Disclaimer: CSI: Miami is not mine. Big shocker.
A/N: This is like my alternate version of the ending of No Man's Land. Thank you floofymiko for help with words and grammar stuff. XD … Oh, I used a line from Law and Order: SVU… anyone who can find it gets a cookie! ;D
Crime Scene:
Something was wrong. Horatio had called for assistance. That rarely happened.
He had to meet his boss at 11th and Colby to locate the court stenographer in the vast parking garage.
Calleigh and Ryan were concluding another case, so he grabbed the only CSI left, Natalia. The more hands on deck, the better.
He paged her to meet him at his Hummer and then he proceeded to call for back-up and an ambulance. Just in case.
"That Clavo guy did all that?" Her colleague was filling her in with the latest details of what the fugitive was up to.
"Yeah, and probably more." He was driving as fast as he could without breaking the law. The last thing he needed was for them to get hurt or worse, killed.
She pursed her lips. "We're gonna catch him, Eric."
"I know." He sighed with an air of sadness. But how many more people will get hurt before that. "Thanks."
Spontaneously, she decided to put her heart out in the open. "Hey, when this is over with, wanna go grab a drink?"
As he turned at the final traffic light, he faced her briefly, with a grin spreading from ear to ear. "When this is over, I'll buy you dinner."
She smiled. "I don't eat cheap."
"I know."
"But, I'll make an exception." She knew that he was working a double shift and that a good portion of his checks were going to the lawsuit that had been slapped on him the previous week.
"Er… thanks…"
"There's Horatio."
"Hey, H!" Eric called out to his boss through Natalia's open window.
"Did you call for back up?"
"Yeah and an ambulance too."
"Alright, we're looking for a Mercedes." Before his colleagues could respond, he informed them, "She's not up here. Let's go!" He hopped onto the side of the Hummer, fireman-style and waited for Eric to make his way up. Just hang on ma'am. We will find you.
It had been a false alarm. When they popped open the trunk, there was only a bunch of tools. With the exception of Natalia, their guns were drawn, just as a precaution.
"This could take forever." The frustration was evident in Eric's voice.
"Not necessarily." They turned to where their boss was facing; across the parking lot was another Mercedes.
The trio approached the car. That was when the shots rang out. The two registered officers began firing back.
"Natalia!" She was standing around in shock, afraid that if she moved, she would be placed in the line of fire and thus killed. I wish I knew how to use a gun… at least I could protect myself…
She barely heard Eric. "Natalia! Go back to the Hummer!" He knew that he wouldn't be able to focus if she was just standing around in the open. He knew that he wouldn't be able to protect himself if he had to worry about someone else.
She snapped out of it quickly enough to scurry over to the Hummer. Her breathing was erratic and her body was shaking violently. This feeling hadn't been present for an incredibly long time. Not since Nick died.
Once in the front seat, she tried hard not to hyperventilate as she witnessed all the action before her. The thin windshield was all that protected her from the events occurring outside. She feared for both her colleagues' lives. I wish I was more useful than this!
In a flash of a moment, the driver and passenger windows shattered. The heartbeat of silence that followed was quickly drowned out by her blood-curdling scream.
One second. That's how long he let his guard down for.
And that's all it took.
One second. It was long enough for the sniper. An ample opportunity.
The CSI was already rolling on top of the pavement before his brain registered that he was in pain. The shout he let out was more from shock.
What just happened? Is Natalia okay? If something happened to her… He couldn't bear to complete his thought.
He continued to fire until he felt his boss help him up and over to the supposed safe cover of the parked cars. The latter kept firing until the sniper fell, finally dead, while the former kept panting and grunting.
His right thigh was warm with his flowing blood. There was a pain shooting throughout his whole leg.
"Eric-"
"I'm fine, H!" He grunted once again, beads of sweat dripping off of him. "Natalia! AH! She may need ughmf…"
The lieutenant's eyes flew open widely. "Eric?" A plethora of memories crashed through him. He said backup and an ambulance were on their way… He could already hear the sirens. It was the one fact that kept him calm.
She felt as if in a daze, like she was no longer in her body. As she climbed out of the Hummer, she could barely stand on her own two feet , her body was shaking so violently. What happened?
All she had seen was her supervisor helping their wounded colleague get to safety. She walked a little waywardly over towards the visible mass of orange hair.
She hadn't heard the second gunshot. The one that had embedded itself in the back of his head.
Her throat grew dry and pure panic began to push against her chest, suffocating her. She became mesmerized by how he just lay there, so still.
A concerned voice echoed throughout her chaotic thoughts. "Ms. Boa Vista? Are you hurt?" She was covered in cuts, grazes, and gashes. Not that she felt any of them.
"H-H-Horatio. Is-is he-Eric-" She couldn't bear to finish her sentence. Her nostrils flared as she tried unsuccessfully to breathe normally. She swayed a bit.
She could hear Horatio's voice, reassuring her that Eric would be fine. It was too late. Her mind was reeling and slowly, she felt herself relax as her weary body collapsed beside her unconscious lover.
A/N: Can't wait for "Man Down"!!!