Title: Til' Death do us Part
Chapter 8 – Office Politics

A/N: Apron's anyone :) enjoy


Eric and Calleigh headed for home in silence, until Calleigh finally broke it.

"Are you okay?" She asked softly.

"I will be…when this is all over," he said with a slight wince, leaning back on the seat and then gingerly touching his face.

"What did he say?"

"Well he was going to kill you," Eric half whispered; chocking back a sob. "Because I was told to come alone and Jake the ass showed up and nearly got us both killed!" Eric spat in anger.

"It was him!" Calleigh stated in anger. "How did he…the camera…so he was there. It was Jake! But how did he know?"

"The only thing I can think is that he followed me…I guess hoping to catch me in some illegal act or something stupid like that," he moaned.

"I can't believe he'd take that chance," Calleigh replied. "Doesn't he know about the hit?"

"I guess not…and if he does, he obviously doesn't know anything else. Sadly I don't think he wants you killed only me," Eric frowned. "When I see him tomorrow I am going to kill him," he stated in anger.

"You pick a fight with him at the office and its game over…you'll be punished or something," she rambled on. "This is what he wants."

"I don't care!" Eric stated in anger.

"Well I care!" Calleigh shot back. They both sat in heated silence for a few minutes before Eric broke it. "I'm sorry…"

"Me too," she offered weakly.

"I am guessing if he caught me doing something I shouldn't then he could go and tell you something…I don't know….now I'm guessing," Eric huffed as he offered another wince.

"What happened?"

"I got there and waited…when I went into the building my father was there…he's the one who spotted Jake. He showed me through binoculars. Then I was tied up, blindfolded and threatened," he related in sorrow. "I begged him for your life," he finished in anguish.

Calleigh gently touched his face and offered a weak smile. "I'm sorry…"

"You have nothing to be sorry for," he frowned. "I was weak!" Eric spat in anger.

"Eric you are not weak," she tried. "Please try to believe that," she told him.

"It's…Calleigh it's not that easy. I don't feel strong…maybe Jake is right…maybe I am…"

"Eric, listen to me. Jake is a jealous ass who obviously doesn't care about us at all. Please don't believe what he says or let it affect you and I."

Eric stared out the window in misery but knew she was right. "Then he threw me – literally – into the back of a van and drove around. He asked me to back off investigating the Russian Mob. If I did that then he'd call of the hit."

"Do you believe him?"

"I really want to…I mean I have no reason to believe he won't…but then he also had the chance to help me and didn't. He could have come forward and at least said something to Immigration but showed he didn't care to save me then so I really don't believe he'll care do help me now."

"Are you going to back off?"

"He told me it's either back off or you die and then me," Eric whispered. "I will not play that game with your life and our future. I will back off…" his voice died out; once again into silence. "But there was something odd…"

"What?"

"He said he knew about me and that mom took me away…"

"He might have been playing with your paranoia," she noted.

"Yeah you could be right," Eric huffed. But in his mind the war had already started. Did Alexander know before Horatio found him and Eric told him? If so what was his real story? He had promised he'd back off; but something inside said he needed to know more about his real father. And now the real struggle would begin; the struggle for his mental sanity and their future happiness.

They finally reached home; each in a state of panic and wonder. Calleigh helped Eric inside and then made him sit at the kitchen table while she fetched something clean his face with.

"Sorry," she whispered, when the cool disinfectant mixed with his chewed up skin.

"It's okay," he said taking her hand, kissing it and stopping her actions. "I…am sorry," he told her plainly. "For all of this."

"None of this is your fault," she whispered, tenderly kissing the side of his face that wasn't cut up. "How did this happen anyways?"

"I had to scrape the blindfold off," he huffed. "Stupid right?"

"No…brave," she smiled.

"Brave? Hardly, I was scared," he admitted in sorrow. "I thought he would kill me…I begged to live…pretty pathet…" he started only to have her softly kiss his trembling lips. "I was so…scared that he…" he started as his eyes watered. "I don't want to lose you. I love you so much."

