Sorry it's been a while. Just moved into university and so have been a bit busy with things... I'm not sure whether to continue this or not as I feel it's not working too well. Please review and let me know what you think, whether you want me to carry it on or not. Will post a few chapters of what I have pre-written, thank you!

Chapter 10 – My Immortal

Cal arrived upstairs in Connie's room to see her sitting on the edge of the bed swinging her legs. "Hey- Okay who's pissed you off already this morning?" Connie rolled her eyes as Cal sat down next to her. "I just want to get out of this place, I can't stand it in here much longer." She looked over at Cal who was smiling. "God if you're going to be that much of an idiot you can leave." She moved backwards on the bed and swung her legs up as Cal went to leave.

He started towards the door and picked up a bag he chucked down. He turned to Connie and threw it on the bed. "Ow, you can definitely get out now if you're just going to throw things at me." She smiled before looking at the bag at the end of her bed. "I guess I'll give you a few minutes shall I?" Connie was confused as Cal left the room while she opened the bag. There were some clean clothes in there and, much to Cal's hatred a pair of her heels. She silently thanked the man that had just left her room for this.

After a few minutes Connie was changed and putting her hair up in a ponytail on top of her head. She then washed her face looking in the mirror that was at the other side of her room. It was the first time she had looked at herself in a while, and she found herself finally feeling a little more human again. "You ready?" She turned around and saw Cal waving a piece of paper. She walked towards him and realised it was her discharge forms. "Seriously? I can go home?" He nodded as Connie threw her arms around Cal hugging him before she took a step backwards and grabbed her bag.

The pair slowly walked from the room and down towards the stairs. "Cal, wait a minute." They stopped walking as she looked up at him. "What's wrong? Are you okay?" She nodded "I'm fine, I just don't know if I can do this…" Cal took hold of Connie's hand, taking the bag from her with the other and started walking with her down the stairs. "You're the strongest woman I know, course you can." They stepped into the ED and Connie let go of Cal's hand on seeing Zoe smiling at her. The women met half way and Zoe pulled Connie into a hug. It was strange for her to be so open like this in front of her staff, but a lot had changed in a short time.

"It's so good to see you like this… Are you taking her home?" Zoe looked around Zoe to see Cal still standing there. "If she'll let me, then yeah." Connie smiled before saying a brief hello to people who were standing around. Cal and Connie left the department and climbed into his car. "So, you going to let me take you home there's someone who can't wait to see you." She smiled as Cal began the short drive towards her home.

Getting out of the car Connie found it hard to move herself from where she stood. She looked up at the house that held so much. "Hey, I'm right here the whole time." Connie slipped her hand into his and started walking into the house. "Mum? Is that you?" Grace emerged from the living room smiling and embracing her Mum into a huge hug. She dropped Cal's hand and fell to her knees holding her daughter. "I love you so much Grace, I promise things are going to get better. I promise."

It was a strange evening. Connie spent it fairly quiet just watching her daughter. Elliot was sitting in the living room with Connie when Cal disappeared with Grace to get something for dinner. "So how are you feeling? Really?" Connie smiled slightly. "This is hard, being here. But I know that I've got people around me, I just struggle to open up." Elliot nodded "I know you do, I spent years trying to understand you and still to this day don't." Neither had noticed Cal standing in the doorway silently listening.

"Connie, do you know how much that young man out there cares for you? Don't throw a good thing away. Let him in, let him help you… You never allow yourself to have anything, always helping others. Now it's our turn to help you, so don't shut him out. Let him get inside and really understand everything." Elliot rested a hand on Connie's leg as he saw tears begin to fall down her cheek. She shook her head just as Grace wandered back into the room making some noise with Cal following. Connie wiped away the tears and turned to her daughter smiling.

Cal could see through the act she put on for her daughters sake, but didn't ask any questions. Not yet, it could all wait until Grace wasn't around. After they all ate dinner Elliot decided it was time he should get home. Connie walked him out to the door and hugged him. "Thank you Elliot, for everything that you've done for me and for Grace. It means a lot to me. And I promise I'll try, with Cal… At least to let him understand things." Her old friend nodded before she closed the door and stayed there a few minutes, savouring the final moments of not having someone know everything about her.

It wasn't long until Grace was feeling tired. "Grace, go get your pyjamas on and your mum will be up in a minute." Cal spoke gently to the girl who gave him a huge hug. "Night Cal, will I see you tomorrow?" Cal looked down at her before glancing towards Connie who was just looking out the window. "Maybe, but if not the next day." He smiled as she went to get changed.

Cal took a seat next to Connie who was still absent. "Hey, what are you thinking?" She shook her head as she felt his hand on the side of her face. "Not now, I need to say goodnight to Grace…" She stood up without much warning and wandered upstairs to her daughter's bedroom. "Hey baby girl, I love you lots you know that don't you." She smiled and hugged Grace before sitting on the bed and stroking her hair. "Mummy, I've loved spending time with Uncle Elliot and Zoe, but most of all I want to spend time with you… and Cal. He's so funny."

She laughed at her daughter. "I didn't know you'd spent a lot of time with him." Her daughter enthusiastically nodded. "He picks me up from school and Grandma's sometimes. He takes me to the park and chases me around everywhere. He takes me around the hospital with him and lets me sit on the sides when he's writing things. He buys me sweets sometimes but he said I shouldn't tell you that bit." Connie laughed again, seeing how much love Grace had for the man sitting downstairs. How could she have been so stupid and selfish. "Okay sweetheart, I'll let you sleep now. I'll see you in the morning. I love you." She bent down kissing her head, before standing and leaving the bedroom. This was going to be one hell of an evening.

My Immortal by Evanescence