Slightly Condoned

Disclaimer: Don't own anything…

Rating: R

Pairing: Eric/OC, Speed/Calleigh

Summary: Tim has a surprise in store for Calleigh on their date as she realizes when he asks if he can blindfold her. Meanwhile, Mia is being pressed for time, and advises Elisabeth to remember where her mind should be focused on. Eric makes an attempt to place his relationship with Elisabeth at ease but ends up making things even worse.

Spoiler: Tinder Box, Body Count

A/N: proud of this chapter because it redeems most of the sexual escapades in the previous ones. Has some very crude lines courtesy of Tim Speedle, and places Mia back in the floater position with Elisabeth.

Dedication: To Katie and Jacqueline, without our late night talks and your advice I wouldn't be able to write half of this stuff. A thanks is in grave order!

***

Part 26- Blame It On The Chicken

Couple hours later

Elisabeth had just extracted a tea bag out of the cupboard when the house phone sounded through the kitchen.

Slowly, and not at all with hurry, she made it across the linoleum and encountered the appliance.

" Yeah?"

" Is that always how you answer your phone?"

Elisabeth bit her lip when she realized it was her boss.

" Uh…" her voice trailed off and light chuckle could be heard over the phone line.

" I'm just fucking with you, I could care less how you answer your phone only as long as your present, and can give me a quick update on the case." Mia lightened the situation and hinted on the fact that she would now like to be informed of the work her associate had put in since they last time they spoke.

Elisabeth returned to the counter and flipped on the electric kettle.

" Umm, well Eric Delko, Tim Speedle, and I interviewed her ex boyfriend today."

" And?" Mia's voice trailed off indicating that either she didn't have all day to chat, or was annoyed…or both.

Elisabeth tried desperately to care, but didn't because although a lot of good came out of accepting this cold case, she was still very much furious with doing the grunt work, especially when no one was sure there'd be an answer.

" Nothing, I had a theory on how the whole thing could've played out and he completely condoned it, started ranting on about how he had no idea why people would consider a few runs in the sack a relationship." Elisabeth explained, tinting her voice heavily with annoyance as she retold the events of that morning.

" To each their own, but listen, I'm not trying to scurry you along, I know the process and yet I'm suspicious as to how much work your actually doing." Mia said cryptically, and Elisabeth leaned against the counter, allowing the words to sink in.

" And what are you implying Mia?"

She asked, distaste coloring her every word, but that was only because otherwise, fear would taint the conversation.

" Oh don't worry, amateur, you don't think I've been where you are, I *married* a CSI remember?" Elisabeth could just picture her boss smirking as she agreed, " Yeah, so, I don't plan on marrying anyone any time soon."

" Just a heads up kid." Mia pointed out, trying to be as neutral of her feelings as possible, and yet at the same time she knew she came off biased.

" Thanks, but I'm pretty levelheaded already." Elisabeth lied.

Hell, if Mia knew the extent of her feelings right now, for a simple guy she met about three days ago, the District Attorney would have every right to fire her. A lawyer couldn't do this, the exact same thing she condemned people for at times.

It was just absurd.

But then again no one had ever said love made sense?

" Love?" Elisabeth thought to herself, wondering just how insane she really was to consider what she had with Delko *love*.

*That* was absurd.

" Guess, you've got everything under control, just fax me all your notes and shit, I'm having lunch with Mercedes tomorrow, gotta have something to show for all that hard work you've been doing." Mia said with a teasing undertone, and all Elisabeth did was roll her eyes.

" No problem, and you know I was wrong." She added.

" How so?"

" Yeah, I never did get a fruit basket." Elisabeth recalled as the kettle clicked off.

" I'll remind her."

" Don't you dare."

" I'll take that as a yes, have a good night, and tell Eric I say hi."

" I couldn't be able to." Elisabeth pointed out, " He's not here, but I'll be sure to pass on the message that you send your outmost pleasantries."

" Don't you dare."

" Good night."

Elisabeth hung up the phone in triumph and transported the boiling water into her favorite mug, as she walked into the living room.

Her plan for tonight would be to unpack the bathroom and set all the books she had into her home office.

But just as the lawyer reached out to open a box titled, *library*, the door bell rang…

***

Calleigh was standing in the middle of her bedroom, facing the open closet in a bathrobe.

In front of her was what someone would either call 'heaven' or 'obsession'.