Calleigh pulled him into her arms and held his trembling body close; tenderly stroking his back and face. "You need to rest," she whispered.

"Calleigh I…" he started again.

"Eric, please. You look like you have been through hell and we can talk tomorrow. Please just go and rest. I'll be there shortly. I love you."

Eric simply pushed himself to his feet, kissed her on the lips, offered a frown and then slowly headed into the bedroom. He had planned to take a shower but due to being so wracked with nervous tension and worn out from adrenaline rushes he merely fell to the bed – asleep.

Calleigh finished up her light cleaning and slowly headed into the bedroom. She spied Eric's sleeping form and leaned against the doorway and sighed. She walked up to him, carefully put the blanket over him and let him sleep – he had more than earned it.

Then she hurried to her phone and dialed Horatio.

"Is he okay?"

"Well they did a number on him and he was pretty shaken up when I got there but he's sleeping now…Jake was there."

"Did Alexander know?"

"Eric said his father pointed him out."

"Damn it!" Horatio cursed. "It had to be a mistake…I'm sure Jake wouldn't take a chance with your life."

"Yeah only Eric's!" Calleigh stated in anger. "Sorry…what are you going to do?"

"Leave it to me, just rest and I'll see you both tomorrow," Horatio said hanging up and looking at Tripp. "I need a favor."

"With regards to Jake? What did you have in mind?" Tripp asked.

Calleigh hung up the phone and then headed back into the bedroom to get ready for bed. She noticed Eric lightly tossing in his sleep; his face a mix of panic and anger and she sighed heavily.

"Oh Eric…I can't wait until this is over," she whispered, hoping for a restful night. But every hour Eric just tossed and turned; muttering angry curses to his father and keeping them both on the edge of sleep. When Calleigh finally lost the battle, morning was just a few blinks away.

XXXXXXXX

Calleigh awoke early the next morning to find Eric's bedside empty. She hurried from their bedroom and into the main living area.

"Eric?"

No answer. He was gone.

"Oh no…" she said as she called Horatio. "I think he went in search of Jake. You have to find him and stop him from doing something stupid. I tried his cell but he won't answer," she said in haste. She quickly hung up and hurried to get to the lab where she was sure Eric was heading – Jake in his sights and probably revenge on his mind.

"Eric…don't do something stupid…not now. This is what Jake wants!"

XXXXXXXX

Eric waited in the parking lot until he saw Jake pull in. As there was no one else around he figured he could confront Jake and all would be okay. He got out of his car and hurried toward him. However, Horatio, already in and tipped off by Calleigh watched from his window and then rushed out to the parking lot, hoping to stop Eric from doing something he'd regret.

"Frank!" Horatio shouted. "We got trouble."

"Right behind you!" Frank called out as he rushed after Horatio for the exit door.

"Hey!" Eric shouted to Jake; making Jake stop and turn around in his tracks.

"Eric…I see you…" Jake started with a smile as Eric neared.

Eric, however, just walked up to Jake and punched him hard in the gut. "What the hell!" Jake shouted as he countered and took a swing at Eric. Eric swung back, missing. Jake landed a punch to Eric's mid-section, making Eric take a step back. Jake lunged at Eric, catching him unaware of the lunge and taking them both to the ground.

"Why did you follow me you idiot!" Eric shouted in anger. "Do you know what you did?"

"Yeah caught you doing an illegal deal, Immigrant!" Jake shouted back. "Now you can be deported!"

"You are so way off you moron!" Eric countered.

"Eric!" Horatio called out as he rushed for the tumble of arms and legs; Frank in tow.

Jake landed another punch to Eric's side just as Horatio reached them. He grabbed Eric by the jacket and dragged him away as Frank reached for Jake and pulled him back.

"Horatio, he was there!" Eric started. "It could have meant Calleigh's…"

"Eric just attacked me!" Jake shot back. "And don't always hide behind her you loser!"

"Enough…both of you!" Horatio growled as he hauled Eric to his feet. "Eric…talk."

"Jake was there…you know the rules…he broke them!"

