hey everyone! thnx for giving this fic a chance, it's my first CSI: Miami one, so I really tried hard w/ it. please review and let me know what you think!

Pair: Ryan Wolfe/ Eric Delko

Warning: SLASH!!! Rating may go up depending on reviewer's opinions and how the storyline plays out.

Note: Speed doesn't die in my world. Instead, I'll probably relocate him just to make space in the lab for Ryan.

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Ryan let out a muffled grunt as he attempted to lift the weight's bar off his chest. The gym trainer, who was supposed to be showing him the equiptment, was a real S.O.B. Instead of helping him find a good weight range, he'd just given him a weight twenty pounds too heavy and let Ryan struggle for a while, before coming over and lifting it, laughing under his breath as Ryan gasped for air.

Bastard.

He hissed angrily as he watched his 'guide' flirt with a tall, legy blonde over by the water fountain. Well, he definately wasn't going to be back any time soon... shit. Ryan's vision flickered as the lack of air started to get to him. There had to be something illegal happening here. As a ring of black began to circle his vision, Ryan idly wondered if he could have the gym trainer arrested for, what, manslaughter? What an embarrassing way to go. Suffocaion by bench-press.

Fortunately, however, Ryan was spared the internal cringing of imagining what his tombstone would say when the pressure on his chest suddenly disappeared.

"Damn, man, what the hell were you thinking trying to lift this much? I can't even lift this much yet, and I've been coming here for a few years. I'm surprised you were able to hold it up so long." Ryan tipped his head back to meet the gaze of one of the sexiest men he'd ever laid eyes on. He was tall, about half a head more so than Ryan, with thick black hair and a gold, coppery skin tone. His black wife-beater was sticking to his chest, emphasizing the defined muscles underneath. He was, of course, laughing.

"The trainer," Ryan wheezed, still breathless. "He's a real ass. Said to try and find my weight range, loaded the weights, and walked off." The man walked around the bench and offered Ryan a hand, heaving him to his feet.

"I saw you from the card counter when I was checking out, so while they logged my workout into my program, I noticed you weren't lifting up the weights, then that you were struggling against what must be twice your weight. That, and that your face was turning blue." He grinned again, white teeth flashing, leaving Ryan momentarily stunned before he stuttered a reply.

"Yh- Yeah, I was silently pondering what an embarrassing death that would have been. The killer free-weight. Thanks, though, you saved me from a rather anti-macho death certificate. I'm Ryan, by the way, Ryan Wolfe." A shiver went through Ryan as the man grasped his hand again.

"Eric Delko. Do you usually come here? Or was it just the thrill of the challenge?" he asked gesturting to the weights. Ryan laughed.

"Nah, more like the fear of my boss. He wants everyone to be in tip-top physical condition, and if there's one thing I don't want, it's my supervisor on my ass for letting a suspect get away."

"Suspect? You're in criminalistics?" Eric asked, eyebrows raising. Ryan's voice cooled considerably when he replied, reminded of how his parents had reacted when he'd said he wasn't going to go for a degree in buisness.

"Yes, I am. I find it very worthwhile," Ryan responded, coldly, even more angered when Eric's grin only widened at his reaction.

"Chill man, or thaw, I guess. It's just funny. I work in the CSI lab downtown. What department are you in?" Ryan relaxed, glad that he wouldn't have to rule Eric out of his rather short list of potential friends. The reason the list was so short decided to surface just then. As Ryan glanced down at the stack of weights next to the bench, he noticed that they were completely out of order, shifted by people looking for their weight. Ryan forced his eyes away, clenching his hands to hide the twitches.

"I'm in Patrol. I'm thinking about switching though. I recently finished my degree in chemistry, and I don't want it to go to waste," he grinned. Eric returned it, then swore as the pager clipped to his waist went off. He glanced at the name then turned appologetically to Ryan.

"Shit, sorry, I've got to go. Duty calls," he grumbled, glaring at the pager briefly. He started to walk away, then paused, looking uncertainly at Ryan. "Do you, I mean... if it's okay, well-" he took a deep breath. "If you want to give me your number, I can keep you updated about any possible openings in the lab." He looked at the floor when he said it. Ryan had no doubt he wasn't used to having to ask for someone's number. He smiled rather self-conciously at Eric, and the more submissive look seemed to help him reinflate his semi-dented ego.

Ryan walked over to the card counter and wrote his name and number down on the back of an add for a yoga class. Handing it to Eric, he flushed slightly at the whisper of desire he was sure was present in the taller man's eyes. Then it was gone, and they were giving each other a brief wave before departing.

Ryan watched Eric walk back out the door before diving for the stack of numbered weights.

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Eric eyed the number written on the back of the flyer on his way back to the hummer. Ryan Wolfe... it was a weird name, but it fit its owner in strange way. Maybe it was his large, green-and-gold flecked eyes, lined with long, curled lashes, or the submissive feel in the smaller man's body language, how he positioned himself around Eric's movements. Whatever it was, Eric decided to keep the paper in a safe place to make sure he didn't lose the number.