Three shelves clothing filled the top section of the closet, while there was not one empty hanger on the bottom.

The other part of the cabinet included her collection of shoes, and currently, even under these circumstances Bullet Girl was stumped at what to wear.

It proved to be a completely uneventful day as far as work had been concerned. She had returned to the Delko residence and dropped off Elisabeth's box of goodies, glad to have the place to herself.

Yet after about an hour she received an important page from Horatio, who told her they had a DB at a local shopping mall, and Hagen was already assigned to the case.

Her two favorite detectives as far as professional relationships were concerned, and Calleigh was very happy to be out in the field again.

However, after three hours of investigation and then the run of evidence at the lab, Calleigh was exhausted and actually looking forward to spending time with Tim, since she had not seen him all day.

Anytime she'd encountered Delko or Elisabeth at the Crime lab they'd always shrug in response to her questioning of where Speed was, so eventually Calleigh gave up, and having too much pride to just simply pick up the phone and reach him personally, she went back to her case.

It was a brutal one, but Horatio noticed her anxiety and told her to get out of there before he changed his mind. Calleigh felt guilty for the equivalent of time that it took her to hail a cab and get home. It hadn't occurred to her that wherever Speed was, her car keys were surely there.

Now as she stood in front of her closet, Calleigh obtained a new doubt that perhaps this date wouldn't solve anything, even if they'd have a good time.

Their communication was taken for granted before and now, now she wasn't even sure that they had any.

Calleigh couldn't even call him, and had no idea what was holding her back.

Ironically as she finally decided on a turquoise sundress, the phone rang.

Having not the slightest idea of who it may be, Calleigh was a little skeptic and surprised to answer it.

" Hello."

" Hey beautiful."

It was Tim.

Calleigh already knew, and a large hit of nostalgia attacked her, remembering that that was the exact greeting Speed graced her with in the sweet beginning of their relationship. Then Calleigh frowned, trying desperately to turn back time and pinpoint the exact moment that thing went wrong.

" Ha, you don't even know what I look like right now." Calleigh replied, and turned to the shoe selection before her, wondering which pair could accentuate the dress better.

" I don't have to, cause I have the mental image of you from this morning."

Calleigh felt her mind flashback to the event he vaguely referred to, and felt the overwhelming sensation of lust once again hit her.

Cheeks flushed, and knees weak Calleigh managed to retaliate anyway, " I looked awful this morning."

…Lamely. 

" Not from where I was standing…sitting…lying, whatever."

" Oh-kay, can we talk about our sexual escapades later please?" Calleigh took a chance and voiced her concern, the sarcasm never dying from within her as she spoke.

There was contemplative silence on the other line, after which she was once again rejoined by the caller.

" I figure we'll have plenty of time when we see each other."

" Once again, oh-kay Mr. Casanova what's gotten into you?" Calleigh smiled to herself as she picked up a pair of sea-green stilettos and then placed them against the dress, and then cringing slightly when the color coordination proved to be too much.

" Nothing, just cant wait to see you, is that a crime?"

" Uh, no." Calleigh picked up another pair of sandals, and shoved them once again away.

" Good, so listen, since I'm a forgetful jackass and forgot to return you your car keys-…"

" Tim it's really nothing." Calleigh cut him off at warped speed, but embracing his nickname Speedle didn't back down.

" No, let me finish, I've got a surprise for you, to make up for all the shit that's been happening, so I'll be at your place in about twenty minutes, and dress warm."

" Tim, it's 80 degrees outside." Calleigh said, a little upset that he could read her so well, as if to cryptically dodge the dress idea.

" I'll be there soon." He didn't answer the question and hung up.

Calleigh sighed with disappointment as she threw the phone on the crimson canopy.

It wasn't so much the fact that he hung up on her; it was just the fact that he was being too apologetic, too fast.

Oh and now she couldn't wear her favorite dress…

***

It took Eric about ten minutes to finally get the nerve and ring her doorbell.

The miracle in itself was that another person was leaving the apartments so they held the door open for him; otherwise he would be standing like an idiot outside the building…rather than inside.

More or less, anyway you put it, Eric Delko felt like a complete idiot standing in front of the inconspicuous apartment door.

A take out bag in his hand and the other occupied by a six-pack of Corona, although the peace offerings were either running cold, or warm he hadn't made a move to ring the doorbell until the elderly lady from next door poked her head out suspiciously.

