A/N: Inspired by lyrics from Brian McKnight's song "Back At One" — it just reminded me of them! ..Plus the lyrics are so sentimental and sweet, I couldn't help myself!
Wasn't originally a songfic.. but it definitely turned into one..
Story Notes: Set around Season 6. Probably most definitely inspired by a scene or two in 6x07. The potential they had was so wasted imo.
Natalia Boa Vista inserted her new CD into the CD player on the counter, and then pressed the play button before she resumed her work. She'd finally found the CD with the track she wanted. The DNA expert was a total fangirl for slow love songs. And this kind of music helped her overcome the type of feelings that she could never quite accept even when it was extremely obvious what was going on.
Out of all the songs though, one was her favorite. It really spoke to her on a personal level despite her inability to put her reasoning into words. She'd shown Eric's sister the song when they'd hung out while she was in town for work. The behavioral analyst told her, as a friend, that the reason she probably was able to connect to the song lyrics on a much more personal level was because those words represented something in her life. Natalia had just laughed it off. But she knew what Elena was referring to. Eric.
Boa Vista had fallen for Eric Delko the first day they met. She was even wearing the same satin blouse she'd worn the day they met just over two years ago. If it wasn't his dashing looks, it was that Delko charm of his. Natalia hadn't believed Valera when she said that he was sudden in a brighter mood since they had a very interesting first conversation about Ryan and all the media stuff going on. It was simply a few words exchanged between colleagues. But enough for both of them to agree that they should hang out. It all had gone from there.
But she had no idea that the oldest Delko sibling had then gotten her baby brother to listen to it. And remember it. The CSI didn't understand why, but he would do it.. because he actually understood the lyrics when he read them on paper. And one name crossed his mind when in reference. He'd been trying to think of a way to tell her that he wanted her back. And that he'd been wrong to not fight for what they had beforehand. So wrong. Because now all he could ever think about when he saw her was all the things he should be said.
When he was shot, things in his life became muddled. There were things he didn't remember and things that hadn't made much sense. Some people he didn't even remember. Or certain past events that had been a little hard for him to recall. He hadn't even remembered getting scammed by that couple who sued him for one hell of a sum of cash. He'd been working non-stop to pay it off. But he'd been surprised when he saw that bit he still had been yet to pay off was paid on his behalf. Everybody told him that Natalia had done a little collection of donations for the lawsuit. All that for him.. a gesture he'd never truly understand the meaning behind.
He was on his way to her DNA lab when he heard the song. The Cuban froze outside the doorway. Natalia was waiting for results, singing the lyrics to the song so beautifully. He had no idea she could sing like that. If anything it had only made him think back to all the better times between them. Before things came crashing down.
"It's undeniable.. that we should be together.."
It's unbelievable how I used to say that I'd fall never
The basis is need to know, if you don't know just how I feel
Then let me show you now that I'm for real
If all things in time, time will reveal
For the first verse he had listened to her melodic voice as she sung. As though he was in the process of re-evaluating everything in his head with every flashback. Eric knew that his recovery hadn't been the easiest.. or the most exemplary. But nobody comes back from a fatal gunshot wound to the head without even the slightest bit of scarring from it. Both physically and mentally.
Delko suddenly remembered hearing the song a while ago. Playing on the radio while they lay together, her singing as she snuggled up to him in bed. Natalia was the first person he'd allowed in his own bed as opposed to the couch or her bed. There was something comforting in her presence that had made him feel as though he was able to be a bit more open with her on a personal level. And she saw things others hadn't gotten a good look at.. like his tattoo. One he got for Marisol.
Natalia and him had a kind of casual relationship that almost didn't even seem like something they had as friends.. with benefits. It felt so real. Her being his. Him being hers. Something he hadn't realized he'd missed until it was no longer there. It was his own fault for not putting the effort in. And both their faults for letting what they had slide away so easily.
Eric slowly walked in as Natalia was engrossed in writing her report, still mouthing the lyrics. This time around he wanted to give it all he's got. For her.
He placed his hands either side of her on the counter and leaned down, his lips barely brushing her ear as he sung:
"One, you're like a dream come true.."
