Thanks for all your reviews! I really appreciate them! Here's chapter 7…

As Horatio drove toward the scene Calleigh was beginning to worry about how close to her apartment they seemed to be going, but then Horatio took another turn and stopped at the end of an alley. Calleigh couldn't believe it, this was where Eric had been attacked, this couldn't be a coincidence. They both jumped out of the hummer and Calleigh grabbed her kit before following Horatio toward Alexx who was already with the body.

"Hey Alexx," Calleigh said, "what have we got?"

"Male victim, Paul Rogers, 32, I think he was raped, his pants were around his knees," Alexx explained, "Cause of death is asphyxiation, he was strangled."

"Do you think it's the same guy?" Horatio asked.

"Could be, injuries look similar, COD is the same, you could have a serial on your hands here, and two victims in two days, he's definitely working fast, you need to find him."

"We will Alexx," Horatio said, "we will."

Calleigh thought her world was collapsing, looking at the victims injuries reminded her of Eric's, they were nearly identical, for the first time she actually realised how lucky they had been, Eric could have died, this guy could have killed him, she could have lost him. What had happened to Eric had been horrific, but at least he was still alive, at least she still had him, she couldn't imagine life without him, having his baby and him never even knowing she was pregnant. Horatio seemed to notice Calleigh was out of it.

"Calleigh," he asked, "are you ok?"

"Um, sorry, what?" Calleigh asked coming out of her trance and turning to look at Horatio.

"I said 'are you ok?' you seem distracted."

"I'm fine, just tired," Calleigh replied, realising if she was going to keep lying to everyone, she should at least improve her skill at it, so far she had had both Horatio and Alexx asking after her in two days, she was sure she used to be better at it.

"You sure?"

"Yes," Calleigh replied sternly, "I'll check the rest of the alley, see if our guy left anything behind."

"Ok," Horatio replied.

Calleigh walked away from him, he was worried about her, something was definitely not right, but he knew Calleigh wouldn't admit whatever it was that was bothering her, it wasn't her style, she'd bottle it all up, and maybe at some point it would become too much and she'd explode, but then again maybe she'd just deal with it and eventually become Calleigh again.

After processing what little she had found, Calleigh was beginning to think they'd never catch this guy, he hadn't left any evidence at either scene, they had nothing so far. She walked to DNA, hoping that Valera would have something, if not, it was back to square one.

"Hey," Calleigh said, opening the door.

"Hey," Valera replied, "you want results from Paul Rogers case?"

"Yes please," Calleigh said cheerfully.

"Well, bad news," Valera said, "no semen, no skin cells, nothing, no DNA at all, sorry."

"Ok, thanks," Calleigh replied quietly, before turning and walking out the door, they had to get this guy before he attacked somebody else, they just had to. She continued walking and almost fell over when she bumped straight into Horatio.

"Calleigh, you look awful," Horatio said, concerned.

"Thanks," Calleigh replied, smiling slightly.

"Sorry," Horatio apologized, "maybe you're coming down with whatever it is that Eric has."

"Maybe," Calleigh replied.

"Take the rest of the day off," Horatio said ushering Calleigh toward the door.

"No, I can't do that, you need help on the case and Eric's already off sick."

"Calleigh, go, you need to rest, look at the state of you, you're either ill or haven't slept in a week, just take some time, we can manage here without you for the rest of the day."

"Horatio…" Calleigh started.

"Go," Horatio interrupted, "and that's an order."

"Ok, but I'll be back tomorrow."

"Bye."

Calleigh left the building and began driving home, she was thinking about the case, there had to be something they had missed, something that the attacker had left, a trail of evidence, there just had to be. She was trying to think what had been found on Eric, was there any more evidence there, she remembered watching the rape kit being performed on Eric and felt a twinge of pain for him, the humiliation he had been through, she hated it.

There was DNA.

The nurse had found DNA, the guy hadn't worn a condom, or if he had it had broken, she knew this could be the evidence that would nail the attacker, but that would also mean every one finding out about Eric, about what he had been through and she desperately didn't want that. Her mind was going at 100 miles per hour, trying to figure out if there was a way they could use the evidence, a way of testing it and using it without Eric having to be implicated, she knew it was useless, if they were going to use it, Eric would have to come forward and admit what had happened to him and she knew he wouldn't do that.

Calleigh finally decided she would talk to Eric about it, if he knew the guy was out there attacking other men he might decide to report it, she didn't know but she had to try something, she was determined this animal wouldn't get away with what he had done. She pulled up outside her apartment and made her way inside, opening the door and letting herself in.

"Eric," she called, looking for any sign of where about he was, "Eric, where are you?"

"In here!" a slurred voice answered.

Calleigh made her way toward the kitchen. Eric was stood there with a bottle of beer in his hand and several empties on the side.

"Eric," Calleigh started.

"Calleigh, I think I might be a little bit drunk," he said, "I'm sorry."

"It's ok," Calleigh replied, "come Eric, let's get you to bed."

"I don't want to," Eric argued, but followed behind her as she took hold of his hand and led him to the bedroom.

"Eric, do you need some water?" Calleigh asked trying to undress him.

"No, I'm sorry Calleigh, I just need to forget for a little bit, it made it go away."

"I know," Calleigh replied.

"I'm sorry Calleigh."

"Please will you stop apologizing, I said it's ok," Calleigh said, "come on lie back," she said trying to get him to lie down onto the bed, she pulled back the covers and he rolled into the bed. She covered him up and kissed him lightly on the head.

"I love you Calleigh," Eric said softly before finally letting his eyes close as sleep claimed him.

Calleigh made her way into the living room and lay down on the couch, she was glad Eric was asleep, even if it was alcohol induced, he hadn't slept since it had happened. Part of her was angry he had decided to 'drown his sorrows' but part of her understood his need to escape reality, just forget everything for a while and at least now he was getting some sleep.

She curled up and pulled a blanket over herself, promising herself that she would speak to Eric about everything tomorrow, she would tell him about the case and hopefully about the baby, she wanted him to open up to her, she wanted to be able to help him.

TBC…

Thanks for reading! If you did read it please review! It would make me so very happy!

I'll update again as soon as possible, hopefully at least one more time before I move to uni at the weekend and then after that I'll try and update as soon as I can find internet access somewhere! After 2 weeks at uni I will get it in my room, but I may have to go 2 weeks without the internet