A/N Gosh this was hard to write, writers block ): But anyways, I got it up at last, just to clarify, this is not the end yet, you will know when it is. Oh, and tomorrow, I might not be able to update, I have to go out with my Mum and have a life *falls flat on face*. Right ok, so here it is, enjoy.
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Chapter 52

I'd felt so exposed, although I was only in my underwear, having him look at me like I was his dinner, it made my stomach wretch, I wanted the clothes that he'd touched away from me, because stupid as it sounded, I felt more hidden completely naked, but in Eric's arms, than I did fully clothed with that animal looking at me. I cried, I don't know for how long, I wasn't looking at the clock. Eric had saved me, again, not just from the imminent threat, but from the aftermath, I wasn't going home alone, I wasn't going to have to protect myself from the evil thoughts that would claw at my head, I'd have peace and solace, a way to get rid of it all, a light at the end of the tunnel. And that was how I managed to get up, dry the tears, even crack the slightest of smiles.

I knew it hadn't just been me that had cried, the trace of tears on his face was faint, but still there, had I not known him so well I would have been unnoticeable, but I could see the pain on my face reflected on his, we really were going through this together. I wiped away the traces of tears from his face, my pale hand cupping his tanned cheek, his stubble scratched lightly against my hand as I traced his jaw.

"Thank you." I breathed

"There's no need."

"There's every need, you're the only thing keeping me sane."

"I love you Calleigh."

"I know, and I love you too."

I went to move my other arm and winced at the pain, I'd completely forgotten about the gash on my arm. Eric immediately went into protective mode, carefully taking hold of my arm and inspecting the wound.

"You should go to the hospital, it might need stitches."

"It's fine, just a bit sore."

"It could get infected, will you please at least let me look at it."

"Alright."

I couldn't refuse, the look of concern in his eyes was too much. I let him lead me to the bathroom, and lift me up onto the counter. He got out the first aid kit from the cupboard, and started laying things out, antiseptic, bandages, surgical tape. He soaked some cotton wool with warm water and started cleaning the wound on my arm, he took gentle strokes around it, never pressing too hard, when he was done, he picked up the antiseptic.

"Mi amor, this is going to sting a bit, I'm sorry."

"I know, it's ok."

He was apologising for helping me, he was too good. I winced slightly at the antiseptic, I couldn't help it, it stung, but it cleaned the wound, and prevented a trip to the hospital. I gritted my teeth and he rubbed my knee with his spare hand, with the wound clean, he started to bandage my arm, a thick pad was placed directly over the wound, then he wrapped the bandage around my arm, holding the pad in place. He finished of his dressing with some surgical tape to hold the ends of the bandage down.

He took hold of my hand and kissed my knuckles, I could tell he was afraid that he would do too much, we'd seen it on the job so many times, women not being able to trust men ever again, it effects people different ways every time, some women have sex with as many people after as they can to try and forget, some women wait for someone they trust implicitly, some people just never get that close ever again, it all depends. But I hadn't, Eric had saved me before he'd had the chance. I trusted him implicitly, he'd rebuilt my confidence once already, brought me back from the horrors of my life with Jake. There was no way I could be afraid of him, the delicate way in which he touched me, it was the sweetest thing, as if I was all that was important, not him, not anyone, just me. I smiled, it was impossible not to, for a moment I forgot what had happened in the room just next door, I let his touch draw out the misery.

"It's alright you know, I won't break."

"I don't want to hurt you."

"You could never hurt me."

"Are you sure?"

"Eric, I'm sat here completely naked, and not once have you taken advantage of that. I trust you."

He pulled me into him, and I pressed my head into his chest. His scent was like my own lullaby, calming, it cleared my head, and I needed that now, I knew I would have to speak to Horatio, and probably IAB too.

"My God Calleigh, I was so scared, I thought he'd... I can't even think about it, it's too horrible." He said into my hair

"But he didn't because of you."

"I love you so much."

"I love you too."

He kissed my hair, and seemed to inhale my scent, the same way in which I did his. I used his arms to block out the world, they were strong, strong enough to support me too. This was the reason you can't let anything happen to you Duquesne. Him. He loves you. I know he did, when he looked at me, I could see it, see how true and honest his love was, and I loved him right back. I wanted to stay like this, but I knew there were things that needed doing, and they wouldn't take I was busy letting my boyfriend take away the pain as an excuse for not doing it.

"We need to call Horatio." I stated

"It would be for the best really."

"Explaining why there's a dead body in our bedroom to the neighbours when they smell decomp isn't going to be easy."

"I don't know, we could pass it off as an experiment."

"Perhaps not?"

"Then you'd better get some clothes on."

"I don't know, we could pass it off as experimenting nudists."

"Very funny."

He lifted me off the counted, the same way he'd lifted me on, only he didn't put me back down again, instead he carried me down the hall to the laundry room.

"I'm not an invalid, I can walk."

"I know you can, I just like carrying you."