His soft voice caused a smile to appear on her face as she attempted to continue her evidence report.
"Two, just wanna be with you.."
Natalia didn't even have to turn around to know who was singing to her. She didn't even think he remembered the song or what it meant to her. But the latina appeared to be wrong. Very wrong. Every word he sung was sung with passionate emotion that showed almost instantly.
Three, girl, it's plain to see..that you're the only one for me, and.."
She glanced at their reflection in the reflection of the monitor. Natalia put down her pen and gently placed a hand on top of his as she listened to his sweet voice that serenaded her with lyrics of a song that conveyed his feelings of pure love. Ones she could happily say she reciprocated.
"Four, repeat steps one through three.." He took her hand and intertwined her fingers with his as he spun her around. Hand in hand.
Natalia blushed, continuing the lyrics for him. "..Five, make you fall in love with me.."
"If ever I believe my work is done.. Then I start back at one.." He harmonized softly.
It's so incredible the way things work themselves out
And all emotional, once you know what it's all about, babe
And undesirable for us to be apart
Never would've made it very far
'Cause you know you've got the keys to my heart
'Cause...
This was the only place he saw himself. Anywhere with Natalia. She was his present. It wasn't about any random girls he had got the number of but never called or that girl, Gloria, the crazy ex he had actually filed a restraining order on. This was about them. And now.
He didn't want to hide his feelings anymore. He felt like telling the world he was in love with this woman. A woman who made him feel love in a way he'd never experienced it before. He could finally say the words without hesitation. That's how he knew that this was something real. Because he wanted it forever. It wasn't a summer love fling.. it was so much more. This feeling was something he never wanted to let go of.
One, you're like a dream come true
Two, just wanna be with you
Three, girl, it's plain to see
That you're the only one for me, and
Four, repeat steps one through three
Five, make you fall in love with me
If ever I believe my work is done
Then I start back at one
He had always wanted to find that special person someday. The person you know you were meant to spend the rest of your life with. It was like she had this sense of comfort that came with her words that made it hard to ignore. Like how the talk with her, along with a few mental debates, had led him to convince himself to go to the eloping of Horatio and his late sister, Marisol. He might not have ever gone if she hadn't have made that point. That day Natalia had been the only person he'd.. wanted to hear an opinion from. Like her validation was a way that would help him with his own views.
"..Say farewell to the dark of night, I see the coming of the sun.."
I feel like a little child whose life has just begun
You came and breathed new life into this lonely heart of mine
You threw out the life-line just in the nick of time
Before he met her, he wasn't sure where his life was headed. With Tim's passing everything had been so.. out of his control. His anger wasn't getting any easier to manage and he couldn't withstand another therapy session without feeling the need to break something. Stetler said that he'd become unmanageable with things like PDA and his lack of precaution with every action.
It had been the perfect time to meet someone new. And somebody that he hadn't met at some kind of party. Meeting Natalia Boa Vista may have just been that new beginning he was looking for. She too was broken herself. But they agreed that their hectic pasts would be things they could overcome with their closeness as colleagues.. and as acquaintances.. began to form stronger. As if she'd been his personal lifeguard, saving him from his own state of grief. It'd been the start of something that would turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to him.
One, you're like a dream come true
Two, just wanna be with you
Three, girl it's plain to see
That you're the only one for me, and
Four, repeat steps one through three
Five, make you fall in love with me
As the song was coming to an end, Natalia spun around to face her lover with an uncontrollable smile that lit up her face and together they sung the last line as they gazed into each other's eyes; Brown on brown.
"If ever I believe my work is done.. Then I start back at one.."
He cupped her cheek as he smiled at her with the most genuine smile on his face. Natalia had never felt more loved.. being there with him the way they were. And they hadn't pushed anything. It came so naturally. And when he gave her that mini twirl.. that when she knew. The song ended and the next song began to play.
".. Is this you saying that you want to be with me?" She asked, a coy smile playing on her lips.
"Depends. Are you saying yes?"
"I am."
It was undeniable indeed. That they'd be right back where they hoped they'd be. Back at one.