Fic: Fixed [5, 6/9] (Colby/OFC, PG)
Prompt: Fixed PART V of IX, un-beta'd
Fandom: Numb3rs (don't own it...wish I did though)
Characters/Pairings: OFC-Callie/Colby, inferred - David/Claudia
Spoilers: None really, but maybe The Janus List (Season 3 finale)
Summary: She saw every thing she needed to see when she looked into his eyes.
Rating: PG (inferred nudity and adult situations ^^)
Colby had just stepped out of the shower when he thought he heard a knock at the front door. He chose to ignore it though as he ran the towel over his dripping wet hair before he set about toweling the rest of himself dry. It was when he’d finished that task that he heard the knock again. Picking up his silver linked watch from the sink to slip it onto his wrist, he noticed the time and a speculative look crossed his face. He wasn’t sure who could be stopping by on a Saturday afternoon. Very few people knew he was back in town, and David wasn’t home. And since David had spent the night at Claudia’s, he had to assume that it wasn’t her stopping by either. When there was a third knock, he quickly wrapped the towel about his waist and went to see who it was and what they wanted.
He felt as though the wind had been knocked out of him as soon as he looked through the door to see Callie standing on the other side. He could feel himself instantly spiral into a near panic…something that was very much unlike him. For the first time in his life, he wasn’t sure what to do. He knew in his heart she couldn’t be there to see him…even if the idea did spark a flicker of hope within him. But, realistically, she had to be there to see David…and David wasn’t there. He didn’t want to answer the door to have her think he was trying some game with her to get her to talk to him. But he also didn’t want her to think no one was home when he’d been just on the other side of the door.
Somehow his mind moved him to action as he took a deep breath to calm his quaking nerves. Slowly, he opened the door - leaving the chain on so that she would hopefully not feel threatened by his presence. He just couldn’t bear to see that anger in her eyes. Not again.
He offered her a weak smile as he looked at her, unable to keep from drinking in the way she looked - still so beautiful to him in every way as the afternoon sunshine warmed her where she stood in the hallway. The vision of her before him made his entire body weak for her even as he finally spoke. “David’s not here, Callie. It’s…it’s just me.”
Callie had noticed when she pulled into the apartment complex that David’s Jeep was not parked in its usual spot. She said a quiet thank you to no one in particular as she hoped to find Colby at the apartment alone. The thought had occurred to her that he might not be there at all…or worse yet, that he would have someone with him. She could have called…she should have called, but when she’d left the FBI office - the only thing she could think of was seeing him, and talking to him face to face even if she had no idea what she was going to say. Her stomach began to churn as she considered that maybe he did have someone in the apartment with him…why else would it be taking him so long to answer the door? Then again, she thought she knew him better than that and maybe he just wasn’t there.
She had been just about ready to turn and leave when the door slowly cracked open. For a moment, their eyes met and they simply stood there looking at each other. And then he’d spoken, letting her know that he was the only one around. She could hear in his voice that he was asking her to trust him, even though he thought she had no reason to do so. She could feel her heart warming through as her stomach did flip flops while she looked at him - peering around the door at her. She could tell that he was nervous…that he was afraid he made some mistake by answering the door to let her see him. He was on unsteady ground and unsure of what to do because he wasn’t sure what to expect from her anymore. Given the way she’d been treating him, he had every right to feel that way, she thought as a pang of regret coursed through her.
“I know, Colby,” she finally admitted, offering him the same half smile he’d given her. “Actually I…I came to see you. Can I come in?” she asked quietly, still trying to gather her own thoughts…not completely sure of what she was going to say should he let her inside.
He continued looking at her, blinking for a moment as he savored the way his name had sounded from her lips while he searched her eyes. After the cold stares he’d received just two days ago, he wasn’t sure he could believe that she was there to see him. But, her eyes weren’t cold any more. She was not angry. Something was different…and she really had come to see him. There was no way for him to deny the way his heart sped out of control as he closed the door only long enough to remove the chain so that he could open it fully for her.
