A/N: Okay, my computer went down, then my internet. But now I'm back! Okay, usal stuff, I only own Karina. All the rest I'm only borrowing.

Ch. 3

Karina and Flack entered Flanagin's and headed for the table where the CSI's were seated, a pitcher of beer and a pitcher of soda amongst the glasses. Karina glanced at the handsome doctor she had met earlier. He smiled warmly, making her blush.

"What would you like, K?" Flack asked.

"Un bicchiere de vino ti invitiamo." She replied. Flack nudged her.

"English, K. Only Danny knows Italian." He said.

"Sorry, Donnie. A glass of wine would be wonderful. Rose, if they have it." She said. Flack headed to the bar as Karina sat next to Hawkes.

"Karina, this is Mac Taylor, Stella Bonesara, Danny Messer, and Lindsay Monroe, affectionately called Montana." Hawkes introduced. They all said their hellos as Flack returned with Karina's wine. She sipped it as they chatted about their caseload, New York, and Italy. Karina explained about her studies of art history, and how she painted as a hobby.

"If what you create is just a hobby, I'd love to see what you'd make if you were serious. I told Aunt Bella that Michelangelo must be in our family tree, she's that good." Flack said, causing Karina to blush.

"Hey, Montana, let's shoot some pool. Anybody up for a round?" Danny said.

"Could I give it a shot?" Karina asked innocently. Just then, Flack's cell went off. He answered the call and scowled.

"Duty calls. K, will you be able to get home okay?" he asked.

"I'll make sure she gets home safe." Hawkes said. Flack leaned over to whisper in Karina's ear.

Non li trambusto." He said. Karina rolled her eyes and raised one hand.

"Prometto." She replied, and he grinned, tousling her hair. Flack left, followed shortly by Mac and Stella. Danny, Lindsay, Hawkes, and Karina headed for the pool table, where they paired off.

"Ready to lose?" Danny asked grinning.

"We'll see who loses." Karina said, smiling wickedly.

After an hour, Danny and Lindsay were getting stomped by Karina and Hawkes, mostly by Karina.

"Why didn't Flack warn me his cousin's a pool shark?" Danny groaned.

"Some lessons have to be learned." Hawkes laughed. Lindsay looked at her watch.

"We had better go. We have to work in the morning." She said.

"It was great to meet you." Karina said.

"You too. We'll have to get together for lunch sometime." Lindsay wrote down a number on a slip of paper.

"I'll call you tomorrow or the next day." Karina said, accepting the paper from her. She watched as Danny and Lindsay left together, arms linked.

"C'mon, let's get you home." Hawkes said. They headed out into the warm spring night, walking down the street. Hawkes told her about starting out as a medical examiner, before becoming a CSI. She confessed to him that she had run away from he home in Italy when her father tried to force her into a marriage she didn't want. He was sympathetic, and when they arrived at her apartment building, she turned and smiled.

"Thank you for walking me home. It was very sweet of you." She said.

"I would feel a little better if you let me walk you to your door." He said. She grinned a little more. She hadn't told Donnie, but the mugging had unnerved her. She didn't want to be alone.

"Alright. Right this way." She said, leading the way to her apartment. At her door, she opened the door, but hesitated at the threshold. She turned and found him standing very close, his lips inches from hers. She gazed up into his eyes, feeling fire rush though her body. The look in his eyes told her of his desire, but it was at war with the logical part of his brain. She tilted her head and placed a soft kiss on his lips. His hand snaked to the small of her back, and he returned the kiss.

"I should go, or I might do something we both could regret." He breathed. She nodded, eyes closed to hide the disappointment there. Yes, he was probably right, but damn if that didn't still smart.

"Buona notte." She whispered.

"Good night." He replied, as she stepped into her apartment. He turned to walk down the hall when he thought he heard a gasp, and then the door slammed.

Inside her apartment, Karina's instincts were on overdrive. The second she had entered her apartment, a pair of strong arms and grabbed her and yanked her inside, slamming the door. She brought her elbow up and caught her attacker in the face. The shock made him release her and she spun around, trying to see who had grabbed her.

"Sei disposto a pagare per quell." The man hissed, and she gasped. It was the sadistic prick her father had chosen for her husband. She immediately screamed as loud as she could, and she heard the door burst open.

"NYPD!" Hawkes bellowed, his gun drawn. The light from the hall shone on Karina, her hair falling loose and her blouse torn, standing before a man with greasy black hair and holding his nose.

"Stare fuori di questo." The man snapped. Karina glared at him.

"Stai Zitto!" she yelled at him.

"Sei mio e vi obbeditemi." The man snarled at her.

"Like hell I am!" she screamed. Two patrol officers arrived and surveyed the scene.

"Sheldon Hawkes, CSI. This man attacked Karina here when she entered her apartment." Hawkes explained.

"Ma'am, do you want to press charges against him?" one officer asked.

"Yes. His name is Antonio Riggalla. He's from Salerno, Italy, and he thinks I'm supposed to marry him, which I'm not. Me avati mai sposarsi!" she said. Antonio launched himself at her, but the patrol officers caught him and cuffed him. Hawkes came over and wrapped Karina in his arms.

"Are you okay?" he asked gently, feeling her shaking.

"That bastardo is a sadist. Plenty of girls in Salerno have scars from him, and I was not about to be the next. It's why I left." She said.

"You're safe now. Do you want me to call Flack?" he asked. She nodded, looking around her apartment. She saw the chains and blades laying on her coffee table and went white.

"Sheldon, I think…." She whispered, just as her eyes rolled back into her head and she went limp.

A/N: Well, that was a little full. Okay, the italian was her asking for wine, Flack warning her not to hustle anybody, and Karina promising, then Antonio says 'you'll pay for that', 'stay out of this', K says shut up, A. says 'you're mine and you will obey' then K says 'I would never marry you' Please review, cause I'm not sure where to go from here!