Disclaimer: I dream of owning them. Does that count too? Hey ObsessedTWfan, do you still have all the songs I use?
Title: Home is where the Heart is.
Author: Dutchie, or Nikki as you wish.
Summary: He wipes away her tears when she cries, makes her smile when she's feeling down, and he's just always around when she needs him. But then why is she trying so hard not to be with him? CaRWash
A/N: WOW I can't believe how much I'm writing. Go me! Oh and I was this close to calling this chapter 'Hakuna Matata'...which just made me ROTFLMAO. Song is Westlife's 'unbreakable'.
This love is unbreakable
It's unmistakable
And each time I look in your eyes
I know why
This love is untouchable
I feel that my heart just can't deny
Each time I look in your eyes
Oh baby, I know why
This love is unbreakable
Chapter ten: No worries.
Although he would never say it out loud, for fear of having his eyes scratched out, when he looked at Calleigh he saw the fragile and fearful person she was behind those brick walls she had build up during her life. The walls he'd been trying to carefully break down, one brick at a time. But now the wall had collapsed, like someone had just pushed it over, and he could see the real her.
Her hair still a mess, instead of the neat ponytail she usually wore. Her eyes still full of sleep, instead of the living sparkle they usually contained. Her elbow leaning on the table, so that her head could lean on her hand. Her fingers wrapped around the coffee mug as if the world would stop turning if she let go.
This was definitely a state in which he'd never seen Calleigh before.
"Goodmorning."
She looked up at him and smiled weakly.
"Hey, morning. I took some coffee, I hope you don't mind."
"I don't. Take all you want."
"Good, because I might need another cup if I ever want to wake up today."
Ryan chuckled and took a cup of his own, sitting down opposite of her.
"Maybe you shouldn't wake up." He commented.
"I have to get to work, silly." She replied, making a face.
"I know that, I just meant…well…you looked so sweet sleeping, before." Ryan blushed.
Calleigh smiled and took a sip of her coffee, her head still leaning on her hand. Ryan followed her example and took a sip as well, the warm liquid waking him up slightly.
"If you hop into the shower now, we can both still take one before we go to work." He broke the silence.
She looked up in surprise.
"Oh…well, alright."
She stood up and placed her cup in the dishwasher. It was only then he realized that she had made coffee herself, so she must've found where he kept all his stuff, neatly arranged. It made him nervous to wonder what she might think of it.
"I uh…I take it that you could find my stuff." He carefully asked.
"Yeah. Very functional order. You should come do my cabinets once; I can't find a thing in there." She winked.
Ryan let out a sigh of relief as Calleigh left the room to go take a shower. When she was out, he went in, and as soon as they were both done and dressed, they got ready to go to work. Calleigh was sitting on his couch, putting on her black heels, and Ryan collected his badge, keys and wallet.
"Ready to go?" Calleigh asked, suddenly standing next to him.
"Uh, yeah. Yeah let's go."
They stepped out and Ryan closed the door after she'd stepped out.
"Are you going to take your own car? I could drive you to work and back here so you can take your car home, too." He asked.
She thought about that for a moment.
"Drive me. What's the use in taking separate cars if we're going the same way anyway?"
"Good question. Okay Miss Duquesne, get in then." He said.
The drive to the lab was relatively silent, except for some talk when they stood waiting for a traffic light. But when Ryan turned the car onto the lab's parking lot, they could both clearly see Jake standing in front of the exit.
"He's waiting for me." Calleigh said.
"Wait up now. He could be assigned to a case with one of us."
"No. That's not his working look. That's his begging look. And that usually doesn't mean anything good."
"Maybe you can sneak through the back door."
Calleigh gave him a glare.
"You really think I'm going to be able to avoid Jake, if I'm the one he wants to see? I don't think so."
"It was just a suggestion."
"Thanks, but it's not gonna work. I'm going to have to hear what he has to say, as always."
"You could always try to ignore him and walk past him…never mind."
"I appreciate the attempt, Ryan, but it's not going to work."
They got out of the car and as Calleigh said, Jake waited for her to walk up the stairs and then grabbed her arm.
"Let go of me." Calleigh hissed.
"We need to talk."
"There's nothing to talk about. Now let go of my arm or I'll have you charged."
"Not before you listen to me."
"It's too late Jake. You betrayed me. Now get out of my way."
"I don't think so. Did you sleep with him?" Jake asked.
"That's none of your business."
"So that means yes."
"No, that means it's none of your business. Now let go of me."
Calleigh tried to pull her arm free but Jake's grip was too firm.
"Get the hell away from me!" Calleigh cried.
"Jake! Let go of her arm. NOW!" Ryan yelled. He'd just got up the stairs.
Jake slowly pulled his hand back.
"Now step back, and don't let me see you anywhere near her again, or I will file a complaint against you for sexual harassment of an officer."
Jake shook his head.
"Calleigh, Calleigh, Calleigh. You've always been stronger than that. Now do you suddenly need a man in your life to protect you?"
Before Calleigh could answer, Ryan already replied.
"Oh trust me, she doesn't need me. In fact, I'm doing you a favor. I don't want to know what would be left of you if I didn't hold her back. Get out of here."
Slowly but surely, Jake started to walk away, and Ryan turned to Calleigh. She looked at him, and he knew that he had undermined her. He made it seem like she couldn't handle it herself. He was in big trouble.
"Listen, uh…I'm sorry. I shouldn't…I mean I didn't…I'm sorry Cal. I know you could've handled it but I just couldn't stand there watching him hurt you. I've been doing that for too long already."
"Ryan. It's okay."
"Really? It is?"
"Yes. I haven't even thanked you for letting me stay at your place last night, and now I already have to thank you for saving me from that…piece of good for nothing…Jake."
Ryan smiled and nodded.
"You don't have to thank me."
"I know. But I'm doing it anyway. Thanks Ryan."
"No worries."
She smiled. She knew that was gonna be his answer. Because he was always there to help her, no matter if she asked or not. He was just there. She knew that. She just hadn't noticed that there was a double reason for that, just yet. But she would. In time, she definitely would.
But we have to keep it a little realistic here. Review and I might think of a way to make her realize ;)