Once he helped her through the rain, now he has to help her from the abyss

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DAWN

Eric's Apartment, evening

Eric sat on his couch, playing some online game that was barely keeping his interest, just barely. Try as he might he couldn't focus. After a few minutes he finally shut it down and slumped back, burying his face in his hand. He sighed out loud to the emptiness of his apartment. He was worried about her. He always was when something like this happened. Last time he was there for her but this time she shut him out. She wasn't answering her calls or texts and it was driving him crazy. He stood up to go get a drink when his phone dinged. Like a cat he pounced on it, flicking the screen to show the message. His heart sank a bit when he realized it wasn't from Nell. It was from Nate.

Can you talk?

He typed out a quick acknowledgement and after a few moments his phone started to ring. He flicked it to answer it. "What's up?" Eric said, trying to hide his feelings but failing.

"I know you were expecting someone else. Sorry to disappoint you." Nate said.

"It's ok. Not your fault." Eric said.

"Not your fault either, Eric. Don't forget that." Nate reminded him.

"Easier said than done." He replied.

"Under normal circumstances it was be unethical for me to discuss with you what I am about it but I feel that in this situation it is warranted. It's about Nell." Nate said.

Like it would be about anything else? Eric thought to himself.

"To put it bluntly, Eric, she needs you. She isn't going to admit it herself but she needs your support." Nate said.

"She made it pretty clear that was not the case." Eric said. Earlier that day he had tried to be supportive and comfort her but every attempt was met with more and more hostility. She actually yelled at him the last time. They had been together for months and she never flat out yelled at him in anger.

"She doesn't want you to see her fragile, like she is. But you are the only one who can help her. You don't need to her to talk to you. Just put her at ease. I've known Nell for many years, Eric. She is a really special person." Nate continued.

"Were the two of you…you know…." Eric's voice trailed off.

"Together?" Nate finished. He sighed softly. "I won't lie to you, Eric. Yes. Nell and I were together many, many years ago before she joined NCIS. In fact I was the one who recommended her to Hetty. But regardless what feelings I had for her in the past the one she truly belongs with is you. There is no doubt in my mind."

Eric swallowed trying to fight off the dry throat so he could talk. "Thank you, Nate. That means a lot to me."

"Bring her back, Eric. She is on a cliff staring into an Abyss and you are the only one who can bring her back." Nate finished. They said their goodbyes and hung up.

Eric stood up and tossed the phone on the couch. He started to pace back and forth, his mind racing a mile a second. After a few minutes he grabbed his phone and his pack, threw open the door to his apartment and left without a single further thought.

Nell's Apartment

Eric was sure he broke at least 3 traffic laws trying to get here but he was beyond caring. He threw his car into park, turned the car off and stepped out. He entered the building and walked up the flights of stairs to get to her floor. He found her apartment with ease, considering he spent half his weekends here. He adjusted the strap on his bag and took a deep breath. He knocked gently on the door. There was no answer for a few moments. He knocked again…still no answer. Right as he was about to knock a third time he heard the lock turn and the door opened slightly, held by the chain. He felt a cold hand crush his heart seeing her. Once she saw who it was her eyes immediately darted to the ground.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, weakly. It was obvious she had been crying, Her cheeks were wet, her eyes were read, and her voice was nasally

"Do I need a reason to come?" He said.

"Go away, Eric" She said, her voice starting to become angry.

"Nell, please!" He said, raising his voice. He stopped himself for a second and repeated "Please" in a lower voice. "Please don't shut me out. Not now." His voice wavered.

"I don't want you to see me." She said, her eyes meeting his for a brief second.

"Please, Nell. Let me in. Just give me 5 minutes and if you don't want me around I will leave." Eric said, pleading with her.

She stood for a second before closing the door. Just as Eric was about to feel his heart rip in half he heard the chain come loose and the door opened all the way. She stood off to the side, still looking at the ground.

He stepped in and she walked back to the couch and sat down. He pulled his sandals off and set his back down. He closed the door and locked it, replacing the chain. He turned around and looked at her.

"Take a picture, Beale. It will last longer." She said.

"Do you mind if I get some water?" He asked. It felt odd having to ask her. They had free reign of each other's apartments but he didn't want to overstep his bounds.

"Go ahead." She said, leaning back on the couch, crossing her arms.

He walked over to the kitchen and grabbed a glass. He opened the fridge and pulled out her water pitcher. Pouring himself a glass he drank it quickly before filling up again. "Want me to get you anything? Since I'm up that is?" He asked.

"I'm fine." She said, not looking at him.

The almost robotic sound in her voice was not lost on him. He pulled out a small tea kettle that Hetty got her for her birthday. He filled it up with water and set it on the stove. He turned the stove on and returned to sit back down. He noticed a book sitting on her coffee table.

"What are you reading?" He asked.

"The Sword of Truth." She responded.

"Is it any good? I've heard about it but never tried it." He said, leaning back against the couch. The physical distance between them felt like a Grand Canyon to him. So many nights were spent on this couch, their bodies touching. It was agony now to see her on the other side of the couch.

"It's alright, I guess." She replied.

They sat in silence for a few moments when the kettle started to boil. He got up and pulled it off the stove. Grabbing a tea cup he poured the hot water into it. Grabbing the tin of tea leaves she owned he filled a steeper with the leaves and brought it and the cup over to her. He sat them down on the coffee table.

