She didn't think he was coming after all he had skipped a couple lately and with the way he was going as of late, it wouldn't surprise her if he didn't even text her to let her know, but the sound of the doorbell ringing made her smile and hurry to welcome him in. She was looking forward to this tonight. They needed some time alone, just the two of them. It would have been like the old days but not really, not with Speedle gone. His first year anniversary was coming and Calleigh thought that everything that was going down with Eric lately had something to do with that, although recently she learned that it wasn't just that.
'Hey...I didn't think you were coming today' she told him.
'What? Why?' He asked her as he leaned in and kissed her cheek before making his way inside, one hand sliding down from shoulder to elbow.
She closed the door and turned to look at him, her hand still on the handle as she gave him a pointed look and Eric chuckled 'Okay sorry...my bad' he said with one raised hand.
'Thank you' she replied before pulling away 'You got everything?' she asked him as she took the bag of groceries from his hand.
'Yep...taco's baby' he said and Calleigh laughed at the way that came out.
'And wine' she said as she raised the bottle which she had just pulled out of the fridge and now it was Eric turn to giggle.
'You and your wine' he said as he rolled her eyes at her and shook his head.
'As if you don't always drink with me' she replied and Eric laughed 'Busted'. They settled the bag of groceries on the kitchen counter and started removing the items from the paper bag while Calleigh pulled two glasses out and poured some wine in them, giving one glass to Eric.
'To a great night' she said as she raised her glass.
'To a great night' Eric said as he clinked his glass with hers and then shot some wine down.
'May I remind you that this is wine and not beer?' Calleigh chuckled making Eric almost spit out the liquid he had in his mouth.
'I need this right now' he said 'It's been one hell of a few weeks' he said as he started dicing the chicken.
'No shit' she said giving him a pointed look 'Listen do you mind if you continue here so I go and have a shower and put some comfortable clothes?' she asked him. She was still in her work clothes, well and so was Eric for that matter but she was more dressed up.
'Of course. Go ahead and I'll get this started here' he told her.
'Thanks Eric. We will continue the conversation later' she told him.
'I had no doubt' he replied. He watched her make her way out of the kitchen and make her way down the corridor leading to her ensuite. His eyes remained on her form until he could no longer see her. Sometimes he just couldn't help it. He always liked her, he liked her from the first moment he met her, but Calleigh had made it clear that she doesn't mix work with pleasure, even if by time that rule had been bent at best. Now they were friends...close friends, sometimes it felt like they were even a bit more, today's example was crystal clear that they were more than just friends. He was in her home, in her kitchen, cooking for the two of them. They hang out after work, just the two of them. Before it used to be them and Tim but since he died, they had vowed to continue doing this, to not lose this too and they had managed so far.
Usually they do it mid-week, sometimes they postpone it for the weekend depending on how crazy work is and how they are working because depending on the severity of the case, sometimes they end up working even on days when they are supposed to be off. Lately, he skipped it a couple of times and he knew without a doubt that Calleigh was going to bring it up. He had practically shut her out and if he knew her at all, she was going to want to talk to him about it, and he couldn't blame her. He knew that if the situation was in reverse, he would want to know, only because he cares about her and not because he wants to be nosey, and Calleigh had the same concerns. He knew that and he was not going to hide anything from her. He was going to be open with her.
He was cooking on autopilot with all that thinking. He didn't realize how long Calleigh had taken in the bathroom. The food was ready and he just needed to plate.
'Calleigh food is ready' he called out.
'Coming' he heard her say.
He placed the food in their plates and prepared the table. He was on his way to put the glasses on the table when Calleigh appeared in a silky light pink pants and white tank top. That was how comfortable she was around him. Her blonde locks were still wet, hanging lose on her back in her natural wavy look.
'Sorry I didn't realize how long I was in there' she told him.
'It's fine' he told her as he placed the wine bottle on the table and took a seat, Calleigh taking a seat in front of him.
'Mmm they smell delicious' she told him just before she took a bite 'And they taste even better' she told him.
Eric chuckled and took a bite 'Thanks...they did come very good' he said. Considering he had practically cooked them on autopilot, he was actually quite surprised.
They ate mostly in silence, both quite hungry just enjoying being in each other's company, both focused on their Tacos and wine.
'I missed this' Calleigh told him before she sipped some wine, and Eric thought here it comes. The conversation was starting.
'Yeah me too' he replied honestly. He did miss her. He did miss hanging out like this.
'Well I was here' she told him point blank.
'I know' he replied sadly.
'Why didn't you tell me what was going on?' She asked him.
