**Okay, so first things first... let's get the elephant out of the room, shall we? I have been MIA for quite sometime. Basically, it boils down to this... life happens, and often times, it gets in the way of things we enjoy. Not to mention, there's the whole 'CSI: Miami got cancelled' deal. Frustrating, to say the least. My muse went on a vacation, but it's back, and it's pleading with me to FINISH this story.

Not only to finish this story, but to keep this fandom alive! We were a GREAT group. In fact, the BEST fandom I've ever had the pleasure of being a part of. Watching DVD's and re-runs of the show only makes me realize one thing... they can cancel the show, but they can't change how we feel about it. :) I'm here to stay, and write, as long as my mind allows me to.

Thank you all SO much for your continued support via emails and PM's during my absence. Each and every one of you played a part in my decision to continue this story!***

Chapter 7- The Painful Truth

Pain. PAIN everywhere. In my legs, my arms, my legs… pain in areas I didn't even know existed! The smell was awful, like musk and urine, maybe a hint of sulfur. The silence was eerie, as a death like coldness washed over my skin. I was positive, this was in hell.

"OW." I muttered, unable to open my eyes. At this point, it was unclear as to if I was blind or not. Had he poked out my eyes? Maybe. He's that cruel….

"He?" I mumbled, "SHIT." That's when I remembered the painful truth…. I had been taken. Ryan had came to save me, and I was going to tell him everything. He could have fixed this, and made everything right.

And Greg- "Oh god," My poor Greg! He was probably left for dead, or worse. This could not be happening, I had to be dreaming. Someone had to wake me up, and fast!

Struggling, I desperately to pull my arms up, but they were bound. It only took a few seconds of wiggling around to realize, I wasn't going anywhere, and neither was the dark mask over my face, "Get your ass in here you sorry son of a bitch!"

I pulled as hard as I could, but whatever I was tied to wasn't moving. With my arms stuck behind my back, I tried to kick from where I lay. That too, was yet another failed attempt. "What do you want with me? FACE ME LIKE THE MAN THAT YOU ARE NOT."

My voice was raspy, but I didn't care. I continued to scream, and make all the noise I could. He had to come back sometime, right? This wasn't my grave.

"Welcome back, Princess. Thought I lost you there for a minute or two-" His voice caused my ears to bleed, a feeling of nausea took over.

"FUCK YOU."

"Feisty, aren't we? Just how I like you." His clammy fingers ran just beneath the hem of my shirt as he continued to talk, "All the ways I've dreamed of having you, the things I'd like to do to you. The way I'd want to kiss you and make love to you-" The pause was deathly, as you could hear a pin drop- "But the most beautiful site of all, Motley Jacobs, was always how you looked dead."

For the first time in my entire life, I felt nothing but sheer terror. My body shook… maybe this really was….the end.

"I could lay you to rest beside your 'friend'. You know the one you fucked then tried to keep 'big secrets' from? You ran away to Miami, and thought it'd all disappear." He was smug, I could hear it in his voice, "By the way, how did you like the heat inside the orphanage?"

Shit. It was him all along! He had set that fire. Now I knew I was in for it… anyone who could kill kids and think nothing of it, surely wouldn't care to kill me, and especially my former male partner, "You sorry bastard! Where is Greg?"

He laughed, "Safe. I promise."

I didn't like the sound of that, "Tell me RIGHT now, where is Greg?" No response, I continued, "Look, I'm a cop. People are looking for me from Vegas to Miami as we speak…"

My conversation was broken by the sound of Greg's voice, "Mot.. Motley," He gasp, I could tell he had been out of it-

"Greg? Oh my God, Greg—I'm so sorry!" I felt a slap across my face, and another- I didn't care, "Greg!"

"Shut up, bitch!" He continued to beat me.

"STOP IT." I demanded, "Fucking stop it! LET HIM GO. This has nothing to do with him." I took a deep breath, "This is between you and me."

"Mot, no, I'm not leaving you here…" He was hurting, God, I could tell by his voice. I knew him so well, he couldn't disguise the pain.

"If you've ever cared about me at all, you'll go-" I had to say it. I had to save him.

"Anything, huh?" I could hear the smirk in his voice, "Very well then."

Tearing the cloth cover from my face, I blinked slowly. The first thing I seen was Greg, in the corner, completely beaten and battered, "Oh my God." A gasp escaped my lips, as tears fell across my face, "No."

"I'm NOT leaving you, Motley. It's not happening." Greg's eyes were locked with mine, "Not today, not tomorrow, not ever…"

"You'll leave, or she dies."

This person, this evil man whose face I'd yet to see, walked over to the one person who had been a staple in my life for so many years. I feared for his life, "PLEASE. GO. Greg…please? For me…"

I watched as he was released, and my stalker spoke- a chill in the air- "Go now. OR SHE DIES. You understand?"

