CHAPTER 5

"I can't believe it," Calleigh thought to herself. "If this isn't a sign, I don't know what is." Calleigh walked over and as she got closer, she noticed that Ryan was reading the book "Relativity : The Special and the General Theory" by Albert Einstein. "I see that you didn't get enough of the book from high school." Calleigh said with a smile. Ryan looked up to see Calleigh standing there with a big smile on her face. He was shocked to see her there, standing right in front of him. Ryan quickly composed himself. "Well, hello there Stranger." Ryan managed to get out before he felt that the lump in his throat would keep him from saying anything coherent. He swallowed and placed down the book. "What brings you out here tonight?" "The food, silly." Answered Calleigh. "The food. Oh, yeah. Right." Ryan let out as he realized what a stupid question he just asked. "Where were you sitting?" "Oh, I'm not eating here tonight." Replied Calleigh. "I ordered take-out and I came by to pick it up. It's still not ready yet." Ryan noticed that Calleigh was still standing. He felt like an idiot for not asking her if she wanted to sit down. He quickly decided to change the situation.

"Calleigh, please have a seat." Ryan said as he got up to pull out a chair for her. Calleigh felt happy that he was being a gentleman. "I'm not intruding, am I?" Calleigh asked, quickly forgetting to sit by the bay window. "No, I don't mind. I would enjoy having your company while you wait." Ryan answered. Calleigh sat down and pulled her chair in as Ryan walked back around to his seat. "So, your book…" Calleigh said as she gestured her hand towards it. "Oh, yeah. I've read this quite a bit since high school. I can't put it down. It's a good read." Ryan said, in a tone that sounded like he was defending himself. Calleigh noticed the tone in his voice. "Oh, I wasn't making fun of your choice of reading material, Ryan. I myself have a copy of "Classic Handguns of the 20th Century" that I've read so much, the pages are starting to fall apart." Ryan chuckled at her remark. "It's ok, Calleigh. I just didn't want you to think that I'm a dork." "Well, you're a very sexy dork." Calleigh thought to herself as she looked at Ryan. "Don't worry." Calleigh replied. "You're talking to someone who wore so much headgear when she was 13, it would have set off all of the metal detectors in the state of Louisiana." Ryan laughed at her comment and felt much more relaxed. "You had all the gear, huh? I can't imagine seeing that on you." "Well, if I didn't have the braces, I wouldn't have this beautiful smile now, would I?" Calleigh said as she smiled. Ryan stared at her. "God, she's so beautiful." Ryan thought to himself as he looked at her face in the lamplight. "It hurts to look at something so beautiful and not be able to touch it with my hands." Ryan sensed someone else walking up to his table.

"Miss, here's your order. Sorry for the delay." The worker said as he handed Calleigh a bag containing her dinner. "It's ok. Thank you." Replied Calleigh. "Well, Ryan, it's was nice talking to you while I waited. Very nice. Thanks for the company." Calleigh looked inside the bag to make sure her order was ok and started to get up. Ryan looked at Calleigh as she started to rise from the table. "Don't be a fool, Ryan. Ask her to stay. ASK HER!" Ryan's inner voice was so loud, he thought the whole world could hear him. "Uh, Calleigh?" Ryan said in a shaky voice. "Yes?" Answered Calleigh as she looked down at him. "Calleigh, would you like to stay and eat your dinner with me? That is, if you didn't have any plans." Ryan looked down at the table as he continued to speak. "I would greatly enjoy having you around to talk to while I finish eating." Calleigh could not believe what she just heard: He asked to her to eat with him! She felt her heart jump in her chest. "Ryan, I would love to! I hope I won't be a distraction." Calleigh responded, hoping not to sound too excited. "Well, you are a worthwhile distraction to me." Ryan said as he rolled his eyes. "Ha ha." Calleigh said in a mocking tone, letting Ryan know that she knew that he was joking. Calleigh sat back down. She turned to the worker still standing next to the table. "I guess I will be eating this here. May I get a set of utensils and a iced tea please?" "You can put the tea on my bill." Ryan said to the worker. "Ryan, you don't have to pay for my tea. I have the money." Calleigh mentioned as she reached for her purse. "No, I would like to pay for it Calleigh. It's the least that I can do for having you sit with me tonight." Replied Ryan. "Aw, thank you sweetie." Calleigh said as she placed his hand on his forearm. Her touch sent what felt like a million volts of electricity through Ryan's body. He couldn't help but smile at the sensation. As the worker left to get Calleigh's tea and silverware, she pulled her food out of the bag and opened the container up. Ryan picked up his spoon and took another sip of his soup. "Do you come here a lot, Ryan?" Calleigh asked. "Quite a bit." Answered Ryan. "I usually come here every Wednesday, but I worked so late last night, it was closed by the time I was done at the lab. They have a Tomato & Basil soup to die for." "To die for, huh?" Responded Calleigh. " I guess that makes it an appropriate meal for a CSI." Ryan laughed at her comment. The worker came back and placed Calleigh's tea and silverware on the table. "Thank you." Calleigh said to the worker as she started to stir her food up with the fork. As she took a bite, Ryan placed his spoon back down in the bowl. "How about you, Calleigh? You come here a lot?"

