Heres the next chapter folks – I'm on a roll again – Hope you all enjoy – review if you can – many thanks for all your inspiring comments on the last chapter

Disclaimer as usual

Facing the Music

The following morning at the Lightman Group found 3 people sitting in Lightmans office.

Cal himself was at his desk reading the paperwork his ex wife had delivered the day before.

His scowl indicating his complete lack of amusement with the documents.

Gillian Foster was perched on a chair looking somewhat sheepishly down at her thumbs as they spun little circles round each other.

Torres was on the couch, risking occasional glances at her mentor trying to work out just exactly when he was gonna blow.

"You did WHAT!"

Both female heads shot up in unison.

Seeing that the thunderous hazel eyes were fixed on Foster, Torres starting studying the artwork on the walls – again.

"She had it coming" Gill tried to sound unruffled and righteous.

"Gillian bloody Foster- I cannot believe you are saying that – after all the bloody lectures I have sat through from you about how 'violence is not the answer' and how 'You need to learn to control that temper of yours Cal'….and then THIS"

He flourished the papers around in the air just to push his point home.

Gillian just shrugged her shoulders and returned to studying her dancing thumbs.

"This is what you were up to the other night isn't it? The night you came in with that weird 'smug' smile on your face. THIS is the details I was tryin to get out of you before you side tracked me with the shirt and stockings an…"

"CAL" Gills somewhat urgent tone stopped him in mid flow. He followed the repeated sideways movements of her eyes to where Torres sat, more upright than before, with a decidedly 'interested' twinkle in her eyes.

"Hey – don't mind me" she feigned indifference, "I'm just here to err let you guys know about the conversation that took place after she handed that over. Really..thats it…otherwise I would have already.. yer know.. left.."

"Alright Torres – lets hear the rest of then" Cal had thrown himself back into his desk chair with a resigned sigh.

Torres repeated the conversation she had had with Zoe word for word. It wasn't difficult because she had gone over the whole scene in her head so many times now it sat in her memory like the words to a favourite old song.

"Alright Torres – You are excused, for now. And remember, all of this.." Cals hands flourished around the room indicating the people, the paperwork, the conversation well just about everything really.

"As much as it is humanly possible in this office, stays between us three – for now. Are we crystal on that?"

Ria just nodded her head in agreement and slid out of the door.

Gillian raised her head slightly to sneak a look at Lightman.

He was face down, his head cradled in his hands. Unable to read his face, Gill swept over his body posture. With growing astonishment she realised that his shoulders were shaking, shuddering almost, the kind of thing you see when someone is sobbing – deeply.

She had no idea what to do, it wasn't that bad, what could have possibly upset this 'man of stone' so much that it had reduced him to..this…

Oh god, what if she had gone too far. Last night – her stunt with Zoe – maybe he had suddenly realized there was a whole other side to her and.. he was changing his mind! He was suddenly regretting his decision….

"C..Cal, - Sweetheart..I..I'm so sorry. I can put this right..Cal..I'll go and apologise to Zoe …"

She had got up and moved over to him, as she reached out and started to stroke his hair he raised his face to her.

Instantly drawing back Gillian quickly took in the redness of his skin, the very genuine tears that were still forming in his eyes ready to follow their predecessors down his cheeks.

Picking the nearest solid object on his desk she threw it at him.

Cal managed to raise his hand quickly enough to divert the wooden paperweight.

The laughter he had been holding in so strongly now erupted from his mouth, the tears – of laughter- flowed faster.

He threw himself fully back into his chair and totally surrendered to the near hysteria of mirth he was experiencing.

With her hands on her hips and a look of utter rage spreading across her face, Gillian could find no words. She turned on her heel and made for the door.

Cal was only just quick enough to get there ahead of her.

He tried to grab her round the waist but was quickly and firmly slapped away.

"Ahhh Gill, Cum on ..You gotta see the …"

"You BASTARD Cal Lightman. You have NO idea of what was going through my head when I thought…when you let me believe.. that you were so upset that you were actually….crying!"

"But I WAS cryin – these are real tears…"

"OF LAUGHTER – YES. I realise that NOW!"

Cal shoved his hands deep into his pockets, hung his head slightly and tried to look dutifully chastised.

Gill sat back down and expelled a long, calming breath. If truth be told the total 'weirdness' of the whole situation was..She supposed.. in a way…quite humorous.

As her giggles started they speedily grew in to full throated laughter. Feeling Cals arms pulling her up from the chair and encircling her in a bear hug, she felt her own tears start to flow.

As their joint hysterics continued, the tears that were the result of their shared amusement mingled together and dropped to the floor.