She stepped past him into the apartment and smiled at him gratefully for a brief moment before she had to look away. She had mistakenly allowed her eyes to rake over him, standing there in his towel with his hair still damp after a shower. The sight sent a jolt through her insides. She could feel her body warming with the memory of how that body felt against her…how it felt as part of her. As flashes of endless nights of passion and early morning trysts filled her memory, she missed him more in that moment than she had the entire month he’d been gone. And now more than ever, she remembered why she was standing there with him…why she had come to see him.
“I…I can’t stay long, but, I…I wanted to ask you something…something in person,” she spoke slowly, still not able to look at him.
“What is it Cal…Callie?” he asked expectantly, finding it nearly impossible to breathe as he waited for her to tell him why she was there. He was sure to correct himself as her name - so familiar to him, slipped from his lips as he remembered all too clearly her words from that day seemingly so long ago.
She had to admit - that stung a bit. She wasn’t sure if the pain was from the regret she felt for what she’d said or if her heart ached because she missed hearing him say her name…the name that only he could call her. Cal. She’d been his Cal…and in her heart of hearts, broken though hopeful for healing, she knew she wanted to be his again.
She turned to face him fully then, keeping her eyes fixed on his to avoid the way his perfectly sculpted body shown in the afternoon sunshine. For the first time, she really looked into his eyes…and for the first time she saw the pain and sadness he’d been through. His eyes that used to shine so brightly were dull with the sorrow of his heart. He knew he’d hurt her…he thought he had been wrong…and he missed her. Just like always, she saw every thing she needed to see when she looked into his eyes.
The fact that she had been making things harder for him by not talking to him and being so cold didn’t help the guilt that was consuming her as she looked at him. She hadn’t known his secrets…she hadn’t known anything until today - until the file…and now she regretted every thing she had said to him that day so long ago. She regretted most that she had not trusted him. But…that’s why she was here. She was here standing before him hoping that somehow she could make this right again. At the very least, she wanted…no, she needed to salvage the friendship they’d always shared.
“I wanted to ask you if…if you’d like to have dinner with me at the house…tonight,” she heard herself say. She was just going on instinct now. Suddenly there seemed to be too many things to say for the time she had. This just wasn’t the place.
His heart was in his throat as he stood there looking at her. For the love of God, please don’t let me be dreaming he thought to himself. He was afraid to blink for fear that when he reopened his eyes, she would be gone and her invitation for dinner would have never existed. But he closed his eyes against the warmth in his heart, and when he looked up again…there she was, standing before him and smiling nervously at him as she looked into his eyes. There was something in her eyes he didn’t recognize, something he’d never seen before - which surprised him, knowing that at one point, he had known her better than anyone else. He didn’t know what her motivation was for asking. He didn’t know what had changed to make her come here…to see him, but something was different. And he didn’t really care what. All that mattered was that she was there…reaching out to him.
Realizing he hadn’t answered her, he had to clear his throat to fight back the emotion that was welling up within him at the possibilities she’d just laid before him. “Yeah, Callie. I'd like that very much. What…what time?”
Callie felt herself breathe a sigh of relief when her offer had not been turned down. She’d waited patiently for his answer, and wasn’t sure he even heard the question when he’d finally spoken. He would be joining her for dinner that night…and then they would talk. She had no idea what would transpire. She didn’t know if they could work through this…if they could at least come out of it as friends. She wondered if what they had could be fixed at all…but whatever was meant to happen - they needed to take the time to try.
“Say around seven thirty?” she replied, smiling again as she enjoyed that familiar expectant look that was now dancing across his face.
“I’ll be there,” he breathed, and his voice was hopeful.
Hearing his words, her smile softened in its nervousness and she took a step closer to the door. “Thank you, Colby,” she sighed before she could stop herself as she turned once more to look at him.
The only thing Colby really wanted to do in that moment was pull her into his arms and hold her against him. His arms ached from the want of it…but he knew it was too risky. This communication had been a big step for her - and the balance between them now was far too fragile. They were both standing on a precipice, trying to figure out which way they would fall and he didn’t want to be the one to plummet them over the edge from where they would never return.
