Thanks so much to the reviewers!! O, in my imagination Cal's couch is standing near his desk. (don't know if it's like that for real but in my story it is)
Chapter 12
Day 2
At first she noticed his teeth. Her brain stopped thinking momentarily as she could not understand what she was seeing for just a micro second. It weren't Flins words that shocked her, it was the colour red that had stained the white of his teeth. A small stream of blood tripled from the corner of his mouth and fell on the table in front of him. She stared at the blood spatter on the table. And then, before she knew it he convulsed and he threw up blood all over himself and the table. She stood up in shock as his eyes grew wide in fear. His hands went to his mouth in confusion as he fell from his chair.
Gillian rushed to his side.
'What…. What… Happening?' Flins murmured between the heavy breathing he did as he grabbed his throat.
Gillian looked up to see that Reynolds wasn't standing there anymore. 'There's a medic on the way.' She said in a calm voice as she studied him with big eyes. She had learned how to stay calm in many situations, but even now she was surprised at how steady her voice sounded.
She gasped when she felt Flins hand grab her upper arm. 'They…. They…' More blood ran from his mouth.
Gillian had never seen something like this and it shocked her.
Flins lowered his head against the floor. She could see the anger on his face, next to fear.
'There will be help soon.' Gillian assured him. But she feared that it was too late for him already, if he coughed up that much blood. She didn't really know what to do, if it was any other person she would have comforted him as good as she could. But this man, he had hurt her, threatened her and enjoyed that.
He pulled her arm towards him and urged her to come closer. She leaned her ear near his mouth when she noticed that he wanted to say something.
'They… They did this..' He whispered.
'Fi… Fifty….S….W…'
'What?' Gillian asked confused as she looked at him but his face fell to the side.
The door slammed open and revealed two men running in. One of them bended and felt Flins neck. He looked up at the other man and shook his head.
'Gillian.' Reynolds said. She didn't react. He grabbed both of her upper arms gently and helped her up.
'All that blood.' She said as she stared at Flins and then at the table and ground.
'Let's get you out of here.' Reynolds said as he guided her away.
Reynolds came back with a mug filled with hot cocoa.
'How are you?' Reynolds asked as he sat down beside Gillian.
She shook her head as she was still staring at the ground. 'It's just… I'm a bit shocked to be honest.' She said she looked up at him.
'That's only natural.' Reynolds said as he nodded and placed his hand on her back.
She took a sip of the warm drink.
'I don't understand what happened.' She said after a short moment.
'Me neither but we'll find out very soon.' Reynolds said as he looked towards the end of the hallway where the men had disappeared.
Reynolds noticed that she got paler and her eyes grew wider. She looked at him. 'I suddenly remember Frank's words. About the symptoms, do…. Do you think that… This-' She couldn't breath momentarily. She swallowed and steadied herself. 'That this will happen to me too?' She asked in a weak, small voice.
This was one of the first times that Reynolds saw fear on her face, in her eyes. His hand went from her back to her shoulder.
'No, that's not what I think. Cause we'll help you.' He said in a strong voice as he caught her gaze with his eyes and tried to convince her.
She nodded weakly and turned back to her chocolate milk. But even he could see that she wasn't convinced.
He leaned back against the chair and looked at the wall in front of him. And who could blame her?
Lightman Group
Gillian was lying on Cal's couch. She had gone home to shower and change her clothes and then she felt the urge to go back to the office. She didn't want to sleep for long, just for a few hours to rest a bit. Some invisible magnetic force had pulled her towards Cal's office. Sleeping in her chairs wouldn't work out that well as lying on his couch. And she had to admit that it comforted her. Lying here. Under his blanket, on his pillow. She knew he wouldn't come in his office until tomorrow morning so no one would disturb her here. She sighed deep as she sat down and lowered herself onto the couch. What a mess. She pulled Cal's blanket closer to her face. She could smell Cal. She loved his smell. It made her feel at home. She crawled deeper into the couch, the blanket hugging her as she buried her nose in Cal's pillow. She could pretend that he was here. And that soothed her. She wished that he was really here, that she could hug him. Take him in her arms, feel his body flush against hers. Feel his warmth. She wished that he would put his arms around her, that he would comfort her. She would feel his stubbled beard against her cheek, rough and warm. Just how she liked it. A shudder went through her at the thought of having him close. But she was alone. She turned around and went to ly on her side. She was so tired. But somehow, she couldn't sleep.
Day 2/3 at night
Cal stumbled in his office and dropped himself down on his chair. He held a piece of toilet paper against his bleeding nose and when the bleeding stopped more or less he carelessly threw it towards the paper basket and missed. God, he needed another drink. Just one. It wasn't like he was drunk. Just something to lull the pain. And the dull ache he was feeling. And then maybe one hour of sleep and he'd be good to go again. Like nothing ever happened.
