A/N: Here's chapter four, which could be the final chapter. I'm not sure yet. Things are resolved, but I feel that Gillian still has to show Cal the dress and they should still go out to dinner. But then again, things are resolved. So I'm not sure. For those who have followed this fic, I thank you. For those who have taken the time to review, I thank you too. I hope you enjoyed the fic. I certainly did.

Chapter four

Cal felt miserable. He'd worked late, hoping it would keep his mind off of Gillian, but it didn't. Back at his home his house felt empty without her there and because of it he'd hardly slept. Gillian was constantly on his mind and it kept him from focusing on his work. Especially with the boring, but necessary financial administrative work he was currently doing. That had never been his strong point and that's why Gillian usually took care of it. He had to talk to Gillian so he grabbed his stuff and left the office.

Gillian was just as miserable. She'd hardly slept and just wanted to clear the air between her and Cal. She didn't know if and when he was going to show up at her place. So she decided to go to the office. It would be good a good distraction and it would be good to see everybody again. Since she didn't have her car anymore, she had to take a cab.

Walking into the building Anna greeted her warmly. On her way to Cal's office she bumped into Eli.

"Gillian, you don't look as bad as I thought."

She smiled. Nothing had changed. He was still brutally honest. "Thank you. How are you Eli?"

"Good. Lightman's spending most of his time with you so we have some peace of mind. Why is he back anyway? Are you two fighting? Because that would explain his terrible mood."

"Is Cal in his office?" Deflection usually worked with Eli.

"Don't know. Haven't really been looking."

"Ok. I'll go look for him myself. Thanks, Eli."

Carefully she made her way to Cal's office. After almost two weeks she was glad to be back again. Hesitantly she knocked on the door and stepped inside. She was disappointed that he wasn't there. Guessing he could be in the video lab she looked for him there and again she didn't find him.

Walking back into her office she decided it was best to get to work. She needed the distraction.

She was glad to be at work and it comforted her in a way. When there was a knock on her door she looked up, expecting it was Cal.

"Hi, Ria, come on in."

"How have you been, Gillian?" Ria asked, taking a seat in one of the two chairs at Gillian's desk.

"Getting better."

"Good."

"How have things been here?"

"We've been able to handle it without you two. But it's weird not having either of you here."

The ringing of Gillian's cell phone interrupted their conversation. Looking at the display she saw it was Cal. "I need to get this."

"Sure, no problem."

"Hi, Cal."

"Where are you, Gillian?" The slight panic in his voice couldn't be denied. "I'm at your place and you're not here. You're not at the hospital, are you?"

"I'm fine, Cal. I'm at work." His obvious worry for her reassured her they would be all right.

"You scared me, luv. I couldn't find you." She heard his hesitation. "Thought I was going to get a call from the hospital again."

She didn't quite know how to respond to that. It hadn't been her intention to scare him. "I'm sorry."

"Why are you at work and how did you get there?"

"I called a cab."

"Why didn't you call me? I would've picked you up."

"Would you really have brought me to work?"

Walking around in her house, Cal was glad to hear her voice. Not finding her in her home scared him. He'd been afraid she was in the hospital again. Afraid that in the one night he'd left her alone something had happened to her. "No and you know why."

A silence fell between them. One that despite their argument didn't feel uncomfortable.

"How about I come pick you up and I'll take you home?" He didn't need to add they needed to talk. It was obvious for both of them.

"Yeah."

"I'll be there in thirty." He was about to hang up when she spoke his name.

"Cal?"

"Yeah luv."

She was hesitant about her next words, but felt she needed to say them. "I missed you."

He'd missed her too, but he didn't want to tell her by phone. "I'll come pick you up." With that he ended the phone call and left Gillian wondering if he was still mad.

Thirty minutes later he was standing at her office and watched her for a moment before walking in. He saw she was nervous. "Your ride is here." He strolled into her office towards her desk.

Gillian gave him a shy smile. She was unsure what to say or do because of the way the phone call ended.

Stopping next to her, he held out his hand for her and helped her up. Still careful for her injuries, he enveloped her in his arms. "I missed you too, Gill." He whispered in her ear.

The tension and unease left her body as soon as she felt his strong arms around her. He always made her feel so safe. She breathed in his familiar scent and relaxed. After a short moment he released her and smiled. "Ready to go home?"

"Yeah, just need a moment to wrap things up."

"Good." Walking back to the other side of her desk, he sat down in one of her chairs and simply watched her. From the way she moved he knew her body was bothering her. She was doing better, but really wasn't there yet. "You pushed yourself a bit too much today?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Good to go home then, yeah."

She nodded her agreement. She turned her computer off and grabbed her purse and coat. Cal was quickly by her side to help her put it on.

"I'm gonna need a new car." Gillian said after Cal helped her in his car. "Will you help me pick out a new one?"

"Of course."

"Cal?"