“Thank you for…for even asking, Callie,” he answered, struggling to say her name in its entirety again, and feeling emptiness creeping up into him as she took another step closer to the door.
He stepped with her and out of habit, moved to open the door for her. It seemed she was just going to slip away from him again without another word until later that night, but before she’d stepped out into the hallway, she stopped in front of him. She looked up to meet his eyes, and without thinking about what she was doing, she reached up her hand to touch his face. She remembered the way she had traced the shape of him in the picture from the file, wishing more than anything she could touch him - and now, she had been unable to let the opportunity slip past her. Ever so tenderly, her hand cupped his jaw as her thumb gently caressed his bruised cheek - a reminder of the fight he’d had with David. She wanted to say something. She wanted to speak what was on her heart…but all she could do in that moment was touch his smooth skin, and smile softly up at him.
As soon as he felt her skin against his own, Colby closed his eyes and moved into her touch. Instantly, he was alive again…more so than he had been since that day over a month ago. With each caress of her thumb against his cheek, the closer his soul crawled towards life - out of the half dead state he’d been in since she’d left him. But, just as quickly as her touch had been given, she pulled her hand away - looking up at him for a moment before she turned and walked away. The moment was gone…but it had been enough to give him hope - maybe a false hope - but suddenly life had new meaning. Maybe they could fix this…maybe she could forgive him and maybe she wanted to - he was just going to have to ask her for it. And tonight…maybe, just maybe, she would give him the chance.
And...
Prompt: Fixed PART VI of IX, un-beta'd
Fandom: Numb3rs (don't own it...wish I did though)
Characters/Pairings: OFC-Callie/Colby
Spoilers: None really, but maybe The Janus List (Season 3 finale)
Summary: She’d opened the door. He just had to find a way to walk through to the other side.
Rating: PG (inferred adult situations ^^)
Author's Notes: Beware the schmoop. :)
As soon as Callie was back inside the comfort of her vintage mustang, she slumped forward resting her head against the steering wheel and hiding her face in her folded arms. God he smelled good. He looked good. He felt good. His strong jaw and those chiseled cheek bones were so familiar to her after all the time and space that separated them. Her hands were still trembling from the feel of his skin underneath her finger tips. Maybe she shouldn’t have touched him but she couldn’t stop herself. She needed to touch him…to let him know that she wasn’t angry any more. She wanted him to come home - to their home…to talk to her, to work this out. He had reached out to her - had tried to call her, tried to see her. Each time though she had pushed him away and maybe he wouldn’t be able to forget that. Maybe they had hurt each other too much to make this work. But one thing was certain…she wanted to try.
She leaned back into her seat and reached for her phone to check the time. Dinner at seven thirty? She didn’t have much time given all that she needed to do before he got to the house; yet, as the nervous knots of anticipation filled her stomach, it seemed that it was an eternity until then. She would just have to keep herself distracted and the first thing she needed to do was figure out what she would fix for dinner.
As she pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road, she allowed herself to focus her thoughts on the menu. Dinner would be easy enough. The man was from Idaho; she was a girl from southern Georgia. Steak and potatoes…perfect, she thought to herself. Dessert would be trickier she mused, thankful for this distraction. Colby didn’t have much of a sweet tooth…except for her, he’d once said; though, he did love her angel food cake with homemade strawberry sauce. Actually, if memory served, it was the strawberry sauce he most enjoyed.
