A Trip Down Memory Lane

[RYAN WOLFE!™]

Ryan stirred his coffee, looking down at it with a slightly solemn gaze. He let out a soft sigh, closing those sparkling hazel optics of his; which had not too long ago lost their luster. Ever since the hospital fell upon him, everything changed. He could barely remember everyone. He couldn't even remember where his lab was. It took him a few hours to find the crime lab in general.

He opened his eyes, looking down at the drink he was stirring, biting on his lower lip.

If only he could remember..

[Aiden Hawthorne]

Aiden sauntered into the lounge, sinking down onto one of the couches. The stress of the passed few weeks was catching up with her. Resting her chin on her hand and stared down at the floor, so deep in thought that she didn't notice the room was also occupied by Ryan. Her head was practically spinning, still trying to process everything that had happened. She wanted so badly to sleep but just couldn't. Insomnia was getting the better of her.

[RYAN WOLFE!™]

The male lifted his head at the sound of moved leather, though looked back down at his coffee, realizing he didn't remember this person at all. There was, however, a brief encounter with her in the hospital, he could recall that much; and he had learned her name then. Unfortunately, his mental stability had been dwindling down, little by little, ever since that day. Doctors said there may be a chance of him losing all his sanity, if this continued. Which wasn't quite good at all.

But, of course, he wasn't telling anyone. Not yet, at least.

[Aiden Hawthorne]

Sensing the presence of another person, Aiden jumped slightly. Her eyes lifted from the floor and she spotted Ryan. Out of habit, she bit her lip anxiously. From the look in his eyes she could tell he didn't recognize her. She smiled slightly, the smile not reaching her eyes, which had too lost most of their luster. " Hey Ryan. I'm Aiden Hawthorne. I was at the hospital." She spoke softly.

[RYAN WOLFE!™]

Ryan was on the verge of hugging her, though he resisted. She had visited him at the hospital, he could remember that, and even though he couldn't remember her.. she still cared. He looked up, through slightly sorrowful eyes, and he smiled back; an innocent, somewhat joyful smile.

".. I remember you. You visited me.. right?" he said, before looking back down at the brown liquid, taking a sip and burning his tongue. Again. Never before was there a moment where he didn't burn his tongue when he drank coffee.

"Thank you."

[Aiden Hawthorne]

"Yeah I was. And it was no problem Ry." Aiden fought back the urge to hug him so she just continue smiling. Her eyes were threatening to tear up. Ever since the hospital case he hadn't seemed like the same Ryan.

[RYAN WOLFE!™]

Ryan blinked at that, looking up at her with those glassy hazel orbs of his. ".. Hey.. we never had that ice cream with Skittles.. did we?" he said, hoping to lighten the mood. The simple mention of her name sent him spiraling towards countless memories, bits and pieces that he managed to put together as something that would make sense.

Fragmented. Slowly becoming whole.

[Aiden Hawthorne]

Aiden looked shocked for a moment but shook it off. She let out a soft laugh. "I guess we never really did. Did we?" She immediately felt a sense of relief mixed with sadness. Relief, because he remembered. Sadness, because he still had such a long way to go towards recovery. There was not a doubt in her head, though, that he could do it.

[RYAN WOLFE!™]

"H-Hey. Don't worry, we'll go for it!" Ryan said immediately, standing when he realized the look in her eyes. He had placed a hand on her shoulder, a reassuring smile on his face. Even more thoughts flooded his mind, running across it in almost a mocking dance. That he had to reach out to get them. Reach out.. very far.

".. Aiden? You okay?"

[Aiden Hawthorne]

Aiden looked back up and smiled reassuringly. "I'm okay. She laughed again. "Just kind been out of it lately. And how are you doing?"

[RYAN WOLFE!™]

Ryan blinked at the question, removing his hand and letting it rest at his side; before choosing against it and scratching his cheek sheepishly. "Well.. I could be better. I'm constantly being mocked wherever I go," he said and frowned in disdain.

[Aiden Hawthorne]

Aiden nodded sympathetically, feeling a bit pissed off that he was being mocked. "Just remember no one that treats you like crap is worth a second thought." As she often did, Aiden ran a hand through her hair.

