Author's Note: Sorry I haven't updated in awhile, as I had a deadly case of writer's block. This chapter is probably short, (that's the way, uh ha, uh ha, I like it!) but it will satisfy the E/C shipper in everyone! Enjoy and review! Please!

THE LAB

Calleigh, Eric and Ryan were already in the lab when Horatio entered.

"Okay guys, what have we got?"

Eric spoke up.

"Tread marks from a motorbike."

"Doesn't that belong to Jess?" Ryan asked.

"Yes, but she has an air tight alibi, with surveillance to back it up." Eric replied.

"Could it be possible that someone took her bike?" Calleigh asked.

"Already printed it," Ryan answered, "mostly partials, but got one usable print. Ran it through AFIS, but came up with nothing."

"That leaves us with the murder weapon, Calleigh?" Horatio queried, everyone turning to face her.

". 22 calibre, automatic. If I had the gun, I could tell you more, though," she answered, smiling apologetically.

There was a knock at the door and they quickly turned around.

"I ran the name Franco Anderson through our database," Yelina said, placing a file on the table "he has five temporary restraining orders against him. Including one from our victim."

"When was that?" Horatio asked.

"A few months ago." Yelina answered, glancing through the file.

"That means he's in violation of the TRO," Calleigh said, showing some of the letters "Franco's letters were dated a couple of weeks ago."

"Let's bring him in." Horatio said, leaving with Yelina.

Ryan, Calleigh and Eric stood there for a few seconds, clearing up the evidence. There was an awkward pause.

Ryan was sneaking glances at the two of them. Things had seemed a bit weird between the two of them and Ryan didn't want to get in the middle of anything.

He cleared his throat, breaking the silence.

"I'm going to, uh, see how Valera's doing," he said pathetically, clearly looking for an excuse to leave. He made a quick exit.

"Uh, thanks, by the way," Calleigh blurted out "for the rose, I mean."

"No problem," Eric replied, not meeting her eye.

"It was really sweet of you," Calleigh added.

"You've had a tough time of it lately," Eric said, looking her in the eye "with your Dad and Hagen…"

Calleigh flinched.

Eric immediately regretted what he had said. He looked at Calleigh. She looked so vulnerable and fragile. Sometimes he forgot that about her, with a gun in her hand she seemed indestructible. But seeing the pain and sadness in her eyes, he wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around her and tell her that everything will be alright. To kiss her delicate lips and take all the pain away. To tell her that he's there, and always will be there for her.

"All I'm trying to say, Cal, is-" Eric paused. "I've got your back."

Calleigh gave him a faint smile.

"Thanks, Eric."

They stood there in silence, both wanting to say more, but not finding the words. Sometimes silence says it all.

End Note: Wasn't that sweet! Just to clear something up, I'm 16 and in Year 11, not 11 years old. No wonder it seemed advanced for an 11 year old! Anyway, thanks for all the nice reviews, you guys are the greatest. And thanks for sticking with the story. If you want to read another one I'm working on, it's called 'The Death of a Salesman'. It's a comedy, CSI Miami crossed with Napoleon Dynamite. Just felt like including a little story pitch. Moving on. Please review, please!