Need drove him here, but reluctance maintained him in a tight grasp, as he finally gave in, and a few seconds later was greeted by an uncanny sight.

" Now this is not something you see everyday." He piped up before she could ask him what he was doing here, because honestly Eric didn't know himself.

" What?" Elisabeth asked, a small smile tinting her lips.

Eric watched them, as they curved, and then blinked back, desperately hiding his surprise.

" A lawyer, in pink and gray sweats." He didn't take the time to study her reaction as he slid by her, and entered the darkened corridor.

Elisabeth remained silent, when she felt the rush of sensations overwhelm her as his tougher form slid by her.

She closed the door, and leaned against it, slightly banging her skull against it. Eric detected that, and for a second felt concerned.

" And that's supposed to somehow rile me up?" He heard her response, but didn't know how to answer it exactly, so instead he challenged it, " Does it?"

" Wouldn't you like to know?" Elisabeth teased, and then didn't give him a moment to retaliate as she focused on the packages in his hand.

" Aww, and how did you know I was out?" She asked as sweetly as possible as she walked the small distance between them and pressed herself just slightly enough against Eric's body for him to mentally relive the events of the night before, and the morning after.

Elisabeth noticed the subtle change in his facial expression and quickly pulled back, somehow not wanting to go down the same road.

" Lucky guess." Eric croaked out, not at all surprised that his already deep voice skipped an octave down, and took on a grungy affect.

" Lucky guy." Elisabeth took the cellophane from him, their fingers brushing up against one another, and that was almost unbearable as the bag dropped between them.

The first kiss was tentative, but at the same time unabashed, as Elisabeth felt herself being sandwiched in once again between a wall and a warm body.

The wall wasn't the same, but the man was, drawing lazy circles on the inside of her lip with his tongue, she moaned into his mouth. But the feel of her shoulder blades pressed against the hardness of the wall behind her completely turned off that sense of excitement that surfaced the night before.

Eric ran his hand through the expanse of skin revealed to him while soft fingers ran up and down his back, it was only when he pressed her deeper into the wall that he realized her grimace.

" Liz, Liz, what's wrong?"

She pulled away from him, didn't look him in the eye but instead reached down and picked up the bags he'd brought.

" C'mon I'm hungry."

And he followed.

***

A quarter to 8, the doorbell rang.

Calleigh was ready, as she spread a nearly translucent layer of crimson hue on her lips; it contrasted well with the paleness of her complexion but matched the burgundy jeans she was wearing precisely.

Not wanting to keep her date waiting, the ballistics expert, pressed for time, left her blonde hair, in all its glory, cascade down her back.

The doorbell rang a second time, and Calleigh yelled from the bathroom, " I'm coming, I'm coming."

Then turned to get her purse, not expecting to hear a reply, " Don't let me interrupt then."

She rolled her eyes, unbeknownst to the man whom she finally led in and then gave him a mocking stare.

" Your sick."

" It works." Tim countered, just as she grabbed her bag and shut off the lights in the kitchen.

" So where are you taking me?" Calleigh asked, curiosity coloring her words heavily.

Tim smirked at her, as they walked side by side through the halls.

" Wouldn't you like to know?"

" Yes as a matter-of-fact I would." Calleigh announced and when they stepped outside, the wind blew her hair into her face; she pushed it away, and turned to Speed.

" I'd just like to know where in Miami are you taking me that's necessary enough for me to dress 'warmly'." She explained, still a bit hung over not being able to wear her initial choice for the evening.

" You'll find out eventually, now c'mon time's a wasting." Speed placed his arm around her waist and pulled her to walk toward him.

Calleigh hadn't been expecting him to be so close to her so quickly, so she submitted to the silence although she was already unsatisfied with the answer.

It wasn't until they reached her car, and Speed pulled out a silk scarf, she later identified as hers, from the trunk that she became a little skeptic.

" Tim…" her voice trailed off in a manner that Speed rarely witnessed it. She was distrustful of his actions and that displeased her, not that with the arrival of Megan Donner, would she welcome him back into her arms.

This just meant he had to make the most of tonight, and the scarce amount of time they had left before all hell broke loose.

" Just trust me alright? Can you just put this on please?" He solicited yet tried to maintain his manly persona at the same time.

Calleigh was still reluctant but giving into Tim's russet eyes she decided to throw caution.