"Eric broke the law. Let go," Jake huffed as he pushed himself up and shook of Tripp's arm; yanking himself free.

"Actually…you broke protocol," Horatio said pulling out the tape from the undercarriage camera.

"Why did you follow me?" Eric questioned.

"Listen immigrant!" Jake snapped. "I…"

"Jake," Horatio warned. "I'd be very careful what words you choose next. You broke protocol to follow another officer for no reason."

"Eric did a deal!" Jake tried. "I have reason."

"Man you are so way off," Tripp grumbled. "Inside…now!" Tripp ordered.

Jake gave Eric a look that warned this isn't over, turned on his heel and pushed past Tripp with an angry huff.

Horatio turned to Eric with an angry frown.

"H…he followed me there…Calleigh could have been…" his voice rambled off in a heated panic.

Just as Jake and Tripp were heading inside, Calleigh pulled into the end of the parking lot; spied them talking and stopped. This wasn't the time to butt in and she knew it.

"By you fighting him could seriously jeopardize your case review," Horatio told him.

"I just can't believe he'd want to screw that for me," Eric moaned.

"He might not have known. I don't think he'd want Calleigh killed. So if he doesn't know about the hit then he was hoping you'd do something illegal…"

"That would get me deported," Eric huffed. "And I just about walked into it. Damn it!" Eric cursed himself in anger.

"Just calm down. Tripp isn't going to give him the full details but if we get a restraining order against him there will be an investigation; and I don't mean Rick. If there is an investigation and Jake gets to tell them whatever he wants, its game over and you know it."

Eric finally felt himself starting to calm down and offered a sorry.

"Just don't let it happen again. Eric, there are going to be people who say things mean thins like Jake. Do you think you can take the heat?"

"I guess I need to learn to do that," Eric frowned.

"I know you can. For right now we keep this to us. When you are back on active duty; the team gets the goods," Horatio smiled.

"What do we tell the others?"

"Let me worry about that," Horatio frowned. "The less people know the better. Besides, this place has ears and eyes and the less Rick Stetler knows the better for all of us. Come on…let's not keep Eddie waiting."

"Right," Eric smiled as he turned and followed after Horatio into the building.

Calleigh felt herself offer a sigh of relief and then drove for her normal parking spot.

Eric followed Horatio into the building and they both spied Rick waiting for them.

"Do you think Jake…" Eric started in a panic.

"No, he was here earlier. He wants to talk to you about this whole arrangement. I'll give you this advice. Tell him the truth but don't embellish."

"H?"

"If you care for Calleigh, Rick doesn't need to know if you love her."

Eric looked at him and knew what he was being told. "Right," he sighed as he headed for Rick.

Calleigh entered the lab area and hurried up to Horatio, just as Eric closed the door to the room Rick was waiting. She watched him sit down before Rick and caught her breath. "Oh no…" she said walking up to Horatio. "Did Jake cause that?"

"No, this was a planned meeting," Horatio replied. "I broke up a fight between Eric and Jake earlier."

"Tell me what happened," she said.

XXXXXXXX

Eric sat down before Rick with a pensive expression but only offered a small hello.

"So I guess congratulations are in order?" Rick asked firmly.

"Thanks," Eric replied. "What's this all about?"

"I'm just doing my job…checking on the…"

"Illegal Immigrants?" Eric shot back as he eased back in his chair.

Rick just arched a brow but didn't play the game. He had his own to play.

"So as part of my follow up, how are things?"

"Well Eddie isn't that bad. I guess he sees that I actually can do my job and that people know me."

"And how's Calleigh?"

"Fine, I guess," Eric frowned. "I don't get the question."

"I think you do," Rick retorted.

"I am not playing this game. If you want to know how Calleigh is today, why don't you ask her?"

"A little defensive about your new wife aren't you?" Rick goaded.

"If you said that about Ryan, I would have given you the same answer," Eric shot back.

"You're not married to Ryan."

"Well if I was, would you ask?" Eric goaded in return.

Rick leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh. "You know I find it very noble that Calleigh was willing to step in and help her lov…"

"Friend?"

