A/N: I KNOW! I owe you guys the final chapter of "Stupid Cupid," but I've been finding it extremely hard for me to finish it. I don't know what it is, but I promise to hand it over, by hook or by crook, before the week ends. So flipping, freaking sorry.

In the meantime, I had this drabble of sorts lying around in my head, and I thought I should share it (present?) However, it's only about Natalia (set after "About Face.") No ships of any kind.

I just felt this needed to be addressed...

Title is based on "Ask The Lonely" by Journey (I got Journey crazy after watching Tron: Legacy)


"Are you sure you'll be fine, Ms. Boa Vista?" Horatio asked determinedly as he scrutinized her weary demeanor. "You do have a quite a few hours racked up for vacation."

"Really, H. I'm okay," Natalia falsely reassured the Lieutenant. Biting the inside of her mouth, the brunette fought the urge to dwell on the day's events. The kidnapping, her shoulder, Patrick's innocence – she just wanted everything to disappear.

A gentle smirk upon his face, Horatio sighed in exasperation. If anything, she puts up a strong fight. "Let me know if you change your mind."

Collapsing against the soft-cushioned couch, Natalia exhaled in relief. Home, she thought lovingly, how I missed thee.

The words Horatio mentioned to Natalia moments before she ended her shift took on a continuous tempo throughout her thoughts. Time off? Me? Ridiculous. I'm perfectly fine.

A shiver crept up slowly from her spine, traveling through a path that finally ended to her quivering lips. As the tears cascaded involuntarily down her cheeks, Natalia hastily rushed for the phone, her anxiety aiding in her fumbling.

Pressing the buttons on the phone shakily, the brunette hesitantly brought the speaker up to her ear, fighting back the tears with short sniffles.

"Hello?" answered a quiet voice on the receiving end.

"Anya?" Natalia quivered. "Hi."

"Natty. Hi I meant to-," Anya paused, carefully listening to her sister's small, tentative gasps. "Natty, what's wrong?"

"I, uh," Natalia began as she cleared her throat, "I just wanted to see how you were doing."

"Uh, I know you better than that," Anya retorted. "Spill."

Natalia opened her mouth to speak but suddenly found herself shy. Just ask, she told herself.

"Did you ever get over being kidnapped?" the CSI quickly questioned.

"Natty, that was years ago," Anya stated with unease. Why was her sister bringing up such an embarrassing moment in her life?

"Anya, please."

With slight stammer, Anya attempted to humor her older sister's odd request. "Well, I guess I never did get over it."

"But you seem content, happy even," Natalia pointed out.

"True, now I am. But it took me awhile to get this far," Anya replied.

"How?"

Subconsciously shrugging, Anya scrunched her face, unable to point out one specific time in her journey to mental recovery when she realized everything was okay again. "I don't really know, Nat. A lot of it had to do with you and the rest of the family. Your constant support and strength helped me understand what happened."

Silently nodding, Natalia suddenly found herself desiring that same love and affection from her family. Though, she would remain steadfast, suppressing her own emotions as always.

It's what I do best.

Anya's calling of her name brought out from her mindless divergence. "Natty? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Natalia replied, a phrase she had become accustomed to all day.

Sighing somberly, Anya found herself not believing her sister's shady answer. "Look, Natalia. I know in your line of duty, there are a lot of things you can't really discuss, but if something is bothering you, I'm here to listen." She waited for a response before proceeding. "Okay, how about I ask you a question, and you answer truthfully. Did something happen today?"

"Maybe."

"Did this something happen to you?"

"Yes."

"Natty, I saw the news," Anya instantly stated. "That man, the convict. Did he... did he kidnap you?"

Silence.

"Natalia Boa Vista, you should have told me the moment you called!" Anya berated, but immediately cooled her tone. "Do you need me to come over?"

No!" Natalia exclaimed sheepishly. "I don't want to ruin your night."

"You were kidnapped today, and you want to talk about a ruined night?" Shaking her head, Anya chuckled at her sister. Always the strong one in the family. "Maybe you should take some time off. I've got a vacation coming up at work. We could go on a trip."

"Thanks, but I'd feel awful if I left the lab as it is right now. I don't think H would appreciate it," Natalia lied more for herself than to her sister.

"The Lieutenant Caine I met would be fine with it," Anya stated bluntly, aware of Natalia's attempt at deception.

"I'll think about it," the brunette conceded. "But right now, I just need some sleep. Night, Anya."

"Night, Natty. Call me in the morning, okay?" Anya replied before hanging up.

After a few brief seconds of staring at the silenced phone, Natalia began to punch in more numbers.

I just need a night out... with friends.

First call: "Hi, you've reached Ryan Wolfe. Please leave a mess-."

Okay, next call: "Hello! You've reached the cellphone of Calleigh Duq-."

The tears began to rise up to her lids again as Natalia pressed the second to last phone number she knew by heart: "Hey, this Eric Delko. You know what to do."

Natalia slumped her shoulders over, pressing the end button in defeat. Of course. They have their own lives after work is over. We're just co-workers.

I need family.

A trip, she thought with a raised eyebrow. Sounds nice.

Dialing the final number, the CSI straightened her posture, a more chipper composure to her voice. "H? About those hours..."


A/N: Short but sweet. I hope you enjoyed. Also, for my RaiN readers, go read Sevv's story "Desperate Measures." I'm freaking hooked...