Sup guys! me back with chapta 8! the next chapter is gunna be like the starting of the case and in search for evan degrow so sty tuned! :)
Gillian was still tired. She dumped her trunk on the floor of her old room. The room looked same as it always had. Her bed was purple with white laces, the desk was face so it looked out the window, and there was a painting on top of the bed. It was a picture that she had drawn for her parents in middle school. Being back in this room made her think of back to when she was a kid andher eyes got watery. She didn't go to college in this town because it wasn't yet built. She sat on the bed, thinking about the case. She knew Cal didn't want her to be there, but she did. She didn't want to make him go through this alone. She knew it would seem suspicious that they were so close as to let him stay at her parents house, but she couldn't help it. She got changed and went out of her room. She walked across the hallway until she got in front of the guest room that Cal was staying in.
She hesitated. Then she knocked and opened the door. Cal was sprawled on the bed with his shoes still on. He had changed though. A black sweater and jeans. His eyes were closed but he said, "What is it Luv?" He grumbled, cracking open an eye.
She closed the door behind her and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Mom says let's go swimming with the kids. They've been stuck in this house for the whole day." she said slowly.
Cal heard the way she said 'kids' and knew she was sad. He turned, and got up. "Let's go then Luv." He got up, got his coat, and stared putting on his shoes.
Gilian watched him tie his shoe. "Cal." He didn't look up.
"Yea?"
"Don't you think we should get down to buisness first?" Gillian asked with curisousness in her voice.
He looked up. "Nah darlin. For the next day, your here to be with your parents. Then we get down to buisness." He went back to tying his shoe.
She noticed how he said 'your' not 'we're'. She sighed as he stood up.
They went down the stairs and to the living room. Vance was sitting on one of the couches and Brian and Sarah were next to him watching t.v. They sat down on the same couch, the one next to the one Brian and Sarah were hopping on. Vance seemed very interested in the news he was watching and didn't seem to notice them. Carol walked in with a batch of cookies and set them on the table. Seeing Vance, she sighed.
"Vance, don't bear a hole into the t.v." she laughed.
Vance shook his head out of the t.v. Brian got up and munched on a cookie. Sarah got two and gave one to Gillian and Cal. They smiled and said their thank you's. She got her own and scooted up next to Cal. She looked up at him with cute, adorable eyes. "What's your name?" she asked, blinking her eye like a puppy.
Cal smiled at her. "Cal Lightman. You can call me Cal."
She nodded. "I'm Sarah." She stuck out her hand, and he shook them. She giggled. "You have an accent like Uncle's" For a 10 year old, she sure sounded like she was 5. Cal shook her hand and he heard Gillian laugh from behind.
"How do you know Aunt Gillian and Uncle Vance?" she asked. She sure did ask alot of questions. Curious little girl.
"I work with them." he anwsered simply. He took a bite of his cookie.
"Cool!" Brian threw a paper ball at her head. She wipped around and gave him a glare. He responded by sticking out his tongue and running off. Sarah quickly jumped off, gave Cal a hug, and ran after her brother. Cal was surprised. Had she hugged him? Gillian watched his face and tried to hold in her laugh.
"Cal?" he turned to her. "You look like you've seen a ghost." She chuckled.
Cal hit his head with his palm. Vance glanced at him and smiled.
Carol was watching this whole thing with a mysterious glint in her eyes. She smiled to herself. She clapped her hands that made the three look at her. "Well! We better be going. The kids haven't been out for a while. Let's go!" She annouced.
Twenty minutes later, everyone was in their swimming suits, Cal borrowed Gillian's brother's, and were headed off to the swimming pool. The kids, along with Cal, were crowded in Vance's Hummer and the other two adults were riding in Carol's minny van.
"Cal seems like a nice man." Carol said to Gillian as they rode. The swimming pool wasn't far.
"Hm?" Gillian glanced at her. She was texting Cal. "Yea. He's great."
"Are you two close friends?"
"Yea. Well we met at the Pentagon." She knew her mom would be curious. It was a long time that they've had a mother-daughter talk.
"That's great. So what's this buisness you came here for?" Her granddaughter was alot like her.
"Oh." Gillian tried to make up something. "It...there's this um guy that we were supposed to interview and we had to come here because he's here."
Carol nodded and was quiet for a while. "You need a guy that works at the Pentagon too?"
Gillian looked at her confused. "Vance." her mom said.
Gillian made an 'o' shape. "Well he wanted to help."
Carol nodded. "I didn't know all you guys were coming at the same time." she said quietly.
"What do you mean?"
Carol sighed. "You know the realationship between your father and Vance. I thought he was coming tomorrow."
"What does that have to do with anything right now." Gillian was the curious one now.
"Well," Carol took in a breath, "You father is at the pool right now. Along with Danny and Em."
