A/N: I suppose I will continue this with where I left off. I will be having at least four chapters total until the end, including this one.
Warnings: Fluff, romance- the stuff I'm horrible at writing.
Disclaimer: I said it before; I'll say it again a thousand times I'm sure: I don't own diddly.
Chapter Eight: Como que no Puedo Decerte (What I Can't Tell You)
Eric closed his eyes slightly, as if trying to see if this was all a dream, it wouldn't surprise him much if it were. Opening them again to see Calleigh looking at him with a raised eyebrow at which he answered "I thought I was dreaming."
"Then I would be too, wouldn't I?" Calleigh teased, settling into the couch a little more. "I wanted to be here, with you…" She stopped as he looked at her with interest "movies with a good friend make me relax."
The words 'good friend' wounded him gravely. He was right, after all, she could never love him- how could she? He had pushed her away so many times; perhaps that's what she thought he wanted- to only be her friend. He opened his mouth but words could not come, so he just sat there looking at her. Finally something came out "if you say so…"
"You didn't let me finish, Eric." Calleigh said, as if she'd been looking for the right words all along. "I know why you invited me; you needed to remind me that I still mattered to you." She said, looking into his eyes as he grinned softly. "I wanted to show you that I still think about what we were." She moved towards him, leaning inwards "sometimes I think we could make it work out…"
"I have too many enemies that would target you…" Eric said with a soft sigh "they'd target anyone I loved."
"And you don't think I can handle myself?" Calleigh asked as if insulted, but she understood "I know how to handle anything that comes my way."
"I know, Calleigh, more than anyone. That doesn't prevent me from worrying about you." Eric confessed, looking away with nervousness "so she does understand why. But there's more to it. I want her so bad it aches, keeps me awake. I can't ever tell her that, she'd just laugh."
"Eric, you always keep everyone's best interests in mind. That's why Horatio and you get along so well, you're so alike." Calleigh said softly, touching the side of his face to turn him towards her "that's why our team is more than that. It's friends, family…" His eyes looked away again, even though his head stayed still "and lovers." This piece was whispered as she looked deep into his eyes, his soul itself played out in front of her "God, I love his eyes, they sparkle when he looks at me. I can tell what he's thinking." Sure, he'd never really told her, but she did know. And now that she knew, she wondered why she'd never noticed. "I dismissed all the signs of his affection as caring for a good friend. In so doing, I've wounded so many of his feelings." It was her turn to look away as her thoughts took flight within her mind and guilt ate at her soul.
"Calleigh…" Eric said tentatively "there are so many past memories that keep coming up in our minds. No matter how hard we try we can't escape that." She looked towards him again, seeing a sorrow in his eyes "we can't deny how hurt I made you."
"Eric, I can't change how I feel any more you can change what you think." Calleigh said softly, trying to solve his guilt "I forgive you, how can you not forgive yourself?"
"Perhaps because that's the hardest person to forgive. I know what I've done and I have to atone for that." Eric said with a heavy heart "I don't ask for forgiveness, I don't deserve it."
"You are the kindest person I know, you have a good heart." Calleigh answered, hugging him softly around the shoulder. "That's why it's hard not to care about you." His eyes brightened at this comment "we all do, but I think I feel it deeper than the others."
"Thanks Cal…" Eric said as he returned her hug, deeper than her own. She relaxed somewhat at this and let him embrace her. The feeling of comfort replaced the guilt and tension from before. He ignored the soft tingle of his finger-tips as he enjoyed the moment. They sat together, just relishing in one-another's company in silence. They didn't need to say any more. "How I wish tonight could last forever, we could just do this every day and not worry about the others. But work always gets in the way." He thought as he looked at his angel, who yawned softly at his glance.
"Sorry, I am just a little tired this evening." Calleigh admitted softly as she looked at the clock on his television, reading eleven-thirty. "No wonder, it's getting late."
"Mm. Maybe you can stay a little longer?" Eric said as she relaxed a bit at his bequest "you could stay here tonight."
"I can't, I haven't got clothes or a toothbrush." Calleigh made a pair of excuses with a look of guilt "and if I'm late Horatio will give me a heyday."
"True." Eric admitted, knowing the Lieutenant just as well as his once co-worker did. He frowned deeply as she moved to rise out of her chair, only to find her feet tingle in protest.
"How about I promise to call you as soon as I get home so you don't worry?" Calleigh said as she held onto the chair for support as the numbness slowly abated from the soles of her feet. "Then you and I can maybe arrange another movie night?"
"That sounds really good, you know. Better than I can really describe…" He whispered the last part, his chocolate eyes melting into joyous pools under her gaze.
"Then it's a date. Sort of" Calleigh grinned and kissed him on his cheek while heaving her purse onto her shoulder. "I will talk to you again soon, I promise…" At this she opened the door to the house and waved inward at him "take care…"
"Be careful" Eric said after a moment's thought, not able to tell her 'goodbye' or anything of like content for he was still processing her promise. He would hold hope that she would be good on her word close to his heart. His hand waved back as she exited his home, both were smiling as if their past had never been brought up and they had been given a new chance. As the door closed he mused about all the things he'd wanted. "All I asked for seemed to feel so right. Who am I to desire more out of it? I am just human, I need what I need."
A/N: With that Chapter Eight is done. A bit shorter than I planned but still covered a good deal of what I needed to write. Also, the next chapter will actually be a two-parter (I think) so that will be fun to plot out. Cliffhangers will abound, sorry for that in advance…