A/N: A few things need to be said before I send this story on its way:
1) This is quite possibly the latest entry for a fic challenge ever. LOL I wrote this story for jojo140 as part of the Secret Santa Fic Challenge last Christmas but never published it. A Happy International Democracy Day - or so Wikipedia tells me we celebrate today. :-)
2) When I wrote this story last December, I'd grown increasingly frustrated with the way Cal's character had been developed on the show. I felt that if the writers on the show can completely refurbish their main character, then hell I can take him out for a test spin and toy with him. As a result, to some Cal may seem a bit out of characters in this story. I'm pushing him to the limits - not so much in a dramatic fashion, more in a comic way. Just how far would Cal Lightman go, if push came to shove, and he realised he's about to lose Gillian forever. Would he be able to make the ultimate sacrifice, if confronted with the reality that Gillian could leave him for good? What would it take for him to turn around and could he, if faced to put all his eggs in one basket?
3) This story does not fit the canon developed by the writers post Christmas break, as I wrote it before the final episodes aired.
Emily stood in the living room glaring at her father who was typing away on his book as he'd been doing for the most part of the last few months. After all, she'd made sure he did. She didn't know the whole story but she'd caught on to the fact that The Lightman Group would be in dire financial needs if he didn't finish this book by the end of the year. That being said, Thanksgiving had come and gone and Christmas was fast approaching and they needed to get a start on the presents.
"Did you need anything?" Cal glanced up after Emily gave him the silent treatment for five minutes.
"You know very well what I want." Cal rolled his eyes, reached into his pockets for the car keys and tossed them half across the room. Emily caught them easily but didn't budge an inch.
"I'm busy, Em, can't you see? Have fun."
"Dad! Come on, you need a break. You can't write all day."
"Excuse me? Weren't you the one who took my bloody laptop away and essentially chained me to this bleeding typewriter?"
"Yes and you've been a good boy so now Santa rewards you with a little break."
"I don't think driving you to the mall counts as a reward and it was definitely not on my Christmas list. What's the point of you having a driver's license if you still need me to chauffeur you around?"
"Dad, the later you put off getting gifts, the worse it will get. Don't use your book as an excuse to avoid going to the mall with me to get our Christmas shopping done."
"Haven't we agreed on gift cards two years ago after that whole Christmas sweater disaster?" Cal looked at her hopefully.
"Yes, we did… but you still have to find something for your Secret Santa."
Cal's only reaction was a drawn out groan. "A bottle of Scotch will do for Torres. She and Foster apparently like to raid my stash at work."
Emily gasped inwardly. How was that possible? It wasn't period. Either he knew what she'd done and tested her or he'd traded names with someone else. Was he capable of reading it on her face that she'd rigged the game? He couldn't possibly know that she came to him first with a hat full of Gillian's name slips. Once he'd drawn, she filled the hat with the real names. She decided to reproach him in a neutral way for his behaviour without giving herself away. She just needed to work harder on him to go to the mall and find a nice present for Gillian.
"Dad! It's supposed to be secret and you're supposed to put in some effort into getting the person you drew a nice gift!" Emily scolded him and then added, "Besides, we're not going shopping for Torres today, either."
"We're not?" Cal started to wrap up; he knew when it was a lost cause to fight his daughter because she'd set her mind to something. She got that from her mother. "Whom are we shopping for then? Your mum and I agreed not to exchange gifts anymore."
"Gillian." Emily simply stated and Cal dropped the print out of the journal article he'd been reading, sending sheets of paper flying across the room.
"Come again?" He glanced over his shoulder while he bent to retrieve the papers and stack them back in order into a neat pile on his desk and put a clip on it to avoid a repeat performance. "Why would I brave the shopping mall to buy Foster a gift? I'll just order another romance novel from Amazon like last year and the ye…" Cal stopped and trailed off. That sounded horrible when he said it out loud.
Sure he didn't really care all that much about finding the perfect Christmas gift for everyone like his daughter did but sending Foster a new romance novel randomly was beyond thoughtless even for him. While he didn't wander around the malls for days on a quest for the perfect gift, he did try to put some thought into his picks. After all, he knew he was not the greatest with words and sometimes actions spoke louder than words. Except…when you order a random novel from Amazon it practically screamed, 'I don't really appreciate you in my life anymore'. His mask slipped just long enough for his daughter to spy the crestfallen look on his face.
