Unexpected

Chapter 6 Heaven, Hell and cookies

Laying on the bed with a half dressed Ryan, Eric didn't know if this was heaven or hell.

On one side, it was like one of his dreams. Well almost like one of his dreams. In his dreams Ryan isn't of to Lalaland. Plus he was wearing a lot less!
Still, Eric had given up hope of ever being this close to Ryan.

On the other side. Laying here next to Ryan but not being able to touch him, was killing him. Eric supposed he could venture a little innocent touching. And if he wasn't as scared of Ryan waking up, he would have! Really.
No he was lying. Eric knew the drugs weren't out of Ryan's system yet so the chance of him waking up were slim. No, it was because of his sister. She had already tried to sneak into the room about 10 minutes ago. With a camera!! Eric didn't > know what she had expected to find. Eric had to > smirk as he remembered her yelp when he ask what the > hell she was doing.

Having decided to go for it, Eric stretched his arm and touched Ryan lightly. At first only put his finger on Ryan's cheek. Seeing no negative reaction to his featherlight touch, Eric delicately cupped Ryan's cheek. Then something happend, something Eric hadn't expected. Ryan sighed and leaned into Eric's touch. And than the most incredible thing happend, for Eric that is. Slowly Ryan inched closer to Eric, until he was flushed against Eric's right side with his head on his shoulder.

Eric couldn't move. Or breath. What if it wasn't real? What if it was a dream and he woke op cold and alone?

Finally believing Ryan's presence was real, Eric closed his arms around him. Taking in Ryan's sweet sent, his comforting weight Eric tightened his embrace.

Revelling in the feeling of Ryan borrowing deeper into him, Eric almost missed the quiet mumble.

"Night Eric."

And then a small kiss was placed on his throat.

A small glow settled around his heart.

A glow called hope.

For the first time since this whole mess started, Eric could believe he actually had a chance. A chance at his very own ever after with Ryan.

Giving up on all thought, Eric settled in for a good night sleep.

His last thoughts before he surrendered to sleep were 'Maybe Marisol was right?'

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Marisol had spend the night thinking. How was she to proceed now? She got Ryan here, got him invited for Christmas and even got him to sleep in the same bed as Eric. Now what?

She was pondering those thoughts while climbing down the stairs when she met Eric halfway.

"Marisol? Could I borrow you hairbrush? And some gel actually?"

Amused Marisol asked "Why? You misplaced your 20 bottles of hair products? And why would you need a hairbrush? You have like 3 hairs on your head!"

Frowning Eric answered "Firstly: Ha ha! Secondly: I'm serious. My shampoo, my gel, my hairbrush disappeared. I think the kids might have something to do with that. Now, can I use your hairbrush?"

Trying to hold onto her laughter Marisol said "Sure, it's in my bathroom."

Making her way to the kitchen, where she knew the rest of the family where having breakfast, Marisol waited for the inevitable.

She had just sat down, when she heard two people yell.

Marisol almost fell from her chair she was laughing so hard.

Seeing the others getting up, intending to go see what happend, Marisol tried to calm down and waved at them to stay put.

Hearing Eric's elephant-like feet storming down the stairs, Marisol got comfortable.

It was showtime!
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Oh my god!! That was the only thing Eric could think of.

"MARISOL!"

Making his way to the kitchen, Eric stopped at the door.

Glaring and pointing his finger at his sister Eric gritted "YOU! You knew he was in there!"

He still couldn't believe she would do something like that. He knew she had something to do with it.

She was sitting there looking at him innocently. Too innocently. Which in itself was telling. Marisol was NEVER innocent! He still suspected her of telling his ex-girlfriend that he liked karaoke. He really didn't! The consequence was that little piece of information was that he was dragged to a karaoke bar and made to sing. He is mostly sure that he saw a flash go off.

"What are you talking about Eric? What was that screaming?" she asked him with that fake innocent voice of hers.

"What I'm talking about?" echoed Eric "I'm talking about you telling me to go get the stuff out of your bathroom and ..."

Suddenly he stopped talking. He was so focused on his sister that he hadn't seen all the other people sitting at the table. People who were watching him, some curiously, others amused.

"Yes Eric. Please continue." His brother-in-law's voice cut through his embarrassment. Traitor! What about men sticking together in time of adversity? What about the brother-bond against plotting women?? He would remember that! Next time he and Carmen have a fight, he can go sleep on someone else's couch!

