Thanks for the gorgeous reviews, everyone, you guys are brilliant. Had to go through one or two drafts for this one, so I hope this was the right fix for you all. Enjoy.

7. Pre-Game

When Reynolds brought the news to Foster that their sort-of-captors were going to be paying them a visit that evening, she was less than thrilled.

"Perfect," she hissed as she set her cup of tea down, "just perfect timing on their half."

"They're going to want to talk to Lightman, you know."

Gillian nodded her head and cast a grave look at her friend, who was still unconscious on the couch. "Well he's in no condition to be dealing with terrorists right now at the moment."

"Yeah, I see that Gillian, but what are we supposed to tell these guys? Obviously this whole thing is against Cal-…"

"They're just going to have to deal with me, is what it's going to be."

Reynolds raised his eyebrows pursed his lips together as he thought inwardly to himself, Yeah, and me as well.

"What time is it now?" Foster inquired.

Reynolds checked his watch and told her it was nearing three in the afternoon. She merely nodded. "Is there anything else we can do for him right now?"

Foster didn't answer right away, just kept dabbing the cold cloth around Cal's face. "Try and keep his temperature down," she answered, "before any damage is done. Where did you say they were going to come in at?"

"The back, probably from the parking garage entrance. Once it's dark, they won't be noticed as much by anyone watching the building-…"

"The police and FBI?"

"Right. I can only hope they will be watching, but I can't exactly tip them off now."

"Do you really think there are snipers out there?" Gillian asked as a chill went down her spine. She cast a hasty glance to the window, which now had the blinds drawn.

"More than likely. If they managed to smuggle a bomb in here I'm sure they could manage that."

"Okay, well I want you to go and make sure everyone is away from any windows, just to be safe. And fill Loker and Torres in. I want them to keep an eye on the outside cameras now, just in case they see anyone try to come in early. I want to know when they do come so we're prepared."

Reynolds gave her a firm nod and turned to leave. Gillian looked back down to Lightman, who was finally starting to look somewhat peaceful as he rested. She hated that he was so sick…now of all times, particularly. But any time that Cal was ill, it tore her up, especially since she could very rarely be there to help him through it. While he was married, he had Zoe. After the divorce, she had been there as much as possible to help him through any crisis he had run across, but she would much rather had been there all the time for him. For some reason, the words Through sickness and in health, kept running through her mind as she dabbed the rag around his face. Gillian felt as if they had somehow already made that vow to each other, silently, because no matter what the situation, they were always around for each other.

She lifted the cloth, which was now very warm, and scooted over to a bowl of icy water that Reynolds had brought in earlier. She dipped it in and rung it out, making it cold again to place back on his head. When she turned back to him, she saw his face twitch a little and a small groan soon followed. "Cal?"

"Oi, god, what a 'eadache…"

A sigh of enormous relief passed Gillian's lips. She watched as he tried to sit up, but she gently placed a hand on his shoulder and eased him back down. "Hey, hey, take it easy, you're alright," she cooed.

"'S goin' on, eh?" Cal mumbled, eyes cracking open just slightly.

"Do you remember anything?"

Cal managed to give her an incredulous look even in his horribly weakened state. "Would I be askin' you if I did?" he slurred.

A small grin tugged at Foster's lips, glad that he was being a pain in the ass again. "You have a really high fever and you passed out."

Cal lifted a hand to his head, eyes closed again and sighed. "Brilliant," he muttered as he rubbed his forehead.

Gillian took his state of consciousness as a good opportunity to get some more ibuprofen in him to help with the fever and produced two more pills and a bottle of water. "Here, take these and try to drink as much water as you can," she told him.

Very slowly, Cal inched himself up a bit in a more upright position, with the help of Foster, of course. He moaned a bit, then kicking himself mentally for doing so.

"Stop that," said Foster.

"What?"

"Shame," she replied, nodding to the expression on his face. It was more of a mixture of pain and shame, but the look had been on his features sure enough. "You have no reason to feel that way. You're sick, I understand, and no one else is going to see you like this but me." …And Reynolds. But he doesn't need to know that.

Cal sighed as he took the pills from her hand and popped them into his mouth. "You're too good to me sometimes, Foster," he noted, then taking a swig from the water bottle. He moved to set it down on the end table next to him, but Foster reached out and forced the bottle back towards him.

