E/C Ficlet -- Mere Seconds. Prompt #54 - Air. Part two of Crashing Down.
Happy Labor Day weekend! Yay! Let's have some angst! :( Lol.
Title: Mere Seconds
By: Jessica
Fandom: CSI: Miami
Pairing: Eric Delko/Calleigh Duquesne
Prompt: #54 - Air
Word Count: 1335
Rating: PG
A/N: Follows "If Only." Part two of Crashing Down.
It was with a satisfied smile that Eric finished writing his final case report of the afternoon. For once, he would get to go home early. For once, he would have a couple extra hours to spend with his wife and his daughter, instead of dealing with the usual mad rush that the evenings brought.
There was nothing that made him happier than just being with Calleigh, being with Maya. They were his life; without them, Eric would have nothing. Every moment that he had to spend away from them was nothing less than sheer agony. If he had his way, the two of them would never be out of his arms.
It was those wonderful surprise visits that made getting through the work day a little easier. Whether Calleigh and Maya dropped by during lunch, during the early afternoon perhaps to show off the cutest little outfit Calleigh had found for Maya that day, or at any time of the day; there was nothing that could make a terrible day better like a visit from his two blonde beauties.
The memory of Maya reaching out for him, wanting to be held by him tugged at his heart, and Eric moved with a spring in his step. He needed to get home to them. Swiftly he shrugged off his lab coat, hanging it up before heading into the hallway. He was almost home free.
Eric was just about ready to clock out and head home to his girls when a voice called out to him. He cringed at the sound; all he wanted to do was get out of the lab. Was that too much to ask?
He considered ignoring it - there were plenty of other people in the lab; people without a wife and a daughter waiting at home - but there was an urgency in that familiar voice that made him hesitate.
"Eric, I'm glad I caught you," Natalia said quietly, lightly touching his elbow. She winced; perhaps glad had been the wrong word? She was by no means happy, but it was good that she had caught Eric before he'd left.
Eric didn't agree, obviously. He sighed, his only concern in hoping that Natalia wasn't trying to get him to do something else. He had finished his work for the afternoon, after all. "Look, Natalia, whatever it is, I'm sure Wolfe can take care of it. I haven't gotten to leave early in God only knows how long."
Natalia bit her lip, unable to speak. Her carefully crafted speech had left her, and she felt her own emotions trying to force their way to the surface.
After a moment of nothing but silence, Eric exhaled, beginning to feel frustrated. So much for getting home at a decent time today. "Natalia, what is it?"
"Eric," she said quietly, and this time, her voice cracked. She forced herself to look up, into Eric's eyes. But still, she had no words.
Eric felt his breath catch as he finally got a good look at Natalia's face; her eyes. Her moist, reddened eyes. Eric felt his frustration melt away as the seriousness of the situation - whatever it was - dawned on him. Natalia had been crying.
And Eric had never seen her cry before.
"'Talia," he said gently, taking a step closer to her. "What is it?" He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, dropping it as Natalia shook her head and stepped away.
"It's - it's not me," she managed, bringing a hand up to rub her eyes.
By now, Eric was confused. His mind hadn't picked up on the severity of it all, but his heart had. He didn't know what was going on, yet his heart was racing. Something was wrong; that much he knew.
Natalia continued, though Eric could tell the effort nearly killed her. She gazed at him, the sadness in her eyes overwhelming. "Eric, it's - it's Calleigh."
It was as though the air had been completely knocked from his lungs. One single statement, so many possible outcomes. He couldn't breathe, and suddenly, the room was spinning around him. He reached out to the wall, bracing against it for support. Swallowing a couple times, he shook his head; confused. "What do you mean, it's Calleigh?" he choked out, fear tainting each word that left his mouth. "She was just…"
"Yeah, I know. She was just here." She watched Eric, watching the realization flash through his eyes, followed by denial. He knew something had happened, but Natalia knew he wouldn't believe it unless he heard it. "Eric, don't make me say it," she said, anguished. She closed her eyes, anticipating Eric's silence. As hard as it was for her to deal with this, Natalia couldn't imagine how Eric was going to take it. Though they had started out on a bit of a rocky foundation, over time Calleigh had become quite a close friend to Natalia. But that was nothing compared to what Eric had with Calleigh. "Eric…there was an accident…"
Eric tightened his grip on the wall, leaning more of his weight against it as he found it difficult to stand. Flashes of the worst zoomed through his mind, but it still didn't prepare him for the full blow. "'Talia, please tell me she's okay. Tell me they're okay. Tell me they walked away from it…"
Natalia lowered her head, a tear slowly sliding down her cheek. "Eric…"
"Tell me, Natalia. Please." His eyes were pleading her, begging her to tell him his wife and daughter were okay; more than okay; that they would be at home waiting for him. He needed to hear that; he needed that to be true.
