Complicated

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Chapter 9: Fatherhood

After that quite embarrassing scene in the bar a couple of days back things became rather awkward for Calleigh. Once again she didn't know what to do and the only thing she wanted to do was to curl up in the bed and let the world go on without her. But of course she couldn't do that so now she was in the Crime lab standing in the corridor talking to one of the lab techs.

"Thanks, Steve, and tell me if you find anything else." She said with a smile to the young lab tech.

"Sure." And with that the young boy was gone.

Calleigh opened the folder once again to read it through and find out what to do next. Of course Steve had told her everything but he was so excited and talked so fast that Calleigh found it rather difficult to follow…

"Calleigh!" Her name echoed through the corridor and her head snapped up from the folder. She was quite taken aback by the sudden angry voice. But if she was taken aback by the voice, she was more surprised by the person whom the voice belonged to.

"Jake." She stated calmly and much more silently than the man. She didn't like his sudden appearance at all and in spite of her calm voice, her heart began to race in her chest.

"What the hell are you thinking?" Jake demanded as soon as he reached Calleigh. He took a firm hold of her arm and stood just inches away from her. However, his voice was loud and sounded furious. "I presume you didn't plan on telling me."

For a second Calleigh just stood in his grasp looking at Jake. She didn't have to ask what he was talking about. She knew it. However, she didn't know what to tell him. Truth be told, she hadn't given it much thought what would happen if he happened to find out about the baby. Finally she managed to gather herself.

"Let me go, Jake." Her voice was steady and commanding but Jake didn't loosen his grip on her arm.

"Not until you answer me. What did you think? Did you think at all?" His voice was still loud enough for the whole lab to hear his part of the conversation. Sure enough not much work was done since Jake entered the building.

"Damn it, Jake. Don't make a scene in front of the whole lab."

"I don't give a damn about the lab."

"Alright." Now she became really pissed. "And I don't give a damn about you. Now, let me go." She hissed and made herself free from his grasp. "You know what, Jake? Go to Hell. You played with me. Cheated on me then let me go without a damn 'sorry'. And now you are here demanding whether I wanted to tell you that I'm pregnant. No. I've never intended to tell you. Ever. Happy now?" With that she turned around and began to walk away. On her part the conversation was over.

"It is my child as well and I won't let you take it away from me." He shouted after her.

Calleigh stopped and turned back. She laughed bitterly in disbelief. He still didn't get it.

"No, Jake." She shook her head. "You are wrong. My baby may have your DNA but you are not its father."

"Damn it, Calleigh. Then who is the father if not me?"

"Me." Silent gasps could be heard in the lab as both Calleigh's and Jake's head turned towards the voice in disbelief.

Ryan stood in the door of the lab in front of which the arguing couple stood. He heard every word that had been said and deemed that moment the most suitable to join in the conversation. His face was serious as he was standing almost next to Jake and gave him a stern look.

"You heard her, Berkeley. Now leave her alone!"

Suddenly Jake was standing right in front of Ryan his fists clenched. Ryan didn't even flinch.

"You son of a bitch! You think you just walk into our life and take my family away?"

Now Ryan was on the point of hitting Jake. He was really a piece of work. He used Calleigh, lied to her then left her on her own when she really needed somebody and now he dared to talk about a family. His fists also clenched and his eyes took a dangerous glint…

"I do believe, Agent Berkley, that you should leave now." It was Horatio's calm voice which prevented the upcoming beating.

It took a little while but after an intense staring contest Jake finally backed away and left the lab. After Jake had gotten out of sight both Horatio and Ryan looked towards Calleigh… but she was nowhere to be seen.

"I suggest, Mr Wolfe, that you should find your girlfriend and talk to her."

Ryan nodded with a sigh then left.

CSI MIAMI CSI MIAMI CSI MIAMI

Ryan found Calleigh sitting on the stairs in front of the Crime Lab. She seemed so lost as she was staring in front of her. Ryan sighed and went to sit next to her. For a while they were just sitting there in silence. Calleigh was staring into nothingness and Ryan was trying to find out what to do next. It was quite a confusing situation. Finally when he noticed that tears began to flow down on Calleigh's cheek, he put his arms around her, just as he did on so many occasions during the past weeks, and drew her into a tight embrace.

