Walking into the interrogation room with Eric, I could tell something was wrong. Tara could tell as well. My throat felt like it was closing up and I couldn't get any air in. I chose to continue with the investigation instead of getting checked out. Shortly after the interrogation with Colin Astor began, I knew I was in trouble. Eric kept looking at me while I was coughing. He knew I wasn't right. The coughing kept coming; there was no way to stop it. The last thing I remember I was collapsing into Eric's arms while he was screaming something that I couldn't make out. Then everything went black.
Slowly the blackness became white and I was standing on the beach. All alone with only the sound of the waves hitting to shore to keep me company, I was lost. I had no idea why I was here and why there was absolutely nothing else around. There were no city noises or people. Nothing. Just emptiness. Looking around I decided to go searching for some sign of life other than myself.
After walking for about a mile a man slowly started to appear. It looked as if he had come from nowhere. There were no footprints in the sand, and he appeared to be hazy. Walking closer I realized I knew this man. It was Speed. Seeing Speed freak me out. He was dead and I knew that, but I didn't understand. Hoping that I was mistaken I quietly called out his name.
"Speed?"
"Calleigh. It's good to see you." I ran as fast as I could to him. I hadn't seen him since that day he got shot. Savoring the hug a little longer I pulled away.
"Why are you here. You shouldn't be here. You're de…"
"I know." He cut me off before I could finish. Seeing the puzzled look on my face he asked me, "Do you know why you're here?"
"I'm dead aren't I?"
"No, but it's up to you. If you want to die, then you can make that decision. But I'm here to try and make you go back, to help you see that there are people who need you back there. You're life isn't complete yet Calleigh. Mine was. You need to go back though."
"I don't understand."
"You're here because you need to fight. Don't give into the easiness of letting go. You have to get back, if not for you, then for the rest of the team. For Eric."
"Eric, what could you possibly mean by that? He and I are co-workers, just like Natalia, Ryan, Horatio, and Tripp. Why single him out?"
"Are you blind Calleigh? How can you not see it he…"
"Tim don't. She has to figure it out for herself."
There appeared another figure running towards us. "Marisol?"
"Hey Calleigh."
"Don't get me wrong, it's good to see you, but I don't know you very well. It was creepy enough seeing Speed, but why are you here?"
"Because, Calleigh, whatever you decide affects someone very special to me. And I may need to be here to greet him."
Speed, seeing that I was lost, gently pulled me away so that we could be alone.
"Calleigh, do you know who she's talking about?"
"It's either Eric or Horatio and considering you singled out Eric, I'm sensing that it's him she may or may not be waiting for. But what I don't get it why? Why would she need to be waiting for Eric? He's fine. I saw him earlier today."
"Calleigh you don't get it do you?"
"No I don't. So can you spare me the time and just tell me? If he's going to die, I have to know. I can't go back there if he won't be there." Clearly getting aggravated now.
Speed, wishing he could help his partner out just said, "I wish I could help you out Calleigh. Marisol is right; this is something you have to figure out on your own. I'm sorry."
"What do I have to figure out?"
"That's up to you. Just think about this, is there something or someone worth going back to?" And without another word, he slowly faded away the same way he came.
As Speed was walking away I faintly heard the words, "I can't imagine living my life without you."
"Eric" I sighed. I knew that voice anywhere. Quickly turning around hoping to see him, but there was no one; complete emptiness just like before.
Wanting to process what had just happened I found a nearby rock to sit on. Gazing out onto the never-ending ocean, I couldn't help but think about my life. Was Speed right, could I choose my fate? Replaying the last couple of days I knew what I had to do. Realizing I hadn't even told him yet, I set out to find Speed.
From out of nowhere I hear, "You're making the right decision."
"Speed, how did you know? He doesn't even know."
"I've known since the beginning; probably since before either of you knew."
"I knew too." Marisol appeared again. "And thank you Calleigh."
"Why?"
"Because, now we can go back to where we belong and so can you."
"Say 'Hi' to him for us." They both said before leaving for the last time.
Watching them walk away, I closed my eyes and everything went black again. Fighting like hell to get back to where I belonged, to him, I forced my eyes to open up to the blinding light. Looking around to see where I was, I started choking. Hoping to see him sitting by my bedside, I looked down and found his watch on my wrist. Blinking back the tears, I knew I had made the right choice: to fight. He needed me here and I needed to be with him.
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The buzzing of my phone pulled me away from my imagination. Glancing down at the screen I saw that it was Alexx. Immediately I thought of the worst. In my head, I played out all the bad situations I could find myself in after I talked to Alexx. Quickly erasing those thoughts from my head, I went out in search of Alexx. Finding her in the waiting room looking for me, I ran up to her with tears already in my eyes.
"Alexx, don't tell me she's gone."
"Don't worry Eric. She's going to be fine."
"Really. Oh my god Alexx, thank you so much. For everything."
"You're welcome baby. But before you go talk to her, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, whatever you'd like."
"How long?"
"For a while. Now if only she would feel the same way." I thought it crazy how everybody else knew but Calleigh. The one person, who knew how to read me on everything else, couldn't read me on something as simple as love.
"She does Eric. Just give her some time."
Saying goodbye to Alexx and promising to keep in touch I went to Calleigh's room. It was extremely hard for me not to break out in a full sprint to get to her faster, but I knew better. Quietly opening her door I could see that she was sleeping peacefully. All the tubes and wires and everything that was in her before now were removed. Taking this moment in, I gently pulled the screen back and went to her bedside.
"Hey." She said, waking up to the sound of the screen being pulled back. It took everything in me not to rush over to her and carry her out of the hospital. I simply flashed her my giddy smile.
"I put my watch on you so you'd know I was here incase you woke up while I was out on the investigation."
"I knew you were here."
"How did you know I was here? Could you…you heard me? You heard what I said?"
"Yeah." She closed her eyes, trying to remember what I had said. "It was like a dream."
"It was real." Thinking we would continue to dance around each other until someone else showed up, I decided to take her hand in mine. I knew she was fragile so I tried not to disturb anything, gently rubbing back and forth with my thumb. And then I heard the five words that I never would've thought I'd hear,
"Will you stay with me?"
Those five words made my heart skip a beat. I knew Alexx was right. She does feel the same way; it's just harder for her to express herself. Getting Calleigh to ask me to stay with her is by far the greatest steps she's made toward me. Trying to lighten the mood, I joked at first with a no, but quickly changed my answer to yes while adding, "As long as you want me to. As long as you want me to." I just hoped her definition of 'as long as you want me to' would be forever.