Natalia hesitated, biting her lip hard enough to draw blood. The metallic taste filled her mouth as she spoke, bringing back the nausea she'd felt when she'd first heard. "Eric," she paused, letting out a shaky breath, not continuing until she was sure she could speak. "Eric, they - they were hit by a van. Back passenger side."
Eric drew in a sharp breath, his knees shaking slightly. The back passenger side; he knew that was where Maya's carseat was. "Natalia…"
"They spun from the force of the impact…they spun right into oncoming traffic. They were hit again." She reached out, touching Eric's hand at his sharp intake of air. "I don't know how Calleigh is; they wouldn't tell me much. I know she was unconscious when the paramedics got there," Natalia's heart skipped a beat - Eric had gone deathly pale. "They took her to Dade Memorial. I don't know if she's woken up yet."
Eric nodded slowly, staring into nothing. "And - and Maya?"
"Eric…"
"What about my daughter, Natalia?"
She avoided his eyes, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, Eric."
He stared at her, his eyes pleading. "No…" His knees finally gave out, and, stunned, Eric slowly sank to the floor. "I just saw her…both of them…" he mumbled, his eyes watering. "I don't believe you."
"Eric," Natalia said, kneeling next to him. She laid a hand on his shoulder, recoiling as he harshly shook it off. "I'm sorry." She swallowed, feeling helpless watching him. "Can I do anything? Can I give you a ride to the hospital? Anything?"
Eric shook his head. He raked his hands through his hair, his eyes closed. "Just give me a minute," he muttered. He still didn't believe her. He wouldn't.
"Are -"
"Natalia! I said just give me a minute!" he snapped. He didn't bother to apologize; he simply stared off into nothing until he was certain she'd left him alone.
Then, finally he let out a shaky breath, and, burying his face in his hands, he began to shake with the force of his sobs as he felt his world crashing down around him. His wife, his daughter; his family...the life that had taken Eric so long to find.
It had taken years to finally find true happiness. Years to find, but only mere seconds to lose it all.
--
to be continued...
Title: Mere Seconds
By: Jessica
Fandom: CSI: Miami
Pairing: Eric Delko/Calleigh Duquesne
Prompt: #54 - Air
Word Count: 1335
Rating: PG
A/N: Follows "If Only." Part two of Crashing Down.
It was with a satisfied smile that Eric finished writing his final case report of the afternoon. For once, he would get to go home early. For once, he would have a couple extra hours to spend with his wife and his daughter, instead of dealing with the usual mad rush that the evenings brought.
There was nothing that made him happier than just being with Calleigh, being with Maya. They were his life; without them, Eric would have nothing. Every moment that he had to spend away from them was nothing less than sheer agony. If he had his way, the two of them would never be out of his arms.
It was those wonderful surprise visits that made getting through the work day a little easier. Whether Calleigh and Maya dropped by during lunch, during the early afternoon perhaps to show off the cutest little outfit Calleigh had found for Maya that day, or at any time of the day; there was nothing that could make a terrible day better like a visit from his two blonde beauties.
The memory of Maya reaching out for him, wanting to be held by him tugged at his heart, and Eric moved with a spring in his step. He needed to get home to them. Swiftly he shrugged off his lab coat, hanging it up before heading into the hallway. He was almost home free.
Eric was just about ready to clock out and head home to his girls when a voice called out to him. He cringed at the sound; all he wanted to do was get out of the lab. Was that too much to ask?
He considered ignoring it - there were plenty of other people in the lab; people without a wife and a daughter waiting at home - but there was an urgency in that familiar voice that made him hesitate.
"Eric, I'm glad I caught you," Natalia said quietly, lightly touching his elbow. She winced; perhaps glad had been the wrong word? She was by no means happy, but it was good that she had caught Eric before he'd left.
Eric didn't agree, obviously. He sighed, his only concern in hoping that Natalia wasn't trying to get him to do something else. He had finished his work for the afternoon, after all. "Look, Natalia, whatever it is, I'm sure Wolfe can take care of it. I haven't gotten to leave early in God only knows how long."
Natalia bit her lip, unable to speak. Her carefully crafted speech had left her, and she felt her own emotions trying to force their way to the surface.
