lightman-tales

[lightman-tales]

I just want you to know that there are plenty of fans still waiting for more of your stories

I knooooow. You guys are too good to me. I'm such a bad mod, I'm so sorry! But holidays are here and that means that I just write a whole load (well that's the plan, anyway) and I'm going to try and, you know, use that thing called the queue more and try and keep a slightly steadier stream going.

You guys are awesome and the best

Big love x

[lightman-tales]

Christmas is just around the corner and that means CHRISTMAS PROMPT TIME.

Send me a prompt and I will be publishing at least one day (or until I run out) 

So let's make some christmas cheer in this beautiful fandom. 

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanzaa to you all!

G

[lightman-tales]

Loker and Torres trying to get Cal and Gillian together but ending up discovering they're already dating.

Too Little, Too Late - For Anon

“God you’re tense today, luv,” Cal grumbled as he thumbed Gillian’s shoulders, leaning forward to place butterfly kisses up her neck to the shell of her ear, “let me do something to help that,” he whispered.

On a normal day, Gillian would have never entertained it, but her door was closed, it was quiet and she was stressed. Today, for the first time in their secret relationship, she was going to let Cal get his own way, she just hoped that this wouldn’t encourage him. Who was she kidding, she knew it was, but really she wasn’t complaining, he’d learnt that she wasn’t the good girl everyone took her to be.

Decision made, she nodded and felt Cal’s lips curve up against the spot below her ear and his hands squeeze a little harder on her shoulders. She shuddered and surrendered.

*            *            *

“Come on, Loker! I am so tired of them being at each other’s throat because they can’t admit they’ve got it bad for each other!” Ria Torres squawked at her friend.

“I agree, but we can’t talk to Lightman, you know how he gets when you try and talk to him about anything personal. And you know that Dr Foster isn’t going to make the first move,” Eli Loker countered.

Torres grimaced as she realised the truth of Loker’s statement.

“You’re right, we need to push them together, but they’ll see through that…”

“What if we just talk to Foster, show her that they’re not better off apart. That The Group is better off if they’re together.” Loker gestured almost wildly to symbolise their ‘togetherness’.

“There’s been high level of something between them this last month. The sexual tension’s gone, but it’s like the electricity has gone through the roof…” Torres agreed.

“Exactly! It’s like when parents stay together for the kids, except the exact opposite,”

“They just need the right push,” And Torres drifted; Loker could see a plan formulating on Torres’ face and smirked. Today was going to be a good day, at least until Lightman found out.

*            *            *

“I say we say get both of them into the cube, lock them in and only let them out when they’ve spoken to each other like adults,” Torres was adamant this would be the way to go.

“Don’t you think that’s a bit… juvenile?” Loker questioned “And what happens if they… you know… in the cube… All those cameras…” he trails off and shudders

“Enough!” Torres looked disgusted “I don’t need to think about mom and dad doing the nasty!”

“You want to lock them in the cube together!”

“Eli, just get Lightman in there, and I’ll grab Dr Foster.” And with that she turned and strode towards Gillian’s office.

*            *            *

The short, sharp knock did nothing to bring Gill and Cal out of their shared reverie; the kiss continued and Cal’s hands pulled Gill closer still rubbing gentle circles on her neck. However, the gasp and the shocked “Oh, my God!” from the doorway had them both pulling away from each other.

If Ria wasn’t so surprised at seeing her bosses kissing, she would’ve laughed at the confusion on Lightman’s face and the embarrassment on Dr Foster’s. The trio just stood there looking perplexed at each other. Gillian coughed, bringing them out of their shock.

“What is it, Torres?” Cal snapped

“I was, I was… um…” Ria faltered under Cal’s gaze

“Yes?” he was being deliberately aggressive and intimidating.

“It can wait, I’ll be,” she gestured behind her waving, “yeah.” And with that she walked out of the door closing it behind her.

“Cal!” Gillian slapped his arm; he just looked at her bemused like he couldn’t figure out what he’d done wrong.

“What?”

“You didn’t need to bully her!”

He stepped closer to his lover, his arms sliding down hers and settling on her hips, “Darlin’, the cat’s out of the bag, but at least we’re not on the back foot,”

“You say this as if she could ruin us,” she responded, slightly amused.

“Well, no. But now I have to share you…”

“And…?”

“And keeping it a secret is kinda sexy as hell…”

Gillian laughs “Ah, the other penny drops.”

Cal growls a little as he kisses her.

 *            *            *

“Ria, did you see Lightman in there? I can’t find him anywhere?” Eli frowns

“Um, yeah, I did.” Torres replied, slightly distant.

“So? Are they coming?”

“Err, no. We don’t need to do anything.”

“Huh?” Loker looked decidedly confused.

“We’ve been saying that this last month has been different? That’s because they’re already seeing each other.” Torres, still distant.

Loker’s eyes went wide, bug-eyed, disbelief and surprise etched all over his face, “No way. Are you serious?”

“Uh-huh.”

“But how do you know?!” he pushed

“Because, I, er, walked in on them, um, making out,” She admitted

“Oh, God.”

“Yeah…”

*            *            *

At the time of the revelation Cal was annoyed that they’d been found out, but after several months of being open it was brilliant to be able to kiss Gillian in the open whenever he wanted (well, whenever she’d let him) and not have to try and hide how much he loved her.

Today she was being particularly spectacular with the children of some clients who knew more than they thought they did. She helped tickle the truth out of them, calmly and effectively, making the case a lot shorter. As she came out of the cube with them, his eyes went all gooey around the edges.

“What?” Gillian asked gently

“Just lookin’ at the love of my life being amazing,” Cal replied, face all soft

Her hand rested on the middle of his chest and lent in to kiss him gently on the lips, “I love you, too.”

[lightman-tales]

Cal fills Gil's office with roses

Roses are Red - For Anon

It’s the first Valentine’s day after Gillian had left Alec and as much as he hated Valentine’s day and the fake romantic bullshit that normally goes hand in hand with it, it had been several months since he’d seen her crack a smile that wasn’t at least partially forced. She didn’t smile for herself anymore. He knew that she would get back to the sunny woman that she was, but if he could speed that along then he would do.

He hatched his plan the week before, being careful to be his usual miserable self on the run up to Valentine’s. Gillian was getting more snappy as the day approached, the only sign that her loneliness was grating on her. But what worried him more was the fact that she was being distant with him, rather than the nice closeness that had been building between them over the last few months. It just made him want to put his plan into action more.

*            *            *

Cal was baffled, a feeling he didn’t like at the best of times, let alone with someone he was so close to, someone he was in love with. But the latter was something he was afraid to admit; the fear of rejection was just too much of a risk to their friendship. Two days of weighing up whether or not the risk was in fact worth seeing her smile, and whether or not he should do it before Valentine’s Cal had finally come to a decision.

Five full days before Valentine’s and Cal’s plan was in place. He’d arrived early and had started to sprinkle rose petals all over her office and on her desk a beautiful bouquet of lilies and tulips, two of Gill’s favourites. He stood back to admire his work; placing a candle at the centre of her desk, planning on lighting it just before she arrived to give her dark office an intimate light. The only problem was the fact that it was currently 6:25 am and he would have to wait several hours before she’d arrive… if only she came in early…

*            *            *

“Cal!” Gillian was calling out into the halls of the Group.

“In your office, luv,” he responded

“You sound remarkably calm for someone who is handling an emergency! Where is everyone else-” she stopped talking as she entered her office but made a squeaking noise as she took in the flowers, petals and the candle.

“Cal…” Gillian breathed out

“I wasn’t lyin’ when I said there was an emergency,” Cal replied, he picked up the bouquet and walked over to her, “I haven’t seen you smile an actual smile in months, we’re driftin’ apart, you’re pulling back and that scares me. That is the biggest emergency I will face all year.” His voice and face a picture in sincerity, his eyes trying desperately to catch hers, but she ducks her head.

“And you thought roses would be your best shot to do that? A gesture to mock me? To remind me that I’m alone? This couldn’t at least wait until Valentine’s, to be anonymous?” She starts to cry angry, frustrated tears.

He quickly places the flowers down and pulls her close, swaying slightly as he cradles her. He whispers into her hair “No, luv. I did this before Valentine’s so it wouldn’t get lost in all that crap. I did it so you could see I was doing this for you, to make you smile because I wanted to, not because society tells me that I need to. You are worth this any day of the year.”

He continues to sway with her as what he says sinks in, when she finally stops crying she looks up at him and kisses him gently. He is stunned and just looks at her with surprise.

“Why do you think I’ve been pulling back this last month?” He doesn’t answer, just cocks his head to the side, letting his eyes roam over her face, his heart racing with the what ifs.

“Valentine’s was coming up,” she continued “And I know you hate it as a holiday, too much of what society says you have to do. We’ve been getting closer this last year, this would be the first Valentine’s where we’d both be single and because of that there was little to no chance we’d spend it together because it wouldn’t just be two friends stopping each other from being lonely, but that horrible niggling ‘what if’ and I couldn’t stand it.”

“So, you pushed me away,” He added the unsaid, “which, I have to say was decidedly stupid, seein’ as there I was gettin’ up the courage to put my big boy pants on and admit that I’m just a little bit in love with you.” The last sentence running together, almost as one word.

A small smiled appeared, “Only a little bit?” she teased, leaning closer into him.

He chuckled, “Nah, just less scary to say. Totally gaga is more like it,” A bright, genuine smile broke out, lighting up Gillian’s whole being.

