Title: Part of the Plan
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Greg Sanders/Ryan Wolfe
Fandom: CSI: Vegas/CSI: Miami
Rating: PG-13
Table: 3, csi50
Prompt: 16, Save
Author's Note: Continuation of Screaming Senses.
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my own imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the lovely Greg Sanders or Ryan Wolfe, unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.

***

Greg was out of the Denali and following Jim Brass to the doorway of the warehouse where Ryan was before he even thought about what he was doing. He had promised his boyfriend that he wouldn't try to be in the forefront of things, but he couldn't keep that promise.

He couldn't force himself to hold back, not when he was sure that Ryan was in trouble. Now that Santos had found the wire that he was wearing, there was no doubt that Ryan's life could very well be in danger. Greg couldn't make himself sit back and simply wait.

Ryan couldn't hold him to that promise, not if he was in danger. Ryan wouldn't be able to sit back and wait to find out if something had happened to him, so there was no way his lover could expect him to do the same. He would understand if this promise fell by the wayside.

He had to. Greg could feel panic rising within him; he had no idea what they might find when they broke into the place, and he could only hope and pray that Ryan hadn't been harmed. Without the wire, there was no way to know what might have taken place.

No matter what might happen, they had to get in there and save Ryan. The last thing Greg wanted to happen was for his boyfriend to go through a repeat of what had already been done to him; no one should have to suffer through something like that twice.

The rest of the team was gathered around them, anxious looks on their faces. The CSIs fell back as the cops positioned themselves at the door, all of them looking towards Brass, waiting for a signal. When he gave it, they all sprang into action.

The doors of the warehouse burst inwards; the cops readied their guns, though Greg hoped they wouldn't just shoot indiscriminately at the first person they saw. He didn't know if Ryan was in the line of fire -- or if he was being used as a human shield.

He was doing as Ryan had told him -- staying in the rear, not placing himself in any danger. But he had to see what was going on, and know where his boyfriend was. If anything happened to Ryan .... Greg could feel his heart clutch in his chest, as though it would stop beating.

Ryan was nowhere to be seen. Greg could see Santos, raising his hands as cops surrounded him and Brass approached him with a pair of handcuffs. But Ryan wasn't in that little group of people; Greg looked around frantically, his gaze searching for the man he loved.

There he was, standing off to the side near Catherine. He was nodding at her, as though to tell her that he was all right, though he looked grim and a little shaken. But he seemed to be okay; as far as Greg could tell, he hadn't been physically harmed.

He wanted to throw himself into Ryan's arms, to touch his boyfriend and make sure for himself that he was all right. But he couldn't do that, not in front of everyone they worked with. He couldn't let himself lose control that way. It was far too risky for them.

It was the hardest thing in the world for Greg to force himself to walk slowly and calmly over to Ryan, to give him a smile and hug him as though there was nothing between them but a close friendship. It was hell having to hold himself back from what he really wanted to do.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice a mere croak. He had to clear his throat before he could speak again; all of the words he wanted to say were lodged there, dying to get out, but he knew that he couldn't say the words he wanted Ryan to hear until they were back at home.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Ryan said, his voice soft and husky. One look into those deep green eyes told Greg that Ryan had a lot he wanted to say as well, and that he regretted not being able to speak those words and set Greg's mind at rest. But he would do that later, Greg was sure of it.

They both looked over to where Santos was being handcuffed and led away; Greg couldn't help noticing that Ryan had a satisfied smile on his face. Somehow, he couldn't help smiling right along with his boyfriend, in spite of the fears he'd had up until a few minutes ago.

Everything had worked out just the way it should, with Ryan coming out of the situation unscathed. His fears had been unfounded, but he still didn't like the idea that his lover had put himself in the line of fire, so to speak, and he wanted to talk to Ryan about that.

It wasn't something he wanted to happen again. If either of them happened to stumble into the path of danger while they were working, that was another circumstance entirely. But for Ryan to have willingly risked his life .... Greg wasn't if he could face that situation again.

This wasn't the time or place to have such a discussion; it would have to wait until they were safe at home, behind closed doors where they had some privacy. But he knew that Ryan could tell he wanted to talk; his lover knew him all too well.

Ryan reached for his hand, squeezing his fingers gently. It was the only gesture that they could make towards each other at this point; a closer embrace would have to wait until they had their privacy, but Greg knew without a doubt that it would happen.

"I told you this could get dangerous," he said, keeping his voice low. "What would you have done if the team hadn't been able to come charging in like white knights to save you? This was way too dangerous, Ryan. I hope you won't come up with any more plans like this."

"I don't intend to," Ryan said, his voice just as soft as Greg's was. "But putting myself at some risk was always a part of the plan, Greg. We had to put Santos behind bars. From what he said to me before he found the wire, we should be able to do that."

"Yeah, he confessed to getting rid of people in Miami," Greg said, nodding. "I hope that's enough to at least have him sent back there to face charges. We can't really do anything to him here, because he didn't technically kidnap you."

"But he did in Miami," Ryan reminded him with a sigh. "And I might have to testify, if there's a trial. I don't want to have to relive all that again -- and I didn't want it to all come out. But if it means putting Santos away for good, then I'll do it. I've got to."

Greg nodded again, wishing that there was something he could say to make Ryan feel better. But there wasn't, and he knew it. His boyfriend had a trying time ahead of him -- but he intended to be right there by Ryan's side, through whatever might be thrown at them.

"I'm just glad that the team was here to save you from whatever might have happened," he said, his gaze meeting Ryan's. "And I'm glad that I was here with them. If I hadn't been, you know I've have worried myself sick about you. I don't want to lose a partner."

Ryan's answering smile told him that his boyfriend understood the deeper meaning of what he was trying to say. Greg had no doubt that he would be able to better express how he felt when they were back at home -- and he had every intention of making his meaning perfectly clear.

***