He suddenly stared with open mouth at the huddled up form on his couch. He narrowed his eyes. Was someone lying there? He moved his chair closer and pulled the blanket up as he narrowed his eyes. He recognised hair. Soft, short hair. He didn't actually know if it was soft cuz he hadn't touched it but it looked soft. The furry hairball moved and there you had it, two very blue blurry eyes stared up at him.
'Cal.' A moan.
Flutter of those blue eyes.
Another moan.
And then a sharp, shocked cry as she sat up in less then a second –he couldn't even blink as fast- and the blanket got pulled out of his hands and away from her body.
'Cal!' She uttered shocked as he suddenly felt something warm on his cheek.
'Is that… Is that blood?' Gillian uttered shocked. As if she hadn't seen enough of that already today..
Cal went with his tongue over his bloodied lip as if to make sure then he nodded. 'Yeah, guess they call it that nowadays.' He said in a rough, low voice.
'What happened?' She asked worried. Another warm something on his other cheek.
Given the fact the two warm somethings were connected to her arms he guessed it were her hands. How did she get her hands so warm? He had to ask her sometimes.
'Just ran into some bad news.' Cal said as he coughed. It was all right. He'd be okay pretty soon.
'Did you go to the doctor?' Her worried voice came. Just hearing the tone of her voice soothed him, made him feel a bit warmer from the inside. Funny, how she possessed that power.
'It's not that bad.' He muttered as he turned away from her and pulled his chair towards his desk again. He opened his drawer and was happy when he found his favourite bottle of whiskey there. The ones he kept for emergencies. This definitely counted as one.
Cal looked up as Gillian walked away.
He took a glass and took a sip. Delicious. He let himself lean backwards and stared at his ceiling.
Suddenly his whole office filled with light.
'Oy.' He uttered annoyed as he flinched against the sudden light in the office that had been dim just moments ago. He noticed Gillian who had just turned all the lights on. She walked towards him with something in her hands.
'O please, don't go be Florence Nightingale.' Cal muttered as he recognised the First Aid kit.
His lips twitched when he saw the worried and pained expression on her face.
She walked around the desk.
'O Cal.' She sighed. Her eyes fell on his white blouse. He'd actually been wearing a tuxedo, that had been messed up now. The white was covered in blood. Gillian's mouth fell open. She hadn't even seen that yet.
'Oy.' He said as she was suddenly fumbling with his blouse, opening it. He looked up at her with open mouth.
'Put that pained expression off of your face Foster. This has got nothing to do with you.' He said as he licked his lip again. He didn't want her to worry even more then she already did.
'I think it does.' She said as she finished opening his blouse and spread it open. He refused to move his arms so she couldn't take his blouse off.
'Cal.' She urged.
'This is as far as you're gonna get ey. You want to get me naked don't you?' He quipped trying to make the situation light.
Gillian looked up at him. Then she looked at the drink in his hand.
'Just admit it and I'll let you take off my blouse.'
'You're drunk.' She stated.
'No no Foster. Just a bit tipsy.' He said as he leaned forward towards her, studying her face challengingly.
'Sit back.' She ordered sternly as she put her hand on his now naked chest and pushed him gently back against the chair.
'Bossy.' He mumbled as her hand left his chest. He noticed how he missed the contact instantly, he loved to feel her skin against his. He took another swig of his drink.
Gillian squatted in front of him and studied his abdomen that was covered in bruises.
'Foster what are you AUCH!' He spat when she pushed on one of his ribs. 'What's that now? You enjoy hurting me?' He asked astonished as he eyed her. She looked tired. Pale. Sad.
'I think you should go see a doctor Cal, I'm serious.' She said as she looked up at him. 'You're badly bruised.'
'Nothing that hasn't happened before.' He said nonchalantly as he shrugged and filled his glass again.
Gillian shook her head. She hated it when he acted like that. When she was worried and he just acted all nonchalant. While he was hurt! She took a swop and began cleaning his face. One hand on his cheek to steady his face, the other hand gently cleaning the small gashes and scrapes on his skin.
Cal closed his eyes. It might be funny, cuz of the pain and all he felt but he could get used to this. Having her so close, leaning into him, her body close to his face. Her hands on the skin of his face. The faint smell of her perfume.
Suddenly it all disappeared and he felt something tuck at his belt before he could open his eyes.
'What 'r you doing?' Cal asked shocked as Gillian's hands expertly opened his belt and the first button of his trousers gave way under her fingers too.
'There's a very big bruise here, and a gash, I just need to study it.' She answered in a clinical tone.
'Foster stop.' Cal said alarmed as he tried to grab her wrists but the woman had his belt off in no time and his pants open as an expert. He raised an eyebrow.