Gillian looked at her surpried. "What?" She knew about Vance and her dad's fight. Almost most of the town knew. After all...it was a small town. Her father was the head sheriff at the town and had been since he was 40.
"I don't know how he'll react when he see's Vance." she said mostly to herself.
-X-
"I want you wish you a Merry little Christmas!" The kids roared from the back. Cal cringed at the sound. He glanced and Vance and saw him do the same.
"Guys what with the Christmas songs in the middle of Spring?" he almost yelled.
"Our music teacher says we always have to be cheerful." Brian replied.
"I'm going to have a word with that teacher." Vance muttered under his breath. Cal laughed although Vance was as serious as a murderer.
The kids continued singing and it hadn't even been 2 minutes into driving. Cal got a text from Gililan, smiling he started to text Gillian. Soon, she made an excuse that her mom was talking to her and she couldn't concentrate and they said bye. Brian must have gottan tired because he stopped but Sarah had an energy like a lion.
Vance tried to keep his eyes on the wheel. "So," Cal looked at him, "you guys never told me in the first place why your working on the John DeGrow case." He truly wanted to know.
Cal thought about what he should say. "Well, we kind of got a notice from Germone."
"You know Germone?" He asked.
"Yea. He was my boss 4 years ago."
"But Germone worked at the Pentagon 4 years ago...you worked at the Pentagon?" He stared at Cal, surprise writen all over his face.
Cal looked down. "Well for a while. I met Gillian there." He coughed.
"Oh. That's cool. You guys like partners back then too?"
"Nah. Actually she was my pyschologist." Cal stated.
Vance smiled. "So you were a maniac."
Cal tried to put on a hurt face but it came out as a smile. "Yes. Yes I was."
A few minutes later, they arrived at the swimming pool. It looked like a perfect place for family. There wasn't anyone there but there was a car.
"Hm...Danny and Em must be here." Cal heard Vance murmmer.
They got out and Cal saw Carol's car park. Gillian got out and stretched. Cal started at her longingly. Vance tapped him on the back. He twirled around. "Cmon." He pointed to the kids running like a cheetah to the pool. "We wouldn't want them to drown right?" Cal smiled. He met Gillian at the gate of the swimming pool.
"I see you and Vance got alot closer." She teased.
Cal grinned. "I just wished I knew what he would say if I told him the truth." He ended the sentence with a frown.
The gate opened and the kids ran passed Cal and Gillian and went over to the benches to take off their clothes. "You shouldn't worry about that Cal." She gave him a conforting smile. They walked over to the other side. Cal put his cell phone and wallet in Gillian's bag. Carol came in after a few seconds and started putting on sunscreen to the kids, who didn't want to.
"You'll get sun burnt." She warned them. Vance came in and dumped the three bags on one of the benches. He stretched. Gillian didn't say anything about her dad that might come. She didn't get a time to. Her brother, Danny, came storming in. He was tall. And slender. He looked like he worked out at the gym. The two kids got away from their grandmother and ran to him.
"Dad!" Brian cried. "Guess what!"
Danny laughed. "What is it?"
Brian pointed towards the bench. "Uncle Vance and Aunt Gillian is here!"
Danny looked up. Vance waved. He waved back. Danny ran over to him and gave him a big hug. He had the goofiest smile on his face while he ruffled Vance's hair as if he was 3. "Vance! Dude I missed you!" He exclaimed. He looked passed him and saw Gillian, who smiled.
He hugged her too, she hugged back. He kept her at arm length and studied her face. "You look tired, Gilly." He smirked.
Gillian brushed his hands away with a grin. Danny glanced at Cal. "And this is...?"
Sarah came bouncing up to Cal. She grabbed his hand. "This is Cal. Aunt Gillian's partner." She explained.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Danny. Gillian's brother." He shook hands with Cal.
"Gillian's partner, Cal Lightman." He introduced himself.
Danny started talking with Cal and Vance while Carol and Gilian prepared for their barbaque outside. The kids were playing in the pool.
"So Vance, what brings you here?" Danny asked.
"Work." He anwsered.
"Oh. What about you Cal?"
Cal looked at Danny. "Well work too."
Danny nodded. "So Cal you came here with my sister. What happened to Alec?"
Cal hesitated before answering. Honestly, He didn't know what to say. "Well he went on a buisness trip and we had a case near here."
"That's nice." He took a drink from his water bottle.
-x-
"They seem to be having fun." Carol said as she watched the three men talking.
Gillian looked at them and smiled. Cal really seemed to be fitting in with the family. Sarah seemed to like him the most. The problem was her dad. She didn't know how he would react to the fact that she brought another man to the house.
"Mom, when's dad coming?" She asked as she put down the plates on the table.
