The First Step

A/N: So, I can't decide, should this be the last chapter or should I go on?

Only you can set you free. - Living Color, Cult Of Personality

The day was not starting out well.

After leaving her deep thoughts in the locker room, Calleigh headed into the break room for her first cup of coffee and a few quiet minutes to recollect herself and get herself focused on the day ahead of her. That plan quickly died when she reached

the break room door.

Already inside, Eric and Ryan were engaged in their morning argument, only this morning it seemed to have risen from argument to shouting match.

Sighing heavily, she entered anyways, hoping go in, get her coffee and leave before she got roped into playing referee for the two.

Neither one seemed to notice her presence until she reached the counter and saw the coffee pot totally empty.

"Damn it." She swore as she slammed her hands down onto the counter. Eric turned around to look at her.

"What's your problem?" He asked. Calleigh shook her head.

"Nothing, everything is just peachy frickin' keen." She muttered as she turned around and walked back out.

Now in an even worse mood, she stomped down to the ballistics lab. She was on her way over to the gun vault when she noticed it. Sitting on her desk was a bouquet of two dozen yellow and white tulips in a beautiful glass vase with a card propped up next to it.

Walking back over to it, she picked up the card and opened it. Inside was a business sized piece of cardstock paper. On one side, her name was written in a simple script. On the other side were three words:

You were right.

Putting the card back in the envelope, Calleigh smiled.

Maybe this day wouldn't be so bad after all.

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"Knock knock." Calleigh turned around to see Horatio standing in the doorway. Her smile slightly and Horatio took that as an invitation to enter.

"Thank you for the flowers. I didn't know you knew my favorite flowers." She said as she gestured to the flowers.

"Hmm," he hummed with a little eyebrow raise. "I also know that people send white tulips when they want to ask for someone forgiveness." Calleigh's smiled fell as she sighed.

"Horatio, you're not the one who needs to be asking for forgiveness, I am. I had no right to say the things I said to you." Horatio shook his head.

"No, you had every right to say what you said to me. To be honest, you're the only one who's had the courage to say it to my face." He admitted.

She turned her head away, not wanting him to look her in the eye. They'd give her away in a heart beat.

"It wasn't courage." she muttered.

"Yes it was." He retorted. "Calleigh, I wish I could be like you. I wish I could carry the kind of load that you do and I wish could do it with the grace that you do. You are an amazing woman and it's because of you that I want to change."

"Horatio," She started as she turned her head back towards him. "You can't do this because I want it for you; you have to want it for yourself."

"I want it, Cal. I really do. And I know that Mari would want me to move ahead." He assured her. Calleigh finally gave a real smile.

"Good, cause that's the first step."