Calleigh and Eric paced the office as they tried to figure out what their next step would be to stop Peter. He had gotten to both Natalia and Horatio and that had only made it apparent to them that he was not only going after them but everyone on the team. Calleigh sighed as she looked to Eric. This was bad, very bad. How could they plan to get Peter if he kept getting one person after another? Calleigh's confidence was shot and it was at its breaking point but she knew that she had to hold together. Natalia's life was in danger because of her and Eric and she would not let her take the fall for them. She had been nothing but a good friend to them and Calleigh swore to herself silently that she would do everything possible to save Natalia and bring her home. She looked up to Eric and saw a pensive look on his face. She had an idea to get Natalia back but she knew that Eric would not like the plan at all because it included giving Peter something that he wanted from the beginning of all of this. She didn't want to do it but they were at the end of their rope and they had nothing that was getting them any closer to saving Natalia and putting Peter and his accomplices away.
Peter's taking Natalia was no mere coincidence and she had a feeling that it would force her hand. Leaving Natalia in the hands of that mad man was not an option, but Calleigh wasn't sure that her plan would ensure Natalia's safety. Peter's actions has shown that he probably has a vendetta against the whole team, but Calleigh knew that they had to try, it was just a matter of them outsmarting Peter and using this new development to their advantage. She looked to Eric and sighed again as she realized what must be done. "Eric." She said softly. He looked up to her and stared deep into her eyes. It hit her hard that it felt like Eric was reading her every thought and already knew what she was planning before she could even tell him. She knew he wasn't going to want to agree with the plan but she also knew that he would because they had to save Natalia no mater what. She looked away from him and nodded to lab across from there where Ryan sat staring intently at traffic videos. Eric sighed and followed her out to the lab. He knew what Calleigh was thinking and he did not like this plan already.
Ryan's head snapped from the computer as he heard the glass door to the lab open. He stared gloomily at Calleigh and Eric and said, "There's nothing. Nothing at all, I don't know what I'm supposed to do. How could this happen? Right under our noses." He reached up and wiped his face, feeling like he aged 20 years and exhausted. He looked back up to them and saw the frown that adorned Eric's face. He had a feeling that whatever was about to go down would not go well. "What's going on guys?"
"Calleigh has a plan Ryan to get Natalia back." Eric said with a sigh. He reached up and wiped his face to. If Ryan felt 20 years older than Eric felt aged 30 long years. His body felt heavy and his head pounded. Everything he ate or drank tasted like sand. This could not go on any longer and the more Eric thought about it, the more he realized that Calleigh's plan, no matter how much he may dislike it, was possibly the only way they could stop Peter. Eric turned to Calleigh, willing to allow her to explain her plan to the both of them.
Calleigh gave him a weak smile before she began to speak. "I think we should flush Peter put by giving him what he wants. We should ask him for a trade. Natalia for me."
Ryan shot up and said, "No. No Calleigh, that is not a good idea. This is what he wants, we're not going through with this." Ryan turned to Eric angrily, "Why aren't you disagreeing to this? You agree with this plan? Do you know what Peter will do to her if he gets the chance? I thought you said that you loved her? I thought you wanted to protect her?"
Eric knew Ryan was just lashing out at him, because unlike Ryan, Eric was with Calleigh when they were kidnapped, he still would have been there to have the opportunity to save her or do something about the situation but what Ryan didn't get is that, being there, seeing him rape Calleigh was something Eric knew he could never completely heal from. Eric said to Ryan tiredly, "Ryan, I know you're upset and that you don't like this plan because you feel there is nothing that you can do to help her, but we have to do something. We have to act and right now Ryan, Calleigh's plan, no matter how much I dislike it, is the only thing we have that could gat Nat back."
Ryan slumped into his chair, neither him nor Eric noticing that Calleigh was lost in her own thoughts. "How do you deal with this though? How do you get around the anxiety, the worry, the pain?"
Eric walked toward Ryan and sat beside him. "Ryan, I know you wish that you were there to help her, but unlike you, I was in that situation with Calleigh. I watched everything he did to her, and I was chained to the wall unable to move or do anything to stop him. I was there Ryan and I couldn't do anything. But I promise you, Ryan, we will do everything and I mean everything to get her back, not just because she is my friend and because you love her, but because you're my brother and I'll do anything for you."
By that time Eric had rested his hand on Ryan's shoulder. Ryan looked up to Eric and realized that all the things that happened in the past between them, that hole that divided them was no longer there. Speed's ghost no longer shadowed him. Eric was his brother and if the situations were reversed he knew he would say the same thing. He looked up to Calleigh who was staring at them with a small smile and he knew that no matter the danger this team would take the risk for any member. He turned back to Eric and reached out his hand. "My brother." Eric took it and gave him a strong shake.
