Chapter 12:

Later that day Calleigh was lying on the bed brainstorming her excuse; she didn't want to tell everyone the truth, partly because she and Eric weren't even supposed to be together but also because she couldn't help but feel they would look down on her; she never cared what people thought but at work she needed and wanted respect. Eric walked to the door.

E: "what are you thinking about?"

C: "what to tell everyone"

E: "Cal, you're talking like you have to come up with some dramatic lie." She sat up.

C: "well what am I supposed to do. Tell them the truth?"

E: "yes. Tell them you're pregnant"

C: "what? Eric, they'll assume it's Jakes. What if it's not? What do I say then?"

E: "then we'll say that you and I began as you and Jake were drifting apart and things happened"

C: "that doesn't fix the fact that I lied"

E: "actually, you haven't lied at all. Everyone will assume its Jake's, that doesn't mean you have to confirm it"

C: "it's still lying by omission." Eric came over and sat on the bed.

E: "Cal, you have never been very vocal about your personal life, and everyone knows that. Why should now be any different? And besides, the details aren't anyone's business." Calleigh sighed.

C: "what if Jake finds out?"

E: "then we'll deal with that when it comes"

C: "you really think it's that simple?"

E: "in my experience lying just makes everything worse. You lie once and then something inevitably happens and you have to lie again to cover up the first lie. It's a viscous cycle." Calleigh sighed.

C: "you're right. I don't know why this is bothering me so much." He grabbed her hand.

E: "you're career is important to you; you want their respect." Calleigh chuckled.

C: "sometimes I forget how well you know me." He pulled her towards him and kissed her.

E: "Cal, I promise you everything is going to be fine." She smiled at him.

C: "I love you"

E: "I love you too. Look, we don't have to tell everyone about the baby right away. Given the situation why don't we wait to tell them until we have to?"

C: "that sounds like a plan." He kissed her, leaned her back on the pillows, and spent the next 3 hours getting to know her even better. Calleigh woke up before Eric the next morning and went to shower. She was in there for about 10 minutes before she heard the door open and felt arms around her waist. "And what do you think you're doing?"

E: "saying good morning." He kissed her neck and moved his hands lower.

C: "mmm….good morning." Eric reached for the soap and began massaging her body. "We are definitely going to be late"

E: "most likely." With that he pushed her against the wall and lifted one leg. He toyed with her **** with one hand while bracing himself against the wall with the other and gently thrusting; thank god the shower was loud to muffle the screams. An hour later they were finally ready for work and headed in. Calleigh was in her lab looking over some evidence when hell walked in.

J: "working hard as always." Calleigh was startled; she turned to see Jake standing in her doorway.

C: "Jake. What are you doing here?'

J: "I'm a detective remember"

C: "yeah, one that I haven't seen in months"

J: "that's your doing, not mine"

C: "what does that mean?" He took a few steps and approached her table.

J: "you're the one avoiding me Calleigh"

C: "yeah, because last time I saw you you called me a whore and threatened Eric"

J: "he deserved it"

C: "go away Jake."
She turned her back to him and pretending to go back to her evidence.

J: "Calleigh?...Calleigh?" Frustrated she turned back around.

C: "what the hell do you want, Jake?"

J: "you." Calleigh was so shocked she couldn't help but laugh.

C: "you have got to be kidding me?"

J: "look, I'm sorry for what I said, and did. I shouldn't have hurt you like that especially considering how much I still love you. " Calleigh just stared at him, speechless.

C: "Jake, you yelled in my face, called me a whore, slapped me twice, sent me flying into a table and threatened someone I care deeply for. Sorry doesn't even begin to cut it"

J: "then tell me what will, tell me what I have to say or do to make this better"

C:" there is absolutely nothing you could say or do that would ever make this better"

J: "Calleigh, I love you"

C: "and I want absolutely nothing to do with you ever again. Stay the hell away from me." She turned. Jake was getting angry, time for plan B. He dropped a file in front of her. She couldn't help it, the bizarreness of the situation had peaked her curiosity. "What's that?"

J: "ammunition"

C: "for what?"

J: "for putting Delko away"

C: "what?"

J: "you don't honestly think I've just been sitting on my ass for two months do you?...Mcdarmid"

C: "A. Mcdarmi? The lawyer?"

J: "that file contains two months worth of evidence against Delko: photos of my injuries, eye witness accounts, hospital bills. Not to mention testimonies from individuals who are well aware of his temper"

C: "you cannot be serious"

J: "he could have killed me. I'm dead serious." Calleigh grew silent; she understood what he was doing.

C: "you're blackmailing me…"

J: "I'm giving you a choice. I love you, regardless of what you did. If you refuse to love me back then I'll have to settle for making your life as miserable as possible; and what will do that will be taking him from you." Calleigh swallowed.

C: "what it is going to take to make all this disappear?"

J: "leave him"

C: "what?"

J: "if you want this information to disappear, for me to drop the charges, end it"

C: "I won't do that"

J: "then you'll be seeing him behind bars very soon. Can you live with that?" With that he walked out, leaving the file. Calleigh stared after him her stomach turning and tears in her eyes. After a few moments she turned her attention to the file, she had to know if Jake's threat had a chance. Having lawyers as parents gave Calleigh the knowledge to understand that Jake's case was solid, iron clad. If he went ahead with this he would win and Eric would spend a good amount of time behind bars. Despite knowing this she was holding on to some thread of hope that she was wrong and left her lab to get a second opinion. She arrived at a law firm downtown 10 mintues later; she was escorted into the office of a public defender she had met through her father, a good and honest man.

H: "Calleigh! It's been a while, good to see you." He got up from his desk to shake her hand.

C: "hi Henry, it's good to see you too. I only wish it were underbetter circumstances"

H: "are you alright?"

C: "yes, I'm fine, but a friend of mine is in some trouble. I need your advice"

H: "anything, have a seat." Calleigh handed him the file and waited as he read through it. Finally he looked up at her. "This friend, is he/she the one who gave the beating or received it?" Calleigh paused.

C: "gave"

H: "Calleigh, I'm really sorry to say this but this information is completely solid." Even though she already knew it Calleigh couldn't help but feel her heart fall into her stomach.

C: "so there's no way around it?"

H: "this guy has done his homework, well. He has physical evidence, witnesses, a documented past history of aggression. I don't see how you could beat this without jail time." She held her breath.

C: "Could he be charged with attempted murder?"

H: "most definitely." Calleigh felt the lump forming in her throat.

C: "I understand. Thank you for seeing me"

H: "I wish I could have given you better advice"

C: "I appreciate your honesty, I should go." She forced a smile and left. On the way she called Horatio and told him she wasn't feeling well and would like to go home, he agreed. She spent the next hour sitting in her kitchen reading through the file over and over, trying to find a loop hole, nothing. That's when her phone rang, Eric. She took a deep breath.

C: "hi"

E: "hey, are you ok? Horatio said you went home sick"

C: "yeah, I'm ok. The baby is giving me a run for my money"

E: "do you need anything? Should I come over?"

C: "no its ok, I'm just going to take a nap. I'll see you later."

E: "ok. I love you." Tears began to fall.

C: "me too." She closed her phone and sat back; she had made a decision.