Fic: Mailed, Chapter 2 (CSI Miami, Eric Delko / Ryan Wolfe)
Title: Mailed, Chapter 2
Pairing: Ryan Wolfe / Eric Delko
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine, etc.
Feedback: Always Welcome
CSI Miami Main List
Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Interlude Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10
Eric’s finger hovered over the key. He pressed it down and the printer started grunting again.
“Eric…” Calleigh peeked her head in and groaned. “More e-mails?”
“No.” Eric took the warm print and handed it over to her. It was an article from the department newsletter, written about Speed’s demise. “I thought it would be easier to tell about it face to face and even better if I got some proof that I’m telling the truth.”
“You’re going to meet him?”
“Yeah. Or do you think he’ll blame the messenger?”
“You never know.”
“We’ll be in a restaurant, people everywhere. He wouldn’t make a scene there.” Eric took a moment to consider his assumption. “Right?”
“How did he react when you suggested a meeting?”
“He was pretty happy about it.”
“Happy?” Calleigh repeated. “How much did you tell him?”
“Not much. I just suggested a meeting face to face.”
“He agreed to meet a total stranger, just like that? I’m not buying it.” A look of disbelief appeared slowly on his face. “You didn’t…”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about-”
“You didn’t tell him you weren’t Speed! I’m right, aren’t I?”
“How else was I supposed to get him to meet me? I didn’t wanna tell about Speed on-line.”
“So you lied to him and let him believe you’re him.”
“I didn’t lie, I just let him believe-”
“Same thing!”
“It’s not! I couldn’t tell him I was someone else, or he would have thought I’m some kinda creep, prowling in the web or something.”
“You contacted him using someone else’s name, you are a creep.”
“With good intensions!” Eric lifted the print to shield him from Calleigh`s wrath. “I’ll give him this and tell the whole story, possibly even eat some pasta and then it’s done.”
“Pasta?”
“We’re meeting at Milo’s.”
“Try the lasagne.” She sighed and turned to leave. “And get it done.”
“I will.” Eric made a feeble attempt at a boy scout salute. Calleigh gave him a disapproving glare and left.
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Eric spotted the man sitting in the bar soon as he walked into the restaurant. Wolfe was nursing a glass of water, his other hand tapping the counter in a quick pace. Eric walked closer and tapped him on the shoulder.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” Wolfe twirled around on his barstool. “It is you, right?”
“Yeah. And you’re Leader-of-the-Wolf-Pack.”
“Ryan.” He gave Eric a firm handshake. “Ryan Wolfe.”
“Wolfe, Wolf Pack, makes sense… Eric Delko.”
“Nice to meet you. I mean face to face.” Ryan blushed and took a nervous sip from his glass. “You want to got to table or…?”
“Food would be nice, I haven’t had anything since lunch. Except a sandwich. And some coffee. And a cinnamon roll.”
“Well, you said you love food.” Ryan grinned and lead them to an empty table. “Definitely a plus in my books.”
“I said that?” The words were out of Eric’s mouth before he realised what he was saying. His mind quickly replayed some of the messages Speed had written. “Yeah, sorry. I had a long day at work.”
“Me too.” Ryan sat down, picking up the menu from the table. “So what kept you so busy for two weeks?”
“Yeah, about that…” Eric tried to hide behind the menu. “I need to tell you something, and it’s not gonna be easy-”
“You want to end this?”
“What? I didn’t-”
“You could have send me an e-mail, you don’t need to buy me dinner first.”
“It’s nothing like that.”
“It’s not?” Ryan looked at him with wide eyes. “Then I don’t wanna know.”
“I think you have to-”
“No.” He run his fingers through his hair, taking deep breaths. “You know I haven’t been out with anyone since Jimmy died, and… Chatting on-line was easy, but I really had to kick myself on the ass to get here, so… Can we just talk about something else and have a nice evening?” He gave Eric a pleading look. The pages of the menu were softly rustling, the nervous shaking of his hands becoming more obvious. “Please.”
Eric licked his lips. His mind was racing and he made a quick decision.
“Sure, we can talk about something else. Like food, someone recommended the lasagne.”
