Questions 15D/?, CSI Miami, Calleigh/Natalia, NC-17
Title: Questions 15D/?
Pairing: Calleigh/Natalia
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I don't own them, but I do sleep with them in my dreams
Archiving: P & P, DuVista, all others please ask
WARNING: THIS SECTION DOES DESCRIBE ABUSE TOWARDS ONE OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS. NOTHING SEXUAL HOWEVER. IF THIS IS NOT YOUR CUP OF TEA, PLEASE DO NOT READ. WARNING.
After hanging up the phone, Jethro stared at Natalia for a long time as she sat and silently cried. Her head hung down and her normally shiny, caramel colored hair hung limp and dull, shielding her face.
Walking over and cupping her chin, Jethro brought her face up so that he could watch her emotions.
“You're dead to her now. She has no reason to believe that you're alive.”
Tears slowly fell down her face, her eyes lifeless and unfocused. It was as though he was talking to a statue, and he wanted more.
Reaching down with his other hand, Jethro dug his nails into one of the cuts and twisted.
Nothing showed on Natalia’s face, not a flicker of anything.
Squeezing harder, Jethro snarled as he didn't get any response and he wanted something, anything. Snatching his hands away, he went and cleaned her blood from his hand.
As he looked at Natalia from behind, he realized that she would never become what he wanted her to be and she would need to be discarded. However, a thought sprang to mind and he grinned with the possibilities.
Grabbing a pad and pen, he went back to stand in front of the silent woman, making sure that the camera still had a good shot of her face.
“Like I said, you're dead to Calleigh now and soon you actually will be, but I thought that you should know what I have planned for your wife after you're gone.”
Leaning casually on the table next to the chair, he started taking notes.
“The first thing that I'm going to do is to cut her hair. Vanity is one of the original seven deadly sins and Ms. Duquesne is very proud of her hair. Therefore, I think that I will shave her head first thing.”
After pausing to judge Natalia's reaction, he continued.
“It's too bad that she's blind, or actually, you might think that it's a good thing: because I believe that I would have taken her sight. Without her sight, she loses the ‘holier than thou’ aura and becomes just like the rest of the common folk. And she needs to learn humility.”
There! A slight tightening of her jaw and he knew he was on the right track. Quickly turning around, he put down the pad, reached into one of the table’s drawers and pulled out a picture.
Picking up the scalpel, he walked over and stood next to the chair. Holding the picture up so that Natalia could see that it was a copy of the one he sent of Calleigh with Mallory.
“I will then strap her to this very chair, just like you are now, and cut your name into her skin.... no maybe not cut... maybe... hold on a second. There is something I want to show you.”
He placed the knife down on Natalia's thigh where she couldn't get it and walked away.
Looking down, Natalia knew that this would be her one chance and she has to make it quick. Gritting her teeth against the pain, she moved her dislocated arm, sliding it down until she could touch the knife with her fingers. Lifting her leg as high as she could against the straps, she was able to pick up the scalpel and turn it to cut the strap that held her wrist. Swiftly she unstrapped her other wrist, but placed the strap so it seemed still fastened. Then she simply laid the scalpel back down on her thigh and resumed the same position as before, making sure that everything looked the same.
Jethro's voice sounded excited as he came back into the room.
“I shall use one of these on Ms. Duquesne... or maybe both.”
He came around carrying the metal brands that he had used on the first two women and the wood burning tool he had used on the final one.
“I will brand your name onto her skin so many times that she will soon hate you more than she hates me. After that...”
The storm had continued around them and had gotten worse and the building was suddenly plunged in darkness.
Jethro walked over to a blacked out window, opened it slightly and peered out to see that a lot of the surrounding area was indeed dark. He returned to the back room and found a flashlight. Turning it on, he went back into the other room only to find the chair empty.
“Come now Natalia, you should know that the guest of honor cannot leave the party early. It's rude, especially to the host. So come on out, Natalia, and let me tell you what else I have planned for the lovely Ms. Duquesne.”
Suddenly he had a sharp pain on his left side and when he looked down, he was astonished to see his scalpel sticking out.
Then he heard a feral growl.
“You're never going to get anywhere close to my wife. I swear to everything that is holy that you're not going to walk out of here tonight.”
He turned the flashlight around, illuminating Natalia's face and took a step back.
Her eyes were wild. He couldn’t believe that she could show that much anger, much less act on it.