Shooting glare at his brother-in-law, he directed his answer to his mother. "She told me to go get her hairbrush out of her bathroom. However, she forgot to mention that Ryan was in the bathroom!!"

He saw his mother shoot an amused glace at his sisters. Turning back to him "So??"

Eric's mouth literally dropped open. Obviously he wouldn't get the reaction he was looking for out of his mother.

Still picking up his mouth of the floor, he answered incredulously "So? So, it so happend that Ryan had finished his shower and was... less than fully clothed!" The last thing was said in a outraged whisper.

"I plead temporary amnesia" was Marisol's smug input.

Eric was about to snap at her when he heard footsteps on the stairs. Since everyone of his family was here, it could only be Ryan.

Eric couldn't face him know! He needed to get out of here!

"I have to get changed for work. See you all tomorrow night!" Eric told them all frantically while escaping the scene.

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Alone in her room, Marisol decided it was time to call her accomplice to give her updates.

"Alexx? It's Marisol. There is no way I can get them together before tomorrow today without looking suspicious. What happens tomorrow? I got my mother to invite Ryan for Christmas with us. Yes really. A lot. There's a lot of progress. "
"Well... Eric knows Ryan is gay and was never interested in Natalia. Ryan knows Eric is bi. Oh and the best part. We got them to sleep in the same bed!! We own it all to my mother. I invited Ryan to our weekly family diner. My mother loved him!! By the end of the night Ryan fell asleep on the couch. We couldn't wake him so my mother offered Eric's bed. No. Eric had to sleep in the same bed!"

"Yeah I know. Yeah. That's not all. I got him to see Ryan naked. well... almost naked.

" I don't know, he left before the interesting part could start. That's why I need you."

"Do you happen to have an idea of how we could get them together?"

Listening intently, Marisol's smile became more...evil.

If Eric had been in the room, he would have run for the hills.

"See? You were wrong. Once a spy, always a spy."

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All in all, it had been an okay day.

It had started with enough wanking-material for at least a year. Eric didn't even have to close his eyes to see him.

Ryan all wet with a towel around his waist. Mmmmmmmm

He saw Valera looking at him funnily. Had he said that out loud? Oops.

Eric told himself to keep it together for a little while. Soon his shift would be over and he could wank to the image of Ryan in his shower. Again.

"Eric? Eric?"

Turning around he saw Alexx standing in the doorway to the lab with some kind of basket.

Giving him her biggest smile she asked him for a favour. Never one to turn a lovely women down he accepted. Before you told him.

Big mistake.

"I wanted to go see Ryan today. Unfortunately I can't. My mother-in-law popped up unexpectedly. Would you mind bringing this basket of cookies to Ryan? I would ask Calleigh but you live closer to Ryan. Plus she has a date." Not giving Eric a time to reply, she went on "Thanks so much honey. Why don't you take some pizza? Keep him company!"

"No beer though! He's still on his meds." with that last piece of motherly advice and a kiss to Eric's cheek, Alexx took her leave.

Leaving a dumbstruck Eric and an amused and somewhat curious Valera.

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He was bored.

Really bored.

The kind that made you count the cracks on your ceiling.

Ryan had cleaned is refrigerator. His bathroom. He changed his sheets. He vacuumed everywhere. All the while not thinking about that incredibly embarrassing morning.

He still thinks it was Marisol's fault. It wasn't just his instincts that made him think that, no... it's the evidence. First: Marisol knew about his not so small crush on Eric. Secondly: It was her private bathroom, and he remembered her telling him that nobody was allowed to use it without her permission. Knowing this, it's highly unlikely that Eric decided to just walking in without Mari knowing.

He could feel it in his gut; she had omitted to tell Eric he was in her bathroom. Too bad he was into that 'innocent until proven guilty' crap.

Oh god. Thinking about what happend was enough to make him blush! Thank god he didn't have to see Eric until tomorrow. In the meantime he had been trying to figure out what he should do. Should he talk to Eric about it? Should he ignore it? Ryan really wished he could choose secret option number 3; hide out in his apartment. For all eternity!

Still, he couldn't help but wondering if the heat in Eric's eyes was real and not just a figment of his imagination put there by some very powerful wishful thinking/hoping.

Letting out a small sight, Ryan got up to clean his bathroom one more time. After all, a bathroom could be too clean, right.

Halfway to his goal, he was interrupted by someone's hesitant knocking.

Opening the door, Ryan froze.

