(Here I go again with a new idea for a story. It's kinda like a loose prequel to "New Beginnings". I know I need to update that story but I am in a limbo right now on where to take it. Anyway, I am not sure if this is story is a one-shot or if I should continue so please tell me what you think. I'd appreciate reviews, suggestions, kind criticisms. TY!)
Falling Into Place
"Sometimes everything has to fall apart for other things to fall into place."
It's never easy growing up in a household full of women. Eric Delko can certainly attest to that. Being the only boy, he had the privilege to have a room all to himself while his three sisters shared a room in their modest home in the heart of the Cuban community. He still remembers how his sisters get a kick out of torturing him. They forced him to play dolls with them, endured sipping Pepsi in miniature cups in their make believe tea parties or getting teased endlessly with a girl who had a big crush on him in Grade 1.
Elena, being the oldest was kind of strict. He has always been close to Marisol who was also his defender. Ana, his middle sister was the meanest. Somehow he felt that Ana resented the special treatment he got for being the only boy.
It was almost time to go to bed when Ana came into his room.
"Hey Eric, Mami wants to know if you brushed your teeth."
"I did already." Eric obligingly replied.
"I don't believe you. I can still smell your stinky breath from here."
"I did too!" Eric insisted. "You're just being mean Ana. Go away!"
"Prove it! Open your mouth and let's see." Ana ordered him.
He just wanted to show her that he wasn't lying so he obediently opened his mouth. Without delay Ana placed a freshly ground red hot Habañero into Eric's mouth. The effect was immediate, Eric's mouth felt numb from the spicy hotness and he could literally feel his ear and face go red.
His initial reaction was to punch Ana in her face. She screamed and hit him back and that was when their parents came in a rush and managed to break the fight. Eric realized that he might have broken Ana's nose when he noticed blood oozing out of his sister's nose. The thought that he did this to her made him feel miserable.
Clorinda was beside herself with anger and rushed Ana to the hospital to have her nose examined. Pavel Delko never said a word to Eric as he gave him spoonful after spoonful of sugar to relieve the spiciness in his mouth. He then ordered Eric to go to his room and to wait for him there. Eric knew that his father was very upset with him and so he prepared himself for the scolding that he is going to get.
Pavel quietly stepped into Eric's room. It was hard to tell from his facial expression what he was feeling but with his careful movement pulling a chair close to Eric's bed it was evident that he was trying to control his anger.
"Сын, сегодня вечером, вы меня разочаровали." (Son, tonight, you disappointed me.)
"Oh no." Eric thought . The siblings are always terrified when their Dad starts to speak in his native tongue because it was an indication that he is terribly upset over something.
Eric's gaze was glued to the floor. He can't look at his Dad, he can't bear to see the disappointment in his eyes.
"You don't hit girls son. Never ever do that again."
"I am sorry Papi but Ana did a terrible thing to me too. She did it first and I just fought back…I didn't mean to hurt her like that."
"Hijo, I do understand and there are other ways to fight back without going physical. Women should be treated with respect and care. There can never be a good reason to hurt them."
"Even if they've hurt you and they are mean and evil like Ana?"
"Yes, no matter how much they've hurt you. Instead you must protect them, provide for them and most of all cherish them. Mi hijo, I am not only talking about your sisters and Mami. It's the same thing with all the women especially your future wife."
Eric bowed down his head and tried to absorb his father's words in his young mind. He felt really bad about hurting Ana even though sometimes he just wants to kill her. When Ana and his Mom came back from the hospital he apologized to Ana and Ana apologized to him. Everything wasn't so bad after that incident.
He was only 12 when that happened but somehow his father's words made a great impact on him growing up. He could say that as a teenager and as a young adult he loved girls too much to the point that he can't say "no" to them. Numerous times it got him in trouble. Helping out a woman that was beaten by her husband turned him into a victim of an extortion scam. Taking care of Marisol's needs when she got sick jeopardized his job. The list goes on and on.