Hi heart warmed at the reaction, a lovely tingly feeling all over. He smiled back, leant down and kissed her again. This time he allowed himself to feel the sparks that flew between them, the feeling of coming home after a very long, wearing journey making him feel very content. He broke the kiss and leant his forehead against hers, “ I love you, Gillian Fosta,”

“I love you, too, Cal Lightman.”

*            *            *

Five days later and Valentine’s day was upon them, given the misgivings Gillian had shared with Cal she wasn’t expecting anything at all, so was pleasantly surprised to fine a fresh rose on her desk. Cal had seen her enter and watched her admire, pick up and smell the rose, hunched against the door. She smiled at him when she saw him there, one of her beautiful, soul deep smiles that were reserved only for him.

It had only been five days, but she hadn’t stopped the genuine smiles. It was a good start, and a good start was all he needed.

[lightman-tales]

What happens when a young Emily meets Gillian for the first time?

Cookies are the Way to a Girl's Heart - For Soprano193

Cal turns up at Gillian’s door out of the blue and with a surprise; a small child in tow. His face is full of anguish. Something’s wrong. It’s only when he’s standing in her kitchen does he tell her what’s going on and why his 6 year old daughter is with him.

“Hi Fosta, sorry to do this to you on a school night and all, but Zoe’s dad’s fallen ill, we need to shoot off… um, do you mind looking after Emily for the night? I’ll come pick her up in the morning.”

“Ah, I’m sorry Cal. Of course, she can stay,” Gillian replied, slightly confused as to why Cal was leaving Emily with her. They’d only been working together a few weeks, and she’d only seen Emily a few times before, with nothing more than a cursory hello exchanged between the two.

Cal, being Cal, picked up on that straight away, “Frankly, Fosta, you are the sole person, bar myself and my wife, who I would trust with my daughter. In the world, not just in the state.”

Gill just nodded and blushed before kneeling down to speak to Emily face to face.

“Hi, Emily, I’m Gillian.”

“Nice to meet you, Gillian,” Em replied dutifully, quietly followed by “Em, call me Em”

Cal beamed down at his only daughter, the significance of her letting Gillian call her by her nickname was not lost on either of them.

“Well, Em, I was about to make some cookies and watch Lilo and Stitch, wanna join in?”

The young girl’s face broke into a big smile, nodding enthusiastically, before controlling her joy and looking up at her father for permission.

He smiled warmly at her, nodding his ascent “Go on, she won’t bite you!” And Em ran around him, running towards the bathroom Gillian directed her to, briefly leaving the adults alone.

“So, Lilo & Stitch, huh? Subject yourself to that on purpose do you?” Cal asked, gently teasing.

“Even adults need a reminder of childhood,” Gillian grinned back.

His smile was easy and instantly put her at ease, before dropping slightly, worry etched onto his face “Are you sure you’re going to be OK with Em?”

“We’ll be fine, Cal. Go do what you have to,” reaching out and gripping his arm reassuringly.

Em bundled back through the door, shouting “Cookies!” as she did. Bouncing around her kitchen like tigger, the two of them laughed and Cal turned to go, waving to them both.

*            *                        *

“Chocolate chip good for you, Em?”

“Uh-huh. Choc chip is my favouritest” Em replied.

“Cool, then let’s get started,” Gillian beamed.

Everything was all laid out on the kitchen counter, both Em and Gillian were wearing aprons, and Em was standing on a chair in order to be able to see.

Gillian knew this recipe well enough to not need to look at anything and as they made their way through, Em grew more impressed with this magical lady who could make cookies out of seemingly boring ingredients and explain it to Em in a way that made it seem easy. Her mom had always made it seem boring and difficult. But with Gillian it was fun.

It wasn’t long before they started to make a mess; flour had puffed into the air, slightly covering them both and the batter got splattered all over the counters and Gillian’s face. Gillian’s reaction to both things was to laugh heartily, tapping Em’s nose when her finger was covered in batter, resulting in a mini food and tickle fight. Emily had laughed freely, without fear, at being allowed to be a kid. Gillian also let her lick the bowl clean after the cookies were all in the oven. In Em’s mind, Gillian was THE coolest adult ever. Her mom and dad never let her do messy things and get away with it, or make sugary snacks.

Gillian sent Emily to get cleaned up and changed into pjs whilst the cookies cooked and she at least made an attempt at cleaning the kitchen. After a quick wipe down and allowing the cookies to cool, they settled on the sofa with Lilo, Stitch and a pile of freshly cooked, still melting choc chip cookies.

*            *                        *

The bouncy six year old dived into the pile of cookies, the chocolate leaving melted chocolate on her lips, her squeal of delight a strong indicator of how much she enjoyed Gillian’s baking. “Gill, these are YUMMY!” she grinned.

“I’m glad you like them!” Gillian grinned back, taking a big bite out of another one, enjoying the sugary goodness.

“Thank you, Gilly. I love you!” the sincerity with which the six year old said it, made Gillian’s heart constrict with longing.

“I love you, too, Em,” Gillian beamed, tickling her “let’s watch Lilo & Stitch!”

“YEAH!” was all she said as she folded into Gillian’s side.

The sugar and excitement of being away from home meant that Lilo & Stitch turned into Lilo & Stitch follow by Treasure Planet and Monsters Inc. By halfway through Monsters, Inc., Em was buried into Gillian’s side, cookie half way to her mouth, fists bunched into Gillian’s jumper.

The credits rolled and Gillian looked down at the girl curled down, finally mustering up the emotional strength to pick her up and place her in the spare bedroom. She stood watching over her as she settled.

*            *                        *

A few days later

“Oi, Fosta!” Cal’s head stuck out of his office, gesturing her to come in.

“Can I help you, Cal?” her face carefully blank, unsure of why she’d been summoned.

“I just wanted to say thank you for lookin’ afta Em the other day,”

“It’s fine, it was no big –“ Cal interrupted her with a wave of his hand.

“She hasn’t stopped talkin’ about how cool you are, how much fun she had and how much she loves you.”

She was completely speechless, mouth opening and closing without making any sounds.

“My daughta has an exceptional taste in people, which means my trust in you was well founded.” Cal continued.

He paused, cocking his head to one side, “welcome to the family, Gillian,” and kissed her on the cheek on the way out of his office.

She stared after the crazy, brilliant man that in one sentence had accepted her more fully than anyone since Alec. A warmth spread through her; she’d found her place. The Lightman Group was starting to feel like home.  

[lightman-tales]

I would love to see a callian baby or family, please!

One For Sorrow, Two For Joy, Three For A Girl, Four For A Boy - For Soprano193 & Anon

They hadn’t been together officially all that long when Gillian approached Cal with a nervous smile and glowing look on her face. She was a ball of nerves and knitted excitement, her hand rested naturally and protectively over her abdomen. He heard her enter the room, caught up in how content she looked, if you ignored the tension in her shoulders. He caught sight of where her hand was, the light in her and eyes and dared to hope.

“Cal,” she stalled as she sat down next to him, “I have some news.”

Taking her hands in his, he kissed them. Looking her straight in the eye, “Good news, I hope.”

“I’m…” she trailed off, taking a deep shaky breath, “I’m pregnant.” She whispered the last word as if it would break.

Cal’s face lit up, unrestricted joy, love and happiness written all over his face, “We’re pregnant?” Gillian nodded, tears rolling down her face, “Bloody hell, Gill! You’re gonna be a mutha! Blimey, I’m gonna be a dad again!”

Gillian’s joy stalled for a moment, her face fell. She looked towards where their hands were entwined and asked, “Are you sure you’re OK with this?”

Cal’s face was a picture of shock. His mouth opened and closed a few times without actually saying anything.

“I know we haven’t been together long, and we haven’t really spoken about the future and I don’t want to force you do something you don’t want to either.” Gillian continued, her resolve hardening.

“Gill.” She was still looking anywhere but him. “Gillian,” he said again, lifting her chin up to make her look him in the eye. “I know we haven’t spoken about the future, but you are it for me. I want this. I want this with you, and only with you. I’ve wanted this for you for years, and the fact that I’m a part of you becomin’ a mum? Well, that’s just the icin’ on the cake. Darlin’ you’re going to make the best mutha and I am very excited to be a part of that.”

He held her then and that’s when the excitement kicked in. They were going to have a baby.

*            *            *

Other than nerves, the pregnancy had been a fairly easy one. Gillian had taken to it like a duck to water, just like Cal knew that she would do. Cal had found it easier to be supportive of her than he had done with Zoe, which had caused twinges of guilt but were quickly squashed; now was not the time to be thinking of his ex-wife. Their daughter was the only real connection he had to Zoe and Emily had been overwhelmingly supportive of the pair of them, already in big sister mode.

The nerves, however, started to settle in a week or so before the birth date. Suddenly everything was a bit too real and the reality that Gillian would soon be a mother frayed her temper, mixed with the irritation of her almost full term pregnancy. She was looking forward to not being some cumbersome, but also very nervous about her first forays as a mother to her own child. Despite Cal looking a little nervy, he helped to calm Gillian with ease of years of practice and that ridiculous smile of his.

The birth was just around the corner, everything was about to change, and everyone in the Lightman household waited with baited breath.

*            *            *

The birth had been the longest night of Emily’s life. She’d been at home before her dad when Gillian went into labour and was the one to take her to the hospital and get hold of her dad, all while trying not to panic.  