His beeper went off again as he was entering the Miami Crime Lab. Ignoring it, he went straight to the caller, tapping on the glass window of her office.

"What is it Calleigh? You'd better have good news on this case, 'cause you pulled me away from an important conversation," he growled.

"Well, I'm sorry if you'll have no one warming your sheets tonight, but I do have good news. See the glass we found at the scene? Alex found some of the same glass embeded in the vic's cuts. So we can place them at the scene. Sherry Freud was lying, she had to have known our vic." She paused as Speed walked in, radio in hand.

"Our missing suspect was also tracked down by patrol. Well, more like he found them."

"What?" Eric looked back up at him over the pictures taken from the microscope.

"He tackled some guy coming out of the gym about ten minutes ago. Apparently he was looking for a hostage or somethin'. Stupid place to do it though, I mean, you could have accidentally attacked a wrestler or something, which he probably did since the man he was supposed to be attacking knocked him out. A woman in the parking lot called dispatch. The suspect had his wallet on him. This guy was a real amateur."

Eric rolled his eyes. How could you possibly be so thick as to attack someone in broad daylight with your wallet still in your pocket when half the city was looking for you?

"Anyway, his name's Jacob Drewers. When the officer called dispatch, they searched his name for a record, and the prints that were recorded in AFIS matched the nameless prints we had put out county-wide. The officer himself is bringing him in."

"I want to help with the interview! I wonder how much we can make him sweat before he gives out? I hope he'll at least be able to hold out until I show him the skin samples," Calleigh said thoughtfully. "I love to watch 'em sweat." She flashed them a grin then danced out the door to hunt Horatio down and tell him the news. Speed watched her go with raised eyebrows.

"What the hell did you slip in her coffee? She remeinds me of a toddler. So, don't you wanna hear more about this suspect?" He waved the manilla file folder in front of Eric's face, clipping his nose with the edge. "Oops, sorry." Eric rubbed his abused nose, releasing a resigned sigh.

"So you say he attacked someone?"

"Yeah, the guy was a Patrol officer, got a crowbar to the back of the head. He must be one hell of a cop, he was hit multiple times and still managed to punch the guy hard enough to knock him unconcious. I really want to meet this guy, they said he's comin' in with the suspect." Speed was bouncing on the balls of his feet with anticipation.

"Whatever Calleigh was drinking, she obviously shared. You guys are acting like little kids," said Eric, frowning as the former practically tackled Horatio at the end of the hallway and shoving the file at him before running off to find Alexx, leaving the older man dazed and confused. Eric walked over to him.

"Are we the only sane ones left?" he asked as a shriek, probably Alexx's, came from the coroner's office then an appolegetic "Sorry!"

"Eric, since you seem to still be able to... control your enthusiasm, I want you to go meet the suspect and get a statement from the officer to add to his charge. They're waiting in the lobby," sighed Horatio, walking over to the morgue doors to correct whatever had gone wrong. "Meet me in the interview room."

"Will do, H." Eric pushed open the staff door and walked down the halls to the building's lobby. He gave the handcuffed man a quick evaluation before fixing his gaze on the cop. He felt his jaw drop. The receptionist next to him giggle at his reaction.

"Yeah, I know, the cop's a real dish, isn't he? Send him to me with your done, sweetie," she laughed, reaching over the counter and giving him a little push. Eric walked over, shifting uncomfortably.

Ryan Wolfe, of all people, was standing next to Freud, a large, black and blue welt across his left cheek. His hand was resting on his gun, tightening each time the suspect twitched. Eric still couldn't help but marvel out the intesity of his green eyes before forcing the thought away in an attempt to regain some of his usual bravado.

"And so we meet again," he said, biting the inside of his cheek when Ryan jumped. Then he relaxed and grinned, wincing as he did so. "Damn, you're really having on off day."

"Yeah, I was just beginning to think that myself. You want to take him, or do you need me to stick around?" Ryan shot Frued a dirty look as the suspect shifted. "Move one more inch and I'll knock you the fuck out," he hissed.

"Yeah, we need a statement from you. My boss is waiting to interview Frued, just follow me." Eric turned around and walked back up the hall, relieved to be released from Ryan's hypnotic, unblinking eyes. He held the door as the younger man led Frued into the lab and through the door to the interview room and into Horatio's clutches. Eric was a little disappointed that he couldn't watch Horatio and Calleigh rip the bastard appart, but he'd trade it for a little more time with Ryan any day.

"Wait, are you the cop who brought in the suspect? 'Cause you're a lot smaller than I thought you'd be. Or did someone else catch him?" Speak of the devil, Eric thought as he turned and saw Ryan backed into a corner, Calleigh in front of him, arms crossed.

