Disclaimer: Of course its not mine, its fanfction

Warning: Mild Spoilers for Exposed

No Beta, all mistakes mine.

A/N: So this was mildly inspired by Blind Pilot's Song 'One Red Thread, but its not exactly a songfic if you haven't heard it yet, heres the first verse, which also isn't mine-

"Oh, from the first that the line got drawn,
it was posion in the land it was on
One red thread through the middle of a song
My only one, my only one."

Cal hated the line. He wanted so badly to cross it, but he had agreed to it, because he respects her wishes.

Of course, there had been quite a few times he had crossed it, but only when he was afraid she would get hurt.

She was so pissed at him when he interfered with her relationship with that Marco or Dave or whatever it was it had hurt him. She had to have know that he was just protecting her, but that didn't seem to matter. All she cared about was her stupid line.

Cal wished he would gather up the courage to trample all over that line. Not just to protect her, but to be with her. He wanted that so bad, and for so long. He wish he would just step up and tell her, get the whole thing off of his chest.

But he couldn't do that to her- to them. If he crossed the line that way, asked for more, he was sure the result would be devastating. He had already observed how crossing it to protect her had impacted their relationship, he could never just throw it away. The posion that line held would wreak their relationship one way or another.

One way, he would never have her. The other way, he might. He wasn't sure. He could tell that Gillian cared for him more than she cared to admit, but would she be open to a romantic relationship with him? What would happen to them if she weren't? Would they go on the way they had before or would their friendship be wreaked forever?

"Hey Cal," Gillian said. Cal looks up and sets the papers on his desk aside for a moment.

"'Ello love," He says. "Its been a long day. Are you headed home for the evening?"

Gillian nods. "Yeah, I need some sleep and I suggest you do the same."

Cal sighs. "Don't worry about it love, I'll be fine." He sees the look of disbelief on her face. She knows he's going to be there most the night, analyzing videos untill exhastion takes over and then he will either crash on the couch in his office or load up on coffee to keep him awake on the ride home. Crashing on the couch seemed more likely since Emily wasn't home he didn't have to be either, and disliked the idea of an empty house.

"Cal, I mean it," Gillian said, concern written all over her face. "Go home."

"Don't worry about me love," Cal repeats, turning his attention to the computer screen in front of him.

Gillian sighs. "Whatever Cal, do what you want. I'm going home, goodnight," she turns to walk out, but Cal stops her.

"Gillian wait," He says. Gillian turns around and raises an eybrow at him.

Cal bites his lip. He wants to tell her how much he loves her, how he wants more out of their relationship. But he can't do that. Not today. He was terrified of what that might do to their friendship if she didn't feel the same way, or just wasn't ready. So he doesn't say any of that.

"Nothing," he shakes his head. "Just, just be carefull love."

Once she is gone, Cal slumps down in his chair and thinks,

Its never going to happen.

A/N: So I know thats kind of short but could you please still review it? I wasn't going to post it, but I had it sitting there on my desktop and couldn't stand not posting it here. Please, all reviews welcome and greatly appreciated!