On his doorstep stood Eric Delko with a basket in one hand and pizza in the other.

"Um hey." said Eric all the while blushing furiously.

Apparently Ryan wasn't the only one embarrassed. OH great. Sill, misery loves company, right?

"Hey." Opening his door to let Eric in, Ryan asked "Not to sound rude but why are you here?"

"Um. Alexx send this basket of cookies for you. She was supposed to come by today but something came up so she send me."

Of course! Giving Eric a stained smile Ryan nodded his understanding.

"Not that I minded. Bringing the cookies that is. I also brought a pizza for us to eat. I would have brought some beer, but momma Alexx forbid me." Eric told him while rolling his eyes.

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They had a very nice evening so far.

Ryan was still wary of him but Eric still found out some stuff about Ryan. Some was amusing, the way Ryan hadn't started eating before he rearranged the table settings or the way he ate the pizza toppings first. Some was surprising who knew Ryan like to ride a bike? Or knew 6 different languages. Some were sad, he hadn't been able to go to his parents and twin sisters funeral because he was still in the hospital.

Ryan was a person full of contradictions. That made him so much more interesting in Eric's opinion. He hoped he would find out much more, maybe while having diner at that fancy Italian restaurant by the beach?

Washing his hands Eric was about to open the bathroom door when he heard Ryan's voice.

"Erica? What are you doing here? Are you lost? Yes please do step in." the sarcasm in Ryan's voice was evident.

Wait. Erica? Erica Sikes? What was she doing here? Maybe Ryan and Erica had plans for tonight?

"Hello Ryan. What? You don't seem happy to see me?"

Yep that's definitely Erica, the Uber Bitch of Miami.

"Of course I am. Please note the sarcasm as before." was Ryan's sugary reply.

Okay, Ryan hates her guts too. Good.

Apparently Erica decided to ignore it all "Have you already eaten? I thought maybe we could grab a bite. Or we could go to a club or something. Make it the second date we still haven't had."

"We never had a first date Erica. I was eating at that restaurant and you invited yourself at my table, ordered, somehow tricked me into telling you about our case and than left me to pay the tab! Is that why you're here? To get some info? Well, let me tell you right now; I haven't been to work in two days, I have no idea what the new cases are or what they are about. At this point you know more than me. And even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you!"

Another mystery solved. He had never asked her out. And he never gave her info to make him look like a hero. Eric had a lot more to apologize for than she knew.

Wait he missed something; Erica's voice went from sugary to icy cold in those few seconds he hadn't been paying attention.

"... wanted my company. You were sitting there alone like a loser. There's nothing more pathetic than a man eating alone in a restaurant. You should be grateful I even sat down at your table. Probably the best conversation you had in at least a year. No wonder you were alone, you couldn't find anyone who would put up with you for an hour meal. You know I'm right! You co-workers don't like you, you obviously have no girlfriend. You will regret ever having turned me down!"

And then she left, slamming the door in her wake.

Eric didn't know what to do. Ryan was already embarrassed because of the shower incident and now this. The nerve of her! Calling Ryan a pathetic loser. Eric would bet good money to meet her again in 40 - 50 years. She will probably be alone; having sacrificed everything for her career, no husband, no kids and her looks will be gone by then. Who will be pathetic then???

Deftly Eric made his way to the living room, where Ryan was sitting with his head in his hands. Ryan must have heard because he turned to look at him.

The look in Ryan's eyes broke Eric's heart. Erica knew how to hurt him. Mentioning his co-workers dislike of him was a new low, even for Erica.

Eric couldn't have stopped himself if he wanted to. Sitting down, he pulled Ryan into his arms. Practically in his lap. Tucking Ryan's head in his shoulder, Eric started to rock him gently while carding his hands through his hair.

Eric's gentle touch must have broken something inside of Ryan because he started to cry. Cry for the unfairness of it all; the loss of his family and his best friend, the loss of his colleagues respect, which he never had, and the loss of his heart which he could never reclaim.

He cried until he had no more tears to cry, until sleep claimed him.

Reclining back, Eric laid down on the couch, Ryan still in his arms. Draping the quilt that was over the back of the couch over both of them, Eric closed his eyes.

Keeping a tight hold on Ryan, Eric pondered on what to do about the situation. His first thought was to talk things out with Ryan. Thinking about what he should say, he couldn't help but remember a phrase from a drunken night so long ago.

'You should have stayed in patrol, where you belong'

TBC