Natalia caught Ryan the next day in the locker room to tell him about her conversation with Calleigh the previous day. Ryan only had two questions, the first being what triggered the memory to come back and secondly, what was Calleigh going to do next.

'I had the exact same questions when she told me,' Natalia answered, 'I called Alexx last night and she said that she had no idea how it happened. Her guess was that the trauma from being shot at and nearly drowning could have triggered her memory. Or it may be as simple her brain having had time to refresh her memory while she was unconscious. Either way, I think we should be happy that her memory's returned.'

'Hmm…and did you ask her what she was going to do?' Ryan answered thoughtfully,

'Yes, and I also gave her a few choices. I told her that if she tells Jake then -- '

'She is going to stay with him and vice versa' Ryan finished for Natalia.

Natalia gave Ryan an approving nod.

'Has she spoken to either of them?' Ryan asked.

'No, I haven't seen her today. She might be out on a crime scene,' Natalia said, 'oh and, I don't think we should tell Eric. I think he should find out from Calleigh.'

Ryan nodded just as Calleigh hurried past the lab that they were in. Natalia and Ryan looked at each other and crossed their fingers for Eric.

Calleigh had stayed up all night thinking about what she was going to do. She had carefully considered everything she'd been through with both of them, both sad and happy and had made what she believed to be the best choice for her. Just as she started to revise what she was going to say, she saw him in the trace lab. Calleigh took a deep breathe and entered the lab,

'Jake, can I speak to you for a moment?' asked Calleigh.

Jake, who was looking through the microscope, looked up and gave Calleigh an encouraging smile.

Meanwhile, Eric had just returned from a crime scene and was about to take the evidence to the trace lab. He paused outside the glass door when he saw Calleigh and Jake in there. Eric considered leaving them alone, eavesdropping is rude, he thought. But somehow his feet decided otherwise and refused to move.

Calleigh didn't want to open the conversation with what she was here for, so she thought she'd show interest in what Jake was doing first, 'What are you looking at?'

'Some substances extracted from the victims shirt, sodium chloride.'

'Salt,' Calleigh answered.

'Table salt, but I don't think you're here to speak to me about that. What's wrong?' Jake asked.

Calleigh took a deep breath and said, 'Jake, I remember everything, it happened when I woke up at the hospital. I don't know how though, all my memories just flooded back,'

'…and you are telling me this because?' Jake asked.

'Because I love you!' Calleigh shouted.

Outside the lab Eric felt sick, physically sick. The pain in his heart was unbearable; he wanted to scream, he wanted to cry. But he could do neither of these things. Instead he forced his feet to move and walked away.

In the lab, Jake beamed at Calleigh but she continued,

'I love you so I have to tell you the truth,' Calleigh took a deep breath before continuing; 'I'm going back to Eric.'

The smile on Jake's face faded.

'I'm so sorry,' said Calleigh whilst walking out of the lab.

Jake grabbed Calleigh's arm saying, 'Wait! Is this a joke or…or a test? To see how much you mean to me? To see if I'd beg for you to stay?'

'Jake let go,' Calleigh ordered.

Jake ignored her and continued, 'Because I will. Calleigh, please don't leave me again. I can't lose you. Eric's already lost you but I --'

'No, Eric never lost me. There has been some…misunderstandings,' Calleigh said, 'and Jake, this won't be our first break up.'

There was a long pause before Jake let out a weak laugh and said, 'Somehow I always knew that one day, when your memories returned, you'd leave me again. But I hoped, truly hoped that your memories would remain lost forever or even if they were retrieved, that you'd still choose me.'

'Jake…' Calleigh whispered.

'Go, go and tell Eric this…good news,' said Jake giving Calleigh a forced smile.

'Thank you Jake,' said Calleigh, dashing out of the lab.

When Calleigh had disappeared from view, the smile on Jake's face turned to anger and disappointment. He let out a low growl and pounded both of his fists into the table.

It took Calleigh a little longer to find Eric, who was down at the firearms.

'Eric,' Calleigh called softly.

Eric did not answer.

'Eric,' she said again.

Eric turned around and said, 'What?' with so much coldness in his voice that it gave Calleigh a chill.

'Eric, I want to tell you something. I- '

'– remember everything, ' Eric finished for her, his tone icy.

'How do you-'

'-and you love Jake so much that you have to scream it out loud for everyone to hear at the lab,' continued Eric, his voice growing in anger and getting louder.

'You overheard us?' Calleigh asked.

'I…am happy for you, you two make a great couple,' said Eric, ignoring Calleigh's question.

Now Calleigh began to get angry, 'Eric, you obviously didn't hear the whole conversation, let me explain -- '

'I have to get back to work so could you leave please?' said Eric, ignoring Calleigh once again.