It turned out that keeping Gillian calm while her dad wasn’t there was the biggest challenge of them all. The hour and half it took to get hold of him (he’d been in a meeting across town and in the end Torres had barged in, told him the news and he bolted without so much as a goodbye), Gillian had managed to talk herself into the conclusion that he didn’t love her and she was going to raise the baby alone.

Of course the moment Cal had walked in, he’d managed to soothe her, with tears of joy in his eyes and apologies on his lips. From the moment he entered the room, Cal refused to leave her side longer than the few minutes it took him to find the toilet. He was her rock throughout.

Then came the waiting game. The long, long hours where nothing seemed to happen and the longer hours where Gillian and Cal were taken away from Emily’s eyeline and all she could hear were the occasional grunts of pain. Left by herself at 1am, Emily struggled not to panic. Of course, it would all be fine, but her tired mind played tricks on her, played out all the horrible possibilities. It was during one such horror filled possibility that her father stuck his head out of the door; he looked drained and worried when he couldn’t see Emily. Her mind went into overdrive. Her heartbeat increased, the blood rushing to her lower limbs should she need to run.

She stepped into her father’s eye line, he recognised her and grinned. A smile that took over his entire face and took years off him.

“Come on, Love,” he said, ushering her inside.

Gillian was sitting up on the bed, looking thoroughly exhausted and somehow made Cal look fresh in comparison. But she also looked relaxed and happy. A small bundle held in her arms.

“Hi, Em.” Gillian whispered, “come and say hello to Lily,”

[lightman-tales]

Write a Drabble in which young Emily enjoys leaving adorable notes for cal by spelling things out in fridge letters and alphabet spaghetti

My Hero - For Retrobagel

A/N: So, I kinda took this and ran with it, deleted it, rewrote it, then came back to it. Then deleted it again, rewrote it then left it for a week and here we are. I hope you like it, I know I do! Enjoy - G

Cal wondered downstairs, bleary eyed at silly o’clock in the morning, determined to grab some coffee before he had to make his way to the office. This case was half killing Cal; he’d barely managed to grab 4 hours sleep before having to get up again. Over the last week he’d only succeeded in speaking a few sentences to Zoe, let alone a conversation and he hadn’t even seen Emily at all in days. He felt incredibly alone and alienated in his own house, separated from his own family and he felt adrift from everything.

So, when Cal came down and found the usually busy fridge empty except for a hand drawn picture (he recognised his Em’s handiwork) and a line note above it spelt out in colourful magnetic letters he was curious.

The note read:

 “Daddy I drawed this for you!” and accompanied a picture of a man in cape and a mask, a house and a smiling girl. An arrow pointed to the caped hero, the note reading “my dad” and a similar one pointing to the girl reading “me”.

It wasn’t much, but the fact that his little girl had gone to the effort of clearing the fridge except for this, to draw it to his attention, at six, spoke of a kindness beyond her years. His heart swelled at the sight and sat staring at it drinking his coffee and when it came to leave, he took it on impulse. He folded the paper up, keeping it close to his heart, letting it ground him, tether him. She had managed to remind him why he did what he did, a six year old. A six year old had managed what her mother couldn’t do.

Taking an extra few minutes Cal left a note for Em underneath hers. “Thanks Em, your picture is keeping me safe. Love you,”

Suddenly, the day didn’t seem so daunting.

*            *            *

Several years later when Cal was clearing out his office at the Pentagon, he found a small slip of paper with a colourful drawing on stuffed inside one of his drawers. Carefully he unfolded it and smoothed it out. The crumpled paper revealed a picture long forgotten by Cal, but no less important to him. It proved that once, even if it was only once, Em had thought of him as her hero.

That thought kept him going as he finished loading his stuff and left the office, that drawing – kept safely tucked away in his jacket pocket – protected him as he told Zoe that he was unemployed, that drawing gave him strength to ask Gillian Foster to go into business with him. The knowledge that Em thought of him that way gave him strength and made him try to live up to his daughter’s expectations. He vowed that it would never be lost again.

*            *            *

Fast forward several years and Cal and Zoe have finally separated. Cal is a mess, only holding himself remotely together when Em is around, because he has to be a hero for her, he has to be the big strong man she thinks he is, he has to protect her from the wreck her father’s become. That drawing epitomised why he had to sort himself out, that drawing gave him hope, it gave him life.

However, the way to hell is paved with good intentions and one night when Emily was staying over, he got drunk. Properly, professionally and paraletically drunk. She was in bed when he started, but hearing him clanging and swearing woke her up.

As soon as he saw her on the stairs, he broke down. The alcohol in his system only an excuse he used to hide his shame, something that his 14 year old daughter saw through in a matter of seconds.

“ ’m fyn, Emm,” he slurred, “Go back schleep.” His tears marring his cheeks, but only making his voice a little strained, which could be passed off as an effect of the alcohol.

“No, you’re not.” Em looked at him, eyes full of sadness.

“Not sposed to see me like this,” he grumbled and Emily just looked at him confused, “sposed to always be your hero, luv.”

“Oh, Dad.” Her voice quivered as she stepped to him, wrapping her arms around him.

The next morning, Emily treated Cal to breakfast in bed; nothing special, just spaghetti letters and egg on toast. They were out of beans, and frankly he could moan as much as he liked but with a hangover the size of the planet that he was likely to have, Em didn’t care too much about which tomato covered something he consumed.

Cal groaned to acknowledge that he was awake, the smell of food actually making him not want to vomit for a change. He sat upright and Emily thrust a large glass of water and some aspirin his way, which he gulped down greedily, before handing him his breakfast.

“Em, about last night…” he trailed off. He knew he wanted to talk to her about it, but at the same time he was really hungover and couldn’t think straight.

“Dad,” she cut in, “would you just eat your breakfast please?”

He nodded, head down to look at what she’d made him.

There on top of the eggs, in spaghetti letters, was a note. That read:

“You’ll always be my hero”

Cal choked, reaching out for his daughter, clasping her hand tightly.

*            *            *

“So, Dr Lightman, I have to say, I’m intrigued. What made you start The Lightman Group?” asked Mr Holland, just as he was about to sign a big yearly contract.

Cal just smiled and pointed to the crumpled picture in a frame on his bookshelf and said “So I can always be a hero in my daughters eyes.”

[lightman-tales]

cal gets the wrong impression when gill brings someone to the office party

Green Eyed Cal - For Anon

*            *            *

Gill walked into the Group grinning as she saw the people milling around, drinking and swaying to the music. Ria looked beautiful as she danced with her partner, Eli looked marginally less scruffy and awkward as he danced with a beaming Emily. The latter meant Cal was hiding somewhere or they wouldn't be quite so brazen. That meant it was safe to enjoy a quick dance with her brother before Cal would come in like a bull in a china shop and make things awkward, strained through his inability to put his emotions into words.  She pulled her brother into a lose embrace, enjoying the casual closeness she hadn't experienced with family for many years. She slowly felt him relax during the music and sway of bodies, no need for words, just comfort of a sibling in troubled times.  Taking comfort from her brother meant that she didn't see Em slip away into her fathers office, or she would've distanced herself or at least steeled herself for the obvious jealous Cal. As it was she caught him out the corner of her eye as she danced, his eyes dark like a storm. She watched as he downed the rest of his glass and marched off out to the balcony. Sighing heavily, she stepped back from her brother, whispered an excuse and stepped out after him. 

*            *            *

Cal turned his head as he heard the door open.  "Managed to pull yourself away from your hot date, I see?" He smirked.  "Cal, what is it?" She begged as she stepped closer.  "That was deflection, luv," finally turning to face her.  "So was that," amusement slipping into her voice.  An awkward silence descended on the pair, Cal wanting to say something, but not knowing what struggled but stated quiet.  "You know, that man I was dancing with isn't a date," she half smiled.  His head cocked to one side, suddenly interested. "Oh yeah, just a friend? You brought just a friend to our Christmas do?" His voice a little higher than usual, strained as if he was forcing himself to sound light hearted.  "No, family," Gill stated simply.  Cal's eyebrows shot upward, waiting for her to continue.  "My brother called, he's having a rough time so I invited him to relax among friendly people." Her voice didn't raise but he heard the hurt undertones and his head dropped. "I'm sorry, luv. I've been such a prick," his voice almost cracking.  "I wish I could tell you otherwise," she sighed.  "I really wanted tonight to be different. I was waitin’ for you tonight, I wanted to apologise, I wanted to - " he stopped, coughed, looking away, until he felt her hand on his hand, grounding him. He looked down and their hands and intertwined their fingers before continuing, "I wanted to ask you to dance, to prove that I could be better man. And then you showed up with a bloke, dancin' with him and leanin' on his chest and you looked so relaxed and I thought I'd missed my chance again. And I just lost it. I didn't want to see you in the arms of another man. So I came out here. I didn't want to ruin your evenin'" Cal looked disgusted in himself, helpless and lost.  "What are you saying, Cal?" Her eyes were searching his face, determined to find the true, certain she was going to find a cruel joke. "Can't you see on my face, luv?" He whispered, desperation evident.  "I need you to say the words," her voice equally quiet, her head leaning against his.  "I can't. There are no words, just actions," and with that he tilted his head and pressed his lips to hers, hands entwined.  "I just know I don't want to feel jealous again, luv," he mumbled against her lips.  "Come on, Cal. Let's dance they’re playing our song." "Let's dance here, I don't want to share this with anyone else just yet." And so they danced on their balcony, oblivious to Emily watching gleefully through the window. 

[lightman-tales]

Cal, Ben and Gill threesome.

