First of all I would like to apologize for how long it has taken to update- life has been incredibly hectic for the last month and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Secondly, a massive thank you for the continued support and I hope it continues.

The flight from Miami, although comfortable, had seemed to last for an eternity as both CSIs were desperate to reach the crime lab and find Natalia. On arriving at the airport, they had managed to hail a cab which took them into the heart of the seemingly never-ending, vibrant and bustling city. Even though thoughts of Natalia were front-most in their minds, they enjoyed the sights and sounds of New York; so different from the unwavering heat and sun of Miami. Finally, they reached the lab and after informing reception that they had arrived, Dr. Hawkes escorted them to Mac Taylor's office.

'Detective Taylor.' Calleigh greeted warmly, shaking the former marine's hands as they entered his office.

'CSI Duquesne, CSI Delko. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I've heard great things about your work.'

'Likewise Detective.' Eric smiled, also shaking Mac's hands.

Mac gestured for them to sit and the pair did so gladly.

'Hawkes informed me that you're here to see Officer Boa Vista.'

Calleigh nodded, 'Yes, we'd like to speak to her as friends and colleagues- ever since she left three months ago we have been somewhat short-staffed and it is beginning to take its toll on the lab. We could really use her back, if you don't mind of course but it's up to Natalia. We just want to talk to her about coming back.'

'I don't see why that would be a problem.' Mac smiled slightly. 'You're very lucky to have her; in the three months she's been here she's been a valuable resource and a great worker. We've been very grateful for her input. I have to say though that when she came to me asking for a job I was a little surprised.' Mac raised his eyebrows, obviously knowing a little about the situation that had forced Natalia to leave.

That did not surprise Calleigh or Eric as the crime labs worked closely together on cases and shared knowledge vital to the apprehension of criminals and as a result CSIs often stayed in contact. Gossip and scandal as big as Natalia's disappearance was bound to be passed on.

'Yeah so were we. But there was an incident back at Miami which may have persuaded her to leave.'

Mac nodded understandingly. 'You have to understand, Natalia doesn't know you're here. When she joined the lab, she was very insistent that nobody from Miami know where she was.'

'We only want to talk to her.' Calleigh said reassuringly.

Again, Mac nodded, 'She's dusting for prints down at one of our crime scenes. She should be on her own with one of the uniforms. I'll drive you myself.' He said, getting up from his chair, the others following suit.

'I think it would be better if just Eric actually goes in to the house as we don't want to cause too much of a scene. If it's ok I'd like to stay here and see some of the new technology I've been hearing so much about.' Calleigh spoke enthusiastically at the thought of seeing the new equipment she had so long been after for her own lab, whilst glancing at Eric to check if he agreed with her suggestion. He nodded in return, preferring to be alone when he confronted Natalia.

'Of course, I'll have Detective Messer stay with you Calleigh. I think it would be better for only one of you to see Natalia anyway.' The hesitant manner in which Mac spoke did not go unnoticed by the two CSIs, who began to develop a gut feeling that something was being hidden from them.

Having negotiated the congested city traffic, Mac dropped Eric off outside an apartment building in Manhattan. After showing his ID to the uniformed officer, he was admitted into the building and following the directions the officer had given him, he entered a bare and decrepit apartment. It was obvious that a brutal murder had occurred due to the blood which stained the wooden floorboards. Hearing a noise in the corner of the room, Eric looked over to see Natalia in the middle of dusting the wall for prints.

Eric watched her silently for a moment from behind, a mixture of emotions filling him at the sight of Natalia working away as though there was nothing wrong in the world.

Too engrossed in her job, Natalia failed to notice he was there and Eric coughed slightly to get her attention.

He quietly called out, 'Natalia?'

Natalia clenched her jaw in response to the pounding in her head as the all too familiar nausea seemed to swirl up from nowhere. She knew it was her own fault; she had been working non-stop for over twenty-four hours with little-if any-rest and it was taking its toll on her five months pregnant body.