Callie’s whole body flushed with the memory, forcing her to make the decision to have fruit salad for dessert. Before she could linger further on the memory of that glorious mouth of his and the sticky sweet strawberry sauce spread over…she needed to distract herself, she thought sitting up straighter in her seat. She cleared her throat as she quickly made the left turn with the light and once again reached for her phone, opening it this time to take care of her next order of business - talking to Emily…
Even though he had only just showered, Colby decided he needed to go for a run. Callie’s nearness…the feel of her hands against him had brought him alive, leaving him suddenly with more energy than he’d had in over a month. Every thing had happened so fast. For a moment, he questioned if she’d actually been there at all or if it had been another one of his magnificent day dreams. He breathed deeply and stared at the back of the door she’d just walked through, savoring the smell of her shampoo that still lingered in the space around him. Her hair had been wet from her shower that morning. He remembered with a smile that she always wore it up when she had to work…well, she wore it up any time he didn’t have his hands buried in it - and the smell of her in the apartment helped him understand. She had been there. She had asked him to dinner. She was giving him a chance…
A long run later, he was stretching out his limbs with his hair and body sweat soaked from the exercise in the warm spring afternoon. The exertion mingled with the wind in his face had served the purpose of clearing his head. He was calmer now…though still anxious about what might happen with Callie later that night. He couldn’t help but feel as though the next stage of his life hinged upon this one evening, this one moment with her. He knew he wanted her back…to know he was hers. Even with every thing he had gone through in this ordeal, the thought of her finding someone else had been the most tortuous for him.
He walked back into the house from the balcony where he’d been stretching and as he pulled his arm across his chest, working loose the last muscle group he looked to his phone. More than anything, he wanted to call his mom. Yes, he thought, that seemed strange coming from a 30 year old man but Colleen Granger had been the one person whose advice he could always trust. And right now, good advice was what he needed.
His mom had fallen in love with Callie before she had even met her. Callie had given his mom the hope that her wayward son could be tamed…that he could settle down after a lifetime of wandering. He was sure all of Winchester, Idaho heard the shout of joy his mom let out when he’d told her that he’d ask Callie to marry him - and that she’d accepted…and he smiled at the memory of that conversation.
But the truth was Colleen hadn’t spoken to him much since this had all happened. She was still trying to understand it…and he had to give her time. The only person who really seemed to understand his decisions without question had been his dad. But Colby didn’t want to talk to him. One more conversation about “you served your country proud, son” and he was sure he’d vomit. Serving his country had cost him the only thing that had ever meant anything to him. Had it not been for that, he’d be with Callie right now. They would still be engaged to be married before the end of the year and his world would not be in cracked and fragile pieces. No, tonight…as far as advice was concerned, he was on his own.
After his second shower of the day, he stood outside, once more leaning against the railing of the balcony at David’s apartment. He was trying desperately to pass the time that stood between him and the moment when he’d see Callie again…and as he waited, he turned the ring he held between his fingers over and over again. Looking out across the parking lot, toward the skyline of the city, he was remembering the day he’d given it to Callie. She’d not been part of the plan…not even part of his life plan. His work, his lifestyle…he’d never seen himself settling down. He’d never been interested in a permanent fixture. That’s why he’d accepted his assignment in the first place. It was temporary. It was a reason to not get involved or attached.
But that very first day on the job at the FBI - when he’d met Callie…something changed. There was just something about her. He couldn’t sleep at night for thinking about her - even though he tried to ignore it knowing why he was there. But after two weeks of working with her, and two more weeks of fighting with himself, he’d finally asked her out…and for some reason he would never understand, she said yes.
One date and an incredible weekend together later…he was a goner. He thought he’d be able to get her out of his system by just spending some time with her - but the more time he spent with her, the more time he needed with her. It had been one of the hardest things for him to accept, but the one thing he knew he could never deny in his heart. He’d found the one in Callie. He had laughed at other people when they talked of soul mates…of true love. But with Callie - he knew he had found that one single person who had been made just for him. She was all his missing pieces when he’d not even known he was incomplete.
And now, in this time without her - he’d felt the emptiness…the void that she had filled so easily and so completely. He wanted her back, he needed her back. She’d opened the door. He just had to find a way to walk through to the other side.
He looked once more to the ring in his fingers and though he’d committed the words to memory, he read the inscription aloud. “Nothing if not yours. Always, Colbs.” They had been more than just words. They had been a promise…a certain truth, he mused and then with a sigh, he looked at his watch. His heart jumped to his throat when he saw that it was finally time to go. Knowing his cab would be arriving in a few short minutes, he pressed his lips to the ring once for luck before he safely tucked it back into the box where he kept it. He would be leaving it there tonight…hoping he was walking down the path to giving it back to her once more…
Fixed, Part VII
Fandom: Numb3rs (don't own it...wish I did though)
Characters/Pairings: OFC-Callie/Colby, inferred - David/Claudia
Spoilers: None really, but maybe The Janus List (Season 3 finale)
Summary: She saw every thing she needed to see when she looked into his eyes.
