Once again thank you for the reviews, favourites and alerts- they are the only payment for my writing so every single one makes me smile. One more thing- am I the only one who thinks season 10 is full of little hints at a Natalia/Horatio romance?
The next morning Natalia staggered into the lab, feeling and looking as though she had been through a war zone. Not only was she dishevelled but she wore dark sunglasses to prevent the brightness of both the Miami sun and the lab's lights from affecting her pounding headache. She knew she looked utterly ridiculous, and the thought came to her that her fellow lab workers would think she was impersonating Horatio and she would have laughed at this thought had she not been suffering so much pain.
Natalia had fallen asleep last night after finishing the bottle and on awakening this morning, she had drunk even more. By now she was utterly intoxicated. Unfit for the Miami traffic, she had hailed a cab into work, the driver turning up his nose at the sight of her and the smell of booze emanating from her body.
Natalia knew she looked unprofessional yet she did not care. She was quickly spiralling out of control. Her life, her beloved job no longer had any meaning for her-they were inconsequential. All that was left for her in this life of misery, this life of pain, was the drink. It never judged, it never mocked. It was always there. It was her friend-her only friend.
She had noticed that the rest of the CSIs were missing and assumed they were out on a call and as usual had not informed her. Natalia sighed aloud as she began to noisily bang test tubes and other equipment as she prepared to analyse the waiting samples. She did everything in her power to procrastinate, knowing that she was in no fit state to be out of her bed.
Because of this alcohol-fuelled almost dream-like state she found herself in, she was not aware of how much time had passed until she heard footsteps approaching her lab.
Quickly, she pretended she was in the middle of analysing the samples, just as the person walked into her workspace. Hoping that whoever it was would just leave her be, she sneaked a glance up; only to have her hopes dashed when she saw it was Eric.
'Analyse this please.' His voice was gruff as he handed her a sample.
Eric watched her as she began to prepare the sample for testing, once more admiring the speed and professionalism she used when handling the samples before his attention was caught by her sunglasses.
'Why are you wearing sun glasses indoors?' He asked coolly, his interest peaked at the incongruity of anyone but Horatio wearing them.
She looked up at him and snapped, 'Oh so now you're speaking to me.' Eric was sure he heard her slurring her words as she spoke. 'What I do or wear is none of your business Delko.'
Eric was silent for a moment then he too snapped; annoyed at the way the fellow Hispanic was acting. 'Fine. I need this analysed Natalia.'
She sighed dramatically and moved around Eric to walk to the computer but in her drunken state which greatly affected her coordination and to her mortification, she found herself tripping over. 'Ooops!' She grunted as Eric caught her.
Eric narrowed his eyes and curled his nose up as he smelt the strong odour of alcohol on Natalia. 'Natalia?' She flinched from his cold voice, 'Have you been drinking?'
She pulled away sharply from his grasp and leaned against the work top. 'I don't know what you're talking about.'
'Oh really?' Eric stepped closer to her and Natalia couldn't help the shudders that passed through her as she found herself remembering past situations. Eric noticed Natalia's fear and he stopped, again finding himself wondering just what she was so afraid of.
'Natalia, you stink of alcohol, you're slurring your words and you can barely walk.' The Cuban said quietly, anger clearly present in his voice.
'I'm not drunk Eric!' Natalia spat, again slurring her words.
'Don't lie to me, Natalia.' Eric spoke furiously. Never in all his years would he have expected to see a CSI drunk at work; never mind someone as professional and hardworking as Natalia.
'What would you care Eric?' Natalia snapped.
'I care because you're a colleague and a friend.'
Natalia snorted, 'Oh so that's why you have been ignoring me for the last month.'
'What do you expect me to do Natalia, you were the mole! You spied on us, you lied to us... you lied to me!' Eric, aware he was raising his voice, quietened. 'Is that why you're drinking?'
'It is none of your business.' Natalia spoke slowly.
