Title: Forgotten Night
Author: Chiri Kushi
Fandom: CSI: Miami
Category: Action, Suspense, Romance
Pairing: Calleigh and Ryan, eventually
Rating: K
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: I do not own the Characters you recognize. Charlie, and any other character which is not related to Miami I do own. The plot is mine as well.
Author's Note: I began this story quite a few months ago. I was never really pleased with how it ended, because I didn't really think I did end it. But, I do like this story.
Natalia Boa Vista was not having a good time. She sat in her chair, her tired eyes blurring at the words on the screen.
She would have rather worked out on the field, but because of a technical error, she was stuck in the lab. She had to retest DNA from five closed cases that had been reopened due to a technical glitch. Three were done so far, and thankfully the results were all coming up in her favor.
She was stuck in a bit of a contradictory relief. She was pissed that she had to be stuck behind the desk, but if it had to happen, she was glad it happened today of all days. She was relieved that Ryan was found innocent, but the commotion of his arrest, of his interrogation, allowed her to work without the scrutinizing eyes of the lab watching her every move.
She looked up as she crossed the t's and dot the i's of her current case. Four down, one to go. She jumped up in shock as she realized she wasn't alone anymore.
Hand over her heart, Natalia glared as Eric walked into the room, "Eric Delko! Don't sneak up on me like that."
He grinned as he came to rest his hands on the table she was working on, "Hey Nat. How's it going?"
She closed her eyes as her heart began to calm down, she took a deep breath as she spoke, "Boring as hell, but it's good. I heard you caught the guy who killed Ryan's girlfriend. Good job."
He sighed, "Yeah, we did. Thanks. It pisses me off though. Here Stetler was, with all of the evidence laid out in front of him, and he still went after Ryan. If he had just opened his eyes."
Natalia rolled her eyes, "Stetler will be Stetler. He'll do what he always does."
He smiled and rolled his eyes, "Yeah well, one of these days it's going to bite him in the ass, and I hope I'm there to witness it."
She laughed, "I hope I'm there to catch it on camera." The both laughed for a moment, before Natalia continued, "How are those two anyway? Ryan, and Calleigh?"
Eric sighed as he slumped his shoulders, the tension of the day beginning to get to him, "You are not the first to ask me that question today. I'm not too sure anymore. I think if they don't get home soon, and away from this place, they might have a bit of a break down."
She opened her mouth to reply, but closed it abruptly as the glass door to the DNA lab opened. Ryan walked in with an evidence bag in hand, oblivious to the two onlookers staring at him.
He looked up and stopped, surprised to see Natalia and Eric both looking at him. "Uh, hey guys. Have you seen Valera anywhere? I have some samples that I need her to put a rush on," Ryan said as his gaze shifted between the two.
"Yeah, she's on break right now, but she'll be back any moment now," Natalia said as she began to drum her pen, anxious to ask what was really on her mind.
Eric cleared his throat as he looked back at Natalia, "I'll catch up with you later, I've got to run anyway."
Natalia grinned as she waved goodbye. Eric walked past Ryan, briefly patting him on the shoulder as he left the lab. Natalia looked at Ryan, and her heart soared into sympathy mode faster than she even realized she was up and nearing him.
He looked at her with confusion evident in his eyes, wondering what she was doing, until she finally settled on just hugging him. Unable to figure out what to do with his hands, and confused even further at Natalia's unusual closeness. He figured the first to hug him out of pure sympathy would have been Alexx, of all people. This, this was unwalked territory.
"I'm so sorry Ryan, I can't believe everything that you've been through today," Natalia said as tears brimmed her eyes, "And now, I'm crying like an idiot. I think the fumes have finally gotten to me." She laughed as she wiped her eyes, "How are you holding up?"
Ryan looked at her and smiled a small smile, never reaching his dulled eyes, which seem to be a dull green gray today, "I'm holding up. I'll be alright. Why are you crying?"
Natalia laughed as she wiped her eyes, stifling her cries as she sat back down, "I told you, the fumes have gotten to me. Plus, you radiated stress and sadness as soon as you opened up the door."
"Am I that obvious?"
She smiled, "Just a bit." The door swung open again, with a disgruntled Valera walking through the door.
She stopped as she looked between the Ryan and Natalia, "Am I interrupting something?" They both shook their heads as Ryan walked up to Valera.
"Hey Valera, could you do me a favor and rush these blood samples?" He said as he placed the evidence bag on the table where Valera stood. She looked down at the bag and nodded. "Thanks, give me a page when they are finished," He turned to Natalia, "Nat, thanks for making me feel a bit better. I'll talk to you later." He walked towards the door and opened it, walking out without a second glance at the women who he presumed was watching his every move.