Rating: PG (inferred nudity and adult situations ^^)
Colby had just stepped out of the shower when he thought he heard a knock at the front door. He chose to ignore it though as he ran the towel over his dripping wet hair before he set about toweling the rest of himself dry. It was when he’d finished that task that he heard the knock again. Picking up his silver linked watch from the sink to slip it onto his wrist, he noticed the time and a speculative look crossed his face. He wasn’t sure who could be stopping by on a Saturday afternoon. Very few people knew he was back in town, and David wasn’t home. And since David had spent the night at Claudia’s, he had to assume that it wasn’t her stopping by either. When there was a third knock, he quickly wrapped the towel about his waist and went to see who it was and what they wanted.
He felt as though the wind had been knocked out of him as soon as he looked through the door to see Callie standing on the other side. He could feel himself instantly spiral into a near panic…something that was very much unlike him. For the first time in his life, he wasn’t sure what to do. He knew in his heart she couldn’t be there to see him…even if the idea did spark a flicker of hope within him. But, realistically, she had to be there to see David…and David wasn’t there. He didn’t want to answer the door to have her think he was trying some game with her to get her to talk to him. But he also didn’t want her to think no one was home when he’d been just on the other side of the door.
Somehow his mind moved him to action as he took a deep breath to calm his quaking nerves. Slowly, he opened the door - leaving the chain on so that she would hopefully not feel threatened by his presence. He just couldn’t bear to see that anger in her eyes. Not again.
He offered her a weak smile as he looked at her, unable to keep from drinking in the way she looked - still so beautiful to him in every way as the afternoon sunshine warmed her where she stood in the hallway. The vision of her before him made his entire body weak for her even as he finally spoke. “David’s not here, Callie. It’s…it’s just me.”
Callie had noticed when she pulled into the apartment complex that David’s Jeep was not parked in its usual spot. She said a quiet thank you to no one in particular as she hoped to find Colby at the apartment alone. The thought had occurred to her that he might not be there at all…or worse yet, that he would have someone with him. She could have called…she should have called, but when she’d left the FBI office - the only thing she could think of was seeing him, and talking to him face to face even if she had no idea what she was going to say. Her stomach began to churn as she considered that maybe he did have someone in the apartment with him…why else would it be taking him so long to answer the door? Then again, she thought she knew him better than that and maybe he just wasn’t there.
She had been just about ready to turn and leave when the door slowly cracked open. For a moment, their eyes met and they simply stood there looking at each other. And then he’d spoken, letting her know that he was the only one around. She could hear in his voice that he was asking her to trust him, even though he thought she had no reason to do so. She could feel her heart warming through as her stomach did flip flops while she looked at him - peering around the door at her. She could tell that he was nervous…that he was afraid he made some mistake by answering the door to let her see him. He was on unsteady ground and unsure of what to do because he wasn’t sure what to expect from her anymore. Given the way she’d been treating him, he had every right to feel that way, she thought as a pang of regret coursed through her.
“I know, Colby,” she finally admitted, offering him the same half smile he’d given her. “Actually I…I came to see you. Can I come in?” she asked quietly, still trying to gather her own thoughts…not completely sure of what she was going to say should he let her inside.
He continued looking at her, blinking for a moment as he savored the way his name had sounded from her lips while he searched her eyes. After the cold stares he’d received just two days ago, he wasn’t sure he could believe that she was there to see him. But, her eyes weren’t cold any more. She was not angry. Something was different…and she really had come to see him. There was no way for him to deny the way his heart sped out of control as he closed the door only long enough to remove the chain so that he could open it fully for her.