"I'm not thirsty." She said.

"Well, in case you change your mind." He said. He looked at his watch.

"One minute left." He said out loud.

He turned to face her. "Look, Nell. I know you think I want you to talk about what happened today. You think I came here to get you to open up about your feelings. You break down and cry, I comfort you, then we make out, maybe even have sex, than fall asleep in each other's arms." He said. She tensed up a bit at the sex part.

"But that is not why I am here. I am here because I want my Nell back. I want the Nell that always makes me smile when I see her every morning. I want the Nell that laughs at my failed attempt at humor. I want the Nell that stole my heart. I want the Nell that every night I count the days until I can spend the day with. I want the Nell that is the most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on. I know she is in there somewhere, buried under all of the pain and torment she went through." Eric said, wiping a tear from her eye.

They sat in silence and from the silence he could hear her sobbing faintly. He saw her shoulders rise and fall as she tried to fight it. He looked at his watch again. "My 5 minutes are up." He said. "I understand, Nell. I'll talk to you soon….I hope" He made to go stand up.

"Wait." She whispered between sobs.

He stopped for a second just to see her throw herself at him, wrapping his arms around him and burying her face in his chest. She squeezed him as hard as she could, trying to get closer and closer to him. He wrapped his arms around her, cocooning her. "Please don't go! Please, Eric." She franticly pleaded with him. She curled into a ball against him.

"Shh. It's ok Nell. I'm not going anywhere. Now or ever." He whispered to her as he stroked her hair and kissed her head gently.

They sat for almost 15 min, her sobs slowly dropping off leaving just the occasional shudder from her body as she breathed in and out franticly. Then finally he felt her relax, felt her body loosen as she let him take her weight. Finally she removed herself from his chest, still sniffing. His shirt was wet from her crying. "I'm sorry." She said, weakly.

"It's ok." He said softly to her, brushing her hair away from her face and stroking her cheek. "Are you ok now?" He asked, rubbing the tears away with his thumb.

She shook her head gently. "No, but I'm better." She said as she laid her head on his chest.

"Let's watch a movie." He said as he reached for the remote to her TV. He turned it on and flicked through the movie selection before finding one they watched just a month ago. They both enjoyed it and he knew she would be familiar with it. He grabbed the nearby blanket and unfurled it around them. He tucked it around their bodies and placed his hand on her back. She reached out and grabbed the other, intertwining her fingers with his. Eric couldn't help but smile and he softly stroked her back as they laughed at the jokes in the movie. Time seemed to just melt away for them.

A few hours later

The credits started to roll as Eric grabbed the remote and shut the tv off, darkening the room. He set the remote down and just sat there for a few moments. He looked down at Nell and realized at some point she had fallen asleep. He looked at her, a small smile on her face, causing him to smile as well. His phone dinged and he reached for it.

How is she doing?

The message from Nate said.

Doing better. She will make it through this.

He responded.

Good to hear. Let me know if you need anything.

Thanks, will do.

He started typing out another message.

I'm really sorry but I won't be able to make it in tomorrow.

After a few moments his phone dinged again.

Ms Jones?

Yea. I don't want to leave her alone.

I understand. Take the day off. If an emergency comes up I will let you know. Good luck, Eric. Keep her safe.

Thank you Hetty. I'll bring her back

He set his phone down. He nudged her. "Hey, wake up sleepyhead." He whispered to her.

She groaned and rolled over off of him. "Sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep." She said.

"It's ok. I can think of nothing better than my beautiful girlfriend falling asleep in my arms." He said

"Speaking of we should get to bet. You have to get up tomorrow." She said as she sat up and stretched.

"I already told Hetty I wasn't coming in." Eric said as he stood up. "You are more important right now." He pulled her to her feet and into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck. She pulled him down into a kiss. They held it for what seemed like an hour before they finally broke it.

"I love you, Eric." She whispered.

"I love you too, Nell" He whispered back

She grabbed his hands and led him into her room. She started to strip her clothes off. Eric turned around quickly as she took her bra off and tossed it aside. She noticed he was looking away. "I don't mind if you look, Eric." She said as she started to slip into her pajamas.

"I know you don't mind. I really want to but I want our first time to be special." He said.

She grabbed his elbow and turned him around. "Eric." She said.

"No, Nell. I don't want to see you naked until we both decide is the right moment. And right now it isn't. Because you have been through a lot and I feel like I would be taking advantage of you. You may not feel that way but I do. I would never forgive myelf." He said.

She stroked his cheek. "I understand, Eric. And I promise you one day, very soon, that I will give myself to you completely. I am and always will be yours." She said, tears welling up in her eyes. She pulled him in and kissed him.

"Come to bed, my love." She whispered. Eric stripped to his boxers and climbed into bed. She climbed on top of him and curled up against his body. He pulled the covers around them before circling her with his arms and settling in.

"Good night, Eric." She whispered.

"Good night, Nell. See you on the other side of the dawn." He whispered.

He felt her relax in his arms and fall asleep. It didn't take long for the darkness to overtake him as well. As he was falling asleep he stroked her back, one last time, thinking about how much he wanted the morning to come to see her again.

I went through 3 title changes until I came up with Other side of the Dawn. I started with Abyss and then I Just Need Five Minutes but then I settled on this one. This is based off of the events of The 3rd Choir. Hope you guys enjoy it!