They Had Both Been Waiting

CHAPTER 1

Gillian hopped off the plane, tired and feeling a bit dishevelled. After collecting her rather heavy bags from the carousel she headed straight for the lady's bathroom to refresh and tidy-up. She wanted to look as good as she could after spending 3 days away, apparently on holiday, when all she had done was think about how much she missed him…

Cal waited outside in the car park, full of white cars that seemed to reflect the harsh sun and direct it only at him. He slouched in his chair, with his arms crossed behind his head, lost in thought. He hated airports. They were always busy and the parking fees were outrageous, it was probably cheaper to drive where she had decided to go. But anyway, she was so insistent that it was safer to fly than drive. And how could he refuse her? He HATED that looked of sadness that sometimes crept into her eyes, destroying the vibrant blue that they usually withheld.

..After fixing her makeup and grabbing her luggage, Gillian headed for the exit. It had been a long time away, okay well, only 3 days, but it felt like a long time. Wonder why it felt so long? Gillian questioned herself, but it was a stupid question, you know perfectly well why it felt so long! It was HIM, he was the only reason your holidays felt like eternity, an eternity away from his embrace, his 'goodnight luv's' from his beautiful hazel eyes. She tried to stop the thoughts that were playing out in her head. She didn't want to look flustered. Because she knew he would be able to read her every emotion that was sure to be dancing across her features.

Cal had the radio full blast, waiting for her to eventually come out of the big sliding doors at the entrance of the airport. An international flight had come in only moments before and a wave of people had come flooding out of the doors and ran over to cue for a taxi. He was glad at this stage that he had volunteered to pick her up. Not only was the sun getting hotter and she was sure to get burnt waiting but he wanted to save her the trouble of cueing for only God knows how long, with a bunch of French people who don't stop pushing and shoving! As Cal bopped his head to a song on the radio that he hadn't heard since his days in England, he found himself deep in thought. His mind whizzed over the past three days and how the office seemed lifeless without her. He thought to himself, how he missed her smiles that would make his shit days bearable, and her skin numbing laughter. How a room felt like home when she was there with him and how her clothes hugged her every curve. He realised that he had missed her and her chocolate puddings and orange slushies at 10:00 in the morning. But it wasn't an 'I miss summer' kind of missing. It was an 'I feel like a huge chuck of ME is missing, I can't function without you' kind of missing. It's obvious you idiot. Don't deny the fact anymore. You not only WANT her, but you also NEED her. She is the butter to your bread, the cheese to your macaroni. You need her you idiot. Damn that line. Damn those rules. Damn the feelings of not being able to tell her 'cos you don't want to ruin your partnership. You CANT live a lie anymore. Take down your masks, your walls; show her what she needs to see. Show her what you NEED to show her. Everything will be alright!

The song that he had been bopping to finished and Cal had only just finished his motivational thoughts when he heard two rather faint taps of his passenger's side window. He was startled at the sudden faint noise, but turned to see it was her. She made everything instantly better. He sat up in his seat and leant across the gearstick to unlock the passenger door. He then got out of the car and helped her put her bags in the boot. He hadn't said anything yet. Not even a "hello" or "how was your flight?" he was lost in her beauty, her splendour, her eyes. She looked sad, but relieved. An odd combination he thought. He turned the radio down, so if conversation were to arise, they could at least hear what the other was saying. He started the car and pulled out of his parking spot. He then paid for the ticket bloody rip-off he thought, paying 7 bucks to sit in his car for 15 minutes waiting for a flight to come in.

After the pretty comfortable silence they had just shared Gillian was first to speak.

"Hi Cal." She said, with relief and no it couldn't be, was it arousal, dripping off her words.

"Hey, didn't see ya there." He said coolly, trying to get a laugh out of her, but not succeeding.

"How has everyone at the office been lately? It's been hard to relax thinking about… She wasn't going to tell him the truth, even though she knew he would be able to tell, but she gave it a shot…the number of cases you have going at the moment.

