Ten

Thanks for all the reviews!

I wrote this a couple of days ago and I thought it would be good to put it up...now. I wanted to say that I've already written Eleven as well. Twelve is still in the works.

Calleigh knew she was hurting Eric. She didn't like the thought in the slightest. She thought it would be for the best. Right at this very moment she found herself lying on her side in her hotel room bed. She had convinced the hospital to let her go. She hated the feeling of being on bed rest. Sure she understood it is necessary when you have a little head injury, but she didn't think it was major enough to stay in the hospital.

On the floor was Alexx. Alexx had come to take Calleigh back to her hotel room then spend the night with her. No offense to Tara, but Calleigh didn't know her well enough…Alexx was also her doctor. A way to be extra safe…it wouldn't hurt.

Then Calleigh turned over again. She couldn't find a comfortable position. She was once again on her back staring up ahead at the ceiling, "Calleigh, honey, stop moving," she heard a drowsy voice sound from the floor.

"I'm sorry," she sighed.

She heard Alexx get up, "What's on your mind, honey?"

Calleigh turned her head to look at her for a moment before she turned over on her side, "Eric," her voice felt weak…she felt it quiver slightly.

"Oh I heard sweetie," Alexx got up and climbed in the bed with Calleigh and wrapped her arms around her giving her a secure hug, "That's why you left Miami," Calleigh took in a deep breath, "Isn't it?" Calleigh nodded her head.

"It was hard leavin' everything."

Alexx sighed against Calleigh, "I know baby, I know," Alexx tucked a strand of Calleigh's blond hair behind her ear, "Wanna tell me about it?" like any mother, Alexx just wanted to help.

Slowly Calleigh shook her head, "I'm fine."

Alex sighed, "No your not," she was right, "Eric cares about you and he would have done anything to keep you in Miami," Calleigh held her breath, "He said something to you, didn't he," Calleigh wanted to tell her everything. Something was just holding her back, she just didn't know what, "You wanna tell me about it?"

"I can't," Calleigh pushed away from Alexx's grasp and padded into the bathroom and flipped on the light. How could this have happened? Their friendship was ruined… her life's changing every second. She just wished she could stop and rewind.

To prevent this all from happening.

…

Eric fired off the last few rounds in the department's firing range. He needed to blow off some steam that has been building up for the past few weeks. He wanted Calleigh. He needed Calleigh. He felt like he couldn't function without her here in Miami. She wanted nothing to do with him. He had offered to stay with her tonight, but she asked for Alexx. He understood the whole 'would rather be with another girl during this whole situation' but he is her best friend. Was her best friend.

He heard the door open and close behind him. He turned around and saw no one. He set the gun on the table in front of him and took a step closer. Soon Horatio appeared in his line of sight. Horatio stood straight in front of him, hands by his sides.

"How are you holding up?" he knew Eric was in pain. Pain because Calleigh was to damn stubborn to let everyone through into her walls that she'd built over the years. Eric wished she would let him in. He would beg to God if it would help anything…he has been begging God for the past few years.

Eric looked down then up again, "I'll be fine," he didn't want everyone to worry about him. He realized he began sounding like Calleigh, "About what happened between me and Calleigh," he looked at Horatio in the eye, "It was a mistake…and now we're both paying for it. She left…and now I hold the guilt of making her leave," Horatio nodded understanding fully.

"I know," Horatio shifted his footing.

Eric found himself looking at the ground again, "I just miss her H," Horatio looked up at him with a sad expression in his eyes, "I miss the old Calleigh. The Calleigh we had before Speed died."

"Everyone does Eric, everyone does," Horatio took in a breath, "We've all changed since Speed's death," Eric knew this was true. He just wished it hadn't happened to Calleigh. The former most cheerful person in the world.

"I just care about her," Horatio studied him, "I care about her a lot…if something were to happen to her, I would never let myself live it down."

"I know you do, Eric, I know you do," Horatio did his best to give Eric a small smile before he left the room. Horatio couldn't believe this could happen to them. They were great friends. A one-night-stand changed it all turning them to want nothing with each other.

"I love you, Cal, I really do," Eric didn't know Horatio heard his CSI confess how he really felt about her.

I wanted to say that I'm better than I was the other day. My hiatus wasn't long at all...makes me happy and I hope it makes everyone else happy. I got fantastic news today which really brightened my mood. (=

Well, please review...they're like chocolate...can't live without it...or coffee.