" Oh fine, but this better not be one of those inside pranks." Calleigh warned, and then turned around so that Tim could fasten the smooth material to the base of her head.

" Don't worry." Speed assured her, his breath tickling her ear enticingly as he helped her board into the roadster, shotgun.

Then when he fastened her seatbelt and his hand subliminally brushed up against her breast, Calleigh shifted back and sucked in her breath.

For the first time in a while Speed was glad that she was wearing something to conceal her true reaction to his somewhat absent-minded but not remorseful action.

And he was glad she couldn't see his.

" So…" Calleigh decided to break the ice as she focused on using her limited senses and detect what was going on.

Currently Tim started the ignition and slid into the right lane.

" Would there be at least a slight chance in hell that you'd tell me where you're taking me?" She asked but not with much conviction, knowing the answer long before she asked.

" Nope." Tim merged onto the causeway and reached out to flick the radio on.

" Not a chance in hell."

***

They ate in silence.

She downed two beers; he had only one, not because he didn't want another, but because he felt somehow strangely alert and aware that he may be going home sooner than expected.

The alcohol wouldn't set in.

They sat across from each other in the kitchen, she kept picking off the curry on her chicken and Eric watched her subliminal movements with subtle awe.

Whether she was doing something as mundane as eating, or as intense as making love to him, she always remained that same woman to him, and although Eric could admit with sunken ease that he really didn't know her that well.

He felt like he already did.

Then another thought occurred to the CSI that made him angst ridden.

He was wrong.

They hadn't made love.

Not once, not twice, not three times.

They'd fucked, and now unbeknownst to the woman sitting so innocently across from him, Eric Delko felt ashamed.

Elisabeth looked up, and gave him an anxious smile, as Delko realized something must've been wrong in his expression because she returned to frowning and assaulting the food on her plate.

" I didn't know you could stab a dead chicken so many times." Eric supplied, hoping to diminish some of the stress he felt with comic relief.

Elisabeth gave him another look that told him he hadn't succeeded, and she went on to wonder what he was talking about.

" Huh?"

" You, poking that poor chicken." Eric explained further, and took the last swig of his beer.

Elisabeth opened a third one.

" Oh, well sorry, I didn't know you were an animal rights activist." She snapped back at him, voice heavy with sarcasm but she seemed ridden and he desperately wanted to help her.

Not knowing how.

" I'm not, I just sense that something is bothering you. What is it?" He asked as gently as possible, but evidently not gently enough because with one soft glance Elisabeth turned into a completely vicious person.

The bubble had burst.

" Of course something is bothering me!" She exclaimed, and dropped the fork with a clink on her plate.

" Then tell me what it is? I think I have a right to know." Delko pressed on, but didn't get up from his seat when she did.

Her recent incessant pace through the expanse of the kitchen didn't ease either of their spirits.

" Especially when I think it involves me." he added quietly, more so to himself rather than anyone else.

Yet Elisabeth looked up and crossed the linoleum floor to study him closer.

" Eric, it's not you."

" It's me." He finished for her with an ironic chuckle.

" Yes it is me. I moved here not for this, I wanted a fresh start, I didn't want baggage, and I certainly didn't want a relationship, but." Elisabeth's voice trailed off and Eric quickly picked up, unsure if he could accept the silence that would flood the room when she stopped talking.

" But what? Liz, for fuck's sake, you have to tell me what you want, and I'll try as hard as I can to give it to you." Eric found himself in an unwilling state of entreat, and so far he didn't like the submissive feeling inside him.

Elisabeth fell silent for a moment, with almost a defying conclusion to their conversation, but Delko had no desire to end the plea bargain right there, it would eventually go down a road he wasn't sure he should be taking, but for the meantime, he needed answers.

Because Eric sure as hell wasn't going to let this go with out an explanation, he wasn't going to let *her* go. Period.

" Liz?" He asked once again feeling his voice simmer down, and skip an octave.

" That's the problem Eric." His counterpart went on as if she hadn't heard him utter her name.

" I don't know what I want." She concluded and then sank back down in her chair, and attacked another beer.

Eric wasn't sure how to respond to that comment, so he questioned the only way he could.

" So, where do we go from here?"

Elisabeth refused to look him in the eye as she gulped down another swig and said.

" I have no fucking idea." And then stabbed the chicken some more…

TBC…