[fic] Nightmare | CSI: Miami | Eric/Ryan
Title: Nightmare
Word Count: 2260
Rating: PG
Pairing: Ryan Wolfe x Eric Delko
Summary: Ryan's been having nightmares and is falling apart. Alexx intervines in that way that she does.
Author's Note: I got the idea for this when I was actually watching an episode of Criminal Minds because Reed Was having nightmares. Faerie_lullaby sorta beta'd for me, considering I gave her the rough copy to read over and she was suddnely marking up my paper XD Then again...I told her she could XD
It was morning as usual. Get up, take shower, brush teeth, get dressed. Grab apple, leave house, go to work. Get inside, go to break room, have some coffee. Relax, wait for others, get assignment, go solve crimes.
Back up.
Go to break room, find Ryan. Dumping sugar into a cup.
“Want some coffee with that?”
Ryan jumped at Eric’s voice, spilling sugar on the counter. He turned and stared at Eric, giving the impression of a deer caught in the headlights.
“I…I…” he stuttered before finding his voice again, “I had a late night.”
Eric cocked an eyebrow as Ryan started to clean up the spilt sugar. He managed to sweep most of the grains into his hand and throw them into the trash bin.
“Late night huh?”
“Not the kind you’re thinking of,” Ryan mumbled. He continued to stir the sugar into the hot liquid until he was satisfied then picked up the cup. Sipping the coffee, he turned and leaned against the counter. Eric studied him. His bright hazel-green eyes had taken on an edgier brown tone with dark circles toning his lower lids. His normally perfect attire seemed slightly…wrinkled.
And heaven forbid Eric not take notice of Ryan’s hair, his one true vanity. It was brushed, but haphazardly at best and nothing more.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine…” Ryan replied, taking another sip of the hot syrup in his hands. Eric frowned but didn’t push the subject, knowing it would lead no where but yelling. Ryan seemed grateful for this and went to sit in one of the plush chairs by the TV.
Eric continued to watch him. Normally he never gave much thought to the other man, save for some bitterness. Ever since he had joined the team, he seemed almost invulnerable. At least to him anyways.
Calleigh had a soft spot for him, and Alexx had all but adopted him. Even Horatio seemed to pay more attention to him. Had he missed something the others hadn’t, an innocence, or weakness? Or was Ryan only putting on a show for him because he had been less accepting?
Eric’s train of thought was broken as Horatio entered the room and greeted the male members of his team. Eric suddenly turned to him.
“H, can I talk to you?”
“Sure Eric, what’s up?”
Eric pulled Horatio into the hall so Ryan couldn’t overhear, though he was sure he had fallen into a light sleep in the chair.
“It’s about Ryan…”
oOo
“Where are we headed?” Ryan asked softly, trying to stifle a yawn.
“The glades, one of the back roads. A car was spotted, possible DB inside.”
“Oh.”
Eric glanced over at Ryan who had leaned his head against the window of the Hummer and seemed to zone out, eyes glazed over, staring at the speeding scenery.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m just a little tired.”
“Ryan, I need you alert man…”
“I know,” Ryan sighed, “I haven’t been sleeping well.”
Eric stole another glance to his right. The truth was slowly seeping from him, his defenses dropped in his drowsiness.
“Any reason?”
“Nightmares…” Ryan replied absently. His gaze was still held by the outside world flashing by at 80 kilometers an hour. Eric turned onto the gravelly side road that lead to their crime scene. Ryan’s head bounced against the window and he sat up with a scowl, running the spot.
“Sorry…”
“It’s fine.”
“Look, Ryan. If you want to go home, get some sleep…”
“I’m having nightmares Eric! Do you think I can sleep?” Ryan snapped, then instantly looked sorry for it, “Eric…I didn’t mean to…”
“It’s cool. You’re tired, I get it.”
Ryan fell silent. Eric understood the thanks and remained silent as well. They stayed this way till they pulled up to the crime scene where Alexx was waiting for them.
“What we got Alexx?”
“It’s not pretty hun,” Alexx replied, looking up at Eric and Ryan, who stood slightly back and was looking everywhere but the body.
