CPOV

"You're really going to tell me?"

"Yes, you deserve to know."

"Okay." I cleared my throat and looked down at the table, not saying anything. "Cal, are you alright? You don't really have to tell me. Before I was just being an idiot and I really shouldn't have said anything-"

I faked a smile. "No I'm fine. I just don't know where to start."

"Oh, well why don't you start from when you left me that night."

I bit my lip and stared back down at the table. "That night, after I left the lab, I stopped at an ATM to get some cash. Just as I got out of my car, this black car pulled up next to mine and this man got out. He grabbed me, put a gun to my head, and said not to scream or call for help or he would blow my brains out. Then he put me in his car and that's when he told me to call you."

Well that wasn't exactly the truth. He had sent two cars, one filled with his bodyguards and the other with just him, and one his bodyguards had slammed the back of my head against my car while he was choking me, making me bleed when I refused to go with him. That's why I took awhile to get home after I made all those calls- I was getting stitches. I couldn't let him know that because then he would get even more protective and angry, and then try to get me away from that man, get himself killed in the process.

I looked up at him. He was staring at the wall. "What does he want with you? Why did he make you leave me?"

"He wants me all to himself." At least that part was true. "He doesn't want my family and friends to get in the way of 'our relationship'."

"That's not going to stop me."

I put a hand on his arm. "Eric, don't. He's dangerous. He'll kill you. And me."

That made him look at me. I felt bad for lying to him and adding in that last part. He wouldn't kill me, but Eric would never listen and stay away if he kew he would only be risking his life and not mine. 'What can I do then? I can't just sit here and not help you, Cal."

"I don't need any help. I'll be fine. Besides, I might actually get to like him." Never gonna happen.

His brown eyes darkened. "Calleigh, please don't say that."

"I'm sorry."

We sat in silence for awhile, just thinking and staring at each other before Marco burst in. "Time's up."

I slowly got up from the table. "I'm coming!" I looked at Eric. "Bye," I said sadly.

He put his hand on mine on the table to stop me. "Wait."

I stared at him confused. "What is it?"

"I'm going to kiss you now and if you try to stop me, I'll be horrified, but kiss you anyway."

I laughed a bit. "Wha-" He cut me off with a kiss. I guess he wasn't joking. I didn't push him away, but I didn't kiss him back...as much. You know what? Forget it. I'm even lying in my own mind. I kissed him back just as much as I would if I wasn't being forced into another relationship. And it felt good. Too bad Marco had to end my bliss by clearing his throat and bringing me back to reality.

I stepped back from Eric. Crap. I should have never let my guard slip. He had a hopeful look in his eyes and it killed me that I was going to have to smash that hope into pieces to keep him safe.

"Good-bye," I said walking backwards towards the door. I waved and turned around before walking out the door with Marco one step behind.

"You know, miss," he said as we got outside,"you are in a large heap of...poop."

"Like I don't know."

"I know that you may feel upset right now but if this it what the boss wants, there is little we can do about it."

"I know."

"And miss, I won't tell the boss about this."

What? I looked up at him. "Thank you. But..why are you doing this for me?"

"Well, no matter how agitating your friend is, he still loves you and cares for you deeply. You guys look like good people who deserve proper good-byes, ya know?"

I hugged him. "Oh, thanks, Marco!"

"Miss..."

I let go. "Right. Sorry." I can't believe that Marco, of all people, would be so sweet. Even if he does kill people for the mafia. We walked around for awhile before we got hungry and decided on (none other than) Italian food. After we ate, we checked back into the hotel for the night.

EPOV

I sighed as I flopped on my bed and stared up at the ceiling. "So, you're telling me she was forced to leave you and go with this guy?," Chris asked with a mouthful of yogurt.

"M hmm."

"Well, doesn't Calleigh have like the CSI hookup? Why can't you call them and ask them to investigate?"

"She said he's dangerous and he'll kill her if I try anything."

"Man, what the hell? If it were Hannah, there would be some serious ass-kicking going on."

"A, you couldn't kick anyone's ass to save your life, and B, Calleigh's life is on the line. I couldn't risk it like that."

"I know, but still...how can you stand it just sitting here?"

"I'm all out of options. I don't know what else-" I feel my phone ringing in my pocket. "Hold on, Chris." I flipped it open. "Hello?"

"Eric."

"H? What's up?"

"Well, Calleigh's car was found in the parking lot of a bank last month. It was towed away but we were called because there was a significant amount of blood and strands of her hair on it. Do you know anything about that?"

"No...I don't."

"Did you see her before she left for Arizona?"

"Arizona?"

"Didn't Calleigh call you and tell you she was moving away to Arizona? I was sure everyone was told that."

"Mm this yogurt is the bomb. You want some?," Chris said offering the spoon.

I put my hand over the phone. "Shut up!" I removed my hand. "No, she told me Oregon."

"Would she have any reason to lie? Is she in trouble?"

"Well..." I hesitated. Should I tell him about her situation? It won't hurt... " She said she was forced at gun point to leave Miami and avoid all contact with us. But she never mentioned hitting her head."

"What?"

"Yeah, I bumped into her in New York City today. She told me about her problem but she said to stay away or he'll kill her."

"Who? Who will kill her?"

"I don't know. H, I have no idea what to do. But I need to help her."

He sighed. "We're going to have to get her away from him so that he can't hurt her and then catch him. But, Eric, you have to keep an eye on her until I get up to New York. She could leave anytime and you need to make sure that she doesn't."

"Okay, but for how long?"

"I'll be there as soon as I can. Until then, keep an eye on her."

"Alright. Bye"

"Bye." He clicked off.

Chris looked at me. "So...what's going on? What's Horatio going to do?"

"Well...there's going to be some ass-kicking going on."

"Yes!," he beamed. "What changed your mind?"

"For one, her head was smashed against her car and she lied to me about it."

His mouth formed a small 'o' as he formed a pained expression. "Ooh. I'm sorry, dude. Why'd she lie?"

"I don't know. But I'm going to find out," I said getting off the bed and heading out the door.

"Tell Calleigh that Hannah and I miss her! Oh and Eric, get me some yogurt!"