A/N: Post "Raising Caine." Not beta'd. This will be a multi-chapter story. Constructive criticism much appreciated!

I am currently writing my thesis, and I took up fanfiction as a way to get my creative juices flowing (writer's block and I are old friends). I will continue to update when I can, including my story "Hanging On For Dear Life." Thank you for all your support!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 1

Calleigh hauled her gear off the boat and yelled at Eric to hurry up. Of ALL days for this to happen! She was practically steaming. She knew being on-call during her days off came with the job, but they'd been planning this for over a month. She missed her diving trips with Eric.

Today was one of those rare, glorious days that Calleigh and Eric both had the day off. Over the years, they ended up spending most of those days out on the water, drinking up the sun and enjoying each others' company. In some ways, these diving trips held their relationship together during the last eleven years, through every imaginable obstacle.

Their days off used to coincide more frequently, but seniority in the lab came with extra responsibilities and prolonged shifts, which meant their diving excursions took a major hit.

"Eric!" Calleigh yelled over her shoulder. She'd already managed to secure her scuba gear in the trunk of Eric's car, but he was still fiddling with something on the boat.

"I'm coming, I'm coming. Or would you rather Mariano's boat float away? Personally, I can't afford it…" he grinned that irresistible Delko grin.

Calleigh smiled half-heartedly, knowing that she shouldn't have pressed him so hard. "I'm sorry. I know you have to tie up the boat. I just want to get a move on."

By her side now at the trunk of the car, Eric said, "Cal, come on. What's really bugging you?"

Calleigh looked down, cheeks tinting pink. "It's just, we haven't gotten to do this in so long. Not—" she stopped, not able to finish.

"Not since before Jake." Eric understood. He understood perfectly.

Calleigh nodded, bringing her eyes up to meet Eric's. "And ever since Horatio found out about Kyle, and now that Julia's back in the picture, my workload keeps getting bigger and bigger."

"And you're afraid we won't get to do this again?" Eric questioned.

She nodded, and Eric continued, a little hesitantly, "And is this something you'd like to do more often?"

Calleigh knew he wasn't just asking her about their diving trips. For them, diving had never been just diving. So she took care in formulating her answer. Eric finished dumping his gear into the trunk before he shut the lid and gracefully hopped on top of it, ready to wait out Calleigh's answer.

"It is..." she let that sink in. "Do you remember why we started diving in the first place?" Calleigh asked with a laugh.

Eric shook with laughter. "How could I forget?"

FLASHBACK

The excitement from her first day on the job still hadn't worn off, and Calleigh enthusiastically agreed to track down a key piece of evidence when he solicited her help. Little did Calleigh know, but that one errand would change the course of her life in Miami.

"Hey! You must be the tow-truck driver," she hollered at a man bent over toward the end of the truck.

"I prefer automotive recovery expert." The man turned around, and Calleigh's breath caught in her throat. Hello gorgeous HUNK of a fine man!! Oh god, I sound like Grandma Adelaide.

"Detective Caine asked me to come and get the vehicle, so…"

"Well it's all yours—take it," Eric smiled. "I just have one question. You wanna give me your phone number now, or later?"

Calleigh paused for a minute, not sure if she should be confused or flattered. "Does that work??" she finally laughed.

"Yeah, it works all the time…well, most of the time…actually, it's never worked, but I'm gonna keep trying."

"Well, I wouldn't bother with me, seriously, because I wouldn't even socialize with anyone remotely related to my job."

"'Kay. We'll see." Cocky little…

"Well, thanks a lot Mr.—"

"Delko. Yeah, but you can call me Eric." He winked, and then turned around, nearly bowling Horatio right over. Calleigh laughed to herself…smooth.

Several hours later, Calleigh's first official shift came to a close. As she exited the building and made her way across the street to the parking garage, a gentle hand wrapped around her arm and pulled her to a stop.

Calleigh whipped around, her heart pounding. Soon her eyes settled on a semi-familiar face—the tow-truck driver from earlier. Her fear turned to curiosity.

"Eric?"

"Aahhh," he smiled. "You remembered! The thing is, you never told me your name."

Calleigh smiled widely and held out her hand, "Calleigh Duquesne at your service."

"Well, Calleigh Duquesne, I was just talking to H, and he told me you are new to our fair city."

"True," she wasn't sure where this was going.