Today was no exception. Eric is mad at himself, about the system….everything. This "Miami Taunter" case has dragged on long enough. He can feel it in his guts that Esteban was guilty as hell but his wealthy family and their battery of cunning lawyers were always one step ahead of them.
When he met Elizabeth Clarke he felt a certain kind of responsibility for her. Eric saw a young woman who needed help and he thought that if given a chance she could turn her life around. After a month of going to the center, Elizabeth definitely cleaned up. Father Ignacio, who runs the center and a close family friend, only has positive words to say about her. To congratulate Elizabeth, he invited her for lunch to talk about her progress and give her a pep talk to boost her morale. There was never ever any sexual or romantic attraction between them that is why it infuriated him when the Navarros insinuated that he was involved with Elizabeth. He never thought that they took snap shots of them together and subsequently used this to their advantage.
He should have listened to Calleigh when she said that she didn't like the idea of letting Elizabeth testify. He sensed a tinge of jealousy from Calleigh when he mentioned Elizabeth. He has to admit that it felt good that he can still stir that feeling from Calleigh so instead of giving it much thought, he went ahead and contacted Elizabeth. As usual he was wrong and Calleigh was right.
His thoughts were now on Calleigh.
It is so ironic that he fell madly in love with a woman who seems to shun any amount of protection offered to her. Calleigh was just the epitome of an independent modern woman. She hates to let people see her vulnerable side. In a few occasions in their relationship she had shown him this side of her but mostly she seems to get everything under control.
He can still vividly remember what she said to him outside of the INS Detention Center after he was released.
"You protect me, I protect you."
After quitting his job and going off to Puerto Rico, he never thought Calleigh would welcome him back. He vowed to himself that he'll do everything to make this relationship work this time and he even thought of taking their relationship to the next level.
After several years of pretending that what they have is just a mere attraction they went into this relationship headstrong. The feelings he had for Calleigh became more intense and addictive. There was a point that it totally consumed him that if he were to be honest affected his better judgement. He knew Calleigh felt the same way and it scared her.
Lying to her in the expense of protecting her caused their still fragile relationship to crumble. It still hurts him to think that his actions brought about their break up. Eric could not blame Calleigh for being so guarded. She has been hurt by men too many times that over time she built this emotional wall that sometimes is just impenetrable. He was not entirely surprised that shortly after Jessie passed away they had "The Talk". He was livid but though it hurt him he had no choice but respect Calleigh's decision to just be friends.
It has been almost a year now since their break up. It was not easy to see her every day and pretend that those two years didn't happen. God knows how he missed her … being with her night and day and doing things together. Lately, he felt that they are getting closer. At least they are working together more often now. He loves how they can still read each other's minds, how they can still finish each other's sentences.
He remembered the case last week when Calleigh splashed her arm with ammonia and she allowed him to help her and wash it off. He didn't think about it at first but when Walter noticed that he was holding Calleigh's arm for far too long and of course Walter just have to point it out to both of them. made He felt his face turn red but Calleigh was cool as usual and managed to segue back the attention to their significant discovery which eventually was the case buster.
He could hear the click clack of his shoe expert's heels and was looking up as Calleigh made her way to sit beside him on the bench.
"I thought I'd find you here. Are you okay?" She asked softly.
Eric looked at her and gave her a half smile. "Yes, I will be." He could see that Calleigh was about to say something but hesitated. "What is it Cal?"
"Eric, I hate to ask you this because it is none of my business but I have to. I need to know if there is an ounce of truth to what the Navarro's lawyers were insinuating about you and Elizabeth Clark. Now that this has somehow affected our case against the Navarros, I'm afraid they will use your involvement with her again. We can't risk this." Calleigh carefully chose her words as not to offend Eric.
"Listen Calleigh, I am really pissed at myself right now for not even thinking that they will use these crazy innuendos, loaded questions and smear tactics. I should've listened to you. But what I said in court today about me and Elizabeth is the truth. There is nothing going on between us. Those pictures they took of us - that was when I took her to lunch to congratulate her on her progress. As her mentor, the center encourages us to do that."
