Chapter 11

You'll be glad to know, I've had more ideas, maybe for this story or another. Yay! My brain is in gear!

So, we all agree that FOX SUX! Big Time. Every time my daughter and I watch an episode of LTM we get brokenhearted. Absolutely NO closure for us. "Not Cool!" I'm happy to see a lot of you keeping the show alive.

I am sorry that I haven't posted in a while. I'm trying to get to the good parts, but am having to skip some weeks ahead in the story. I've been busy with personal stuff and also it's summer so that means my priorities are focused on family, trips and fun. Sorry I've neglected you.

Gillian woke up to someone calling her name and slightly shaking her shoulder. She fluttered her eyes open to see Cal standing by her bed. He was fully dressed and seemed very chipper.

"What is it, Cal?" She said through sleepy eyes.

"Darlin' as much as I would love to leave you sleeping, It's not going to happen today. We have a couple of cases and you have meetings to attend. The good thing is it's Friday." He was grinning and engulfing a piece of toast at the same time.

"Oh! What time is it?" She raised up and scrambled for her phone on the nightstand. "Damn, I over slept!" She jumped out of bed and pushed past Cal to gather some clothes.

"It's alright, Love, you have plenty of time yet. I made you a bit of coffee, you can take with you." He stood there, swallowed the last of his toast, amused seeing Gillian run around the room in a frenzy.

"You go ahead of me, I'm getting in the shower and I'll be right behind you." She ran into the bathroom and shut the door. She guessed that the massage he gave her last night helped her sleep and she didn't even remember shifting or stirring in her sleep.

Cal left the room shaking his head and smiling. He stopped in the kitchen, gulped down the rest of his warm tea and left the house.

Gillian made quick steps in the building to her office. She went through her appointments and gathered some files then hurriedly went to the lab. Loker and Torres where there setting up for the first scheduled interview and Cal was standing with Anna signing some papers. Everyone was busy and Gillian fell right into the groove of things. She hated to be late even if it was just by a few minutes. She always liked to be prepared and have her mind in gear for a busy day. Being late through her off track somehow.

"Glad you could join us, Foster." Cal remarked facetiously while he was signing the last form for Anna. Gillian rolled her eyes and sat by Loker at the monitors and keyboards.

Loker pulled up the analysis program on the small screen to his right. Foster sat beside him making notes and reading through a file gathering information. Torres sat on the other side of Foster and pulled up a screen that monitored the cube. Lightman stood behind them anxiously awaiting the first interview on the new case.

Gillian had received a phone call from her Realtor, at one point during the late morning, informing her of some potential apartments and condo's that Gillian might be interested in. They set up a time for the next morning to go look. She had to admit that she was a little nervous and excited about having her own place. She knew it was going to be hard to adjust to the change but she had no choice. Her life was changing.

Since morning they had all been really busy and there was no time for small talk or short visits. They all ate a quick lunch while in the lab interviewing, analyzing and taking notes.

Gillian had a couple of meetings in the conference room with potential clients. Cal popped his head in every now and then to try and take over the meetings, but Gillian sent him back out to the cube and lab where he was needed most.

Finally at the end of a long day, monitors were shut off, computers were shut down, notes and files were successfully keyed into the system. This left them with Monday morning open to start the next case. Gillian and Cal walked down the corridor to exit the building. They were exhausted but agreed that it had been a great day. They both loved what they did and they worked so well together.

"Alright, Love?" Cal asked as they walked to their cars. They were the only two left in the covered parking lot.

"Sure, just a little tired. You?"

"I'm hungry mostly, it's Friday and I could do with a pizza and a beer. I'll pick one up, how 'bout it, Love?"

"Sounds good. I'll see you at the house." She smiled at him then they drove off.

Cal and Gillian ate pizza and each had a couple of beers. It was late and Gillian was wore out.

"I'm headed up to bed, Cal. I enjoyed the pizza and beer and the company."

"Gill before you go is there anything we need to discuss? You know, about the big mess with Alec?

"No, I'm okay. I'll be okay. I feel better than I did yesterday, that could be relief that this will be over soon. I still have to get the rest of my things from the house."

"Gill?" He said quietly.

"Yes?" She waited.

"Do you want to talk about last night? I mean what happened between us?

Gillian sighed. "Look, I don't need to talk about it. I...I was not in my right mind. You know? I just hope this doesn't ruin our friendship and I don't want things to get awkward between us. Other than that, I'm okay. Just have a lot on my mind." She stared at the floor standing near the stairs.

"That didn't ruin anything we have, I wouldn't let it. I want you to be happy and I want to help you get there. We don't have to discuss it anymore, if you like. Just know that I still feel the same about you and when it comes to you, I'd do anything to see you truly happy again. Understand, Love?" He walked over to her, not too close, then reached out and put his hand on her arm softly stroking it.

"Cal, you should know that I've talked to a Realtor and she has some apartments lined up for me to look at. You know I've enjoyed staying here and I appreciate all you've down, but you also know that I need to go and be on my own." She saw an instant flash of sadness on his face, but it quickly disappeared. "You understand, don't you?"

"Yeah, yeah, sure. I know you need to leave, you need time with yourself. Get your mind right and adjust to the change and I don't blame you." He said with a genuine smile. He pulled her to him, wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her a comforting hug.

