Chapter 8: Intervention

"Hey Ryan got a second?" asked Natalia walking toward into layout.

"Sure just finishing up with this case file. What's up?" asked Ryan closing the folder, and raising his gaze to his co-worker.

"Just wondering if you know what the deal is with Calleigh and Delko, they seemed fine this morning but then it felt like I could get frostbite from the cold shoulder she was giving him."

"Uh oh. It probably has something has something to do with Jake, he was here earlier." said Ryan frowning.

"You're kidding Jake Berkley's back in Miami." said Natalia through her shock. "Ah, and if I know Eric he probably over reacted and put his foot in his mouth."

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" asked Ryan grinning. "A little nudge from friends."

"Absolutely," said Natalia. "I'll handle Calleigh, you take Delko?"

"Natalia you and I both know Delko won't listen to me." said Ryan remembering the pattern of arguments between him and Eric.

"True." said Natalia thinking along the same lines. "Fine you take to her I'll take him. Deal?"

"Deal, good luck." said Ryan walking out.

ECECECECECECEC- with Calleigh in fire arms -ECECECECECECECECEC

"Hey Calleigh, you finishing up for the day?" asked Ryan knocking on the door with the knuckle of his index finger.

"Yeah just finished up with a bit of gun maintenance, one of my 9 mills have been giving me some trouble." said Calleigh turning around. "But I'm sure you didn't come down here to talk about that. So why don't spill why you here right now instead of on your way home?"

"Thought I'd see how you were doing, I saw Jake on his wait out this morning." said Ryan trying to sound cheerful.

"Ryan please I know what you're gonna say." said Calleigh her patience in short supply today. "But, for me can just leave it alone?"

"I'm your friend Calleigh, and I'm Eric's friend to." Said Ryan cautiously. "Kick me out if you want but hear what I have to say first."

"Fine you've got one minute." said Calleigh looking at her watch.

"Look since I started working here I've learned two things. One do not mess with Horatio Caine's sunglasses." asked Ryan grinning. "And two both you and Delko really suck at hiding how you feel."

"Ryan you don't know what you're talking about." Said Calleigh sighing. "You weren't around early on. It was just me, Horatio, Speedle, and Eric."

"Hey maybe your right." said Ryan raising a hand. "Maybe I don't understand, but I think the questions you need to ask yourself are; how much is being with Delko worth to you, and are you willing to fight for it?"

"Yeah I am." said Calleigh smiling.

"Well then do something about it." said Ryan leaving.

ECECECECECECECEC- with Eric in the locker room –ECECECECECEC

"Hey Eric clocking out?" said Natalia when she saw him in the locker room.

"Yeah, it's been a long day." said Eric putting on his jacket.

"Problems with you and Calleigh?" Natalia guessed. "I heard Jake was here today."

"Uh, huh so how long have you know how I feel about Calleigh?" asked curiously.

"Eric the only person who didn't know you had feeling for Calleigh Duquesne, was Calleigh Duquesne." said Natalia smiling. "More recently it's become pretty obvious."

"so are you going to give me advice or just stand there and tell me how I feel?" asked Eric sarcastically.

"Do you remember when we were together?" asked Natalia. "How it felt before things fell apart?"

"yeah why?" asked Eric eyes narrowing wondering where she was going with this. He and Natalia usually avoided mentioning their brief yet very titanic-like relationship.

"Look to be honest Eric I have no idea what might have happened if either one of us had fought for that." said Natalia. "You probably would've ended it once it came out that I was the leak to the feds."

"Nat, why are you bringing this up? That was three years ago." said Eric astounded at her choice in conversation topic. "It's been water under the bridge for a long time."

"My point all that was proof that we're better off as friends." Natalia continued as if Eric had not spoken. "But if you have something there and it's real you owe it to yourself and to her to try and work it out."

"That's what I want to do." said Eric breaking eye contact. "But if something goes wrong it could mean a friendship I've spend the better part of the last decade protecting."

"Eric do you want to be with Calleigh?" asked Natalia, then when Eric didn't respond added. "Delko, It's a simple yes or no."

"Yes," muttered Eric.

"Then for god sake forget about your pride for five seconds and go after her." said Natalia as walked away.

"Natalia," said Eric calling her back. "Thanks."

"Anytime."

Well thing might be looking up or so you think there's still a while till the end of this story so a few more thing will go wrong forthe hip huggers and heads up there will be some of our favorite bad good guys showing up soon. As always thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed it. I'd like to get at least 3 reveiws before I post again =)

YAY I get to think clearly again WASL is OVER!!