Calleigh nodded her head. "I believe you Eric. How I wish we can get a break with this case soon. Horatio just told me that Vina Navarro hurriedly left the country. This case has dragged on for far too long."
She bent her head down like she was contemplating on something and suddenly she looked up at him and took his hand and said. "Come on. Let's go and have some Chinese- my treat. There's nothing like an MSG high to take your worries away."
Eric can't help but laugh as well. "I would love that but it would be my treat though."
"Fine! I still need to get my stuff in the locker. I'll meet you at the parking lot?"
"No, I'll wait for you here."
They decided to meet up at Chow King, a place they frequent because of its proximity, great food, plus a quick and friendly service. Ling, the owner's wife, knew them since they would always dine here while they were still together. They were sat on a far corner booth which afforded them a bit of privacy.
"You're back! How are you? Long time no see no? You have babies owedy?" Ling enthusiastically greeted them. Both of them were speechless with the unexpected question but Calleigh seem to recover quickly. "We're good Ling but no- no babies yet." She replied with a smile.
"Oh, don't take too long my friends. Time running fast!" Ling said with a wink. "So what are you having?"
They ordered the usual fare of Chow Mein, Egg Foo Yung and Lemon Chicken. Eric did not want to talk about work at all and so he started with light and safe topics. Eric talked endlessly about his nephews and nieces. He talked about his oldest sister Elena and her family's plan to move to California and how his Mom refused to even hear about it. Calleigh shared her excitement about how her brother and his wife are finally expecting and that it might be twins. They have always had this certain rapport and they could go on and on talking the whole night and they will never run out of things to chat about.
"So how's Cosmo?" Eric asked referring to the dog that he found at the hurricane site and that he gave to Calleigh.
"He's still gorgeous and a really good boyfriend." Calleigh replied half laughing. "And getting to be really hairy."
"I'm glad. At least you don't get lonely at night anymore." Eric gazed at Calleigh's face and tried to read the expression on her face.
She smiled and could not look at him. She stared at her food and then took a sip of her tea. A few moments of silence and then she finally said." Eric…. I know it's been hard. Yes, Cosmo helped with the loneliness but ... it's just not the same." Calleigh bit her lower lip and Eric knosw that if she does this it signals that she is struggling with something. Calleigh continued " I…I feel that..." Then they heard Ling coming and totally spoiled the moment.
"I am so sorry but it's 10 owedy and we are closing. Would you want me to bring the check?"
"Thanks Ling! I'll go get it." Eric said as he made his way to the cashier while Calleigh waited for him by the door. A few minutes after, they were heading towards Eric Calleigh's parked car. "I really had a great time Cal. You've always made me feel better when I had a bad day."
"I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the MSG." Calleigh joked. "I really had a great time too Eric." Green eyes met brown and for awhile they gazed at each until Calleigh reached up to touch Eric's right cheek and gave him a quick kiss. "Thanks for the dinner Eric."
Eric was mildly stunned with Calleigh's action. He never saw that coming. Finally he recovered and managed to reply. "Good night Cal. Thank you too. I'll see you tomorrow?"
"I'm off tomorrow. Umm, do you want to hangout and maybe watch a movie or something?" Eric's wide grin was instant."That'd be great!"
Calleigh can't help but let out a light chuckle with Eric's cute reaction. "Alright then, it's a date. I'll call you tomorrow." And with that Calleigh opened her car door, slid into the driver's seat. "Good night Eric."
Eric remained glued to where he was standing as he watched Calleigh's car disappear around the corner. It feels so good to be with Calleigh again even if it's just for a friendly dinner. Somehow he is at his utmost peace when he is with Calleigh. God knows how he missed her. Could it be that she missed him too? There's something about tonight that fueled more hope on what is in store for them in the near future. With that thought he made his way to his car whistling a happy tune.