Taking a deep breath, Jethro did two things at once; he pulled out the knife with his left hand while delivering a backhand to Natalia’s face, making her drop to the ground. Breathing deeply, he stood over her with blood dripping from the knife and from his wound. Kicking at her, he struck her on the head, reopening the gash on her forehead. Snarling he kneeled, then reached to grab a handful of hair and yanked her head up.
“You’re going to pay for that. I was going to make your dismissal as painless as possible, but now I’m going to make it last for days. Drawing it out until you plead for me to end it.”
“I beg to differ.”
Horatio’s voice reverberated through the room as a light was shone on Jethro’s face.
“You’re not going to do one more to thing to Ms. Boa Vista, Jethro. This ends right now.”
“Lieutenant Caine, I beg to differ. I believe that I can end her life before you can get to me.”
Walking towards the wide-eyed man, Horatio kept his voice low.
‘Well, Jethro… You may be right… However… Will you be faster than the gentleman to your left…? Or maybe faster than the one on your right? What do you think?”
Two additional lights clicked on showing Ryan and Eric as they aimed both their flashlights and guns on him.
Slowly turning his head to take in the whole room, Jethro gradually lowered the arm that held the knife until it was at his waist. Cocking his head in an imitation of the man confronting him, he lowered his voice so that Horatio had to strain to hear him, but Natalia could hear him clearly.
“I do believe Natalia, that you are going to be correct, and I’m not going to walk out of here. I am so sorry that we didn’t get to spend more time together, but I do want to thank you for enjoyment you have given me.”
They stared at each other for a moment before Jethro took a deep breath and even more quietly said.
“But you’re not going to walk out either.”
Swiftly he pulled back his hand and thrust it towards Natalia’s chest. Three shots rang out, driving the young man’s body back and away from Natalia.
“Eric… Ryan… Stay where you are please… Don’t move.”
Horatio laid his flashlight down on the concrete floor, lighting up the trembling woman. Slowly he made his way over to Natalia, almost crawling on his hands and knees as not to startle her, speaking softly all along the way.
“Natalia…I’m right here… I’m going to come over and pick you up. And then I am going to take you to Calleigh. All right?”
Her eyes stared at the man that was moving towards her, not recognizing him, but his voice was soothing and slowly getting through the fog in her mind.
“Let’s go see Calleigh, Natalia. She’s waiting for you at the hospital.”
After a second, Natalia looked puzzled and then worried.
“What’s wrong with Calleigh? Why is she at the hospital?”
“Nothing's wrong with Calleigh. She's going to meet us there so we can get you checked out.”
Reaching out, he gently picked her up, stood up and started walking out.
“Gentlemen, if you would please process the scene and call me with any updates. And Eric, would you please call Calleigh?”
Natalia wrapped her arms tightly about Horatio and tucked her head on his shoulder. She couldn't stop the trembling and her teeth were beginning to chatter. She clung tightly to the Lieutenant and begged him to take her away; back home, to Calleigh. She couldn’t seem to control herself and she was sure that Horatio took her to be a fool.
“I’m sorry to cause you so much trouble Horatio. I promise to find a way to make it up to you.”
Taking his time to make his way out of the darkened building without bumping into anything, Horatio’s smooth voice began to settle her fears.
“Natalia, you are no trouble, and I don’t want you to worry yourself. None of this was your fault. We’ll be at the ambulance soon.”
The waiting officers and emergency technicians had been ordered to keep their lights off so it was pitch black, but everyone could see Horatio carrying someone in his arms towards the waiting police blockade.
As soon as they passed the blockades, lights were turned on, an EMT quickly placed Natalia on a stretcher, and they were soon on their way. The brunette was still unsure that her nightmare was truly over, and so refused to let go of Horatio all the way to the hospital. She also refused to let the EMT touch her even though she was still bleeding and Horatio begged her.
“No, no one touches me until I’ve seen Calleigh. No one else.”
“Natalia, You need to let this gentleman help you.” Horatio pleaded.
“Horatio, I can’t explain, but I don’t want anyone else touching me until I’ve seen Calleigh. Please take me to Calleigh.”
Patting her shoulder, Horatio assured her that they were almost there; in fact they were pulling into the emergency entrance within minutes and were rushed inside. Horatio spoke with the doctors and even though they didn’t understand, they agreed to wait and treat her after she had been with Calleigh.
