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.

Chapter 22

It was 06:12 Thursday September 17th when Calleigh's and Natalia's cell phones sounded with text alerts.

"Crap! There goes that idea of a sleep in," complained Natalia as she retrieved her phone. "It's a 187 code."

Calleigh sighed, "Nothing like a dead body on a special day." Planting a kiss on Natalia's shoulder, she added, "I love you and happy "I've been a DNA specialist for fifteen years" day."

Natalia giggled then said, "That certainly was a mouthful honey and I love you. We better get a move on."

The dead body turned out to be two separate cases and the Crime Lab was busy all day.

Calleigh and Natalia rushed home after a late finish and quickly changed for dinner with Kenwall, Horatio, Yelina and the Boa Vista family.

As Calleigh secured the front door later that night, Natalia pressed into her back, "Thank you for the elephant charm."

"You are welcome darlin'. Did you have a good night?"

"It was fantastic," answered Natalia as she fondled her way to Calleigh's breasts. "I want you," she whispered into her lover's ear.

"Then we better get to bed."

"Oh, I think right here is just fine."

Calleigh groaned and turned around. She captured Natalia's lips and kissed her hungrily.

-0-

An hour later, Natalia stepped out of the ensuite to find Calleigh sitting on the side of the bed. She moved in and cupped her head, "Thank you for a great night honey."

Calleigh's eyes filled with tears, "This is not how I planned it, but will you marry me?"

"Oh yes Cal," answered Natalia excitedly as she knelt down. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you so much."

"I've never been this happy before." Calleigh held out a ring box, "I was going to propose this morning."

Natalia opened the box, "Oh dear lord Calleigh, it's magnificent."

Calleigh picked up the 2 carat diamond, gold banded engagement ring and placed it on Natalia's left hand ring finger. She smiled radiantly, "Go on baby call your family."

"Oh they can wait until the morning. I plan on making love to my wonderful fiancée."

In reply, Calleigh grabbed Natalia by the shoulders and pulled her onto the bed. "Best anniversary I've ever had honey," squealed Natalia as Calleigh nibbled on her earlobe."

-0-

Natalia was sitting at the kitchen counter the following morning eating breakfast when Calleigh joined her. "What was all that business with Doctor Price yesterday honey?" she inquired before taking another bite of melon.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you last night."

Natalia leaned over and kissed her lover's neck, "We were kind of preoccupied babe."

"Yes we were and Tara was arrested by Stetler for felony theft, tampering with evidence and burglary."

"Say what?"

"Months ago Ryan found Tara popping pills in the morgue and she explained it was for an old shoulder injury she had aggravated. He warned her to "kick it" before he brought it to Horatio's attention. She promised she would. Then there was that whole business of victim Stephanie Vasquez's prescription for oxycontin disappearing on the very same day Julia Winston visited Kyle in the morgue on his first day as an intern. Horatio accused her of stealing the drugs after speaking with Tara. Ryan put two and two together yesterday when he caught Tara taking a pill in the morgue when he turned up to start shifting through the remains of one of the two bodies found in barrels at the leather treatment plant."

A stunned Natalia mumbled, "Holy crap and are you talking about the Moore and Barnett case that was connected to the murder of Jimmy Castigan when Ron Saris pushed him into the pool that was filled with sodium hydroxide?"

"Yes darlin', you were lucky to be out in the field with Jesse and miss it all."

Natalia screwed up her face, "Hearing about the gunk Ryan had to sort through was bad enough. So I gather this is connected to why Julia Winston burst into the morgue and took Ryan, Tara and Kyle hostage?"

"Yes, she was off her medication and when she had the gun pointed at Kyle's head, she kept demanding he be returned to her. Horatio went into the morgue and attempted to talk her down, but she turned the gun on herself. During a moment of confusion, he managed to grab the gun and she was arrested."

"Oh god, I certainly am glad I missed that show."

"Ryan told Horatio about his suspicions and Horatio spoke to Stetler and organised a search warrant on Tata's workplace locker. Ryan conducted the search and discovered a paper bag containing five pill bottles with prescriptions for oxycodone belonging to deceased persons."