"Yeah?" He glanced at her for a moment before focusing back on the road.

"I'm sorry for what I said. You've been so good to me and you didn't deserve that."

He squeezed her hand for a moment. "And I'm sorry I pushed you."

"I hate being at odds with you."

"Me too, luv."

"Why didn't come home last night?"

He was a bit thrown by her reference to her house as home for the both of them. "I wanted to give you space." Parking the car on her driveway he helped Gillian get out of it. "How was your afternoon with Abby?"

"We had fun. She helped me put some things into perspective."

With his hand on her lower back he guided her through the front door. "Good."

"Do you want your pain medication?"

"No, thanks." Gillian walked into her living room. "They make me drowsy. I'll take them later." She didn't need the pain medication to cloud her mind during her talk with Cal. Besides, she really didn't like taking them and this last week she hadn't even had one. But now she'd clearly done too much. Sitting down on the couch she waited for Cal to join her. He did, but he didn't sit beside her. He sat down on the coffee table. This way it was easier to look at her.

He decided to lay his cards out on the table. He knew unintentionally Gillian had shared more with him than she wanted. He realised he had to even things out. "You've never shut me out before Gill and I didn't know how to handle it. And that's when I usually push. It's just…" He ran his hand through his hair. "I… That was twice in a too short amount that I had to pick you up from the hospital. You scared me. I can't lose you." He paused before uttering his next words. "I'm afraid of losing you."

She reached for his hand to hold it in hers. His honesty and vulnerability was something he almost never showed. That he did so now with her touched her heart. "I'm here, Cal. You haven' lost me. You won't."

Cal entwined his fingers with hers. "Just like you are not going to lose me or Emily." With his finger under her chin, he lifted Gillian's head so she could meet his eyes. "You're part of the family, luv. Allow yourself to believe it and don't ever doubt it."

Gillian cast her eyes downwards. She didn't know how to interpret his words. She didn't want to get it wrong. In what way was she part of his family? As his best friend? Just his best friend? That would be like losing him. No she wanted more.

When she didn't react, Cal wondered if he was missing something. He probably was, but really didn't know what. "Gillian." He said to get her to look at him. When she didn't he tried again. "Gill, please look at me."

"I need more." She whispered, almost afraid to utter the words. She still refused to look at him, fear of seeing rejection.

He didn't understand her and he really didn't like it that she refused to look at him. He needed to look into her beautiful expressive eyes to help him understand. "More what?"

She finally looked at him. "I need more of you."

"More?" Then it dawned on him and he smiled. Now he understood and it was understandable. They hadn't really talked about it yet. "Why the doubt, luv?" He let her hand go, reached out and cupped her cheek with his palm. "Gill, when I say that you're part of the family, I don't mean as just my best friend. I love you, Gill. I'm in love with you." The way she looked at him made him wonder why he'd never seen her love for him before.

He softly brushed his thumb over her soft lips before closing the distance between them. He leaned forward until his lips brushed hers. First once, then twice, getting a taste and a feel for her. And what he tasted and felt made him want more. His hand found its way in her silken hair as he brought her closer. When he deepened the kiss, she returned it just as passionately. Pushing her backwards into the cushions of the couch he settled his weight slightly on her and forgot about her injuries.

She always knew he was a passionate man, but now she experienced that passion all focused on her. The feel of his body against her, the way he kissed her, it made her forget about everything else but him. Except her body didn't make her forget and when she tried to shift, it reminded her that her ribs were still sore. She removed her hands from Cal's hair, placed them on his chest and reluctantly pushed him away.

Leaning his head against hers, Cal took a deep breath. "Wow." He said breathless.

"Yeah." Gillian said, just as breathless.

"You okay, luv?" He softly placed a kiss on her head before he sat back on the coffee table.

"Yes." She sighed. "My ribs are bothering me."

"Damn, sorry. I forgot."

Gillian smiled at him. "Yeah, well you made me forget too."

He couldn't help the grin from appearing on his face. "Let me get your pain meds and then you get some rest."

When he stood up Gillian's hand on his stopped him. With her other hand she signalled him to get closer. When he was close enough she put her hand on his neck and closed the last bit of distance between them until their lips met in a soft kiss. "I love you too, Cal."

With a dopey grin on his face, Cal left Gillian alone and grabbed her pain meds. He returned and handed her the meds. He sat down next to her and immediately pulled her against his side. In the comfortable silence that followed they both enjoyed the closeness. It wasn't new, however with their just added admission of their feelings, it felt different.

After a short while, it was Cal who ended the silence. "How about we go to dinner and you can finally show me that dress you bought? I remember I had to have a good reason for you to show it to me. I think we have a good enough reason, right?"

When he got no answer and only a hmm, he looked down and found her asleep on his shoulder. He smiled. The pain meds made her drowsy. Careful to avoid waking her he stood up and picked her up. Walking to her bedroom he gently placed her on her bed.