Eric's palms began to sweat. He'd barely met this girl, but she already had him mesmerized. Or maybe it was the part Horatio mentioned about the guns… Whatever answer Calleigh gave him to his next offer, he wouldn't take no for an answer.

"So I'm assuming you haven't gotten a chance to really enjoy it yet," he grinned.

"Not really, no," she smiled.

"I have a proposition, then."

"A proposition?"

"Yes. See, your first week's bound to be pretty stressful, and you'll want to relax somehow. Now, hear me out!" he stopped Calleigh from interrupting him.

"I haul tin to make extra cash, but usually I'm working as a civilian contractor with underwater recovery. This Saturday's my day off…and, well I was wondering if you'd like to go diving with me?" he finished in a rush.

Calleigh remained silent for a few seconds. "Diving?" she finally said.

The cocky grin she'd seen on Eric Delko's face earlier today had long since disappeared. He really wants me to go? Hmmm, ulterior motives?

As if he could read her mind, Eric spoke up, "Listen, I know I was hitting on you back at the garage. Truth is, Horatio's told me a lot about you, and I think we could be pretty great friends. Besides," he ducked his head, "I'm thinkin' about getting my badge, becoming a CSI. I thought I could pick your brain. What do you say?"

"Oh fine," she said with good humor, "how the heck can I argue with that?"

Eric's smile nearly blinded her. "Good! Great, umm, we can meet somewhere, or I can pick you up. All you need to bring is a swimsuit and a towel, maybe some sunblock."

"Well, I've been here a total of three days. I know how to get to work, and the store. Why don't you pick me up? I'm in Bal Harbour."

Eric chuckled, "Deal. And it sounds like a tour of the city is in order." Calleigh smiled. "Seven o'clock Saturday morning sound okay? I'll bring coffee."

"Deal," she mimicked his words.

They exchanged phone numbers and Calleigh gave Eric her address, neither aware of the journey upon which they had just embarked.

END FLASHBACK

Eric and Calleigh stood still and silent, drowning in old memories, until Calleigh broke the moment. "It's just, things are so hectic, and it feels like we never get to spend time together anymore."

Eric felt the same way. Their diving excursions were few and far between these days, and even their customary movie and pizza nights had gone on extended hiatus.

Three weeks ago Eric's cousin Nico visited from the Dominican Republic, and he constantly commented on the ridiculous number of hours Eric worked. Nico said to Eric, "At some point in your life, you're going to have to slow down, enjoy life. Don't worry so much. Take stock of what's important before it's too late."

Eric knew what was most important in his life: Calleigh. As his best friend, and someday soon, as something more.

"Calleigh…Cal, eleven years ago we started something. You were a saucy little thing that was terrified of messing up her new job. I was… well I was just lost. I didn't know what I wanted. You helped me decide," they both smiled.

Eric continued, "It's just, I doubt either one of us figured we'd be standing here, like this, today. You're my best friend, and I'd do anything for you. That thing we started morphed into the most important thing in my life."

Calleigh's heart gave a little flutter. She'd heard him tell her she was his best friend a thousand times, but never quite like that.

"You're right. We don't see each other as much as we used to. But we do have a choice in that matter," he tugged her chin up with his thumb and forefinger until she was looking at him. "Actually we have a couple options."

"I'm listening," Calleigh said, interested.

"First," he smirked, "you happen to be the assistant day-shift supervisor, and you could arrange for us to have more time off together."

Calleigh shook her head vehemently. "Don't start that again, Delko! You know how unfair it would be to mess with the schedule just for my own benefit!"

"And mine," Eric laughed at her glare. "Well, then, option number two. We make an intentional effort to spend time together after work, at least…twice…a week. More, if need be."

"Okay," Calleigh's grin beginning to grow. "You've really thought about this, haven't you?"

Eric blushed. "Maybe. Okay, yeah I have, a lot. But Cal, I…I miss you."

Calleigh tugged Eric off the trunk of the car and into a tight embrace. "I miss you, too," she said into his chest. About that time, she realized Eric was still wearing his wetsuit and no t-shirt. Calleigh jumped back like she'd been burned. Then she thought, what the hell, and pulled him back into her arms. "That's why I'm so pissed to go on this call-out. This is our time."

That snapped both of them back to reality. "The call-out!" they shouted in unison and hurried to jump in the car. The crime scene was only about three miles from their current location at the marina, but they'd received the page fifteen minutes ago and still hadn't left.