Chapter 5:
After Loker was gone, Ria came out. She cleaned her face but the swollen eyes gave her away.
Gillian took on a fast pace, so that none of the other employees of the Lightman Group got the chance to get on the drama, that the two researchers had. Even though either Eli or Torres told her anything, she knew it was a problem between them.
As the two women entered Fosters office and sat down on the couch, Ria started to sob again. Gillian softly took her into her arms and stroked Rias' hair. As the sobs subsided, Ria tried to explain her outburst "I'm sorry Dr. Foster. I should not let myself go like that. I think that is because I could have some kind of virus in me. I have to vomit almost daily, I lost weight, I sleep badly. And now there is Loker and he goes on and on about Farida Mugisha. He totally has a thing for her and just ignored all the micro expressions." Small tears trickled down Ria's face as she fumbled with her hands.
Gillian patted her head and gave her a motherly smile. "Well Ria, I think I know what is wrong with you." Ria looked at her boss with a query look. "Well, when was the last time you had your period?" Gillian asked bluntly. Ria was shocked by the personal question, it was not like Gillian at all. But then she thought about it and said "Well, I didn't take track of it. I have been very busy. So maybe… You don't mean? No way! Never! We used…" She trailed of the last sentence, deciding that that matter was too private.
"You should consider the option. All those symptoms are evidence." Gillian tried to calm the upset woman. Ria remembered that Gillian must be an expert, because she had been trying to have a baby for so long. "You should make a doctor's appointment. Just to be sure. If you want I can go with you." Gillian gave Ria that motherly look. That was just what Ria needed in that time. Someone to trust and turn to and because her family was not on the top of that list, Gillian would be just fine.
Gillian was nice and made the call for Ria at one of the best gynecologist, Dr. Coleman. With a bit of pressure Gillian could arrange an appointment for the next day. While Gillian was on the phone Ria sat on the couch. After she finished Gillian turned to her and asked "Do you want to tell Eli?" Ria looked up from the floor she was staring holes in and asked "Why should I tell Eli? I am in a relationship with Dupree." Ria was angry in what way Eli was involved. "Ria, it is only a feeling. But Cal told me about the thing between you and Eli before you started to work here. And the rough calculation…" Gillian stopped her sentence. Ria broke down with tears again. The poor girl has it pretty rough. If Ria really was pregnant and that from Eli she would have to tell Dupree the whole story. The two women sat there for almost half an hour. Ria sobbed into Gillians shoulder then would calm down only to start sobbing shortly after that again. At last Ria fell asleep on Gillians couch. Gillian silently exited her office and shut the door. Eli was meanwhile back in the research room looking through more video material.
Gillian walked by the room and saw the young man. She entered the room and went over to Eli "Could you finish your work without Ms. Torres? She is not feeling all to well and is sleeping in office." Eli didn't look up to answer her with a short "Yeah, no problem". Those few words were enough for Gillian to notice the emotional stress he had. She asked herself if he knew or had his own hunch on what was going on with Ria. He was a brilliant young man trained to read people, so it would not be hard for him to recognize the symptoms.
Gillian silently walked out of the research room to make a call at the doctors for Ria. She knew that Ria still was to confused and brought up that the call would have made her cry again. And it was Gillian's way of seeing them as a family.
Meanwhile Eli was making his own thoughts about Rias behavior. He felt guilty not noticing her emotional state because he was trying to ignore her as much as possible. He hasn't looked her into the eyes for days now, always avoiding direct contact. He blamed himself and went over a dozen scenarios for Ria to act like that. Maybe she was stressed out by work, but it was usual for them to work over the hours until the night. Maybe she had problems in her relationship with Dupree. Sexual frustration, break up or even domestic violence. The thought about Ria being mistreated by the Agent let the anger rise in Eli. It had to be Dupree's fault that Ria was emotionally unstable. Eli bolted up from his chair and rushed out of the research room in order to find the FBI Agent. He rushed through the whole Lightman Group but did not find him. At last he asked the secretary if she had seen Dupree and she only stated that he just went to his car. Eli ran onto the parking lot and saw the FBI car drive. Without thinking he jumped in front of the car to stop it.
Dupree stepped onto the breaks, surprised by the young scientist. He stepped out of his car and shouted "What the hell are you doing Loker? I could have run you down!" Eli rushed from his position at the front side of the car to Dupree and took him by his shirt collar trying to shake him, but was not able to do much harm. So he let Dupree go and reached back to hit him.
Dupree was surprised by the violent behavior of the normally calm man and was hit in the face. "What did you do to her?" Eli screamed, pumped with adrenalin not noticing the pain in his fist. "Who are you talking about? I did nothing to anybody!" Dupree shouted trying to keep his calm. Eli reached out for another punch while he shouted Rias name but was easily overpowered by Dupree who punched him into the ribcage. That took all the air out of Eli and he took a step back. But he was so into fighting his rival that he tried anything to harm the Agent. But Dupree was much more skilled and physically fitter that Eli and it did not take many punches that Eli was on his back rasping for air. "I don't know what you are talking about? I love Ria and I treat her with the upmost respect" Eli cringed on the floor "Then why is she crying?" suppressing his own tears. Dupree looked awestruck, helped Eli up and headed back to the Lightman Group in search of his girlfriend.
AN: I am very sorry for not updating in such a long time. First my computer broke down, so I had to send it in for repairs. That took almost 2 weeks. After that I was busy learning for my major tests I had. Now I only have one left and that gave me some time to write again.
I hope you enjoyed the new chapter and updates will come now more often. Please Review !