I still own nothing you recognize.Thanks to all who reviewed-you guys rock!!!
Eric reluctantly broke the silence "Better?" he asked. Calleigh sighed "No, but I will be" and moved out of his embrace."Have you eaten today?" he
asked with a smile as her stomach growled loudly. Her face turned pink and she laughed "You know, I don't remember the last time I ate" she admitted.
"Well then, chinese or pizza? My treat" suggested Eric whose stomach also growled."Pizza, there's a menu from "Frank's" on the fridge-if you'll
order I'm going to take a shower, ok?" Eric nodded in agreement "Deal, the special still your favorite?" Calleigh smiled and nodded to indicate her
approval and went into the bathroom. Twenty minutes later Calleigh emerged from the bathroom wearing cotton pajama pants and a tank top, her hair
pulled up in a messy ponytail. Eric couldn't help but think how beautiful she looked even dressed as casually as she was now. He cleared his throat and she
looked at him with one eyebrow raised in question. "Pizza will be here in about thirty minutes" "Great, do you want to watch a movie or something?
I need a distraction." Eric could think of a few things to distract her but he didn't think she would appreciate any of them right now and he didn't want to
explain a gunshot wound to Horatio. So instead he agreed with her suggestion "Yeah, a movie sound great but please no chick flicks" Calleigh just rolled
her eyes at him. "Goodfella's work for you Eric?" "Of course, Bullet Girl and her shoot 'em up movies. I should have known" he replied earning him
a smack on the arm. The movie started and they sat together on the couch, Calleigh curled up on one end, Eric stretched out on the other end. A few
minutes later the pizza arrived and Eric paused the action to get napkins and drinks. "You don't have to do that" Calleigh protested "This is my house, let
me" Eric smiled at her "Look Cal, you've had a rough day, just relax and let me take care you." Calleigh stared at him as he walked into the kitchen
"You are a good friend Eric, even though things have been wierd lately with the whole Jake thing you still want to take care of me." Eric tensed at
the mention of Jake's name and he made himself relax so Calleigh wouldn't notice. He took a breath and returned to the couch "Hey just because we
haven't talked lately doesn't mean we're not friends and the whole "Jake thing" as you called it, well I just...I just want you to be happy and if it's
with him then so be it. Regardless of who you're ever with Calleigh, I'll always take care of you, you should know that by now." Eric handed her a
napkin and an open beer "Come on, you need to eat" They ate in silence watching the movie but Calleigh couldn't focus on the action. She was too busy
replaying Eric's words over and over again in her head, finally she couldn't take it anymore and started to speak.
"I'm not with Jake" she said quietly "What?" Eric asked, a look of confusion on his face. Calleigh spoke louder "I'm not with Jake. You said you
wanted me to be happy even if it was with Jake but I'm not...we're not together." Eric was even more confused now "But I saw him kiss you at the
lab and I thought..." She shrugged and shook her head "You thought wrong. He did kiss me but he didn't get the response he was looking for, we
fought in the elevator and I told him it just wouldn't work with us anymore-we've both changed too much to go back to the way things used to
be." Eric smirked "I'm sure he took that well" he said sarcastically "Oh yeah, but he'll get over it" She scooted closer to him on the couch and looked
at him intently, green eyes searching brown ones gauging his reaction. "The other reason I gave him for us not being together was that I have feelings
for someone else" Eric's eyes closed as he took in the possible meaning behind her words "Cal" he whispered "Shhh" she answered putting a finger to
his lips sending shivers through his body for the second time. He opened his eyes to see hers welling with tears again. "Let me finish. My dad just died
Eric and I finally realised that life is just too short not to live it fully. I know I always said that coworkers shouldn't get involved but when you got
shot all these feelings came out and I was so afraid of losing you, of never having the chance to tell you how I felt about you. Then it seemed too
complicated and Jake started calling again and it was just easier to keep you and I as friends, that way I could still be around you without getting
my heart broken but I..." she sighed deeply and continued "I can't just be friends anymore Eric, I want more. I want you." she admitted, wiping away
the tears that were threatening to spill. Eric removed her finger from his lips and held her hand tightly against his chest. He released the breath he had been
holding since her confession began."Wow, you sure know how to blow a guy's mind Cal" he smiled at her "I guess it's good that I feel the same way
about you. I've loved you for a long time Calleigh and when I saw Jake kiss you I felt like my heart was being ripped out." She reached out to him
"I'm so sorry Eric, I never wanted to hurt you." He started to stroke her cheek "I know, I know. It was just hard for me to see you with someone
else, that's why I haven't been aound lately or wanted to talk. Forgive me?" She leaned in closer and kissed him gently on the lips, moaning when he
deepened the kiss. They kissed until the need to breathe became too great and reluctantly they parted, with their foreheads touching and their faces
flushed. "I always knew you'd be a great kisser Eric." He teased "I'm great at other things too." "I bet you are Delko." she grinned, snuggling into
his chest. He breathed in her scent, relishing the feel of her in his arms. She shifted slightly and her breathing evened out-she had fallen asleep.
Moving slowly, he picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. He laid her on the bed, and after placing a soft kiss on her cheek he turned to leave.
"Stay" she murmured "Please, hold me" He turned back to her and touched her shoulder "I'll be right back" he reassured her "I'm just going to turn
everything off and lock up" He returned quickly and stripped down to his boxers and undershirt. Crawling into bed, he pulled her close and
marvelled at how well their bodies fit together, at how natural it felt to hold her like this. "I'm glad you're staying." she whispered "No place
else I'd rather be" he replied wrapping his arms even tighter around her "whatever happens I'm here for you Cal. I love you.Now sleep Baby."
She sighed "I love you too Eric." Before sleep claimed her she thought of her father and how he had always liked Eric-'that nice young man'
and how he would nag her about asking Eric out "I guess you were right Daddy, I'm just sorry you're not here to share it with me." But she knew
in her heart that where ever he was, her father was happy for her because she had found what she had been searching for-love.
TBC? I have some ideas if you want me to continue this. Let me know.