After a moment of nothing but silence, Eric exhaled, beginning to feel frustrated. So much for getting home at a decent time today. "Natalia, what is it?"
"Eric," she said quietly, and this time, her voice cracked. She forced herself to look up, into Eric's eyes. But still, she had no words.
Eric felt his breath catch as he finally got a good look at Natalia's face; her eyes. Her moist, reddened eyes. Eric felt his frustration melt away as the seriousness of the situation - whatever it was - dawned on him. Natalia had been crying.
And Eric had never seen her cry before.
"'Talia," he said gently, taking a step closer to her. "What is it?" He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, dropping it as Natalia shook her head and stepped away.
"It's - it's not me," she managed, bringing a hand up to rub her eyes.
By now, Eric was confused. His mind hadn't picked up on the severity of it all, but his heart had. He didn't know what was going on, yet his heart was racing. Something was wrong; that much he knew.
Natalia continued, though Eric could tell the effort nearly killed her. She gazed at him, the sadness in her eyes overwhelming. "Eric, it's - it's Calleigh."
It was as though the air had been completely knocked from his lungs. One single statement, so many possible outcomes. He couldn't breathe, and suddenly, the room was spinning around him. He reached out to the wall, bracing against it for support. Swallowing a couple times, he shook his head; confused. "What do you mean, it's Calleigh?" he choked out, fear tainting each word that left his mouth. "She was just…"
"Yeah, I know. She was just here." She watched Eric, watching the realization flash through his eyes, followed by denial. He knew something had happened, but Natalia knew he wouldn't believe it unless he heard it. "Eric, don't make me say it," she said, anguished. She closed her eyes, anticipating Eric's silence. As hard as it was for her to deal with this, Natalia couldn't imagine how Eric was going to take it. Though they had started out on a bit of a rocky foundation, over time Calleigh had become quite a close friend to Natalia. But that was nothing compared to what Eric had with Calleigh. "Eric…there was an accident…"
Eric tightened his grip on the wall, leaning more of his weight against it as he found it difficult to stand. Flashes of the worst zoomed through his mind, but it still didn't prepare him for the full blow. "'Talia, please tell me she's okay. Tell me they're okay. Tell me they walked away from it…"
Natalia lowered her head, a tear slowly sliding down her cheek. "Eric…"
"Tell me, Natalia. Please." His eyes were pleading her, begging her to tell him his wife and daughter were okay; more than okay; that they would be at home waiting for him. He needed to hear that; he needed that to be true.
Natalia hesitated, biting her lip hard enough to draw blood. The metallic taste filled her mouth as she spoke, bringing back the nausea she'd felt when she'd first heard. "Eric," she paused, letting out a shaky breath, not continuing until she was sure she could speak. "Eric, they - they were hit by a van. Back passenger side."
Eric drew in a sharp breath, his knees shaking slightly. The back passenger side; he knew that was where Maya's carseat was. "Natalia…"
"They spun from the force of the impact…they spun right into oncoming traffic. They were hit again." She reached out, touching Eric's hand at his sharp intake of air. "I don't know how Calleigh is; they wouldn't tell me much. I know she was unconscious when the paramedics got there," Natalia's heart skipped a beat - Eric had gone deathly pale. "They took her to Dade Memorial. I don't know if she's woken up yet."
Eric nodded slowly, staring into nothing. "And - and Maya?"
"Eric…"
"What about my daughter, Natalia?"
She avoided his eyes, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, Eric."
He stared at her, his eyes pleading. "No…" His knees finally gave out, and, stunned, Eric slowly sank to the floor. "I just saw her…both of them…" he mumbled, his eyes watering. "I don't believe you."
"Eric," Natalia said, kneeling next to him. She laid a hand on his shoulder, recoiling as he harshly shook it off. "I'm sorry." She swallowed, feeling helpless watching him. "Can I do anything? Can I give you a ride to the hospital? Anything?"
Eric shook his head. He raked his hands through his hair, his eyes closed. "Just give me a minute," he muttered. He still didn't believe her. He wouldn't.
"Are -"
"Natalia! I said just give me a minute!" he snapped. He didn't bother to apologize; he simply stared off into nothing until he was certain she'd left him alone.
Then, finally he let out a shaky breath, and, burying his face in his hands, he began to shake with the force of his sobs as he felt his world crashing down around him. His wife, his daughter; his family...the life that had taken Eric so long to find.
It had taken years to finally find true happiness. Years to find, but only mere seconds to lose it all.
--
to be continued...