delko, I just wanted a lil guy talk."
Eric continued to laugh, watching the fake smile on Ryan's face. "A lil guy talk? Okay, I'll bite...so what's on your mind?"
Ryan was almost growling, but remained calm, knowing Eric would give some support now that he had no jokes left.
"Well..."
Waiting for the rest of Ryan's sentence, Eric's smile slowly slipped into an impatient frown. Rolling his eyes, the older CSI tried to be mature and wait for his friend to tell him.
Once his maturity had left, Eric sighed. "Spit it out Ryan!"
"I think I'm in love!"
Both men were quiet, both not believing what Ryan just blurted out. After what seemed like an eternity, Eric spoke through his nervous smirk.
"Eh man, I don't swing that way-"
"Not you!"
Eric smiled relaxingly into the awkward silence that followed; relieved he had no more in-lab romantic tangles to worry about.
Calleigh is all ready a handful...but worth it.
Smiling to himself, Eric had to mentally shake away his current line of thoughts to refocus on Ryan's dilemma.
"Then who Wolfe?"
Smile fading, Eric watched as Ryan remained quiet. The younger man seemed...nervous, shy, even embarrassed about what he was going to say.
It's like he's afraid of my reaction...
Eyes' widening slightly, Eric was shocked, but also angry.
He can't love Calleigh!
"Who is it Ryan?"
Ryan looked up from his lap, confused and slightly startled at the livid (if not feral) expression from his friend.
"Eh-"
"Come on Wolfe, tell me who it is!"
Ryan gulped once, crumbling under the pressure of his mind and Eric's orders.
"Natalia..."
Eric smile returned, smug and relief with a twitch of self-knowing lighting his features once more into a grin.
"So, back for 'permission' again?"
"Shut up Delko."
Eric laughed hearty, though he still didn't understand why Ryan had come to him for some un-known 'advice', the Cuban CSI was enjoying every minute of it. The fact his amusement was at the younger man's expense just added another round of chuckling.
"Eric...I'm serious man, I need your help. I'm really confused here!"
Once his latest laughing fit had faded into light sniggers, Eric spoke as serious as he could. Though Ryan was confused by his situation, the older officer thought it was quite simple.
"Ok...so you like Natalia right?"
"Of course!"
Eric grinned at the urgency of Ryan's response.
"And you think she likes you?"
Ryan nodded furiously, remaining quiet as he waited for his friend to continue.
"Then what's the problem?"
Sighing heavily, Ryan raked a hand through his hair, eyes shutting for a moment as he collected his thoughts to answer.
"It's complicated I mean we...we kissed, at the factory."
Eric was quiet tempted to wolf-whistle but didn't want to attract attention from anyone passing the practically empty break room. Instead, he settled for wiggling his eyebrows much to Ryan's chagrin.
Remembering Ryan wanted advice, Eric knew he was truly thinking in dangerous territory...but decided to risk it all for a cheap laugh.
"Well if it helps...she prefers boxers to briefs-"
"Aw Eric! Come on man!"
Ryan glared as he friend once again laughed loudly. His hands curled into fists, jaw clenching; the joke was becoming less funny with each of Eric's laughs.
Focusing on another matter than his desire to punch his partner, Ryan tried to phrase his next sentence so he would finally get a helping word from the chucking Cuban.
"Eric...I'm not sure what to do next man, I seriously need some advice."
Whether he had grown tired of teasing Ryan, or the grey eyes filled with sincere begging, the older CSI sighed.
"What do you need help with Wolfe?"
A small smile bubbled on the younger man's lips; his previous embarrassment and torture were now finally paying off.
"Well I...I'm not sure if...if what I...If-"
"If what you're feelings' right?"
Ryan nodded, waiting for further wise words from the older CSI. When he received none, he decided to press for more helpful but personal information.
"When did you know she was the one for you?"
From the way his friend spoke and the slight smugness in his eyes, Eric knew that Ryan knew of his and Calleigh's relationship. Deciding not to deny the impossible to defend, Eric just continued on.
"Well...I would say when I thought I'd lost her but...that wasn't when I realised it."
Ryan's expression showed his confusion completely, he didn't even try hiding it. Eric knew he would puzzle his pal and continued slowly.
"Well...when I almost lost her, I realised I cared for Cal deeply. But at first it wasn't love, it was need...I knew I couldn't live without her, I needed her but that didn't mean I loved her."
Ryan's confusion grew.
"It took a while for the love to grow. I'm serious man it doesn't just spring up like everyone says. You'll notice the lil things like how she laughs, smiles, even how she talks suddenly matter to you. But it takes time."
Though his previous confusion was gone, a new question formed within Ryan's mind.
"So what should I do Eric?"
Eric's eyes flashed, now he was in a dilemma. Should he tell Ryan his true thoughts...or push him into a possible happy mistake?
Gulping once, he spoke lowly.
"Honestly man...take your time, maybe even cool things for awhile. You don't want to rush into a mistake."
Ryan nodded, his mind agreed with Eric but deep down...his heart was shouting that his friend's words were blasphemy.
So who will Ryan listen to? His heart or his mind?
A relationship is at stake! Will a heart to heart blossom a RaiNy season or is Ryan's doubt going to lead to a drought?
Find out next time ;)
Mel out ;)