Currently exhausted. Bear with me for its possible horrible-ness.

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18. The Ghostly Plan

"So, do we have any ideas of how to get Ryan back?" Eric pressed as the new team walked back into the longue for a meeting. The glass had been cleaned up- miraculously enough- so no one had any problems getting back to the table.

Danny, who had transformed after the battle with Vortex, gripped the thermos tightly and shook his head, his face morphed into some odd expression. "I have no idea. Usually, I don't rescue people from a kidnapper. It's more along the lines of simple ghost fighting. Honestly, I thought you guys might have had a better idea of how to rescue a person than me or Sam or Tucker."

Natalia sighed, shrugging her shoulders and shutting the door. "Well, let's go over what we know so far. A half ghost, who happens to be one of the richest men on the planet, has kidnapped Ryan. Your friends were kidnapped by the same man, but managed to escape. Stetler's been busy poking in his nose where it doesn't belong… and he doesn't know of your identity." She crossed her arms. "So… in a nutshell, we have to go and save Ryan and such before the Internal Affairs agent figured out you're a half ghost."

"'Talia, it's not as easy as that," Eric retorted, pacing around the room.

Sam and Tucker exchanged glances with Danny, who was looking out the window pensively. Something was bothering him, but neither of the two could place their finger on it. The technology geek nodded to the goth vegetarian, and she pulled Danny out of the room. Shutting the door, she took hold of Danny's hands and looked in his eyes. "Danny, what's bothering you?"

He shook his head. "I don't know, Sam. Something about all of this is making me feel really uneasy. Do you have any idea where Horatio is right now?"

She frowned. "Actually, I thought Calleigh was looking for him. Have you heard back from her yet?"

"Um, you two? Excuse me? Sam?"

Calleigh's concerned voice rounded the corner as the duo turned around and looked at the woman. She sighed and rubbed her head. "We have a bit of a problem. There's a ghost in Horatio's office… but it looks like someone we all know."

Danny blinked. "Someone we know?"

"Not you personally. Horatio knows her better."

Sam glanced at Danny and nodded. It was time to get a look at this.

He was up against the window, staring at the ghost and trying to take deep breaths. "This is… oh, my god. How did you come back?"

The female ghost merely floated there, watching Horatio and nodding softly. Her hair was long and brown, her sad green eyes staring at the redhead and muttering things under her breath. There was nothing there but… a familiar figure in front of him. Horatio thought he was seeing things- his wife was back from the dead?

There was a knock on the door. Horatio looked at the door and nodded. Danny opened the door and gasped, Sam behind him. The two of them, alongside Calleigh, stared at the ghost in front of them and blinked in astonishment. Danny morphed and floated towards her, his hand cautiously out. "Who are you?"

She turned around and gave a sad smile to the teenager. He backed away slightly. She spoke softly. "Phantom- I wanted to see my husband one more time."

Phantom blinked. "Oh, my gosh… you're Marisol, aren't you?"

Marisol nodded, pushing some of her hair behind her ears. She turned to her husband, who looked shocked beyond measure. She bowed her head. "Horatio- I know you think that Riaz killing me was not a good thing. You were full of darkness and hatred and fear. I do not blame you for feeling that way."

Horatio said nothing, looking down at the desk and closing his eyes. To Phantom's astonishment, he saw a sole tear sliding down his cheeks. "Marisol- it was such a hard time for me after you died. And it's only gotten worse…"

"The other ghost you see in front of you-" She gestured to Phantom, who blinked. "-he can help you get back what you so desire. This is the only hybrid I know that can stop the one who has taken Ryan."

The hero floated back in astonishment. Marisol trusted him? He raised a finger and pointed to himself. "Uh, excuse me, Marisol, but… you don't even know who I am!"

The ghostly figure of Horatio's past wife smiled gently. "But I have heard a great many things about you from the other ghosts- ones who hunt you, ones who despise you, ones who adore you. I recognized you the moment you entered the room. Your ghostly energy cannot be missed."

Horatio looked up from staring at the top of his desk. "Mari, are you sure he and I can save Ryan?"

"I'm not entirely sure. You must have a plan to get him back, Horatio. You and Phantom and the others can work together to save him."

Sam finally found her voice. "But you sound so sure."

Marisol glanced at the goth and nodded. "I know I do. It's because I have the two most dedicated and heroic people in this room that Miami and Amity Park have ever seen." She shook her head as Sam opened her mouth again. "I know what you're thinking, but I need for you to trust me. Phantom and Horatio can save the CSI from any future harm."

Before leaving, she suddenly floated over to Horatio and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. The lieutenant gave her a slight smile, watching her image disappear and looking at the hybrid and other two females that had just witnessed the whole thing. He looked out the window and sighed, fingering his sunglasses and keeping his head down once again. He sighed and glanced up at the trio, which had now turned into an entire team in his doorway. His voice was soft. "So… any ideas?"

Calleigh stepped out of the way in the doorway and folded her arms. "Well, maybe we could take a trip to Colorado and save him. All of us- we can save Ryan and arrest Plasmius in the process."

Sam Barrish nodded. "The DNA results just came back from the lab. Valera handed them to me, and the blood that came back from the scene was that of Vlad Masters and Vlad Plasmius. He killed the innocent person."

Horatio glanced at Phantom, whom had his fist clenched. "He kidnapped Sam and Tucker during our vacation. I don't think I can repay you in any other way than getting rid of that fruit loop. There're a few things I want to say to him anyways."

"Well, not all of us can go," Alexx objected. "Some of us have to stay back here and make sure the lab stays in order for the next few hours."

"And we can't barge in like we're SWAT," Natalia interjected.

The lieutenant listened patiently as the team began to fire out suggestions. Tucker and Sam even got involved, giving their own knowledge of Plasmius and how they had faced him in the past alongside Danny. His mind began to whirl with the possibilities and such until finally, he held out a hand and closed his eyes. All talking ceased as the crowd looked at Horatio.

He took a deep breath. "I think Phantom, Sam, Tucker, Natalia, Eric, and myself should go. Sam and Tucker can help Ryan get back to Miami when we get him out of there, and Natalia and Eric can help alongside them, perhaps nursing Ryan after we all find him. Then Phantom and I can go after Plasmius."

Alexx blinked. "So, while you rescue Ryan, Calleigh and I can look after the lab with Sam and Yelina? What do you want us to do?"

"Keep Stetler off our tail," Horatio replied tersely. "Who knows what he'll do if he finds out we're gone."

Phantom morphed back in his human self and nodded. "So… when do you want to go?"

Sam glanced at Horatio. "Maybe today would be a good idea. Ryan looked to be in a lot of pain. We'd better leave right now."

Eric glanced at his teammates and took Natalia's hand. "Are you ready to go?"

"We're not together anymore, remember?" she teased back gently. "And you do realize this is a rescue mission, not a love affair."

He smirked. "I was kidding. Besides, we have to save one of my best friends."

Danny watched the two of them and looked at Sam, nodding to the outside. "Are we going to get right now, or do you really want to wait a bit longer?"

Tucker nodded. "Let's get to the Specter Speeder. We can save Ryan and maybe finish our vacation."

Horatio reached into his desk and grabbed the 9 millimeter Glock from inside, loading it with a full magazine and putting on the safety. He put it into the holster and nodded to the team he was going with- Natalia, Eric, Danny, Sam, and Tucker. He couldn't help but have a feeling of hope rise within him.

Maybe there really was a light in this time of darkness and despair…

Pffft. I'm so cliché now. –eyeroll- Anyways, hope you enjoyed this installment, friends. Thanks for reading and waiting.