Title: Momentary Weakness
Author: Kacey
Rating: FRMA or NC-17
Fandom: CSI: Miami
Pairing: Eric/Ryan
Disclaimer: I don't own them. Just borrowing them for fun.
Warnings: Set after Nailed. Probably lots of spoilers. I still haven't seen all of season three, so not sure what would be spoilers for that. And completely AU after Nailed. And, yeah, I think, based on the little we know of Ryan's family, which is pretty much nothing, I think that he has parent issues, as well as emotional and physical intimacy issues, which if you've read any of my other stories, you already know. Totally inspired by smilla840. Loved the story. Write more. But, stop inspiring me. I don't have the time for more on my plate. And before anyone asks, this is a one shot. If you want a sequel, write it yourself. I have too many other stories going on, plus I still have a Secret Santa fic to finish. It's driving me crazy that I wrote this.

***

Ryan Wolfe walked into the Crime Lab three days after he'd gotten shot in the eye with a nail. His eye was still a little swollen and bruised, but otherwise somewhat better. Speaking of his eye, it still hurt like hell and his vision was still fuzzy sometimes, but, overall, it was better. Just not as much better as he'd hoped it would be. He'd have to talk to Alexx later and see what she recommended he do. He didn't want to lose his vision. Then he'd lose his job. He'd worked very hard to get this far and didn't want to lose where he was at.

Shaking off his thoughts, he smiled and said hello to Calleigh when she walked up to him and nodded to Eric as he strolled up as well. Their relationship was still touch and go, but it wasn't as strained as it had been before their crazy ride to the hospital. They weren't friends, but, then again, they weren't as hostile as they'd been before, either.

Horatio assigned him to work in Trace with Eric. Ryan shot him a look of amused tolerance, knowing that Horatio wanted them to work out their differences, sooner rather than later. Horatio simply smiled at him and walked away. Walking to his locker, he grabbed his jacket and went to Trace, but not before stopping and having a chat with Alexx. She called a friend of hers and got him an appointment for later that afternoon. Taking over from the night tech, he had gone through several slides of different fibers when Eric walked in. Glancing up to see who it was, he didn't say anything and went straight back to work, pretty much ignoring Eric. He still wasn't sure how to treat Eric, nor was he sure how to thank him. Eric had probably saved his vision. How do you thank a person for that?

Eric went to work next to him. For the next four hours, they worked together silently, not saying a word, not exchanging a glance, not even breathing loudly. Calleigh strolled in and stopped in place, warily glancing between the two of them. Ryan glanced up at her and smiled slightly before bending back over the microscope, trying to determine what fiber had been found under the victim's fingernails. Shaking her head in frustration, she ordered, "All right, you two. Come with me. We're going out to lunch today. The three of us, plus Horatio and Alexx."

Stretching as he stood up, Eric groaned and said, "Thank God. I'm going crazy in here. I need to be outside."

Staring at Calleigh, Ryan said, trying to keep the growing panic at bay, "I can't go, Calleigh. I have --"

"To go to the doctor's. Yes, I know," she patiently interrupted. "Alexx already told me. She told me to inform you that she is going with you, no arguments, and that the place we'll be eating at is right on the way. Therefore, you can come with us, and you will."

Exhaling slowly, trying to calm himself down, Ryan ground out through clenched teeth, "Where is she at?"

"The morgue."

Stalking out of Trace, muttering to himself about mother hens and bossy women, Ryan quickly made his way down to the morgue, hoping to catch Alexx alone. He loved her more than his own mother, but, damnit, what he had told her was private. She had no right to share it with Calleigh or anyone else. She's just concerned, his rational mind whispered to him, only trying to make sure that you do what you're supposed to do to get better and stay healthy. Go easy on her.

Reaching the morgue, he stopped himself from going in and took several deep breaths and swallowed his anger before opening the door and walking in. He didn't want to hurt Alexx. After all, she was the only one aside from his uncle who'd ever cared for him and shown it his entire life, something the previous lovers he'd had, had never done. He needed her in a way he'd never needed anyone else before, not even his lovers; he just didn't need her sharing with Calleigh and Eric the things he'd told her in confidence.

