The next day Lightman woke up so early, actually he didn't really sleep much since his mind kept torturing him with what was happening with his work partner. He washed his face with cold water and came down into the kitchen, where he found Emily that was already having breakfast.

"Awake yet, love? He said stealing one of the cookies she was eating.

"Hey, that was mine!"

"You're right, it was yours" He replied taking a bite of it "if you analyze it, you can cleary see it is at the past tense." He smirked.

"You're not funny, dad." She said trying to stay serious but then couldn't help but laugh. "Anyways, Rick's picking me up."

"You know I could've taken you to school, instead of Dick?" He said thinking that she was spending too much time with that guy.

"Rick, dad. For the thousandth time, it's Rick!" Her father will never spell it in the right way, he just loved to tease her...or anybody else in the world.

"What did I say? He asked trying to fool about with her. She rolled her eyes, when she received a message.

"He's here!" She exclaimed picking her bag up and walking toward the door. Before leaving she turned around to her father. "He's a good guy."

He looked up at her. "He better is." She smiled and was about to open the door. "Oi, Em. Just another thing..."

"Do not have sex with him? Yeah, I know." She said trying to imitate him. He was about to say something, but for a second the words didn't came out of his mouth and he just looked at her.

"Yeah, also that." He finally spoke. "But it wasn't what I wanted to tell you." Emily let out a little laugh. "I was wondering..." He continued "if you...talked to Gillian...or if she talked to you. I mean...do you know if somethin' is happenin'?" He saw just surprise on her face and this didn't explain why Gill was about to say 'Emily' last day.

"No, I don't, why do you ask? Is something wrong?" She was confused.

"No no, everything is fine. I was just wondering." He said always more curious about why his daughter was involved if she didn't know anything. "You okay?" He asked thinking about what he saw on Foster's shoulder.

"Yes, of course. Why shouldn't I?" She was getting a little worried that something so serious was up.

"Don't mind it. Have a good day, luv."

"Thanks, you too dad." She said and disappeared out of the door. He was even more confused now.

When he arrived at the Lightman Group, he found Ria and Eli talking about their new case. He wondered where Gillian was.

"Haidi, do you know if Dr. Foster arrived yet?" He asked.

"No, Dr. Lightman. She didn't." This was the answer he didn't wanna get.

"Can you warn me when she arrives?"

"Yes, of course."

"Thanks." He said and made his way to his office. Torres rushed to him.

"So?" She asked.

"So what?" He replied opening his door with her following him in.

"What is happening to Foster?" He turned to face her for a second, then pretended to be searching something in one of his drowers.

"When she'll be there you'll be able to ask her." He was trying to take time to think about what to answer.

"Come on, Lightman! Tell me what's going on!"

"Listen, I don't have the bloody idea of what is happenin' to her, but it's beautiful to see your concern for one of your bosses." He said wanting her to let go with this topic. Ria looked at him and saw he wasn't lying when he said he didn't know anything, so she just nodded and left. He throwed himself on his chair, when he heard Haidi's voice telling him that Foster just came in. The worry with a hint of fear in her voice was clear. He just thanked her and got up, walking speedily out.

He saw Gillian that was about to open the doors of her office, she had her hair that covered her face and, again, still had something in long-sleeved even if it was pretty hot. Not so far from her stood Locker that was looking at her with surprise, fear and worry...just as Haidi was. Lightman followed her in.

"Morning', love." He said with his mask on. She gasped and began to pretend to be looking outside the window, of course not wanting to face him.

"Hi, Cal." Still the ache in her voice, he couldn't stand it anymore.

"Is everything fine?" He approached to her, putting gently his hands on her shoulders. She sighed deeply. He made her facing him and what he saw made him understand the expressions of Locker and Haidi's voice.

"God, Gill! What the bloody hell happened?" She had a scar on her cheekbone that Cal could say it was still fresh, the sign of bites and hands on her neck, as if someone tried to choke her. She took a deep breath, biting her lip and swallowing hard.

"Cal...I..." She looked down, remembering a memory.

"Gillian, please. I know it may not be my buisness, but I need to know what is goin' on, love." At his words her eyes became watery. He hugged her strocking her back, something that took her from sobbing to cry. "Calm down, Gill."

"I can't stand it anymore Cal! I really can't!" She said between her tears. The last time he saw those frequents breakdowns like those on her, it was when she lost Sophie.

"What is that you can't stand anymore, love?" She said nothing, just continued to cry. It was evidet she needed someone to vent with. "Okay, then, why don't you come at my place tonight, we can have dinner together and talk. Emily's at her mom's."

"I can't Cal.."

"Do you prefer me comin' at your place? But I'll tell you, I've always been a better chef than you, luv." He said trying to make her laugh, but she didn't even smile a little, she just kept looking at the ground.

"I can't either. If he'll co..." She was about to say something, but stopped. He stared at her, trying to study her the best he could. Two of his fingers caressed softly her cheek where she had the scar and her eyes closed enjoying his touch.