She had her eyes on his bruised skin now.
He sighed in defeat as he leaned back in the chair and tried to relax. She wouldn't let go of him anyway so he'd better give in and humour her. 'You're very brutal. I didn't do that with your bruises. I get to see them too? You know, show me mine show me yours and all that.' He quipped. I'm rambling. He thought surprised. He didn't ramble many times.
Gillian ignored his words.
'Oy.' Cal chirped as he felt her warm finger on his tender skin. Her fingers disappeared under the waistband of his boxers and he gasped silently as he swallowed deep. 'Don't!' He uttered alarmed as he took her wrist away. This was getting very dangerous now. He already had trouble to control himself when she touched him or was just near him, but her hands being so close to certain parts of him would push away all of his control instantly. 'That's a sensitive area there yeah?' He explained.
She looked up at him with big eyes.
'I know Cal, I know the male anatomy.' She shook her head. 'I'm looking at your wound, nothing else.' She reassured him.
'I'm talking about the touching yeah, keep the fingers to yourself.'
She shook her head. 'I was just touching the tender skin around-'
He grasped her hand a second time when she tried to touch him again. 'Tender yeah, good way to put it.'
She looked up at him with a confused look on her face. 'I'm being very careful, I'm just touching your hip area.' It annoyed her that he was being so difficult about her touching him all of a sudden. She didn't understand.
'Look just keep the hands away from my whole trouser area yeah?' Cal stated as he looked at her intently. Did she really not know what she was doing to him? It took all of his last energy to try and control himself. He couldn't hold on for much longer. He studied her, and even in his half drunk state he could see that indeed her face was blank, and he saw a micro expression of anger. What was that all about?
'Cuz-'
'Am I disturbing?' A hard voice came from the doorway.
'No, no, Gill here was just undressing me, is all.' Cal said as he raised his glass towards Reynolds. 'Cheers ey mate!'
Reynolds raised an eyebrow as he saw Cal sitting in his chair, with a drink and Gillian squatted in front of him, her face next to his unbuckled trousers.
Gillian turned around to face Reynolds.
Reynolds shook his head in confusion and astonishment. What were they doing?! 'Are you sure I'm not disturbing here, because if I am I could go and let you do your thing.' He said as he gestured from Cal towards Gillian suggestively and smirked.
'He's wounded.' Gillian explained as she stood up. Cal looked up at her as she straightened herself, his eyes trailing lazily over her body. Reading her, taking her in.
'Uh huh. I can see that, just don't understand the whole..' He motioned towards Cal's trousers.
'Thing. He doesn't understand the thing, he wants to let us do our thing. Whadaya say Foster? Let's just do it!' Cal laughed shortly.
Was she glaring at him? And the look Reynolds gave him wasn't that amusing either…
'What? I'm the innocent here, she just insisted to get me out of my clothes, whadayathink of that?' Cal rambled.
'Let's not talk about what I think, that's better.' Reynolds said as he walked towards the desk.
'O please the both of you, stop it, we're all adults here.' Gillian said sternly as her hands automatically went to her legs to flatten her skirt when she discovered that she was wearing jogging pants.
Yeah, that might just be the problem… Reynolds thought with raised eyebrows again.
'The two of us really are a pair aren't we? Look at us.' Cal said as he gestured from Gillian to Cal. 'We're just so alike now, with the bruises and all. I think we look really cool now. That's something Emily would say. Gillian was already trying to compare battle scars you know!'
'What happened to you?' Reynolds asked as his eyes swooped over Lightman's face.
'Well, as you ask.' Cal said loudly as he leaned forward and put his elbows on his desk. 'I kind of run into a guy or five or something. Something 'bout cheating or something.' He explained groggily as he gestured heavily with his hands.
Gillian sighed when she concluded that Cal wouldn't be responsive for the coming hours.
'What is it Ben?' She asked to the point as she turned towards him.
'Yeah Ben, you move it along Ben, cause we really don't have time here Ben Reynolds.' Cal said as he raised his glass again.
Gillian walked towards Reynolds and took his arm as she walked towards the other side of the office with him. 'Could you please take him to a doctor. He needs stitches and I'd like the doctor to check out his ribs, I don't think they're broken but just to be on the safe side.' She asked in a soft, confiding voice as they both had their backs towards Cal now.
Reynolds looked at Cal again. Then he nodded.
'Oy, no one ever told you it's not polite to whisper when others are around?' Cal mentioned in a loud tone.
'Did you find something?' Gillian asked tiredly as she ignored Cal's rambling.
'They're still busy with the autopsy on Flins. I explained the situation. I hope I'll have news later. And as for the two cops that escorted him out of the room… One of them wasn't a cop.'
