*Characters are not mine. Property of Fox. =)
Hey everyone! I'm glad you all like the story so far. I don't really like this chapter too much but I am working on the next one. Gotta get more inspiration from Lie To Me. I'm so glad there is a new episode this week. Hope you all enjoy this chapter!
Cal Lightman sat at his office desk, a pencil slightly bouncing between his fingers. His gazes drifted from the clock, to his laptop, and then to his phone. Should I call her or drop by her place. He thought to himself. It was Wednesday. Three days had passed since Cal had last seen Gillian or for that matter even heard from her at all. Cal impatiently glanced up at the clock again. Just as he did so, Eli Loker stepped into his office.
"Hey boss!" Eli said in a cheerful voice. Eli noticed that his Dr. Lightman was looking a little anxious.
"What do you need Loker?"
"I was actually just about to go home but I wanted to know where Dr. Foster has been lately. I heard that she has taken off some time from work. It just doesn't seem like something she would do," Eli said while digging his hands into his pockets.
Cal tilted his head and replied, "Yeah, she said she has been having some problems lately so I gave her some time off. However it's not my place to know what's going on with her." He tried to hide his white lie.
"Well, if you hear anything let me know. It's weird around here without her." Eli turned and left Dr. Lightman's office.
"Don't I know it," Cal said under his breath.
Cal stood outside of Gillian's apartment, making an attempt to knock. He hesitated for a moment. Maybe I should have called first. He thought. He shook off all of his meandering ideas and knocked a little bit too loudly. A few seconds later the door opened and there stood a casual dressed Dr. Foster. Cal noticed how different she looked when not wearing dress attire and heels.
"Cal, what a surprise," Gillian said when she realized who had knocked.
"Everyone has been asking about you at work and I figured I would come check up on you. I know I probably should have called first but I know you just love surprises," he said sarcastically.
Gillian rolled her eyes. "Come on in," she offered but then hesitated. "Just to warn you my apartment is a mess." Gillian stepped aside letting Cal walk into her home.
Cal's eyebrows raised as he looked around at the apartment. "Damn! What happened here? Looks like a tornado hit this place," Cal said without thinking.
" I've been cleaning," Gillian said in a low voice. An embarrassed expression crossed over her face.
Cal walked over to the sofa in the living room and sat down. He scanned the room noticing how modern everything was. "I like your place," Cal yelled into the kitchen so Gillian could hear him.
"Thanks!" she called back.
As Cal continued to look around the room, he noticed that Gillian's wedding album was opened on the coffee table in front of him. Without touching it, he glanced at one of its pages. The page displayed the picture of him and the blushing bride Gillian. He recalled her wedding day for a moment. Everyone was happy. Alec and Gillian looked like the perfect couple. He remembered the wedding being large with many friends, coworkers and family being there. Cal had been invited and showed his support for the new couple. Gillian had looked stunning in a stylish, white gown. Cal remembered the hug he had given her at the reception.
"Cal?"
Cal looked up to see Gillian handing him a drink. "Oh, sorry. I was just thinking."
"Thinking about what?" she questioned. Gillian took a seat on the sofa next to him.
"Just looking at these photos and remembering that day," he said gesturing toward the album.
"I've been looking at it all day trying to figure out what went wrong."
Cal looked up at Gillian and gave her a weary smile. "So, I'm guessing you're not feeling any better then."
"I'm okay. Here," Gillian said as she set down her glass. She got up and walked toward the kitchen again. Cal could hear her bare feet thumping against the carpet. In a few moments she came back with a folder of papers in her hand. "Alec brought me these yesterday and dropped them in my mailbox." She handed him the papers.
Cal opened the folder to reveal divorce papers. He knew them all too well, recalling his own experience. It was upsetting to know a good person such as Gillian had to go through such a terrible thing. Cal placed the folder on the table and sighed. Leaning back, he placed his arm along the couch. His fingers accidently brushed the back of Gillian's arm.
Gillian turned to face Cal. "So is everything going okay at work?" she asked to break the silence between them.
"Yeah, nothing much going on right now. Just a few cases but we've got it covered," he stated. Cal decided he should go home. "Well Gillian I guess I should get going. Emily is probably wondering where I am."
"Okay Cal. I will be back to work tomorrow and thank you for coming by. It means a lot."
Cal touched the back of her hand and then stood up to leave. As Cal looked at her while saying goodbye he noticed something odd. Her pupils were fully dilated meaning only one of three things: fear, anger or sexual arousal. No. It couldn't be. He thought.