Alexx glanced up from the corner where she was washing her hands when the door opened. She smiled when she saw Ryan and the look on his face, a mix between anger, frustration and panic. Having known that he'd come down here after Calleigh repeated the message she'd given her, Alexx had been patiently waiting for her baby to show up. He walked up to Alexx and opened his mouth to speak. Nothing came out for several minutes. Finally, he weakly muttered, "Alexx, I love you, but"¦you can't"¦just"¦tell people the things I share with you. Please. I'm not"¦comfortable"¦with that."

"Baby," Alexx said. "I know you're not. However, I'll share whatever I have to in order to make sure that you're safe and healthy. You may not biologically be mine, but you're mine in every other way that counts. And that's final. I'll treat you like I treat Janie and Bryan. And, no, you don't get a vote in the matter. This is not a democracy. I've made up my mind. You need a mother, and I'm going to be that mother, whether you like it or not."

Taking his arm, she led her dumbfounded new son up the stairs and to the locker room, where she took his jacket off and hung it up on the hook in his locker, at the same time, making sure he had his wallet, keys and cell phone. More than likely, he wouldn't be back from his appointment. Leading him to the front doors by the hand, she took him to their waiting colleagues, exchanging a glance with Horatio and nodding once. Smiling grimly in satisfaction, Horatio walked out the door, everyone else following in his wake.

--------------------------

After a silent ride to the restaurant, in which Calleigh and Eric kept shooting concerned looks at their blank looking companion, they were seated in the back of the restaurant. Ryan remained silent throughout lunch, letting Alexx order for him and automatically eating when she kept poking and pestering him. Horatio drove them to her friend's office and told them, well, Alexx more than Ryan, that he'd come pick them up, so please call when they were about ready to leave.

Alexx helped Ryan fill out the paperwork, his voice mechanically answering every question she asked. She knew that he was just processing what she'd said, but she was beginning to get worried. He'd never looked this out of it before, not even when he was lying in a hospital bed with a huge nail sticking out of his eye. Returning the forms to the receptionist, Alexx sat back down next to Ryan and reached out for his hand. For the first time in almost an hour and a half, he showed signs of life.

He tightened his hold on her hand and turned to her. Fear in his voice, he whispered, "Alexx, what if I'm going blind? I'd lose my job"¦and my parents"¦they'd"¦they'd --"

"They'd what, baby?" she soothingly asked, wanting to kill his parents for the less than stellar job they'd done in raising their son. She'd have to talk to Clorinda and introduce the two of them. Ryan needed more than just a mother, he needed reassurance that he could be loved for being himself. It was pretty obvious that his parents didn't love him at all. Otherwise, he wouldn't be as messed up as he was. Oh, he showed a pretty organized and well-adjusted front to the world. But, for those who knew how and where to look, it was more than noticeable that Ryan had physical and emotional intimacy issues. Since Ryan had never mentioned his parents, not once in all the time she'd known him until now, she was going to blame them until someone could prove otherwise.

"They'd completely freak is what they'd do," Ryan choked out. "They could barely handle me and the OCD when I was growing up, eventually leaving me on my uncle's doorstep when I was twelve, but this"¦if I go blind"¦they wouldn't handle that at all. More than likely, they'd disown me."

"Well, baby, let them," Alexx said. "If they don't know how lucky they are to have a son like you, then they don't get to have you. I want you. So, even if you are going blind, you'll always have a place with me, no matter what."

Ryan shot her a smile and relaxed somewhat. They sat in companionable silence until someone stepped up in front of them.

Smiling pleasantly, an attractive, small black woman held her hand out and said, "Long time no see, Alexx."

Shaking her hand, Alexx stood up, bringing Ryan with her, and replied, "Yes, it has been, Luci. I'd like you to meet, Ryan Wolfe. He got shot in the eye with a nail three days ago. His eye is hurting him, plus his vision is fuzzy and blurry at times."

The doctor shook hands with Ryan before she led both of them back to an examination room. "Sit down in the chair, Mr. Wolfe. Alexx, you can sit on his left side if you want to. Just try to stay out of the way."

