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: This is the chapter the previous warning applies to.

Chapter 8

Natalia jumped back when she opened the front door and found Eric standing there, "Eric, what are you doing here?"

Without a greeting, he asked, "Have you seen Calleigh?"

"It's six o'clock in the morning; of course I haven't seen her. Now if you don't mind I'm off for a run."

Eric glared at her outfit and smirked, "You always did look good in the mornings."

Not wanting to provoke him, Natalia tried to remain casual, "Why are you looking for Calleigh anyway?"

Brown brows knotted in confusion, "She's not at home and I want to talk to her."

"You can talk all you want at work."

Before she could react defensively, Eric grabbed her by the shoulders and shoved her back through the open doorway.

"STOP ERIC, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" she yelled as she stumbled backwards.

"I'm getting at the truth," he calmly stated.

"Let go of me Eric, you're hurting me."

"Not until you tell me where Calleigh is."

"I don't know," answered Natalia as she struggled to free herself.

"She's with her new boyfriend, isn't she?" snarled Eric.

"No Eric, she doesn't have a boyfriend."

To Natalia's horror, Eric slapped her hard across the face then pushed her forcibly to the tiled floor. She instantly felt the pain as her back slammed against the solid surface and smashed her phone into her left buttock.

The shards of broken plastic, glass and metal pierced her fresh and she cried out, "FOR GOD'S SAKE ERIC, STOP!"

Eric stood over her and demanded, "Tell me where the whore is."

"I don't know, just leave." Knowing her 123lbs were no match for Eric's 190, she refrained from striking out.

Grabbing Natalia's right arm, Eric pulled her to her feet and sneered, "You're a fucking liar, just like Calleigh."

"You need to take your hands off me and leave," suggested Natalia, trying not to cry and show any signs of weakness.

"And you need to stop being a prick teaser in your skimpy outfits," countered Eric before ripping open the front of Natalia's shirt.

"ERIC!" screamed the now scared brunette. "There's something seriously wrong with you and you need help." She kicked out and struck his skin then racked her shoe down the bone.

Eric reacted swiftly and punched her in the face, splitting her lips and sending her crashing to the floor again. Her head hit the tiles and she lost consciousness.

-0-

Calleigh strolled into the DNA lab and spotted Maxine hunched over a microscope, "Hey Max, have you seen Natalia this morning?"

The short haired brunette looked up, "No Calleigh, she hasn't arrived yet. Is there something I can help you with?"

"No thanks."

Calleigh left and headed towards Horatio's office upstairs. She tried calling Natalia's cell again, but got the "turned off" message for the fifth time.

Horatio was leaving his office as she stepped off the top stair. "We have a problem," he announced. "Natalia's not answering her house or cell phones and Eric is missing."

Calleigh froze, "Oh my god."

"Frank and I are going to her place now."

"Horatio, I need to go with you."

"I know you are worried, but you are required to give evidence in court."

Calleigh took a deep breath, "You're right."

"Natalia worked late last night and may have forgotten to set her alarm," reasoned Horatio, trying to calm Calleigh.

"Let me know as soon as you can."

"You can count on it."

Calleigh stood and watched as Horatio ran down the stairs and met Frank in the lobby. Reluctantly, she returned to the lab to gather the evidence she was to present to court. She steeled herself against the possibility of what had happened to her girlfriend and concentrated on her job.

-0-

Horatio noted Natalia's front door was slightly ajar and withdrew his weapon, "I have a bad feeling about this one Frank."

"I'm with you Horatio," agreed the Sergeant as he pulled his semi-automatic pistol from its holster.

Both men eased up the front steps and Frank covered the Lieutenant while he nudged the door open wider with the toe of his boot.

"Frank call for an ambulance," Horatio instructed as he spotted Natalia lying on the floor with a pool of blood formed under her head.

"Crap!" muttered Frank as he stepped inside.

Horatio knelt down and felt for a neck pulse, it was weak, but nevertheless present, "She's still with us Frank. I'll clear the house."