She stepped past him into the apartment and smiled at him gratefully for a brief moment before she had to look away. She had mistakenly allowed her eyes to rake over him, standing there in his towel with his hair still damp after a shower. The sight sent a jolt through her insides. She could feel her body warming with the memory of how that body felt against her…how it felt as part of her. As flashes of endless nights of passion and early morning trysts filled her memory, she missed him more in that moment than she had the entire month he’d been gone. And now more than ever, she remembered why she was standing there with him…why she had come to see him.
“I…I can’t stay long, but, I…I wanted to ask you something…something in person,” she spoke slowly, still not able to look at him.
“What is it Cal…Callie?” he asked expectantly, finding it nearly impossible to breathe as he waited for her to tell him why she was there. He was sure to correct himself as her name - so familiar to him, slipped from his lips as he remembered all too clearly her words from that day seemingly so long ago.
She had to admit - that stung a bit. She wasn’t sure if the pain was from the regret she felt for what she’d said or if her heart ached because she missed hearing him say her name…the name that only he could call her. Cal. She’d been his Cal…and in her heart of hearts, broken though hopeful for healing, she knew she wanted to be his again.
She turned to face him fully then, keeping her eyes fixed on his to avoid the way his perfectly sculpted body shown in the afternoon sunshine. For the first time, she really looked into his eyes…and for the first time she saw the pain and sadness he’d been through. His eyes that used to shine so brightly were dull with the sorrow of his heart. He knew he’d hurt her…he thought he had been wrong…and he missed her. Just like always, she saw every thing she needed to see when she looked into his eyes.
The fact that she had been making things harder for him by not talking to him and being so cold didn’t help the guilt that was consuming her as she looked at him. She hadn’t known his secrets…she hadn’t known anything until today - until the file…and now she regretted every thing she had said to him that day so long ago. She regretted most that she had not trusted him. But…that’s why she was here. She was here standing before him hoping that somehow she could make this right again. At the very least, she wanted…no, she needed to salvage the friendship they’d always shared.
“I wanted to ask you if…if you’d like to have dinner with me at the house…tonight,” she heard herself say. She was just going on instinct now. Suddenly there seemed to be too many things to say for the time she had. This just wasn’t the place.
His heart was in his throat as he stood there looking at her. For the love of God, please don’t let me be dreaming he thought to himself. He was afraid to blink for fear that when he reopened his eyes, she would be gone and her invitation for dinner would have never existed. But he closed his eyes against the warmth in his heart, and when he looked up again…there she was, standing before him and smiling nervously at him as she looked into his eyes. There was something in her eyes he didn’t recognize, something he’d never seen before - which surprised him, knowing that at one point, he had known her better than anyone else. He didn’t know what her motivation was for asking. He didn’t know what had changed to make her come here…to see him, but something was different. And he didn’t really care what. All that mattered was that she was there…reaching out to him.
Realizing he hadn’t answered her, he had to clear his throat to fight back the emotion that was welling up within him at the possibilities she’d just laid before him. “Yeah, Callie. I'd like that very much. What…what time?”
Callie felt herself breathe a sigh of relief when her offer had not been turned down. She’d waited patiently for his answer, and wasn’t sure he even heard the question when he’d finally spoken. He would be joining her for dinner that night…and then they would talk. She had no idea what would transpire. She didn’t know if they could work through this…if they could at least come out of it as friends. She wondered if what they had could be fixed at all…but whatever was meant to happen - they needed to take the time to try.
“Say around seven thirty?” she replied, smiling again as she enjoyed that familiar expectant look that was now dancing across his face.
“I’ll be there,” he breathed, and his voice was hopeful.
Hearing his words, her smile softened in its nervousness and she took a step closer to the door. “Thank you, Colby,” she sighed before she could stop herself as she turned once more to look at him.
The only thing Colby really wanted to do in that moment was pull her into his arms and hold her against him. His arms ached from the want of it…but he knew it was too risky. This communication had been a big step for her - and the balance between them now was far too fragile. They were both standing on a precipice, trying to figure out which way they would fall and he didn’t want to be the one to plummet them over the edge from where they would never return.
