Disclaimer - still not mine
London
Emily watched her father as they searched for their bags. He looked tired and stressed. Throughout the flight he had been quiet, only occasionally telling her that Gillian would be furious. She could feel the nerves radiating off him in waves. Smiling she grabbed his hand as her bag came off the carousel.
"Dad, stop stressing" He raised his eyebrows at her comments "Its Gill, our Gill. She'll be glad you made the effort to come all the way here. I just need to ring Christine to say we arrived in one piece" She smiled as Cal shook his head.
"Does she know we are here?" He watched as his daughter tried to lie.
"Um" She nodded.
"Emily. Does Foster know we are in London?" She knew her father could tell when she was lying. She sighed. It was now or never. She looked across the foyer of Heathrow airport watching a girl who looked the same age as her with a couple about Cal and Gill's age.
"Em?" Cal watched as he saw his daughter's shoulders slump.
"I just want things back the way they were" She suddenly felt on the verge of tears. Cal sighed. He hated seeing his daughter upset. He pulled her in to a hug as he whispered in her ear.
"Me too Sweetheart. Me too"
Christine was making coffee as she waited for Gillian to finish in the shower. She was debating whether to tell her friend that Emily and Cal were on their way. She sighed as she pushed her blonde hair behind her ears. Christine had known Gillian since high school. They had both been through all the great milestones together, first crush, first dates, marriages and divorce. Christine had never seen her friend so upset. Even when she had called her after Alec had finally left Christine had never known Gillian so upset.
"Coffee is ready" she called up the stairs. She decided to keep Cal and Emily's visit away from Gillian until the last possible moment. Gillian smiled at her friend as she walked down the stairs.
"Thanks" She sighed. The smile didn't reach her eyes as she walked in to the kitchen to retrieve her mug. Christine sighed; she hated seeing Gillian like this.
"Ah, Gill?" Christine walked in to the kitchen. She had received a text from Emily stating they were in the UK and heading to the hotel she had arranged for them. Gillian looked up.
"I have to go in to the office. I have a delivery due. Do you mind staying in for me? It's a really important delivery" Christine hated lying to her friend but had the feeling this time it would be worth it. Gillian nodded as she sipped her coffee. If she had any idea that Christine was lying she hid it well.
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Cal and Emily had ordered a taxi to take them to the hotel near to Christine's small house. Emily was exited to be in London and was reading her guide book as she looked at the different landmarks they passed. Cal sighed. He had left London almost twenty years ago and had no desire to be there longer than absolutely necessary. He was enjoying spending time with his daughter but knew sooner or later she'd insist on finding Gillian. He sighed heavily as Emily turned to him.
"It will be ok Dad. I think she'll come home" She smiled as Cal nodded his head.
"We shouldn't be here Em. There are things you don't understand. There are things I don't understand and I was there" He rested his head on the back of the car seat as the driver headed past Marble Arch. Emily glared.
"I understand perfectly well Dad. You love Gillian; you're just too into whatever argument you had to see it. You have to tell her how you feel, Dad or she isn't ever coming back" Emily folded her arms. Cal knew he couldn't argue with her anymore.
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Ria hated being left in charge. Eli was late again and Heidi seemed lost in her own world as Ben walked past her in to her office. She stood with her arms folded and glared at her colleagues. Ben smiled, he thought Ria would relish being left in charge but it seemed the girl was struggling.
"You ok Torres?" Ben leant on her desk.
"Yeah, can't wait for Lightman to get back" She sighed
"What you pining for the boss?" Ben laughed
"No, but he can deal with Locker's allergy to being punctual" She pushed herself away from the wall as Eli walked in the room.
"Evening" She glared as he clutched his chest in mock shame
"Torres you wound me"
"I wish" She laughed as Ben shook his head. He wondered if Lightman really knew what he was doing leaving these kids in charge; he left her room and headed for his own desk.
"Any news from Lightman and Emily?" Eli smiled as he placed a coffee in front of Ria.
"Not really. Emily called to say they got there in one piece but nothing since they arrived at Heathrow." Ria shrugged. She was keen to get on with the day's work as Ben shook his head smiling. Now he knew why Gillian and Cal thought of these people as kids. He made his way back to his office hoping that Cal would be able to get Gillian to come back. He hoped Cal realised just how much the whole team needed her.
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Cal was annoyed and agitated. He had left London twenty years previously and had never wanted to return. He was annoyed that Emily had read him so well, she was only 16 and already able to read those around her almost as well as he could. She had no wish to keep her readings to herself either. Sighing he walked up and down the hotel room as his daughter barged in.
"Dad" She watched as he stopped pacing and turned to her.
"Emily, we should be on the first plane home. Leave Foster to it." He waved his arms in the air as he spoke.
"Dad, we're here now. Bite the bullet and all that stuff. Plus you are in the most romantic city in the world" She smiled as her curly hair bounced about her shoulders.
"That's Paris" He returned the smile. He wanted to continue to be annoyed but found that he was unable to maintain it with his daughter bouncing around the room/
"Oh" She threw his jacket at him "London, Paris whatever. Principles the same and I had the right continent" He rolled his eyes as he cursed her Geography teacher under his breath.
"This is a bad idea Em" He caught his jacket as it hit him square in the face.
"Dad, don't wimp out on me now. Come on" she was out the door before he could reply.
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Across London Gill was curled up on the sofa in Christine's living room. She liked the house, it was cosy and welcoming. The TV in the corner of the cream painted room was switched on as she watched the Italian chef being teased by some young blonde TV presenter. She smiled slightly as she tried to enjoy the programme without analysing the body language of the presenters. A knock at the door startled her from her thoughts as she suddenly remembered Christine had asked her to wait in for a delivery. She sighed as she clicked the TV off before making her way to the door.
Gillian barely registered that there were two very familiar figures at the door when she pulled it open.
"Hi!" Emily threw herself in to Gillian's arms as Gillian embraced her. She immediately looked over the young girl's shoulder as Cal leant against the garden fence.
"Hi Emily" She released the young girl as Cal caught her eye. He read her well, a mixture of anger, shock and surprise. But there was something else there too, something he didn't hope to see.
"Cal?" Gillian was breathing heavily as she clenched and unclenched her fists. She didn't know whether to hit him or kiss him as he pushed himself away from the fence.
"Hi Foster. Miss me?"
author's note. Thank you so much for all the lovely reviews. This is my second Lie to Me story. Please check out Aftermath. Will Gill and Cal finally talk? Will Ria and Eli cope with running the Lightman Institute? More soon x