Frank radioed for an ambulance and averted his eyes from Natalia as Horatio returned seconds later wearing gloves and carrying a towel.

"The house is clear Frank and Ryan is on the way to process the scene." He carefully placed the cloth over Natalia's lower body, "I don't want everyone seeing her like this."

Frank turned and glanced down at the pair of ripped running shorts and briefs strewn on the floor. Along with the torn shirt and blood smeared over Natalia's thighs, it was obvious she had been sexually assaulted. "You think Delko did this H?" he asked while Horatio gently caressed Natalia's forehead.

"Yes Frank, I think he'd gone over the edge and is responsible."

Frank immediately radioed all units and issued a BOLO on Eric and his vehicle.

-0-

Natalia's eyelids fluttered open and she looked into Horatio's eyes. "Eric's after Calleigh," she whispered before grimacing as the pain in the back of her head worsened.

Holding onto his friend's hand, Horatio smiled, "She is in court at the moment and has two police officers assigned to protect her. You concentrate on getting better."

Tears flowed from the corners of brown eyes, "I didn't tell him where Calleigh was. He's out of his mind Horatio."

"I know sweetie, he's disappeared."

"Calleigh's not safe until he's found."

"Shush, rest Natalia. We're nearly at the hospital."

Closing her eyes, Natalia cried harder, "Don't tell Calleigh what happened."

"She's very worried about you sweetie."

"Please don't tell her what he did to me."

"All right, I won't."

"Thank you."

The ambulance came to a stop then reversed into the loading bay.

Natalia opened her eyes and whispered, "He hurt me bad Horatio."

"I know sweetie," replied a tearful Horatio before the back doors swung open and the Paramedics sprang into action.

-0-

Stepping down from the witness box, Calleigh noticed the two uniformed police officers standing by the double doors. Her heart raced when she realised Eric was connected to Natalia's non-appearance at work and was still a threat. She berated herself for not taking Natalia's warning seriously the night before and upsetting her in the process. Smiling at the two officers, she said, "I gather you gentlemen are here for my benefit."

"Yes ma'am," answered Officer Newton. "We will be with you until told otherwise by Lieutenant Caine."

"In that case, you better escort me back to the Crime Lab."

Officer Atkins opened the door and Calleigh stepped through the threshold.

-0-

Natalia remained conscious throughout the medical examination and Horatio held her hand while the two inch laceration to the left side of her head was closed with five sutures. Earlier, x-rays had cleared her of any skull or hip fractures, but she was diagnosed with concussion.

"Are you ready for your next round of stitches?" asked the ER doctor.

Turning onto her right side, Natalia lifted her hospital gown.

The intern worked quickly on the seven deep wounds using a total of twenty two sutures. "There we go, you're as good as new," he declared as a nurse cleared away the tray. "We'll keep you overnight for observation and if you are okay, we'll discharge you in the morning."

"Thank you Doctor," said Horatio while covering Natalia's buttock with her gown.

"We'll take you up to a room on the sixth floor now Natalia."

Ten minutes passed before Natalia was comfortable in bed. Horatio pulled up a chair beside her and reached for her hand, "Is there anyone you want me to notify?"

"No thank you. I don't want my family to worry and catch the first plane here."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes Horatio, I'll call them when I go home. I really appreciate you being here with me."

"Where else would I be when a member of my family is hurt?"

Natalia started to weep, "I can't believe Eric did this."

"He is not himself Talia; his mental state is grossly unbalanced."

"I know, but I can't get his actions out of my head."

"No one expects you to. It's not going to be easy to reconcile what happened with the Eric we knew before this instability."

"Horatio, I'd like to make a statement now and try to start getting on with life."

"Are you certain?"

"Yes."

Horatio removed his notebook and ballpoint pen from his jacket pocket and Natalia gave precise details up until she lost consciousness.

"I came to and he was ... inside me. He was hurting me and I screamed for him to stop. He just grinned at me as I lashed out at his face and tried to punch and kick, but he slammed my head against the floor again. I don't remember anything else until I woke in the ambulance."

