Thanks for all your support but I would like to be greedy and ask for more especially those who haven't yet reviewed. Also I would like to know your thoughts and feelings on the story. This also, might have been the easiest and quickest chapter I have ever written but it does deter away from the case but to be honest the case isn't the main focus of my story.
Please note that this story takes place during season 6 however Cooper still works at the lab as Calleigh wasn't kidnapped however, she does find out about Eric's list of processes seen at the beginning of 'Ambush' and his apparent freeze at the shotting on the docks in 'Guerillas in the Mist'.
Eric was becoming increasingly frustrated as he and Cooper tried to track down the past and present whereabouts of Amy's father. To help them, they used Amy's last residences to see if he was indeed following his daughter, like she had said but they found next to nothing, it was definitely starting to look like Amy's father was hiding from them, probably because he was guilty and was like anybody; in the fact he didn't want to be caught.
"Thanks Coop, I'll go break the news to Calleigh," Eric said patting the A/V technician on the shoulder before leaving.
As he wandered down the corridor towards reception, Eric rattled his brain trying to find a way to identify this guy or find his whereabouts where they would hope to find Amy as well.
"Calleigh!" Eric called out as she started to walk away from him and towards the elevator.
"Hey! You get anything?" Calleigh asked with a smile on her face,
Eric shook his head, "Nope, sorry. I take it that your talk with Frankee didn't go too well,"
"What makes you say that?" She asked a look of confusion spreading across her face.
"That fake smile you flashed at me and the fact you were heading towards the elevator, probably going for a breather," Eric said, surprising Calleigh slightly.
She knew that Eric could read her better than anyone, though she never realised just how easily he could see through her façade and it honestly shocked her. Jake was the last person she had gotten close to but she came out of that relationship burned and unwilling to get close to someone again. However, Eric had changed that whether she liked it or not and had without knowing it, allowed him past her emotional barriers, that kept the rest of the world out, and he, unlike Jake, respected that notion knowing how difficult it is for her.
"Come on, how about we go get some 'real' coffee," Eric suggested placing an arm around Calleigh's shoulders and leading her towards the elevator and for once she was grateful for Eric's compassion and concern, also for him taking over the situation when she was about to snap.
They decided to go to a quiet little café in Bal Habour, minimising the possibility of 'bumping' into someone from the lab. The last thing either of them wanted was to be the new gossip and the entire lab speculating or placing bets about if they were dating or not.
Once the pair had gotten their coffees, they quietly sat down in a corner booth. Neither of them spoke, instead they just sat staring at each other trying to read each other. Calleigh, though, was quick to advert her eyes down to her coffee which, was nestled between her hands, when she felt Eric's eyes she right through her.
"Calleigh, will you please talk to me?" Eric asked, his voice almost pleading with her, his left hand reaching across the small table to take hold of her right, prying it from her coffee cup.
"There's nothing to say, I'm fine," Calleigh replied, trying to act defiant but she couldn't find the courage to look at Eric, knowing he would press the issue if he saw her inner turmoil.
However, the fact that she couldn't even look at Eric only fuelled his concern, he knew she was trying to make him drop the subject but he couldn't help himself, he was worried, he had never known a case affect her so much, well apart from Speed's death that is.
"Your not fine though, if you were fine I wouldn't be asking," Eric replied, "You said it yourself, what ever is said between us, stays between us,"
A smile played on her lips, 'Damn him, using my words against me,' she thought but then realised that speech hadn't work with him, so why should it work with her?
"Yeah well, you obvious didn't believe that because you wouldn't exactly forth coming with information when I said it," Calleigh replied her smile faded as she pulled her hand away from Eric's grip.
"How can you possibly say that Calleigh!? I trust you with my life," Eric exclaimed raising his voice slightly in both anger and frustration. "I...I was ashamed...still am," he continued quietly
"And you don't think that I'm not ashamed? You don't think that I'm scared of what other people might think? Eric, so far in my life I have very little to be proud of so forgive me if I don't want to share any details," Calleigh raising her voice, annoyed at Eric now for reasons she didn't even know herself, her reaction, leaving behind an awkward silence. But what Calleigh didn't count on was how hurt Eric was at her out burst and for that she felt so guilty.
"Eric, you have a bullet in your brain. I don't think anyone expected you to make the recovery you did, in the time you did. It's only normal to encounter some problems it's not even been a year."
Her voice softening dramatically as it was her turn to reach out across the small table to grasp one of Eric's large hands, trying to make the point, that he shouldn't be worried about his mistakes because he was still recovering from an almost fatal shot to the brain.
"Calleigh...please! I know something is wrong, let me help you," Eric begged,
"I can't Eric, I'm sorry. Thanks for the coffee," she said quietly as she got up and left much to Eric's dismay.
Leaving Eric knowing that he had pushed her too far and knowing that he would have to try again probably from the beginning, which wasn't much a step back as he didn't get very far in the first place, but not before letting the situation calm down and allowing Calleigh some space. However, she must have seen it coming, she is the only person in control of her emotions and must have noticed her sudden mood swing.
After his problematic and emotional coffee with Calleigh, Eric returned to work to see if he could find the break needed to lighten his partner's mood.
"Hey, I thought you left with Calleigh earlier?" Ryan asked as he walked into the layout room, obviously surprised to see his co-worker back at work.
"I did but it didn't go to well, what are you still doing here?" Eric asked, they shift was over half an hour ago.
"I'm just leaving now. So what happened?" Ryan asked, leaning against the layout table,
"I asked if she was alright but I wish I didn't. It was like getting a nail out of wood using a screwdriver, I got no results all I did was scratch the surface and now she is pissed at me," Eric explained not wanting to say too much to Ryan.
"Yeah, sounds like typical Calleigh. If anyone is going to get it out of her, it'll be you," Ryan said giving Eric his vote of confidence before leaving for the night.
Please read and review, I don't write this stories just to be read, I want to know your feelings and reactions! x