Calleigh wasn't really crying. They were just silent tears which she couldn't control while the tension of the past weeks finally left her. Everything turned out. Jake knew everything, Ryan knew everything and particularly the whole lab knew everything. In a way it was a good feeling.

Finally she spoke up while she looked up at Ryan with tear strained face.

"You knew it." It wasn't a question. "I'm so sorry, Ryan. I should have told you. After everything you have done, after we…"

"Shh…" Ryan silenced her with his index finger. "You don't have to be sorry for anything."

"But…"

"No. As you said it, I knew it. At least I suspected it. And I haven't done anything I wouldn't have done if the circumstances had been different. I love you, Calleigh and as I told Jake and if you let me, I will love your child as well."

Calleigh stared at Ryan. He was so wonderful during this whole ordeal with Jake and their break-up. He was there for her without a question. And now he was ready to take the responsibility of raising a child. She fell in love with him all over again. But something was disturbing her… and Ryan noticed it.

"Cal, what's the problem?" He let her out of his embrace and took her hands. Seeing Calleigh so uncertain, he became worried. Maybe he didn't think this thing properly over. He should have talked to her privately first and did not just impose this whole thing on her in front of the whole lab.

"Nothing, I'm just a little confused here." She gave him an unsure smile. "The other day… when we were in that café and were talking about children… you said something and now I don't know what to do with it."

Now it was Ryan's turn to become confused.

"I don't understand." He admitted sheepishly. "I meant every word. I thought I had made myself clear enough. Calleigh, I want to be with you… with or without children, well on my part I prefer the with-children-scenario…"

"What?" Calleigh asked in awe. Well, she didn't hear a word from his speech that day but she was sure that he had looked guilty. But why if he said he wanted children? "You really said that?"

"Yes." He answered slowly not quite understanding what Calleigh meant. "And that it doesn't matter even if I'm not the father…" Here he trailed off and squeezed her hands.

"Oh." That was all she could say at that moment. She was still processing the information. She should have done that in that café but she was so occupied with herself that she had missed it. But everything got into its place now. She suddenly realized that the guilty look on Ryan's face must have been due to the fact that he had hinted on something he hadn't been supposed to know. She was so stupid. "I'm sorry." She said finally.

"Why?" He was becoming more and more confused by the moment.

"I was such an idiot." Ryan chuckled at this statement and kissed her forehead. She rested her head on his shoulder and buried her face into his neck. She felt rather embarrassed. "I was making my life a lot more complicated that it should have been. And I didn't make your life easier, either. Especially in the past few days. I'm so sorry, Ryan."

"It doesn't matter. The important thing is that we are here now." Ryan answered tightening his hold on her. But Calleigh's head snapped up and she looked worried.

"But what about your OCD? I mean, can you handle it?"

Ryan chuckled again.

"Calleigh, don't worry so much, okay? It may be difficult but I think I've already made the biggest step by letting you into my kitchen. Believe me, after that everything will be child's play."

"I love you." She stroked his cheek then went back into his embrace.

"I love you, too, Cal. I love you, too."

They stayed in each other's arms for a little longer and when they pulled apart Ryan gave Calleigh an incredibly huge smile.

"We're going to be parents." He stated. It has just sunk in for him and he felt incredibly happy and excited about it.

Calleigh mirrored his smile and nodded. At that moment Ryan wanted nothing more than to kiss her. He leant forward but when he was about to reach her lips, Calleigh suddenly stood up and offered her hand to Ryan.

"Come on, Daddy. Let's go, we've given quite a show already."

Ryan groaned but accepted Calleigh's hand. She was right after all. The steps of the Crime Lab are not the perfect place for making out.

Later that night Calleigh was lying in bed with Ryan's arms around her and in a long time it was the first time that she closed her eyes without uninvited thoughts which would haunt her sleep.

That day she had finally realized that life should not be so complicated after all.

TBC

So that was it. It turned out at last. I hope you are not disappointed by the way it happened. The truth is that I was never planning on Calleigh's telling it…

Thanks for reading and stay with me for the last chapter!