All Tied Up - For Anon

A/N: This is so nsfw it’s not even funny, as not everyone wants to see smut, I’ve put it all under the cut. Read at your own risk and enjoy! - G

Cal still couldn't believe his luck. There he was lying stark naked on his bed, tied up and stretched out watching Ben and Gill undress each other. The caresses and tender kisses along with the looks that all but devoured him made him rock hard. 

He was already writhing against the ropes, wanting to get involved. He knew that the more he struggled the more they'd slow it down. They'd learnt that he thoroughly loved being dominated, having all semblance of control taken away from him and they loved what it did to him.  Finally they were naked, Gill making delightful little noises as Ben thumbed her nipples and brought her close enough to feel his arousal against her. Gill turned in Ben's arms, her arse rubbing against Ben's cock, his hands playing with her breasts as she brought a few fingers to her mouth to suckle. All while looking Cal dead in the eye.  He gulped, remembering what that tongue had done to him in his study just days earlier, watching as Ben's mouth retraced his own path along Gill's neck, gently sucking on an ear lobe. He forgot to breathe as he watched Gill's hand move from her mouth down to her pussy, pushing two fingers in and setting up a slow rhythm that had her hips gyrating even more. They were the hottest thing Cal had ever seen and when Ben's hand slid down to join Gill's he groaned loudly enough for them to stop. Which was simultaneously the best and worst thing to happen so far.  "I think he wants us on the bed, Gillian." Ben mumbled "Does poor Cal feel left out?" Gill purred.  "God, yes!" Cal whimpered.  Ben and Gill looked at each other and grinned. Cal didn't really care what they were planning because it got them moving. Towards him. Each of them taking a side.  As they slid up the bed, they touched Cal in as many places as possible, but nowhere sexual. When they got to the head of the bed, they leant over Cal, kissing slowly and wetly, both leaning on his chest. Rather than caressing each other they were stroking his ribs, fingers brushing against each other. They both felt so good, the softness of Gill's breasts and the hard planes of Ben's muscles, but it still wasn't enough.  "Come on, luvs. Please. Touch me." Cal all but begged.  "We are touching you, Cal." Ben always let Gill do the talking, there was something she could do to her voice that drove both men insane.  "You know what I mean, Gill. You know I'll show you a good time." Cockiness slipping back into his voice as he found his feet.  Ben was already moving. He knelt underneath Cal's arms, taking his cock in his hand and said "I've got a better use for that mouth of yours," Cal groaned as he opened his mouth and felt Ben push himself in. Immediately he started to suck, his lips sealing around Ben, looking him in the eye as Ben lorded himself over the lie expert.  "Yeah, that's it Lightman. Show me how good that mouth is at getting you outta trouble"  Gill, not wanting to miss out on the fun, had moved to the lower part of the bed. A move missed by both men who were too concerned with the power play to notice. She wrapped her hand around the base of Cal's cock and pumped once. She heard him groan around Ben, but it wasn't the reaction she was looking for.  She pressed a finger into the tight ring of his arse and at the same time licked a line along the underside of his cock. This time his entire lower half shifted off the bed. Better. But Ben hadn't turned round to see what the commotion was. She'd had enough.  She trapped Cal's cock between her folds, letting him feel the wetness, started to rub herself along him and then she leant forward towards Ben, held his arse open and licked around his rim. The effect was instantaneous. Both men groaned loudly and stopped what they were doing, to look at Gill stretched along Cal, whilst doing wicked things to Ben's arse.  "I'm sorry, baby. I didn't mean to forget about you. Get up here and sit on Lightman's face. He's really good at apologising without words." He reiterated his apology with a soft kiss.  She settled over Cal's shoulders, facing towards Ben so she could watch him help her take Cal apart. As Gill lowered herself onto Cal's face, he met her with his tongue out waiting. He licked up and down her folds, circling her clit and savouring the heady combination of Ben's precome and Gill's juices. After he pushed his tongue inside her she started to ride his face, getting the friction she needed from his stubble. Just as he'd got settled he felt Ben's tongue pushing into his arse.  Gill watched as Ben started to prepare Cal. First using his tongue, something neither would admit loving doing to the other, getting Cal writhing against both of them, then grabbing the lube, using his fingers. Gill loved watching this as it was something both men loved and actually had started craving in recent weeks. Cal soon had three of Ben's fingers up his arse and was keening. The pleasure pain was something he couldn't seem to get enough of, but Ben always made sure that Cal was fully ready before entering him.  It seemed quicker than normal when Ben grabbed the condom, rolling it on with desperation before pressing into Cal, but the moan that Cal gave out resulted in the familiar ache in her pussy. Cal lapped and sucked at her with a renewed vigour, but Gill needed something more than his tongue. She needed something else. She needed his fingers or his cock and she needed it now.  She knelt up and crawled over Cal, loving the look in Ben's eyes as he watched her. Her nipples dragging along Cal's torso, before being pressed against Ben's chest. Mirroring her movement from earlier, she turned around in Ben's arms, to face Cal as he kissed her neck and thumbed her nipples. Except this time rather than her fingers, it was Cal's cock that slid inside her pussy. And instead of rubbing off on Gill's arse, Ben was inside his.  Cal had been wrong earlier. This was the hottest thing to ever happen to him. Gill kept eye contact as she rode him deep and slow, Ben paying no attention to him whatsoever as he pounded his arse with hard, fast strokes. All Ben's attention was on the beautiful woman in front of him who was squirming in the most delicious way as he pinched and rolled her nipples, his mouth sucking at her pulse point.  They could both tell she was close and watching Gill come was a beautiful thing and feeling her come was without doubt always the undoing of whoever had made her come. Cal could only watch as Ben slowly let his hand drift down to her clit, his paced had slowed as if to just keep Cal on the edge for this, Gill was starting to lose her rhythm in her desperation to come, especially when she felt Ben's hand trailing down.  "Ben... Pleaaaaase..." She breathed as he continued to tease her.  "Come for me baby," he purred in her ear as he gave her clit a flick.  "Come for me, darlin', come on my cock, let me feel you..." Cal spoke for the first time since he'd had Ben's cock in his mouth. The low gravel to his voice with Ben's fingers rubbing her clit and rolling her nipples tipped her over the edge. Her mouth opening in a silent scream, she pressed down as far as she could on Cal's cock, grinding herself against Ben's fingers and Cal's abdomen. Gills walls were fluttering and pulsing around Cal's cock and with Ben still pounding his arse, which resulted in Gill half moving as she was coming down, prolonging her orgasm, Cal's body gave up and he heard himself saying "I'm gonna come, oh god, I'm gonna come, don't stop, don't stop!!", spending himself inside her moments later. Ben was close but given Gill's refusal to move off Cal and her complaints each time he thrust into him, he quickly removed himself from Cal's arse, the condom flying off and being discarded somewhere in the room. Made his way to the head off the bed and unceremoniously shoved his cock in Cal's mouth.  "How about you finish what you started earlier, Lightman and suck me dry?" Groaning when Cal took him and did just that. It took very little on Cal's part, but he managed to flick the underside of his cock with his tongue which had Ben coming into his mouth in a matter of seconds.  After licking Ben clean, he collapsed next to cal, Gill finally joined them at the top of the bed and untied Cal's hands. They were a little red and sore, but it would be mostly gone in the morning. Cal rolled over to wrap himself around Gill, Ben spooning Cal and sighing in contentment.  They were a strange trio, but it worked mostly. Ben knew that the other two were solid, and knew that what the three of them were doing couldn't go on forever as the feelings involved would never be equal. But it was hot and Ben was single. What he didn't realise was that Cal and Gill were working up the courage to ask him to stay. For as long as he'd have them. 

[lightman-tales]

Gill catches Cal singing

Show My Feathers and Run - For Anon.

Gill could hear music drifting through the halls of the Lightman Group; curious she walked towards the source. Soft rock music and gravelly voice seeped into her very soul from Cal’s study; it pulled her towards him, she found herself in his office, peering round to look into his office. The view that caught her off guard was Cal; lying on the sofa, legs crossed, shirt unbuttoned, glass of scotch sweating on his chest, eyes closed… and singing along.

It was beautiful and surprisingly delicate and uncertain for someone with as much vibrancy as Cal.

“Oh, I’m trying all I can to be everything you need me to be.

 Oh, I just can’t turn it on like that; can’t you see it’s killing me?”

The lyrics obviously held some sort of meaning to Cal as he was singing he flashed shame, disgust and sadness. It tore Gill up inside to see him so tortured, especially as she had a feeling that most of that pain was because of her. Almost as if the song had read her mind it threw up the following verse, made worse by the look on Cal’s face.

“I know you want to play it safe

But it pays to take a leap of faith

If I was just a moment in time

Heartache transposed as rhyme”

His beautiful tenor voice quivered when he managed to get through the last line. Gill felt tears well up in her eyes, she promised herself that she’d go in after the song had finished, but she didn’t want to interrupt him.

She hovered by the door as the song finished, hearing him choking on his emotions, she allowed him a few more minutes and a much more aggressive song to collect himself. She also needed time to compose herself, but she’d never admit that to anyone.

The opening notes of the next song played and she took a deep, shaky breath and entered his office. At first his eyes remained closed as sung the opening lines.

 “Say I’m gonna run away tonight,

Gonna sit down here and stay outta sight,

Leave her struggling on her own.”

 Gill choked and Cal’s head spun to the sound, his eyes focussing on her filled with fear.

