This is dedicated to AdamAndCasey'sBiggestFan.
I luv ya Admiral!
"Wake up luv." Cal murmured as he gently brushed a strand of light brown hair from Gillian's face.
They had fallen asleep on her couch with his arms around her. Cal watched as Gillian's blue eyes fluttered in a futile attempt to open.
"What?' Gillian asked drowsily.
"Torres just called. She and Loker need us at the office."
"Can't they handle it by themselves?" Gillian groaned.
"Probably. If they tried"
"Cal..."Gillian said warningly.
"Whut?"
"Be nice."
Gillian stood and started towards the kitchen."You hungry?"
"I don't think eating here is a good idea."
"Why?"
"Why do you think? I don't really feel like eating chocolate pudding for breakfast."
"I have cereal you know."
"Fine. But if I look and that fridge is full of everything you'd need to make a ten year old happy, I'm leaving."Cal said threateningly.
"Sure you are." Gillian said as she rolled her eyes.
"I will, as sure as I'm the boss I will." But what Cal had wanted to say was:
"I will, as sure as you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, I will."
The only times he'd ever dared to cross the line were when he was afraid of Gillian getting hurt. But he'd caused her pain himself and he knew it. Just the day before he'd kept that gun to his head for as long as he could. He'd wanted to prove that Matheson hadn't killed his wife.
Even if it meant risking his life to do so.
He'd understood the guilt Matheson had felt about dragging his wife into his world. He felt it himself sometimes.
But all of that had evaporated when Gillian had come in and begged Matheson to let him go.
It replayed in his mind before he had a chance to stop it.
"We've done everything you asked" Gillian said, her tone becoming desperate.
"Foster" Cal interrupted urgently.
Gillian glanced at him before continuing.
"Let him go, please" Gillian pleaded as her composure crumbled and tears ran down her cheeks.
"Foster, go." Cal commanded as the cold metal of the gun pressed viciously against his temple.
"Okay."
Gillian gave a small nod as she fought against her tears.
"Lock the door behind her." Matheson said as he shoved Cal roughly forward.
Cal pushed the buttons on the keypad in silence.
He was struggling to push the image of Gillian's tearstained face out of his head.
Seeing her lose control like that had unnerved him.
Gillian Foster never lost control.
Not even when she'd told him she was getting divorced,
Or when she'd talked about losing Sophie.
She was almost always happy, especially since her and Alec had separated.
"Cal?" Gillian said, pulling him back to the present.
"Yeah luv."
"You okay?"She asked as she sat next to him and lightly placed her hand on his shoulder.
"I'm okay." Cal said.
It surprised him to realize that it was true.
Actually, he was better than okay. He was genuinely happy to be sitting here with Gillian. With nothing and no one holding either of them back. Gillian was finally free of all the hurt Alec had caused her. Her smiles were genuine again and she'd started wearing colors other than black, brown, and navy blue. In fact, she rarely wore anything that wasn't bright anymore.
Although her black dress yesterday had certainly fit.
He suddenly became aware of how close she was.
There was definitely less than a foot between them.
"Cal" Gillian said, pulling him out of his thoughts once again.
Her eyes were filled with uncertainty, and there was something else there too. But Cal didn't get a chance to wonder what it was. Because Gillian's lips were suddenly crushing against his and a split-second later he was kissing her back with equal passion.
Gillian had risked everything by jumping, and now they were both safe on the other side.