She sat down after dragging a chair over from the wall. Ryan immediately latched onto her hand, his nervousness glaringly evident. Luci smiled gently and began her exam after instructing Ryan to stay as still as possible. Shining the light in his eye, she looked through the microscope from several different angles to make sure what she was seeing was accurate. Finally, she sat back, pulling the microscope out of the way, and said, "Mr. Wolfe, you have an infection. I'm going to prescribe some antibiotics. Take all of them. Come see me in a month. Hopefully, the antibiotics will clear up the infection. If not, we'll have to try more aggressive therapy."

"Such as?" Ryan asked.

"Surgery," was the prompt reply.

Swallowing heavily, Ryan croaked out, "Surgery?"

"One worry at a time, Mr. Wolfe," the doctor said. "Let's try the antibiotics first and go from there."

"Okay."

Luci wrote several things down on a sheet of paper, which she handed to Alexx, along with a pamphlet. "I'll see you in one month, Mr. Wolfe. This pamphlet lists things to do to try to make your life easier while your eye is injured. Please read it carefully. Some of these tips might just save your vision."

Nodding his head seriously, Ryan obediently followed Alexx out and waited for her to make the next appointment. She called Horatio, and they went outside to wait for him to pick him up. He pulled up several minutes later and inquired as to how the check up had gone. Ryan simply sat in the back seat, staring out the window. Alexx quietly explained things to him. Glancing in the rearview mirror at his youngest CSI, Horatio grimly said, "We'll make sure he is taken care of, Alexx. No matter what."

"I know."

-------------------------------

The month flew by. Ryan had seen tremendous improvement in his vision. His eye didn't pain him at all anymore. There was very little fuzziness or blurriness. He had spent all of last night tossing and turning, hoping that the doctor wouldn't recommend surgery. The only good things to come out of this whole mess had been his strengthened relationships with Alexx and Eric.

He and Eric were slowly becoming friends and had even gone out for drinks several times after work. Alexx had acted like they were dates, but Ryan was sure, positive, that they weren't. There was no way Eric was interested in him. After all, he was male, and everybody in the lab knew that Eric only went after women. That wasn't to say that he wasn't interested in Eric, but he wasn't going to make the mistake of saying so, not even to Alexx. She'd find a way to try to set them up, and then Eric would hate him once again. While he wished for more, he wasn't going to ruin their burgeoning friendship over dreams that were never going to come true.

Alexx, on the other hand, had taken him home with her, introduced him to her family and had not let him leave for an entire week. He even had his own room in their house now. She had taken the liberty of going to his apartment and brought over some of his clothes, personal items and toiletries and placed them in his room. Not that it was a hardship, he loved Alexx and her family, but she even forced him to spend the weekends there. It was beginning to feel like home, more than the house he'd spent most of his childhood in had ever had.

Janie and Bryan, Alexx's children, seemed to love him as much as their mother. They spent hours playing with him when he was there, or he spent hours helping them with their homework or chores. He even helped them cook or clean up on the nights when it was their turn. They had even set up a table in his room with a jigsaw puzzle on it. Every weekend, they would work on the puzzle until it was solved. The three of them were now on their eighth puzzle. Outside activities were just as much fun and time consuming. He'd spent more time outside playing with the two of them than he ever had as a child.

Peter, Alexx's husband, had simply shaken his head in amusement when Alexx dragged him home that first night. He'd welcomed him with open arms, stating that any child of Alexx's heart was a child of his. Sometimes, when Alexx was helping Janie and Bryan, Peter and Ryan would sit together and play chess or watch a game. If the kids were in trouble with their mother, they'd go outside and talk about Peter's cases or Ryan's work. Peter never pushed, but he let Ryan know that he'd be there any time Ryan wanted to talk. Ryan had never had a family before, except for his uncle, and he was deathly afraid that he'd fuck it up somehow. He'd never loved anyone, not even his uncle, as much as he loved Alexx, Bryan, Janie and Peter, and he wasn't sure how to handle the emotions.

Alexx could see the struggle Ryan was going through, but she knew he had to solve this one on his own. She could help him out every once in a while, but this was one thing he had to do all by his lonesome. Adults who had been emotionally abused as children had to figure out how to deal with their emotions on their own before someone could help them. Otherwise, they'd be overly dependent on that one person for every emotion. She knew that eventually Ryan would solve this. When he did, maybe he'd figure out that he was in love with Eric as well. Until then, all Alexx could do was sit back and watch her baby battle himself and what he had been taught by his idiot parents.