[RYAN WOLFE!™]

"The thing is.." Ryan said, sighing and looking to the side. "It's not people that're mocking me. It's.. it's me," he added, a little confused as to what this was about himself.

"I-I don't know. I walk around.. and suddenly.. I mock myself.. in my mind.. o-or, maybe.. maybe it's just my mind playing tricks on me, but.."

[Aiden Hawthorne]

Aiden placed a hand on his shoulder with a solemn look on her face. " Ryan. You can't keep beating yourself up about not remembering. It'll all come back just give it time." She looked at him with her blue-green eyes that had dark circles under them at this point.

[RYAN WOLFE!™]

Ryan sighed, though nodded. "I-I guess so.." he said, looking at her and then smiling sympathetically. "I guess you're being beaten up, too, huh?" he added, his observation skills and great attention to detail taking the better of him.

Those dark circles under her eyes.

"Wanna talk about it?"

[Aiden Hawthorne]

Aiden nodded, hoping that he would take her advice seriously. At his remark her eyes widened a bit, taken aback. It was nearly impossible to hide things from Ryan, due to how observant he was. Even through the massive amounts of concealer she had put on, he had noticed the dark circles. "I'd rather not."

[RYAN WOLFE!™]

Ryan blinked, at that, though shook it off. Perhaps she just wasn't comfortable with him. "Okay.. if you're sure," he said, before going back to his coffee, taking another sip and burning his tongue. Again, with a small wince escaping his lips.

"Stupid coffee!"

[Aiden Hawthorne]

Aiden opened her mouth as if to say something but was interrupted by the spill of coffee. She winced slightly too."That seems painful. You okay?"

[RYAN WOLFE!™]

"It is painful, believe me. But, I'm pretty much okay. It's just my ego that was crushed," Ryan said and laughed, before shaking his head. "We need something to talk about. No, I need something to talk about. Did you know that just one word triggers a lot of memories?" he inquired, a grin on his face.

"Might as well start now, than never!"

[Aiden Hawthorne]

Aiden raised her eyebrows in curiosity. "Really? I didn't know that." Her pink lips curved into a matching grin. "Okay. What should we talk about then?"

[RYAN WOLFE!™]

"I almost said feet, but I don't think that'd help," Ryan said and laughed, taking another sip of his coffee and feeling it burn the inside of his mouth.

"Umm.. maybe.. uh."

[Aiden Hawthorne]

"Hmm..probably not." She laughed, staring down at the leather couch, thinking of a topic.

"I can't seem to think of anything."

[RYAN WOLFE!™]

"Well.." Ryan started, before a topic popped up in his head. "There's this guy on MySpace that looks a hella lot like me! I think his name was.. Jonathan something.." he said, grinning to himself. "We're gonna go bowling one of these days!"

[Aiden Hawthorne]

Aiden laughed at Ryan's very random comment. Really?!?!?! That's awesome! You definitely should tell me how that turns out for you!" She smiled. "Wait? You actually likebowling?"

[RYAN WOLFE!™]

Ryan shrugged, a grin appearing on his face. "Well.. yeah. Bowling helps build arm strength.. sorta," he said and stuck his tongue out playfully. "Then again, it's fun to just throw a ball towards the pins when you're angry, instead of rolling it," he added with a small laugh.

"..... nail guns."

[Aiden Hawthorne]

Aiden giggled and stuck her tongue out in reply. "I can't really lift the ba-Wait! What is this about nail guns?!" She laughs again and stares at Ryan in fake shock.

[RYAN WOLFE!™]

Ryan looked at her, his hand moving up to touch his eye, as if the nail was still lodged into it. "I-I just remembered I was shot with a nail gun.. and I have eye problems," he said out of nowhere, blinking twice.

".. CRAP. I NEED TO TAKE EYEDROPS!"

[Aiden Hawthorne]

Aiden's eyes dart back up to Ryan. " Oh! Crap! Do you have them with you?"

[RYAN WOLFE!™]

Ryan blinked, trying to remember; his thoughts slowly wheeling around like a slot machine.

".. In my locker. I think," he said, standing, forgetting about his coffee as he ran.

"BE RIGHT BACK!"

[Aiden Hawthorne]

Aiden just nodded and watched him go. She got up off the couch as went over the coffe machine. Placing her hands on the counter, she leaned against it and a heavy sighed escaped her lips.