Disclaimer, Rating, Pairing: See Chapter 1

Spoilers: 10-7, Killer Date, Whacked

AN: Wow! You guys are so nice! Thank you for all the review! I really appreciate them! So this is the last chapter in 4th & Long. I have a sequel planned. It revolves around a case, but I promise it will be just as focused on the Eric and Calleigh. Unfortunately school just started again, so my time will be severely limited, but I'm going to try. If my prof are nice (think again. Aero/Astro profs don't remember what nice means) I'll really work on it this week. If not, piece by piece I will get it done. Thank you all again so much for the reviews!

4th & Long: Touchdown!

You can still win the game in the last two minutes of the 4th Quarter. You may have missed plays and thrown interceptions in the 3rd, but when all is said and done, a touchdown at the end can still win the game. And when it comes to your record, all anyone will see is the victory.

Calleigh drifted slowly toward consciousness. Snuggled beneath the blanket, it was a warm and inviting smell that was pulling her to wakefulness. The telltale signs of a headache were also present and Calleigh tried to melt back into sleep. But the smell was determined and her stomach began to rumble. Her head might reject waking up, but her stomach was more than ready. With a long stretch, Calleigh slowly sat up, surprised to find herself on Eric's couch.

She wiped her eyes. They itched from the tears she'd cried the night before. And the events of the previous day crashed back into focus. Dizzy, Calleigh leaned her head back against the couch and took a deep breath. Surprised to register the smell of warm cheese, spices, meat, and corn, Calleigh looked around in confusion.

Following her nose, Calleigh walked into the kitchen. Two folded pieces of paper, a plate of Saran-wrapped empanadas, and a small plastic bad full of tea bags sitting next to her purse caught her attention. As did the oven, which was set to warm, something yummy smelling bubbling inside.

The first note was from Eric.

Cal,

I picked up your car. It's out front in my parking spot. H said to take all the time you need. Both he and Alexx will call you later. My mom is coming by with food. She'll probably leave enough to feed several small countries, so please eat some. And that's all she and Alexx have asked me. "Is Calleigh eating?" Call me.

Eric

Well that explained the food. Calleigh put her car keys in her purse and then read the second note.

Calleigh,

Mi hija! I'm so sorry about your friend. I hope I didn't disturb you when I came in. I brought food for both you and Eric. Your food is in the oven warming. Let it heat through before you eat it. Make sure you eat something, hija. The tea is your favorite. I know you always find tea soothing. If you need anything, Calleigh, call me. Vaya con Dios,

Clorinda

Calleigh smiled. Clorinda Delko and Alexx Woods were to of the few people who could truly mother her without raising her defenses. It was a refreshing change from her own mother. In fact Calleigh couldn't remember the last time she had even talked to her mother.

With a sigh, Calleigh found the hotpad holders and removed a bubbling dish from the oven. The warm black bean and beef enchiladas looked heavenly. But there was definitely enough to feed everyone at CSI at least once. Grabbing a fork from Eric's silverware drawer, Calleigh took a small bite. No food in almost twenty-four hours combined with Clorinda Delko's cooking, made wonderful food taste even better. She stole a few more bites straight from the pan.

She took a deep breath. Time to face reality. People were depending on her. Running was not an option. She picked up her cell phone and moved into Eric's living room, aiming for the couch. But the photos on the far wall caught her attention. A myriad of images smiled back at her. Eric and family as kids, usually with Eric being tormented by his older sisters. Eric and family at Marisol's wedding. Again at Cristina's wedding. Random shots of the family together. In spite of differences, there was no mistaking the genuine affection, trust, and bond between the Delko family in each shot. Unlike Hayes-Duquesne family photos, all of which had tense, forced smiles.

Interspersed with the family photos were a few picture of the team. All together in some and in groups in others, but smiling or laughing, they all captured the spirit of the CSI's. Her favorite was one of the whole team. She didn't remember who had taken the picture or even why they were grouped like that, but whatever the purpose, something had set them off and not a single one of them was serious.

Eric and Tim stood on either side of Calleigh. All three were doubled over laughing, Calleigh leaning into Eric pulling Tim with her. Their smiles were honest, their closeness easily apparent. Even Alexx and Horatio were laughing, the two of them standing behind the younger CSI's. Again the smiles and happiness were real. Calleigh smiled. She missed that connection.

There was also one of just her and Eric. Speed had taken it, testing out one of their new cameras. They were standing side by side in the layout room. Pictures from some case spread out before them. She had a piece of fabric in her hands and was looking at him, an eyebrow raised. Eric was giving her a classic Delko smile. He'd made some cheeky comment. Calleigh reached out and traced his face. She hadn't realized Speed had given him that picture.

Next to the CSI photos were three others. Eric holding each of his nieces on the days they were born. He looked so proud in each picture. Tio Eric. He adored his nieces, even if he kept that out of sight in the lab.

