Sorry I had to do that to you last chapter! Hehe I'm so mean! And I;m obsessed with the disgusting-ness of the green cardiganCalleigh wore last episode,so I put it in this chapter as well!

Please review... please?

That night, I found myself back in Calleigh's apartment, with no real reason to be there.

It was just habit, I guess.

I headed down the now familiar hall towards Calleigh's bedroom and was about to enter when I heard voices and laugher from within.

I recognised both of the speakers instantly.

The first: Calleigh.

The other was Peter Elliot.

I didn't want to know any more.

The thought of Peter sharing Calleigh's bed both angered and disgusted me. Calleigh could have any man she chooses. Why does she insist on sleeping with Peter Elliot?

There are many men who deserve a woman like Calleigh. Men who are there for her all the time, not just when work permits it. Men who realise how lucky they are.

Peter Elliot is not one of them.

As I walked away from Calleigh's bedroom, I noticed some clothes on the floor. There was Peter's shirt and the T-Shirt Calleigh had been wearing.

Lastly, there was another item.

I recognised it as Calleigh's cardigan.

The unflattering, green cardigan.

With a slight chuckle, I bent down and picked it up.

"Calleigh," I muttered, "As your guardian angel, I forbid you to wear this again."

And then I remembered that I was no longer her guardian angel at all.

I took one last look at her bedroom door and heard her giggle softly before leaving, the green cardigan still in my hand.

--------------------

The next morning, the sun was up and I suddenly felt the need to talk to someone.

That meant Alexx.

As I walked through reception, looking for her, I heard my name.

"Tim Speedle, please."

I reeled around, looking for the speaker.

My eyes fell on a girl that I had met about a year ago, through a case involving her friend.

Her name was Sara Piper.

--- FLASHBACK ---

We had been out for a drink after I had closed the case. It had escalated to more than a drink.

Suddenly I was in bed with Sara Piper, a.k.a. Cookie Devine.

--- END FLASHBACK ---

That's pretty much all I can remember from that night.

But there was one other thing.

I remember Calleigh.

She wasn't there or anything and we didn't see her while we were in the bar, but every time I looked at Sara, I saw Calleigh.

I could see it in my mind as clearly as if it were real; Calleigh laying next to me, rather than Sara.

I could see her blond hair on the pillow as she slept.

I could hear her breathing.

I could feel her in my arms, her back pressed against my chest.

And then I woke up.

--------------------

I caught up with Alexx just outside the morgue.

Eric was with her.

"If you don't find this guy's foot, you'll be next!"

Eric shrugged, grinned cheekily and left, but not before looking Alexx up and down.

My jaw dropped in shock.

Eric you ass! She's married, for God's sake!

Alexx turned around and saw me.

"Hey Timmy!" she said warmly. "Are you okay?"

I swallowed.

"Yeah I'm fine."

Then I remembered why I had come to talk to her and realised that I wasn't fine at all.

"You look unhappy about something… do you want to talk about it?"

I nodded.

And then, before I could stop myself, I blurted out what I needed to say.

"Alexx, I can't be Calleigh's guardian angel any more!"

She looked shocked and then concerned.

"Why? I though… What happened?"

"It's a long story, but basically, I wasn't watching her closely enough. Then when Hagen… he touched her. He only grabbed her arm, but it was still inappropriate! And I wasn't there for her when she needed me…"

Alexx seemed unsure what to do, so I went on talking.

"I need to do this… I need a purpose or else I'll go insane."

I looked at Alexx.

"I can't cope without being able to protect her. What if something serious happens and she gets really badly hurt and all I can do is watch? What if… What if, one day she's at a scene and someone puts a gun to her head? I won't be able to help her… it'll be my fault…"

I trailed off.

"Timmy, you have to stop blaming yourself. This is not your fault! Trust me… there is nothing we can blame you for now. I only wish I could help you…"

"Help me do what?" I questioned, confused.

"Get back to being her guardian angel… I'm sure you can…"

I laughed dryly at the suggestion.

"She'll never let me!"

There was a moment of silence.

"She?"

"Yeah, Eve. She's God. God's a woman."

"Ooh."

"Yeah, well, feminist religious groups would have a field day if they knew."

Alexx grinned, but as I made to leave, she called after me.

"Feel free to come and see me, whenever."

"I will. I'll need someone to talk to."

She grinned sympathetically before pushing open the swing-doors to the morgue and walking through them.

I watched them sway before shutting, and then left.

--------------------

I spent the day trying to avoid Calleigh.

I didn't want to be constantly reminded of how I was no longer there for her.

I saw her occasionally going between labs and things, but mostly I managed to stay away from her.

From the snatches of glimpses of Calleigh, I saw that she had a much nicer jacket on today.

It was black leather and looked stunning on her.

I'm glad that I could do one little thing for her, even if it was only to improve her wardrobe, slightly.

--------------------

Much later that day, I was sat outside the front of the department, by the steps.

I saw a car pull up, which Calleigh and Ryan stepped out of.

I tried not to watch as they walked up the steps together, but couldn't help myself.

I tried not to listen as Calleigh talked animatedly to Ryan, but kept hearing snatches of what she was saying, her southern accent carrying across to me easily.

They reached the doors, which Ryan held open for Calleigh.

She was gone and I could breathe again.

I let out a sigh of relief as I felt my heart rate return to normal and I waited for adrenaline to stop surging around my body.

I was just about calm again, when another voice startled me.

"You really love her don't you?"

The voice had come from behind me.

I turned and saw Eve, sitting on the grass.

"How long have you been watching me?" I asked, with a scowl.

I was still feeling very bitter towards her for yesterday's events.

"Long enough," she replied stiffly.

I could tell that she was still angry with me for what I had done.

She gestured for me to sit beside her.

I was going to refuse, but there was still a spark of angry burning in her eyes, so I obeyed.

I wanted to beg and plead and pray to be given a second chance at being a guardian angel, but only my pride stopped me from doing so.

"Tim…" she started, "You don't seem to realise that the mistake you made was a very serious one. I know that Calleigh didn't get hurt that time, but there may be situations in the future where she may get hurt an-"

I cut her off. I decided that I might as well start begging because that was the only way I was going to get another chance.

"I know! That's why…please? Can I try again? I will watch her bet-"

This time, it was me whose sentence was cut short.

"Let me finish! Now, Calleigh may get hurt in the future, I'm sure you know that. She has a potentially dangerous job and could sometimes do with a little looking after. As I said yesterday, I am not sure you are right to perform this task."

I had nothing to say, as she had not asked me a question.

It seemed that Eve had nothing more to add, either.

So we sat in silence for quite a while. Quite a long while.

It was Eve that broke it.

"You never answered me."

"You didn't ask me a question, so there's nothing to answer."

"I did. I said 'you really love her, don't you?' You never answered."

It took me a moment to answer, but I knew already what I was going to say.

"Yes. Yes I do. She's too good for me, but I love her anyway."

Eve nodded. I'm not sure whether she was agreeing with my statement or acknowledging it.

Another period of silence followed.

Again, it was Eve that spoke first.

"You know Tim? I never actually said that you are no longer her guardian angel…"