“She’s been crushed, both legs are broken, left hip and left arm are both broken, right arm’s pulled from the socket and--”
Alexx hadn’t finished her analysis before Ryan turned and walked away rather quickly. Both Eric and Alexx watched him with slight concern.
“What’s wrong with Ryan?”
“He’s been having nightmares…”
“Poor baby.” Alexx sighed, sitting back on her heels, “About what?”
“By the looks of it, I’m going to have to say work. It’s a big leap from patrol to CSI. I guess it’s taking it’s toll on him.”
“He needs someone in his life…” Alexx said, looking at Eric in a suggestive manner. Eric frowned, looking down at her.
“You did not just suggest what I think you did…”
“I’m going to see if he’s okay,” Alexx replied, standing up. She removed her gloves and handed them to Eric, patting his chest as she passed him.
So, sure, Eric had considered the idea of going after Ryan before, but he had been drunk. And Ryan had been giving those irresistible puppy eyes of his. And really, beauty was beauty, Eric never really cared before.
But it was Ryan.
Eric shook his head and tore his eyes from the sight of Ryan melting into Alexx’s hug. This was a crime scene, and he had a job to do.
oOo
“Alexx.”
“I was wondering when you’d show up,” Alexx said, not looking up from the body she was stapling shut.
“We need to talk.”
“In a minute hunny, I’m just finishing up on sleeping beauty here…”
Eric stood and waited impatiently to talk to the woman who had ruined his day. Well, not so much as ruined, but put a major block on his general train of thought.
Alexx put down her tools and covered the body. Eric frowned as she took her sweet time cleaning up.
“Come to my office,” Alexx finally said ten minutes later in her sugary sweet voice, pressing softly on the small of Eric’s back to lead him. Eric allowed himself to be led into the office and into a chair as she closed the door behind them.
“So we need to talk,” she offered. Eric nodded and picked up the conversation.
“About what you suggested--”
“I never suggested anything.”
“Fine, hinted at.”
“And what was that?”
Eric frowned at Alexx’s innocent act as she sat down behind her desk. She smiled at him with her usual soft kindness, but he wasn’t taking it today.
“Alexx, why would you hint at …me and Ryan?”
“Ryan and I.” Alexx corrected.
“Alexx,” Eric growled, not caring for a lesson in grammar at the moment.
“He’s my baby, I know what’s good for him.”
“You think I’m good for him?”
“I think he gets stronger around you. I know I’m too soft on him, and Calleigh always gives into him in the end. Even Horatio takes it easier on him.”
“So?”
“So we all treat him like a child, and he encourages it. We fall too easily for those damn eyes he gives, and that charm…but you…you tell him to shut up and buckle down. It’s good for him.”
“Alexx, he’s having nightmares. He doesn’t need me to be a hard ass.”
Alexx stared at Eric, knowing he was trying to avoid the final outcome. Both knew it was inevitable by this point however. She smiled, trying to grasp more common ground on the topic of their differing views on Ryan.
“His nightmares are recent…”
“I assume that means you’ve been planning on playing matchmaker for a while now.”
“For a CSI, its taken you a while to spot the obvious.”
“I always leave that to Ryan, Captain Obvious himself…”
“You’re missing the point.”
“Which is…?”
“Remember I said he gets stronger around you? He adores you Eric. He turns on those puppy eyes big time when you’re around. When you ignore it, he cracks down. He wants to impress you.”
“He does seem abnormally happy when I tell him Good Job.”
“See?”
“Alright,” Eric said, leaning forward, “Say I consider this idea of us, hypothetically. That helps him buckle down, yes, become a stronger person and CSI, yes. How does this help his nightmares?”
“You said his nightmares were about work?”
“I said that’s what I thought. I mean, I used to get nightmares too…”
“How’d you fix it?”
“I started sleeping with more people more often so I wouldn’t be al---oh.”
“Do you still get nightmares?”
“Everyone does.”
“What else do you do?”
“I used to talk to Speed about them…”
“Why don’t you be Ryan’s Speed?”
“Are you kidding? He won’t open up to me.”
“You haven’t been listening Eric…”
Eric sighed, letting his head hang momentarily. Alexx waited patiently for him. She already knew his next question.
“How?”
“You’ve accepted it then?”
