A Burden Shared

by BookwormDragon

Disclaimer: Neither the CSI: Miami Universe nor any of the Characters in the CSI: Miami Universe belong to me. No profit is made from this story on my part. No copyright infringement is intended.

Warning: Possible spoilers for Season 4 episodes "Nailed", "Shattered", and "The Score".

"She's a pretty girl." Calleigh's voice was studiously neutral, but Eric didn't miss the faint undertone of disapproval.

"Yeah." He agreed, absently. Marisol certainly was beautiful. It was so hard to believe...

"She's my sister." He hadn't meant to say that, it had just slipped out.

"Your sister! What's going on, Eric? Is something wrong?"

"I...no, no, nothing's wrong. I, she..." He didn't know where the tears came from, but suddenly his eyes were burning with them.

"Eric?" She was leaning toward him now, concerned, no longer disapproving.

"She's got cancer!" he blurted out, before he could stop himself. "She's dying, Calleigh, and I don't..." he choked up, unable to continue. It hadn't really seemed real, until now. He hadn't spoken the words out loud before: as long as he didn't say the words, it wasn't really happening.

"Oh, Eric." And then her arms were around him, holding him together. He could smell her shampoo, and the faint scent of gunpowder that always seemed to linger around her. He buried his face in her neck, breathing in her scent and trying to choke back the tears that were suddenly determined to fall.

"Shhh, I've got you. Just let it go, it's ok..." She rubbed his back soothingly, muttering comforting nonsense, waiting patiently for him pull himself back together.

After a minute, he drew a shuddering breath and pulled away.

"Sorry for getting your shirt wet."

"It's nothing. That's what friends are for."

"Being a handkerchief?"

"Someone's got to do it!" She teased him gently, before sobering again. "I'm very sorry about your sister, Eric. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Thanks. It's hard on her, but we're managing."

Calleigh's eyes narrowed suddenly. "You haven't told anyone yet, have you? That's why you keep missing your callouts! Why haven't you told Horatio? You know he'll understand. We all will."

"I just...it still doesn't seem real. Telling Horatio would make it real. I know it sounds silly, but..."

"We can't cover for you if we don't know, Eric. Tell Horatio. And Alexx. Frank and Ryan too. We'll cover for you, help you - you know that. We're your friends."

"It's my fault Ryan got hurt today. I should have been there, it was supposed to be my scene."

"You did not shoot Ryan with a nail gun. There was no way you could have foreseen such a thing. None of us could have. Tell him. He's a good man, he'll understand."

"Maybe you're right."

"Of course I'm right. He's turning into a good CSI, and a good friend. He'll support you, and so will everyone else."

"I need to pick up the nail from his eye, that's why I'm here."

"I got it already. I'll take it to the lab while you go talk to Ryan. They're going to release him soon, and he could use a ride home and someone to keep an eye on him tonight since Alexx got called out to another scene."

"He's probably still mad at me."

"So make it right. And tell Horatio! If you don't, I will, so don't wait to long, mister."

"You're a good friend, Calleigh."

"I know. See you at the lab."

"Thanks."