“Thank you for…for even asking, Callie,” he answered, struggling to say her name in its entirety again, and feeling emptiness creeping up into him as she took another step closer to the door.
He stepped with her and out of habit, moved to open the door for her. It seemed she was just going to slip away from him again without another word until later that night, but before she’d stepped out into the hallway, she stopped in front of him. She looked up to meet his eyes, and without thinking about what she was doing, she reached up her hand to touch his face. She remembered the way she had traced the shape of him in the picture from the file, wishing more than anything she could touch him - and now, she had been unable to let the opportunity slip past her. Ever so tenderly, her hand cupped his jaw as her thumb gently caressed his bruised cheek - a reminder of the fight he’d had with David. She wanted to say something. She wanted to speak what was on her heart…but all she could do in that moment was touch his smooth skin, and smile softly up at him.
As soon as he felt her skin against his own, Colby closed his eyes and moved into her touch. Instantly, he was alive again…more so than he had been since that day over a month ago. With each caress of her thumb against his cheek, the closer his soul crawled towards life - out of the half dead state he’d been in since she’d left him. But, just as quickly as her touch had been given, she pulled her hand away - looking up at him for a moment before she turned and walked away. The moment was gone…but it had been enough to give him hope - maybe a false hope - but suddenly life had new meaning. Maybe they could fix this…maybe she could forgive him and maybe she wanted to - he was just going to have to ask her for it. And tonight…maybe, just maybe, she would give him the chance.
And...
Prompt: Fixed PART VI of IX, un-beta'd
Fandom: Numb3rs (don't own it...wish I did though)
Characters/Pairings: OFC-Callie/Colby
Spoilers: None really, but maybe The Janus List (Season 3 finale)
Summary: She’d opened the door. He just had to find a way to walk through to the other side.
Rating: PG (inferred adult situations ^^)
Author's Notes: Beware the schmoop. :)
As soon as Callie was back inside the comfort of her vintage mustang, she slumped forward resting her head against the steering wheel and hiding her face in her folded arms. God he smelled good. He looked good. He felt good. His strong jaw and those chiseled cheek bones were so familiar to her after all the time and space that separated them. Her hands were still trembling from the feel of his skin underneath her finger tips. Maybe she shouldn’t have touched him but she couldn’t stop herself. She needed to touch him…to let him know that she wasn’t angry any more. She wanted him to come home - to their home…to talk to her, to work this out. He had reached out to her - had tried to call her, tried to see her. Each time though she had pushed him away and maybe he wouldn’t be able to forget that. Maybe they had hurt each other too much to make this work. But one thing was certain…she wanted to try.
She leaned back into her seat and reached for her phone to check the time. Dinner at seven thirty? She didn’t have much time given all that she needed to do before he got to the house; yet, as the nervous knots of anticipation filled her stomach, it seemed that it was an eternity until then. She would just have to keep herself distracted and the first thing she needed to do was figure out what she would fix for dinner.
As she pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road, she allowed herself to focus her thoughts on the menu. Dinner would be easy enough. The man was from Idaho; she was a girl from southern Georgia. Steak and potatoes…perfect, she thought to herself. Dessert would be trickier she mused, thankful for this distraction. Colby didn’t have much of a sweet tooth…except for her, he’d once said; though, he did love her angel food cake with homemade strawberry sauce. Actually, if memory served, it was the strawberry sauce he most enjoyed.
