Title: CSI: Miami - Realisations

Author: D M Harper

Summary: Sometimes the things you really need in your life are right under your nose. A/U

Pairing: Calleigh Duquesne & Natalia Boa Vista

Rating: M for Mature readers.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of CSI: Miami they belong to creators Anna Donahue, Carol Mendelsohn & Anthony E. Zuiker. I only use them for the purposes of entertainment and do so for no financial gain. I do stake a claim on all original characters that make an appearance in this story. No copyright infringement is intended towards CBS Paramount Network Television or Jerry Bruckheimer Television.

Author's Note: Later chapters deal with the subject of rape, please be warned!

Chapter 7

Long lashed eyelids fluttered as Natalia roused from slumber. The room was bathed in total darkness except for the blue digital numbers on the bedside clock and the display read 05:04. She heard Calleigh's soft breathing beside her and realised the blonde had not woken her for dinner.

With a grateful kiss to Calleigh's temple, Natalia eased out of bed and tip toed into the ensuite. Not wanting to alter Calleigh's routine, she finished in the bathroom then dressed in a running outfit.

Sneaking out the bedroom, Natalia went into the kitchen and fetched a bottle of water from the fridge. Hearing a dull thud on the front door, she went to retrieve the morning paper. Taking it into the living room, Natalia got comfortable on the couch and read as the sun rose.

Calleigh woke with the alarm ringing in her ears. She reached over and turned it off as Natalia appeared in the doorway.

"Good morning Calleigh and thanks for letting me sleep through last night."

Stretching, the blonde got out of bed, "Morning and you are welcome. I see you are ready for a run, just give me ten minutes to get ready."

"I'll meet you outside."

After an hour long jog at the park, the couple returned to Calleigh's apartment and Natalia prepared breakfast while her girlfriend showered. Making Spanish omelettes, the two women ate heartily before Natalia got ready for work.

-o-

As Calleigh drove to the Police Department, she noted Natalia's silence, "Are you okay hon?"

"Sorry Cal, I was miles away."

"Is there anything I can help with?"

"No, I just got caught up in old memories. The Cabana One Lounge was Angela and Tori's favourite getaway."

Reaching over, Calleigh patted Natalia's hand, "I'm right here if you need to talk."

"Thank you and just being with you gives me comfort. I just can't get them out of my head. I'm so angry that they've been taken away in the name of religion."

"I know what you mean and I wish I knew how to make it better."

"I hope you and I don't have to face the same bigotry."

"If we do, we'll be able to handle it Talia."

"I guess it helps that neither of us has a crazed brother to threaten us."

"Are you concerned we'll not be accepted as a couple?"

"Oh god no Cal, I'm sure we'll be just fine."

"I want you to know that I'll do whatever is necessary to protect you and our relationship." Calleigh turned into the car park then into her allocated bay.

"The same goes for me, no one will get away with threatening you."

With a broad grin, Calleigh glanced at Natalia, "That's my feisty girl. I love you and have a great day."

"I love you Calleigh and thanks for the chat."

The pair alighted from the Jeep and entered the building.

-0-

Calleigh was in the ballistics lab conducting a search on IBIS when Eric entered the room.

"Hey Calleigh."

"Oh hi Eric, what can I do for you?"

"Do you have a result on the Crawford evidence yet?"

"I'm running the shell comparison now, it shouldn't be much longer."

"I'll hang around and wait. It will give us the chance to talk."

"What about?" Calleigh turned the chair to face him.

With his usual smug expression, Eric replied, "Word is you are already dating someone new."

"That's none of your business and I resent the fact you asked."

"Come on Cal, we just broke up and you are seeing some guy already."

"Oh Eric, don't make me laugh. You didn't even wait a day before asking Natalia out to dinner. When that didn't pan out, you tried me again before moving onto Sally Otis. So don't you dare stand there and judge me."

Eric huffed, "A man has needs."

"Good lord, that is so lame. Where were your needs when we were together?"

"That was different."

"How?"

"I knew you were there if I needed you."

"Delko, that is just downright insulting. I wasn't at your beck and call at any stage and if you had bothered to notice, we hardly spent time together and just so you know ... I faked it the last four times."

Eric's eyes widened and his face contorted into a scowl, "No you didn't, I would have known if you had."

"You are a selfish, egotistical lover and quite frankly, I never enjoyed our intimacy at all."

Raising his hands up, Eric protested, "Whoa, hang on a minute."

"No, you hang on," remonstrated Calleigh angrily. "This is inappropriate conversation for the work place and I am done. I'll notify you when I have a result, so just leave."

"Yeah sure, but I'm not done talking about this."

"Eric, I'm not going to discuss this with you again. I've moved on and found someone who makes me happy."