"Yes, I come here quite a bit myself." Calleigh said as she picked up another bite. "I just love the place. It's so quiet and peaceful. I love sitting by the window and looking out at the bay. If I don't have the time to sit down, I'll still stop by to pick up an order." "That's nice." Ryan mentioned as he took another sip. "Say, Calleigh…I noticed on the schedule that you have tomorrow off. You still coming to our get-together tomorrow night?" "I sure am," answered Calleigh who felt happy that Ryan had asked her if she was coming. "I enjoy hanging out with the crew outside of work. It means a lot to Horatio and come to think of it, it means a lot to me too. I'm glad that we get to sit together and talk about anything." Ryan's waiter came up to the table to give Ryan his bill. "Is there anything else you want Ryan?" "No thanks, Craig. I'm fine. Thank you." Ryan said as he reached for his wallet. He pulled out his money and handed it to the waiter. "Here you go, Craig. Keep the change." "Thank you, Ryan. You have a good night. You also have a good night, ma'am." The waiter said as he looked over at Calleigh. "Thank you." Responded Calleigh. Both Ryan and Calleigh were done with their meal. Calleigh got up from the table as Ryan picked up his book and also stood up. "Thanks for letting me sit with you while I ate my dinner." Calleigh said to Ryan as he was putting his jacket on. "No, Calleigh, thank you." Ryan said as he adjusted his jacket. "It meant a lot to me that you decided to sit and eat with me tonight. Would you like me to walk you to your car?" Calleigh could feel her heart beating fast. "Ryan, I would like that very much." She answered as she blushed. She turned away hoping that Ryan didn't see her face turning bright red. They both walked out of the restaurant and into the parking lot.

The two of them approached Calleigh's car and walked around to the driver's side. Calleigh pulled out her keys and looked at Ryan. "Where are you parked?" She asked. "Oh, I'm over on the other side of the lot." Ryan answered as he pointed out his car. Calleigh reached over and placed her hand again on his forearm. Ryan caught his breath as he realized what she did. He looked down at her hand on his arm and then up at her face. "Ryan, thanks again for letting me sit with you. It meant a lot to me." Calleigh said in a low voice. "You're welcome, Calleigh. It meant a lot to me too." Ryan spoke like he was trying to talk with a mouth full of molasses. He was very nervous. "I, uh, look forward to seeing you tomorrow night at our get-together." "Me too." Calleigh replied in a voice that was almost now a near whisper. She was acting very nervous herself. Then, without thought, she slowly raised herself up on her tip-toes and gave Ryan a kiss on the cheek. Ryan thought his heart was going to explode as he looked at Calleigh lowering herself back down. She gave him a quick look and as she looked away, composed herself. "Well, I better get going. You take care, Ryan. I'll see you tomorrow." Calleigh stepped into her car and started the engine. Ryan was speechless. All he could do to was reach out and shut the door of Calleigh's car. He took two steps back and looked at her through the window. Calleigh looked back and smiled. She waved bye as she backed up and turned the car towards the entrance of the parking lot.

Ryan raised up his hand and waved back as she turned to face the road and drive off into the night. "Did tonight really happen?" Ryan thought to himself as he gathered his thoughts and slowly walked to his car. As she drove herself home, Calleigh broke into tears of joy. "Thank you, thank you." She muttered to herself as the tears ran down her face. She wiped the tears away with a Kleenex and composed herself. She soon arrived at her place and as she walked up the steps, she felt all the stress that had built up over the last few weeks leave her body.

For the first time in a week, Calleigh slept soundly through the whole night.

to be continued…