------------------------------

Ryan came out of his appointment, relief written all over his face. Alexx stood up and asked, "Good news, I take it?"

"Yes," Ryan responded enthusiastically, "Luci said that I needed to keep taking the antibiotics for another month and come back, as there's still some residual pain and blurriness. Otherwise, she's very pleased with how the infection is clearing up."

"That's wonderful, baby. Let's go make that appointment and then go eat."

Thirty minutes later, they met Peter for lunch, discussing Ryan's eye and what Luci had said. Peter was relieved to hear that Ryan would be okay. They had a pleasant lunch together. Two hours later, Ryan and Alexx walked into the Crime Lab. Horatio spotted them and opened his office door, motioning the two of them in. He got an update from Ryan and was extremely pleased at the news.

"Go home. I'll see both of you bright and early Monday," he urged after they'd been sitting there talking for over an hour.

He watched them walk away, Ryan escorting Alexx and animatedly talking with her. Horatio hoped that maybe Ryan was finally starting to come out of his shell. He's lived in it long enough, Horatio thought. It's about time we meet the Ryan that we should have always known.

-----------------------------

The next three months were filled with lots of changes for Ryan. Alexx made him move. Okay, that wasn't fair. She didn't make him, but she did tell him that she'd feel better if he lived closer to home. The warm glow that statement had given him made him agree. They went apartment hunting, the whole family. And, man, did it feel good to say that. To be able call the four of them his family. Horatio even went with them once, as did Calleigh. Alexx finally found an apartment she could live with, and he signed a lease. She then made him go furniture shopping with her, after pointing out what he could keep. He paid for what she picked out and had it delivered.

He spent the next two weeks packing and moving boxes and small furniture, the stuff Alexx let him keep anyway, although the first thing he'd done had been to thoroughly clean his new apartment from top to bottom -- five times. The last weekend before his old lease was up, Eric, Horatio, Peter and Bryan showed up at his door to help him move what was left. Peter laughed at his deer in the headlights look and teased, "You didn't really think that Alexx would let you move all of this by yourself did you, Ryan? This is my wife we're talking about. You should know better."

Biting into his lower lip nervously, Ryan said, "I guess I should."

"Alexx and Janie are already at the new place unpacking," Peter gently explained, laughter in his voice as he saw the panic show up on Ryan's face. "Calleigh will be there shortly to help them."

"Unpack?" Ryan asked. "She can't do that. She doesn't know where I want things."

Slinging an arm around Ryan's neck, Peter led him over to the last of the boxes, neatly stacked and arranged by size and contents. "Ry, you know that list you made of where to put things? She stole it from your room this morning. Now, let's get you moved out and into your new place."

Standing there in bewilderment for a few moments, Ryan finally asked, resignation in his voice, "She's never going to let me have my own life, is she?"

"No, little one, she's not," Peter answered, amusement in his voice. "At least not until you've settled down and started a family of your own. Even then, she'll still bug you everyday. That's just Alexx, loving and bossy to anyone that matters to her."

Bryan ran over to Ryan and started tugging him towards the boxes. "You know Mom, Ry. Now come on. Let's get a move on. Calleigh said that Eric's mom is going to come over and help, as well as cook. She's great. And her food is really, really good. So hurry up."

Letting himself be dragged around, Ryan tried to swallow his panic at the thought of meeting Eric's mother, only partially succeeding. Much as he loved Alexx and her family, he still wasn't used to being the center of attention and really didn't like it all that well. When it was just the five of them at home, it was okay; he could handle it then. Otherwise, he did his damnedest to be as far away from people's radars as he could.

Finally, after about fifteen trips down to the vehicles, they had everything out of his apartment. Ryan quickly cleaned the apartment, again, with Bryan's help. He stopped at the apartment of the manager of the building to give back the keys to the apartment and the mailbox. Her oldest daughter opened the door and exclaimed, "Senor Ryan!"

The little girl threw herself at Ryan. He smiled as he caught her and said something to her in Spanish. She was hugging him very tightly and crying. "I don't want you to go, Senor Ryan. You can't go."

By that time, two other little girls had attached themselves to Ryan's legs and were crying as well. The three men patiently waiting for him to finish up thought the whole scene was rather amusing, while Bryan just rolled his eyes and got in the front seat of Ryan's SUV.