Looking at Greg, I nodded, my eyes pleading with his. At least he could get help.

"That's a good boy, Sanders. Run away and don't look back.."

And just like that, he was gone. I feared though, at the thought of what may be waiting for him. What if that was a trap? Would this man really let him leave?

"Motley, what am I going to do with you now-?"

"How about grow a pair and tell me what the fuck you want with me?"

His laugh filled the room, evil as could be, "I could, I could, but that would be to easy now, wouldn't it? What fun would that be? No. Instead, I'm going to do to you what I've been dreaming of for years-"

"Just kill me already. I'd rather die than have your hands all over me-" Feeling him touch me, I whimpered, tears flowing down my cheek. I promised myself I wouldn't cry, or allow him to see fear at all, but that was difficult when I could feel him practically ripping my clothes off.

"That's my girl, " He mumbled, forcing a kiss, "You know what I like."

He could make me stay there, he could do these things to me, and he could pretend I was enjoying it. There was one thing I knew for DAMN sure though, and that was he would NOT make me be a part of it. Closing my eyes, I mentally checked out, and planned to stay that way for quite sometime.

I stirred a bit, and for a moment, imagined I was back in my bed. Realization took only a second to remind me, that was so far from the truth. What was worse, I could hear Ryan's voice calling me. Was I dying? Had I already passed on, and he was grieving for me? Was I hallucinating?!

"You know, this isn't the brightest idea you've ever had, Wolfe." I giggled, watching his features turn to pure frustration.

"Shut it, Mot. I'm seriously NOT lost…"

He so was. His eyes were darkened, as he focused on the dark road ahead. He wanted to go exploring on our day off, do something adventurous. He couldn't simply settle for a beer and a game of pool. Maybe that was why I liked him so much… Damn. Did I just admit that to myself?

"MOTLEY JACOBS!" He stopped the SUV and glanced my direction, "You are screwing with me right now, aren't you?"

I snorted, brought from my thoughts. "No. If I were screwing you, you wouldn't have THAT look on your face."

He glared, shaking his head, "NO I mean.."

A laugh escaped him. I knew it, he couldn't handle it, "Yeah, yeah, I know what you mean."

In an instant, he was suddenly closer. Whoa. Okay- was he trying to? He hadn't ever—

"Motley." His voice was soft, and I could feel his breath, "I'm lost. If you know ANY way out of this part of the glades, will you please tell me?"

Ryan had done it again, he had paralyzed me. Shit. I couldn't let this happen… could I? Did he really want this… or was I just being dramatic?! I was never good at reading people when it came to my personal relationships.

"Uh- take a left-" He licked his lips, staring at me, breaking my focus, DAMN IT.

"Uh huh-"

"AND…it'll take you straight to main-" I pulled back, turning my attention to the road. I was stiff in the seat. My mind made up, I wouldn't let him make a mistake. And if he 'went there', that's exactly what he would have been doing.

"OH MY GOD-" a voice shouted, obviously running my direction.

"Why so loud?" I groaned, barely audible. Ambulances, police cars, fire trucks, a mix of so many sirens, you couldn't tell them apart. What the hell was going on?

I had just been in the hummer with Ryan, exploring… "That was months ago, Mot." I whispered to myself, painfully realizing I must have blacked out, and remembered that one particular day. I still couldn't believe I hadn't been brave enough to just wait for once, and let him take the lead. He would have kissed me, I just know it.

"Motley… oh God, please don't be Motley."

Then again, I must have been in and out of it at that moment too, because I could have sworn I just heard him.

"Stay back, Mr. Wolfe, we'll have a look."

Horatio?! How were they seeing me?! All I seen was BLACK.

"NO, H. NO. If she's in there," He choked, "I have to know-"

"Ryan-" I whispered, to low for him to hear. God, whatever I was in, please just get me out! I wanted to move, or call for help. What if they over-looked me.. and he came back? Surely he wouldn't have just LEFT me for dead, right?! He would have killed me, for sure.

Hearing static, I could see a bright light. It was to good to be true. Ryan hadn't been near me at all… he was just somewhere crying out for me, and I could do nothing to help him. Not now. This was it, the eternal bright light they speak of.

There you have it! Sorry if you feel it's a bit choppy.. part of it was written a LOOOONG time ago, so I had to go in and change it up a bit! PROMISE IT WON'T BE LONG UNTIL 8 IS UP.. I have almost completed it, short of a few edits! I'm thankful that in the story, I have yet to point in the direction of a particular season. I have now decided this is all POST-CSI: Miami, if you will. Everything that transpired during the show has already happened, making this 'modern' time, 2014. Hope that makes sense..? Anyway, R&R if you want.. doesn't have to be in the comments, feel free to send me PM if you feel more comfortable that way! :) LOVE Y'ALL!