Cal didn't say anything; he had picked up on the change in her voice. She was lying, he could tell, but decided to let it slip. It was probably Alec; he probably called her, wanting to get back together, that's why she appeared sad. He decided not to go down that path of conversation.

" I enjoyed myself though, lapping up the nice Mexican sun" another lie, surprised that he hadn't picked up my first, maybe he's lost his touch! She thought, clearly a joke as Cal never missed a beat.

Cal smiled at her, trying to look like he was concentrating on the road, when he was actually thinking about Gillian in a bikini on the side of a pool, champagne in one hand, looking very….nice.

"So good holiday then, you're nice and relaxed, ready to get back to work and all that jazz."

Gillian looked at him, sorrow and guilt in her eyes. Thinking about Cal and his late nights, sleeping in his office, waking up in the morning complaining of a sore neck. Maybe she shouldn't have taken a holiday, maybe it was the wrong time? Maybe she just went out on a limb, bought a ticket to Mexico for 3 days to try to get away from work, from Cal Lightman. So she didn't have to face the facts, face up to the emotions. The fact that she clearly had feelings for him, but was scared he didn't feel the same. Scared that it could cause the Lightman group to be destroyed if their relationship didn't work out. She was worried, and he was reading her, watching her. Seeing all the sorrow and guilt in her eyes, watching her eyebrows and her jaw tense. He wanted to say that everything would be alright. To say what he truly felt. But he was scared that she didn't feel the same way. They were both scared of the same things. What were they waiting for, what was holding them back?

Before both of them knew it, they had arrived at Gillian's house. Cal got out, opened the boot of the car, got her heavy bags out and started to wheeled them around the corner to her front door. Gillian slowly but surely awoke from her thoughts and hopped out of the car. Walking slowly but with elegance she grasped her keys from the bottom of her bag, followed Cal around the corner and to her house. She then slid them into the key hole. Cal watched as she appeared robotic in her movements. Not wanting to interrupt her from her obvious routine he stood quietly. Watching.

She opened the door to her house, realising that she had just ignored Cal; she gave him a sweet, genuine smile. His heart melted, not trusting his voice, he smiled back then kissed her on the cheek. He gave a nod that said goodbye, and he walked back to his car.

Gillian stood there. After seeing that look in his eyes, when he leant in to kiss her on the cheek. She was almost certain. She walked inside, put her bags down, keys on the table and walked back out the door, a little faster than before, so she could catch him before he took off.

..He sat in his car, starring out the window, his keys in his hand. He stopped, and then thought to himself. Just tell her. Just let her know, don't send mixed messages, don't tell her some riddle, make it obvious. You love her. Let her know. He opened the door and got back out of his car. He casually slipped his keys back into his pocket and started walking back to her house. He had parked around the corner. Thinking to himself as he walked closer to the corner, what was he going to say. Just tell her? Just make a move? He thought he'd just go with the flow. Don't stuff this up Cal!

Gillian now walked a little faster worried that he had already driven off.

Cal turned the corner.

Gillian turned the corner.

They had both been staring at the ground lost in thought, but walking quickly. And didn't see each other.

Thud.

They had walked straight into each other. Gillian had been walking quickly but Cal even quicker. Gillian tumbled over, along with Cal.

Cal found himself lying on top of Gillian, in broad daylight, starring at her. Starring at her wonderful sparkly blue eyes. Her eyes that appeared to be full of…arousal. How could being knocked over make her aroused? He thought, then realising, that he was lying on top of her and hadn't attempted to get off of her, and she hadn't shown any sign of wanting him to move. She wanted this?

Nothing was said for a while. They were lost in each other. She felt his breath tickle her nose and her eyes made his skin prickle all over. Cal went to open his mouth to say something, but was taken aback, when he felt the burning hot sensation when he realised that Gillian's lips were on his. Searing with passion and lust, he deepened the kiss. Her hands ran up his back and to the base of his hair. Her fingers ran through his hair and he cupped her cheek. They both pulled away for air, and smiled.

They had both been longing for that.

Waiting!…Seven years too long!