The images on the screen shattered her entire world, but he was there to pick up the pieces

SOMETHING MORE

Mission Ops

Nell stood frozen staring at the images on the screen. Her brain was moving at light speed trying to process the maelstrom of feelings that washed over her. To see the images of a man that she had known for many years and kept in close contact with was now a criminal. Eric, wrapped up in his work, seemed not to notice the dark clouds that came over her until he turned to say something and found she wasn't at her usual spot next to him. He turned around and saw her starting intensely at the screen and all semblance of duty and obligation evaporated the second he saw that look on her face. Spinning his chair he stood and walked over to her, standing shoulder to shoulder with her. Not quite touching but close enough to break her out of her frozen state without startling her.

"Are you alright?" He asked in a low voice, again trying not to scare her.

"How could he do this? What purpose does this serve? What is going on in his head?" She started peppering the air with questions.

"Who knows? There is only one person that can answer those questions. And that is why we need to find him." Eric said, nodding toward the frozen image of Nate staring at the camera.

"This isn't him. I know him, and this isn't him." Nell replied.

"We haven't seen him in months, Nell. Who knows what could have happened to him." Eric said.

Her breathing got more labored. "No, he can't have done this. Maybe the footage has been altered." She said, trying to come up with a reason.

Eric hated being the bad guy in this situation. "It's not. I checked it thoroughly. Even had Sebastian in New Orleans verify it for me."

"Then he is wrong!" Nell said in a raised voice, catching Eric off guard.

She turned around and buried her face in her hands, her elbows resting on the table. Her breathing was erratic. She wasn't crying but Eric could tell she was close.

He set his tablet down on the table and pulled his ear piece out. Reaching over he plucked hers and tossed both on the table before gently taking her arm and pulling her toward him. He wrapped his arms around her, one arm on her waist and the other holding her head against him.

"It's OK. I've got you." He whispered. "It will be OK. We will find him and bring him back from wherever he is."

Slowly the tension in her body melted as she wrapped her arms around his body, her hands clutching his shirt below his shoulder blades. Her breath was heavy and warm through his shirt as he softly stroked her back, continuing to hold her head against him.

After a few moments her heavy breathing subsided and she gently pushed away from him. He let her go but she didn't pull completely out of his arms, just enough to look up at him.

"I'm sorry." She whispered to him.

He smiled and shook his head. "Don't be. I know Nate means a lot to you." He replied.

"Well he is my best friend, after all." She said.

Eric tried to hide the hurt he felt on his face but he couldn't. "And what does that make me? I thought I was your best friend." He said.

She stood up on her toes and caught his lips with hers in a light kiss. The kiss lingered for a moment before she pulled her lips away just enough to speak again.

"Something more." She whispered.

Eric's eyes brightened at her words and Nell's eyes reflected that light. She pulled him into a kiss one more time, this one deeper before they had to breathe.

"Come on, Rockstar. Let's go get your best friend back." Eric whispered to her.

"Let's do it." She whispered back, letting go of his body and grabbing her headset. She turned and sat down at her computer, her fingers flying over the keyboard. Eric took a few moments to watch her, content that she was better, before grabbing his things and taking his spot next to her.

This last season seemed to be playing Just the Tip when it came to them. We had so many potentially great scenes with them that cut off too quickly in my opinion. This was an expansion of "Head of the Snake". I hope you enjoyed it.

I was one of the people who's Spotify account was hacked a few months ago but thankfully the Soundtrack Playlist was not affected by the activity of my account so check it out. I still have plans to add to it but I haven't had the time to work lately.

I've got another idea in the words dealing with (you guessed it) Eric and Nell called On the Mating Habits of Meerkats which will deal with everything from meeting to their friendship to other aspects of life together. Stay tuned for that

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