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...
A/N: I'm seriously sorry for not posting this note sooner. It slipped my mind! I realise this is set in season 7, yet Dan Cooper is still around. I originally had Travers as the AV tech, but then a few months pasted of not writing and I became out of touch and subconsciously put in Cooper. It was my mistake and I apologise readers :( So, to make it up and for the sake of it; I'm gonna go a lil AU and say Cooper was never fired. He was just on leave and came back ;)
A/N 2: Wow...last chapter guys! I'm tearing up slightly, it's taken almost a year to write and damn has it been worth it. Lol, I'll save all the sappy goodbyes to the end and just let you read ;)
Now on with the story...
Previously on C.S.I Miami:
His mind smiled in triumph while his heart...he was sure was scattered in pieces around the break room floor.
Standing up, popping the aches in his back, AV technician Dan Cooper groaned slightly at the stiffness in his shoulder blades. Having sat completely still for countless hours typing, decoding and tracing, the lone tech was ready to go home and collapse into his bed.
Maybe treating himself to a Star Wars comic and a cold beer first.
Smiling as he left the AV lab, Dan was startled to see Natalia storm his way, eyes shining slightly with un-shed tears. Un-sure what to do, he responded as normally as possible.
"Hey Natalia, how's things-"
"Not now Dan."
Watching as she disappeared behind the stairwell doors, Dan stood slightly, rubbing the back of his neck. Shrugging it off, he stepped up to the elevator and pressed the small silver summoning button.
Waiting with arms crossed, Dan began thinking of the comic that would welcome him home.
Obi Wan will defiantly kick ass, especially with-
"Cooper!"
Me?
Turning around, Dan was again surprised to see another colleague hurdle towards him. Before he could utter a sound, Ryan Wolfe stood before him, slightly sweating, breathing heavily and eyes slightly widened.
"Ryan, hey what's up with Nat-"
"Have you seen Natalia?"
Putting two and two together within his mind, Dan smiled slightly. Jerking his thumb over his shoulder, he noticed Ryan's eyes followed urgently.
"She took off down the stairs, looked pretty upset too and-"
"The stairs?"
Dan noticed the dilemma radiate from Ryan, his eyes darting back and forward from his bandaged knee to the 3 flights of stairs he would have to scramble down.
As though someone above was cutting him some slack, the elevator doors opened before the injured CSI.
Relief flooded Ryan's features as he hastily stepped into the elevator and repeatedly hit the ground floor button. Standing back, Dan was thrown off by the seriousness of Ryan's actions; he didn't even seem to be blinking.
As soon as the doors shut, Dan laughed slightly. Then an afterthought struck him.
HEY!
He repeatedly hit the elevator button though knowing it was too late. Hitting the steel doors with open palms, Dan looked back to the stairwell.
Wolfe is dead!
Sighing, he shoved his hands in his pockets and began walking towards the damn stairs.
The second the elevator doors opened, Ryan launched himself out of the steel box and into the crowded Miami Crime Lab lobby. Looking past the many signing in and out workers, visitors passing through metal detectors and multiple officers, Ryan looked towards the main doors.
A glimmer of dark hair caught his attention...and made his heart skip a beat.
Damn it she's fast!
Stepping around greeting officers who all seemed to know him, Ryan simply smiled to the many "Officer Wolfe" calls and "How's the knee sir?" they asked, focusing on slipping past the metal detectors and outside.
"Eh, Officer Wolfe, did you forget to sign out?"
Stopped by a plucky young officer wielding a hand-held metal detector, Ryan growled to himself. Looking at the slightly shorter man, he impatiently tried to pass him.
The officer remained to block his exit.
"Officer Wolfe?"
"I'm not leaving for the day, I'll be back later."
The young officer's eyes darted back and forward from Ryan to the sign out desk, slowly counting the growing line appearing.
"I'm sorry but you know protocol, I can't let you out till you sign out."
Ryan's free hand ran through his hair. He had noticed the sign out desk on his way over, one officer manning the desk while at least twenty were queued up, moving at a snail-like pace.
Ryan didn't have that time to spare.
"Just two minutes, please man, just two minutes and I'm back, no one the wiser."
The young officer seemed to be softening up to Ryan's obvious predicament. Releasing a deep breath, he stepped to the side.
"...Fine, get out of here Wolfe."
"Thank you!"
Rushing past the man, Ryan breathed easy as he hit the fresh air and sunlight of the steps. A smile bubbled on his lips as he noticed Natalia on the last step.
Wait...what the hell do I say?
Smile vanishing as he approached, Ryan realised sneaking out was actually the easy part.
I'm gonna need more than two minutes.
Smiling smugly, eyes wide with anticipation, a young man sat across the street from Miami's Crime Lab, a tingling sensation coursing through his veins as his eyes scanned the arsenal of guns before him
Which one, which one?
Taking a modified jezail sniper rifle onto his lap, the man crawled onto his belly, lining up along the back of his white van. One hand steadily held the weapon pointing out the small hole in the side of the vehicle, the other rested on the curved butt stock.
One finger hovered over the trigger.
His eyes scanned the "corner-shot" styled scope, a small chuckle escaped him.
Cops and their guns!
The thought was humorous to him, how cops thought their base was a safe haven for them, they'd soon find out how wrong they were.
