Thanks for reviews everyone, they help boost my confidence. I hope I'm not jumping all around the story here. I'm trying. There's no time line here, I just like these characters and wanted to tie them all to my story.

What if Wallowski had been around when Gillian and Alec were having problems. I could have used Ben, but I like the tough Female cop thing and I love Wallowski on the show and the animosity between her and Gillian. Been wishing for a "Cat Fight" but obviously THAT isn't going to happen.

Chapter 8

After dinner, Cal took what was left of the wine into the living room and refilled Gillian's glass along with his. She was at one end of the couch with her legs stretched out reaching the other end. Cal looked at how relaxed she was compared to a few hours ago when they left work. He wanted to talk about what happened earlier but he didn't want to push her. Gillian was no longer pissed at him, just frustrated and mixed up with all kinds of emotions. She tried to gather the words in her mind that she wanted to say to him.

"Cal, you had no right to get Wallowski involved in my personal business. You knowhow I feel about her and I only interact with her at the office when it involves a case. We are adults and professionals, besides, solving a case is more important than how I personally feel about someone." She stares at her wine glass, swirling the red liquid around. "I do want to apologize to you about my outburst this morning at my house. I'm just so overwhelmed with all of this." She raised her eyes and looked at him sitting in an overstuffed chair on the other side of the coffee table. She couldn't tell what was going through is mind. In a swift move he was on the couch and slipped underneath Gillian's legs and laid them across his lap. He smiled at her and she knew he understood and accepted her apology.

Cal's hand rested on Gillian's thigh which caused a spark of energy to run up her body. His other was caressing her arm. "You have to accept the fact that you can't do this on your own, Gill. Not with an abusive husband who drinks and is a coke addict. You can't predict what people like that are going to do or what kind of mood their going to be in. I just don't want you to get hurt again, Love, ever. Understand?"

"Yes, I understand and I'm sorry for not waiting on you to take me to my house."

"It's alright, darlin. Now, about Wallowski. I'll have her out of your business after she does one more thing for me while helping you. And no arguing from you." He pointed his finger at her.

Gillian sighed and rolled her eyes. "Fine. How much longer do I have to put up with her?"

"Well. Now see, you'll have to put up with her every time we need her on a case." Gillian shook her head and she fought back a smile. He could be so comical at times.

"Cal, you know what I mean. How much longer is she going to be in my personal life?" She took another sip of wine.

"Have Alec meet you at the office tomorrow. Wallowski will be there and we're going to make sure Alec leaves you alone for good. Then you get up with your lawyer about filing papers ."

"Were you listening to my phone conversation with Alec?"

"It was purely by accident, Love." He was telling the truth.

"But you stayed and listened the whole time I was on the phone. The polite thing to do would have been to leave and come back later."

"Now, when have I ever been polite?" He shrugged his shoulders and waved his hands around.

"That's true."

"So. you agree then? To do this my way, yeah?" He tilted his head to the side while he searched her eyes for her approval.

"Yes, fine. If this will get Alec to leave me alone and get Wallowski out of my business then I'm okay with that."

"Good girl." He said with a smile.

Gillian swallowed the last of her wine. "I think I'm ready to get some sleep. The bath and the wine has really relaxed me."

"Okay, Love. To my bed then?" He waggled his eyebrows a few times trying to be flirtatious and cute.

Gillian giggled. "I think I'm okay to sleep in the guest room, I've already put my things in there." She couldn't help but smile at Cal. He was so adorable. She doesn't have it in her to stay mad at him for very long. He does things on a whim and spouts off without thinking, but Cal has been like that since she's known him. In fact that's part of what attracted her to him.

"Right." He nodded and walked her to the bedroom. She stopped in the doorway and turned to look at him.

"Thanks, Cal, for everything. I really don't know what I'd do without you." She smiled, leaned into him and kissed him on the corner of his mouth. It is the spot that they always kiss when they need to show the other how much they care about one another. This was a friendly kiss.