“It’s inevitable.” Eric said, looking up, “When you brought it up…I…god. How am I supposed to do this?”
“Just start talking to him. You know as well as anyone that his guard is basically nonexistent when he’s tired like this.”
Eric hung his head again, then looked back at Alexx with another sigh. She smiled.
“Go get’im tiger.”
oOo
Ryan was easy to locate. He was back in the break room, sitting at the table, cup of coffee in one hand, head nestled into the crook of the opposite arm. Eric didn’t want to wake him with the cup in hand in case he threw it in surprise. Slowly he moved towards the sleeping man and gently pulled the full cup from his hand. After placing it on the counter where it couldn’t be disturbed, he went back to Ryan.
“Wolfe…?” he asked quietly, placing a hand on the younger man’s shoulder. A expected, Ryan jumped with a gasp, looking around frantically.
“Relax man, it’s just me.” Eric chuckled.
“Holy…Eric! You scared me!”
“You need to go home,” Eric said gently, sitting down next to Ryan.
“I can’t. I can’t sleep for more than fifteen minutes at a time.” Ryan said sadly. It was the first time Eric had really noticed the puppy eyes. Ryan was calling for his sympathy, and, for once, he caved in.
“It’s that bad?”
“It’s been getting worse.” Ryan muttered. He seemed ashamed to admit it, and to Eric of all people. He hung his head so he wouldn’t have to look at the Cuban.
“Hey,” Eric whisper, placing his hand back on Ryan’s shoulder, “I used to get them really bad too…”
“Really?” Ryan asked, looking back up, almost desperately expectant for his reassurance and comfort. Eric couldn’t help but smile.
“Yeah, really.”
“But they stopped?”
“Eventually…”
“How?”
“I talked about them with friends…that helped a lot of the time.”
“That’s it?”
“Well, not really.”
“What else did you do?” Ryan asked, unaware of his sudden and desperate interrogation.
“I slept with people…lots of people, just so I wouldn’t wake up alone. I don’t suggest that however, since it caused a lot of other problems. If you don’t want to be alone at night, I’d say pick one person and stick to them. Probably someone you’re comfortable around, someone you know…”
Eric knew his suggestion was a daring move. But the seeds of the idea had obviously been in Ryan’s brain for a while, and his words were the water and sun it needed to grow. He could tell Ryan was calculating.
Eric had long since made up his mind, it just took Alexx to make him realize it.
Even in his weakened state, Ryan was a damn good CSI, able to pick up on subtle hints in tone and body language. Eric didn’t even realize he was speaking more than words and couldn’t correct himself for it.
“You.”
“What?”
“You, you’ll listen?”
“Yeah…”
“And you’ll be there when I wake up screaming…?”
Eric studied Ryan. He smiled slowly.
“Yeah.” He finally replied.
Ryan smiled back, then slumped forward to his previous position, nestling his head in the crook of his arm again.
“I’m so tired…they won’t let me sleep, ya know? Always staring at me with those cold, dead eyes. They scrutinize me, laugh at my mistakes, and it only makes me make more. They trap me, hold me down, and everyone just walks away…”
“I’m not going anywhere…” Eric whispered.
“I want to go home,” Ryan sighed, feeling his eyes droop.
“I know,”
oOo
Ryan woke with a start, sitting up rapidly and giving himself a temporary dizzy spell with darkened vision. He was cold, and realized he was covered in sweat. In the darkness he could still see those eyes staring at him, watching him without emotion, judging him because he was living while they were dead.
Clammy hands came forth from the darkness, reaching for him, trying to grab him. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to wake himself from the nightmare within the nightmare.
“Ryan.”
Ryan’s eyes snapped open as his name was called. He focused on the chocolate eyes above him, and reached out to cling to the mocha skin of the other man.
He was shaking, and Eric held him firmly still.
“It’s over…I’m here…”
Ryan could say nothing, just lean into the embrace. His heartbeat slowed, returning to normal, matching the ‘thump-thump’ rhythm he could hear beating in Eric’s chest.
His eyes fluttered shut as Eric continued to hold him. There was no more fear, just freedom.
He sighed contently in his sleep.
Eric kissed his head.
It was morning as usual. Get up, take shower, brush teeth, get dressed. Wake up sleeping beauty, get morning kiss, swoon.
