Disclaimer: I do not own Lie to Me or any of the characters in this story.

Ok, so I wrote this ages ago and when I realised that it was the next chapter to be posted I couldn't resist, so you're getting two within a shorter time period than normal. This is primarily because I'll be stuck at work today. I'm hoping you'll be moved to review this one and share your opinion one way or another, and that those reviews will help to ease the pain inflicted by my tiresome job and painful co-workers. Just sayin'.... :P

I'm anticipating there will be strong reactions one way or another here, and probably in the next chapter, too.

A few months passed without any change. Cal continued to hide things from Gill periodically, and every time Gill brought it up he refused to discuss it. Gill continued to refuse to try for a family, and despite his wife's pleas Cal wouldn't stop wearing condoms when they had sex. Cal had had a few doctors appointments over the course of the previous fortnight and Gill couldn't continue to trust him blindly the way she had been. Something was going on, and it was something big. She was his wife, and she had a right to know.

Cal had often heard Gill in another room with Finn, feeding him, playing with him, giving him a bath or even just sitting with him while she did something. She never showed it in front of Cal, but he could hear it in her voice on the rare occasions he walked past a room and Gill thought she was alone with the dog. She'd really bonded with Finn, and whether she'd admit it or not she was treating him like her child. When they were alone, she'd often refer to him as her 'good little boy' and ask 'you want mummy to scratch your tummy, sweetie?' Of course, there were also the cutesy pet names she used on him, and the way she spoke to him in a baby voice. She brushed and fussed over him every single day, cooking meals for him from scratch rather than feeding him dog food from a can, and telling Cal she'd read it was better for him. She had read it, but Cal was sure regular dog food would have been just as good. They couldn't go shopping without Gill wanting to stop and buy the dog a toy or some form of treat, and Cal was sure the collection of photos Gill had of Finn rivalled the amount he and Zoe had of Emily as a baby. Of course, that also meant there was a framed photo of the dog on her desk. Cal was just glad it had joined the picture of them under the Eiffel Tower on their honeymoon rather than replacing it. There was absolutely no doubt in her husband's mind that Gill was still desperate for a child, whether she was too afraid to try or not, and that Finn was filling that void... for now.

Cal was watching the West Ham game one night when Gill entered the room. She normally let him have his 'man' time, but she'd decided it was time to stand up to him and she couldn't put it off any longer. Enough was enough. She reached over and picked the remote up off the coffee table, switching the television off.

"Oi!" Cal complained. "I was watching that!" Finn's ears pricked up and he hopped down off the couch- that and the bed were the only places Gill didn't let him in the house, but he often snuck up there when she wasn't around.

"It will be replayed later," Gill told him, setting the remote down and glaring at him when he leaned forward to pick it up.

Cal got the message and sat back on the couch, giving Gill the once over. Normally the only reason she interrupted him when he was watching it was to seduce him, but he could see from her posture and the look on his face that he wasn't getting any tonight. "Okay, fair point.." he said reluctantly, waiting then for her to speak.

Gill paced back and forth nervously for a minute or two, only slightly phased by Cal's intense gaze. She'd been so sure of herself and what she wanted to say before she stepped into the room, but if she was honest with herself she really wasn't that good at standing up to Cal in personal situations. At work she could do it when she had to, but at home she hated feeling like a bitch. He was her husband and she loved him, she didn't want to have to be forceful to get him to speak to her. It should come naturally. "Cal..." she started. 'No. Too cold.' "Honey," she corrected herself, her pacing slowing. "You know I love you and I trust you with my life, don't you?" she asked.

Cal raised an eyebrow, wondering where this is going. "Yeah, I s'pose," he agreed hesitantly.

"And that I've been very patient and understanding while we've been married, and although I've tried to speak to you about what you've been hiding from me I've trusted you and backed off when you asked me to..."

"You have," Cal agreed, nodding. It was finally coming to a head.

"You put in for two days leave next week and you didn't tell me about it. Heidi did," Gill said. "I want to know what's going on."

Cal shifted a little, moving to sit more comfortably. "Is that so?" he asked calmly. Finn settled at his master's feet.

"Yes," Gill told him, standing firm. "I'm your wife and I love you. I deserve to know. I can't live with secrets like this anymore."

"No secrets," Cal replied. "I don't know what you're talking about." Of course, he was lying through his teeth.

"Cal Lightman, don't you dare lie to me," Gillian responded, her voice raised slightly a fire in her eyes Cal couldn't remember seeing in a very, very long time. 'Bloody hell that's sexy...' he thought, before mentally chastising himself. Now was not the time. He watched as Finn stood up and walked over to Gill, turning to face Cal, ready to protect Gill if necessary. Of course, the dog didn't understand there was no threat, he just knew it was rare to see Gill upset.

Cal had been expecting this for quite some time, waiting for it, letting things build up slowly to this moment. "I just need some time off."

"Without me?" Gill asked sadly. That was worse than secrets and lies!

"There's not really anything you can do to contribute to how I'll be spending my time," Cal told her, being honest.

"And how is it you'll be spending your time, Cal?" Gill was becoming irritated now, and it was evident in her voice.

"I'm having a medical procedure," he said. He could practically feel the tension building. He hated himself for this, but he couldn't think of a better way.

"What medical procedure?!" Gill asked, suddenly concerned. She walked over and sat next to him on the couch, resting a hand on his thigh. "Honey, you promised me you weren't sick. What's going on?" she asked. Her heart was pounding in her chest. This had been going on for months. How could Cal be sick for that long and not tell her about it?

"I'm not sick," Cal assured Gill, resting a hand on top of hers. He paused and then looked into her eyes. "I'm having a vasectomy." His words hit her like a Mack truck freewheeling down a hill