Suddenly, she felt a wave of nausea and she bolted to the nearest toilet, managing to get there just in time to expel what little contents her stomach held. She stayed there, leaning over the toilet until she was sure no more was coming and then she flushed the toilet and went over to the sink to wash. Once she had cleaned up, she returned to the lab and groaned as she found Eric was still there.
'Are you ok?' His concern surprised her.
'What do you think?' She retorted coldly.
'Go home Natalia. You shouldn't be here when you're drunk.' He said quietly, trying to persuade the stubborn woman who looked as though she was barely managing to stand.
'I'm fine Delko. I need to analyse this.'
'No you don't.' Eric said firmly. 'I'll get Valera to do it instead.'
'I can manage. I'm not that drunk.' She said, almost stumbling as she spoke.
'Yes you are. You need to go home. Think about it Natalia', he instructed as he noticed her stubbornly cross her arms, 'You can't run the proper tests in this state- you may end up getting the wrong results or even ruining the sample and then the perpetrator will not be convicted.'
Natalia listened silently, knowing from bitter experience that he was right. 'But what about Horatio?'
'Don't worry about H, I'll tell him that you were sick and needed to go home.'
Her eyes widened, 'Eric, I can't ask you to do that.'
'Tough. You need to go home Natalia.' Eric stared at her stubbornly, unrelenting in his beliefs. He was truly worried about the woman, she seemed to be verging closer and closer to the edge and this latest incident clearly stated that she was in desperate need of help.
Finally Natalia nodded and complied with Eric's request. As she exited the lab she noticed that Calleigh was watching her, but she did not falter in her steps. She knew Eric was right, she should never have come in but she hated to be in the house on her own. It was devoid of any feelings, any personality as it had barely any personal items in it as she had never been allowed to own much and what little she had owned, she had left behind when she had fled Nick.
Eric was true to his word in covering for Natalia. He had taken the samples to Valera who had efficiently analysed them, without asking any questions as to why Natalia was not doing it. He was then called into the conference room with the rest of the team as they discussed their case. Once Ryan, the last one in, sat down Horatio looked around questioningly. 'Where is Miss Boa Vista?'
'I saw her earlier.' Calleigh's southern twang answered.
'She had to go home, H. She was sick.' Eric answered when Horatio's gaze fell upon him.
'I was not informed about this.' Horatio said, staring at Eric intently, sensing the younger man was hiding something.
'Yeah sorry H, I got a little caught up in the evidence. But she was really sick. It was better that she went home so she wouldn't contaminate evidence.'
'Ok.' Horatio nodded and began to address the CSIs.
Eric felt relieved that Horatio did not push further. It was very hard-in fact impossible- to hide things from his boss but he had promised Natalia that he would protect her. It was obvious she was in a low place and needed all the help she could get and he was not about to make it more difficult for her by admitting to Horatio the real reason Natalia had been sent home.
Calleigh was too busy watching Eric to listen to what Horatio was saying. She knew that he was covering for Natalia. Contrary to most assumptions, the southern belle was not stupid and she had witnessed Natalia's strange behaviour earlier and her confrontation with Eric. She caught the Cuban's eye and shot him a look, telling him she knew he was lying.
Checking nobody was watching he mouthed to her, 'I'll tell you later.'
Eric however had not done as good a job covering as he thought he had. Horatio knew that the Cuban was covering for Natalia but he did not know why. Although he would never admit it, he was concerned. After fighting so hard for her to stay, he did not want her to leave. He could not deal with her leaving; he had gotten far too used to seeing her beautiful face every day.
Horatio shifted uncomfortably, hating these thoughts, unsure why he was even thinking them. He could never have Natalia. She was far too good for him. She was the sort of woman who was suited to only the best of men not a CSI Lieutenant who was emotionally distant. Once he had finished briefing his team, he put on his shades and headed for the hummer, vowing to put any more thoughts of Natalia Boa Vista clearly out of his head.