Some One to Stop Him

Disclaimer: I don't own CSI Miami or the characters in the show. If I did—things would be very different right now.

Rating: Umm…mentions of abuse. Don't know how violent or graphic I'll make it. I just want it to be realistic. Will let y'all know in the warning for each chapter.

Distribution: here only

AN: I just started watching CSI Miami and am really into Nat/Eric so that's wat this story will be centered around.

SPOILERS: this ep starts off during Internal Affairs only Nick isn't going to die in this episode. Bastards always get the easy way out and never have to pay for their sins in this world. But in this fic he will have to answer for his actions! MUWAHAHAHA!! Oh and in my world Nick was never able to get a TRO against Natalia!

AN2: I love Damsels in Distress so that's basically wat all my fics pretty much are. And it doesn't matter how their rescued, just as long as they are!!!! sigh maybe I'm just waiting for my knight in shining armor!

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Cause and Effect

"Hey, can I help you?" Eric called out after he spotted Nick exiting the elevator.

"No, I'm good," Nick arrogantly replied, "Hot outside…with the AC; you know it's all nice and icy in here."

"You want to try to convince me you're not here to harass Natalia?" Eric fired back.

"No, I don't think so. It's none of your business, Eric," he started to walk pass Eric, but he put out an arm to stop him.

"Hey," Eric pointed out, "a civilian walks pass that reception desk, this lab can lose its accreditation…that makes it my business."

"Ok, big man," said Nick folding his arms.

Natalia was heading out of the lab to pick up some lunch when she saw the two men having a standoff in front of the elevators. Speeding up, she reached them in time to hear Eric say, "As a matter of fact Nick, crime scene at the Rhode's property was just released…why don't you go over there and make yourself useful."

Nick laughed, "You think you're better than me," Nick folded his arms, "why because I'm the mop-up guy?"

"Eric," said Natalia firmly while placing a hand on his left shoulder, "I was about to grab a bite to eat, you wanna join me?"

"Nick," continued Eric without responding to Natalia, "I don't care what you do…you're a low life."

"Who ya kiddin?" Nick smirked, "You're just some sorry sap just lookin to get laid like the rest of us."

"You're pushin your luck Nick," Eric half growled half whispered.

"Eric," warned Natalia as she squeezed herself in between them, "please, its okay," she moved her hand from his shoulder to his chest, "Come on. Let it go."

Something about the site of her hand on Eric brought back an old anger in Nick and he snarled, "What's up Eric? Test tube too small?"

Natalia turned sideways in between them and begged, "Nick! Please, just get out of here!"

Her voice carried down the hall to Maxine, who was running some DNA through the system. She looked up and rushed over to see what was going on.

She arrived in time to see Nick point a finger at Natalia and warn her, "Nat, what did I always tell you about getting in my way?"

"Leave," was all Natalia could say through her shaking voice.

Nick grabbed Natalia's arm and started to shove her out of the way when Eric tackled Nick and with the help of security officers he pulled Nick off her.

Eric was momentarily distracted making sure Natalia was alright and Nick was able to land a solid punch to his jaw. He was able to return with a few of his own when Ryan came out of the lab and pushed him back.

Natalia caught herself against the wall and watched with her hands in her hair for a moment before taking off down the hall toward the locker room and almost running into Maxine on the way. Maxine could just stand there in shock.

"EricEricEric…heyhey," said Ryan, noticing Natalia take flight, "come on."

"You listen to your buddy here!" Nick shouted, "Inappropriate lab behavior. Tell ya something, outside these walls—big world."

"Yeah real big…people die every day. You wanna continue this conversation u no where to find me," challenged Eric.

Ryan puts his hand up in warning, "Eric," then he pointed to Nick, "You get lost."

The security guards escorted Nick to the elevator and watched him leave.

"Eric," Ryan turned to his colleague, "what the hell just happened?"

"I swear to God," Eric promised pointing to the elevator; "if he does anything…" he left threat hanging in the air and lowered his arm. Walking down the hall in the direction Natalia had taken he let out a frustrated groan and banged his fist against one of the windows lining the hall.

Ryan remained standing next to the reception desk, still confused about what started the fight when he noticed Maxine staring transfixed in the hall.

"Hey," he took a few steps toward her, "you okay?"

Deep in thought, it took a moment for Maxine to realize she was being spoken to. Nodding quickly she replied, "Yeah I'm fine. It's fine." With that she headed back down the hall.

Ryan took one last look at her before running a hand through his hair and heading back into the lab.

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Eric found Natalia sitting on one of the benches in the locker room with her elbows on her knees and her hands covering her face.

"You okay?" Eric asked softly.

Natalia paused a minute before she quickly shook her head in the negative. She sat up and ran her hands over her face before lowering them to her lap.

"That brought back a whole bunch of memories that I never wanted to revisit," she replied shakily.

Eric let out a sigh, "I'm sorr-," he began to say, but was cut off by Natalia, "It's not your fault Eric. Thank you for standing up to him. People—people don't really do that, you know?"

Eric nodded and sat down beside her on the bench, "Well, as a guy who's looking out for you, I'm getting this feeling that Nick is going to do something."

Natalia nodded, "I know. I just don't know what to do about it."

"You're not just going to wait for him to do something, are you?" Eric demanded.

Natalia laughed bitterly and wiped a stray tear from her cheek with the back of her hand, "do you have any idea how much energy it takes to fight a guy like Nick? To put him behind bars?" When Eric didn't say anything she continued while staring at the locker in front of her, "More than seven years of dealing with him before I finally did something that was good for me. And what did all those years amount to? A four year sentence. And they let him out after less than two for good behavior that he never showed me." Natalia paused, "it's times like this when I don't feel like a cop or CSI or whatever the hell I am supposed to be."

"You stayed with him for seven years?" Eric asked shocked.

"It wasn't always terrible," Natalia smiled ruefully, "he was off and on. That's why we stay in the first place. When it's bad it's a nightmare, but when it's good it's incredible."

"What makes you leave?" he asked softly.

"Usually…when the good times are too few and bad goes from nightmarish to hellish—you either leave or he wins," she paused, "that's the crossroads. The affects of hell are too hard to hide for very long."

"Can you stay with some one?" Eric suggested after a moment, "Maybe one of your sisters?"

"Don't get me wrong, I love my sisters, but that would drive me crazy. They still go clubbing on Wednesday nights for crying out loud," Natalia explained. "To be young," she joked airily, "I have a security system on my place and everything," she assured him.

"Yeah, and those can't be fooled," Eric groaned.

"Not helping anymore," Natalia half smiled.

"Well, I'm about to. I want you to come and stay with me," Eric said.

Natalia jerked her head to the side to look at him and smiled, "you're joking right? Isn't that a little much?"

"No," Eric said firmly, "you weren't able to get a RO against him and he got a job that lets him spy on you. So, either you're going to spend some time at my place or I'm moving in to yours."

Natalia was still staring at him smiling widely and then she took his hand in hers and leaned into his side, "thanks," she said and then softly kissed him on the cheek.

Eric enjoyed the feel of her leaning against him for a moment before saying, "I believe you said something about grabbing some food."

Natalia smiled and stood up, "That I did CSI Delko."

"Well then," Eric rose and gestured toward the door, "Lead the way."