Calleigh slightly opened her eyes, but saw that it was still dark and closed them again. She stirred a little, trying to get comfortable, and she felt something warm wrap around her.
She reached her hands down to remove whatever was around her and was surprised to feel arms. She glanced down to see soft, brown and don't forget muscular, arms wrapped around her stomach.
Calleigh laid her head back on the pillow and tried to figure out why Eric was in her bed. All of a sudden, she remembered what was going on.
She was in Eric's apartment, in Eric's bed, and in Eric's arms. Eric's embrace was warm and cosy, but not suffocating. Eric's head was resting just above hers on the same pillow. She could feel his soft, warm breathe against the back of her neck. It made tingles run all over her body.
Calleigh reached for the alarm clock, trying not to move too much, and looked to see what the time was. It read 6:00am. She had to get up soon.
5 minutes later she was still lying in the same position with her arms wrapped around Eric's. 'What am I doing,' she asked herself, 'Why aren't I getting up'.
Calleigh thought about it for a minute. She was in someone else's bed, with her co-worker wrapped around her, and yet she wasn't moving, not an inch.
Calleigh closed her eyes for a second.
"It's not because I want to be in bed with him," she said out aloud, "It's because I'm warm and cosy and, who cares if I'm a tiny bit late for work. Horatio won't mind. And besides, it's not like it's torture being here. I'm actually quite snug in his arms. And besides, it doesn't mean anything, just because-"
"You know you should really see someone about that talking problem", Eric mumbled as he removed his arms from around her waist and rolled to his side of the bed.
Calleigh bit her lip nervously, wondering how much of her babbling on he heard.
She felt the bed rise as Eric sat up. He was wearing black boxers. He rubbed his eyes and turned to look at the clock.
Eric let out a little moan and mumbled, "Work, who needs it".
Calleigh let out a sigh and Eric turned surprised, remembering she was still there.
Calleigh had the covers pulled up to her chin. She wasn't naked, but she wanted something warm around her, seeing as Eric's arms had long gone.
"You uh, want some brekkie?" He asked nervously.
"Sure," She answered with a friendly smile.
He got up off the bed and walked to the kitchen. Five minutes later she could smell bacon and eggs so she reluctantly got out the warm soft bed and dragged herself to the kitchen. She sat down on the cold hard chair and glanced into the kitchen.
Eric was behind the stove cooking, topless. She had been seeing a lot of his chest lately. She smiled to herself and stretched her arms out. 2 minutes later Eric came to the table with breakfast and freshly brewed coffee.
Calleigh reached straight for the coffee. "Thanks," she said as she stuffed a piece of bacon into her mouth. Eric reached for his coffee and sipped it.
"So," Calleigh said bringing her knees up to her chin and wrapping her arms around her legs, "last night…"
Eric grinned a little and replied, "You fell asleep at the office, I drove you to your place but you forgot your keys, so I figured you could just spend the night here"
"Thankyou", Calleigh said gratefully and took another sip of her coffee. She looked up to see Eric staring at he eyes. She felt her cheeks turn red and looked away.
Eric laughed and reached for some more food.
"You just love doing that don't you," Calleigh said in a fake mad voice.
"Making you blush?" Eric asked, leaning back into his chair.
"Uh huh," Calleigh replied, nodding her head.
"That's only because it's so easy to do," Eric said grinning.
"Hey, I do not blush easily", Calleigh retorted with a smile. Erictookate apiece ofegg and smiled flirtatiously.
"Must just be my charm" he said as he got up and cleared away the plates. 'Stop it', Eric told himself, 'hold back, don't freak her out again. Friends, nothing more'
Eric walked to the kitchen and Calleigh could sense him tense up.
She looked down at her hands and nervously bit her nails.
"You can take a shower first, there's some clothes in my closet that my cousin left last time she stayed, should fit you," Eric said, trying to change the subject.
"Umm, are you sure she won't mind?" Calleigh asked anxiously.
"Course not," Eric said with a warm smile and headed handed Calleigh a towel in front of the bathroom.
"Thanks," said Calleigh as she graciously accepted it and walked into the bathroom closing the door behind her. She looked around, taking in the new surroundings. Eric's bathroom had light blue walls and was very clean.
He had a number of hair and body products lined up on a little shelf next to the shower. She started undoing her shirt buttons but hesitated for a minute, glancing at the door. She knew Eric wouldn't come in without knocking, but she felt doubtful so she locked the door.