"I can't believe she was that stupid after being warned off by Ryan and poor Julia, no wonder she had a meltdown."

"Tara was interviewed by Stetler and consequently arrested. I saw her being escorted to the lift by uniformed officers and Horatio spoke to the Judge on behalf of Julia. He explained the situation and she was taken to an Institute for treatment."

"Wow, you certainly did have a full day at the lab while I was out and about."

Calleigh giggled, "There is never a dull moment baby."

"We better get a move on or we'll miss the next exciting chapter of "Women Gone Wild in Miami"."

"That would be a good title for a summer break documentary," suggested Calleigh as she cleared the dishes.

"Honey, it's already been done to death."

-0-

Later that morning, Natalia was hunched over a microscope when Maxine walked into the lab and gasped, "Holy Toledo, that's some kind of ring Talia. Oh my god, oh my god, you are engaged."

Natalia glanced over at her colleague who was jumping up and down on the spot and grinned, "Yes I am and my engagement ring is spectacular."

"Can I take a closer look?"

Holding out her left hand, Natalia quipped, "Of course you can, just don't drool over it."

Maxine giggled, "Oh, it's beautiful and you managed to keep this very quiet. I didn't even know you were dating, especially after all that terrible business." She hugged Natalia firmly, "I'm just so happy for you."

"Thank you Max and we wanted to keep our relationship under the radar, but it will be hard to now."

"Not with you flashing that rock around."

"It's kind of a dead giveaway," agreed Natalia with a chuckle.

Calleigh walked into the room, "Hey ladies, Talia do you have a result on the Cross sample?

"Hey Cal and yes, the sample has shared coding to your victim which indicates either a brother or uncle. Your suspect is definitely a close male relative, but I'll know more if you collect a sample for me to cross match it to."

"Good work and thank you. That's a nice ring Talia, congrats on your engagement." Calleigh left the room giggling.

Natalia caught up to her in the break room, "Very sneaky Miss Duquesne."

"I thought so too."

"Do you want to skip lunch and go with me to buy you an engagement ring?"

"Babe we won't have time."

"Yes we will, I've had one picked out for you for the last four weeks. Come on, let's go pick it up."

"Okay, but when did you plan of giving it to me?"

"I hadn't figured that part out yet."

Calleigh laughed and followed Natalia to the locker room.

-o-

Forty minutes later the happy couple arrived back and Calleigh was sporting a three stone diamond setting on a thin gold band. The locker room was deserted and she pulled Natalia into her arms.

"You aren't about to break a rule, are you?" teased Natalia.

"Yes, I desperately need to kiss you." Calleigh did just that and left Natalia standing breathless while she ambled out of the room tittering.

-0-

Calleigh raced into the DNA lab and found Natalia on her own, "Natalia, I need you to come with me."

Natalia took a nanosecond to smile about the innuendo of that statement before asking, "Do we have a new case?"

"No, Horatio is back and I'd like to share our news with him."

With a radiant smile, Natalia ran her hand over the small of Calleigh's back, "This is so thrilling."

"Just don't cry like you did on the phone with your mother this morning."

"Hey now, you did too with your father."

"Yeah I did," admitted Calleigh. "Let's go."

The pair climbed the stairs together then Calleigh knocked on the open door.

Horatio looked up, "Come on in ladies. I believe you have some wonderful news for me."

"Damn, that piece of info didn't take long to circulate," wisecracked Calleigh.

Standing then moving away from his desk, Horatio embraced both women, "I am extremely pleased for you both. Have you set a date yet?"

"No," answered Calleigh. "I'll leave that up to Talia."

The couple kissed Horatio on the cheeks then stepped back and displayed their rings.

"Very nice ladies and I'm glad to see such happiness after all the sadness," reflected Horatio.

"We are too," agreed Natalia. "I better get back to the lab and my parents are throwing an engagement party next Saturday night, I hope you and Yelina will be free."

"We will make ourselves available Talia."

"I'll give you the details later," added Natalia while departing.

-0-