Ok. Hi again! ;) This is inspired by the promo. NOT THAT LINE. But the fact that -SPOILER- Burns shall be gone. :D:D

So thanks to csiAngel (as always ;)) for reading it over and recoilandgrace (READ HER FICS. AMAZING STUFF THERE.) for helping me make it FLOW. ;) Well, kinda.

Mistakes are mine.

Disclaimer: Not mineeeeeee.


She's at your door. She's looks like a lost little girl, a deer caught in headlights. Not like Gillian at all.

.

"If you ever need to talk, love."

"Yeah, I know."

.

"Can I come in?"

"Of course."

.

You watch her, try to read her. She has her defences, you have your intentions. She won't talk now. You know at least that much.

.

She sits on your couch, leaves her coat on. You watch her as she takes in her surroundings. She appears to be cataloguing how you have moved the bookshelf to the opposite side of the room.

.

"How is she?"

"She's peachy, Torres."

.

"You hungry, love?"

"No."

"Thirsty?"

"Cal. Stop."

.

Your hovering around her office. You need to talk to her and make sure she is ok. Make sure she is… Well, whatever she should be.

.

She's looking at you with those eyes and you don't offer her anything else. You know that's not why she's here. You know that you're all she has and as much as it kills her she needs to talk to someone.

.

"There is nothing to talk about. It's over. He's gone. It's done."

She walks away.

.

"I… I knew it couldn't last. Knew it wouldn't work. I prepared myself for the inevitability that it would be a failure."

"Look, love, you deserve a real life. Not a person pretending to be someone else. A man with only one life."

"I know."

.

You want to follow her but you know that it would be useless. If she doesn't want to talk she won't, you have to wait for her to come to you.

.

She gives you a look. One that says too much. One that says absolutely nothing. She's glancing at the door. Probably wondering why she even came here in the first place. You're glad she did.

"Cal… I don't know what to do."

Her eyes are shining with unshed tears.

"One step at a time, love. First step. Alcohol."

You draw a weak smile from her.

The first tear falls.

You walk to where she's sitting and grab her hand. You pull her up and wrap your arms around her, you feel her start to shake but you just hold her tighter. She's gonna need some time. And you'll be there to help her through it all.


You know the drill. Review. I shall be handing out puddings in return. ;)