After about a minute of convincing herself that he couldn't come through the locked door, she undressed and stepped into the shower.
About 45 minutes later Calleigh emerged from the bathroom awake and refreshed. She quickly ran to Eric's bathroom not wanting him to see her with just a towel wrapped around her naked body.
"I'm done," Calleigh yelled out to Eric, letting him know the shower was free.
"And who said girls don't take forever in the shower," Eric yelled back in a mocking voice and walked into the bathroom.
"Eric, I think the speed limits 50," Calleigh reminded Eric as he sped through traffic. She was sitting next to him in the front of his car.
"And your point is?" Eric asked without looking at her.
"Well your going 70," Calleigh commented. Eric gave her a cheeky grin and slowed down a bit.
"What's your rush?" Calleigh asked rummaging in her purse for her phone.
"Horatio will kill us if we're late," Eric reminded Calleigh as he turned the corner.
"I'm sure it will be fine," Calleigh answered back.
Eric gave her a strange look and turned his eyes back to the road.
"Can I ask something?" Eric said carefully.
"Sure ask away," Calleigh replied.
"Well, I dunno if it's nothing but… you seem different these last couple of days. I mean, you're not the workaholic strict that used to yell at me when I messed up with evidence. You seem more…, more happy and carefree"
Calleigh sat quiet for a minute and then replied, "I guess I just got a lot more to smile about these days"
Eric gave a glowing smile, which Calleigh returned.
A minute later they arrived at work just 5 minutes late. They both walked in together, smiling, which didn't go unnoticed by Horatio. He walked over to them and asked to speak to Calleigh alone. Eric went off to find Tim, and Horatio gestured Calleigh to his office.
"Something wrong?" she asked concerned.
"It's nothing much it's just, I rang you last night but you weren't home," Horatio replied leaning on his desk.
"Oh, I was out. You could have rang my cell," Calleigh said nervously.
"It wasn't anything important, I just had a few questions about the Abbott case, nothing that couldn't have waited until morning," Horatio replied, wondering why she was out at 3 in the morning.
"Well I got work to do," said Calleigh as she walked out avoiding eye contact, afraid he would see through her lies.
2 days later, Eric walked to his desk to find a letter marked 'urgent'. He opened the letter and his face dropped in disappointment. Calleigh, who was nearby, saw Eric's reaction and gave him a confused look.
He stormed into Horatio's office and slammed the door behind him. Calleigh run after him and peeked through Horatio's window to see what was going on.
She saw Eric approach Horatio at his desk and yell. After a few minutes of Horatio talking, Eric calmed down and sat in a chair. They talked for a while and they anger in Eric's face dissipated. A minute later they both walked towards the door and Horatio gave Eric a pat on the back.
Calleigh ducked behind the corner so she wouldn't be seen and waited. After she heard Horatio's door open and close, she casually walked around the corner and 'accidentally' bumped into Eric.
"Hey, everything ok," She asked curiously but with concern.
"Hey can we talk later, after work maybe?" Eric asked in a natural tone.
"Sure ok," Calleigh replied and Eric ran off to his desk. On Calleigh's way to the morgue, she thought about after work. She thought about meeting up with Eric and she couldn't help the big grin spreading across her face.
She wanted to tell him how she felt about him, but she wasn't sure how. But with everything that had happened between them in the last couple of days, she came to the conclusion that she couldn't deny her feelings any longer.
Calleigh made he3r way across the street and to the bar where she was meeting Eric. She went straight after work so she was wearing her work clothes.
As she entered the bar she glanced around to find Eric. She found him in a booth with a beer. Her heart skipped a little upon seeing him and she made her way to him.
"Hi," Calleigh greeted cheerfully.
"Hi," Eric greeted back, but it was anything but cheerful. He was gloomy and quiet. He had been like that all day. Calleigh knew that something was on his mind. Something was distracting him all day, and now she would find out just what it was.
Eric looked up to see her sparkling blue eyes. A/N: I don't care about what they said in 'death grip' lets just pretend they're blue for now). Her face was so cheerful. Eric had no idea how she did it. How after cases and cases of misery she could still be smiling. Eric took in a deep breath and looked down at his drink. Calleigh's face dropped, nervous of what was coming.
Eric looked up at her. He had to tell her sooner or later.
"Calleigh, I some news," He muttered.