Carol put down the rest of the cups and looked at her wristwatch. "He should be here in a couple of minutes."
Carol and Gillian got out a couple of cold drinks and put it on the table. "So Gillian...do you like him?"
Gillian looked up for half a second. She knew what her mom was talking about. "We're friends, mom."
Carol stopped with what she was doing. "Gillian I know you think of him as more than just a friend. I'll admit, I don't like Alec. But your father does. And Cal seems like a great guy, you won't want to loose him, hon."
"Mom we're friends. And everythings fine with Alec. Why do you always asume that somethings wrong?"
"Because honey, your never together. I mean, he's always at work, your always at work, no one is home and you guys barely see eachother."
Gillian also stopped. "We're just busy is all."
They stared at eachother in the eye. Carol could read Gillian like a book. It was a long time since she's seen her daughter look at another man with love in her eyes. And that man was Cal. She's seen Gillian with Alec, alot of times. Gillian just always smiled when she was with Cal. It was a totally different side of Gillian.
Carol opened her mouth to say something but was interupted by her grandchildren.
"Grandpa Greg!"
-x-
They were talking about work when he heard Brian and Sarah shout, "Grandpa Greg!"
Vance turned around and stared at him. Sheriff Gregory Anderson was standing there, in uniform and a very stern face, that softened when he hugged his grandchildren. He gave Gillian a smile and Carol and Danny, but he didn't see either Cal or Vance until, "Grandpa look!" it was Sarah. She pointed to Vance. "Uncle's here!"
Greg turned to where she was pointing and his smile dissapeared, replaced by the stern face. "Vance." he said.
Vnace nodded at him and tried to smile. "Greg."
"What are you doing here." It wasn't a question. Cal saw the sadness flash across Greg's face but didn't comment. Cal wondered why they would be so cold to eachother.
Carol stepped in. "Oh Greg don't be so mean. He came for a visit!" She put an arm around his shoulder.
Greg and Vance glared at eachother for a while. The kids became quiet and Cal shifted uncomfortably.
"Dad, this is Cal." Danny said gesturing to Cal, getting Vance out of the kill zone for a while. "He's Gill's partner and they came here for a case."
Greg turned his gaze to Cal. Cal saw Vance turning away with a set jaw out of the corner of his eyes. Greg shook Cal's hand. He seemed to be studying Cal.
"Nice to meet you, sir." Cal said in the politest manner.
"Your Cal Lightman? The one that always gives my Gillian a hard time?" He asked with a cold odd stare.
Cal had no idea what he was talking about. Sure he did yell at her sometimes but that's how their comlicated relationship went. Gillian had no idea what he meant either. But she would have bet a million dollars that Alec told something about Cal to her father.
"Dad." She said in an almost whining voice.
Her dad held up a hand, silencing her. "You be nice to her, understand?" he said, a foot away from Cal's face.
Cal just nodded and curiously looked at Gillian's father. He seemed very protective. Suddenly Greg grinned, a very small grin, and tapped him on the back. "I'm just kidding." he chuckled. "Nice to meet you, Cal."
Cal could have sighed in relief. He was afraid he was some kind of distraction to the family. A minute later, they were all sitting by the table a distance away from the swimming pool. The sun was slowly setting and the lamps had turned on. Carol had purposely put Vance right in front of Greg, despite both thier protests. Cal sat next to Greg and Danny on the other side. Carol sat next to Vance and the kids sat next to her. Gillian sat on the other side of Vance, and in front of Cal.
They ate in silence for a while until Greg brok the silence. "So Gill, what are you and Cal doing here?"
"Work. Cal, Vance, and I are supposed to be interviewing this guy that's supposed to be here." Gillian said.
Greg nodded. He took a bite out of his meat and looked up at Vance who was picking at his meal. "Your working with them? Why would they need an FBI agent on a case." Almost everyone surrounding the table looked surprised. Greg barley started the talk with Vance nowadays.
Without looking up from his plate, Vance replied, "Personal reasons."
"And what would the 'personal reasons' be?" He pushed.
Cal bit the bottom of his lips. He saw Vance tightening his grip on his fork and knife. His hand trembled a little and he lowered his head more. "It's personal for a reason." He could barely see his lips move.
Greg sighed and continued eating. Carol looked around the table. "So Vance, are you going to college now?" She asked, trying to lighten the mood a bit.
Vance shook his head. Greg looked up. "Speak, boy. It's rude to not talk to an elder."
Vance glared at him. "No I'm not. Too busy." he said, talking to Carol but keeping his eyes on Greg.
Brian and Sarah stopped laughing and giggling when they heard the two adults. They looked at eachother and stayed silent. Carol, not wanting to take this any further, whispered to the kids something.
Thier face lit up with bright smiles and they jumped off their seats. They tugged at Vance's jacket. He turned around and the kids said, "Uncle let's go to the pool!"
