"So let me get this straight," Dr. Castro said after reading through Ryan's proposal. "You want to simulate intoxication in the lab?"

"Yes sir. I think it is an important lesson that the kids need to learn, and it would clear up any misconceptions that may occur."

"Misconceptions?" Dr. Sampson, the science department chair asked. He had to be at least as old as Charlie, if not older. He wore a tweed sports coat with patches on the elbows and a bowtie to school every day, but looked so intimidating that no kid was brave enough to mock him to his face. Apparently, he had been teaching chemistry at this school for over thirty years after a long stint at Miami University. "What type of misconceptions?"

"Well sir," Ryan hedged, not wanting to divulge his conversation with the kids to the admin team. "Many of the kids don't believe that even one drink can impair your judgment."

"Hmmm," Dr. Sampson rubbed his wrinkled chin. "His proposal definitely has merit. And these reagents he will use to simulate plasma are relatively safe."

"But I'm concerned about how the kids will take it," Dr. Castro answered.

"I think they will respond well," a guidance counselor whom had been asked to sit in on the meeting added. "This lab has relevance, which is often missing in the classroom these days. I vote yes."

"I will approve the experiment," Dr. Sampson agreed. "But watch them carefully, especially that Guillermo Reyes. I don't trust him," Sampson scoffed.

"I assure you I won't take my eyes off of him," Ryan promised, wondering what Guillermo had done to earn Sampson's antipathy. But since G was not intimidated and never afraid to speak his mind Ryan could just about guess.

"Fine," Dr. Castro relented. "But with one stipulation. We are a data driven school. That means you must give a pre and a post assessment on alcohol myths and have some way of measuring whether they have understood the concepts. Dr. Sampson will advise you. Do you think that you could handle that?"

"Yes sir."

"Good. I look forward to seeing this experiment."

Ryan worked fast as he left the school. He pulled out a cell phone and dialed a number. "Hello Natalia?"

"What's up Ryan?"

"I need the formulas to simulate blood alcohol plasma at equal intervals from .02 to .24."

"No problem Ryan, may I ask why?"

"Just a little lesson I want to teach the kids."

"Can you do that? I mean, you are a sub after all."

"After much convincing the principal finally agreed."

"Alright, I'll have it ready in an hour."

"I'll be by there to get it."

"Are you allowed to come in here? I mean, Rick was pretty adamant about you coming here-"

"As long as I have an escort at all times I am ok."

"Ok Ryan, see you then!" Natalia hung up the phone and smiled to herself.

"Was that Mr. Wolfe, Natalia?" She jumped a little. Horatio had a way of sneaking up on people without being noticed.

"Yes it was, Horatio. He asked for some formulas to simlulate blood alcohol levels. I told him I would give it to him but if it's a problem-"

"No problem Ms. Boa Vista, just have him stop by my office before he leaves."

"Sure thing H."

The last time Ryan was at CSI, everyone treated him like he was a leper, whispering behind his back and avoiding him. Now they treated him like a local celebrity.

"Look who it is?"

"Hey, Wolfe!"

"What's going on?"

"How ya' been?"

"I'm fine you guys, really." Ryan said, holding up his hands to keep the crowd at bay.

"So you coming back here or what?" one officer asked.

"Hopefully, we'll see."

"Mr. Wolfe."

Other than the kids at the school only one person called Ryan by that name. He turned to see none other than Horatio Caine behind him, hands on hips, tapping his fingers as usual.

The crowd suddenly decided that they had to be elsewhere, bidding Ryan a farewell and imploring him to keep in touch.

"Hey H."

"My office please."

Ryan was beginning to get nervous. They had never really talked about his gambling, or what was even worse in Horatio's eyes, Ryan lying about it.

Ryan closed the door to the glass office and sat down.

"How have you been, Mr. Wolfe?"

"Uh, hanging in there H."

Horatio nodded. "Good. I hear you're substituting now?"

"Uh yeah. Just trying my hand at different things."

"I see. How is that going?"

"It's going ok, the kids are interesting. But I really miss it here. Look H, about what happened-"

Horatio held up his hand. "No need to explain Ryan."

"No H, please let me finish," Ryan insisted.

Horatio tilted his head to the side. "Continue."

"I'm really sorry about lying to you. I just didn't want to admit that I had a problem and I didn't want to disappoint you. I know I have caused more than my share if trouble since I've been here and you've always had my back. I realize that you are sticking your neck out on the line to get me back here and I appreciate it."

"Mr. Wolfe, you are a member of my team and that makes you my family. And as family, we look out for each other."

Ryan's emotions stirred. For some reason, he had always felt like an outsider on the team, especially since he was the newcomer until Natalia came along; but he still got the feeling that everyone thought of him as the pesky little brother at times.

"I assure you that everyone misses you and are awaiting your return," Horatio added.

"Thanks H."

"Of course."

"Now Mr. Wolfe, Natalia tells me that you wanted the formulas to simulate blood alcohol levels. What do you plan to do with those formulas?"

"Well H, I want to simulate different blood alcohol levels in the lab, based on weight, gender and age. Then I will have the kids read about what happens at each level. Then they will do the tests. And for the last part, I'm thinking of simulating a party, with one two people at each level. The kids will have to decide their blood alcohol levels based on the way they're behaving."