"My point exactly, dad. This year needs to be different. She didn't say anything last Christmas but I know for a fact that the book you gave her – she'd read it before. And you have heaps to make up for to Gillian this year. More than a random book could ever represent."
"Oi! What do you know about my relationship with Foster? We're fine."
"Dad! You guys are not fine. I know you think I'm still a child but I notice things…and you and Gillian have been fighting a lot more these days. I don't know why or what happened but you didn't invite her for Thanksgiving left over lunch on Black Friday."
"Foster had already made plans!" Cal defended himself.
"And why do you think that is? Because she doesn't want to be around you! And quite frankly that sucks, dad, because, in the course, she's not around me anymore, either. And I hate that 'cos I like having Gillian around because she makes us happy. She used to make you happy. Holidays with Gill are fun and I thought we were starting a new Black Friday tradition last year but of course you go and screw it up, dad!"
"Whoa. Language, young lady." Cal pointed his index finger at his daughter in a warning, then dropped his body posture. "I didn't know you were so upset about this."
Emily shrugged her shoulders sheepishly, "I didn't know either until now. Dad, we can't lose Gillian. She's really really good for us, for you. Don't think I haven't noticed how much grumpier you've been the past weeks."
"That's because I have to write this bloody book and you took away my toys and grounded me on the weekends." Cal quipped.
Emily shot him a dirty look.
"Alright, alright. I admit I miss hanging out with Foster. But Emily, sometimes things between adults get complicated and it takes a while for everything to return back to normal."
"Dad, I don't care what you did but I want you to fix it."
"Me? I didn't do anything. Foster can't keep her nose in her own bloody business and out of mine."
"Dad, I hate to tell you this but: Your business is Gillian's business. That's the very definition of equity partner. I learned that in Economics."
"You did that, eh? What else did you learn in school this year?" Cal tried a little deflection but Emily wouldn't go for it.
"That if we don't get a going soon, the mall will close and all the good gifts will be gone and you end up giving Gillian a self-made paper snowflake." Emily quipped.
Cal put his arm around his daughter and explained, "That was a very special snowflake, love. I brought it with me all the way from Afghanistan. It was made by the troops there. And it's not like I had time to go Christmas shopping last year."
"I know dad, which is why we're going early this time lest you disappear to another war zone next week again to get out of it." With that Emily grabbed her father's coat off the hanger and held it out for him. Cal rolled his eyes and slipped his arms into the sleeves. He reached for his gloves and let Emily wrap the scarf around his neck.
"Thank you, now give me back my keys." Cal held out his hand.
"Too late, dad. I'm driving." Emily flashed him her brightest smile and turned around on her heels. Cal groaned and mumbled something about his insurance premium going up again.
0~0~0~0~0
Cal Lightman had never been so lost in his entire life. He was standing in the middle of the shopping mall, praying to be struck down by lightning just so he'd have an excuse to go home. He had spent the better part of the morning racking his brain about what Gillian would like. Now he was supposed to meet his daughter in the food court to replenish his reserves. He was just about to call her on her cell when he spotted her browsing through the CD section of the record and movie store down the aisle from Mc Donald's.
"Did you get everything you wanted?" He asked casually as he came to a stop next to her and glanced over the CD covers.
"Almost. I still need to find something for Liam. What about you? Any luck yet?"
Cal shook his head, "Haven't found the right thing yet."
Emily nodded in understanding, "Maybe you're looking for the wrong thing?"
Cal shrugged his shoulders, "I'm beginning to fear I don't know Foster anymore at all."
"Well, what have you thought about so far?"
"Sears has a smoothie maker on sale." Cal quipped and earned himself a condescending look from his daughter.
"That's the best you can do?"
"Well, I've considered signing her up for a chocolate lover of the month tester programme at the chocolate shop around the corner."
"They do that?" Emily asked astonished. Now that would be something she'd love, too.
"Nope."
"So?"
"Then I realised I haven't seen Foster eating anything sugary in weeks, if not months. When did she have her sweet tooth pulled?" Cal looked at Emily as if she of all people would know the answer.
"I don't know!" Emily shook her head and then added, "Really not even a slushie?"
Now it was Cal's turn to shake his head.
"That is bad. What did you say to her?"