At that thought she instantly looked down to her stomach where just visible under her loose-fitting blouse was the tell tale bump. She smiled at the thought of her baby. When she had arrived in New York three months before, there had barely been any indication of a bump and she had been able to hide her pregnancy for over a month until one day, she was required to visit the police doctor who had passed her file to Mac. After much negotiation they had agreed that she would continue field work until she felt she could no longer continue, or until he thought she could not continue and then she would transfer into the lab until she went on maternity leave.

Now five months pregnant, Natalia knew that soon it would be time to transfer to lab-based work. Luckily the morning sickness had now mostly gone but the other symptoms were beginning to flare up and she knew she could not continue with the working life she had. So far only Mac and Stella knew about her pregnancy as she had been unwilling to tell anybody else in case word somehow got back to Horatio. She was truly thankful for the smallness of her bump that kept her secret hidden.

Although she was thoroughly enjoying the experience of New York, she missed Miami. She missed her home, her colleagues and she especially missed Horatio. The heart ache she felt, although diminished slightly by the knowledge that it was his baby, his child, she carried within her, still caused her to cry herself to sleep every night.

She was broken out of her thoughts by a shooting pain-this time in her stomach- as she felt the baby kick and once more, she felt nausea rise up. But gritting her teeth she continued dusting for fingerprints, knowing this could be the key in catching their killer. Engrossed in her work and in pain, she did not hear Eric enter the room.

Recognising his voice as it cut through the silence, she froze and slowly turned around to face him.

'Eric...'

They stood in silence for a moment, both staring intently at each other. Natalia could see that Eric was both relieved and angry. Finally she was able to form a coherent thought and stutter it out.

'What...what are you doing here?'

'I found out you were in New York and came to ask you why you left.' His voice was cold as he glared at her.

'That's none of your business.' Natalia snapped, a mixture of pain and shock causing her to react stronger than usual.

'It is when you just quit with no explanation and leave us shorthanded.' Eric replied angrily.

'I was not aware that what I do was any of your business!' Her eyes glinted furiously as she walked towards him, pointing at him. 'Senior management accepted my resignation-it's not my fault if they do not provide cover for a vacancy in the lab!'

'You left with no warning Natalia!' Eric snapped. 'Have you any idea what that did to the lab? What that did to us? What it did to Horatio?' He noticed her stiffen as he mentioned their boss. 'Why did you leave?'

'I already told you Delko that it's none of your business!' Natalia shouted at him, ignoring the stab of pain as the baby kicked or indeed the dizziness that had seemed to come out of nowhere.

'It is Natalia! Have you any idea what you've done to Horatio? He's a wreck! You've made Horatio Caine a wreck! Why did you do that to Horatio?' Eric yelled back, feeling his loyalty to the Lieutenant bubble up in the face of Natalia's stubborness.

Natalia, fury coarsing through her veins, walked over to Eric and slapped him sharply over his cheek, the force of the blow causing his neck to snap to the side and effectively silencing him.

When Natalia next spoke, her voice was low. 'He broke my heart Eric. It's not what I did to him; it's what he did to me.' She again pointed at Eric, who stood with an expression of absolute shock on his face.

'Natalia I...'

'No!' She shook her head furiously. 'I don't want to talk about it and I AM NOT coming back to Miami. Just go Eric.' She demanded, again gritting her teeth as the baby's constant kicking was painful and that, coupled with her pounding headache and exhaustion, was making her feel dizzy.

'Just go.' Her voice sounded so broken but Eric stood his ground. Huffing, Natalia knelt down to pick up her evidence kit but as she stood up everything started to spin. She staggered slightly and Eric noticed.

'Natalia?' His voice was filled with concern. 'What's wrong?'

'I'm fine.'

Eric noticed that her words were slurred.

As she stood up, everything went grey as dizziness overwhelmed her and before she knew it she was falling to the ground. The last thing she remembered before she lost consciousness was Eric catching her before she impacted the floor.