Horatio listened to Ryan's proposal with a level of interest that Ryan had never seen before. "Sounds intriguing. I would like to know of your results."

"Sure thing H. Was there anything else?"

"Yes. I assure you that I am working on Rick very diligently to get him to render his decision, and so that it will be in your favor."

"I know you are. Thanks again H. Take care."

"Always; and you as well. Remember, I would like to know of your results."

Ryan left Horatio's office beaming with self confidence. He ran straight into Eric.

"Hey Wolfe, what you been up to?"

"I'm sure you know by now, I'm substituting now." Ryan eyed Eric suspiciously, always unsure of his motives.

"Look Wolfe, I'm sorry about how things went down. I want you to know that we want you back. All of us. And we're here for you."

"Thanks Delko," Ryan shook his hand and gave him the half hug.

"How about we get together for a beer later? My treat," Eric offered.

"As much as I would love to I have to get this lab proposal done."

"Lab proposal? I thought you were just babysitting? Sorry Wolfe," Eric apologized when he realized how insensitive that sounded.

"No, you're right. But these kids are bored, and so am I. And you should see some of the equipment they have in their lab. And they need a wakeup call about alcohol."

"I see. Well let me know about that beer."

"I will, thanks Eric." Ryan waved and was gone. He was about to head to the DNA lab to find Natalia when he was stopped by none other than Rick Stetler.

"What are you doing here?" Rick demanded with his usual sneer.

"Just picking something up. Nice to see you too, Rick." Ryan couldn't help throwing in, although he knew that wouldn't help his case. One always had to tread lightly with Rick.

"Don't get cute Wolfe. What exactly are you here to pick up?"

"Just some formulas Stetler."

"What formulas Wolfe? You're not walking out of here until I know exactly what you want."

Ryan took a sigh and gritted his teeth. He had to bite back the urge to tell him where to go, he calmly, patiently explained to Rick what he wanted.

"Hmmm. I guess you can take the boy out of the lab but you can't take the lab out of the boy."

Restraint, Ryan preached to himself. His hotheadedness had gotten him into enough trouble. There was no way he was going to get reinstated if he delivered Stetler a left hook, but it would feel so good…

"Ryan?" Natalia had walked up and gave him a tight hug.

"Hey, Natalia, how have you been?"

"Fine!" Neither wanted to say too much, as Stetler was still in earshot. "Look, here are the formulas you asked for. Let me know how that experiment goes."

Ryan chuckled. "You're like the third person who asked me that. Did you all rehearse this?"

"No, of course not. Look, let's get together for a beer sometime."

"And that too; but not tonight. I have to write this proposal up."

"Alright, that's enough, catch up on your own time. You got what you came for, now exit the building. Now," Rick couldn't help interjecting, just to let Ryan know he was still standing there.

"Alright Stetler, I'm gone."

"That's Agent or Sergeant Stetler to you."

Ryan left, his mind too distracted with thinking about how to pull this off to really worry about Stetler. He spent half the night up designing a pre assessment, coming up with questions, then scratching them out. He also looked on some teaching websites about assessments, but the explanations about convergent and divergent questions were too complicated for him to get into now, so he had to go with what sounded good. Then he had to write the proposal for the lab for Dr. Sampson to look over. When he glanced at the clock it was 4 am, and he wasn't even tired. He had to force himself to lie down, but his mind raced with the possibilities. He hadn't been this excited in years!

The next morning, his first class stared at him like he was crazy.

"Hey Wolfe, what's with the expression? You look like you just hit it big with the numbers?"

Ryan chuckled. "What do you know about that Guillermo?"

"Hey man, you ain't supposed to be calling me that."

"You called me 'Wolfe'."

"So?"

"Well, if you don't want me to call you by your 'government name' then don't call me by mine, deal?" Ryan asked.

Guillermo shrugged. "Deal."

"Good. So where are those permission slips?"

A grumble echoed through the room. Out of a class of twenty three, Ryan collected five permission slips.

"Seriously guys?" He said, clearly disappointed. "You do realize that if you don't bring these permission slips back you can't do the lab."

"Whatever," a student, Roberto, dismissed him with a wave of his hand. "We don't even know what the lab is yet."

"Well since you asked, we are going to simulate intoxication in the lab and do some tests."

A collection of gasps and sighs ran through the classroom, followed by complete silence.

"What? No way Fidel and old Sampson agreed to that," Guillermo said, shaking his head.

"Yes way," Ryan countered. "But you have to take an assessment before and after the lab."

"What for?" Guillermo demanded.

"To see if we 'learned' something," Brittany answered, who had been quiet up until them. "They are just going to let us go in there for nothing."

"Exactly," Ryan confirmed. "So I want everyone's permission slip back tomorrow. Clear?" Ryan eyed the class, his eyes resting momentarily on Guillermo, who returned his glare.

The bell rang, and the class cleared out. Guillermo lagged behind.

"G, I expected you to have your permission slip in. I'm looking to you to be a leader in the class," Ryan chided gently.

"What for?" Guillermo demanded.

"Because you are never afraid to speak your mind. And the kids follow your lead, and they respect you whether you know it or not."

"Whatever," Guillermo grumbled as he pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and laid it on the desk. It was his permission slip. Ryan smiled to himself.