'I didn't want to get you involved' he replied 'And it's not something I like talking about' he admitted.
'You haven't accepted that your sister is sick' she said out loud, matter of fact.
'Calleigh it's almost Speedle's anniversary and now my sister is sick...it's been a very tough year. My sister getting sick...I was not expecting it. She's beautiful, young...I don't understand it' he admitted as he got up from his chair and went to sit on her couch. He needed more space. Around the table he was starting to feel suffocated.
She got up, grabbed the glasses and walked over to where he was sitting, his head dropped down. She placed the glasses on the coffee table and sat next to him on the sofa, one leg under her bum.
'I'm not going to tell you that I understand what you are going through...but I can imagine how hard this is' she started telling him as she placed her hand on his and gave it a squeeze 'But I want you to know that I am here for you...whatever you need, you know that right?' She asked him.
'I know Cal' he replied 'Your support means the world to me' he told her.
'I know' she replied smiling at him 'I just wish you told me what was going on. I would have had your back. You had so many chances to tell me Eric' she told him 'Like when I saw you with your sister at the hospital...why didn't you tell me she was your sister? You let me think she's a girl you're dating' Calleigh told him.
'I just figured that since we have this mole issue at work and everything is being leaked, someone would find out' Eric replied.
'It was just you and me there' Calleigh reminded him.
'I know Cal but everything is being leaked I don't understand how but even when it is only two people in a closed room, somehow news is travelling. I didn't want to risk it' he explained.
'Okay' she said. She felt a bit offended but she could understand that he was only trying to protect his sister.
'I just wish someone finds out who the mole is so many we can get to how things were before' Eric told her.
'Yeah...I don't think so. I feel it's ancient history unfortunately ' she told him.
'Why do you say that?' He asked.
'Well for one thing we're not the same people anymore. Speedle is gone and now there's Ryan ' Calleigh told him. She said it on purpose because she knew there were issues between them and she wanted to talk to Eric about it. It was not a healthy thing to have in a team and Calleigh wanted to get to the bottom of it. She was the second in command after all.
'Unfortunately ' Eric replied sourly.
'Eric' she said with that tone of voice like she was on the verge of scolding him.
'What?' He asked 'I tried okay...I tried being normal with him, trying to keep the thought of him replacing Speedle at the back of my mind and then he goes and close a case without me and gets all the credit' he told her.
'You're still pissed off about that?' She asked.
'It's what started it' Eric replied 'Speedle would never do that just like we wouldn't do that to each other' Eric told her.
'No we wouldn't but he just came from patrol, maybe they did things differently there. He's still learning' she told him.
'Please don't defend him Calleigh' he told her, feeling his anger starting to bubble up inside of him.
'I'm not defending him Eric...I'm just trying to make you see things because you guys need to solve whatever is going on between the two of you' she told him 'He did take a nail for you' she pointed out.
'And I apologised for that okay and I'm trying to not let whatever is going in my life affect my work' Eric told her as he reached for the glass of wine. They had gotten talking and forgot about it. Calleigh reached for her own both getting the liquid down instantly so Eric got up and got the bottle and refilled their glasses 'I am trying Calleigh I swear but then he goes and make smart remarks and he puts me off again' he told her.
'Such as?' She asked.
'For example last time when we had that case where Alexx put posters of the pedophile, he made this comment of me having kids with random women because of all the dating' Eric told her.
'He did what?' She asked shaking her head, before she pinched the bridge of her nose.
'Yeah...that's my point and then to make things worse he gets all his cases with you and it's pissing me off' Eric told her getting up from the sofa again. He couldn't seem to sit still for more than a few minutes. That statement though stunned Calleigh. She was not expecting it.
'Oh come on Eric' Calleigh started telling him as she got up and started making her way towards him 'Would you rather he has them with you?' She asked already knowing the answer.
'Of course not' he replied as he turned to look at her 'But I miss working cases with you' he stated as he took a step closer and placed his hands on her arms. He was practically in her personal space and Calleigh didn't mind one bit, instead she placed her hands on his hips.
'I miss working with you too' she replied as she looked up at him.
'It's bad enough I don't have Speedle anymore...you're all I have left Cal' he told her.
'That's not true...there's Horatio as well' she reminded him.
'H is great but he's not you Cal' he told her and she smiled at him.
'It's only temporary Eric until Ryan is more settled' she assured him 'At least we spend time like this' she told him.
'That's true' he replied 'We have this...we have each other' he told her.
'Always' Calleigh replied smiling back at him before they pulled each other into a hug. Things might be different at the moment, but if they have each other, at least they have something good.