Life was good.
Word Count: 2260
Rating: PG
Pairing: Ryan Wolfe x Eric Delko
Summary: Ryan's been having nightmares and is falling apart. Alexx intervines in that way that she does.
Author's Note: I got the idea for this when I was actually watching an episode of Criminal Minds because Reed Was having nightmares. Faerie_lullaby sorta beta'd for me, considering I gave her the rough copy to read over and she was suddnely marking up my paper XD Then again...I told her she could XD
It was morning as usual. Get up, take shower, brush teeth, get dressed. Grab apple, leave house, go to work. Get inside, go to break room, have some coffee. Relax, wait for others, get assignment, go solve crimes.
Back up.
Go to break room, find Ryan. Dumping sugar into a cup.
“Want some coffee with that?”
Ryan jumped at Eric’s voice, spilling sugar on the counter. He turned and stared at Eric, giving the impression of a deer caught in the headlights.
“I…I…” he stuttered before finding his voice again, “I had a late night.”
Eric cocked an eyebrow as Ryan started to clean up the spilt sugar. He managed to sweep most of the grains into his hand and throw them into the trash bin.
“Late night huh?”
“Not the kind you’re thinking of,” Ryan mumbled. He continued to stir the sugar into the hot liquid until he was satisfied then picked up the cup. Sipping the coffee, he turned and leaned against the counter. Eric studied him. His bright hazel-green eyes had taken on an edgier brown tone with dark circles toning his lower lids. His normally perfect attire seemed slightly…wrinkled.
And heaven forbid Eric not take notice of Ryan’s hair, his one true vanity. It was brushed, but haphazardly at best and nothing more.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine…” Ryan replied, taking another sip of the hot syrup in his hands. Eric frowned but didn’t push the subject, knowing it would lead no where but yelling. Ryan seemed grateful for this and went to sit in one of the plush chairs by the TV.
Eric continued to watch him. Normally he never gave much thought to the other man, save for some bitterness. Ever since he had joined the team, he seemed almost invulnerable. At least to him anyways.
Calleigh had a soft spot for him, and Alexx had all but adopted him. Even Horatio seemed to pay more attention to him. Had he missed something the others hadn’t, an innocence, or weakness? Or was Ryan only putting on a show for him because he had been less accepting?
Eric’s train of thought was broken as Horatio entered the room and greeted the male members of his team. Eric suddenly turned to him.
“H, can I talk to you?”
“Sure Eric, what’s up?”
Eric pulled Horatio into the hall so Ryan couldn’t overhear, though he was sure he had fallen into a light sleep in the chair.
“It’s about Ryan…”
oOo
“Where are we headed?” Ryan asked softly, trying to stifle a yawn.
“The glades, one of the back roads. A car was spotted, possible DB inside.”
“Oh.”
Eric glanced over at Ryan who had leaned his head against the window of the Hummer and seemed to zone out, eyes glazed over, staring at the speeding scenery.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m just a little tired.”
“Ryan, I need you alert man…”
“I know,” Ryan sighed, “I haven’t been sleeping well.”
Eric stole another glance to his right. The truth was slowly seeping from him, his defenses dropped in his drowsiness.
“Any reason?”
“Nightmares…” Ryan replied absently. His gaze was still held by the outside world flashing by at 80 kilometers an hour. Eric turned onto the gravelly side road that lead to their crime scene. Ryan’s head bounced against the window and he sat up with a scowl, running the spot.
“Sorry…”
“It’s fine.”
“Look, Ryan. If you want to go home, get some sleep…”
“I’m having nightmares Eric! Do you think I can sleep?” Ryan snapped, then instantly looked sorry for it, “Eric…I didn’t mean to…”
“It’s cool. You’re tired, I get it.”
Ryan fell silent. Eric understood the thanks and remained silent as well. They stayed this way till they pulled up to the crime scene where Alexx was waiting for them.
“What we got Alexx?”
“It’s not pretty hun,” Alexx replied, looking up at Eric and Ryan, who stood slightly back and was looking everywhere but the body.
“She’s been crushed, both legs are broken, left hip and left arm are both broken, right arm’s pulled from the socket and--”
Alexx hadn’t finished her analysis before Ryan turned and walked away rather quickly. Both Eric and Alexx watched him with slight concern.
