Long, somewhat fluffy one here. What can I say? I'm fond of Cal/Gill moments…

Blah, blah, don't own blah, blah, blah… standard crap.

Cal was heading into the living room when he saw Gillian try to stand up. It didn't go well. She was basically on the floor before she could get fully upright. Cal ran to help her.

"Hey love. You're supposed to be gettin' some help with this movin' around stuff." Cal was kneeling behind her supporting her by her elbows.

"I'm fine Cal. Just get me standing. I can do this myself." Gillian said through gritted teeth.

"No love. You really can't." He said as he gently lifted her up and helped her to sit back on the couch.

"What are you doing here? Where's Emily?" Gillian was obviously frustrated.

"She went to a friend's house. So, you're stuck with me." Cal sat down where Emily had been sitting before. He looked at Gillian's face. She looked like hell. The bruises were good and purple now. She looked tired. And she was in pain. "Why no pain meds today, love?"

Gillian looked down and closed her eyes. "I don't like how they make me feel."

"So, you like feelin' the pain? I never knew you were a masochist Foster." He grinned at her, trying to lighten things up.

"I'm not. I just don't like how fuzzy they make me feel. I can't think straight. I'm groggy and I don't know what's going on around me…" She felt the tears pushing at the backs of her eyes.

"Gill. You're safe here. Nothin' is gonna happen to you." Cal took her hands in his. She leaned to her left, into the back of the couch.

"I'm sorry. I must be such a pain." She managed to hold off the tears.

"No. You're not." Cal leaned in and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "How about some lunch?"

"How about a shower?" Gillian gave him a puppy dog look. "I haven't had one since Monday morning. It's Wednesday afternoon. I feel so disgusting."

"Okay. Let's make a deal. You eat some lunch and take your pain medicine and I'll see to it that you get a shower, yeah?" Cal was glad she gave him a bargaining chip.

"I'll try to eat some lunch. And I will take some pain medicine after a shower, but only if you'll stay with me." Gillian hated how weak and pathetic she sounded.

"Deal. Except, I want you to take the pain meds with your lunch. Then an ice pack 'cause it's time. Then after a nap, a warm shower will feel good. And I will stay with you the whole time." Cal spoke very quickly amid several attempts at interruption by Gillian.

"Cal! How is that fair?" Gillian looked irritated, but Cal guessed she was too exhausted and in too much pain to argue against him successfully.

"I'm tryin' to help here. Plus, I know how you are. You'll want to do the whole shower thing by yourself and you don't have the strength. If you rest up first, you'll have a better shot." Cal knew that wasn't true. She didn't have a shot in hell at showering by herself. 'How the hell is this shower thing gonna work? She can't even stand up on her own. '

"There was a lie in there somewhere. You are not playing fair. My mind is not up to this." Gillian sighed in defeat.

"So, it's settled then. I'll get your lunch and your meds." He went toward the kitchen and yelled over his shoulder "and your orange slushie!"

Gillian smiled. 'Well, he gets a brownie point for the slushie…'

Gillian had eaten about half of her lunch, drank her whole slushie, and Cal got the meds in her. They were sitting on the floor in front of the couch now. Cal was leaning against it with his legs straddled. Gillian was sitting in between his legs with the ice pack on her back. The pain medicine was starting to hit her and she couldn't hold her eyes open. Cal had a pillow in between them and had pulled Gillian back against it. He pulled a blanket over the front of her. It took about 2 minutes before she was out.

Cal sat there for twenty minutes with the ice pack between them. Gillian had started shivering right after she fell asleep. He wanted nothing more than to take the damn cold thing off of her, but he knew it was helping. At the twenty minute mark, he gently pushed her forward just enough to be able to slide the ice pack and the pillow out from between them. He then leaned her back against his chest and pulled her hips back so she was completely supported by him. She was shivering badly, but hadn't woken up. He pulled the blanket around them both, put a pillow behind his head, and wrapped his arms around her. He dozed off after a few minutes.

An hour passed when Gillian's movement woke him up. She was obviously dreaming and by the tenseness in her body and the small whimpering noises she was making, it wasn't a good one. Cal leaned forward and hugged her. He whispered in her ear as he stroked up and down her good arm. "It's me Gill. I'm right here with you. You're safe love." He felt her calming. After a short time, he felt her relax again. They sat there for another hour. Cal's neck and back were stiff but he wasn't about to move. This is the most peaceful sleep he had seen Gillian get since this nightmare began.

Gillian woke up slowly. Cal felt her startle when she was awake enough to realize where she was. "Cal?" She sounded embarrassed. She tried to sit herself up and winced.

"Hey, it's okay. Hold on. Let me help you." Cal held onto her until she stopped trying to pull against him.

"I'm sorry. Why didn't you move me? You must be so uncomfortable."

"Nah, I'm all right." Cal helped her to lean forward. He got up and picked her up by grabbing underneath her arms.

"Hey!" Gillian squeeled. "That tickles!"

"Sorry, love. Didn't want to grab anywhere that was sore." Cal hadn't meant to tickle her but he did enjoy the giggle she gave. He helped her down onto the couch.

"Shower time? Please?" Gillian looked at him questioningly.

"About that…" Cal started.

