Thanks for the reviews! It seems you guys like angst! Here's chapter 21, sorry it took so long…
"Come in honey," Alexx said, moving into her house and trying to get Calleigh to follow. She was trying to figure out what could have upset Calleigh so much, she had thought things were getting better now that Eric was beginning to accept what had happened.
Calleigh followed Alexx into her living room and sat down on the couch opposite the TV, Alexx's husband stood up and left the room after a look from his wife told him he should probably leave the two of them alone.
"Do you want a drink?" Alexx asked.
Calleigh just shook her head, trying furiously to wipe the tears that refused to stop falling down her face.
"What happened Cal?" Alexx asked softly, sitting down next to Calleigh. "Is it the baby?"
"I've been so stupid," Calleigh started, "I didn't mean for this to happen but I couldn't lie to him, now it's all such a mess and it's all my fault. It's always my fault!"
"Calleigh slow down," Alexx said, "start from the beginning, I thought you had a hospital appointment this afternoon."
"I did," Calleigh smiled at the memory.
"And?" Alexx asked.
"It was amazing!" Calleigh rooted around in her purse for the picture and pulled it out to show Alexx. "Look."
Alexx took the picture, "I think it looks like you."
"Alexx!" Calleigh laughed, "it looks like a blob!"
"Well it's a good looking blob then!" Alexx said, she was pleased Calleigh seemed happier. "Besides, that's no way to talk about your child."
"I still can't believe that's in me!" Calleigh smiled, "I mean look at it, it's like a little person!"
"Well that's the general idea!"
"I know, it's just…oh I don't know!" Calleigh paused, before continuing…"it's just it wasn't like this last time. Then I was terrified, now I'm just so excited! I'm terrified too, but good terrified if you know what I mean."
"I do," Alexx said smiling.
Calleigh took the picture back and looked at it one more time before putting it back in her purse.
"Now," Alexx started, "are you going to tell me what's wrong?"
"I told Eric about Natalia finding out about what happened to him."
"I guess he wasn't too happy," Alexx finished.
"No."
"Well what did you expect?" Alexx asked.
"I don't know," Calleigh sighed, "it's just we were so happy after the hospital and everything and then I went and ruined it!"
"Calleigh you didn't ruin it, but look at it from his point of view," Alexx started. "I mean he didn't want anyone to know and now you know as does Horatio, me, Natalia, it probably won't be long before more people find out."
"Maybe I shouldn't have told him."
"It's too late now," Alexx said, "besides, you were probably right he would have found out eventually and would have been more hurt because you had lied to him, maybe you should just give him some time. He's still getting used to the idea of what happened to him."
"Maybe…"
"How's the case going?" Alexx asked, "maybe when you catch the other guy and they are both locked up it'll be easier for Eric to try and move on."
"I suppose," Calleigh said, "I mean we have one guy, we're still looking for the other guy and then it's just a matter of building up the evidence so they don't walk."
"At least you have a lead," Alexx said, "you'll get them Calleigh, I know you will."
"Thanks Alexx," Calleigh said. "I know I'm just being stupid and that Eric had every right to be angry, but there is so much going on, the wedding's in less than a month and there's still so much to do, I can't help but think what if we don't get these guys? What if they get away with it? What if the wedding goes wrong? What if I stress Eric out so much he doesn't want to marry me? What if something goes wrong with the baby? I hate feeling like this Alexx, it's like I can't control my emotions any more, I get upset over the most pathetic little thing!"
"It's called being pregnant!" Alexx smiled at the memory, "your hormones are all over the place. Let me and Natalia organize the wedding, it's practically all done anyway, OK?"
Calleigh nodded.
"You will get these guys, it's what you do."
Calleigh nodded again.
"Eric loves you so much Calleigh, he's like a lovesick puppy! Of course he's going to marry you!"
Calleigh smiled at the thought.
"And the baby's fine, you've just had a check-up and everything will be OK. You should just enjoy being pregnant, it's one of the most amazing experiences you'll ever have!"
"Thanks Alexx."
"Don't worry about it," Alexx said, "it's what friends are for!"
Calleigh yawned.
"You tired?"
"A little," Calleigh admitted.
"All this panicking is exhausting you; it's not good for the baby so just relax!"
Calleigh nodded.
"Why don't you sleep for a bit? When was the last time you slept properly?"
"I don't know," Calleigh smiled, "thanks Alexx."
"Stop thanking me!" Alexx said, standing up and walking out of the room, "I'll just get you a blanket."
Two minutes later Alexx walked back into the room, Calleigh was already asleep; Alexx covered her with the blanket and made her way into the kitchen. Still worrying about Eric and Calleigh, surely they had to realise what a good couple they made. She just hoped they could fix any problems between them for their own sakes, she knew they struggled to live without each other; even if they refused to admit it they needed each other.
Half an hour later Alexx had managed to finish her washing up and began to clean the kitchen when she heard Calleigh in the living room and so made her way in. Calleigh was thrashing around on the couch.
"No! No! Stop it! Please!" Calleigh mumbled, "Get off me! No! Stop it!"
"Calleigh," Alexx said softly, shaking her trying to get her to wake up. "Calleigh," she tried again a little louder. Calleigh opened her eyes and looked straight at Alexx.
"Are you OK?" Alexx asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Calleigh said sitting up, "it's nothing."
"Calleigh, baby, please talk to me," Alexx started, "it's clearly not nothing."
"It was just a nightmare," Calleigh insisted, "it's not important."
"Do you want to tell me what it was about?"
"It's nothing Alexx, really, I'm fine," Calleigh said.
"I don't believe you Calleigh," Alexx said softly, "please don't lie to me; you were terrified."
"It was just a nightmare," Calleigh insisted, "about my dad."
"Oh god, Calleigh," Alexx said, hugging the younger woman to her.
"Alexx, honestly, it's no big deal."
"Do you have them often?"
"Sometimes," Calleigh explained, "but Eric always wakes me up and just holds me so tightly and keeps promising I'll never have to go back there, promises he'll keep me safe. I love him so much," Calleigh said, tears streaming down her face, "I hope I haven't messed everything up, I need him Alexx, I need him so much!"
"Ssshhh," Alexx started, "it'll be OK, he loves you too, and everything is going to be fine, I promise." Alexx stroked the young woman's hair, just hoping that everything would be OK. Surely nothing else could go wrong in her life, could it?
TBC…
I know this seems a little slow and pathetic but writers block has seriously been plaguing me recently, I'm supposed to be doing the EC xmas challenge fic for talk CSI too, and that isn't working too well either!
Thanks for reading! If you did please please review! I would appreciate it so much!