Or at least one will.
Smiling to himself, the sniper watched the insects walk through his aim, his mind joked along with him, wondering who he should squash like a bug. Again, his thoughts were teasingly questionable.
Hmmmm...which one, which one?
Though he was only a precaution, one to make sure the main target was killed, the young man hoped the target survived their first attack, just so he could fire this bad boy.
Wait for the target...then let hell loose!
Another laugh escaped him, he had reason to hope his wish would come through.
After all, one car bomb couldn't kill a lowly ME, so maybe this one wouldn't kill their new target.
"Natalia!"
Turning to the sound of her name, Natalia Boa Vista hastily wiped her eyes, not wanting whoever called her to see the tears.
"Talia I am-...are you okay?"
Ryan?
Smiling weakly, Natalia nodded, not trusting her voice to not betray her. She felt her eyes become cold, a defence feature developed through years of her marriage.
Hurt. She was hurt...he'd hurt her so the walls she had torn down for the team immediately shot up at the sound of his voice.
"What do you want Ryan?"
Ryan physically recoiled from Natalia's harsh tone; caught off guard he took a step back.
Distance
His mind's whisper in his ear was not commanding or victorious like before but filled with caution, warning him to give her some space. He complied, lowering his hands to rest in front of his pockets.
"Well I just...I just wanted to say that-"
"Thanks a lot Wolfe!"
Turning to look over his shoulder, Ryan growled to himself as a furious Dan Cooper came marching towards him. Shoulders connecting Dan pushed past him, continue to storm out into the car park.
"Now I'm gonna miss the first 10 minutes of Doctor Who!"
Ryan couldn't contain the chuckles as Dan continued to complain all the way to his car. Natalia smiled slightly, more out of confusion than humour.
"What was that all about?"
"Eh...nothing."
Ryan waved it off, knowing it would be a time wasting story. Though it could help with his apology, seeing he was about to chase her down the stair well.
Stuck in the dilemma, Ryan stuttered slightly, trying to think about what to say.
Dan Cooper smiled over the wheel of his silver Beemer, watching with interest as his two colleagues silently spoke on the steps of CSI.
He laughed as Ryan seemed to be struggling, panic clearly written across his forehead like a neon sign.
I guess I can forgive him bout the elevator...
Dan's smile slipped into a small grin as he remembered he still had to ask Ryan for forgivness. After all, he was the one who went with Delko's "calling" idea despite Horatio's orders. Giving up, Dan still smiled.
Maybe it's better left forgotten.
A relieved grin was still plastered on his face as he turned the key in the ignition.
The last thing Dan Cooper felt was a sudden warm sensation...and white-hot searing pain.
Target neutralised.
Sighing in defeat, the young man pulled his gun away and clicked the safety on. Disappointed, he climbed back up to the passenger's seat.
"So why'd the boss want Dan Cooper iced? He's not a CSI; he's only a AV dweeb."
With cold eyes still locked on the road, the driver continued their getaway.
"Because...he has plans for the CSIs, the AV nerd was only a pawn."
Grabbing Natalia's arm in a reflex, Ryan Wolfe pulled his partner back as debris flew towards them, seconds later they were swiped off their feet by the shock wave of the explosion.
Sitting up, he was glad to see Natalia by his side, un-scratched. But one look at her face ended the slight joy. Her lower lip was quivering, mouth hung-open and eyes wide as they stared ahead.
Following her gaze, he didn't blame her reaction.
Dan Cooper's car along with five others was engulfed in high flames, a black pillar of smoke already hanging over like a thick, choking storm cloud.
Cooper!
Pulling himself to his feet with Natalia following seconds later, Ryan was in shock. Though he had thought he had heard painful cries moments ago, all was silent other than the crackling flames and plastic melting.
Dan Cooper made no sound inside.
He turned to look at his partner, eyes locking for a long moment. The silent message they sent to each other was clear.
They didn't matter anymore, helping others was more important.
Smokey coughs attracted their attention as a wounded officer attempted to sit up. Rushing to her aid, the two CSIs were at a loss for words. Ryan merely told the officer she'd be fine, but his mind couldn't think of anything else to say.
It was too busy doing laps of his cranium, searching through his frazzled thoughts for anything to do, waiting for his command. Through the cloudiness, a reflection seemed to formulate.
Dan...
The AV tech had interrupted his first apology attempt, and then his murder stopped his second? Ryan knew not to even bother with a third try, there was no point. Having become a big believer of "signs" since his Sanitaria incident and someone was defiantly trying to send one now.
He and Natalia...just weren't meant to be.
So I guess it's a good thing I brought Dan back huh? Poor fellow but he had to go ;(
And I bet a hell of a lot of you want to kill me at this stage (heck, even I would!) But never fear an update is near!
Yes, you read it right! Though this is the final chapter of Revenge is a dish best served Russian, I have a sequel brewing in the mist!
But (yet another reason to kill me) I have to take a break from writing, I may throw out a one-shot here and there but long term stories will be put on the back burner for a while.
Including the sequel...sorry folks!
It will be titled "Second Servings, Second Chances" so look out!
So...I guess this is goodbye, but only for a little while ;)
-Mel out (but not for long) ;P
PS: theres a link of the sniper rifle almost used by the unknown Assassin on my profile if anyones intrested ;)