Author's note: I'm still having difficulty finding ideas for this fic… PLEASE HELP ME OUT!!!!

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Chapter 4: R&R… Realizations and Rebounds

Calleigh groaned and turned in her bed for what felt like the thousandth time. She glanced at her alarm clock and winced. She had only two hours left before she'd have to get ready for her day at the lab. She just couldn't sleep. She had gone to bed a little before midnight, and hadn't been able to fall asleep at all. There were way too many thoughts travelling through her head.

And she was in way over her head.

She was in love with her best friend. She loved Ryan Wolfe.

She just couldn't deny it anymore. Ever since he had slept at her place and had kissed her, her feelings for him had started changing. He wasn't just her friend anymore. 'Why couldn't I tell him what happened that night? Why did I have to lie to him and say, even if he had doubts about it, that nothing had happened? Why did I have to go and tell him to talk to this new girl?"

She sighed, threw the covers off and got out of bed. If she wasn't going to sleep, at least she'd do something constructive. She needed to keep her mind occupied. She quickly made her bed and made her way to the bathroom.

XXXXX

Calleigh yawned tiredly as she slowly walked towards the locker room. This day would definitely be a long one. Rubbing her eyes, she pushed the door open and gasped. Of all the things she imagined she could have interrupted in this room, she would've never thought it would be Ryan and Lindsay, kissing passionately. She backed out and leaned against the closest wall. She closed her eyes and took a long shaky breath.

GOD it hurt.

Knowing he was dating some other girl hurt… but seeing him kissing that other woman was simply painful.

She may have just got into work, now, she just wanted to leave this place and hide. She wanted to go home, hide under the covers and sleep. Maybe she would wake up and all this would be a simple nightmare. She'd come back to work, hang out with her friends, go out with her best friend, and everything would be back to normal. She wouldn't be crumbling inside because she'd just seen him holding another woman. She would be congratulating and teasing him about it.

But of course, she couldn't leave. She had to work. Work was good. She could focus her complete attention on a case and push every little feeling she had about Ryan in a very far corner of her mind.

Pushing herself away from the wall, she straightened her back and took a long deep breath. She then made sure she made as much sound as possible as she pushed the door open for the second time.

Thankfully, she must have surprised them, since she found the couple no longer kissing in the middle of the room. They were both frantically searching through their personal lockers. Ryan looked up and smiled when he realized who had walked in. "Hey Cal! How are you doing?"

Calleigh forced a smile and nodded. "Great." Her voice seemed flat. She turned her gaze towards the other person in the room and grinned at her. Lindsay seemed ready to start working too. The brunette smiled at both of them, her gaze lingering a little longer on Ryan. "Have a nice day."

Calleigh nodded and turned her head towards Ryan, who was smiling widely. "I'll talk to you later, Linds."

Since when did he have a little nickname for her? The blond woman hid her shock by putting her head in her locker, putting her purse away. She heard the door open and close and sighed as silence filled the room again.

"What's going on, Cal?"

Calleigh, who was still hiding her face in her locker, closed her eyes and sighed. For a man, Ryan was very observant. She shook her head and forced the smile back on her lips. She glanced towards him, her voice innocent. "What? Nothing's going on. I'm coming into work!"

Ryan frowned slightly and crossed his arms over his chest. "Well, for one, you look like you haven't slept in days." He cocked his head and thought for a few seconds. "You also haven't been acting like yourself lately."

She snorted and rolled her eyes at him. "What makes you think that?"

Ryan stared at her, obviously thinking, but stayed quiet. He finally shrugged and scratched his left eyebrow. "I don't know… forget about it. Hey do you have any plans for tonight?"

'Go home and cry myself to sleep…' "No, nothing. I've been feeling a little under the weather lately, so I'm probably going to put my sweats on and relax on my couch."

Ryan laughed and shook his head. "No way. I'm taking you out."

Her forced smile wavered. She didn't need this right now. She grimaced and shook her head slowly. "I don't know…"

He quickly grabbed her arm and closed her locker, guiding her out of the room. "Come on, we haven't done anything together in AGES."

Calleigh shook her head slowly. "Ryan, I'm too tired."

He snorted and gave her a look. "The last time that came out of my mouth, you were dragging me to the restaurant and making me drink myself into oblivion. What makes you think I don't want to do the same thing?"

Calleigh winced. "Please don't make me." 'Let me go home, Ryan.'

He smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, shaking her a bit. "Nope. You're coming with me, and that's final."

Calleigh shook her head but couldn't help the grin from reaching her lips. She knew she shouldn't, but hearing him tell her he wanted to see her and spend time with her felt great.

Ryan's smile grew larger as he saw her grin. His friend was back.

XXXXX

Calleigh threw her head back and laughed loudly. "OH MY GOD, you have GOT to be kidding me!"

Ryan nodded, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. "I'm telling you. I had to walk ten miles, butt naked."

Calleigh shook her head and laughed some more. She was having a great time. After their shift at the crime lab, they had both gotten into Ryan's car and gone straight to their favorite Italian restaurant. They ate, drank, talked and laughed, just like old times. She had missed this.