"No, I'm the one who caught him. He tackled me coming out of the gym. Erm, who are you?" he asked uncertainly, looking to Eric for help. Eric covered his mouth with his hand to keep from laughing at the rather fearful look on Ryan's face as Calleigh stepped closer to examine the welt on his face.

"So you're the one who knocked him out?" She hurried out her next words at the insulted look on Ryan's face. "It's just I was expecting some muscley, meat-headed cop who'd just sat on him instead. If you want, Eric will give you something from our first aid kid for your face. Anywho, I'm off to barbeque the bastard." She walked passed them and into the interview room, leaving a shaking Eric and a relieved Ryan behind.

"Come on, I'll get you something for your face. We've got some bandages and crap in the locker room," said Eric, leading Ryan around the corner and into said room, almost walking into Speed.

"Hey, man, who's your friend?" Speed asked, looking Ryan over curiously. Ryan shifted uncomfortably and edged behind Eric slightly at the predatory look in Speed's eyes. The look set Eric on edge. He stepped in front of Ryan, blocking most of him from view.

"Ryan Wolfe, he's the cop who got our suspect in the parking lot. Horatio and Calleigh have already started questioning him."

"Holy shit, Wolfe, he really clipped you one with that crowbar, huh? That's one nasty brusie. There's a-"

"First aid kit in the last locker, I'm already getting it for him," Eric finished, stepping aside to let Speed out the door. When Speed didn't move, he hinted, "I'll see you later, Speed." Speed gave him a weird look before realizing Eric wanted to be left alone with Ryan. He wiggled his eye-brows at Eric before leaving, shutting the door behind him.

Ryan dropped onto the bench between the two rows of lockers, looking around him edgily. Eric glanced around too, looking for whatever had Ryan on edge. He couldn't see anything, only some overflowing bags, a few old cups, a misplaced shirt, but not much else. Ryan, however, was glaring at them as if it had been them who'd tried to dent his face with a crowbar.

As Eric walked over to the last locker, banged it with his fist, and ducked when it suddenly sprang open, he noticed that each time Ryan thought his back was turned he'd pick something up. He threw away all the cups, folded the shirt, and put the name-tagged bags into their respective lockers. Eric decided to stop him when he began to edge in a would-be casual way toward the mop closet.

Grabbing some Neosporin, a couple large bandages, and some gauze, he walked back over to Ryan and dumped it next to him on the bench.

"Thanks," Ryan muttered, uncapping the ointment, and rubbing it into the open cut on his face. Just then Eric remembered that Speed had said that he'd been hit multiple times by Freud. So where were-?

Eric's breath hitched slightly as Ryan stood and pulled off his Patrol shirt, folding it and setting it down neatly next to him. The Cuban's eyes slid hungrily over Ryan's small, lean body, drinking in the sight of all that pale, smooth flesh. Then his eyes hardened as Ryan turned and he saw that the creamy skin color on his back was interrupted by several long, open cuts, still weeping fluids and heavily bruised.

As Ryan reached around to put the ointment on his back, he hissed quietly as the skin was stretched and shifted, pulling the skin even further apart. Eric walked quietly over and pushed Ryan gently back down onto the bench, talking the neosporin, and walking around to straddle the bench next to him. When he sat down, he turned Ryan so that his back was facing him.

When Ryan began to protest and tried to get up, Eric calmy pulled him back down and waited for him to give up. Eventually, Ryan got the message and sat quietly, twitching uncertainly. Eric squirted the medicine onto his hands and rubbed it between his palms to warm it before carefully applying it to the angry cuts on Ryan's back. Ryan stiffened considerably, jumping each time Eric moved his hands, but after the second cut was bandaged, he relaxed into Eric's touch.

When the last cut was bandaged, Eric's hands glided up to his shoulders and gently kneaded at the knotted muscle. Ryan let out a quiet moan and leaned into Eric, leaning his head back to rest on the Cuban's shoulder. Eric leaned down and brushed his lips against the hollow of Ryan's throat, and his hands stopped massaging, instead, pulling Ryan closer to him, intoxicated by the smell and taste of the younger man.

The sound of the locker room door opening broke the heated silence, and Ryan jumped, scrambling to get out of Eric's lap. He was pulling on his shirt as Calleigh walked around the corner, saying, "Well, he didn't hold out very long, but we got a confession. It wasn't nearly as fun as I thought it would be so-" she stopped at the angry glare Eric was giving her, and the flushed, now-messy state of Ryan's hair and clothes. "Am I interrupting something?"

"Yes."

"No!"

Ryan and Eric glanced at each other before Ryan looked at his shoes, blushing heavily.

"I need to get back to my boss to report. Thanks for the medicine. See you!" Ryan bolted. Eric watched him go, frustrated. He'd been so close...

"Did you get his statement then?" asked Calleigh. Eric stared at her grinning.

"No, I didn't. I guess I'll have to bring him back tomorrow.

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Yay, the end of the first chapter! please review! Ciao.