AN: yeah I'm still here. Nice to see you're still here too :)
Act One
Cal wanders back and forth outside the exam room. He glances through the venetian blinds every so often as he makes his turns at the end of his short pace. He can see Torres in the bed in the centre of the small room, wearing a hospital gown. There is a white gauze bandage taped against her jaw. She's talking to Gillian, who is perched on the edge of the bed, her hand reassuringly on Torres' arm. Gillian shows concern and sympathy as the converse. On Cal's face is unease.
Exam room three. Continued.
"Have you got somewhere you can stay tonight?" Gillian asks gently.
"I'll just go home," Torres answers determinedly, moving to sit up further. "It'll be fine."
"Can someone come and stay with you?"
Torres looks vague.
"You'll come and stay with me," Gillian tells her firmly, making a decision.
"I really don't want to put you out. I've clearly interrupted your evening," she doesn't have to glance in any particular direction or gesture to what Foster is wearing, or even to Cal prowling around outside her room, for either of them to know what she's talking about specifically.
"Ria, it's fine," Gillian insists but still in that calm tone of voice she uses when she's playing the psychologist. "You might not think so now, but you won't want to be alone later."
Realisation washes over Torres as she suddenly remembers Gillian knows exactly what it is like to be attacked by someone; she knows exactly what Ria is going through. Ria gives a nod. She understands. She will play along for tonight. "I'll leave you to get changed," Gillian gives her arm a squeeze and gets up.
Gillian slips out the door and Cal rounds on her immediately. "Well?" He demands. "So what happened? Is she all right?"
"She should be fine. No lasting physical damage of any sort. It's just a graze," Gillian takes his arm and leads him across the hallway as she speaks softly.
"What happened exactly?"
"I don't know details."
"But," he prompts, stepping dangerously close to read her face.
Gillian puts her hands up to fend him off again until she realises that actually, he's just extremely concerned about his protégé. "She was assaulted. Beat. She's a little shaken but I think she'll be fine."
"Assaulted sexually?"
"The doctor took a rape kit..." and Gillian trails off as the door behind her opens. Cal steps away from her and it's like he's a panther as he stalks around her in his black coat to approach Ria.
"All right?" He asks in a light tone of voice, a reassuring hand on her elbow.
"Yeah," Ria raises her chin in defiance.
Cal gives a nod and mutters something that Gillian doesn't manage to catch. "I'll take you lot home," he offers and strides away, the black coat now billowing out behind him like a superhero's cape.
Gillian's apartment. Night. Continued.
Cal pulls into Gillian's driveway and kills the engine. They all get out and slam doors in silence. Cal retrieves a bag from the trunk and all three of move to stand on Gillian's doorstep. She twists her key in the lock and pushes the door open. Warm yellow light caresses over them and the stoop from a hallway fixture. "Go on in," Gillian tells Ria gently. Cal gives her a small duffel bag she has packed as an overnight kit. She thanks him and Gillian leaves the door wide open while she slowly walks Cal back to his car.
"You gonna be all right?" Cal asks her, looking towards the front door, unsure, as they come to a stop on the passenger's side of the engine. He rests his backside against the hood, hands in his coat pockets.
"Yeah," Gillian reassures him. "Sorry our evening got cut slightly shorter."
"Me too luv," Cal turns his attention to her.
"Rain check?"
"Yep," Cal nods, but he's not enthusiastic about it and shifts slightly on his feet. Gillian's face falls slightly as his gaze returns to her front door. He's clearly troubled or has something on his mind but she doesn't know what to say to him. So she gives his arm a squeeze and bids him goodnight. "Yeah," he echoes softly as she starts to walk away from him. "Call me later?"
"Sure," her answer floats softly through the night air.
Cal goes around to the driver's side but waits until she's inside and giving him a short wave from the door before he actually pulls away.
Gillian makes sure the front door is locked, then hangs her coat in the closet in the hallway and then wanders toward her spare room. Ria is unpacking her bag slowly. She senses Gillian's presence without her having to announce it. "You really didn't have to put me up for the night."
Gillian gives a shrug as if to say it's no bother. "You know Cal will want to look into this. I figure you can either talk to me about it now, willingly, over a hot drink, or you can let him interrogate you tomorrow in the cube."
Ria gives her a smooth expression. "Were you guys on a date?"
Gillian gives a slight laugh but it is not denial or confirmation. "We were at dinner," she says instead.
"Oh, then sorry for interrupting it."
"You didn't; we had finished."
"Do you guys have dinner often?" Ria asks next, turning her body slightly towards Gillian as she awaits the answer.
Gillian toys over responding while she leans against the door frame. "Not often. We are friends outside of work."
"I know," Ria answers lightly. "You're right though, I would rather talk to you about it than be interrogated by Doctor Lightman."
Gillian gives her a slight smile of amusement. "I'll make hot chocolate. Unless you prefer coffee or tea?"
"No," Ria almost coos and her expression softens. She seems to visibly relax. "Hot chocolate would be wonderful."
"I'm going to change," Gillian informs her. "Help yourself to clean towels in the bathroom," she directs as she pushes herself away from the door frame. "There should be some Advil in there too," and moves into the hall.
Ria watches her go as she fidgets with her pyjamas on top of the duffel bag she never finished unpacking, her forehead turning thoughtful.
Gillian's Apartment. Morning.
"Are you coming in?" His tone is demanding.
"Yes Cal. I did plan on coming in to work today," Gillian tells him lightly, while she pours herself a cup of coffee.
"When?"
"When Ria gets out of the shower," Gillian pours cream into her cup.
"How long is that going to be?"
"I don't know Cal..." Gillian returns the milk to the fridge. "What's the rush?"
"No rush," Cal suddenly sounds cagey.
Gillian looks across her kitchen as if she can see him, wherever he is. "Are you at the office?" She checks her watch.
"Just thought I'd get a head start on today..."
"Wow, that's what it takes for you to arrive early huh?" She teases as she takes her first sip of her morning coffee.
"When it was you I practically lived here."
Gillian's gaze drops to her coffee cup. They're silent for a moment. "We'll be half an hour ok?"