"Who is that man that came yesterday at your house?" He finally asked.

"How do you know it?" She was surprised, eyebrows raised, eyes winded and mouth open. Fear, probally for him knowing something, followed.

"Emily coming back home saw him entering, she thought he was me." She swallowed again.

"No one." Her voice was so damn low and her body temperature pretty cold, kinda if she stopped living those days.

"Bloody hell, Gillian those are all bollocks! Even a blind would see the fear you feel for him! Why the fuck do you want him and not me?" He didn't want to yell, to be rude or use those words with her, he didn't even want to say what he said. Why do you want him and not me? They just popped out, without even thinking.

Gillian just looked up at him surprised by his last words, she noticed the hint of jealousy. Her gaze didn't stay so much on him, almost immediately she moved her eyes back on the floor and sat down on the couch in her office. The last thing she needed now was somebody else screaming at her. He approached and sat down next to her.

"Sorry, love. I wasn't myself first. It's just that..." He stopped for a minute searching for the right words. "I'm really worried. I cannot see you coming at work like this and act as I don't care. It is serious Gill..."

"I know Cal but...it is complicated, believe me." He titled his head to the side, looked down for a moment and then back on her.

"Did that man do this to you?" She swallowed hard once again, it was a yes. "Who is him?" She shooked her head and was about to say something, but Lightman spoke first since he knew she wasn't about to tell him anything. "Love, please. It could get only better if you let someone help you." He came closer to her and her blue eyes met his. She licked her lips and wiped up with her fingers her tears.

"You can't imagine how much I'd like, but trust me when I say that you'll regret the consequences."

"Gill, I'm your best friend! How could I regret helping you in this?"

"I just don't want anybody else to get hurt!" It was now clear that she was protecting someone, but who? Cal saw that, whoever it was, she loved and cared for him or her.

"You can't keep being hurt either, luv." He softly said, coming a little closer to her and tucking her hair behind her ear. She stayed silent for a moment, thinking about something. He was right. He was so damn right. She couldn't keep being abused for the rest of her life. She needed help and her best friend was here now.

"He.." Some words were about to come out of her mouth, but maybe the destiny didn't want her to speak.

"Dr. Lightman the..." Suddenly Torres appeared on the doorway. "Oh God,Foster.." She just stood there, unable to say something, watching with surprise and fear her boss.

"Torres, you have a terrible timing, you know?" Said Cal giving her a don't ask anything look.

"Did you need something, Ria?" Asked Gillian standing up. Maybe it was a sign, a sign telling her to stay quite.

"I...I just wanted to tell you that...the victim's father is here and wants to talk to you." She said turning to Lightman.

"I'll come in a minute." The younger woman nodded and left.

"You better go." Said Gillian.

"You were about to tell me somethin', didn't you?" She took a deep breath and then looked at him.

"We can talk about it later, I promise." Cal stared at her for some seconds and realized she didn't really believe in what she was saying, but thought it was better to gave her some space, he wouldn't have let her go at home without talking today.

"I take it as a commitment." He said with his usual sarcasm but sweetly, giving her a kiss on cheek and left. How she missed receiving a kind and soft kiss, instead of the rough ones she felt on her skin those days.

The day passed quickly. Cal and Gillian never talked or saw again because they had different cases to work on. When Lightman was finally done with everything he had to do, it was nearly 7:30 pm. He thought that now that everybody was home, he could finally talk to his best friend. He made his way to her office, but found an empty one and the lights off. She leaft without saying anything so she wouldn't have been able to talk to him. He stood there for a minute thinking. He remembered all the bruises, the scars she had, the tears that fell down on her cheeks, how she always been the happiest and how she made him always smile with her positivity. He couldn't, he really couldn't let her go this way. He didn't care anymore to be noisy, he needed to know she was okay. He run outside the building in his car. He made his way to her house, receiving some swear words from the other drivers for his velocity, with fear and worry that grew up always more. What if it was too late? What if something happened to her? He would have never forgiven himself for not doing something sooner.

When he finally arrived he saw a car parked. He got out of his own and made his way to her door. He noticed it was slitly open.

"Gill?" He called, but got no answer. "Love, it's me, Cal. Can I enter?" Again nothing. He slowly opened the door and saw that lights were on in her living room. He started to make his way to see if she was in there, but something reached his ear.

"I beg you, stop please. I can't stand it anymore. Kill me if you want, but make it stop." Then a scream and something snap, someting like glass. He saw his best friend laying on the groud half naked, bleeding from her hip. This was all he needed because his anger took the best of him.

"Hey, man." He said tapping on the stranger's shoulder. He turned around and before he could realize it, Cal punched him in the nose. He felt on the ground. Lightman put one of his hand around his neck tightly. "Don't you dare touchin' her or even thinking 'bout touchin' her ever again, am I clear?"