"Why?"

"Because then I get to have such beautifulness as close to me as possible."

I blushed, I'd never really been one for flattery, I found it was often just people sucking up, but with Eric, I ended up going all gooey, like a teenager. I realised Eric had taken me to the laundry room to get clothes instead of the bedroom for a reason, there was a dead body in there, although I'd seen thousands of them on the job, there was something different about seeing somebody die, no matter how bad a person they are, seeing the life filter out of their eyes, it's something that only the cold blooded can get used to.

I got dressed, made myself look respectable, because IAB was going to be here, they were vultures when it came to our team, as soon as they sniffed the slightest possibility of attacking one of us, they swarmed. Eric had called Horatio, he'd said he would be here in 5 minutes. I wanted to shower, but I knew that I could have evidence on my body. It was a waiting game until Horatio arrived. Thankfully Horatio was prompt, if he said within 5 minutes, he meant within 5 minutes. He actually made it in 4, a knock at the door alerted us of his presence.

"Horatio, hey." I said opening the door

"Miss Duquesne, are you ok?"

"I'm fine Horatio, wish I could say the same for the guy in our room."

"Ah, I'm going to need to know what happened."

"From the beginning?"

"From the beginning."

"Ok, so, Eric went out to get some milk from the store, about 11am, I'd just gotten out the shower when I heard someone banging at the door. I open the door and the man, now lying in our room, was insisting that he knew me, I recognised him but couldn't place him at first. He insulted me, and I tried to shut the door but he pushed his way in. I think Jake sent him, because he kept saying things about him. He was cornering me and we got into a bit of a fight, then he pushed me into the wall and I hit my head. He picked me up and carried me to the bedroom, he taped my hands behind my back, then he tried to rape me, but Eric came back, he heard the door, pulled me to the floor and held a gun to my head."

"I had my gun drawn, I noticed something was wrong as soon as I came in. When I found them he said if I didn't put the gun down he'd blow her brains out, so I did, and Calleigh managed to get away, I tried to wrestle his gun off of him and a bullet discharged into the floor, the fragment grazed Calleigh's arm. We asked him why he was here and who sent him, but he refused to talk, then said he wasn't going to go to prison as a rapist and grass, he reached for the gun, I shot him in the leg, I thought he was aiming at us, and then he shot himself."

"Let's take a look."

Horatio navigated his way through our house straight to our bedroom, I had no idea how he knew the way, and I wasn't going to ask either, he seemed to have a way of knowing everything. Eric and I followed behind. Horatio looked briefly around the room, his gaze landed for a few seconds on my torn underwear, I felt a blush start to rise, and not the good kind, your boss seeing your underwear was never on the top of your to do list, especially considering it wasn't the most conservative underwear I owned. Oh God, Horatio wouldn't be the only one to see it, Ryan, Natalia, Walter, IAB, it would be evidence, for the entire police force to see. Not good. Horatio quickly cast his gaze to the body, whether for my courtesy or for his I don't know, but it was appreciated.

"Ryan and Natalia are on their way to process the scene, unfortunately Rick is also on his way."

"He's gonna interrogate us?"

"I suspect so, unfortunately there is nothing I can do about that, but I can assure you this will go no further than IAB."

"What will go no further than IAB?" Rick said walking in like he owned the place

"Nothing that concerns you Rick." Horatio retorted

"We'll see about that. Delko, Duquesne, I need to talk to you. Now."

"Rick, you ask them with respect and they might oblige."

"Horatio, do I ask you to talk to suspects with respect?"

"They are not suspects, they are victims of a home invasion."

"Miss Duquesne, Mr Delko, would you please come with me." Rick spat through gritted teeth

"Of course Rick." I said as politely as I could.

He led us down the hall and stood in front of the guest bedroom, hands on hips. He looked ready for a fight.

"Horatio isn't here to save you now. You expect me to believe that you of all people Duquesne did not shoot the person who raped you."

"Tried to." I corrected

"Whatever, just answer the question."

"I did not shoot that man, he killed himself, IN FRONT OF MY FACE!" I shouted

"With a temper like that you expect me to believe you?"

"To hell I do, I've been on the force for over 10 years, I have never, not once broken the rules."

"Except for the fact that you are living with Delko, clearly breaking the no fraternization rule."

"My relationship with Eric has nothing to do with this investigation."

"I beg to differ, I have a tip that says your relationship with Eric is making someone very angry."

"Stetler, I suggest you leave her alone, you're tip should never over right an officer of the law." Eric shouted

"An officer of the law who is in reasonable doubt?"

"There is no doubt here Rick, I suggest you leave." Horatio said striding out of the bedroom.

"This is not over." He threatened, but left

I believed him, Stetler was one of the most, scheming, manipulative creature I'd ever seen, he would try and ruin anything he could get his hands on, but I wouldn't let him, I would never let him ruin me...


A/N Well, this one's a bit longer just in case I don't get to update tomorrow.

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