Friday
Not Alone

Jessica and Ryan walked through the crime lab together. Jessica was quiet and Ryan knew why. She was thinking about the day before. James had been executed. Jessica had opted out to not go because she didn't want to go back to Illinois for him. Ryan wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed the side of her head.

"You're so strong." He whispered, "I admire you for your strength and I love you."

Jessica smiled and leaned her head into his shoulder. "I love you, too."

"Dr. Caine, Mr. Wolfe," they heard someone say. They turned to see Rick Stetler walking up behind them. "If I'm not mistaken this kind behavior is strictly forbidden within the office, even if the person involved is the daughter of the Lieutenant."
"Rick," Horatio said appearing out of a lab, "Now I know you're not harassing my daughter and her fiancé."
Stetler laughed. "You're still using that story Horatio? Do you really think I'm that dumb?"

"I was hoping." Horatio retorted.

Stetler scoffed. "You know, Horatio, Wolfe's still breaking the rules by dating a subordinate."
"Well that shows how much you know Rick. Ryan and Jessica are both CSI level three. So really there isn't any rule breaking going on here."

Stetler stared at him in disbelief. "Your daughter is level three already? I thought new recruits had to start at level one."
"Well in normal circumstances that would be true. However, Dr. Caine isn't exactly a new recruit. In case you forgot, Dr. Caine completed an internship here in the crime lab. When she took her examination she tested into level three. Her experience and knowledge is beyond that of some of my veteran investigators. I felt it was only proper to employ her as such. In fact Rick I do believe I needed your approval for this placement and if I'm correct you approved Dr. Caine without a second thought."
Stetler stared at Horatio lividly. Horatio smiled at him and patiently waited. "You think you're so smart Horatio."
"You're right, I do. I believe that's where my daughter got it."

Stetler sneered at him. "Some day Caine, some day." He turned and walked away heatedly.

Horatio watched him leave and chuckled. "Some day I think he's going to fire me."

"God Dad, that's the last thing we need around here." Jessica said, "If you left we'd be screwed."

"Jessica" they heard someone say. Jessica turned to see Jesse walking towards her. She smiled at him and he pulled her into his arms.

"Jess," Jesse said, "I need to talk to you about something."
"What is it?" Jessica asked.

Jesse pulled out his phone and opened his videos. "I have a video that I don't know if you want to see."
"What is it?" Jessica asked, feeling her heart start to pump.

"It's his execution." Jesse said, "I didn't know if you wanted to see it or not." Tears started to form in his eyes. He looked at his phone and closed out the videos and started to put it into his pocket. "I understand…"

Jessica grabbed his hand and reached for his pocket. "I want to see it." She whispered, "I want to see the life leave his body."

Horatio grabbed her arm and looked into her eyes. "Not alone," he said.

All four walked to Horatio's office. Jessica, Horatio, and Ryan sat on the couch together. Ryan held her left hand and Horatio her right. The phone rested on Jessica's legs and she was taking slow, measured breathes. Jesse knelt in front of her.

"You sure about this?" he asked.

Jessica nodded her head. "There are only a few things that I've ever been more sure about." She pulled Ryan's hand to her face and kissed his knuckles. She did the same with Horatio's hand. "These are two of them."

Jesse smiled at her. "Alright then." He hit the play button and placed the phone back in her lap.

Jessica stared at the screen. There he was. He looked so vulnerable. They strapped him down and stuck the lines into his arm. Her heart pounded as she listened to his last speech, saying he loved Izzy.

They began injecting him. The line quickly filled and pumped through James's arm. He said something. He looked directly at the camera and Jessica felt her blood run cold at the sight of his eyes. He spoke to Jesse.

"Watch your back CSI guy! My brothers are still there in Miami and they've got something planned for you! Tell Izzy I love her and I'll see her in hell!"

His eyes closed and his head fell to the side. Another switch was flipped and less movement. Minutes ticked by and then there was a doctor. He checked James and made a few notes. He turned to the witnesses and spoke.

"James Wilson, dead, May 20th, 2010 at 4:37pm."

The video stopped and Jessica stared at the screen. A grating sound escape Jessica's throat as she cried out. She doubled over and rested her forehead against her legs. Her body shook with her sobs and she squeezed Ryan and Horatio's hands. She cried and screamed as the pain filled her body. She didn't know how long she sat there crying. Eventually her eyes ran dry and her chest hurt from the force of her shrieks.

Jessica sat up and looked into Jesse's eyes. "Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you Jesse. I needed to see that. I needed to know he's gone for good."
Jesse pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead. "You're welcome Jess," he choked out

"What would people think of my credit card receipts? Would they understand why that week's blank? Would they know what really happened? Would they understand how I almost ended it all to escape the pain? Would they know how it was one man that kept me from doing the unthinkable? Would they know who that man was to you? Would they understand our hotel nights? Would they understand how after everything that happened I still loved you? Would they know what I would give up just to be with you again?

"So what of hotel nights and sleepless days? I'd give them all away to be with you forever."

Thus ends another chapter with Ryan and Jessica. But fret not my faithful readers the next story is around the corner! :D

Ps- If anyone's wondering about the quotes at the beginning and the end of the story its Jessica and Ryan reminiscing about the week Jessica was gone. The beginning is Jessica and the end is Ryan. I tried to make it as obvious as I could, but I didn't want people to be confused.

Peace out! ~KC