"A little more than a friend? Would a friend just up and marry another? Did Ryan?"

"What's your point?" Eric requested in annoyance.

"I am allowing you to work on the same team as Calleigh because of this unique arrangement. Of course when your paperwork comes through and your Citizenship is approved and this is all back to normal, we'll be having a different conversation."

"Meaning?" Eric asked with a nervous tone.

"I think you know what I mean," Rick said standing up. "Have a nice day."

Eric watched Rick leave and let out a small curse. "I guess there goes my future," he huffed; thinking he was alone.

"Aww poor little immigrant," Jake laughed. "I guess you finally have seen the light, as will Calleigh. And when she does come to her senses and see the light your future will be over! Later loser."

"Look Jake…"

"I don't care what you were doing in that building," Jake started as he leaned in close to Eric.

Calleigh rounded the corner and narrowed her eyes in anger as she gazed upon Eric's strained expression.

"I will prove this marriage is a sham and then Calleigh will be gone! Have a nice day Delko, but watch your back!" Jake warned as he turned on his heel and headed for the elevator.

"Morning," he winked at Calleigh.

She just offered a frown and then walked toward Eric; just as Eddie rounded the corner. She offered a good morning to the guard and then stood in the doorway looking at Eric.

Eric could feel her there but didn't look up. "Great, now even Rick is waiting for us to break up. It's like the whole world is against our new arrangement before we have even had a chance to get it started," he stated in sorrow.

"Eric…"

"No," he said softly. "It's okay. I just need a few minutes. Please?"

"Eric…don't push me away…"

"I just need…a few minutes," he said firmly, offering her only a frown, but causing tension to build.

"Okay," she said sadly as she offered a small goodbye and then turned and left. "See you tonight."

"Of course," he said not looking up.

Calleigh turned and was stopped by Horatio.

"He will get through this," he told her.

"Eric feels as if the whole world is against him," she lamented. "And I just feel helpless to know what to do."

"Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing. He just needs time," he told her. "Come on…"

"What did Tripp tell Jake? Anything about the hit?"

"Those details have now been locked so that Jake cannot access them," Horatio told her. "I don't want him to have any reason for anything on Eric. He was told that Eric had to meet a man about a case only he knew the suspect on and that the car was wired and so was the scene. So in his mind Eric was there because we wanted him there and the law knew and everything is okay."

"Thanks," she said softly as she spied Natalia walking toward them. "And the day starts."

"Yes it does."

XXXXXXXX

"Hey Eddie," Eric frowned as he walked past the guard and up to his desk, the guard in tow. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Eddie replied.

"You married?"

"Going on 10 years now," he said proudly.

"Congrats. Ever have a jealous ex come back?"

"Yeah…there was this one guy who just wouldn't give up. At first it made me mad…"

"What did you do?"

"I got even," Eddie smiled.

"What?" Eric asked in shock. "You ki…"

"No man…I one upped him. He would call my wife…I'd bring a simple card home at the end of the day. He would show up at work…I'd take her to a nice dinner or treat her to something special."

"So no matter what he did you just always proved that he had…"

"Nothing on me and he finally left her alone. I showed him that my wife got everything she needed from me. See if women don't have a reason to leave; they won't. Trust me Eric your wife doesn't want to leave you. Don't worry about this other guy – just show him up."

"You know that makes sense. I just wanna take him out back and kick the crap outta him," Eric huffed.

"So did I," Eddie smiled. "But don't worry…your wife…the blond right? I don't think she could care for anyone more than she cares for you. It's in her eyes and on her face. You're a lucky man."

"I know," Eric replied. "She's more than I deserve."

"That's all men," Eddie laughed.

Eric offered only a smile and then started into his task. However, the day just seemed to be filled with frustration as both Calleigh and Horatio needed their stuff done stat and Ryan was in the field and…and on it went. By the time the end of the day rolled around; he was more than happy to go home. Calleigh was delayed so he would be going home alone, but this time it's what he wanted.