“Don’t stop,” She whispered

Cal refused to look away from Gill, his eyes not leaving hers as he continued to sing, a light blush spreading on his cheeks.

“I’m not that strong like her you see,

I’m not the man that I know I should be,

I show my feathers and I run.”

He was pleading with his eyes for her to understand that he understood what a prick he’d been, that running wasn’t actually what he wanted to do, that he was scared.

The music kept playing around them as Gill begged him, “use your word, Cal.”

His head dropped down as he said, “I’m trying, just listen,” to the floor. Lifting his head up, he took a deep breath and joined back in with the song.

“So I better put down the drink, Take a minute to think About the real world and what I should do Would I run straight home Or keep on drinking alone And just forget that I ever knew?”

Gill’s hand shot to her mouth. This band could not be more in tune with what they were going through if they’d been writing about them. All Gill could think about was every time Cal had run to a bar rather than to her.

He pulled her towards him, embracing her and she relaxed against his chest. One hand found her hand, the other held her close on her lower back and he started to dance with her, his head leaning close to her ear to continue serenading her.

“If I am to change for you It's gonna be a bitter pill to swallow For you, for you And if I am to change my view With a different road and goal to follow. It's for you. For you”

His face had completely softened, his usual mask having slipped, revealing just how she made him feel. They might not be his words, but he was using them to spectacular effect.

A lump had formed in her throat and she nuzzled in closer to him, breathing in his smell – a blend of sweat, the countryside and his cologne – and trying not to cry as he continued to make this rock song sound intimate.

She leant up to kiss him on the corner of the mouth and he smiled softly down at her, “Let’s get out of here, luv,” he suggested. She nodded and danced her out of The Group and into the night.

A/N: Both songs come from Young Rebel Set's newest album, Crocodile are are called "Tuned Transmission" and "Show Your Feathers and Run". These really remind me of Callian and recently this album has been on repeat... again... 

[lightman-tales]

Cal and Gill on a stake out, they get bored and there is only one thing they can think of to pass the time ;)

Steak Out, Make Out - For Anon

A/N: This does get smutty, avoid if that's not your cup of tea. First bit of smut, wahey! Feel free to send in smutty requests in! Enjoy, G

Gill’s hand shot out, connecting with Cal’s hand.

“Ow! What was that for?!” Cal demanded.

“Time and a place, Cal,” Gill replied sharply.

“Oh, and you mean in a car, at night, in an empty street, with nothin’ to do isn’t the right time?” Cal grinned, his fingers drawing circles on her knee, drawing her eyes down to watch. She groaned then closed her eyes in an attempt to get herself under control.

“We’re working!” She squeaked, but her eyes were closed, her hands gripped the seat and her breath was hitching.

“Workin’!” Cal huffed, “We’re on a steak out and he’s in for the evenin’ with his secret-not-so-secret gay lover. We’re done for the night, staying is just a formality.” His hands started to trail higher up her leg, slowly slipping under her skirt, barely touching her skin.

This side of their relationship was still new and they were at the stage were being in each other’s company for too long started them down a physical memory lane. Cal had learnt that she loved his hands, and always found ways to draw her eyes to them, loving how easy it was to wind her up and how much he enjoyed bringing her down. His own pulse was starting to race at the contact and the fact that he knows she’s caved.

“Kiss me.” She whispered into the stillness and he grinned.

He leant over to her side of the car, turned her face towards him, kissed her slowly but with heat and was rewarded with a throaty moan, which made his eyes roll back in their sockets.

Her grip on his arm lessened, her thumb stroking the muscle, encouraging. He smiled against her lips at the not subtle hint to continue. While still teasing, Cal’s hand moved faster with slightly more purpose until he was brushing alone the already wet folds of her silky underwear. He groaned when he felt the heat radiating off her, feeling her shifting against his fingers. Her fingers of her other hand slipped into his hair, urging him forward yet again. He couldn’t get his head around the fact that this gorgeous woman was so desperate for him. It pulled at his very being, the heat was rocketing and enough was enough, he pushed her underwear aside.

He stroked her up and down her lips, coating his fingers with her wetness, before slowly pushing one in. She shivered against his digit and it felt delicious. Her fingers tightened around his arm again, as if she was holding on to reality that seemed to be slipping away from both of them at an alarming rate. Their kiss had been broken, but they both stayed close, watching each other with blown pupils and flushed cheeks. There was an intimate stillness that lingered and seemed to stretch, until Cal swallowed and started to move his finger inside of Gill.

Watching her react was a thing of beauty; there was nothing sexier in the world and Cal was already hard, his cock begging for freedom. He ignored it, focusing completely on her, adding another finger and loving the warmth of her. Cal thought he could listen to and watch her forever, all the little noises and gasps and wobbly breaths that made everything about the experience even sweeter, but the thing he loved hearing most was his name falling from her lips, like a prayer.

“Cal,” she moaned, he closed his eyes and he thought he’d died and gone to heaven.

“Cal,” she managed again, a bit louder, he continued, determined to get her to say it again.

“CAL!” There was an urgency in her voice and she stilled his arm with an alarming amount of force. He looked worried and startled.

“I don’t want to come by myself, I need you inside me,” she whispered, almost embarrassed and he had to resist pointing out the fact that he was inside her already.

He nodded and removed his fingers from her, sucking off her juices, “Hmmm, delicious, I can’t wait to taste you again.” She followed the movement of his fingers and tongue like it was the most important thing in her life and Cal had never wanted her more.

Cal pushed his seat further back and tilted it so it was almost flat was almost given a heart attack by how quickly Gill straddled him, rubbing herself against his cock.

“Hmmm, Cal, you’re so hard for me, you feel so good.” It had been a revelation that she talked more than him during sex and it was all Cal could do to hold onto her hips and hope that he didn’t die before he got inside her. He pulled her close, feeling her chest against his, more for respite than for any extended intimacy, not that it was an unwelcome side effect.

She pushed herself up again, Cal's hands sliding down her back to rest on her lower back. Gill's hand slipped between them, undoing his zip and grasping him in her hand, slowly, but not shyly, stroking him, making him choke and gasp for air. Her wicked grin made him realise this was her revenge for his teasing earlier and he didn’t care at all.

Luckily for him, it didn’t take long before she decided that enough was enough and she wanted what she wanted and she wanted it now. She pulled at his trousers and pants down, with an amusing wiggle from Cal that resulted in his cock brushing against her pussy. That stilled both of them for a few glorious seconds, and then Gill started to move, pushing down on him.

And fuck. All thought stopped in that moment.

“Hmmm, Gill, luv. You feel amazin’” Cal hummed, his voice catching in the back of his throat.

“Gods, Cal. So full.” She moaned, starting to set up a rhythm that could see them through the night.

Or would’ve had Cal not been so desperate to take it to the next level, he was thrusting up into her as she ground down onto him, making sure her clit came into contact with him, taking what she wanted from him.

He wanted control despite being on the bottom and had to bite back a laugh when she cried out “Stop being such a toppy bottom!” when he had thrust out of rhythm, just to throw her, to show her that it takes two to tango. Although, it wasn’t really a complaint, he could feel that as she started to shiver around him.

It started as heat between new lovers and now it felt like a race, not a competition, but the joyous energy of two people determined to pleasure the other more, and now the end game was racing towards them.

Gillian had had a head start and Cal was determined to use that, determined to make her come before he did, he could feel her coiling around him and moved his hands from their place on her hips to brush her clit, to stoke her and push her over the edge. He wasn’t disappointed, she came with a cacophony of swear words that were so out of character for her, he grinned at this secret piece of Gill he now had access to.

The feeling of her walls quivering around his cock made him lose control, and a few strokes later he came inside her, silent except for a quietly muttered “Gillian.”

They clung together as their breathing returned to normal and reality started to crash back into place around them. They’d just had sex in a car. Whilst working. The windows were all steamed up and they couldn’t see anything. Sweaty, sticky and generally uncomfortable, Gill went back to her seat and Cal muttered something about a shower.

Slightly embarrassed, but overjoyed they didn’t get caught, Cal pulled away into the night. As Cal had said the suspect wasn’t going anywhere that night; he would keep.

[lightman-tales]

Cal gets arrested and rings gill to bail him out.

Saved By The Bell - For Anon

Gill had just thrown herself on her bed and opened her newest romance novel when the phone rang. The number was withheld and given the day they’d had at work, she wouldn’t be surprised if it was Cal calling from some bar needing to be picked up. She was half right. It was Cal and he did need picking up. Alas, he wasn’t in a bar.

“So, what do you say, luv?” he asked cheekily

“Hmm, let me see. Do I fancy a trip to the police station to bail out my partner for getting in a fight? No, not really.”

Cal made a spluttering noise at the other end of the phone

“Foster, come on. Please. They’re all drunk in here, they’re looking at me like I’m an easy target!”

“Well, it’s a good thing that you’ve had all your things taken off you then isn’t it?” She snaps coldly

“OK, Gillian, I’m begging. The fight wasn’t my fault. I’m not drunk. Please don’t make me call Emily.”

Gill pinched the bridge of her nose. She hated that she was always expected to clean up his messes and with little or no thanks. She hated that he used Emily to bring her round to his way of thinking and hated that she let him.

“Fine, I’ll be there in half an hour; try not to start any more trouble.”

Gill could hear him relax and in her minds eye she watched him almost deflate.

“Thanks, luv. I owe you.” He said sheepishly and hung up the phone.

She sighed and picked herself up off of her bed, looking forlornly as her relaxing evening melted away. She collected her keys and pushed herself out of the door.