Ryan attempted to soothe all three girls, but he wasn't having much luck. About that time, their mother arrived at their door, smiling upon seeing the scene. She gently took the keys from Ryan and said, "Now, my babies, he's only moving a few miles away. We can still go see Senor Ryan. You know he'd love the company. Besides, you're going to be seeing him just about everyday anyway. You'll be going to Senora Alexx's house after school, and Senor Ryan will be bringing you home. No more tears. Hug him and let go. You don't have to say goodbye."

Hugging each of the girls in turn and whispering something to them to make them laugh, Ryan finally hugged their mother and said something to her as well. She laughed and shooed him away. "Get going you. I'll see you Monday, Senor Ryan."

Flashing her a bright smile, Ryan said, "Yeah, I'll see you Monday when I drop the girls off."

"And you'll stay for supper, yes?"

Laughing, Ryan asked, "That's the only way you got them to not come beg me not to move everyday for the last two weeks, isn't it? By telling them that I'd eat supper with them on Mondays."

"You know it, young man. Now, go on, I'm sure Senora Alexx is waiting very impatiently for you."

"Yes, I'm sure she is. Thanks, Lotta."

----------------------------------

By the time they'd gotten all of the stuff out of the vehicles and into his apartment, Ryan was beginning to feel overwhelmed and jumpy. He'd given Calleigh a hug and then met Eric's mother, Clorinda, a sweet, lovely woman who'd taken one look at him and said, "I've heard a lot about you from Eric. You're much too thin, little one. Alexx and I will have to work on fattening you up. By the way, lovely apartment. Alexx chose well. I wish I could talk my own children into moving just a little closer to home."

She then took his hand and dragged him through the kitchen into one of his guest bedrooms, where Janie was unpacking and putting things away along with three women. Clorinda introduced them as her daughters, Marisol, Juanita and Lupe. All three were just as lovely and charming as their mother, although they didn't have her darker skin tone like Eric did. She then led him into his other guest bedroom where Eric was at, along with another man, sitting up the bed and putting the other furniture together. She introduced him as her husband, Pavel. They left and walked back out into the hallway.

Alexx, who'd followed them, indulgent smile on her face, told him to take Janie and Bryan and unpack in his bedroom. Lunch would be ready soon, and she'd call for them when it was. Glad to be given an excuse to be away from all of the people in his apartment, not realizing his relief was written all over his face, Ryan gave her a grateful smile as he walked past her. Clorinda snickered after he left and turned to Alexx. "Is he always so easy to read?"

"Usually," Alexx replied, fond smile on her face. "I've never been able to tell him that even if his facial expressions don't give away what he's thinking or feeling, his eyes always do."

"He's really cute, Alexx. I can see why you think he needs a mother. Way too thin, though. Now, if we can only get Eric to make a move, as your child evidently never will."

"One thing at a time, Clorinda. One thing at a time."

--------------------------------

After he'd been working in his room with his siblings for about an hour, and, yes, that's what they were, Alexx came in and announced they were ready for lunch. Ryan looked up and said, pleading in his eyes, "I'll be there in a few minutes."

"All right, baby," Alexx said, "but don't make me come look for you."

"I won't. I'll be right there."

Ryan walked into his bathroom and quickly washed his hands, taking several deep breaths to try to calm himself down. He just about jumped out of his skin when Eric apologized from the doorway. "I'm sorry about my mother. She can be a bit much at times."

Smiling nervously, Ryan said, "It's okay. She's really nice. Just --"

"Overwhelming," Eric finished, laughter in his voice.

"Yeah, that's one word for it."

"Come on. Otherwise both Alexx and my mother will come looking for you," Eric said, waiting for Ryan to leave with him.

They walked into the living room where Janie and Bryan latched onto Ryan and dragged him through the line for food and then over to one of the tables to sit with them. Marisol, Calleigh and Eric ended up sitting at their table as well. After lunch, everyone went back to unpacking, except for Alexx and Clorinda. They cleaned up the kitchen and living room from lunch.