'Eric -- '

'Please'

Calleigh could not hold in her anger any longer. Eric was being stupid; it was just a little misunderstanding that could be cleared if he'd just listen to her.

'Well, technically you are in my lab so could you leave please,' it was childish but she had to say it.

Eric looked around him and realised that Calleigh was right. He picked up his equipment and shouted, 'Fine!'

'Fine!' she shouted back.

That was successful, she thought sarcastically.

*10:00pm*

The dayshift had started to complete their work or were handing them over to the nightshifts. Eric, who had solved his case, was down at the locker room first. Just as he closed his locker door, Jake walked in. They both gave each other a cold, dirty look.

'So…congrats,' said Jake thinking that he'd be the bigger person.

'What!?' said Eric, who was confused by Jake's words. There was nothing for Jake to congratulate him for.

'You and Calleigh. I'm happy for you and I mean it. Even though I'd rather she stayed with me, but I'm happy if she's happy,' said Jake.

'Calleigh and I? Jake I hope that you aren't trying to rub it in my face. She said that she loves you,' said Eric, getting a bit annoyed.

'Man, what are you talking about? She said that she had to tell me the truth, which was that she loves you more then she loves me, so she was going back to you.' Jake said confusedly.

'What did you say,' Eric said weakly.

'Didn't she find you today? She hurried off as soon as she told me – hey where are you going!' before Jake could finish, Eric was already half way down the corridor. And I thought I couldn't mess up anymore, he thought angrily.

*11.00 pm*

Eric was outside Calleigh's house. He took a few deep breaths and pressed the door bell,

Ding Dong, Ding Dong

'Who is it?' Calleigh asked.

'It's me, Eric.'

The door flung open. Calleigh was in her night gown and the light radiating from the house made her look like an angel in Eric's eyes. To his surprise, Calleigh's cheeks were slightly flushed.

'Did you have something to drink?' he asked disapprovingly.

'Only a couple of glasses of wine,' she answered.

'Why?' he asked.

'Because I did a terrible thing today to someone and I regret it --' before Calleigh could finish, Eric yanked her forward to curve her body round his and landed his lips on hers. Calleigh was shocked by this action but raising her arms to wrap them around tightly Eric's neck, she pulled herself closer to him. Once Eric felt Calleigh responding he deepened his kiss. It was a long and passionate kiss, neither of them wanted to stop. But it was Eric who pulled away first.

'May I come in?' Eric asked breathlessly.

Calleigh smiled and said, 'Feel free.'

They walked into the living room, hand in hand, and both sat down on the sofa. Eric raised his arms so Calleigh could snuggle herself on his chest and as if it was as normal as breathing, Eric wrapped his arm round her shoulder.

'So what made you see the light?' Calleigh whispered.

'Huh?'

'Well, I tried to explain to you today and you just wouldn't listen. I mean, how could you possibly think that I'd choose Jake when you're around?' Calleigh said cheekily.

'Oh that!' Eric finally caught up, 'you did choose him…' he continued quietly.

'When I couldn't think straight.'

'And you said you love him…' Eric complained.

'But I do -- no Eric, let me finish,' Calleigh said as she saw Eric's eyes widened, 'I love him as a friend. But for you, the word "love" isn't enough and will never be. The word "boyfriend" sounds so childish when I use it to describe our relationship together. You mean the world to me Eric, so don't you go saying that I'd be better off with someone else and "I'm happy for you, you two make a great couple"' Calleigh said imitating Eric's voice.

Eric laughed and said, 'Well, don't say "I love you" to some other guy in the future, it may give them the wrong idea.'

'Then don't eavesdrop and when you do, try and listen to the other person's explanation.'

'Deal. But next time, try not to lose your memory. It's very inconvenient for others,' said Eric.

'Fair enough. In the future, when you are off to do something dangerous like helping your dad, try and tell me the truth.'

'OK, that means you will never shoot me again,' said Eric.

'You know, for someone like me,' Calleigh grinned, 'I really should have got you. I was aiming at the driver.'

They looked at each other for a split second then both let out a roar of laughter. Once they started, they couldn't stop. Both of them needed this joy and happiness after the difficult past 3 months. When Calleigh finally stifled her laughter she realised the time.

'Oh gosh! It's nearly midnight! You'd better get going,' she said.

'Or, if you don't mind, I could stay here?' he asked shyly, 'but I'll still need to head back to my place for change of clothes.'

Calleigh sat up straight and turned her body so she was facing him. She reached for his right arm and placed his palm on her heart and said, 'This, is your place, this is where you'll be,' she took a deep breath and whispered, 'forever.'

Eric reached for her right palm and placed it over his heart and echoed, 'forever.'

……The End......

Hope you enjoyed the story!