*            *            *

Cal was pacing around the communal holding cell. He knew Gill was on her way, but that didn’t make it any easier to wait. In fact, it made it worse, it was like telling a five year old they had to wait ten minutes for a bar of chocolate but then not letting them do anything to distract themselves.

He was kicking himself. He was determined to get through the evening without any trouble, he wasn’t even going to a bar, he was heading home, he WAS home. It was part of his plan to prove himself worth of his best friend and somehow it had back fired.

Standing in his living room, about to sit down, when he saw a teenager kicking a dog. Really laying into this dog, which was making noises that any decent human being’s soul would curl at. Yet, there this boy was ignoring it. And Cal saw red. He’d marched out of his front door, had scooped the dog up and was walking back to his house when the teen had pushed him to the floor.

It had taken several deep breaths but Cal had managed to hold back on hitting this boy in the face, instead he started yelling, the dog now cowering behind him, seeking protection. The commotion had caused quite a crowd to gather, much to Cal’s glee. Let this boy be shamed for what he’d done to this animal. That was until the boy’s father had come up and started shouting that Cal had no right to berate his son. Then Cal had lost it and had thrown a punch that landed squarely on the man’s nose, which then broke and spurted blood everywhere.

Had it been done with no audience that would’ve been the last of it, but with the audience the bastard had felt the need to get his own back. The trouble with fighting Cal is that everyone underestimates him; his experience of fighting those bigger than him makes him a worthy opponent. As this man found out when he came at Cal who had no choice but to try and knock him out.

Unfortunately due to the crowd someone, who hadn’t heard what had gone on and just seen the blood, had called the police who had turned up just as Cal landed the knock out blow. Despite those around him pleading that it wasn’t his fault and that he was being a good citizen, the police had taken him and the slightly groaning man to the local police station.

Now Gill had to pick him up.  And his plan was in tatters.

So he paced.

*            *            *

“I’m here to pick up Doctor Cal Lightman.” Gill said at the station desk

“Ah, right. Yes, he’s free to go, all charges are being dropped. We told him so ten minutes ago, but he elected to wait for you, he’s just in the waiting room,” the desk sergeant told her.

She was surprised; apparently the fight wasn’t his fault to the point where he’d been released without charge. She pushed through the doors into the waiting room; he hadn’t noticed her turn up and he looked awful.

He looked defeated, not drunk, not swaying, not cocky, but defeated. It made her heart ache. It was a look that didn’t sit well on him.

“Hey,” she said into the empty room.

Her voice seemed to jolt him back to the present, he looked up her and tried to smile, “Hey,” he responded, but then looked back at his hands “I tried so hard to not get into trouble today, luv. I’m trying to prove that I’m better than that. I was AT home.”

She cocked her head to one side, “what happened, Cal?” she asked as she sat down beside him.

And determined to prove himself, he told her, without hiding or covering anything. He just told her what happened and she winced at the appropriate moments. When he was finished he looked at her as if to ask her for forgiveness.

She took his hand “Cal Lightman, you are an insufferable human being, but you are also the sweetest, most caring man I know. You have nothing to be sorry for, you did the right thing.”

The smile on his face was forced, but the warmth in his eyes spoke volumes.

“Let’s get you home,” she whispered

“Thank you, Gillian. I’m sorry I ruined your evening.” He still looked small, uncertain and on edge.

“You’re welcome, for that I’ll let you buy me dinner,” she responded.

“Big of you,” he snorted and followed her out into the night.

[lightman-tales]

Cal is sick and Gill takes care of him.

In Sickness and In Health for Anon

A/N: I'm back guys! Sorry for the wait, my job got massively hectic and no internet made it difficult, I will be catching up with all the requests don't you worry!

“You have to lie still, Cal!” Gill stated, pushing Cal back against his pillows as he grumbled his complaint.

“It’s just a cold, I’m not an invalid!” he protested, Gill uses this opportunity to shove a spoonful of chicken soup into his mouth.

The scowl on his face softened as he swallowed the soup, replaced seconds later by his trademark wicked grin.

“I would’ve got a fever years ago if I’d known I’d get this treatment, Foster!” he said, accompanied by an eyebrow wiggle.

“Shut up, eat your soup and then sleep.” Gill instructed

Cal pouted at that, “but then I’ll miss the beautiful woman who is miraculously in my bedroom.”

“I’m only down the hall and you’re all,” she pauses at this point to gesture at him in bed, with a look of revulsion on her face “infectious.”

He huffed a laugh, which then proceeded to turn into a hacking cough that had Gill rushing to him with a glass of water. Her face creased with concern as she sat down next to him, stroking his forehead under the pretence of taking his temperature.

“You’re so hot…” She whispered

“ ‘Bout time you acknowledged that, luv.” Cal croaked, earning him a smack on the arm.

Gill headed to the bathroom, returning moments later with a wet flannel. Cal groaned as she placed it on his forehead, then promptly shivered.

“Damn, that feels good. Who was I in a past life to deserve you?” he asked, his eyes slightly unfocused

“Just be thankful I have the patience of a saint,” she said as she continued to half force feed him soup.

 *            *            *

 Despite her joking about him being infectious, Gill stayed with Cal until he dropped off, knowing that a bored Cal would never result in anything good. Well, that’s what she told herself, the truth was that she enjoyed having Cal’s undivided attention, it made her feel good about herself, made her feel wanted. She cursed him for being able to make her feel like that, cursed him for making her crave compliment after compliment. She had to wonder how he’d become some important to her that here she was sitting in her best friend’s room almost enjoying the fact that he was bedridden and therefore was hers entirely.

She chose not to analyse things too carefully until she was in the comfort of her own home.

It was time for her to leave Cal to sleep, he wasn’t in hospital and he didn’t warrant being looked after round the clock. It was just a cold. He would live. She needed to leave.

As she stood up a hand reached up and brushed against her arm, she looked down almost as if she half expected to have imagined it.

Cal’s fingers stroked a light path up her forearm, “don’t go, luv.”

“I have to sleep”

“Sleep here.”

“Cal,” her voice held a warning “you know I can’t”

“Can’t or won’t?” he retorted

Gill opened and closed her mouth without saying anything

“I’m happier when you’re here, I just like having you close.” Cal was half asleep, which made Gill even more aware of the fact that he was probably being more honest than he’d been in years.

She wanted to leave, but as soon as the words had come out of his mouth the reaction in her stomach made it blindingly obviously that she was staying. Even before she’d come to that conclusion she was already climbing into his bed. His bed.

She promised she wouldn’t get too close, but as soon as she settled down, he rolled over and buried his head in her shoulder there was no way she couldn’t turn toward him, open her arms and wait for him to settle.

He sighed happily. It barely registered that he was being held by his best friend, but the smell and warmth made him feel safe. She was everything he needed when he was ill, hell he was everything he needed full stop. And this was a good inroad. 

[lightman-tales]

Prompt: Emily dies. Gill helps cal corm to terms with it

On Love, In Sadness For Anon

A/N: This got dark. Very, very dark. It has some elements of non-con in there. You have been warned. My heart broke writing this, so thank you Muse.

She found him lying in a stupor on his sofa. She’d knocked, but when he hadn’t answered she’d let herself in. He was a total mess, drunk out of his skull, vomit dried around his mouth, his shirt covered in whatever he’d been consuming for the last few days, his eyes were unseeing and full of sadness. It was clear he hadn’t moved in days and under the reek of alcohol Gillian could smell stale sweat and it was clear that a bit of tough love was in order. She grabbed his arms and pulled, he groaned his eyes focussing on Gill.

“Gill?”

“Yes, Cal. Now get up, I’m moving you up stairs.” Her tone offered no alternative, much like the tone used with a child.

He looked confused like he couldn’t quite place what she was doing there, but helped her help him up off the sofa, leaning on her heavily as they made it up the stairs.

“Can’t be Gill. Everyone left me. Everyone’s gone. She’s gone.” With that last statement Cal’s chest racked with a sob that almost knocked Gillian off her feet.

She held her ground, holding him up with an arm round his waist and another just over his heart to provide some comfort.  His head landed on her shoulder, he cried himself dry, the grief never truly leaving him, he just became hollow with it.

She had planned on just getting him into bed in a change of clothes, but Gillian decided that getting him sober was important and changed direction bundling him into the bathroom. She turned the shower on and dropped the temperature to some sub-humane level; Cal didn’t even react to the sound of running water. Luckily, she didn’t have to get him over the edge of a bath and she pushed him unceremoniously under the spray, fully clothed. He spluttered and wriggled, trying to get away from the cold, but Gillian was firm and held him. Another 30 seconds had him shivering and a hand shot out to grab Gill’s shoulder. She could hear him crying again. Slipping off her shoes and jacket, she turned up the heat and stepped into the cubicle with him. He clung to her like as if he were drowning; she held him close like he was fragile and could break at any moment, a little bit at loss with what to do.

After all the hot water ran out, she managed to persuade him to get out and sit wrapped up in a towel on the bed. He wasn’t drunk any more but he certainly wasn’t with it. He looked lifeless, all that energy gone from his soul as if the drunk driver that killed Em had stolen that from his life too. To a large extent that was what happen. Emily had been his life, his driving force since the divorce. He loved her dearly and was sitting here wishing there had been someway that he could have taken her place, she was too young, too precious to die now. But she had been stolen away from him. And the three days since it had happened clearly wasn’t enough for it to start to sink in, but just enough time for the ache in his heart to solidify.