"Oh no, Cal Lightman! We had a deal! You are not backing out. I kept up my end." Gillian looked like she could spit nickels.

"I don't wanna back out. I just don't know how we can do this. I mean…" Cal wasn't sure what to say. "You can't stand by yourself, love. How are you gonna get in the shower?"

Gillian thought for a second. She hadn't considered the logistics of it. She just knew she wanted a shower. Suddenly, she realized what Cal was talking about. "I can stand on my own, Cal. Okay, not straight, but I can stand. I just can't get myself up or down. Those muscles aren't working right." She looked at him and saw the strangest look on his face. He looked down to her feet and back up to her face. He tilted his head and raised his eyebrows at her.

"Gill. You can't raise your arms over your head. You can't bend over. You're working with only one good arm and you're still having dizzy spells."

Gillian thought about what he had just said. She took a painful deep breath and closed her eyes. "Ugh. I need a shower Cal. Please, tell me there is a way we can do this."

Cal grinned at her with his eyes wide. "Well, love, I'm not opposed to hoppin' in there with you or soapin' you up. But, somethin' tells me you won't be at all comfortable with that-on so many levels for so many reasons."

Gillian looked at him with the widest eyes he had ever seen. Then she looked away as her face got the cutest shade of pink. "I… I…"

Cal laughed earning him a sharp glare from Gillian. "I'm sorry. Look, I can put on some trunks and hop in there with you. I got no problem with that. I just don't know how you feel…"

"I'm mortified Cal." Gillian looked like she was about to lose it.

"Okay, hey, in all seriousness, I can help you. You can leave something on, I'm sure you have something in your bag. Emily packed it. I'm sure she packed something that will work. I'll get in there with you and help you wash your hair, and whatever else I can do that isn't intrusive. It won't be optimal, but I won't do anything inappropriate. I promise. You're my best friend Gill. I would do anything for you."

Gillian was looking at his face. She could see that he wasn't joking now. He was being very serious and very caring. "Cal. Maybe this isn't a good idea. This would definitely be so over the line."

"It's only over the line if we both don't okay it. Isn't that the rule? We don't read or question or push unless the other agrees that it's okay?" Cal took her hand. He hoped she could see that he was being honest and that he truly wanted to help her.

"Are you sure Cal? Because, I don't know, I'm so embarrassed. This is humiliating." Gillian looked down and away. She had a sad defeated look on her face.

"I'm sure. I will do whatever you need. All joking aside. I want to help." Cal really wanted to help her and hoped he came across as genuine as he was feeling.

"Okay." She looked up at him. "But let's check what Emily put in my bag first."

Cal jumped up and got her bag. He started to pull things out. Then he saw her looking terrified at what might come out next. He put the bag in front of her and let her look through it. She found a dark blue tank top and smiled. "Okay this will work. How are we gonna get it on me?"

"Trust me love. I'll preserve your privacy and your dignity. I have more respect for you than that." Cal gave her a serious look.

"Okay. I trust you. Let's do this."

Cal helped Gillian to the bathroom. She was wearing a short sleeved t-shirt with no bra and a pair of athletic shorts. Cal had her stand facing the wall. He helped her take off her t-shirt. When he saw the bruises on her back he let out a gasp. He had never seen bruises this bad in his life. He could see the deep purple marks. They almost looked like hand prints, very large hand prints.

Gillian asked "It's that bad huh?"

"Yeah love it is." Cal answered quietly.

Cal helped her get the tank top on and then helped her step out of the shorts. Gillian Foster was now standing in front of him wearing nothing but a tank top and her underwear. He couldn't help but notice how stunning she was. He quickly refocused himself. He helped her take off the soft cast. Then he took off his outer clothing. He was wearing a pair of navy blue boxer briefs.

He started the water and once it got warm he helped her get in. There was no conversation at first. He knew she was feeling weak and embarrassed and he didn't want to make it worse. He helped her get her hair wet and then washed it for her. He took the soap and gently washed her shoulders and arms. He washed her legs. Then he asked "Do you want me to shave your legs? 'Cause I can do that. I have experience, seriously."

Gillian laughed a full belly laugh. And then she cursed him because it hurt. He explained that he had shaved Zoe's legs for her at the end of her pregnancy with no accidents or disasters. Gillian agreed to let him. Once they were done, Cal turned off the water and grabbed a towel. He wrapped it around her gently. After they were both dried, he helped her to get dry clothes on. He was proud of himself-he didn't peek. It was bloody hard not to, but he didn't.

Before they left the bathroom, Cal noticed Gillian looking down with a nervous expression. "What's the matter Gill?"

"I haven't seen the bruises yet." She whispered softly.

"Do you want to? I'll help you."

"Yes." He helped her to the vanity mirror. She stood looking at her bruised face. Cal saw her surprise and shock. She then slowly lifted her shirt with her left hand. Her ribs were black and blue. She stared at the bruises and he felt her shudder. He put his hand on her shoulder.

"Do you have a mirror so I can see my back?"

Cal opened a few of the vanity drawers until he found a small hand mirror. He helped her turn around and then placed the mirror in her left hand. She positioned it so she could see her back. He lifted her shirt for her. "Oh my God." Her hand shook. Cal took the mirror from her and put it away. He put his arms around her and gave her a hug.

TBC