“What’s wrong with Ryan?”
“He’s been having nightmares…”
“Poor baby.” Alexx sighed, sitting back on her heels, “About what?”
“By the looks of it, I’m going to have to say work. It’s a big leap from patrol to CSI. I guess it’s taking it’s toll on him.”
“He needs someone in his life…” Alexx said, looking at Eric in a suggestive manner. Eric frowned, looking down at her.
“You did not just suggest what I think you did…”
“I’m going to see if he’s okay,” Alexx replied, standing up. She removed her gloves and handed them to Eric, patting his chest as she passed him.
So, sure, Eric had considered the idea of going after Ryan before, but he had been drunk. And Ryan had been giving those irresistible puppy eyes of his. And really, beauty was beauty, Eric never really cared before.
But it was Ryan.
Eric shook his head and tore his eyes from the sight of Ryan melting into Alexx’s hug. This was a crime scene, and he had a job to do.
oOo
“Alexx.”
“I was wondering when you’d show up,” Alexx said, not looking up from the body she was stapling shut.
“We need to talk.”
“In a minute hunny, I’m just finishing up on sleeping beauty here…”
Eric stood and waited impatiently to talk to the woman who had ruined his day. Well, not so much as ruined, but put a major block on his general train of thought.
Alexx put down her tools and covered the body. Eric frowned as she took her sweet time cleaning up.
“Come to my office,” Alexx finally said ten minutes later in her sugary sweet voice, pressing softly on the small of Eric’s back to lead him. Eric allowed himself to be led into the office and into a chair as she closed the door behind them.
“So we need to talk,” she offered. Eric nodded and picked up the conversation.
“About what you suggested--”
“I never suggested anything.”
“Fine, hinted at.”
“And what was that?”
Eric frowned at Alexx’s innocent act as she sat down behind her desk. She smiled at him with her usual soft kindness, but he wasn’t taking it today.
“Alexx, why would you hint at …me and Ryan?”
“Ryan and I.” Alexx corrected.
“Alexx,” Eric growled, not caring for a lesson in grammar at the moment.
“He’s my baby, I know what’s good for him.”
“You think I’m good for him?”
“I think he gets stronger around you. I know I’m too soft on him, and Calleigh always gives into him in the end. Even Horatio takes it easier on him.”
“So?”
“So we all treat him like a child, and he encourages it. We fall too easily for those damn eyes he gives, and that charm…but you…you tell him to shut up and buckle down. It’s good for him.”
“Alexx, he’s having nightmares. He doesn’t need me to be a hard ass.”
Alexx stared at Eric, knowing he was trying to avoid the final outcome. Both knew it was inevitable by this point however. She smiled, trying to grasp more common ground on the topic of their differing views on Ryan.
“His nightmares are recent…”
“I assume that means you’ve been planning on playing matchmaker for a while now.”
“For a CSI, its taken you a while to spot the obvious.”
“I always leave that to Ryan, Captain Obvious himself…”
“You’re missing the point.”
“Which is…?”
“Remember I said he gets stronger around you? He adores you Eric. He turns on those puppy eyes big time when you’re around. When you ignore it, he cracks down. He wants to impress you.”
“He does seem abnormally happy when I tell him Good Job.”
“See?”
“Alright,” Eric said, leaning forward, “Say I consider this idea of us, hypothetically. That helps him buckle down, yes, become a stronger person and CSI, yes. How does this help his nightmares?”
“You said his nightmares were about work?”
“I said that’s what I thought. I mean, I used to get nightmares too…”
“How’d you fix it?”
“I started sleeping with more people more often so I wouldn’t be al---oh.”
“Do you still get nightmares?”
“Everyone does.”
“What else do you do?”
“I used to talk to Speed about them…”
“Why don’t you be Ryan’s Speed?”
“Are you kidding? He won’t open up to me.”
“You haven’t been listening Eric…”
Eric sighed, letting his head hang momentarily. Alexx waited patiently for him. She already knew his next question.
“How?”
“You’ve accepted it then?”
“It’s inevitable.” Eric said, looking up, “When you brought it up…I…god. How am I supposed to do this?”
