Okay, there's a bit (okay, a lot) of E/C in this chapter. I'm sorry S/C fans! But there will be plently of S/C to come! No flames please.
Calleigh and Eric approached a crime scene together for the first time in a long while.
They haven't worked together much since I died.
I stayed out of earshot from them and just watched them from across the street.
I noticed that they were not allowed to cross the crime scene tape immediately; they talked to a uniform officer for a minute or so before going in.
Once they had ducked under the tape and walked a few metres away, they turned to each other and started talking in low mutters.
I could only see Eric's face because Calleigh's back was to me, but his expression looked worried.
Perhaps Calleigh was having a problem with something and that's why Eric was worried.
Maybe she was hurt and the uniform officer had seen something. An injury… A bruise… A cut.
I decided that I should go and check.
But… if Calleigh's hurt, I don't know how it happened.
I've never been more than ten metres from her since the last time I saw Eve.
That made me even more worried.
As I came towards them, I heard Calleigh's southern accent cut through the air, despite the fact that she was talking in a very low tone.
"Losing a badge is a major."
"What!" I said, in total shock.
A major? It's one of the worst things that can happen to a police officer!
Apart from being killed.
Who was stupid enough to lose their badge?
I mean, it would take a total idiot to…
I glanced down at the pair's belts.
Calleigh's badge was on her hip, next to her ever present gun.
Eric's badge was…
His badge…
Eric, you idiot.
Stupid.
Dim.
Thick.
Dense.
How can you lose a badge?
I asked that question to myself, just as Eric started to explain the concept of 'toothing' to Calleigh.
He finished his explanation and frankly, she didn't look impressed.
"Wanna tell me something?"
"Besides wear protection?"
This statement made me laugh twice.
Firstly, I laughed because Calleigh had told Eric how stupid he is in only three words.
Secondly, at the thought that Eric might ever think about using protection.
I mean, he's careless with his badge and so probably careless with sex.
They talked for a moment longer before Eric decided that he had better get to the department, talk to Horatio and find his badge.
Before leaving though, he made sure Calleigh would be alright.
Obviously, she said told him that she would be fine.
I could see Ryan walking up the road towards the crime scene anyway.
Eric walked away and nodded to Ryan as he did.
Ryan looked puzzled, but didn't ask questions.
He headed towards where Calleigh was standing.
That meant that he would be taking the case with her, which wasn't ideal.
I'd much prefer it if she was working with Eric.
He's so protective and makes my job an awful lot easier if he's there.
Ryan, on the other hand… Ryan just isn't.
So it's not ideal, but better Calleigh works with him than on her own.
"Eric got another case?" Ryan asked as they entered the club, that was also the crime scene.
Calleigh lied and answered Ryan's question with a 'yes'.
She's so loyal; that's one of the sweet things about her.
She's covered for me countless times when it comes to the state of my gun.
She's covering for Eric now.
She's so loyal; that's one of the many things I love about her.
--------------------
"Hey."
"Hey."
As Calleigh left the department that evening, she met up with Eric for the first time since he told Calleigh that he lost his badge.
They walked in silence for a while, towards the parking lot, and then suddenly started talking at the same time.
"I solved the ca-"
"I got my-"
The both broke off.
"You first," said Eric, with a grin.
"I solved the case at the club," Calleigh told him. "Did you find your badge?"
"Yeah. And I got sent to the psychologist by Stetler."
Calleigh looked shocked.
"What? Why?"
"Well, I never went after Speed died and Stetler thinks I need to. He also said that this 'Toothing' thing is about Speedle as well."
I expected Calleigh to look even more shocked at this comment, but her expression didn't change.
In fact, she looked as if she expected me to be mentioned.
"Is it?" she asked.
Eric looked confused.
"Is what?"
"Is this issue something to do with Speedle?"
Eric sighed and looked at the floor.
They had both stopped walking now.
"Yes. No. I don't know."
Calleigh looked at the floor as well. I could see a furious red blush creeping across her cheeks.
"Well… I just thought… If it was something to do with Speedle…You could have come to me."
She lifted her head and make eye contact with Eric.
His eyes were wide like a rabbit caught in headlamps.
I couldn't believe it.
Calleigh… and Eric…
I don't get it.
Why should they wait until now to tell each other?
Why should my death bring them together?
Why not me?
So many whys.
"What are you saying?" Eric asked.
"All I'm saying is that we both needed someone."
They fell silent for a while and the pieces of the puzzle started to come together in my head.
Peter Elliot.
She doesn't really love him.
She never did and never will.
She needed someone to care and he cared.
That's all.
"Calleigh? Do you still need someone?"
Eric asked the question I'd been dying to ask since the day I met Calleigh.
Well, not those exact words, but the same question.
Calleigh looked up into Eric's eyes and spoke quietly.
"If you had asked me before, then maybe. But because you felt that you couldn't come to me first…"
"I'm sorry."
"You've done nothing wrong," Calleigh told Eric. "Except lose your badge."
"I'm sorry," Eric said again. "I'm sorry that I didn't think about how you might be feeling when Speed died. I'm sorry for losing my badge. I'm sorry that Speed died. I'm sorry that I didn't come to you first."
Calleigh and Eric shared an awkward hug that neither of them initiated.
Calleigh's head was against Eric's chest and she muttered, "Don't be sorry."
They broke apart and Calleigh left without a backwards glance.
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Once she got home, Calleigh started to get ready for bed.
She had a shower and changed into a pair of shorts and a T-Shirt that was about three sizes too big.
Once she had done that, she found some food in the freezer and settled down on the sofa with her supper.
While she was eating, I couldn't help notice that she kept glancing at the phone on the table.
By the end of her meal, she was barely taking her eyes off it.
She wanted to talk to someone.
Eric perhaps.
To apologise for what she said earlier.
She put away her plate and returned to the sofa, picking up the phone on the way.
She dialled a number and held the phone to her ear.
Her expression was nervous.
She chewed he lip while she waited for whoever was at the other end of the line to pick up.
Finally, I heard a voice.
It was muffled because it was coming over the phone, but I recognised it.
"Hey Peter," said Calleigh, glumly. She was totally different from her normal, perky self.
Peter noticed her low mood immediately and said "What's wrong Cal?"
She got straight to the point.
"Peter… this can't go on. Between us. It doesn't work."
There was a minute or more of silence.
I expected cruel words from Peter; anger, aggression, then pleading and begging that they get back together.
But no.
He was calm and didn't raise his voice even the slightest bit.
"Perhaps it's for the best."
Calleigh looked thoroughly relieved that he didn't argue with her.
"So… you come and pick up your stuff next time you are down in Miami?"
"Yeah. Alright, I'd better go."
"Okay. Oh, Peter? Still friends?"
"Yeah. Still friends."
Calleigh hung up and grinned.
A huge weight had been lifted from her chest and she returned to the bright, cheerful person that she has always been.
She was just heading into bed when the washing machine cycle stopped.
With a sigh, she emptied it and hung all the wet clothes out to dry.
She went to bed, but didn't notice the fact that the hideous orange top she had been wearing was not in the wash.
It was nowhere to be found.
I had taken care of it.