Callie’s whole body flushed with the memory, forcing her to make the decision to have fruit salad for dessert. Before she could linger further on the memory of that glorious mouth of his and the sticky sweet strawberry sauce spread over…she needed to distract herself, she thought sitting up straighter in her seat. She cleared her throat as she quickly made the left turn with the light and once again reached for her phone, opening it this time to take care of her next order of business - talking to Emily…
Even though he had only just showered, Colby decided he needed to go for a run. Callie’s nearness…the feel of her hands against him had brought him alive, leaving him suddenly with more energy than he’d had in over a month. Every thing had happened so fast. For a moment, he questioned if she’d actually been there at all or if it had been another one of his magnificent day dreams. He breathed deeply and stared at the back of the door she’d just walked through, savoring the smell of her shampoo that still lingered in the space around him. Her hair had been wet from her shower that morning. He remembered with a smile that she always wore it up when she had to work…well, she wore it up any time he didn’t have his hands buried in it - and the smell of her in the apartment helped him understand. She had been there. She had asked him to dinner. She was giving him a chance…
A long run later, he was stretching out his limbs with his hair and body sweat soaked from the exercise in the warm spring afternoon. The exertion mingled with the wind in his face had served the purpose of clearing his head. He was calmer now…though still anxious about what might happen with Callie later that night. He couldn’t help but feel as though the next stage of his life hinged upon this one evening, this one moment with her. He knew he wanted her back…to know he was hers. Even with every thing he had gone through in this ordeal, the thought of her finding someone else had been the most tortuous for him.
He walked back into the house from the balcony where he’d been stretching and as he pulled his arm across his chest, working loose the last muscle group he looked to his phone. More than anything, he wanted to call his mom. Yes, he thought, that seemed strange coming from a 30 year old man but Colleen Granger had been the one person whose advice he could always trust. And right now, good advice was what he needed.
His mom had fallen in love with Callie before she had even met her. Callie had given his mom the hope that her wayward son could be tamed…that he could settle down after a lifetime of wandering. He was sure all of Winchester, Idaho heard the shout of joy his mom let out when he’d told her that he’d ask Callie to marry him - and that she’d accepted…and he smiled at the memory of that conversation.
But the truth was Colleen hadn’t spoken to him much since this had all happened. She was still trying to understand it…and he had to give her time. The only person who really seemed to understand his decisions without question had been his dad. But Colby didn’t want to talk to him. One more conversation about “you served your country proud, son” and he was sure he’d vomit. Serving his country had cost him the only thing that had ever meant anything to him. Had it not been for that, he’d be with Callie right now. They would still be engaged to be married before the end of the year and his world would not be in cracked and fragile pieces. No, tonight…as far as advice was concerned, he was on his own.
After his second shower of the day, he stood outside, once more leaning against the railing of the balcony at David’s apartment. He was trying desperately to pass the time that stood between him and the moment when he’d see Callie again…and as he waited, he turned the ring he held between his fingers over and over again. Looking out across the parking lot, toward the skyline of the city, he was remembering the day he’d given it to Callie. She’d not been part of the plan…not even part of his life plan. His work, his lifestyle…he’d never seen himself settling down. He’d never been interested in a permanent fixture. That’s why he’d accepted his assignment in the first place. It was temporary. It was a reason to not get involved or attached.
But that very first day on the job at the FBI - when he’d met Callie…something changed. There was just something about her. He couldn’t sleep at night for thinking about her - even though he tried to ignore it knowing why he was there. But after two weeks of working with her, and two more weeks of fighting with himself, he’d finally asked her out…and for some reason he would never understand, she said yes.
One date and an incredible weekend together later…he was a goner. He thought he’d be able to get her out of his system by just spending some time with her - but the more time he spent with her, the more time he needed with her. It had been one of the hardest things for him to accept, but the one thing he knew he could never deny in his heart. He’d found the one in Callie. He had laughed at other people when they talked of soul mates…of true love. But with Callie - he knew he had found that one single person who had been made just for him. She was all his missing pieces when he’d not even known he was incomplete.
And now, in this time without her - he’d felt the emptiness…the void that she had filled so easily and so completely. He wanted her back, he needed her back. She’d opened the door. He just had to find a way to walk through to the other side.
He looked once more to the ring in his fingers and though he’d committed the words to memory, he read the inscription aloud. “Nothing if not yours. Always, Colbs.” They had been more than just words. They had been a promise…a certain truth, he mused and then with a sigh, he looked at his watch. His heart jumped to his throat when he saw that it was finally time to go. Knowing his cab would be arriving in a few short minutes, he pressed his lips to the ring once for luck before he safely tucked it back into the box where he kept it. He would be leaving it there tonight…hoping he was walking down the path to giving it back to her once more…
Fixed, Part VII