----------------------------

Two hours later, everything was unpacked, all of the furniture and beds were put together and all of the boxes were in the dumpster, along with any other trash. By then, Janie and Bryan, who each had their own dresser full of clothes in the guest bedroom that was theirs, had manipulated Ryan into agreeing to watch them swim in the pool, although they'd talked Eric, Calleigh and his sisters into actually swimming. The older adults said they'd sit out on Ryan's veranda and watch them. Ryan sat at the shallow end, feet in the water, talking with Calleigh and Marisol. Eric, Juanita and Lupe were playing a game of tag with Janie and Bryan.

Eventually, Calleigh and Marisol joined in, when Eric quit. He swam over next to Ryan and asked, "Don't you swim?'

"I don't know how," Ryan admitted.

Shooting him a quizzical look, Eric inquired, "Then why did you move in where there's a pool?"

Inclining his head in the direction of the rest of their group, he replied, "For my brother and sister."

"And what about when someone who does know how to swim isn't here?"

"We have an agreement. They'll stay in the shallow end then. When Alexx or Peter are here and watching, they can swim in the deep end," Ryan explained.

"Ryan," Eric said, "that's really naïve of you to think they'll always follow that rule. They're kids. They'll break that rule as soon as they possibly can. You need to learn how to swim. For God's sake, you live in Miami. There's water everywhere. Tell you what, I'll teach you."

"I"¦I don't"¦I don't think that's such a good idea, Eric," Ryan stuttered out. "I don't like bodies of water. I'll completely freak out, trust me on this."

"Why?"

"When I was five, my parents sent me to summer camp. One of the counselors got tired of me panicking every time I got near water, so he threw me in the lake. I just about drowned. I would have if one of the older students hadn't been paying attention, as the counselor turned around and walked off. I've never been able to really get in a pool or the ocean or a lake since then," Ryan shakily explained. "Every time I do, I remember what it felt like to not be able to breathe and what it felt like to swallow all that water."

"I hope they fired that counselor," Eric angrily responded. "You never do that to anyone. However, my friend, you still need to learn. Don't worry. I'm a very good swimmer."

"Thanks, but I still don't think --"

"Ryan."

"No. I don't think --"

"Ryan."

"Eric."

"Ryan."

Sighing heavily in defeat, Ryan pouted, "Fine. You need to stop learning how to win arguments with me from Alexx. That's not fair, Eric."

"Hey whatever works," Eric laughed.

---------------------------------

Everyone except Janie and Bryan left at around ten that evening. Ryan had ordered supper from a place he knew nearby, enough to feed everyone with as a thank you for their help. They had then spent the rest of the evening playing games or just talking. Ryan had ended up in the corner of the couch, Janie clinging to his side, talking with Calleigh, Eric and Marisol.

After everyone had left, he'd helped Janie and Bryan get ready for bed and then put them to bed, reciting their prayers with them. He'd then gone straight to bed after changing into his sleeping clothes. When he woke up a few hours later, there were two warm bodies burrowed in on each side of him. Smiling to himself, he pulled the covers up and wrapped his arms around his brother and sister and fell asleep.

----------------------------------

Over the next month, Ryan would take Eric to his new place after work on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Eric would teach him what he thought he needed to know in the pool, and then they would eat together. Alexx would tease him about his "˜dates.' Ryan would just shake his head at her and say that Eric wasn't interested. Her reply was always, "If you think so, baby," shaking her head in amusement at the shock Ryan was sure to receive when Eric's patience was finally stretched past his limits.

And that time seems to be coming up soon, Alexx thought, watching as Eric and Ryan were working together in Trace on a Friday afternoon. Ryan didn't seem to notice anymore, as used to Eric touching him in the water as he was, but Eric touched him all the time now, his intentions clear to everyone who saw them together, everyone, that is, but Ryan. Their friendship had deepened over the past month, but Eric wanted more now and wasn't trying to hide that fact. The only problem was that Ryan wasn't picking up on the signals Eric was sending him.

Calleigh walked up next to her and shook her head in exasperation. "He's so blatantly oblivious, Alexx. What I wouldn't give to be a fly on his bedroom wall when Eric finally snaps and just takes what he wants."

"As long as Ryan's agreeable," Alexx said. "I'd hate to have to hurt Eric for hurting my baby."