Without another word, Eric stormed out of the lab.

Calleigh took a moment to collect her raging anger before heading to the trace lab. She found Ryan sitting at the computer, "Mr Wolfe, do you have a moment?"

Looking up with inquisitive eyes, Ryan answered, "Sure Calleigh, what's up."

"I think it would be advisable if we go outside for some privacy."

Ryan followed the Assistant Supervisor out to the grassed area to the side of the building's main entrance.

Turning, fiery green eyes bore into blue, "Did you discuss my phone personal conversation from yesterday with Eric?"

"Cal, you had numerous calls yesterday."

"I'm taking about the one when I specifically informed you not to say anything."

"Oh yeah and I'm sorry. I mentioned it to Eric in passing."

"How could you Ryan? You had no business chatting about my private life with my ex, let alone a colleague."

"I'm sorry, but what's the big deal?"

"The deal is Eric is now in my face carrying on like a jealous Neanderthal in the place where I work."

"Calleigh, I didn't mean to cause you any trouble."

"Well you have and I can't trust you Ryan."

"Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"

"No, you have done enough, go back inside Ryan."

Calleigh watched the younger man leave and attempted to quell the fury she felt towards him and Eric. Her thoughts were stymied when Horatio appeared behind her.

"Is there a problem ma'am?" he asked while lowering his sunglasses.

"Oh Horatio, it seems Eric has decided to oversee my personal life."

"How does Mr Wolfe figure into the equation?"

"He provided the fuel for the fire."

"I see, leave it with me and I'll have a word to both gentlemen."

"Thank you Horatio, but I think I made myself clear to them. I won't tolerate having my private business bandied around the workplace."

"Neither will I ma'am, neither will I."

-0-

Natalia was finishing her lunch when Eric entered the break room and withdrew a food container from the refrigerator.

"How's the Bradford evidence going?" he inquired as he took a seat opposite her.

"Good, I found a match and Frank is out picking up the suspect."

"Do you know anything about Calleigh's new boyfriend?"

Completely thrown by the question, Natalia could only manage to say, "Pardon?"

"She was on the phone yesterday all lovey-dovey with some dude."

"Eric, it's not a good idea to gossip, especially around here. If you want to know about Calleigh's personal life, just ask her away from work."

"I've already spoken to her and she got all bitchy with me."

"Well, it's really none of your business who she dates."

"That's what she said before she insulted me."

"You probably deserved it."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead."

"When we were a couple, were you happy?"

"If I was, we would still be together."

"Yeah, that makes sense."

"You are hard to be with Eric."

"Why is that?"

"Your ego tends to get in the way and even when we were alone you seemed to be only concerned with your own gratification."

"Oh, I guess Calleigh was right about me then."

Natalia stood up from the table, "It's time you left Calleigh's private life to her and concentrate on you own."

"I guess so."

"Besides, aren't you dating Sally?"

"I am, but it's just a casual thing."

"Every woman is nothing but casual when it comes to you Delko. See you later." Natalia tossed her empty paper bag into the trash and returned to her lab.

-0-

Calleigh smiled as she answered her phone, "Hello CSI Boa Vista."

"Hi Cal, I'm just calling to let you know I've been called to a job with Ryan, so I'll have to cancel our dinner plans."

"That's fine honey, I'll see you tomorrow."

"I have to go, love you."

"Love you too, bye." Returning her cell to her belt, Calleigh reluctantly made her way to the print lab to deliver the result on the bullet used in the Crawford murder.

Finding Eric dusting a beer bottle, she entered the room, "Eric, there was no match in IBIS for the Crawford bullet."

Looking towards the blonde, Eric grinned, "Thanks Cal."

"You're welcome. I'm off home, see you tomorrow."

"Yeah see you then."

Calleigh turned and went to the locker room. After hanging up her lab coat, she collected her bag and keys.

-o-

As she pulled along side the kerb of her apartment building at 1025 Saratoga Avenue, Bal Harbor, she caught a glimpse of Eric's silver sports car in her rear view mirror. "You have got to be kidding me," she mumbled as he drove past her slowly. Sitting in her Jeep for several minutes, she waited until Eric's vehicle was out of sight before withdrawing her phone.

Calling Horatio, Calleigh said, "I've changed my mind about you speaking to Eric about his behaviour."

"What has happed to change your mind?"

"The man just followed me home from work."

"I see. I'll talk to him first thing in the morning. Do you feel threatened in any way?"

"No, he just gave me the creeps. This is so not like Eric to behave like this."

"I agree and if you want I can have a cruiser pass by your place randomly throughout the evening."

"Thank you, but I don't think that will be necessary."

"All right, I'll see you in the morning."

