He'd been missing for a while now. Three hours? No one could reach him on his phone.

Gillian had tried over and over again. Recieving the same message everytime. "Lightman. Leave a message."

So plain and simple, yet it worried her every time she heard it.

She was the only person in the office that was truly worried about his whereabouts. Emily didn't know. Loker and Ria thought that he was off doing something ridiculous and it wasn't even worth it to worry. Ben agreed with Eli and Torres, and Heidi shrugged it off.

But Cal usually showed some sign that he was leaving and didn't plan on coming back for a while.

At the moment, she sat in her office, searching through emails and texts, hoping for a message that Cal sent that she may have missed.

.:.

Another three hours and others were getting worried. He didn't stay gone that long.

"Where could he be?" asked Eli.

"I don't know...maybe he like... went out and then got distracted by some girl?" Ria suggested.

Gillian shook her head. "No... he's dating Megan... he wouldn't get distracted."

"I haven't gotten anything from him," Megan announced, walking into the lab.

Gillian would like to say she hated Megan for taking Cal, but Megan was a nice person... Cal had chosen well this time.

"No emails? Goodbyes?"

"Nothing..." Megan sighed and sat down beside Loker. "Did you guys get anything?"

"Nope. Nada." Eli sighed and stood up. "Whatever. It's not like he hasn't disappeared before. I wouldn't be worried."

"I'm worried," Gillian whispered.

Megan nodded and looked at Gillian. "Did he say he was ging anywhere?"

Megan wasn't annoyed by Gillian's caring for Cal. She knew that deep down inside his heart, Cal had feelings for Gillian, and she understood. Everyone had that one person that they loved, but couldn't ever seem to have.

She was actually happy that there was someone to watch after Cal when he was at work, and she knew that Gillian would never cross that line of hers. She didn't have to worry about Gillian tempting Cal, and Cal promised that he was over Gillian. Even if it wasn't true, he would be trying his best to stay away.

Less flirting and more work. That's what he told her with a cute smile.

More flirting and less work when he was at home. That came with a small kiss for her nose.

Emily had been staying with him less and less these days. She was almost eighteen, and was staying over at friend's houses because they were closer to school.

When she wasn't staying with friends, she was with Zoe. She knew that Cal was busy.

But that wasn't exactly the deal. He could easily make time for Emily, but she didn't want to be there because Megan was there. She was still positive that Cal and Gillian would be an official item one day.

Megan hadn't officially moved in, but her and Cal had become very serious over the last year. Marriage was out of the question... at the moment.

He loved her, but he wasn't sure about where he stood with Gillian.

Gillian wasn't sure either.

Emily walked into the office, looking like she was on an importantly mission.

"Hey, Emily," Megan and Gillian said simultaneously.

"Hi." She gave a round wave, indicating 'hello' to anyone who might be looking.

"What's up?"

"You know what's up. Where's dad?" She was talking to Gillian now, and Megan could tell.

If Emily had asked Megan that question should would have said 'where's my dad?' instead. Emily considered Gillian family... Megan? Not so much.

It wasn't that she didn't like Megan, she just preferred Gillian.

"Um, we don't really know." Gillian sighed and stood up. "We've been calling and he has been not picking up," she whispered, picking up her phone, anxiously looking for a message from him.

Emily looked to Megan, hoping for a different answer.

"Same thing. He hasn't contacted me either."

"He would have talked to one of us by now," Emily said with a frown.

"Yes, I'm sure you're right. I don't know. I'll keep calling."

Gillian held her phone to her head and sighed as it went to the same message.

"Lightman. Leave a message."

"Hey, Cal, I've been calling for the past six hours... where are you? Is everything ok? We're worried? Megan and Emily have been calling too." She hung up and set the phone down. "I'm sure that Eli is right. There's nothing to worry about."

"You don't believe that," Emily whispered.

"You're right, I don't, but what other choice do I have?"

Emily and Megan both nodded. "I'm going home. I'll let you know if I get anything." Megan stood up and walked to the door.

"Alright, I'll keep you posted," Gillian promised.

"When you say home... do you mean your apartment or my house?"

Megan sighed and looked towards Emily. "I mean your house."

"Oh, ok." Emily looked at the ground.

She wasn't sure how to get to Emily. How was she supposed to make her boyfriend's daughter like her? It was impossible, especially with Emily at the independent age that she is now.

Megan walked out, not able to come up with something to say.

"You want to talk?" Gillian asked.

"This would be a good time since dad can't interrupt and stuff..." Emily said with a shrug. Pulling up a chair, she took a seat and pulled her knees to her chest. "What if dad proposes?"

Gillian's eyes widened and she shook her head. "That isn't going to happen."

"How can you be so sure?"

"He's not ready for that."

"Says who?" Emily pushed.

"Says me. He's not getting married any time soon."

Emily smiled, satisfied with the answer Gillian gave. "Thank you. I just had to make sure."

"Make sure of what?"

"Make sure that you still loved him." She walked out of the room before Gillian could contradict Emily's true statement.

A/N: SOmething I came up wiht. Popped into my hed and I just couldn't wait. I graduated, so I have a day of writing tomorrow! Then I go back to school for community service... bleckkkk... thanks for taking the time to read and review. I love y'all!