Gill grabbed a spare shirt and some boxers of his, and flung a set at him as she marched out of the bedroom to get out of her wet clothes. He didn’t notice her leave, nor did he notice the clothes next to him. Instead, he just sat there, staring at the wall, wishing that it were just a bad dream. He didn’t even register the tone of disgust when she walked back in to find that he hadn’t moved. She was talking to him, but it sounded distant and frankly he couldn’t bring himself to care, he just wanted to wallow in self-pity and scotch until he joined his daughter.

Clearly he was beyond helping himself at this stage, so Gillian grabbed the towel and started to dry him off, he simply let her. There was no will in him whatsoever. She grabbed his shirt and started to peel it off him, when her hands touched his chest he started to come alive. He waited until his shirt was off before eyeing Gillian properly.

“Aye, aye. Never thought I’d see the day when I had you in my clothes, in my bed, Foster,” he smirked, “and undressin’ me no less!”

She stared at him with flat eyes, now was not the time to be cracking jokes about them, even if she wanted that with her entire being. Now was not the time. She shut it down. Her friend needed her, as his best friend, not as a release, they’d both regret it afterwards.

She thrust a dry shirt into his chest, firmly, creating distance between them. “Put this on and stop being such a petulant child and get out of those wet clothes.” Gill ordered as if he hadn’t spoken.

“All I heard was take your clothes off, and I plan to.” His voice low and dangerous.

Before she had a chance to react, the shirt she’d given him sailed across the room and he grabbed her down on the bed bringing her close to his bare chest. He kissed her, hard. Nothing like she’d expected their first kiss to be like. It wasn’t mutual, it was all about Cal, all about him trying to find some shelter from his grief. He pushed her against the bed, using his body weight to trap her there; he continued to kiss her, his hands roaming her body. She wasn’t scared, she was just angry, trying to find the leverage to push him off her, but he was heavy and stronger than she was.

He ground his hips into her letting her feel what she was doing to him. Or would’ve been doing to him in any other grief-less and consenting situation. He snapped back to reality as if a bucket of cold water had been thrown on him, he rolled off her and curled into a ball.  He was muttering softly, so quietly that Gill couldn’t hear what he was saying until she moved him so he was leaning against her chest.

“I’m so sorry, Gillian. I’m so sorry.” He just kept repeating those sentences over and over as he cried out his remorse and revulsion with himself. She stroked his head, soothing him in an attempt to calm him down. Finally the tears and rocking stopped.

“I’m a class A bastard, love. I’m so sorry. I know you were only trying to help. I wouldn’t blame you if you left, you know.” He sounded defeated and deflated. So unlike the man she was in love with.

“I’m not going anywhere, Cal. You need me right now,” She soothed.

His head snapped up at this point, his eyes searching hers, clearly confused.

“If it helps, I’m still mad at you for that stunt you tried to pull. But you are not pushing me away that easily, Caldonius Lightman.”

“I always need you, Gill. But now more than ever. You’re all I have left. They’ve all left me.” His voice cracked, wobbling slightly.

“I know, Cal, I know.” She replied, still cradling his head against her chest, kissing the top of his head.

“I can’t believe she’s gone, luv. My baby girl is gone and nothing in the world can make that right.” He just sounded hollow. And suddenly, Gill could hear the frightened boy who had to deal with his mother’s death and too young an age, it was the same all over again for him. One more person he loved that he couldn’t save. You’re all I have left the words rattled round her brain and her heart, breaking for the umpteenth time in the last few days.

“She wouldn’t want you to give up on life though. You have to live it for her now.” Hoping that her words sounded surer to him than they did to her.

“I know. I just can’t believe it.”

“Me neither.” 

[lightman-tales]

Cal is cooking dinner for Gillian and Emily :)

The Three Facets of Cal Lightman for Key-tee

A/N: My muse kind of went in a very different direction to what I was expecting... Enjoy.

Emily Lightman was sitting in the living room idly flicking through her chemistry textbook wistfully wishing she were in the kitchen and not missing out on all the fun. From here she could hear the laughter that had become common place in her house since her father had started dating Gillian, it came easily recently and made the house feel lived in, Emily had come to look forward to having her over for dinner. Her stomach growled in response to thinking about food and she decided to hold off any more studying until she had loaded up with food; placing her textbook down she got up and headed toward the kitchen, where things had gone a little quiet.

Creeping down the corridor, Emily stuck her head round the doorway and saw her dad and Gillian in an embrace that made her heart swell. Gill’s hands rested on the back of her dad’s neck, his on her waist, holding her close, their foreheads leaning together. They looked the picture of intimacy and Emily had never been prouder of her old man than the day he’d told her that he’d finally persuaded Gillian to take a shot on him and that they were in it in the long haul. Seeing them like this just cemented that belief, they tended not to be so… lovey-dovey around Emily, which she was grateful for but she also missed seeing her dad truly relaxed. She was debating when to intrude when a timer buzzed and her dad sprung into action.

*            *            *

She did make doing some tasks, like cooking, several times harder though. Those expressive eyes of hers that watched his hands work, remembering what they’d done on her skin and that watched the way he moved with such gusto around the kitchen. The way she looked at him when he was “alive” was more than enough to thank every single deity for giving him the chance with such an amazing woman. Luckily tonight, Emily chose the perfect moment to interrupt. Gill’s attention was no longer focused 100% on him, which meant he could throw himself into his cooking.

As he stirred the curry, adding the last few spices in order to balance it out, he watched Gill and his daughter interact. As always there was a warmth around both of their eyes, genuine adoration of the other – it made his heart melt. Both Lightmans were completely bonkers for her, and she’d done it without trying to usurp Emily’s mother’s role, but just by being different and being there. And as with him, Gill brought laughter and joy out of Em like no one else could. She was good for the both of them.

They caught him looking at them, “Hey, dad, shouldn’t you be watching dinner?”

He looked affronted, “are you sayin’ that I can’t look at the two most beautiful women in ma life while I cook?” he blustered, coming over to kiss them both. Gillian pushed him away, Emily laughed.

“a) That’s a deflection, honey and b) the rice is about to boil over.” Gill stated and then laughed as his eyes almost bulged and he dashed back to his post in order to minimise the damage, swearing as the starchy water overflowed onto his hob.

*            *            *

Gillian loved feeling like a family unit. She had always loved Emily from a far, which made them coming together as a family much easier. But it still brought tears to her eyes when she thought about just how easily they’d slipped into a family unit. Emily had been so excited when they’d finally made the announcement that they were together and whilst she hadn’t called her “mom” – now that would be weird – she always felt welcomed by both Lightmans. The domesticated side of Cal never failed to impress her, of course he’d cooked for her before they were together, but he’d never been quite so liberal with himself as he was now.

It was like she caught different parts of the ‘real’ Cal in different modes. In the kitchen he was domesticated and fatherly Cal, in other words Cal’s soul. In the bedroom he was the lover of life, Cal’s heart was laid out plain as day if he let you in, otherwise you got his curious nature, more of intellect than his heart. And finally, in his hunt for the truth he was an angel. Not the type you’d find on Christmas cards, but an angel of the Lord (the Lord of truth in his case), a brilliantly physical presence backed by something greater than the majority of those who surround him, in short you got Cal’s mind, all of it.

As Gillian sat and ate and observed how the two of them interacted, with laughter and gentle teasing, she pondered on how all or nothing both of the Lightmans seemed to be on things they loved. It made her heart swell to think that she’d been so warmly welcomed. She’d been swept into Cal’s ‘all’ side of his all or nothing; she was one of the few that got to see all three facets of Cal Lightman, she was welcomed at work, drawn inexplicably to his familial side and longed after physically. She felt wanted, adored and respected in all three, even if she wanted to club him round the head at times.

This dinner summed it up perfectly; the three of them at ease with each other’s company, laughing and joking. She was never made to feel like an outsider, they always made her feel like she belonged. It had taken her a long time to figure out what she loved so much about coming here, but in the end it boiled down to the fact that she had found her place and didn’t want to be anywhere else. And for that she would love these two crazy people for the rest of her life.

[lightman-tales]

Cal gives Gill the ring in darkness and light.

The Proposal for Anon

Cal Lightman swaggered into Gillian’s office and threw a small box on her desk, before she’d even had a chance to open it he’d flopped into the chair opposite her.

“What’s in the box?” She asked, her head tilted to the side, trying to work out from his face if she’d forgotten something.

“Prop for the porn place.” He replied, waving vaguely.

Eyebrows slightly raised in intrigue, Gill open the box to find three gorgeous rings: two matching silver wedding bands and an engagement ring with a diamond large enough to take her eye out if she wasn’t careful. Her mouth opened and closed a few times without managing to say anything.

“Where…” she coughed quietly to clear her throat, “where did you get these from?”

“I know a guy.”

“Let me guess, who knows a guy?” she laughed.

“Yep,” her laughter infectious “So, darlin’, will you be ma wife for the next few hours?”

“Nope.” emphasising the ‘p’ sound, turning her chair round, trying very hard and failing to conceal her smile. That’s why she’d turned round, to stop him from reading her.

“What?” he spluttered “But I thought we agreed? The best way in was to be a married couple interested in making their own…” He stopped when he heard Gillian laughing again. At him.

She’d tried to keep a straight face, she really had, but she could hear the confusion and the frown in his voice and couldn’t help it.

“Not until you ask me properly, Cal.” Trying very hard to control her laughter, as she turned round. His face was a picture and set her off again. She just couldn’t stop and whenever she glanced up at Cal his face was such a picture new waves of laughter would wash over her.