"Nothing!"
"Dad! Come on."
"No really, I haven't even teased her about her future as a drug tester for diabetes meds."
"Do you think she might be sick?" Emily's face flashed a prime example for fear and concern.
"Nah, she would've told me", Cal put his arm reassuringly around his daughter's shoulders, thinking, Well, at least I hope she would.
Emily glared at him in disbelief, "Dad, you really need to patch things up between you and Gillian. She needs us as much as we do her. What if she gets sick and doesn't tell us? She no longer has Alec and her parents live so far away."
"I'm sure she has friends outside the firm", Cal shot her a shut up look and changed the subject instead, "What are you looking for?"
Emily shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know, Liam's got a very eclectic taste – I'm trying to surprise him with a good band he doesn't know yet or find an album he's always wanted."
Cal nodded and wondered what kind of music Gillian preferred? She'd always been into jazz; lately she seemed to really enjoy the crooners. He thought back to their little tipsy dance on their balcony. Maybe he should get her a CD with Frank Sinatra? But which one? He didn't want to commit the same faux pas as last year with the book.
"Are you thinking about buying Gillian a CD?" Emily inquired curiously.
"Maybe, but I don't want to give her one she already has."
Emily nodded understandingly, "Guess you're in the same shoes as I am with Liam."
Cal sighed and wandered off browsing through the different genres. Personally he still preferred the good old-fashioned vinyl albums. There was just something exciting about pulling the black disc out of its paper sleeve, placing it neatly on the player and then carefully positioning the needle. Like an art form. And the sound! The sound was so much better in his opinion. Gillian had laughed at him and explained that the untrained human ear could hardly make out the loss in quality from analogue to digital recordings and bought the CD players instead of the record player for their offices.
0~0~0
"Why the sad look?" Cal asked as he passed Gillian's new office on his way home.
"It's nothing," Gillian shrugged her shoulders, "have a good night, Cal. Say hi to Emily and Zoe for me."
"Will do, but only after you tell me what's making you so sad", he insisted.
"It's nothing really, go home", Gillian shook her head emphatically and added, "If you continue at this pace you'll erase the line before we have a chance to draw it."
Cal looked at her flabbergasted, "You seriously expect me not to say anything when I see a sad face on you? Or disappointment? Love, I can take anger, happiness and maybe even worry but you can't expect me to ignore fear, sadness and disappointment."
Gillian sighed, "It's silly. You'll only laugh."
"Try me."
"I lost the music box."
"The music box?" He didn't even know she had one. He looked around her new office as if he could magically conjure up the lost item. "What does it look like? My mum had one with a ballerina."
"No, I mean you didn't see a box labelled music, did you?" Gillian suddenly perked up, "Maybe it got switched in the move and ended up in your office? Did you come across a box full of CDs?"
Cal loathed disappointing her, "Sorry love, but I didn't see it. Maybe it's with the other unopened boxes in the storage room?"
"No, I already checked. It's not important anyway. The CDs are replaceable."
Cal nodded, "I'm sure we'll find it. Have a good night."
"You, too. See you bright and early." Gillian smiled and Cal groaned when she reminded him about their first appointment in their brand new company space.
0~0~0
"Found something?" Emily met her father and followed his stare at an album cover with curious eyes, "Who the hell is Cannonball Adderley?"
"Huh?" Cal turned around surprised to find his daughter standing next to him.
"I asked whether you found an album for Gillian?"
Cal sighed, "No, unfortunately I don't know the title. Remember when Foster's CD box got lost in the move to the office?"
"Oh yeah, she really loved those." Then she broke out into a giggle, "I thought that was very funny how you interrogated the movers as if they were terrorists in our kitchen."
"They lost Foster's music!" Cal was still indignant about their incompetence. "I wasn't about to let them get away with that. Plus, I thought it couldn't hurt to give them a lecture before they moved my research material from our basement to my new office."
"Yep, I'm sure that's what it was." Her father could try as he might to hide his soft spot for Gillian but it was sometimes so obvious that he loved her.
"You don't remember what the song or album was called, do you?"
"The jazzy one with the trumpet?" Emily shook her head, "No, sorry, but wait." She dashed off and returned a minute later with a young boy hanging on her arm.
"Dad, this is Evan. Evan, my dad." She introduced them. Evan beamed all over his face looking at Emily but his face fell immediately when he met Cal's indifferent glare.