Laughing, Calleigh replied, "Eric won't hurt him. Eric's in love with him. Hell, everyone that works here knows that; everyone that knows both of them knows that, even if Ryan doesn't. Even if Ryan hasn't yet realized that he's in love with Eric. I still can't believe you told Eric that. Ryan's going to be mad at you when he finds out."

"Well, if Eric knows what's good for him, he won't say anything," Alexx laughed.

The two women watched their two coworkers for several more minutes before Horatio joined them. Smiling at the two women, he commented, "I'm surprised Eric's lasted this long, Alexx. I know he can be a patient man, but he is part Latino. Latino men aren't known for their patience."

"I warned him that he'd better be patient with my baby, otherwise I'd have to hurt him," Alexx said, small smile on her face. "He assured me he'd wait until Ryan was ready. I don't think he realized just how unaware Ryan can be at times, though."

Watching as Eric said something to Ryan and walked off, leaving Ryan standing there staring after him, confused expression on his face, Horatio remarked, "I don't think he'll be unaware much longer, Alexx."

"No, he won't be. Eric's not that patient. My baby will finally be settled down with someone that I can honestly say that I approve of, much more than that reporter," Alexx responded, satisfaction in her voice. "Now, to work on getting him to agree to adopt so Clorinda and I can have some grandchildren."

Horatio and Calleigh exchanged amused smiles before the three of them returned to trying to solve their latest homicide.

--------------------------------

Ryan woke up that same Friday night to someone pounding on his door. Glancing over at his clock, he groaned when he saw that it read eleven. He'd only gotten an hour of sleep. Muttering to himself about impatient people, he climbed out of bed and stalked to his door, unlocking it and throwing it open, all without checking to see who was there. He opened his mouth to yell at the person when he noticed it was Eric. "Eric? What are you doing here?"

Opening the door further, he motioned Eric in, shutting it as Eric brushed past him. He had just relocked the door and turned around to get an answer when he found himself backed up against his front door, Eric's body weight pinning him there. Looking up into Eric's dark eyes, he was brought up short by the emotions contained therein. Eric muttered, "God, you drive me crazy," right before he kissed him, a kiss that shared all of the emotions in his eyes. Gasping in shock, then moaning when Eric's tongue began to map his mouth, and by now feeling extremely, extremely stupid, Ryan gave in after a momentary struggle with himself.

He lifted his arms and wrapped them around Eric's neck, pulling his head down further and bringing his own tongue into play. Eric relaxed against him and deepened the kiss, finally tearing away when they both needed to breathe. He buried his face in Ryan's neck and panted to try and catch his breath. Raising his head several minutes later, he growled low in his throat at the dazed expression on Ryan's face. Ducking out from under Ryan's arms, he grabbed one of his wrists and dragged Ryan behind him and down the hallway into his bedroom.

Eric quickly and efficiently stripped off his clothes, doing the same to Ryan's sleeping clothes, kissing him every time he opened his mouth to say something, completely making him lose his train of thought each time. He then backed Ryan up to his bed, following him when Ryan fell back on the bed, covering him with his own body. He leaned over and turned on the lamp so they could have some light. Kissing Ryan again, Eric began to intimately familiarize himself with the body he already knew so well, thanks to the swimming lessons, Ryan finally, finally, began reciprocating.

His hands began to explore Eric's body, while he reacted to the pleasure Eric was giving him through touch. Ryan broke off the kiss, needing to breathe, continuing to touch as much of Eric as he could. Shifting until Eric was between his thighs, Ryan whispered, "Eric?"

"What?" came the husky reply, Eric leaning up and looking down into Ryan's face.

"Hurry up," he demanded.

Chuckling quietly, Eric stated, "Your wish is my command, querido."

Reaching over the side of the bed, he pulled the lube and a condom out of the pocket of his pants. He hurriedly, but thoroughly, prepared Ryan wanting him as soon as he could possibly have him, especially as long as he'd waited. Teasing him, causing him to curse in impatience, he waited just long enough until Ryan finally looked at him through half-lidded eyes and grabbed the condom. Tearing it open and rolling it down over Eric's erection, Ryan edgily asked, "Now, will you get on with it?"