“Just start talking to him. You know as well as anyone that his guard is basically nonexistent when he’s tired like this.”
Eric hung his head again, then looked back at Alexx with another sigh. She smiled.
“Go get’im tiger.”
oOo
Ryan was easy to locate. He was back in the break room, sitting at the table, cup of coffee in one hand, head nestled into the crook of the opposite arm. Eric didn’t want to wake him with the cup in hand in case he threw it in surprise. Slowly he moved towards the sleeping man and gently pulled the full cup from his hand. After placing it on the counter where it couldn’t be disturbed, he went back to Ryan.
“Wolfe…?” he asked quietly, placing a hand on the younger man’s shoulder. A expected, Ryan jumped with a gasp, looking around frantically.
“Relax man, it’s just me.” Eric chuckled.
“Holy…Eric! You scared me!”
“You need to go home,” Eric said gently, sitting down next to Ryan.
“I can’t. I can’t sleep for more than fifteen minutes at a time.” Ryan said sadly. It was the first time Eric had really noticed the puppy eyes. Ryan was calling for his sympathy, and, for once, he caved in.
“It’s that bad?”
“It’s been getting worse.” Ryan muttered. He seemed ashamed to admit it, and to Eric of all people. He hung his head so he wouldn’t have to look at the Cuban.
“Hey,” Eric whisper, placing his hand back on Ryan’s shoulder, “I used to get them really bad too…”
“Really?” Ryan asked, looking back up, almost desperately expectant for his reassurance and comfort. Eric couldn’t help but smile.
“Yeah, really.”
“But they stopped?”
“Eventually…”
“How?”
“I talked about them with friends…that helped a lot of the time.”
“That’s it?”
“Well, not really.”
“What else did you do?” Ryan asked, unaware of his sudden and desperate interrogation.
“I slept with people…lots of people, just so I wouldn’t wake up alone. I don’t suggest that however, since it caused a lot of other problems. If you don’t want to be alone at night, I’d say pick one person and stick to them. Probably someone you’re comfortable around, someone you know…”
Eric knew his suggestion was a daring move. But the seeds of the idea had obviously been in Ryan’s brain for a while, and his words were the water and sun it needed to grow. He could tell Ryan was calculating.
Eric had long since made up his mind, it just took Alexx to make him realize it.
Even in his weakened state, Ryan was a damn good CSI, able to pick up on subtle hints in tone and body language. Eric didn’t even realize he was speaking more than words and couldn’t correct himself for it.
“You.”
“What?”
“You, you’ll listen?”
“Yeah…”
“And you’ll be there when I wake up screaming…?”
Eric studied Ryan. He smiled slowly.
“Yeah.” He finally replied.
Ryan smiled back, then slumped forward to his previous position, nestling his head in the crook of his arm again.
“I’m so tired…they won’t let me sleep, ya know? Always staring at me with those cold, dead eyes. They scrutinize me, laugh at my mistakes, and it only makes me make more. They trap me, hold me down, and everyone just walks away…”
“I’m not going anywhere…” Eric whispered.
“I want to go home,” Ryan sighed, feeling his eyes droop.
“I know,”
oOo
Ryan woke with a start, sitting up rapidly and giving himself a temporary dizzy spell with darkened vision. He was cold, and realized he was covered in sweat. In the darkness he could still see those eyes staring at him, watching him without emotion, judging him because he was living while they were dead.
Clammy hands came forth from the darkness, reaching for him, trying to grab him. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to wake himself from the nightmare within the nightmare.
“Ryan.”
Ryan’s eyes snapped open as his name was called. He focused on the chocolate eyes above him, and reached out to cling to the mocha skin of the other man.
He was shaking, and Eric held him firmly still.
“It’s over…I’m here…”
Ryan could say nothing, just lean into the embrace. His heartbeat slowed, returning to normal, matching the ‘thump-thump’ rhythm he could hear beating in Eric’s chest.
His eyes fluttered shut as Eric continued to hold him. There was no more fear, just freedom.
He sighed contently in his sleep.
Eric kissed his head.
It was morning as usual. Get up, take shower, brush teeth, get dressed. Wake up sleeping beauty, get morning kiss, swoon.
Life was good.