A/N: Thanks everyone for the reviews so far! I'm sorry this chapter is extremely late. "/ I had a lot going on personally and then I was hit with writer's block (on both of my stories). Anyway, since I'm on vacation, I thought it would be perfect to begin working on my stories again so here's the new chapter. : )

Events and timelines are different in my fanfiction than they occur on the show. Please don't hold it against me(:

Enjoy!

Chapter 3: Million Years Ago

"I miss the air, I miss my friends,

I miss my mother, I miss it when… Life was a party to be thrown,

But that was a million years ago."

The last few months had been a rough one for Natalia. Now that Nick was in Miami, he proved that he wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. Because of a public altercation with him at a crime scene, Nick had ordered a restraining order against her. She was no longer allowed to do field work; her hours, and duties were limited to lab work only. It was humiliating. Nothing was private – Nick didn't want it that way – and Natalia felt that everyone in the lab and police department were following her life as if it was a bad reality show.

She felt as if she'd lost her dignity. Even as the dust had started to settle, Natalia nearly lost her job and many nights she cried, wondering if Miami was the best place for her anymore.

"Babe," Natalia's husband, Mike said, pulling Natalia out of her thoughts. Things had been rough in their household lately as Natalia wasn't her normal cheerful and glowing self since her ex-husband had come around. He knew the details of the divorce and knew Nick was a violent person. He couldn't believe the measures Nick took just to spite Natalia, but Mike's professional duties were to serve and protect so naturally he would do anything to protect his wife. Still, despite all of the times he would tell Natalia that, she seemed not to believe it. "Are you going to be okay today?"

Today was going to be Natalia's first day back in the field after a few weeks and she tried to mentally prepare herself for that. She forced herself to look at her husband and give a nod and smile. "Yeah…I'll be fine."

Mike let out a quiet breath and ruffled his dark, brown hair before leaning in to give Natalia a peck on the cheek. "Call me whenever you need me. I don't care where I am, I'll be there. I love you."

"Love you too," Natalia said, opening the car door. "Be safe and see you later." Outside the car now, Natalia inhaled and exhaled the humid, Miami air that seemed tinged with a bit of salt mixed with palm and coconut. She never realized it before but she'd come to love the smell that seemed unique to Miami only. If she ever made the decision to move back to California, it would definitely be one of the things she would miss in Miami.

Natalia let out a breath as she thought about her husband. She couldn't ask him to uproot his life to move with her. Even though their marriage was new and she loved him very much, moving across the country was a lot to ask from anybody. God, Nick was ruining everything. It seemed he was doing everything in his power to get to her. Her thoughts broke when she received another page from Horatio. As fast as she could, Natalia walked into the CSI building to stock her kit and head to the crime scene.

She made it to the crime scene in record time. Checking the Hummer's clock, Natalia noted the time at 8:20AM. Natalia leaned her head against the headrest as she mentally prepared herself for the sight she would see. Once she got herself together, she stepped out of the truck, her heart dropping in her stomach at the person only a few feet from her crime scene.

"Oh, Nat…" Nick said smugly.

Her first day back in the field and she was faced with the person she dreaded the most. Still, she tried not to let that get to her. She spotted the officers on the scene and glanced at Nick. "What are you doing here?"

Nick stepped forward and Natalia took a step back. Nick chuckled off to the side and clapped his hands together. He looked at Natalia. "First day on the job. Figured if you can have a career change, I can too."

Natalia wrinkled her eyebrows in confusion as a chill ran through her body. The nature of the job was sensitive; it was the CSI's job to put the pieces of a murder together…she was afraid of Nick and didn't need him getting any ideas. Before she could ask, Nick started talking again.

"Crime scene cleanup. Since a certain someone…" he began as he touched Natalia's forearm, mentally laughing at her recoil, "…had me barred from the county jobs, I had to look elsewhere. I'm employed through private sectors...had to make a living somehow."

Natalia shook her head. This was not happening. She could barely see pass the fact that Nick was in Miami and now he was working crime scenes too? It was becoming too much for her.

"By the way," Nick said, breaking Natalia thoughts. "How long is it going to take to process the scene?"

Natalia rolled her eyes and turned towards the house. She hadn't even seen the inside and Nick was already asking for a timeline? She turned back to him. "Why? The blood's not going anywhere?"

"I have something to do," Nick said, a smirk appearing on his face.

Natalia raised her eyebrows before rolling her eyes. "I don't know but I'll think I'll take my sweet time."

Nick nodded his head as he watched Natalia walk off. "You look good in green." He smirked again as Natalia scoffed. It was only a matter of time before he got her back.

…

"Hey."

Eric couldn't help himself from smiling at the sweet but firm voice that also carried a southern accent that he'd come to love. Her mixture scent of lavender and vanilla wafted before her appearance but once he saw her, Eric needed the distraction of the computer to keep from staring. God help him; he was in too deep.

Calleigh crossed her arms across her chest. In the micro minute that she'd been in DNA, she noticed a shift in Eric. It wasn't a bad thing, but wasn't necessarily a good thing either. Eric was her friend and colleague and despite whatever feelings they both had, crossing that line may come with drastic consequences. In the same micro minute later, Calleigh shifted her attention back to the case. "Ryan called me. Have you got those prints from the crime scene?"

He would be lying if he said that the only thing on his mind was processing the evidence of this case. A few months had passed since Calleigh had kissed him…on the cheek…and even though at the time it seemed that things were heading in the right direction, a look in her eyes right now showed him that maybe she didn't feel the same way anymore and he could guess the source of that:

Jake Berkeley.

Jake was the undercover cop that had joined the day shift homicide team and apparently Calleigh was attracted to him.

Only Eric had no idea that Calleigh and Jake had already had a history.

And the last thing Eric wanted to even think about right now was Calleigh and Jake together, Ryan and a crime scene, and DNA and fingerprints, but he was at work and this was his job so he nodded his head and turned back to the computer. "Yeah, Natalia sent them over. I'm running them through AFIS right now."

Instantaneously, a named popped up in the database and they were given a suspect. Eric shook his head in confusion as he read their suspect's list. "He doesn't have a record."

Calleigh quirked her eyebrow and uncrossed her arms. "Not yet. I'll have PD bring him in."

Eric watched as Calleigh walked out of the lab and sighed. Somehow, he had to get to her.

Happy Holidays everyone! I will try to have another chapter soon!