“Thanks.” Ryan looked up and smiled. He slowly leafed through the menu, tryng to keep his nevers in check. “By the way... why didn’t you ever send me your picture?”
“We agreed not to send pics.” Eric recited. “Your own idea.”
“Yeah. It just feels weird. Knowing you well as a username, and then trying to match it with a real person.”
“How are they matching so far?”
“I don’t know yet. So far…” Ryan tilted his head to the side, observing Eric carefully. “So far it’s like two persons. One on-line and one in real life.”
“Well… people are different on the web.”
“Yeah. It’s a lot easier to talk about some stuff.”
“True.”
“But enough about that, let’s get to real life. What did you do today? You said you had a long day at work.”
“Yeah, not that tricky case, but it took time. Cook killed with his own cheese grater.”
“Can you save that till after the dinner?” Ryan chuckled and Eric had to take a better look at the man. He looked quite different when he was smiling.
“Sure, but you asked. What about your day?”
“Paper war. We’re preparing to present out project results to the board of directors, basically making sure the whole thing is so simple even the stupidest human being can understand it.”
“At least the pay is better than what we get from the county.”
“Yeah, that’s one of the things I don’t miss from the PD.” Ryan waved the waitress to come over. “Along with the itchy uniform.”
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“Sorry, I could have taken a cab…” Ryan slurred, leaning against Eric’s car. “I was nervous, I may have had a little bit too much to drink…”
“You maybe have?” Eric repeated and locked his car. “You can’t even walk straight. What would you do if you were still on patrol?” He sneaked his arms behind Ryan’s back to support him and started slowly guiding him to the apartment building.
“I’d… I’d tell myself to walk a straight line, and if I can’t do it I would have to tell myself to bend over and spread`em…” Ryan almost collapsed with an uncontrolled fit of laughter. Eric managed to drag him into the elevator.
“What floor?”
“Floor?”
“Your place. What floor do you live in?”
“I’m…” Ryan eyed the panel of buttons. “Are we in the right building?”
“We’re in the building you said you lived in.”
“Then… third.”
Eric pressed the buttons and the elevator took off with a slight yank, causing Ryan to grab him for support. He laid his head on Eric’s shoulder and sighed deeply.
“I’m not gonna remember this in the morning, so… Can I tell you something?”
“Shoot.”
“I had a really good time.”
“Me too.”
“And… I didn’t think I would…” Ryan slurred. “I mean… I wanna let go, I wanna go back to my normal life. One year’s long enough to grieve, isn’t it?”
“I guess that depends on the person.”
“I want to go out again, and see people again and I don’t wanna feel guilty about getting back on the horse.”
“You mean get back in the saddle.”
“What’s the point if there’s no horse under it?” Ryan asked and started giggling again. The lift pinged and the doors opened. Eric escorted him to the hallway while Ryan rummaged his pockets for his keys, still giggling. Finally he found both the correct door and his keychain. He opened the door and leaned against the doorframe.
“Thanks for everything.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I mean everything.” Ryan leaned his head against the frame. “I wouldn’t have even thought about dating again if I hadn’t already known you. It’s like meeting an old friend and getting reacquainted.” His voice was becoming sleepy. “Can we do this again?”
Eric hesitated for a passing moment, but the temptation won.
“Sure. How bout I’ll mail you tomorrow?”
“Good.” Ryan leaned forward till his torso was pressed against Eric’s. “You took me home. Does that mean we should do the whole Good Night Kiss thing?” He pressed a tentative kiss on Eric’s lips. “Good night.”
“Good night.” Eric’s body send out a silent whimper when the warm weight pulled away. Ryan closed the door and Eric walked back to the elevator. He could feel the printed article burning in his pocket. Eric walked to his car, sat down and pulled the folded paper out of his pocket. He didn’t bother to close the door, he just sat with his legs hanging out.
Eric unfolded it and reread the text he knew by heart. Speed’s eyes were glaring at him from the small picture, sending small spikes of guilt to his gut. He run his fingers over the page.
“Sorry, Speed. But I think you’d understand.”
He pulled a lighter from the glove compartment. Eric brought it under the paper, letting the fire consume it. He dropped the remains onto the asphalt.
Chapter 3