"Guys it's late." Vance said. They put on thier puppy dog faces. Gillian saw her dad glancing up to see him. Vance took a peek at Carol and she gave him a small smile. "I'm but only for a couple of minutes." he said to them with a tired smile. He got off and walked over to the pool with the kids surrounding him.
As soon as he was out of ear shock, Carol turned to her husband. "What in the world is the matter with you!" she basically yelled. "It's not his fault. He's just a kid! In fact, it might just be your fault that you guys are like this!"
"How?" he argued back.
"If you hadn't taken that other boys side, it wouldn't have been like this!" Carol shook her hand in a random gesture.
"Mom..." Danny said, trying to warn her not to go very far.
Cal was getting very curious now. What had Greg done?
"You know he's very sensitive, Greg." her voice softened a bit. "Go and apologize for this whole misunderstanding."
"I'll apoligize when he does." He said arrogantly.
Carol sighed in defeat. Gillian looked at her mother and back where Vance, Brian, and Sarah were swimming at.
A couple of minutes of silence later, they decided to go back to the house and rest for the night.
Back at the house, all of them went to their seperate ways. Cal sat at his bed, fidgiting with his cellphone. He wanted to go to Vance and talk with him, but just going there without any purpose would seem kind of weird. He could make up some excusse like 'Hey I can't seem to find my pencil. Mind if I borrow one?' But that would be to fishy. Or he could just ask about the case...that seemed the best idea.
Cal got up and nervously went over. He hesitated before knocking on the door.
"Yea?"
Cal opened the door and looked through. Vance sat at his old desk with his head in his arms. He looked up as he saw Cal. "Any clues on where Evan might be?" Cal asked.
Vance shook his head. "I have to go around the elementary school tomorrow. A teacher there saw him. Wanna come?"
"Sure." Cal studied Vance's face. "What's bothering you?"
"Your really good at readin people arn't you?" Vance said with his eyes still closed.
Cal chuckled. "I guess you could say that." He closed the door and sat down on his bed. "What's goin on, Vance? You feeling ok?"
"I'm feeling fantastic."
"C'mon, even a dog would know that your not." Cal said quietly. He wanted his son to be able to trust him. Even if he didn't no that he was his father. Cal wanted to be at least friends with him if not less.
Vance turned around and faced him. "Everythings fine, Lightman." He looked away.
Cal stayed silent for a while. "Is the thing with Greg bothering you?"
He sighed. "Yea."
Cal shifted. That was a start. "You mind telling me about it?"
Vance looked at him. "Did you and Gillian change jobs?"
"Unfortunatly, no." Cal said, with a hint of a smile.
Vance hesitated. "Greg and I had a fight a while ago. Didn't end well."
Cal nodded. He wasn't very good at these things but if it meant helping his son that had been suffering for the past years, it was worth it. "What happened?"
Vance slowly looked up, his eyes were full of sadness. "I just came to visit him and Carol but this old bully since elememtary school, Brandon, showed up. We got into a fight. The guy said that the reason I don't have parents is because I wasn't good enought for them. I know I should have ignored it like I always do but I just snapped. And when the police came, Greg...he didn't believe me. He didn't even listen to my side of the story. He just ignored me completely." He looked at his hands and shook his head. "Then I had a fight with Greg. He got upset, said something to me...and I just left the house and got on the first plane back to L.A."
Cal continued to listen. He almost wanted to hurt the Brandon kid as much as Vance did now. "Did you too talk you eachother since?"
Vance shook his head. "No. I haven't even talked about him. Carson wanted me to tell him what happened but I didn't."
Cal nodded in understanding. He didn't want to push it but he needed to know all of what happened. "What did...Greg say to you that made you run?" He knew he was pushing it.
Vance didn't answer right away. But when he did, Cal could hear the hint of anger in it. "He said I ws an orphan for a reason. That because of that kind of behavior, my parents kicked me out." Vance laughed a humorless laugh.
Cal couldn't bear himself to look at him. He felt more guilty than he had before. Cal wanted to die himself. He wanted Vance to know that that wasn't the reason that he was put under foster care. He wanted him to know that he wasn't a piece of shit.
"Vance," he looked up, "it's not the end of the world when people say that kind of stuff. Sure it may hurt, but after a while, you reconnect with that person and be friends again." He rubbed his hands together. "I'm not really good at this shrink crap n all but I've been in the same situation as you before. I never ever talked to that friend again but that was one huge mistake. Cause that friend, died of a car accident a month after that." Cal stood up and patted Vance on the shoulder. "Just...talk to him." He turned to leave.
As he opened the door, Vance said, "Thanks." Cal turned around. "That was the first time in years anyone said anything like that to me."
Cal smiled. "Anytime."
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