'This' being Ryan. Plain and simple. She'd been spending so much time thinking about how on earth she could be in love with him, she had forgotten how much he could be a great friend.

Ryan sighed and finished his drink. "Do you want to go to a club? I have to move or I'll fall asleep."

The blond woman smiled and nodded her head eagerly. "Sure! It's been a while since I shook what my momma gave me."

He pointed his finger at her and smirked. "Remind me to thank your momma for that!"

"Let's go!" They paid their bills and made their way out of the restaurant. There was a club a few blocks away, so they decided to walk there. The music inside was loud and the temperature was hot. The dance floor was filled with moving bodies. Ryan led her to the bar and ordered a couple of drinks for them. He grabbed his glass and held it up to her. Calleigh picked up her own and held it up to him, giggling as he winked at her and drank its whole content in one shot. He then grabbed her hand and pulled her onto the crowded dance floor.

Calleigh loved dancing with Ryan. Not that he was an excellent dancer; he just liked fooling around and he always made her laugh. After a few songs, they went back to the bar, where they ordered another round of drinks. Calleigh was having a blast, and she could see Ryan was having a great time too. She glanced around the club, smiling and took a sip from her drink.

"Hey Cal!" The blond woman turned her attention back on her friend and gasped. Lindsay. Ryan had his arm wrapped around her waist and was holding her tightly against his side. "I knew Lindsay liked hanging out in this club, but I wasn't sure if we'd see her!"

Calleigh forced a smile on her face and waved at the younger woman. "Hi! It's great seeing you here!"

The brunette nodded her head in her direction, but her eyes were glued on Ryan. "Do you want to dance?"

Ryan smiled and grabbed her hand, leading her on the dance floor. He never even glanced towards Calleigh, who was left alone by the bar. She turned around and laid her elbows on the bar, looking down into her drink. Her evening had just gone from perfect to horrible. How could he leave her alone and go dance with that… chick? 'He likes her… he told you.' Calleigh frowned and looked up, her eyes lingering at her reflexion. 'I'm pathetic…' She winced as she spotted her friend and his 'girlfriend' on the dance floor. He seemed to be having so much fun. He wasn't thinking about her.

She looked away and emptied her drink. She shouldn't be thinking about him either. She was Calleigh Duquesne. She was a strong, independent woman. She couldn't care less if he wasn't in love with her. She'd get over it. She snorted and closed her eyes. 'I guess it's time for me to leave…'

"Hi!" Calleigh opened her green eyes and turned her head slightly, acknowledging the person who had just spoken to her. He was handsome. About her age. Blond. He had a little scruffiness going on. She smiled at him. "Hi!"

He smiled at her, perfect white teeth almost blinding her. "I noticed you were alone… can I offer you a drink?"

Calleigh glanced towards the dance floor and finally nodded. "Sure!"

The mysterious man waved at the waiter and pointed at her drink. "By the way, I'm Steven."

Calleigh smiled her brightest smile and shook his hand. "Calleigh."

"Nice ot meet you, Calleigh."

She held his gaze as she took a long sip from her drink. She knew it was probably the alcohol flowing in her system talking, but that's what she needed. A rebound. A guy that would make her forget about Ryan.

Fooling around with a complete stranger had never been her thing… but desperate situations led to desperate measures.

Calleigh turned her gaze back towards Steven and smiled. She emptied her drink quickly and slipped her hand into his. "Would you like to dance with me Steven?"

The blond man smirked, obviously really happy with her demand, and let her lead him on the dance floor. She turned around and stayed really close to him, moving her hips sensually to the music. She could feel the warmth of the alcohol flowing through her body, as she let him touch and caress her curves.

They danced to a few songs, their movements getting hotter and dirtier, until she decided she needed another drink. She took his hands and wrapped them around her waist from behind, leading him towards the bar. As she got closer, she spotted Ryan, who was patiently sitting on a stool, alone. She had completely forgotten about him.

She smiled stupidly at him, still holding onto her partner's hands. "Hey! Ryan! You havin' fun? Where's Lindsay?"

Ryan frowned slightly at her tone and glanced at the man standing behind her. "She left… Are you feeling okay, Calleigh?"

Calleigh chuckled and looked up at the blond man. "Am I okay… Sam?"

The blond man grinned and looked at Ryan, lifting his chin towards him. "It's Steven." He then glanced down at the cute woman who was still looking up at him and nodded. "Yeah, she's in great hands."

Ryan's frown deepened as he kept his eyes on his friend. "Why don't I take you home, Cal? I think you've had enough to drink. I wouldn't want you to do anything you'd regret."

Calleigh snorted and shook her head. "Nah, I think I'll let Steve here take me home."

Steven grinned, obviously happy with her decision.

Ryan, on the other hand, didn't think it was a good idea. "I don't think so. I'm taking you home." He reached out and took her hand, trying to pull her towards him. "Come on."

Calleigh, frowned and pulled her hand out of his hold. "No." She waved around and smiled at him bitterly. "Go, have fun with Lindsay. I'll be fine. I'm always fine." She then turned around and led a smiling Steven towards the exit, leaving Ryan at the bar.

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