Hope no one's bored. Probably going to be tying this one up pretty shortly. After that, well, guess we'll see. Thanks for reading.

"You doing okay dad?" Emily tilted her head, regarding him much as he did others.

"Yeah, luv. Why?"

Her dark eyes searched his face, noting fatigue and maybe a little bit of worry. "You never shared what happened."

"Don't remember a whole lot."

"But you remember some."

Cal just looked at her.

"…and you're not going to share." She concluded, disappointed but not surprised. "Sometimes it's good to get things off your chest. I am a pretty good listener you know."

Cal grunted, slouching more into the couch.

"I wish you wouldn't always treat me like a little kid."

He gazed at her, eyes warm. "Darlin', you are growing up faster than I'm really comfortable with." A smirk pulled up the corner of his lip. "Doesn't mean I have to acknowledge it."

Huffing, she narrowed her eyes as his smirk morphed into a grin.

"You are so annoying!"

"I know it luv."

Emily gave another tiny little huff, but let it go for the moment. She leaned her head against his shoulder while they pretended to watch the news, just thankful that he was back and unharmed. She'd been terrified when he and Gillian went missing – it had been a very long couple of days. She felt him throw an arm around her, pull her close and kiss the top of her head. Yeah. She was happy to have him back. Snuggling closer, she listened to his steady breathing for a few minutes, wishing he felt he could confide in her. She was, after all, seventeen now and probably more mature in some ways than he was but her dad had never been the most open of people. Admitting his feelings was something akin to torture for him.

"Dad?"

"Hmmm?"

"Is Gillian okay?" Emily sat up to look at his face, slightly taken aback at the open warmth of his expression.

Cal let out a little sigh. "Think she's gettin' there. I hope."

"I'm sure it'll take some time."

"Yeah."

Scrutinizing him again closely, she just had to ask. "Has something changed?"

He looked startled before pulling his brows down and narrowing his eyes. "What d'ya mean?"

"I think you know what I mean."

"She went through a very traumatic incident and I'm trying to be there for her."

"That's not an answer."

"Sure it is." The teasing grin melted away at her expression. His Emily wasn't a little kid any more. She was growing into a very intuitive young woman and denial of that fact wasn't about to change anything.

"You're not going to throw me a single bone are you?" Her brow flicked up in aggravation.

Cal stared at her for many long moments while she brazenly returned it. Unlike his employees, intimidation of him was something she'd never felt. Something shifted in his eyes as he regarded her and she unconsciously held her breath.

"Maybe…well…yeah…possibly…" His gaze moved away from her and he focused somewhere beyond the t.v. "She's…um…pretty vulnerable right now. I was bloody useless and she had to rise up in ways that she probably never thought that she could." His voice was low, barely more than a murmur. Even from Emily's position on the couch next to him, she had to strain to hear. It was almost as if he were just speaking to himself. "She's a strong woman but this was…above and beyond anything she's ever had to deal with. Saved my life, as well as her own. Cost is pretty high though. It's been…really rough…on her."

Leaning into him again, Emily wrapped an arm around his midsection, frowning slightly as tears stung the back of her eyes.

"Don't remember much but I do remember how scared she was and I…couldn't do a damned thing…even when that bastard…was…" He stopped as blurry images twisted with cruel taunts and sadistic laughter.

Emily tightened her grip on her father, overwhelmed that he'd actually talked to her about what happened, even if it was heavily abbreviated. A huge part of her didn't even want to know the rest. Just reading between the lines, she knew that Finn Bainbridge had been evil. There was no doubt in her mind. Gillian had done the right thing but if she'd been in her shoes, would she have been strong enough to make that kind of decision? She honestly wasn't sure.

"It's easier to heal when you have support from one another."

"Doesn't need me suffocating her."

"Didn't get the impression that she felt that way the other night."

Neither did he but being too close…with his, okay, their, questionable control…was dangerous. They could barely keep their hands off one another. That couldn't be healthy at this point. Could it?

"I think she's a bit too emotional right now to make any sound decisions."

"What has she said?"

She loves me. Of that he had no doubt but what if the admission was only because of her heightened emotional state? What if after all is said and done, she pulls back and builds up that bloody line again? It seemed possible. Of course anything was possible. She could show up here wearing gift wrap and a smile. Not too probable though. Hell, why did he always doubt everything? It was his nature, that's why. Shit.

When he didn't answer, she gave him a not so subtle push. "Maybe you should call her. Just to check in, you know."

"It's only been a few hours since I saw her luv."

"And how does that have any bearing whatsoever?"

"You're a lot like your old man, you know that?"

"Yeah. It's a curse." She gave him a closed mouth smile.

(BREAK)

Gillian decided to take a cold shower after he left. God, what was it now? Feelings were out in the open so all bets were off? She couldn't even think about him now without that warm tingle flushing through her loins. It was crazy. She'd always been attracted but this…

Stepping out, she wrapped herself in a huge bath sheet, towel dried her hair before changing into some jammy capris and a pale pink Henley. She wasn't really looking forward to sleep. In fact it scared the hell out of her and she had tentative thoughts to attempt a dreamless state with a little bit of wine. Not the healthiest choice but it was a plan for the time being, at least until she was further into therapy. Dr. Beck was wonderful. She'd loved having her as a professor but she was even better as a counselor. But of course things took time. Things didn't come to fruition overnight. Thus, the wine.

Maybe she should call him.

No, she needed to be strong or at least a little less co-dependant and that's exactly what she was being.

Still…it would be nice to hear his voice. That lovely lilt that became downright sexy when he lowered it into a lusty growl…

Gillian…seriously? What the hell?

Still inwardly debating, she headed into kitchen, chose a nice Shiraz off her little counter wine rack and grabbed a glass from the cupboard. Wine and a movie. Yeah, that would be good.

The comfy sofa beckoned and she curled up, glass now in hand, filled half way as she attempted to focus on the film. She'd chosen something atypical figuring a romantic comedy was the last thing she needed to be watching tonight. It would be something Cal would appreciate. There was something about the classics that easily took her away. Her imagination would go into overdrive as she glimpsed a fragment of the world that existed before her, considered what it was like to live back then. She'd always loved Gregory Peck and it was easy to get swept away. It was something she desperately needed. Dr. Beck would most certainly approve. So would Cal.

Boo Radley had just made his appearance when the phone rang. Gillian startled, automatically hit pause and reached to grab it off the coffee table. Her heart immediately started to gallop when she realized who it was.

"Hi Cal."

"Hey darlin'. Just wanted to…see how everythin' was. Say goodnight and all."

"I was just finishing up a movie and heading to bed shortly."

"Guess my timin' isn't too bad. I…" he paused, feeling a little awkward. "Well I…guess I'll see you tomorrow."

"Mmhm."

He was quiet for several moments before pushing forward. "You'll call me if you need me, yeah?"

Once again, tears threatened and she quickly rubbed at her eyes. "I will. Thank you."

"Anytime…guess I'll let you get back to your movie then."

"Okay." Her voice was soft. She wanted him to come over but she was trying very hard to regain her independence. "Love you Cal."

Another pause, followed by a low breath. "Love you too Gill."