"Sir! Emily told me you were looking for a jazz album but don't remember the title?"
"Err…yes…but I'm afraid I won't be of much help, all I remember is that it had horns and sounded like a cross between bebop and cool jazz to my ears."
"Mhm", Evan nodded and looked through the albums, "We've got a few albums here; maybe you recognise the cover. I could also set up a listening station for you, maybe you'll recognise a song or two."
"That's very nice of you, Evan" Cal thanked the boy and sent Emily a disapproving look once Evan disappeared with a stack of CDs in the direction of the counter.
"What?"
"Does Liam know you flirt with strangers in the record store while you pick his gift out?"
Emily rolled her eyes, "Evan goes to my school. So what if he has a little crush on me and I milk it a little for employee discount at the store? He knows I'm with Liam."
Cal gaped. "I liked you better when you were a little girl with pony tails."
"Oh please, dad. Everyone does it. Now hurry, we don't have all day. You take half the albums, I take the other half."
Emily and Cal listened to over a dozen CDs without any luck. Evan looked crestfallen that he was not able to help Emily's father and impress her.
"Perhaps you could sing the tune and I could order the album for you?" Evan offered as a last resort.
"I beg your pardon?" Cal looked at the boy as if he'd just grown a second head.
"I'm a huge jazz aficionado myself." He added as a way of explanation.
"No, I get that but…"
"Yes, dad! Sing for Evan. He knows just about every song out there." Emily nodded and shook her father's shoulder. Evan's chest puffed out a little in pride at Emily's words.
Cal gave her a look that said she was insane and that he was going to kill her if she didn't shut up, own flesh and blood or not. Then he turned back to Evan and refused politely.
"Come on, dad. You can hum. No one will hear. How did it go?" Emily started to hum but then stopped and looked at her father for help.
"Oh for Christ's sake" Cal groaned and then continued where Emily left off – terribly off key and completely out of tune. Emily beamed. He'd only make a fool out of himself for Gillian. Evan's smile and face fell when he realised the father daughter duo would be of absolutely no help whatsoever in locating the mysterious album.
When Cal finished he looked at the boy expectantly and then broke out into laughter when Evan struggled to find the right words. "Save it, son, I know it was horrible. Thanks for your help and time."
Cal turned around to leave and Evan sputtered unintelligible syllables trying to recover. Emily leaned over the counter, "I told you he reads faces. Don't worry, you didn't really offend him. Thanks anyway."
When Emily turned around to catch up with her father she found him in a stare down with another man, "Eli!"
Cal cocked his head sideways and gave his employee a once over.
"Emily! How nice to run into you guys here." Eli tried to appear nonchalant about their encounter but obviously looked just as uncomfortable as Cal to be caught in this situation.
"What are you doing here?" Emily asked him, "Duh! Shopping of course. What did you get?"
"Nothing!" Eli suddenly blurted and Emily and Cal could see him trying to hide a couple of DVDs better behind his back.
"Did you buy children's Christmas movies on sale again, Loker?" Cal couldn't resist teasing him.
"The Grinch? Scrooge? And Christmas Story? Boy, are you disillusioned for Christmas this year." Emily blurted out.
" 'Tis the season to be jolly…" Cal quipped sarcastically.
Eli shook his head and then grinned mischievously, "At least I didn't have to sing in order to find them."
Emily suppressed a giggle and prepared for the worst. If her father were prone to blushing with embarrassment, he probably would have turned six different shades of red.
"If you…" Cal stepped into Loker's personal space and threatened him with his finger, "so much as breathe a word of this to anyone…so help me God!"
Eli just smiled knowingly, "Wouldn't dream of it." He stepped out of the way to let Emily and Cal pass, "Have a nice day you two."
"Thank you, Eli, you too", Emily grabbed Cal's hand who was about to say something else and pulled her father past Loker.
"What was that?" Emily asked once they were out of earshot.
"I believe that was what is called a Loker. It appears at the most inopportune of times, never knows when to keep its mouth shut and generally makes it a habit to annoy you." Cal put on his lecture voice.
Emily giggled and scolded her father, elbowing his side softly, "You're incorrigible."
"Thank you very much!" Cal glanced at his daughter who suddenly reminded him a whole lot of his business partner.