"Thanks, Cal" They broke apart and she headed up to the guest bedroom. Cal watched as she went and thought that being in her own place would help her heal from the hurt. He shut the lights out and went to bed.

BREAK

Gillian had spent most of the day looking at apartments and finally deciding on one that was empty and ready for her to move in. She returned to Cal's and he had already started working the next case from his laptop. All he needed to do Monday was be on the streets fielding, which was what he enjoyed most about his job.

Gillian went to her room building up the nerve to call Alec and make arrangements to get more of her things at the house. She hoped that they could be civil to each other since the last time didn't turn out too good for her.

To Gillian's surprise, Alec was descent on the phone and they both agreed that she could go Monday and get what she needed and anything she wanted. He was very cooperative, calm and most importantly sober. She then called a moving company to be there Monday morning early to get her bedroom suit and a few pieces of furniture from the living room. Small things like her kitchen ware and linens she was to pick up tomorrow. Alec agreed to be out of the house both days she was going to be there.

Gillian went downstairs to find Cal and tell him the news. He was in the living room reading and doing some research from his books that he had collected over the years.

"Cal, do you have a minute?" She asked as she entered the living room.

"Sure, Love, always for you." He looked at her over his dark framed reading glasses.

"I've found a place to live and I've scheduled a time to get some items from my house tomorrow and Monday. Monday I'll have a moving company to help so I'll be in and out of the office then. Tomorrow I was going to get some things from the kitchen plus some linens and such." She sat down on the end of the couch.

"What about Alec? Did you talk to him? Is he playing nice?" He took his glasses off and closed the book he was reading.

"Yes, and he agreed to not be there while I was there. He was very...I don't know, easy going and calm about it. It shocked me a little, I didn't know how to react actually. Something seemed... well different about him. I guess he's getting past this quicker than I thought he would."

"You mean quicker than you are." He was leaning forward waiting to see it in her eyes that she knew it to be true.

"Cal, I told you I'm fine, I'm moving on."

"Of course you are, but you're doubting yourself. Debating whether you did the right thing or not. I can see that. You know I'm right."

"I'm not thinking that at all. Look, this is still my business, I can handle myself and you are pushing." She stood and looked at him, he did the same but stepped in to her space dominating the conversation.

"I'm pushing because I can see that you're thinking of him. You talked to him a few minutes, you think he's changing and you want to be there for it. You're having second thoughts and you-"

"Just stop it right there. You're about to piss me off Cal. You see things and try to read me but you have no idea exactly what I'm feeling?" She folded her arms in front of her in a defensive gesture.

"I know you still love him, you have got to see that he's not going to change, Love. He's just having a good week and you are feeling guilty about your decision to get divorced. I know you Gill and you know I'm right, you're just not wanting to accept it." He was real close to her, his eyes locked with hers.

She put her hand on his chest and gently pushed him back away from her. "You can be so stubborn sometimes, so headstrong that you see what you want to see. You are afraid I'm going to change my mind. Why is that, Cal? You want to protect me, you don't want to see me get hurt? I'm a strong woman and you, Cal, are being overbearing and over protective. You are crowding me." She turned to walk away.

Cal quickly stepped and grabbed her arm to stop her. "Gill." He said her name with a stern voice.

She turned and looked at his hand on her arm then looked in his eyes. She felt anger, then she felt arousal mixed with it. She was shocked that his aggressive action could stir up such a heat in her body.

He didn't mind the anger in her eyes or the arousal. He preferred it to the sadness and guilt he had seen there in the past. He roughly pulled her to him making their bodies and their lips dangerously close. Her breath hitched and her eyes locked on his with such intensity that it brought an amount of fear and excitement in her.

Cal's eyes dropped from Gillian's to linger on her lips. He wanted to capture her mouth with his. To taste her lips again. He was frustrated with himself for being so impossibly driven that he might, at any moment, beg. He fought really hard to gain control. God, we wanted to take her right then, to touch and taste every inch of her.

Gillian could see the hunger in his eyes. She wanted him, she wished for him to kiss her. His warm breath on her lips sent flares straight to her center. She had to shake it off, this was too dangerous, she thought.

Then, without a warning Cal suddenly stepped back, releasing her arm and saw a flash of disappointment cross over Gillian's flushed face.

She easily slid in professional mode, stern and strong. "I've got to go." She headed toward the door and snatched up her purse on the way.

"Oi! Gill, where you off too?" He called out to her.

Without turning to look at him she waved her hand in the air as to wave goodbye, but to him it looked as though she was shewing him away.

"I need some space, Cal, I'll be back." She closed the door behind her.

Gillian didn't know if she should be angry with herself or angry with him. She wanted to hate him for that, for arousing these new feelings in her. She had never felt this way, so many mixed emotions that came together resulting in a euphoric sensation. They were treading on dangerous grounds. She has to get focused, pour herself into her work and gain control once again. In her heart she knew he was right about her doubts of the decisions she had made thus far. Yes, she still loved Alec and hoped the best for him, she also realizes that he's not going to change. Not soon enough for her anyway. What she saw in Cal's eyes only told her that he had seen the same in hers.

'Shake it off, Gill, focus on your work and starting a new life.' Gillian told herself over and over until she was confident that there would be absolutely no more distractions.

Trying to keep it up for you guys. Thanks for being so patient and Thanks for reviews.