One Dance

"Ok, so who's buying first?" Valera asked looking around the table at her colleges.

"I'll buy first round." Sam offered. They had all decided to go out clubbing to welcome the new tech to the lab.

"No!" Natalia protested. "You're the guest of honor. You're not allowed to buy yourself a drink all night."

"I think Ryan should buy since he just got his job back." Eric added grinning at the glare Ryan gave him.

"Be nice to him." Calleigh said.

"Ryan paying sounds like a good idea to me." Jake put in, but missed the nasty look Eric shot at him. It did not go unnoticed however by a certain blonde who instantly became tense.

"Fine, I'll get the drinks." Ryan grumbled, taking everyone's order and heading to the bar.

"Oh! I love this song!" Valera exclaimed. "Dance with me Eric." She said, already pulling him out onto the floor.

Calleigh watched Valera move in next to him. Flames of jealousy spurted inside her when she saw her swinging her hips against Eric's and wrapping her arms around his neck. She knew she was being irrational. After all she was with Jake, she had chosen Jake, but he urge to drag Valera away from Eric was only growing stronger the longer the song went on.

Ryan's return brought Calleigh back to what was going on around her. Thanking him Calleigh caught Natalia's gaze. The knowing look she gave her suddenly made Calleigh blush.

She turned to Jake only to find him talking to Sam, leaving nothing for Calleigh to do but watch Eric and Valera. By the time the song had ended and the two returned to the table Calleigh was ready to duck tape Valera to her seat just to keep her away from Eric.

Eric's eyes met Calleigh's and held for a moment longer than needed.

"That was great!" Valera panted, oblivious to the scene going on before her eyes. Natalia however was not and as she watched the exchanged between Eric and Calleigh she started to hatch a plan.

"You two looked great. You're a really good dancer, Eric."

"Hey! What about me?" Valera asked as if she was wounded.

"You too," Natalia said, her gaze on Calleigh. "You know, Calleigh's a great dancer also. You guy's should go dance." If the tense look Eric was sporting wasn't enough to convince her she was on the mark the terrified look Calleigh was giving her certainly reassured her.

"Ok." Eric said cautiously.

With a quick, hesitory glance at Jake Calleigh agreed and the two made their way to the dance floor.

"What do you think you're doing?" Ryan asked in her ear.

"Shhhh." Natalia hushed him. "Just watch them. You're a CSI. I want your opinion on what I suspect is going on between Eric and Calleigh." She whispered back.

"Nothing's going on. Calleigh's with Jake." Ryan said confused.

Natalia sighed. "You've been gone and even before you left you weren't all there so you didn't notice anything. Just watch and tell me what you see." She turned her gaze back to the floor and smiled.

Eric had Calleigh in his arms. Their bodies were pressed as close together as possible and their hips were moving sensuously. Calleigh had her arms around his neck as Valera had, but there was an intimacy between them that hadn't been there with Valera. Their eyes never left each others, unmistakably filled with love.

The song ended, but they continued to dance, oblivious to the world except for each other. By the third song they had caught the attention of several couples around them that had stopped to watch.

After the forth song they made their way back to the others who were all staring at them in disbelief. Well everyone except Natalia who had a smug grin plastered on her face.

Calleigh slid back into the booth as if nothing had happened. Jake on the other hand could not believe what he had just witnessed.

"Uh…Calleigh. Can I talk to you for a minute? In private." He added. She nodded and followed him with a guilty look. Eric left to go get another drink, leaving the four of them to discuss what had just happened.

Ryan let out a long breath. "Ok, how'd I miss that one?"

All Natalia did was grin as Sam and Valera exchanged confused glances. "I told you to open your eyes and watch them."

"But when did it happen?" Ryan asked, his thoughts racing.

"Well," Natalia pondered. "I think it started moving to the degree it is now after Eric's accident, but it's always been there, underlying their relationship. You've known them the longest Valera. What do you think?"

Considering it for a minute she nodded. "There has always been something between them. I just didn't know it has fully progressed to love."

"Oh I think they've always been in love, just not as aware of it as they are now. Even while Eric and I were together I knew."

"So let me get this straight." Sam chimed in. "Eric and Calleigh have been in love with each other for years and they are just now realizing it. Only Calleigh is with Jake."

Natalia nodded sadly. "But it doesn't look as if Calleigh and Jake are going to be together much longer." She said looking at the couple who appeared to be having an argument.

"Well you can't really blame the guy. If I had just seen my girlfriend dancing like that with some guy I wouldn't be too happy either." Ryan said taking a drink.

"So do you think Eric and Calleigh are going to get together?" Sam asked, now hooked on the story.

"Oh they'll end up together for sure. They always do. I just hope they don't take too long to figure out how perfect they are for each other." Natalia replied. Silence fell over the table as they all wondered where Eric and Calleigh would end up.

A/N: So this was just something floating around in my head. I have more but I'm not sure if I want to continue. Tell me what you think. Reviews are appreciated!!