Calleigh wasn't able to fall asleep after she gave herself to Esteban not too long ago. It scared her to the bone to think what Esteban would do to Eric if she didn't play her cards right. He's taken her rejection to heart and projected that onto Trujillio and Ruiz already. Slowly pulling out of his embrace, she looks at his sleeping form. His face was relaxed completely, not one care in the world. It was clear he was more than content in life.
Keep him like this and you won't have to worry about anything. Eric is going to have to understand but how can I?..
Calleigh looked back on the 6 weeks she has been captive by the Navarros and it finally is taking its toll on her. She thought she had gotten over McAdams kidnapping her but the constant feeling of helplessness recently has brought those feelings to the time she closed her eyes to sleep, the sight of Trujilio were replaced with Eric and it would jolt her awake again. She felt her chest tighten again and she needed both space and to feel safer. Slipping out of bed she staggers into the closet and finds a corner full of clothes to hide in. She couldn't stop the tremors making their way through her body.
Suddenly everything became real the second a direct threat to Eric was mentioned. The look in Esteban's eyes as he gave it was enough to scare her. She wanted to get rid of the screams in her head and what she saw but it would constantly come back with visions of Eric. The sob made its way out her mouth before she could stop herself and that was all she needed before the panic attack took hold.
Esteban woke up suddenly and it took a minute for him to realize why. He and Leigh had just made love and he felt more than relaxed but what was that feeling? Reaching forward he meets the cool mattress where she should be. Maybe she went to the bathroom…. "Leigh?" sitting up he winces at the pain in his ankle. Just two more weeks left and I can get this thing off thankfully. Reaching for his meds, he hears a whimper coming form the bathroom. Oh no Leigh, bebe why hide?
Wobbling towards the bathroom he stops as he realizes it's coming from their closet. "Leigh?" he calls out and even with the pain in his ankle, he makes his way to the heartbreaking scene. Her sobs and whimpers were pathetic if he were to be honest. The raw emotion alone coming through was enough to signal she reached her breaking point, surpassed it even. She was huddled on the floor, her legs pulled up to her chest and rocking back and forth in order to soother herself. The tears were making its way in torrents down her red face and her eyes were wild in what seemed to be panic. It's making me upset seeing her like this but Papi did say she'd get to this point. I've got to be here to guide her to where we need her to be.
Sitting down slowly enough not to alarm her but fast enough not to strain his foot, he settles across from her. She was awake, clearly, but unseeing. Reaching out he calls her softly, hoping not to frighten her more. At first she is unresponsive, still sobbing uncontrollably to the point where he's afraid he'll need her inhaler. It isn't until the fourth or fifth prompting that she finally sees him. Without any warning she crashes into his chest, completely incoherent between the sobs and random phrases. He catches "I'm sorry's" and "..do better?" but wasn't too sure. He allows her to let it out because he figures it'l be easier to wait. She continues on hysterically for at least another five minutes before she starts to hiccup and relax against his chest.
Esteban thinks she's asleep until Calleigh suddenly sits up. Looking up she's finally zoned back into reality and fixes him with a sorrowful gaze. Not one word wsa exchanged as she wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. Running his hand through her hair and holding er close he suddenly understood.
She's yet to have an emotional breakdown as such, a woman like her who's put up walls most her life. She has been internalizing everything and it's blown over. Poor Leigh, she knows she doesn't have to be strong around him, so she could breakdown.
"Thank you" came her quiet voice out of nowhere.
Before he could answer he felt her entire body give out and she fell asleep
"Of course, that's what I'm here for. You didn't have to come in here and hide."
"...I didn't want to wake you up. And besides, I'm not used to doing this so publicly. I'm not sure what came over me." Esteban chuckled before goading her to stand. They make their way back to the bed, Esteban making sure to take some meds beforehand. Settling in, Esteban hands her a pill as well. "It's stronger than an ambient. Here." she doesn't argue at all and takes it. In the process she climbs into his lap and settles in once again.
"It's been rough for you and you've been handling it very well so far. Thank you for showing me this vulnerable side of you." she chuckles bitterly.
"I sure didn't plan on it. I tried to be strong for the team but i'm completely helpless. There's no point in trying to fight it huh? I submitted myself to this in the car when Papi first brought me. It has taken me this long to admit it. I still don't love you but I can't see this as strictly all business. It's just not possible when I… when I…" her voice fades in and out and lifting her head to his, he can see the pill take effect.
"When you what Leigh?" she blinks heavily again and tries to force the words out but it's clear she's struggling.
"When I feel strong emotions. I do.." her head lolls forward as she fights the medicine. "I don't.. you angry… team,,, Eric.. Hurt. I-I give in." came her disjointed words before she caved and knocked out. She might not remember everything but he's sure she'll remember enough for them to speak on it in the morning.
In the Lab, the Next Day,
It had been almost too quiet these past couple weeks since the lab reopened. Natalia could see everyone had finally dropped the conspiracy theories of the lab being upgraded with spyware and have been going back to normal. The normal hustle and bustle of the work day was back at full speed. The scurrying of techs, CSIs and detectives had returned in all their ant colony like qualities. What hadn't been fully normal was Eric. He seemed to be carrying a huge load that just won't let up. Heading into Q&D she watches as he lets out another frustrated sigh.
"You okay Eric? You've been… agitated for a while." he looks at her slightly confused but definitely shocked.
"'Talia… it's just something isn't sitting right with Calleigh. Without divulging too much she completely cut me off. I don't mind if she met someone but there was something in her voice."
He looked bothered. Eric is an expert at reading her, maybe his pride isn't what's exactly wrong here.
"Did she say anything to set off those alarm bells or…" he looks up quick, eyes flashing with the emotion he's kept in for two and a half weeks now.
"She sounded like she was holding back, like a secret or something. We've always spoke of what would happen if we found someone else and it's nothing like jealousy or hurt pride. There's something going on. Maybe she waited until she was gone to tell me but something about the way she spoke…" Eric's nose flares and he sets his jaw. "I've got some work to do, so if you don't mind can we get back to it?" she nods her head and she opens the file in her hand ready to get back to business.