Gillian laid in bed and thought what the outcome of the meeting with Alec was going to be. Then she thought about Wallowski. Gillian didn't like people knowing her business. 'Especially Wallowski.' Her mind drifted to Cal and how much he had done for her. After knowing him for all these years he still had the compassion and love he had for her since the first day they met. That is true friendship. Being there for one another. Putting up with one another. And forgiving one another. Her marriage wasn't like that at all, well maybe the first 2 years. Marriage should be about love, compassion, friendship and forgiveness. Forgiveness doesn't mean to keep living with the torment of an unhappy relationship. A broken marriage. An abusive husband. It means to forgive yourself and your husband. To let go of the guilt and to understand that there are some things you just have no control over. And no matter how hard you try, there are some people you just can't help. Deep down Alec really didn't want help. He was getting help from Gillian, from counselors and his doctors while he was in rehab. No, he didn't have the strength and willpower to walk away from his addictions. He chose drugs and alcohol over her. They were more important to him than she was.

'My friend, my partner, my husband.' Gillian let out a heavy sigh. 'Till death do us part.' She thought to herself. So how can your best (male) friend be everything you wanted your husband to be? Everything you thought your husband was. Of all the guys she's had relationships with including her husband, only one stands above the rest. Cal Lightman.

A choir begun to sing, the gloomy clouds parted and the sun shown bright and true. That's what it was like when the revelation seeped through Gillian's thick skull. 'Oh. My. God!' Gillian started remembering every little thing possible that had transpired between her and Cal over the years that they've known each other.

She whispered quietly against her pillow. "I love Cal! Do I? Of course I do he's my friend. No. I really, really love him." He's always been there for her and she's always been there for him. She's always been attracted to him, but had pushed it out of her mind because of their marriages and their partnership in the company. 'oh, no, no no. This is not good Gillian. Just put this crazy notion out of your head.' She chastised herself for allowing those feelings to ambush her sensible thoughts. 'Ugh! I've got to get some sleep.'

The next morning Gillian awoke dreading the confrontation with Alec. She thought that Maybe it was a good thing Cal was going to be there, since Alec had been acting really abusive and mean lately.

"Mornin' Love." Cal greeted her as she came into the kitchen. He was spreading cream cheese on some bagels for the both of them.

"Good Morning, Cal." She smiled but was still nervous about how the day would play out.

"Bagel?" He said while chewing on a mouth full of the bread.

"Yes, please. They look delicious." He always found it cute at how easily Gillian could get excited over food.

"Got your coffee here too. You ridin' to the office with me, Love?"

Gillian shakes her head while trying to swallow her food. "No, I've got a few things to take care of later."

"Alright. You're calling Alec this morning. Tell him to come by this afternoon and talk. I'll have Anna bring him to my office. Got it?" Cal drank the last of his coffee and walked to where Gillian sat.

"Yes, Cal, I've got it."

"Good. See you at the office." He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek then left.

Gillian had a few moments of peace to finish her coffee and bagel. She was going over in her mind what she was going to say to Alec and wondering how much he would have to say. 'He shouldn't have much to say, just apologize for hurting me and being an asshole.' She thought to herself.

It was fairly quiet at The Lightman Group office most of the morning. Interns and other employees were doing research and reports that Lightman had assigned them. Loker and Torres finished up with a couple of small cases which didn't involve needing help from Foster or Lightman.

Foster was in her office reading reports as employees turned them in. She called Alec earlier and he had agreed to come by her office. What she didn't tell him was that he had to come by Cal's office. 'This is not going to be good.' She was in a daze when Lightman walked into her office.

"Oi! Foster. Let's go. In my office." He startled her.

"Jeez, Cal, don't do that." She rolled her eyes and stood up. She didn't realize how long she had been sitting there bent over her desk. She was stiff and when she stretched her body a pain shot through her shoulders. She stifled a moan but the quick pain showed on her face.

"Alright, Love? You really shouldn't sit at your desk that long doing paper work." He held the door open as she walked into the hall.

"I'm trying to get as much done as I can. I want to get out of here early this evening." She said as she rubbed her shoulders.

"To take care of personal things. Right. Well then, I'll just have to give you one of my own personal back and shoulder rubs later tonight. I am quite the massage extraordinaire, if I do say so myself." He grinned and waggled his eyebrows a little.

"You know, I just might take you up on that." She hooked her arm through his as they walked toward his office.

I've been busy, so I apologize for the late posting. I know it's moving kind of slow, but I hope to wrap things up next chapter. I'm starting another story, but trust me. I will have the new story completed before I post. I'm impatient even with my own damn stories! It's tragic!

Thanks for all reviews and for following!