HI, This chapter is dedicated to my darling 'Piccelo' Whom I very sadly lost today to FIP…She was a loving and beautiful soul.

Get Out Of Jail Free

Cal had promised himself that he would tackle talking to Gillian that evening, he knew she was expecting a 'little chat' , she knew it was about their making love even though she had not yet regained her memory.

Cal knew she would be on 'tenterhooks', but Emily had to take priority.

She had taken forever to settle down enough to get to sleep, insisting that she wanted to watch just one more show on TV whilst curled up in her father's arms on the couch. Eventually he had all but carried her to her room but even then she would not let him leave until she had completely succumbed to sleep.

By the time he had made it back to Gill, she too had gone to bed – in the spare room.

Cal had stayed up a little longer enjoying the company of his whisky bottle and working out how many ways he was gonna make all the bastards that Reynolds was in the process of rounding up in the drugs case pay when he got hold of them.

He never made it to his bed, the couch seemed far more preferable to having to make his way back up the stairs again.

The next morning found Cal in his office waiting for a call from Reynolds to find out when the 'collage drug lords'

xXx


His cell went and he saw Ben's id.

There would have been no doubt that everyone in the Lightman Group Offices would have heard his response.

"What the hell do you mean there's no reason for me to see them? OF COURSE I need to bloody well speak to them, which ARSE at the FBI decided that ludicrous dictate?"

"Lightman, you gotta calm down man, they have all pled guilty to all charges, therefore there is no reason for the Lightman Group to get involved here – other than the fact that you want to terrorise them – and I can't let you do that, as much as I'd like to"

"I swear to God Reynolds if I don't get to…"

"Well unless one of them changes their plea to not guilty you're not gonna. I'm sorry man – the best I can do is get you copies of all their statements, maybe if you can find something in one of them that's in any way – off…."

"Yeah, OK. Thanks Ben, I'll take whatever I can get"

Being severely deflated and certainly not in the mood for any work, Cal left early that day.

xXx

When he arrived home he found Gillian cleaning the kitchen.

"Gill luv, you don't have t do that you know"

"Hi Cal, wow you're early home today, and, I know I don't, but I can't just sit around all day. I enjoy it anyway, I'll make you some coffee, you look like you need it"

She shortly came in with 2 mugs and say next to Cal on the couch. She reached out and pushed some hair back from his forehead letting her fingers rest slightly on his cheek before returning it to her mug.

Cal caught her hand just before it reached its destination, he brought it up to his lips and gently kissed her fingers one by one.

"As much as I was very close to Hazel, loved her in a way, I am so grateful it wasn't you I lost that day yer know luv"

"In a way you did Cal, and I know that's been hard for you. I wish I could get back to being her for you, I've a feeling she would have been a lot more of a support to you right now that have been"

Cal swept her up in his arms and held her tightly. They stayed quietly holding each other for well over 30 minutes, it was Cal who eventually broke the spell.

"When you do get your memory back luv, and I know you will, I just hope you will be able to forgive me for what I did the other night"

Gill saw how ashamed and guilty he looked.

More and more recently she found she was able to do this – facial reading – it seemed quite a natural thing for her to do. Right now she just wanted to rid him of the emotions he was struggling with.

"You have nothing to feel guilty about Cal, nothing do you hear me. What happened was a choice we both made, and you gave me as much information as you could, I still made that choice- and I certainly don't regret it- not for one second. I just feel a bit sad that you seem to"

Cal pulled away from her slightly, "Christ Gill!, keep this up and you'll have me dragging you right back up those stairs again luv"

"You wouldn't have to drag me Cal" she smiled a little wickedly at him.

"We can't! – I can't! It just isn't fair – not to you"

"What if I were to sign a piece of paper saying I will never blame you for it – would that help change your mind?...Or maybe this will"

She leaned over and kissed him fully and passionately.

Cal tried to lighten things up a bit, "Well as my as I like your second idea, A written 'get outta jail free' letter might be better for my future health" He grinned at her.

"Should I write it for just the one occasion? – or can I put two?"

"I've a feeling you might have to leave that bit open luv" He returned her kiss with equal fervour.