Smirking, Eric grabbed Ryan's hips in order to hold him still and, leaning down and kissing him, entered him in one quick thrust. The kiss muffled Ryan's gasp of discomfort somewhat, though Eric held himself still until he was sure that Ryan was ready to go on. Ryan jerked back from the kiss a few minutes later and sarcastically inquired, "What are you waiting for, you damned bastard, an engraved invitation?"

Snickering, Eric, still holding Ryan's hips still, began to move, slowly and steadily, before he ordered, "Querido, shut up."

Keeping himself from speeding up, Eric finally found the right spot, as evidenced by the way Ryan threw his head back and moaned in pleasure. Even though he wasn't allowing Ryan to thrust with him, Eric wasn't sure he could hold back much longer with the way Ryan was squirming and moving beneath him, not to mention the noises he was making, a combination of whimpers and moans. Giving up on making their first time last, Eric let go of Ryan's hips, placing his hands on the bed for leverage, and began to thrust into him faster and harder, Ryan's hips beginning to move in time with him and his legs coming up to wrap around his waist. However, he still kept just enough of an edge to not let either of them come.

Looking up at him, Ryan gritted out, voice breaking every time Eric hit just the right spot, "You know, Eric, we can do this again. Well, maybe. If you keep on torturing me, I'm not so sure about that."

Leaning down to kiss Ryan, just to get him to shut up, Eric decided to stop torturing both of them. Not that the whole idea of making love with Ryan later had anything to do with his decision, not at all. Speeding his thrusts up, Eric could feel his orgasm rushing in upon him. From the way Ryan's body was tightening up and the whimpers he was making, his was as well. Wanting to watch as Ryan lost his mind in pleasure, Eric moved his right hand and began to stroke Ryan's erection in counterpoint to his thrusts. Eric watching the whole time, cataloging his every expression and noise, Ryan came several minutes later with a breathy cry of pleasure, muscles clamping down on Eric. Groaning with his own pleasure, Eric thrust a few more times before he, too, came with a cry, muffled by Ryan's throat.

Collapsing on top of Ryan, Eric panted to try to catch his breath. He made himself comfortable, shifting to take some of his weight off of Ryan. They simply laid there for several minutes, content to bask in the afterglow and in each other's presence. Ryan then groggily asked, "Eric?"

"What, Ryan?" Eric inquired, still muffled by Ryan's throat.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why now?"

Leaning up, Eric seriously said, looking Ryan in the eyes the whole time, "I finally realized today that you had no clue. I've been waiting for a sign from you for months, Ryan. Today, I figured out that you had no idea what I was doing, what I've been doing for months. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I figured you'd either respond or throw me out. Either way, I wouldn't have to wait anymore. The waiting was driving me crazy."

"Oh."

"Is that all you have to say?"

"No."

Eric waited patiently, knowing Ryan would spit out what he had to say sooner or later. Finally he heard him whisper, shock in his voice, "I'm in love with you."

"I know. And it's a good thing because I'm in love with you, too," Eric replied to the unasked question in Ryan's eyes, smug smirk on his face.

Climbing off of the bed, Eric pulled Ryan along after him and walked into the bathroom. Manhandling Ryan into the shower, he turned it on and settled them under the spray, simply letting the water run over them. He turned off the water several minutes later and stepped out of the shower, Ryan following him. Grabbing a towel off of the shelf next to the shower, Eric dried both of them off before returning to the bed, tugging Ryan after him. Pulling back the sheets and throwing the comforter on the floor, Eric pushed Ryan onto the mattress, following him moments later after shutting off the lamp. Waiting until Ryan had finished wiggling and shifting around, Eric pulled Ryan back against him and commanded, "Stop moving and go to sleep, querido."

Ryan sighed and said, "I'm not used to people sleeping in my bed, Eric."

"That's good to hear," Eric replied. "However, you'll need to get used to me, Ryan. I'm not going anywhere now that I finally have you where I want you. Now, go to sleep."

Exhaling slowly in relief once he felt Ryan relax into sleep, Eric knew he was lucky. He'd gotten what he wanted. Now all he had to do was figure out a way to keep Ryan off balance just enough so that he wouldn't start panicking and questioning everything. He would also have to figure out a way to keep everyone else happy without giving details. They didn't need to know. It wasn't any of their business. Shaking himself mentally, Eric relaxed and fell asleep to the soothing sounds of his new lover's even breathing.

***