"Goodbye Horatio." Calleigh went inside to her home and reset the security system.

-0-

It was past eleven when Natalia and Ryan left the Crime Lab after processing the majority of the evidence collected from the crime scene. Initial findings indicated the victim, Roland Quest had committed suicide.

Quest was discovered by his neighbour floating face down in his pool. There were no signs of forced entry and Natalia located two empty pill bottles on the coffee table in the living room. As per the labels on the bottles, they contained twenty five sedatives each.

There was no evidence of a struggle in the house or on the body and credence was given to the suicide theory when Ryan discovered a letter signed by the victim on the dresser in the main bedroom. It graphically detailed the author's reasons for ending his own life.

As Natalia exited the building, she called for a taxi.

"I could have driven you home Talia," offered Ryan.

"Thanks, but I live in the opposite direction and it's late. Go home and get some sleep."

"I'll wait with you until your cab arrives."

"I'm sure I'll be perfectly fine Ryan."

"Ah, what's a couple of minutes?"

Natalia looked at her co-worker with a raised right brow, "Spill, you look like you want to tell me something."

With lowered eyes, Ryan screwed up his face, "Do you have any idea what is going on with Calleigh and Eric?"

"What do you mean?"

"Calleigh is upset with me because I kind of told Eric she was seeing someone new."

"How in the world did you know that?"

"I overheard a phone conversation."

"Ryan, you really should have known better and I don't blame Calleigh for being pissed."

"I know, it was one of those stupid guy moments, but Eric is all paranoid about it now."

"Jesus why is that?"

"He was raving on to me about how Calleigh lied to him."

"Calleigh is the last person who would lie."

"I agree."

Although not wanting to gossip, Natalia needed to know more and asked, "What did Eric say she lied about?"

"He said she told him he was basically self absorbed and selfish."

"Well from my own experience she got that right."

"He's irate because she's moved on so quickly and he said she was frigid."

Natalia swallowed down her anger and pressed on, "What else did he say?"

"He ranted on saying he gave her everything and she treated him like dirt, but then he got all upset and said he loved her. Eric went from one emotion to another in about two seconds. He definitely wasn't himself and I'm worried."

"I think you have a right to be. Something is not right with him and I'm concerned for Calleigh."

"Should I inform H?"

"Yes, talk to him first thing in the morning. We need to find out what's going on inside Eric's head before he does something harmful."

A taxi pulled up alongside the kerb and Natalia bid Ryan goodnight.

-0-

Worried about Calleigh's wellbeing, Natalia called her as soon as she got into the taxi.

"Hey baby, is everything all right?" answered Calleigh sleepily.

"Sorry to call so late, but I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"I'm fine Talia, what's going on?" inquired a fully alert Calleigh.

Natalia recounted the conversation she had with Ryan and the blonde reacted angrily.

"That lying bastard, there most certainly is a problem. He followed me home this afternoon."

"I'll be right over."

"Slow down darlin', I'm not at home. I had dinner with dad and decided to stay here."

"Okay, that makes me feel better."

"I spoke to Horatio earlier and he is going to speak to Eric in the morning. It's obvious that he needs professional help."

"My guess is it related to his shooting."

"That would be my assumption too and unfortunately, it means he is unpredictable."

"Yeah and it makes him dangerous too. Cal, I don't want you to be on your own until this is all resolved."

"Talia, I'm not going to run scared."

"I'm not suggesting that, I'd just prefer it if you weren't a sitting target."

"I can look after myself."

"Shit Calleigh, listen to me. We don't know what Eric is thinking or what lengths he will go to until he is helped."

"I know you are concerned, but I don't feel like I'm in any danger."

"You forget I have seen his dark side, but I'm not going to argue with you, goodnight." She ended the call as the cab turned into her drive.

After paying the fare, Natalia entered her house and prepared for bed. She was angry at Eric and upset with Calleigh for being so obstinate.

Misgivings about becoming involved with Calleigh so soon after the breakup with Eric, plagued Natalia's mind and she struggled to keep the tears at bay. There was no question about her own feelings, but thoughts of being Calleigh's rebound wouldn't leave her alone. The fact that Calleigh didn't call her back did nothing to alleviate her doubts.

When she finally stopped tossing and turning, it was well past one and sleep arrived.

-0-

Calleigh cursed when Natalia abruptly ended their conversation, "Damn it!" It got worse when her Sony beeped at her to indicate a low battery and she cursed, "Fuck it!" She tried to call Natalia to apologise, but the cell went dead. "Great, just fucking great," she mumbled. The phone charger was sitting on the kitchen counter at home and her father didn't have a landline she could use. Sighing loudly, Calleigh realised she would have to wait until morning to resolve the problem.

-0-