He just sat there watching her, completely bemused. She was laughing so hard, tears were leaking down the side of her face. He really didn’t see what was so funny, but he adored watching her laugh. It lit up her entire face and brought her eyes alive, he smiled softly at her, waiting for her to stop. Slowly her laughter petered out.

“So, you want me to ask you properly?” He asked, she nodded, “Like down on one knee and flowers and everything?”

“Surprise me,” her eyes twinkling “But be quick, you haven’t got long!”

“Right you are.” he said as he sprung himself out of his seat, grabbing the rings and heading out of the door.

 Gillian smiled as he left and went back to work.

*            *            *

Cal didn’t think he was going to enjoy this, but he was. The race was on to find a nice bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates. He had less than an hour before they had to leave the office and the adrenaline was running high. Luckily, he knew Gill well enough to know her tastes and to know where he could get it relatively nearby.

Grinning, he blew out of the office, across the road to buy the best box of chocolates he could find. It was a posh chocolatier that Gill frequented when she was feeling any extreme emotion, and this was a perfect excuse. She wanted the works, she was going to get the works. After scrutinising the stock, Cal selected a small box of chocolate orange dusted truffles, beautifully wrapped and a favourite of hers. He released a breath he wasn’t aware he’d been holding in when the cashier handed them back to him, time seemed to have sped up all of a sudden and he now only had 20 minutes left. Thanking the staff, he stormed out of the shop; if he hurried he could get to the nice florist in back in plenty of time.

He was breathing heavily by the time he made it to the florists and cursed his luck when he found there were two people in front of him who had no clue what they wanted. Checking to look at his watch, he realised that he needed to leave in the next five minutes or he’d have to go back without flowers and that was unacceptable. It was time for a low blow…

“Excuse me, can I cut in front, my best friend has just gone into labour and I really need to get some flowers for her. It’s been a long time coming.” His eyes begged and apologised all at once. Of course he got his way and a few minutes later he was marching back to the office.

*            *            *

Gill’s phone buzzed bringing her out of her reverie. It was a simple text from Cal that read:

- Can you come to my office? I got a question for you. 

Smiling, Gill pushed herself away from her desk, straightened her shirt before striding into Cal’s office without a knock, knowing her was expecting her.

“Yes, Cal, what did you want to ask me?” Her eyes danced with anticipation, amusement and daring.

“Follow me then, luv” he smirked, gesturing toward his study, making sure to follow her in.

Cal almost walked into the back of Gill, she’d just stopped in the doorway. She turned round to look at him and her face was a picture of purest shock.

“Cal…” she was searching his face, trying to get any hints, he simply smiled “how…?” was all she could say.

He slipped round her, his hand trailing over her waist, took her hand in his and pulled her further into his study. Firstly, he handed her the box of truffles “For my partna in crime,” he said warmly, secondly he handed her a bunch of barely opened tulips “For my best friend.” She looked a little bit like a fish, mouth opening and closing, but not saying anything, he would have laughed but this moment was something to savour.

Finally, he took her hand and slipped to one knee, “Gillian Louise Foster, would you do me the honour of pretending to be my wife this afternoon?” It was meant to be a joke, but something in his voice and his eyes added to the weight of the situation. Her eyes were actually starting to fill and she had to fight them to stay in, not that Cal would’ve missed them.

“How?” was her only reply

“You asked, you’re worth it so I moved mountains.” He said as if it was the simplest thing in the world, “Now, will you answer me, so I can get up.”

“Yes, Cal, I would love to.” Smiling as he slipped the rings on her finger, noticing that he already had his on. This afternoon was going to be fun.

[lightman-tales]

Gill is babysitting her friends toddler, Cal comes over to help.

The Tiger Who Came To Tea for Anon. I hope this is want you wanted, I got a bit carried away…

Gill was panicking. Something that only really happened to do with children and when her business partner decided to put his life in danger – a feat that happened more often than should really be considered polite.

This panic lay very much in the grounds of the former. She’d just agreed to babysit for her friend’s toddler – Rosa – for the whole day, which in itself is fine, bar the fact that the last time she had been in sole charge of a child for anything more than 10 minutes it was Sophie. When she’d been taken back by her birth mother. It was not her skills she doubted, but that irrational fear that someone would come and take Rosa too wouldn’t dissipate. So what did she do? She reached out to Cal, and as always when it came to his best friend in need had dropped everything to come and help her out.

In fact, he was due to arrive shortly to take her there, because as soon as he’d heard he refused point blank to let her turn up alone or stay there alone if it would help her. Of course, it would help her feel safer being in charge of a good friend’s child, but she didn’t really appreciate how delicately he treated her at times – even on the odd occasion when it was needed.

*            *            *

Rosa smiled shyly and nodded, her hand in her mouth, clinging to her mother’s legs.

“And this is my friend, Cal.” Gill continued gently. Cal dutifully dropped down to get introduced whilst Gill spoke to her friend in calming, reassuring sentences.

“Hi, Rosa,” Cal spoke softly. “Are you gonna show me all your cool toys? I bet you’ve got loads.” He grinned as she trotted off all but pulling Cal along by his shirt sleeve.

Gill saw Cal leave with Rosa, and smiled at the softness around his eyes and the excitement etched into his face that was always present when he was close to small children. It made her heart ache. This time it had nothing to do with Rosa and everything to do with Cal being with Rosa.

“Thanks again, Gillian,” her friend, Liz, affirmed.

“No problem at all, you know I’m always available,” she said with a sad smile, “you just go and look after your mom.”

Liz nodded and walked away, “I’ll see you in a few hours.”

*            *            *

Gill found the two of them in Rosa’s bedroom, sitting on the floor with a pile of multicoloured bricks between them. Cal’s jacket was strewn carelessly on the back of chair somewhere, his polo shirt showing his tattoos, which Rosa was clearly very interested in. She had plonked herself in Cal’s lap and was holding his arm hostage softly drawing her hand over the lines on his forearm, his head was dipped forward he was talking to her quietly, but from here she couldn’t really hear what he was saying. She stepped in closer, just enough to catch the last sentence.

“So, you like ma roses darlin’? Similar to your name you know.”

Cal looked up as he heard her walk in, Rosa continued to be enthralled with the tattoo and was unaware of Gillian’s presence.

“Looks like she has a penchant for bad boys already,” smirked Gill

“Aye, aye,” he replied waggling his eyebrows, “Sounds like a woman I know.” His face broke out in a cheeky grin and Gill blushed

“Oh, hello, luv, hit a nerve did I?”

Luckily she was saved from answering by Rosa pushing herself out of Cal’s lap, causing him to grunt as she caught him in a sensitive area. She made her way over to Gill and grabbed at her knees. Her heart skipped a beat and melted, holding back tears she swooped down and picked the little girl up, who curled into her body.

“Story, pwease” the little voice stuck in Gill’s head and she nearly choked. She tried to find the words, but Cal was already there.

“How about the Tiger Who Came To Tea, luv?” already up and walking toward the bookshelf, the squee of delight that came from the bundle of child in Gill’s arms.

“Sofa?” Cal asked

*            *            *

Gill settled on the sofa, with Rosa nestled in her hip, and opened the book. She was just about to start reading when Rosa’s voice spoke out again.

“Both, flowers too.”

Gill looked perplexed, “What do you want, sweetie?”

“Flowers!” This time she pointed at Cal, “Flowers read too!”

His face softened further, “Course, luv.” Settling the other side of Rosa, his arms flung over the back of the sofa, stroking Gill’s shoulders in a comforting manner.

And so they started to read, doing a page each, whilst Rosa giggled and reached out to touch the photos, leaning into the side of whoever was reading.

It didn’t take long between the soothing tones of both voices, the warmth from being between them and the excitement of being around two new people for Rosa’s eyes to start droop and close, curling close into Gillian’s side.

Neither Gillian nor Cal had the heart to move Rosa, so simply sat watching her sleep. She looked so peaceful. It hurt Gillian, but it was the good kind of hurt she decided, the kind of hurt that showed her that maybe she shouldn’t give up on her own family. She was careful to not fully examine the warm feeling inside her that came from being this close to Cal in this context. She felt comfortable, fuzzy; they’d be getting closer for a while now and he was looking at her with such warmth in his eyes, as if his mask hadn’t slipped back into place properly since his interaction with Rosa. She could hardly blame him Rosa was a really cute kid.

*            *            *

Cal heard the door open and was up on his feet, pressing his fingers to his lips. He caught Liz in the hallway “shhhhhhhhh, Rosa and Gill are asleep on the sofa,” he said to her confused face. Intrigued, Liz followed Cal through to the living room and saw her very good friend and her daughter curled up together, The Tiger Who Came To Tea next to the both of them.

“She would’ve made such a wondaful mutha,” said Cal quietly, “thanks for lettin’ her help out, it meant the world to her.”

Liz nodded “It’s so unfair, no one deserved to be a mother more than her. She’s lucky to have you.”

Cal snorted. “We have each otha’s backs, it’s enough for now. When she realises or admits it to herself, I’ll be here.”

Liz raised an eyebrow. She knew very little about the mystery friend of Gill’s, but what she knew of him was that he was tight lipped about his, well, anything. Cal being Cal obviously caught the look on Liz’s face.

“I’m tired of pretendin’. Happy Gillian makes me happy, I just want her to be happy. Today’s just solidified that.”

“You’re telling the wrong person, Cal.”

“I know, maybe when we both stop lying.”