Within moments of arriving, Alexx and Calleigh rushed in and even though Calleigh was in a hurry to get to her wife, Horatio stopped her.
“Calleigh, Natalia has some cuts on her legs, a gash on her forehead and her hands are badly cut and is still bleeding. She also has a dislocated shoulder and I know that she has to be in pain, but she refuses to let anyone treat her until she sees you. ”
Closing her eyes and getting her mind-set, Calleigh prepared herself for what she was about to see. Nodding to Horatio, she let him escort her where her wife was.
“You might want to tell the doctors that I’m not leaving. Whatever they’re going to do, will be with me in the room. I’m not letting her out of my sight. Not today anyway. You tell them Horatio.”
Nodding his understanding, he opened the door to the room, stepped aside to let her enter and closed the door behind her before he went in search of the doctors.
The room was dimly lit so Calleigh had to feel her way along the wall until she reached Natalia’s side. Finding the bed, she ran her hand along the sheets until she touched soft skin.
“Darlin, I’m here.”
Leaning in close, Calleigh strained to focus on her wife’s face. As it came into view, she was barely able to stop the gasp from escaping. There was a deep gash on Natalia’s forehead that ran from the middle of her hairline to the right side and her face bruised from where Jethro had hit her.
While the damage was awful to see, it was the way that Natalia’s eyes looked that scared Calleigh the most. They were dull with no life in the at all, staring straight ahead.
Reaching up, Calleigh gently pushed Natalia’s hair away from her face so that she could caress it, trying to get her wife attention.
Softly Calleigh whispered.
“Talia, I’m here. Come on baby. Look at me. I’m right here and I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying right by your side. I’m not going to leave you. Natalia, darlin’. Please look at me.”
Ever so slowly, Natalia turned her head in Calleigh’s direction, but when she looked at Calleigh, there was no recognition. Just a blank stare.
Gingerly Calleigh took one of Natalia’s hand within her grasp, wincing slightly as she saw the damage, but carefully place it over her own heart.
“Do you feel that darlin’. My heart is beating your name. When I couldn’t see, I just placed my hand over my heart and I saw you as clear as day. You have taken over my heart, Natalia. You are my heart, my life and my love. And don’t forget, I can see you now. I see the woman that I’m in love with and I want her to see me. Please see me Talia.”
The room was silent for a long moment and then Natalia blinked. She gave her head a tiny shake and then blinked again. Frowning, she looked down at her hand on Calleigh’s chest and then looked back up into the eyes of her wife. Turning her head slowly, she looked around the room until she looked again on Calleigh.
Licking her lips, and with her voice very scratchy, Natalia whispered.
“Is it over?”
“Yes my love, it’s over.”
With those words, Natalia collapsed into Calleigh’s arms, weeping as the fear of the last eighteen hours melted away.
Getting up on the bed, Calleigh held her, rubbing her back until she quit crying and then very slowly she leaned back so that she could see Natalia’s face. Softly brushing away the tears, Calleigh placed a gentle kiss upon Natalia’s lips.
“Is it alright with you if we get the doctors in here now so that can treat you?”
Shaking her head, Natalia scooted back.
“Not yet. In a minute…Um…I wanted to show you what he did to me…I need to see your face when you see…If you want to walk away afterwards, I’ll understand.”
“Natalia, I’m not going anywhere. For better or for worse, remember? You’re stuck with me.”
They both swallowed lumps in their throats as Natalia slowly lifted the sheet that was covering her thighs. The long scalpel cuts and nail marks were almost obscured by the caked on blood, but Calleigh leaned down and place a gentle kiss near the wounds.
Looking back into Natalia’s scared eyes, Calleigh reassured her.
“Those don’t change how I feel about you. Nothing can every do that. We’ll get through this together darlin’. Now I would like for you to let me bring the doctors in. I’m not going anywhere, I’m staying right here with you.”
Releasing the breath that she had been holding, Natalia closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them again, they were gazing at her wife filled with love.
“I love you Calleigh DuVista.”
“And I love you Natalia DuVista. I’m just going to get them ok?”
Taking the few steps over to the door, Calleigh opened the door and motioned for them to come in. Almost immediately, the room was filled with people surrounding Natalia's bed.
“Calleigh...Calleigh, where are you?” Natalia's voice sounded a bit panicked.
Moving to the foot of the bed, Calleigh reached down, placing a hand on one of Natalia's legs.
“I'm right here darlin’. I'm not going anywhere.”