Gillian narrowed her eyes. 'What does that mean?' She asked confused.
'I'm not sure, but I'm getting there.'
Gillian nodded.
'Look I'll just be a moment and then I'll come get him okay?' Reynolds asked.
Gillian looked up and nodded. She turned around towards Cal.
'What?' He asked. He looked silly with his trousers opened, his blouse open. 'There anythin' else milady wants to inspect?'
'No, I've seen enough.' She sighed. She'd taken care of the wounds that were bleeding. There wasn't more she could do for him right now. She lowered herself on his couch again.
'Yeah, that's a good idea.' Cal said as he watched Gillian lie down.
'Just so you know, I told Reynolds to take you to the hospital. I hope you won't make a scene.' She said without looking at him and lying her hurting head down softly.
'A scene? What bad things one thinks about me.'
'Yes.. Very bad.. Because you would never make a scene.' She mumbled and then her eyes closed and she fell asleep.
Reynolds shook his head as he walked away from Loker and Ria. The halls were dark, they were the only ones here. He froze in his steps when he entered Lightman's office.
Gillian was lying on the couch and Cal was lying next to her with his arms around her waist, his chest against her back, his chin resting on her head. Reynolds smiled and shook his head again. He thought for a moment what to do. He could wake him up and bring him to the doctor, or he could let him sleep it off and bring him tomorrow to the doctor. The latter sounded good. Gillian moaned softly and turned on her other side. Reynolds' eyes widened when he saw Gillian crawling almost fully on top of Cal, with her head against his chest, her arms encircling the rest of his body automatically, her one leg linked between his, she molded her body to his. Reynolds always thought of Gillian as the cuddly type, but to actually see her half climbing on top of Lightman, conscious or not, it still looked kind of weird. Maybe because otherwise she was so professional, wouldn't show anything of her deeper feelings.
'Aww, look at that.' A male voice said behind him.
'What?' Ria asked as her head appeared behind Loker's shoulder. Her mouth fell open.
'Doesn't that look sweet?' Loker asked as he studied the two.
'It's not right to meddle in their privacy.' Reynolds said.
'What? You were the one standing here, staring.' Loker shot at him.
Gillian moaned again and Cal pulled her closer.
Ria smiled wickedly. 'I would really love to see how they will both wake up to this.'
'Yeah, well.' Loker said. 'Foster will probably be embarrassed and she'll deny that she's feeling anything more for him, her cheeks will flush, and he, well that's a tricky one..'
'Yes, one time he's so sweet to her and other times…' Ria said. 'He'll probably just act like nothing happened.' She guessed.
'He'll have a headache in the morning.' Reynolds said.
'Or he might try to grope her when he wakes up earlier, I'd go for her breasts.' Loker said cheekily.
'What?!' Ria said shocked. Both her and Reynolds gave him an annoyed look.
'What? It's not my fault that they look so nice. And that's what we do. It's very natural.'
'What WE do?' Ria asked astonished and still in shock.
'Us men. I mean can you blame him?' Loker asked as he eyed her. 'Look at her!' He stated heatedly as he gestured towards Gillian.
'Loker!' Ria snapped.
'What? He's still a man. And she..' He looked longingly at her. 'She obviously is a woman.'
'O my god.' Ria stated.
'What?'
'You onto Foster?' Ria asked.
'No, but she's got the right parts in the right places. And she's…. Well… Hot.' Loker shrugged.
'O my god, I don't know how I can stand working with you.' Ria said.
'Enough okay.' Reynolds said as he gestured at both Ria and Loker for them to stop. He raised his chin and rolled his eyes as he looked at the ceiling. 'What a night.' Reynolds complained while he shook his head.
'O yeah act like you're innocent in all of this. Like you haven't checked her out once or twice, or all the time.' Loker said.
'Hey!' Reynolds warned angrily while he put his finger up at Loker. He hated it when they read him.
'Loker stop it. This is really unsettling.' Ria said at the same time.
'Yeah well, that happens when I am sleep deprived.'
'Just take this list back and start making a profile so we can find Frank.' Ria ordered as she took the list from Reynold's hands and shoved it into Loker's chest.
'Look you don't have to be offended. You know I like you too, I mean look at your-' Ria grabbed the file from him and then slammed it hard into his chest.
'That's a warning.' Ria explained with a hard gaze.
Loker shrugged unaffected at that.
'And get some coffee.' Reynolds advised.
'O no, it's me who needs the coffee, believe me. One more minute like this with him and I'm going to hurt someone.' Ria said.
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Haa, I just love to play around with them. I can tell you that one of them (Cal or Gillian) is going to feel VERY embarressed when they wake up! Hehehehe (evil laugh),
please let me know what you thought!
