Okay, this is just a teaser… ;-)

But for those of you familiar with my other stories, it takes place after "Journey's End" but before its epilogue. Had to know that Cal couldn't stay out of trouble for 10 whole years, right? ;-)

He woke with a strangled cry dying slowly on his lips. Breathing hard, he took a moment to orient himself, scanning the too familiar room. Not that there was much to scan.

Throwing his legs over the side of the bed, he listened to the a/c running and the energetic couple next door. His lip curled in disgust. Tissue paper walls in a cheap motel. He'd awakened here two days ago and hadn't stepped outside.

Images of a blue-eyed brunette woman kept flickering through his mind's eye. Her eyes lit up as she smiled at him. He could see love. He just wished he knew who she was. There was also an image of a child playing and laughing in a cemetery – he felt that he should know this child. He wanted very badly to know, but he didn't.

Sinking his head into his hands he tried to massage away the throbbing pain that manifested itself there. As usual, he was unsuccessful. There were pills next to the bed. He took two dry.

Pushing off from the bed, he stumbled to the tiny bathroom to rub some water on his face. The cool water trickled down and dripped off his chin onto his chest. The fan vibrated in his head painfully as he stared at his reflection. A slightly grizzled face looked back at him. Dark blond hair hung across deep purple bruises and shifting hazel eyes. A week's worth of beard coated his cheeks and jaw. Scars adorned his upper body, including a lengthy one along his ribcage. Must have had a tough life. He was in his mid to late 40's from what he could judge. Couldn't be completely sure though. It was pretty messed up not even knowing how old you were, let alone your name. His only clue was the wedding band, but all the script inside read:

G to C With love. 6-18-11

Not very helpful. Was he G or C? The brunette woman had to be his wife, right? Or maybe the ring wasn't even his. He was so damned confused.

His friend would arrive soon, probably toting some fast food bags. Didn't know his friend's name, at least not his real name. The word 'friend' was a loose interpretation of what he really was. That was his instinct at least. His instincts seemed to be pretty dead on. That was why they were taking care of him. Protecting him. And probably using him. He wasn't an idiot.

Pushing his hair back from his face, he tried to meet his eyes. For some reason he found it difficult. He hoped for some clue lurking within their depths, but there was nothing. A stranger's eyes. He looked away.

Frustration and anger began to well. They were constant companions at this point even if they weren't exactly welcome. Better than feeling blank or slipping into a deep depression. He came close. Not really knowing himself, he still felt that he wasn't one to stay in one place for long.

Leaving the bathroom he began to pace. He quickly landed at the window and peeked out to see nothing as usual. Desert. As best as he could figure, he was either in California or Nevada. Maybe the outskirts of Barstow. Wherever he was, civilization seemed pretty far away. He wasn't staying at the Bates Motel, but it was certainly reminiscent of it. But instead of a young wacko running the place, there was an elderly couple. He had seen them but hadn't conversed. He'd been assured that it would be a very bad idea.

The pills were kicking in as the headache was reduced to nothing more than a tolerable pressure. Always agitated, he dropped to the threadbare carpet and slipped into push up mode. The last 48 hours had been filled with them, along with sit-ups and isometrics. He found that exhaustion helped temper the agitation. And the sadness.

(BREAK)

When she had first opened her eyes, he'd still been there. His head had been resting against the spidery glass of the driver's side window. A sob had been caught in her throat as she tentatively reached out to him and relief rushed out in a gasp to find that his hand was warm. She must have blacked out again because the next thing she knew, voices were around her in the night. One insistently kept asking if she were okay before she felt herself free from the car and in the open desert air. She was then being moved.

Gillian cracked her eyes open and managed to inquire. "My husband…?"

The question was met with confusion before one voice informed her that he'd gone on ahead to the hospital. Even dazed, she could tell he was lying.