"No, you need to drink more. You're dehydrated."

"Thank you, mum," he growled with a very small grin, taking another sip.

She returned the grin and stood up. "I'm going to go and see if there is any Gatorade in the kitchen, that is probably going to be better for you at the moment," she stopped as she watched the man make a face, "Oh stop it, you're not six."

"That stuff tastes like-…"

"Too bad. It's going to hydrate you better, which means you get better faster, alright?" Cal rolled his tired eyes and she took that as acceptance. "Good. Now, don't move, you shouldn't be up right now. I'll be right back."

A few minutes later, Gillian returned back to the study, two different colored bottles of Gatorade in hand. She figured if she gave him a choice of flavor, he'd be more willing to oblige. However as she walked into the room, she saw that his eyes were closed again. "Cal?" she asked. She watched as he shifted his position slightly, but didn't respond. Just sleeping then. She decided not to wake him, thinking it was best that he get as much rest as possible. Lord knows when the man had gotten a good night's rest. Or even a proper meal. He had been living at The Lightman Group for the last few days.

Quietly, she set the two drinks on the end table by the couch and gingerly placed the cold cloth back on his forehead, trying not to disturb him. Once it was in place, she moved to sit in the arm chair next to the couch and blew out a deep sigh. She figured she ought to close her eyes for a moment, for she knew they were going to be in for a long night.

Gillian jumped from the arm chair, very startled. It took her a moment to realize that it had been the ringing of a phone that awoke her from her nap. She rubbed her bleary eyes and looked around the room as she listened for the phone again. As she observed the room she saw that it was much dimmer now than it had been when she closed her eyes. Night was coming quickly. Again, the phone. It was coming from Cal, who was still asleep. Quickly, she fumbled over to him and reached over his torso and slid her hand into his suit jacket pocket, pulling out his phone. The ID read that it was his daughter.

"Hi, Emily," she greeted in a calm, motherly tone.

"Gillian?"

"Yes,"

"Where's Dad?"

Gillian paused before answering. As much as she wanted to comfort his daughter with the sound of his voice, she thought it would be better for Cal's health if she continued to let him sleep. Instead, she quietly tiptoed from the study and into Cal's office. "He's sort of busy right now, sweetheart-…"

"Busy? I've been trying to get a hold of him for like three hours."

Foster's eyes wandered over to Lightman's desk where the office phone rested. "Have you tried the office?"

"Yeah, I just keep getting a disconnected message or something."

"Oh," Gillian closed her eyes for a moment, realizing that their captors had finally decided to start cutting off their communications. "I see. I'm sorry, Em. He's trying to deal with the problem right now. I'll have him call you as soon as-…"

"What exactly is 'the situation'? Dad said it was just a scare and it'd be over soon."

"We're still trying to figure it out."

There was a pause and Gillian could hear Emily taking a deep breath. "Are you guys going to be ok?"

"Yes…"

"Gillian, really, I need to know."

She hesitated. "I'm not sure, Em," she whispered, immediately regretting it.

"Oh god…"

"We're doing everything that we can. And I promise, your dad is going to be ok."

"I want you to be ok too, Gillian," said Emily kindly.

Foster bowed her head as a smile inched across her face. "Thank you, sweetheart. We will be."

"'K. Have him call me as soon as he can please?"

"I promise. Where are you at right now?"

"Home," Emily replied.

"Good. I think your dad wants you to stay put, alright?" Gillian told her. As she did, she could hear someone walking into the study next door. She craned her neck to see past the doorway and saw it was Reynolds. He saw her in the office and started towards her.

"Yeah, sure,"

"Ok. I need to go now. We'll try and keep in better touch this time,"

"Alright. Bye, Gill," and with that, she hung up.

Foster tucked Cal's phone into the pocket of her slacks and waited until Reynolds was in the office before she slid the door shut behind him. "What's going on?" she asked, seeing a look of anxiety on the agent's face.

Reynolds crossed his arms as he spoke. "The power's been cut to the parking lot and basement. I think our boys are about to get here."

Fear not! Already half way through chapter 8. Just wanted to get this bit up so you guys weren't waiting too long. Heaven forbid, a whole day! Ha. I'm soooo exciiiiiited...probably even more excited than you lot! Bwaha.