Calliegh awoke wrapped in the strong arms of Eric. She looked up into the loving dark eyes of Eric. Eric bent down and placed a soft loving kiss on her lips. Feeling those soft lips on hers', Calliegh intensified the kiss and it emerged into a passionate lip lock. Eric and Calliegh parted for air and looked at each other with intense loving eyes.

"Are you feeling better?" Eric asked.

"I'm feeling much better now that my stomach isn't twisting and churning. I am just glad that the twins are okay and I am too." Calliegh answered. At her answer, Calliegh could feel the tightness and love from the grip of Eric's hug. Calliegh sighed in love and tenderness and leaned back into Eric.

A soft knock came and the hospital door opened and Alex came into the room. "Morning Calliegh and Eric. How did you sleep Calliegh?" Alex said.

"I slept like I haven't slept in a couple of weeks. It felt so good to actually sleep without puking." Calliegh said. "Uh oh" Calliegh exclaimed and suddenly Eric and the bed were covered in upchuck. Eric not worrying about what was all over him checked Calliegh's forehead. "Alex, she's burning up. What is wrong?" Eric asked.

Alex checked Calliegh's vitals and discovered that Calliegh was struggling to breathe. Alex shouted for additional medical help and started Calliegh on a nose oxygenated tube to try and get Calliegh more oxygen. Calliegh was coughing and gasping for air. Eric tried to help but Alex could tell he was distraught.

Eric was told to exit the room while Alex and her staff worked on Calliegh. Eric paced the waiting room and called Horatio. Horatio arrived in less than 10 minutes with the whole gang in tow. Eric tried to answer everyone's questions but he was at a loss for words. Horatio helped Eric sit in a chair and breathe.

A half an hour went by and Alex came into the waiting room. Eric noticed and rushed up to her. "What is wrong with Calliegh?"

Alex paused before she answered, "Calliegh is suffering from a really bad case of the flu. She is highly contagious and with the IV'S there are baby-safe antibiotics in her to combat the virus. Eric since you got the flu shot you are not in danger of contracting it so you are clear to stay with Calliegh."

Horatio hugged Eric and so did the rest of the team, then they all left. Eric went back into the room after cleaning up which included changing his clothes. Calliegh was lying in the bed, with the oxygenated tube still in her nose. Eric's heart broke when he saw how uncomfortable Calliegh looked. Calliegh stirred and opened her eyes to see Eric in the doorway. Calliegh started to sob and Eric moved from the doorway into the bed to wrap her in his strong arms. When his arms came around her, Calliegh buried her face in his chest and strong sobs racked her small frame. Eric cried right along with her and the two cried themselves to sleep.

Calliegh woke up sweating and feeling extremely hot. Calliegh went to move and discovered that Eric was lying next to her with a really strong grip on her. Calliegh gently woke Eric up and leaned back into the pillows. Eric looked over at Calliegh and said, "You really scared me today. I thought that something worse then the flu was wrong with you and the twins. I am glad Alex was here and saved you and the twins."

Calliegh sighed and said, "I scared you, I was terrified that I was going to die from not being able to breathe. And I didn't want to lose you and the twins." At that statement Calliegh started to cry again. Eric nodded and enveloped her in a strong hug and kissed the top of her head till she was all cried out. Calliegh sighed and Eric could hear her stomach growling and making noises. "Are you hungry? What do you think you will be able to hold down?" Eric asked Calliegh. "I think a grilled cheese and some chicken noodle soup will do." Calliegh answered. "Coming right up my love." Eric said. Within a few minutes the food was brought up to the room and Calliegh ate the food very slowly. Calliegh had to take short breaths in order to eat and Eric could see that every breath she took looked painful. Eric asked, "Calliegh are you in pain?" Calliegh said, "A little bit of pain, but I think that it's from puking almost everyday." "Should I get Alex to check you out again?" Eric asked. Calliegh nodded and continued eating.

Alex was summoned to Calliegh's room for the second time that day and walked into the room. Alex checked out Calliegh and discovered that Calliegh had bruised the two ribs on her right side. Calliegh groaned in pain when Alex pressed on her right side. Alex apologized and Calliegh nodded and said. "Not your fault Alex." Alex nodded and said," I can discharge you, but you are going to be on bed rest for the next couple of weeks."

Calliegh smiled and was excited to head home. Eric wheeled her out and into the Hummer to drive her home. When they got home, Eric brought Calliegh inside first and got her settled into their bed with a heating pad over her ribs to ease the pain. Eric went back and brought everything into the house and locked the door behind him. Eric went into the bedroom to find Calliegh out of the bed.

"What are you doing out of bed?" Eric asked her.

Stopping in her tracks, Calliegh smiled and said, "I was just getting my pajamas ready for a nice hot relaxing bath then I will get back in bed, I promise." Eric chuckled and nodded knowing that Calliegh was so stubborn. Eric left the room and went to make supper in the kitchen.

An hour went by and he realized that Calliegh hadn't emerged from the bath yet. Laughing to himself he went into the master bath to find Calliegh sleeping, a cascade of bubbles around her. Not wanting to disturb her but knowing that she shouldn't stay in there for ever, he gently woke her. "Hey there princess, time to wake up." Eric said.

Calliegh's eyes fluttered open, and for a few minutes she was so startled that she couldn't help but scream. She panicked and tried to squirm away from Eric but the pain from the bruised ribs stopped her. Not sure why she was trying to pull away from him, Eric got up and moved away from the bathtub. Concern and fear were shown in her sharp green eyes and it shocked and surprised Eric.

"I don't know why you are afraid of me right now; you know I would never hurt you. I will be in the living room if you want to explain to me what I did to startle you and what I did wrong." Eric said, leaving the bathroom door. Calliegh gingerly got out of the tub and dried herself off and got dressed into her pajamas. She then went into the living room to join Eric on the couch.

"What I have to tell you is hard for me to say. Back in high school, I was dating this fellow student and I was over his house one day. His parents weren't home but his older brother was. His older brother had his younger brother go to the store for him. I was left alone at the house with his brother. The older brother said that it would be an hour for his little brother to return, due to the fact that it was a long list that he gave his brother. The older brother gave me a water and after I drank it I became drowsy and next thing I know he is saying, "Hey there princess, time to wake up." What followed after that was the most traumatic thing in my life. He took advantage of me and I was pinned and couldn't move. My boyfriend returned and was puzzled I was coming out of the bathroom with my hair wet and had a shirt and a pair of shorts that was his on. His older brother told me to tell him a lie that I had spilled something on my clothes and my legs and had to take a shower. I felt so awful that I told him that was what happened because I didn't want to be killed by the older brother. So when you said that line to me in the bathroom just now, it brought back the memory of what happened and that is why I tried to get away. I know you would never hurt me but that line brought the feeling of being scared and helpless. I am sorry Eric." Calliegh explained, tears falling down her face after she recalled her most traumatic experience.

Eric wiped the tears from her eyes and cradled her in his arms till she stopped crying over two hours later. "You have nothing to be sorry for Calliegh it was not your fault. And I am sorry about your traumatic experience. If I had known you back then, I could have protected you. I will be here for you to protect you and to love you unconditionally." Eric said, hugging her gently but tightly to show her that he is her knight in shining armor. Calliegh buried herself further into her knight and drifted off to sleep. Eric noticed and gently carried Calliegh to bed and laid down next to her. Calliegh stirred and feeling the texture of their bed and who was in it with her, snuggled deep into Eric's frame and let his strength and love put her back to sleep. Eric kissed the top of her head and drifted off to sleep with the love of his life.

Chapter 13 soon.

SJ.