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:

A sudden slow intake of breath caught his attention. Ryan looked up, gasping slightly as light grey eyes locking with chocolate brown.

"Ryan...we need to talk."

Silence.

Intimidating, stomach-clenching silence enveloped the two CSIs, all other noises faded into nothingness, yet both hearts were beating wildly, pulses erratic with fear and worrying anticipation.

Realising a deep, shaky sigh, Ryan Wolfe broke the silence.

"Sooooo..."

Though he stretched out the single syllable sentence, Ryan received no response other than a slight nod from Natalia.

Is she agreeing with me?

Wait...I didn't ask a question...

Silently, Natalia placed her good hand atop of his. Looking up, Ryan was glad to see her slight smile and warm eyes look into his.

"Thank you."

Natalia took in Ryan's slightly confused grin, squeezing his hand lightly. She bit her lip, nodding to herself to continue.

"You were really brave out there..."

Hazel eyes scrutinised her shaky pause, waiting for her to speak again. Swallowing slowly, Natalia clenched her casted hand, hoping to hide her trembling fingers.

"I...I don't think I would've have made it through it without you Ryan..."

Ryan's eyes ghosted close, releasing a deep breath, the CSI moved his thumb around their entwined hands, stroking the back of her hand soothingly. When he mustered the courage to open his eyes, he noticed hers had trailed to their hands.

A small smile bubbled on his lips.

"Me either..."

The silence returned, yet it was more comfortable. It seemed to add a warm atmosphere to the quiet break room rather than the usual cold, awkward chill. Ryan was glad to see Natalia returned her kind gaze to him, gaining her full attention.

"So what did you want to talk about?"

Feeling her hand instantly tense in his, Ryan watched as Natalia dropped her gaze back down, silently cursing himself for being so blunt and direct. Natalia's mind was racing as she tried to find the right words to express her thoughts.

One word kept popping up like an annoying wasp, stinging her mind till it gained her attention.

Crap.

Though it perfectly stated her feeling to the discomfited situation in front of her, Natalia couldn't say it to the man in front of her, though his electrifying touch only added to her discomfort.

"I-eh, I just wanted..."

Feeling her heart clench and a swarm of butterflies beat furiously around in her stomach, Natalia felt her breathing shake, nerves controlling her reaction.

"I wanted to see how you were doing."

Ryan raised his eyebrows slightly, the uncertainty behind Natalia's words confused him, it was though she was saying one thing, but her mind thinking another. Though he considered himself able to read her emotions greatly, an afterthought silenced his curiosity.

"I'm doing good...you?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine."

Ryan's instincts told him she felt differently. Scanning her features, he picked up hesitation as well as nervousness.

What the hell does she have to be nervous of?

Shaking his thoughts away quickly, Ryan heard Natalia take in a breath, about to speak.

"So about what happened...at the factory-"

"Yeah...I know..."

Though a lot had happened to the CSI within the space of two days, not including the week of hell caused by Ivan's attacks up to his past two days of pain, panic and now insecurity, Ryan knew exactly what she was talking about.

The very thing his mind teased and treated him to the memory of.

The kiss...

Smiling slightly at the romantic remembrance, Ryan was glad Natalia was thinking of it too. Natalia still looked at their hands, never meeting his eyes as she continued.

"Well...we have to talk about it...don't we?"

"I guess...if you want to..."

Natalia lifted her eyes up to Ryan's, slightly confused by the casualness of his tone. Was this not as serious as she thought? Did he not want to talk about it?

Did he not want a relationship like she did?

Ryan noticed the emotions in her eyes, caught off guard by the hidden hurt they shone. He guessed his attempt at calming her nerves failed. Natalia was always like an open book to him, no matter how she tried to cover her emotions, one look into her eyes and he knew exactly what she was feeling.

Now he had to think of a way to fix whatever wrong he did.

Natalia had talked to him normally after the incident at the factory, even after they were both released from hospital and allowed back to work. A light seemed to click inside his head.

Whatever he did, he did it right there and then.

Was he too pushy, or too eager to jump into the subject? Maybe Natalia didn't want this, and there he was encouraging her to say yes. He knew she wouldn't hurt him, even if it meant hurting herself.

Or was he breaking boundaries with physical contact, maybe she wanted some distance.

Distance.

The word swirled painfully around his mind, ghosts of previous doubts appearing and clouding his thoughts. Breaking out of the fog, another light shone through his doubts.

Feeling he said something wrong, Ryan Wolfe reacted on male instinct.

"I mean, I don't care. It's up to you...if you want to talk, we can."

Natalia's eyes darted back to their hands, an unexpected reaction to Ryan. Biting her lower lip, the CSI listened to Ryan's words over and over again, or rather three words.

I don't care.

Stopping the sob that wanted so badly to escape her, Natalia knew she had to get out of the lab, and quickly. She didn't know how long she could stop herself from revealing her inner pain.

Wanting to rid herself of the torment, she had to get away from her tormenter.

"Yeah, eh, I think, we should slow down...go back to normal?"

He may not want her as a lover, but Natalia prayed he would take her back as a friend.

If they went back to normal, then she could put this whole ordeal behind, including this terrible talk.

"Yeah...If that's what you want-"

"Um, yeah, yeah I really just want to go back to normal."

Ryan nodded to himself, his previous thoughts snapping back like a whiplash, the doubt returning tenfold.

Distance.

The word reverberated against his skull, but this time bringing a sense of understanding, as though he knew this hidden truth all along. Feeling his chest clench, his last grip on happiness slipping from his finger tips, Ryan stretched out to grab a last hope.

"We can see how it goes, maybe go for drinks?"

Natalia didn't look at him; a few loose strands of brunette hair hid her eyes, blocking his ability to read her. Though Ryan knew something was off with her, it simply radiated to him.

"Em, that's not a good time for me."

Ryan frowned, watching her stand up. Still not meeting his eyes, Ryan knew something was defiantly wrong, she didn't even hear him correctly; the dead tone in her voice indicated no emotion backing her words.

"I didn't say a day but-"

"Eh Ryan, I-I have to...get something from my car..."

She left without another word; he waved half-heartily after her, his fake smile slipping into a grimace.

His mind smiled in triumph while his heart...he was sure was scattered in pieces around the break room floor.

*Hides in underwater cave* Okay, I bet alot of you are fit to kill me and I understand but, before you fish out your knifes and shotguns, you must know...

There's one more chapter! Anything can happen folks, especially from me!

Ooooooh, the last chapter is coming up soon!

So Ryan chose his mind over his heart, will he regret it? Will he live to regret it?

Find out soon folks!

- Mel out ;)

PS: To whoever posted the "Fan Fiction Challange", I except ;) Look out for some of them stories soon ;)