Cal and Gillian met in the parking lot the next day.

"Hey" she smiled. "So how was the movies?"

She was curious to know how he had smoothed things over after Emily's little stunt in his office.

"Oh, we didn't go. We felt we had some things to talk about: went out for dinner instead."

Gillian nodded, waiting for him to go on.

"Teenage girls!" Cal shook his head in disbelief, not intending to say anything more on the matter. She understood his discretion and went on to talk about work-related business.

That noon they finally managed to have lunch together. They were sitting in her office with an array of Thai food when he asked if she had plans for the weekend.

"Um, not really."

He could sense she wasn't telling him the whole truth.

"I'm sort of eating out with a guy tonight."

"You're going on a date?" he asked in playful incredulity, hoping his jealousy wasn't too blatant.

"It's not a date" she explained, twirling her noodles around."He used to work with Alec. A long time ago. He apparently found out we had split and he's been wanting to meet up for a few weeks. I kept delaying it, but we're finally having dinner tonight. " She looked up at him.

"So, you're going on a date" he repeated, trying to understand what effect the news had on him.

"It's not a date!" she corrected yet again. "Just two friends meeting for a catch-up"

"Trust me. You're single and beautiful. He's a man. It's a date."

She couldn't battle with such logic. She was silent. She didn't think of John like that. But she was a little curious to know how Cal reacted to thinking she might do.

He had paused in his eating, obviously pondering the piece of news she had dropped on him.

"Well, you'll have to tell me how it went on" he said cheerfully, smothering down all his instincts. He knew he had no right to be jealous –she wasn't his–, and yet he felt a little hurt that she was going on a date so soon after their break-through of Wednesday night. His falsely cheerful tone didn't fool Gillian.

"Cal, it's not what you think, honestly. This was arranged weeks ago. I have no intention to take it anywhere. You've got to trust me..."

"What if you did, Gill. I mean, we're not an item, you can go out with him if you want" he interrupted her rather testily.

They were getting on to something there, both of them thought. They had admitted to caring about each other. They had decided not to do anything about it for the time being, lest it should change their relationship. But what did that mean, technically? Were dates authorized? Cal realized how stupid and immature he was being, snapping at her like that.

"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…" he paused. "It's just… well, it's a little weird. This whole thing is weird. I thought we were making progress here, I…" he trailed off, lost for words.

She got up and walked to him. "We are Cal… I shouldn't have told you."

"On the contrary, I'm glad you told me" he valued honesty more than anything else, especially in matters where the heart was concerned.

"I shouldn't have told you because really it's meaningless. It's just something to do on a Friday night. Free dinner beats sitting with a book in my empty cardbox-ridden apartment."

He looked up and smiled.

"Ok. I'm sorry. My reaction was uncalled for. I have no rights on you, anyway"

"You kind of do, though" she winked, going back to her seat.

They resumed eating. There were so many things to say. They chose to drop the subject entirely.

"Anyway, that's all I've got planned for the weekend. What about you?" she asked.

"Well, Em's with her mum. But I have to go pick her up at a party tonight. So I'll be staying up a little, not long, curfew is at midnight…" he smiled, enjoying the part of the over-protective father. "And then tomorrow morning I think I'll come here and get some paperwork done" Gillian opened her eyes wide. He laughed "Yeah, I've got to sort out that billing issue."

"Want some help?" she asked, placing a dumpling in her mouth.

"I think I'll be fine. I mean, take some rest."

"I was thinking of coming in anyway", she shrugged. "Unless I go swimming. Been dying to for ages."

"Go swimming, love. Take some time for yourself. I'll be fine, honestly."

She smiled. He could be so full of consideration.

"Oh and Saturday afternoon is Emily's badminton tournament, here in DC, so I'll be cheering for her", he added.

"Oh, nice! I hope she does great."

They talked a little more until the food was all gone. Then Cal left and both of them got on with their day.

They met up again in the early evening, as Gillian was leaving.

She knocked on the door to his office and walked in. He looked up in surprise.

"Oh, you're still here? I thought you'd gone on your date" he insisted playfully on that last word.

She gave him a friendly scolding look. "Late dinner" she explained." I'm going now. You're staying here?"

"Yeah, I figured I'd do the bills now, go pick up Em from here and get a sleep-in tomorrow."

She nodded. "Sounds like a plan". She fidgeted, reluctant to leave.

He could sense it and decided to mess around with her just a little.

"So, what happens if that …" He paused for her to insert the guy's name. "John" she said. He grimaced purposely. "What happens if he leans in to kiss you?"

She blushed, but pretended not to be in the least taken aback by his question.

"Not going to happen" she fired back.

"Let's say it does, shall we? What would happen?"

"Well" she was blushing now. What answer did he expect? "I…I guess I would lean away" she lied.

"Come on, you can't do that! It's rude."

"I'd kiss him back" she said, exasperated. "Of course I would."

"Ah-ah!" he pointed his finger at her.

"But it wouldn't mean anything! I'd let him know I'm not interested, which he would know anyway, which is why he would never try to kiss me, which is why this conversation is absurd."

"It's absurd all right, but that's not the reason."

"No, the reason is that we are highly inhibited creatures unable to give in to what we know we really want!" She raised her hand in exasperation.

"Amen to that" he said solemnly.

They looked at each other and laughed, wishing she didn't have to leave.

"Right, I'm off" she said after a moment. " ' Night Cal. Have a good weekend."

"You too Gill, take care" he said seriously.

She turned around with a wave and was gone.