Calleigh remembered the day Eric had come to work, complaining good naturedly about his mother and sisters taking over his apartment. They had tired of seeing the large stack of unframed, unorganized photos he kept on the coffee table. They had picked out their favorites and hung them on his wall as a birthday gift. Somehow the display suited him. Eric felt his emotions deeply, kept them near the surface. It was one of the things she admired about him.

Cell phone still in hand, she moved back to the group photo and the one of just her and Eric. They'd been so close, and she wondered for the millionth time in the past few weeks how they'd lost it without realizing it. Calleigh closed her eyes, pushing away the images of yesterday, focusing on the hours spent with Eric on the beach. In spite of the circumstances that had brought them there, last night had felt like it had years ago. And she desperately needed that. Especially now.

Opening her eyes and walking toward the couch, Calleigh opened her phone. She dialed Horatio first. He made it clear she was his concern, not her cases. "Take any time you need, Cal."

She smiled slightly. "Thank you, Horatio. I appreciate it. Really. But right now, I need to get back into the job, or I'm… I don't want let this win. And I have twelve cases open right now."

"Actually you have six. Night shift wanted to do something to help you out, so they ran six of your cases last night. They wanted to make sure you had the time if you needed it."

Calleigh paused, unsure how to respond. Should she be upset because they took her cases, or touched because they cared? She though back to Eric earlier that morning, trying to be a friend without setting off her temper. "That…that was sweet of them. Tell them I said thank you."

"How about," Horatio said, "how about we compromise. You come back to work tomorrow, but work trace for a few days. Settle back in slowly. How's that?"

"Okay. That sounds good."

"Okay then. Hang in there. And if you need anything…" he trailed off.

"Thank you, Horatio. Really."

She could hear smile through the phone. "Then you, Calleigh, you have a good night."

"Goodnight."

The next call she placed was to Alexx. "Hey baby. How are you doing? Eric said you haven't been eating."

Calleigh blinked back tears and smiled. Even over the phone, talking to Alexx was like receiving a hug. "I'm okay. And Eric's mom sent some food over. I ate some of that."

"Good. You need to keep eating. Eric said you slept."

"Yeah, for about seven and half hours."

"Okay then. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"No, Alexx, but thank you. I mean it."

"Alright Calleigh, but you need me, I'm there."

"Thanks Alexx."

Calleigh was getting ready to dial Clorinda Delko and thank her for the food when Eric walked in. "Hey."

Eric grinned at her. "How was your nap? Smells good in here."

Calleigh smiled at him. "I slept fine, thank you. And your mother made enough enchiladas to feed Miami-Dade County."

Eric set a case file on the coffee table and went into the kitchen to set down the grocery bag in his hand. "You stole some," he teased, noticing the few bites missing from the pan.

"I was hungry," she answered back.

Eric pulled out a six pack of Diet Mountain Dew and six pack of Diet Dr. Pepper. Grabbing plates, he motioned for Calleigh to come to the kitchen. After serving them both enchiladas, Eric handed Calleigh one of the plates and a Diet Dr. Pepper. Together they moved to the table. "You look better," he observed.

Calleigh gave him a tight smile. "Sleeping helped. And thank you for letting me stay. I just couldn't…"

Eric interrupted her by reaching out and taking one of her hands. "Calleigh. You are always welcome here. Anytime."

Calleigh squeezed his hand. "Thank you. You don't know much that means to me."

"Yeah, I do."

Calleigh looked him in the eye, her hand brushing his cheek to make him look at her. "Good." With a smile, she went back to eating. "So, how was CSI?"

With light laugh, Eric began telling her about his day, the two of them relaxing. He asked about her conversations with Horatio and Alexx. And they both laughed at the sheer volume of food his mother had sent over. Especially when they opened his refrigerator and found the equally large amount of food that she'd left for Eric.

"Well, I guess I should head back to my place," she said after helping him clean up the dishes.

"Yeah."

Calleigh gave him a brave smile and pulled him into hug, resting her cheek on his chest. Wrapping his arms tightly around her, Eric just held on for a moment savoring her presence. "You need me, call. Okay?"

"Okay." She pulled back just slightly. "The same to you. No dreams tonight."

"No dreams." Eric smiled softly and kissed her forehead, lingering for a moment.

With a final squeeze of his hand, Calleigh collected the food, tea, empanadas, and her purse. "I'll see you tomorrow."

As Eric started to close the door behind her, he stopped. Their friendship was back, at least for tonight, and he didn't want to risk losing it again. And whether Calleigh would acknowledge it tomorrow or not, she was grieving for Hagen. But this time he was going to stand by her, in whatever way she would let him. "Hey Cal, since we both have this Saturday off, you want to come over and watch the Nextel Cup race?"

Calleigh turned and smiled, a real Calleigh smile. "I'd like that. G'night, Eric."

He sent her a full Delko smile in return. "Night, Cal."

The End

I hope you all liked it!