Chapter 9: Bar revelations

"Let me have another." said Eric sitting in a bar that was abandoned other than him and the bar tender.

"Problems with a woman?" asked the bartender with the aged wisdom that only elderly men seem to have possession of.

"Yeah lucky guess?" asked Eric wondering if he was completely transparent today.

"Son I've been doing this for over 20 years." said the bartender. "Guys come here all the time and sulk about messed up love lives. You learn to recognize the signs."

"Really." said Eric thankful this wasn't a conversation that required a lot of words from him.

"Usually it follows a pretty even pattern. The way you sit with a look like your head is somewhere else. And you've been staring at that phone for the last fifteen minutes." said the bartender pouring beer into two glasses.

"Must get pretty old for you." said Eric taking a sip. "Have your job be so repetitive."

"Nah, when you've lived a pretty quiet life, it's nice to hear about something a little complicated from time to time." said the bartender. "I'd like to think it keeps my spirit young. So what's your story son?"

"As far as complicated goes what do you call being in love with a perfect woman and not making a move for over seven years?" asked Eric putting his phone away.

"Stupid." said the bartender simply. "She married or a co-worker, I've heard both before."

"Co-worker in the crime lab." said Eric letting him see the badge. "She's head of fire arms."

"So not a woman you want to tick off." said the bartender grinning.

"Definitely not, amazing the best friend I've ever had." said Eric starry eyed.

"Blonde hair, piercing emerald green eyes?" asked the bartender.

"Uh, huh how'd you know?" asked Eric curious seeing as he never described Calleigh physically.

"Because she just walked in, good luck." said the bartender before walking into the back room.

"You know enough of those can kill you." said a sweet southern voice from the door.

"Yeah, so can bullet to the back of the head, but hey I survived through that to." said Eric as he heard Calleigh's footsteps move closer to the bar. "How'd you know I was here?"

"Well more often than not when guys I know are unhappy they end up around here." said Calleigh sitting down. "This is the closest bar to your place."

"You can relax Calleigh." said Eric remembering her father had a drinking problem. "I'm not drunk, and I didn't come here to get drunk. I just couldn't sit home and think."

"Eric I swear, nothing happened with me and Jake." said Calleigh taking his hand.

"I know." said Eric, and he did. He firmly believed Calleigh wouldn't hurt him like that after all these years. "I'm sorry but I saw Jake and went crazy. Felt like I was losing you to him again."

"You won't lose me; I'm here with you because I want to be." said Calleigh smiling. "Jake was never there when I needed him, you always are. I'm ready now ready to work for us if you are."

"Nat's been busy." said Eric grinning. "Let me guess she cornered you to."

"No actually Ryan did." said Calleigh rolling her eyes. "So where does this leave you and me?"

"The way I see it we have two options." said Eric mentally weighing risk factors. "We can forget this ever happened and try to go back to the way thing were before. Or we can dive in and fight to make this relationship work. Either way I need you in my life."

"Do I look like I'm going anywhere?" asked Calleigh as tears formed in her eyes. "I don't want to forget this happened."

"Good." said Eric his hand gently place on her face, thumb wiping a tear away from her cheek. "I'll let you in on a little secret neither do I."

"Eric the thing with Jake before." said Calleigh. "There's something you should know."

"Cal you don't have to explain to me." said Eric hoping she knew that.

"I know but you deserve to hear the truth from me." said Calleigh knowing if she didn't get this out now she never would. "Jake and I have a history and most of it isn't very good. He said today that he will always care about me, and there is a part of me that will always care about him."

Eric's inability to find words prompted Calleigh to continue.

"But that doesn't change and will never our connection and what I feel for you."

"You just said though," said Eric tucking a stray hair behind her ear. "You and Jake have a long history."

"Hey," said Calleigh raising Eric's chin for their eyes to meet. "Jake is a part of my past that I'm not particularly proud of. You're my future, one I'm looking forward to."

"How is it you always seem to know what I'm thinking?" asked Eric grinning.

I love you remember." said Calleigh smiling. "Well that and I read your file."

"In all fairness I did put it in that batch for you to find." said Eric as rain began to fall outside. "What do you say we get you of here?"

"Sounds good." said Calleigh softy, oh yeah she was definitely getting her 'rain check' tonight.

So what do you think? my basic plan is have another chapter of fluff and happiness then have thing slowly head to hell only to bring them ack together by the time i'm done. i'd like at least 3 reviews before i post again, oh, another heads up stetler and cooper will be involved in a little while as always thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed it.