A/N Hi again! I didn't expect this chapter to come so soon. I had some writer's block on this chapter so it's not one of my best ones. I don't know how long this story is going to be but keep reading! -CsI-aDdIcTed

Calleigh looked shocked.

"Look, Calleigh, I can't justify what I just did but I am not going to apologize either. I need you to see that I care about you more than a friend and you need to talk about…stuff. It's like shaking a pop bottle and then opening it. It explodes, and that's exactly what happened today. You bottled everything inside and then you just snapped."

"I…I…Eric I wasn't going to get mad at you for kissing me. Honestly, I…let's sit down."

Eric grabbed the bandages from the cupboard and he and Calleigh sat down on the black leather couch.

"Eric I…What…Why…Oh good lord I cant even think straight," Calleigh mumbled, "well, I am not upset at you for kissing me. I'm glad…I mean, I feel the same way but –" Calleigh stopped.

"But I was afraid of rejection and being hurt again," she said quickly and almost inaudibly, desperately trying to hide her weakness from Eric.

Eric saw right through her façade and had heard her "confession". He was hurt but he knew that she was struggling with herself. At least she was opening up to him, which was the first step. Taking her hand in his he held it for a second then starting bandaging her wounds.

"Cal, I would never ever hurt you," Eric reassured her, "and I'm glad you feel the same way about me but I don't want to take things and faster than what you're ready for. I'm willing to wait, if it means you'll be happy."

Calleigh scooted closer to Eric and took hold of his hand. Laying her head on his shoulder she whispered, "Eric, that means more to me than anything."

Her simple gestures surprised him. She hadn't expected her to be so forward. Eric enveloped her in a warm hug and that pure, caring action replaced all words.

As they pulled apart, Calleigh, knowing what Eric was going to ask, quickly said, "Let me explain about… about everything."

"Y'know my dad has a drinking problem, he is an alcoholic. Remember that case he worked on? The one with the screwdriver and the couple?"

Eric nodded, "The one Hagen was working on too right? Where I examined the car and he said that the evidence wasn't important." Setting her other hand down he placed the remainder of the bandages on the coffee table and looked up at her signaling for her to continue.

Calleigh's face hardened, "Yea, that's the one. Well, I confronted him about the seatbelt and he insulted my father. So I stopped dating him, no one insults my family. We are not perfect people but we do have feelings. Now every time I see him, he is always insulting me and my family. I wouldn't care as much if it was just me but my family has nothing to do with this!"

Calleigh pulled her knees up to her chest and started rocking slowly. "Today I just snapped. I lost control. I wish that –"

She was interrupted by a hard knock on the dark wood door of her house.