Thirteen

Thanks for all the reviews. I put Twelve up earlier than I intended because I thought Eleven was a little lacking. Happy belated birthday to all!!! If it was your birthday…Happy birthday!

Please R/R =P

Calleigh bolted out of bed and ran into her bathroom. She almost tripped on the rug she had recently purchased in the process. The next thing she knew, she found herself hovering over the toilet bowl and expelling everything she had eaten the night before. When she was done, she laid her clammy head down on the seat and breathed in through her nose and expelled through her mouth. Then all of a sudden a new wave of nausea overcame her causing her to do it over again.

She pulled away from the toilet and wrapped her arms around her stomach, groaning in the process. She felt horrible. She felt the bile rise in the back of her throat again as she once again vomited. She then braced her hand on the counter and pulled herself up, almost stumbling in the process.

That's the last time she eats Chinese take out again.

She opened the bathroom medicine cabinet and pulled out a paper cup. She filled it up and sipped at it slowly. In the dim lighting, she looked pale. She knew if Detective Owens or Nirvana saw her like this, they would send her straight home. She hated the feeling of being sent home. Calleigh slowly ran her hand through her hair then over her face. She felt hot and sticky.

Then she dropped the cup causing it to spill at her feet. She turned quickly and bent over once again to disgorge what she had in her empty stomach. She then lay down of the floor of her new house…on the cool tile floor.

She had to get to her phone. She moved slightly to get up and found herself leaning on the walls as she moved through her house. There were still boxes everywhere. She didn't know when she would bump into something if she wanted to get some water in the middle of the night.

Pausing slightly, her hand hovered over the small cell phone on her dresser. She thought of almost anything…any excuse so that she wouldn't call Alexx. She knew Alexx wouldn't want her to be sick. Alexx would be worried about her…and worse…mad at her if she didn't tell her that she wasn't feeling well at all.

She dialed quickly and held it up to her ear, "Alexx, it's Calleigh," her voice hitched a bit as she took in some more oxygen, "I'm fine," then she paused, "Actually, I'm sick," she didn't know how she was about to throw up again. There was nothing left in her stomach.

She took a step back and ran her hand through her hair, "I'm clammy," she listened to the woman on the other end, "I've been vomiting since I woke up," she leaned against the dresser for more support, "I'll be fine," Alexx was worried.

Calleigh was staying home that day no matter what.

…

Eric fiddled with his car keys as he stepped off the elevator. He'd taken a few days off to spend time with family. He and Horatio both agreed that it would be a good idea. They both knew that Eric needed some time to not think about Calleigh. Eric felt…better. Thoughts still haunted him. He wanted to call Calleigh. He needed to hear her voice again. To hear the way she sounded when she smiled.

"Welcome back," he looked up to see Horatio giving him a slight smile.

Eric nodded his head in return and took a step forward, "Thanks H," Horatio nodded, "Do you ever wonder what it'd be like if Calleigh still worked here?"

Horatio nodded again, "Yes Eric, yes I do," he shifted his positions a bit, "You know what, the things that happen to us all happen for a reason," Eric looked up at him, "Everything will fall into place soon."

Eric sure did hope he was right.

Eric nodded his head and moved past him towards the locker room. While in the locker room, he looked over to his right. Calleigh's locker was three lockers down from his. Swallowing up the lump in his throat, he walked slowly towards it and opened it. He saw a picture in it, a picture of him and Calleigh at one of Valera's infamous New Year's parties. She looked so happy. His arm was around her waist and her arm was around his. They both had large smiles on their faces.

Not to mention she was wearing a little blue fuzzy tiara that said '2004' on it. He smiled. She had gotten Speed to wear it. The poor guy had sat down on Valera's couch with his arms crossed over his chest. Something told him that he secretly was enjoying that.

He flipped it over and read 'Eric&Calleigh, Valera's New Year's party, 2004' once again he smiled and ran his finger over her face. He didn't hear Ryan come up behind him.

"What's up?" Eric spun around and looked at the younger CSI.

Eric placed the picture back in the locker, "Nothing, Wolfe, what do you want?" he sounded a bit too harsh. He didn't mean to.

"Do you want to tell me in a little more detail about you and Cal?" Ryan stuffed his hands in his pockets and stood up straighter.

Eric shook his head, "You already know what happened," Eric closed her locker and was about to turn and leave.

"Only from what the evidence tells me."

Eric spun around and faced Ryan, "What does the evidence tell you?" he felt outraged. He did not like the fact that Ryan would just come in here and ask about his personal life. About Calleigh's personal life. This had nothing to do with him and yet he was still pushing himself in on their business.

Ryan straightened up a bit, "That you two had sex," rage flashed in Eric's eyes. This caused Ryan to take a step back. He knew to never get Eric Delko mad at you.

Ryan knew he made a mistake from the moment it slipped out of his mouth, "Delko, I'm sorry," he backed up a bit with his hands in front of him.

"Eric, Ryan," they both stopped and looked at the doorway. Natalia.

"What are you two doing?"

"Nothing," Eric brushed past both Natalia and Ryan.

He wanted to be alone.

…

Calleigh opened her front door to see Nirvana. She didn't expect the woman to come around after work. Not that Nirvana didn't care; it was just, weird to see her outside of work.

"What's wrong with you now?" she crossed her arms over her chest.

Calleigh breathed in, "I was sick this morning."

Nirvana took a step closer, "Are you sick now?"

Calleigh shrugged her shoulders, "I still don't feel as well as I thought I would like to," Nirvana rolled her eyes causing Calleigh to raise an eyebrow, "Did I say something?"

"It's not food poisoning Saratoga!" Calleigh raised an eyebrow again, "I ate the same food, remember?" Nirvana moved back a bit, "I'm as healthy as a horse!" she was.

"You think something's wrong with me?" Calleigh crossed her arms over her chest.

Nirvana smiled a bit, "You're the scientist, Saratoga, you should know," Nirvana turned and walked out of the house.

Realization hit Calleigh like a train.

This was not good.

Calleigh backed away from the door and wrapped her arms around her waist. How could this happen? How could she let this happen? From the start she knew that there was a chance this could have happened…she just tried not to remember that night.

She knew what she had to do now.

Again, 'Tested Love' is still in the works. I started Fourteen last night and it might be up in the next day or two. Please don't hold me to that.

Please review,

Leigha