"Night Eddie," Eric called out as he headed for the elevator. He headed for his locker and pulled out a small packet and sat down. He started writing, stuffed the small note into Calleigh's locker and then hurried for home; a smile on his face and Eddie's reassuring words playing in his brain.

"Oh man I'm tired," Calleigh huffed as her and Ryan headed back into the lab about an hour later. She looked at the space Eric had been only hours earlier and felt herself offer a sad sigh. She knew he had another tough day and wondered how it had ended; knowing it started with a fight and then tension was added by their small argument. She expected to be going home to a night of heated debates and short fuses.

"You know I miss him too," Ryan stated. "Just doesn't feel the same…" Ryan frowned. "I mean I like working with you and Nat but…I just miss another guy on the scene. How's he doing?"

"He's okay…I guess we're both adjusting," she told him. "Goodnight," she said as she turned and left. She walked to her locker and noticed a small white piece of paper sticking out of her locker. Her first instinct was to think it was a nasty note from Jake. But as she took it and slowly opened it her smile grew.

My darling wife,
Missed you today and I'm sorry for being curt. Hurry home…I have a surprise waiting.
Love your husband

"Then that's what I'll do," she said happily. She hurried to her car and nearly raced home. She wasn't sure what to expect; thinking that perhaps he wanted some space or time alone to adjust to everything. She took a deep breath and slowly pushed the door open.

"Eric?" She softly called out as she slowly opened the back door and walked into the kitchen.

"In here…" he called out.

She dumped her coat and purse by her shoes at the door; locked it and headed into the living room. There were no more moving boxes; all the stickers removed and Eric was waiting by an already dressed table; wearing only the apron, his half naked body just waiting for her to devour.

"Wow…you did all this for me?" She asked happily; the tension from the day dissipating instantly.

"I did this…for us," he told her.

She gazed upon the well dressed table and then his half naked body and walked up to him with a growing smile. "You cooked this?" She managed.

"Yes ma'am," he smiled as he stood up to greet her. He offered a warm hug and then an inviting kiss. "Hungry?"

"Yes," she replied. "And the dinner smells pretty good too."

"Ah," he smiled in return. "I like that. I guess then you'll be looking forward to what I have for dessert."

"And what's that she whispered?"

"Something Cuban," he teased.

"When's dessert?" She asked, making him lightly laugh. "No way…you are eating my dinner…I slaved for hours," he insisted.

"Yeah right…like I could sit through dinner with you dressed like that," she teased; her hand resting on his warm naked chest.

"Care to join me? I have another apron…" Eric offered. "But you are eating my dinner."

"You know it smells too good to pass up…I just hope I'm not to full for dessert," she teased.

"Oh I think you'll be able to find some room."

"Well I'm glad your day ended better than it started," she smiled warmly.

"I guess you could say I got some good advice from an unlikely source," he told her. "And it couldn't have come at a better time."

"Well your sources are right on the money," she replied. "Who was the source for this meal?"

"Martha Stewart," he laughed.

"My regards to Martha," Calleigh smiled.

"So shall we eat Mrs. Delko?"

"We shall Mr. Delko," she smiled. "Just let me change."

Eric watched her leave; his desire for her growing with each passing second. When she rounded the corner and stood facing him with only the skimpy apron on, his heart skipped a beat.

"On second thought…dessert first?" He gulped, making her lightly laugh. "We can always reheat."

"No way," she teased, walking closer. "I am eating…"

"Me…" he said grabbing her close; wrapping his arms around her bare back, letting his hands rest on her lush ass. "Man you feel so good like this," he said warmly; kissing her mouth, lightly tasting her lips and then starting to devour them further. He gently lowered her to the floor and pulled her close; wanting to make love to her with all he had to offer.

And despite all the stupidity that Jake Berkeley was trying to cause; Eric and Calleigh just took it one step at a time, growing their love and their bond; trying to build a secure wall to withstand the coming events. And their love would be tested; that was the one thing out of all of this that was written in stone. But so was their future…they just needed to endure to be rewarded – and rewarded they would be.


A/N: More to come...hope that's still okay!