Disclaimer: I do not own Lie to Me or any of the characters in this story.
I really like this chapter for some reason. Especially the end. You'll see two very different sides of Cal, and Heidi, Loker and Torres make their first appearances. Would love to know what you think!
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By Thursday the following week Gill was more than ready for the weekend. Cal's birthday was on Saturday, and she was just looking forward to spending a day spoiling her husband. Yes, it was work, but it didn't feel like it. She liked doing things for him, and derived just as much pleasure from doing that as she would have from unwinding after her long week by spending a day reading and lounging around. She'd been working on the budgets all week and pouring over their finances. Things weren't as good as they had been before Cal bought Zoe's share of the company, but they were improving. She was glad now that he had. They owned it wholly, just the two of them. No Zoe. Plus, it meant they had Emily close by. She pinched the bridge of her nose, fighting off a headache as she went cross-eyed staring at another spreadsheet. It wasn't that she found it difficult- she was an exceptionally intelligent woman- it was just tiresome. She'd much rather be working with people than with numbers. When her phone rang she didn't know whether to sigh at the interruption or thank the person on the other end profusely for giving her some form of human contact. She answered it politely, seeing Heidi's name on the caller ID.
"Dr. Foster, I'm sorry for the interruption, but there's a delivery for you at the front desk," she said. "Would you like to collect it, or did you want me to bring it to your office?"
"I'll come and get it. Thank you, Heidi," Gill replied, hanging up the phone and stretching as she stood. Probably more papers from the auditors. She walked out of her office and towards reception then, noting a large bouquet of lilies, a potted orchid plant and a wrapped box sitting on the desk. 'Oooh, Heidi must have a new boyfriend! Pink lilies and Singapore orchids. My favourite... Odd,' Gill thought. Heidi had always been a good employee and she wanted to see her happy. "You said there was a delivery for me?" she smiled expectantly, not mentioning the flowers. She didn't want to pry.
Heidi stood and smiled. "A delivery man from the florist dropped these off a few minutes ago," she told Gill, shifting the box and the flowers a little closer to Gill. "You're a lucky lady. I wish my boyfriend was as thoughtful as Dr. Lightman." She hoped she hadn't overstepped the line by making reference to Gill's personal life.
Gill smiled broadly. Cal had obviously remembered their discussion from a few nights ago. '"Wait, both of those lots of flowers are for me?" she asked. How could that be? Cal wouldn't have forgotten he'd done it and order a second lot, and if he wanted to send her both types of flowers he knew he could just get them arranged together. She prayed this wasn't some bizarre coincidence and Alec hadn't decided to send her flowers the same day. He knew she was married now.
"That's what the man said," Heidi replied, shrugging. She was confused by it too.
"Okay.... Thank you, Heidi," she Gill replied, baffled. She slipped the box under her arm then considered how on earth she was going to carry a pot and a vase of flowers at the same time.
Sensing Gill's dilemma, Heidi smiled. "Here, let me help you carry one of these back to your office," she said, picking up the pot of orchids and waiting for Gill to do the same with the lilies. They didn't talk as they carried them back, but Gill made sure to thank Heidi yet again when she set the flowers down on her desk.
After Heidi had left Gill sunk down into her chair, placing the lilies in front of her and looked at both bunches of flowers. This was just strange. She reached over and plucked the card from its place on the pot of orchids first.
Dr. Foster,
Thank you for all of the effort you've been putting into the budgets this week. I know there are other things you'd rather be doing, and I really appreciate you taking care of it for us. We wouldn't stay afloat without you.
Dr. Lightman.
Gill smiled. It was really thoughtful of Cal to send her flowers when he knew she'd been having an average week, and he'd remembered how much she loved Singapore orchids. His closet romantic side never ceased to amaze her, nor did the fact that after knowing him for all these years he could still make her heart skip a beat. Setting the card carefully on her desk she eyed the lilies. They were making her nervous. She worried her bottom lip between her teeth for a short amount of time before she had built up enough courage to pick up the second card and read it. She opened the envelope with slightly trembling hands. 'Please don't be from Alec. Please don't be from Alec,' she begged silently. She took a deep breath and held it, opening the card to read it.
