Chapter 4It took him exactly 27 seconds to put down his spoon, look at Emily while standing up and hurry to the bathroom. Exactly 27 later he saw her standing in the middle of the room, her eyes closed and as white as a ghost.
"Gillian?" He hurried to her side, touched her shoulder gently and placed his other hand on her cheek. "Hey love, are you with me?"
"Mhm." She didn't trust her voice far enough to talk in full sentences.
"What's up?"
"Freaking dizzy."
Still holding his hand on her cheek he placed the other one on her back now. "Can you open your eyes for me, love?"
She did. Regraded it. Everything was turning. The dots were dancing. Fast. Too fast. Way, way too fast. Made her feel sick and she got – if this even was possible – even paler. Cal caught the glance in her eyes, something between losing the control and freaking out, and decided that it wouldn't be the best to make her sit down in the bathroom.
"Do you trust me, Gil?"
Stupid question. Both of them knew the answer. Maybe that's why she didn't answer. Or maybe because she felt terrible and had a feeling of losing consciousness every second. The dots were still dancing around her…
Not a second later she had been lifted up and rested her head against his shoulder. Somewhere behind mountains of cotton wool she could hear his voice, whispering that she was alright and that is was okay. Whispering that he was there. Damn, this sentence felt so freaking good. So freaking right…
He didn't know when he had felt that worried the last time. Cal Lightman was pretty sure that Gillian Foster was something between totally aware of everything and unconscious, but he had no idea how much of what he was doing and saying she actually got. He laid her down on his bed, stroke through her hair. "Hey love, you still with me?"
"Mhm."
"Still this dizzy?"
"Mhm."
"Okay. I'm gonna be back in a minute. Just stay awake, alright love?"
"Mhm. Cal-?"
"Yes?"
"Can you get me bucket or so? It's just – I'm dizzy and feeling sick and I'm - unsure if I could make it in time." This was embarrassing.
He nodded. Aware that this may be the wrong time for an unqualified comment. He hurried out of the room, got an empty box, the bucket and a woollen blanket and returned. Placed the bucket without a comment next to her bed – which was actually his bed – and the blanket on the box and the box under her feet. Then, like he had done in the office hours before, he sat down and placed her head in his lap. Stroke through her wet hair as it was the most normal thing in the world. He wanted this to be the most normal thing in the world. How he hated this invisible border. How he hated to be a friend.
It took her about ten minutes before she finally said a word. Ten minutes in which Cal Lightman seemed to be calm but worried and freaked out in the inside.
"Sorry." She tried to sit up, he pulled her down again.
"E-eh. Give your body a minute, Gil."
"I'm fine."
"Yes. Yes, for sure you are. Burning up, collapsing – "
"I didn't collapse. I was still aware of everything."
"Whatever. THIS is not the definition for fine, Gillian. Which should make me worry as you are pretty good at all the linguistic stuff usually."
"Cal…!" Too fast she sat up. Her body reacted with a wave of nausea and before she could say a word she found herself puking in the bucket Cal was holding. This was even more embarrassing…
"You read me."
"You know I'd never do this." He grinned a strange grin.
"You had –"
"Calm down, love, I don't have to read you for things like this. Everyone would have noticed."
He just returned and sat down next to her. Saw that this made her feel ashamed. But for what reason? This was nothing to feel sorry for. He had a daughter. He had seen worse.
"It's okay, love." He gently placed a kiss on her forehead.
"I feel like rubbish."
"Because you are hot."
"You already told me this today." A weak smile appeared on her lips.
"But it's still true. I'll get you some soup and a cold towel."
"Cal – I can't eat something. I mean, the world is spinning slower at the moment but I – "
"Don't even try to argue, Gil. You fight a losing battle. And we had a deal."
With this words he left the room again.
Damn it. She ruined it again. Stared at the wall and fought against tears. She definitely was too mental when she was sick. But she couldn't help it.
At the same time, Cal went downstairs and found a note from Emily.
I'm at Sarah's. Be back for lunch tomorrow. Call me if you two need me. And Dad? Don't mess it, alright? It's best for you BOTH! (Sorry.) xxx Your older-then-nine-year-old beloved daughter.
He couldn't help but smile when he shook his head. No doubt that girl was his daughter.