"You did well Natalia, rest now sweetie."

"Do you think they'll find him?"

"In his present condition Eric is bound to make a mistake and when he does, we will be there to get him the help he needs."

Dr Alexx Woods stood in the doorway and announced her presence, "Baby girl, how you doing? I just finished my shift and saw your name on the chart board." She moved closer and embraced Horatio, "It's good to see you handsome."

"Likewise Alexx and you look well."

Alexx stepped aside, leaned down and kissed Natalia's cheek.

Natalia hugged her, "I'm doing okay."

Straightening up, Alexx looked at Horatio, "I can stay with our girl if there is some place else you need to be."

Horatio stood, "Thank you Alexx, I'll be back shortly ladies." He kissed Natalia goodbye before leaving.

Alexx sat down and asked, "I've read your chart sugar, do you have any concerns?"

"Alexx, I need your help."

"Anything baby girl, just name it."

"I didn't mention it in emergency because I wasn't thinking too straight." She began to sob again.

Taking hold of her friend's hand, Alexx pressed on, "What is it?"

"I'm not on birth control, I haven't been for years."

"You're worried about pregnancy?"

"Yes and I can't take that risk."

"I understand and will organise "the morning after" pill for you, so just relax."

"Thank you Alexx, I couldn't handle it if I turned out to be with his child."

"Do you know who hurt you sugar?"

"It was Eric."

"As in Delko?"

"Yes."

"Oh my god."

Natalia revealed the details to Alexx including her relationship with Calleigh.

"Oh, Calleigh will be beside herself," remarked a still shocked Alexx.

"She's not aware of what happened."

"What?"

"I asked Horatio not to tell her everything."

"Oh baby, she needs to know."

"If she knew, she would kill Eric."

"I can fully understand that, I've a mind to do it myself."

"I don't want her any more involved than she already is."

"Does anyone else know about you and Calleigh?"

"Only Horatio and Duke Duquesne are aware." Natalia yawned, "Sorry, I think the pain medication is catching up with me."

"Don't apologise baby girl, you sleep and I'll be right here when you wake."

"Thanks Alexx, but I'll be fine and your son Brian will be home from school soon."

"Okay, I'll visit you in the morning, but before I go, I'll write up that medication for you and I except to see you and Calleigh at "family night" at my house when all this mess is cleaned up."

"I really appreciate it."

After taking the tablet six minutes later, Natalia got comfortable and Alexx departed.

-0-

Horatio walked into the ballistics lab and waited for Calleigh to finish on the test firing range. When she turned around, she smiled and waved.

After securing the weapon, she stepped outside and removed her ear protector and safety glasses. "Hey Horatio, I hope you are here with good news."

"We located Natalia at her home. She has been assaulted and is currently in hospital with concussion and several lacerations."

Tears welled in Calleigh's eyes, "Oh my god is she okay?"

"She will be in time."

"Was it Eric?"

"Yes, but he has disappeared. Frank has the entire Miami-Dade Police Force searching for him."

"I feel so guilty."

"This is in no way your fault. Mr Wolfe spoke to me early this morning and it was inevitable that Eric's mental deterioration would continue to escalate. I should have intervened before this all happened."

"Oh Horatio, Natalia was the only one that saw this coming, but she feared it would be me Eric came after. I dismissed her concerns and upset her."

"I'm sure she'll forgive you once she sees you and that is exactly what you are going to do. You're done for the day and I expect you to go straight to the hospital."

"Thanks and that is precisely where I'm going with my two body guards."

Horatio's phone rang, "That's Frank." He flipped open his cell and answered, "Frank, I hope you have good news?"

"Horatio, we've tracked Delko's vehicle to a private airstrip seven miles out of town."

"Give me the location and I'll be there as soon as possible." Closing his phone, he looked at Calleigh, "We have a lead on Eric."

"That's good news."

"I'll keep you apprised," he said before running down the hall.

-0-