Gill,
You've worked late every night this week. I know work is important, but I miss you and you need a break. I'm cooking tonight. Please be home by 8.
Love Always,
Cal.
P.S. The chocolates are from me. Dr. Lightman is a cranky old bastard.
Gill laughed quietly at the last line on the card, shaking her head. Cal really was unique. She couldn't believe he'd sent her two bunches of flowers and chocolates. At least now she knew what was in the box. Setting the second card down next to the first she ran her finger along the join in the wrapping paper on the chocolates and carefully undid them. 'Truffles.... You'll be the death of me, Cal Lightman,' she thought with a smile, slipping one into her mouth and mmming in delight. She reached out and picked up the phone, dialling Cal's extension.
"Lightman," Cal answered the phone without checking the caller ID.
"Guess what I have in my mouth," Gill replied, a small amount of the chocolate still coating her tongue.
Cal chuckled. "Does this mean I'm speaking to Mrs. Lightman?" he asked. "The chocolates weren't for Dr. Foster."
"We're sharing," Gill replied with a smile. "Thank you, Cal. They're beautiful."
Cal smiled proudly. "So are you," he told Gill. "I figured work you and home you could both do with something nice this week, so I sent you one each."
Gill tilted back in her chair and kicked her shoes off. "You even remembered my favourite flowers."
"Yeah, well, I wasn't sure who should get which one, but the orchids are in a pot so I figured you could keep 'em in your office. Brighten it up a bit, y'know?"
"You're amazing. You've made my week," Gill said dreamily. Cal was so much better than the men in her romance novels. Who needed fiction when this was her reality?
"I'm glad. Thank you for all of the work you've been doing. I've told you before, but I'll say it again. We'd be working out of a shoebox if it wasn't for you."
"You make it worthwhile," Gill told him with a happy sigh. She was head over heels in love, and it made her giddy. "I love you."
"I love you, too, darling," Cal told her. "I have to go now, Loker's been looking for me. Try to be home by 8? Please?" he requested.
"I will," Gill assured him, waiting for Cal to say his goodbyes before she hung up and sighed happily. Somehow the rest of the afternoon wasn't looking so bleak.
Cal stood up from his desk, glad Gill liked the flowers. Not bothering to tuck his chair back in, he went to find Eli in one of the AV labs, his usual cocky gait having a bit more spring in it than normal. He stopped just before he got to the door, hearing voices coming from inside.
"Look, all I'm saying is she got two bunches of flowers. You'd think if she was seeing someone else they'd be discrete enough not to send flowers to the office where she works with her husband." Loker's voice.
"Loker, don't be ridiculous, Dr. Foster would never do that. This is none of your business, but even if it was there's nothing to say that both of those bunches of flowers didn't come from Dr. Lightman. They're married, he must love her. You know you see that. Maybe he was just spoiling her. I think it's romantic." Cal raised an eyebrow. At least Torres' response had seen her defending Gill.
Loker's radical honesty was in full swing today, and he hadn't turned off his tendency to not just be honest, but say everything that popped into his head. "Two bunches of flowers from the same guy? Someone's been a good girl... Or a naughty one," he smirked. "It's normally the quiet ones you've got to watch out for." Usually he had a lot more respect than that for Dr. Foster, but his flirting with Ria had increased lately and it seemed words were just falling from his mouth completely uncensored.
"Lok-" Ria's use of his name to chastise him was cut short by an imposing figure walking into the room.
"Oi! Intern! My office. NOW!"
Loker jumped, startled, then turned to see Cal Lightman in the door, his eyes locked on the young man with a burning intensity that left no doubt about the fact that he was furious. Nobody spoke about his Gill that way. The unpaid intern gulped, terror evident on his face. His uncontrolled outpouring of honest words had really gotten him in trouble this time.
