A/N: Not sure where this one came from really, but I wanted to explore a slightly softer side of Callie. I see Sam as such a giving person, but Callie wouldn't really know what to do with that and she'd hurt his feelings. So she's growing a little here...giving him what he needs and realizing it's good for her too. Please enjoy!

As always, all the love to my partner and friend, Mali Bear's Buddy. She's always there for me, supporting and cheering me on, especially when I doubt myself. She's also a brilliant writer and editor, and makes these stories so much better than they'd be otherwise. Love you sweets!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize. Just borrowing for my own amusement.

Taking Care of You

Callie sits at the small table reading through what amounts to dozens of police files. She's been at it for hours now, trying to find the connection between their victims, but nothing makes any sense. She reaches a hand back behind her neck, rubbing it absently

After a moment, she finds her hands replaced by much larger, warmer ones. She flinches away, turning to face their owner.

"What do you want, Sam?" she snaps, eyes narrowing.

He smiles down at her, fingers kneading at the knots in her neck. "You looked tense and you've been bent over those files for a long time."

She's tries to scoot away. His hands are distracting and she needs to find something in the paperwork. "Yeah, well, there's a lot of files to go through, so..."

He drops his hands. "I don't think taking a break for a few minutes is gonna make that big a difference, Callie." His tone is carefully neutral.

"It might make a difference to the next victim though, huh?" she snipes, flipping open the next file. "So sorry I couldn't save you, I was busy getting a neck rub."

Sam sighs softly and settles back on the bed with a stack of books.

After a few minutes, Callie shifts in her chair. She's still distracted. This time by the fact she's hurt Sam. Again.

He hasn't said anything and she knows he won't, but the hurt is radiating off him. She closes her eyes and scrubs at them with her hands. Sometimes she wonders why he puts up with her. She knows he's only trying to take care of her, but she can't help it. Her prickly reactions are automatic, even now. Even after everything he's given her.

A wealth of sadness fills her. He's always so kind to her, so gentle. He's never asked for anything from her, only wants to care for her. And what does that get him? A lot of static.

She opens her eyes and chances a glance at him. There's a small frown on his face as he flips through the pages. Her heart twists inside her a little. Pushing back from the table, she rises and moves to his side of the bed.

She takes the book from his hands, ignoring the surprised look he shoots her. She marks the page and sets it carefully on the night table. Then she climbs up on the bed, settling on his lap, knees brushing against his hips.

He watches her quietly, a slight smile turning up his lips as she takes his hands and settles them on her thighs.

"I'm sorry, Sam," she says softly.

He doesn't meet her gaze, just shrugs and replies, "It's ok."

She shakes her head. Trailing her fingers along his jaw, she pushes him to raise his eyes to her. "Not ok," she says. When his eyes finally meet hers, she continues. "I am sorry, Sam. You're always so good to me and I'm just..." She shrugs.

"I just want to take care of you," he says, his voice so full of longing, it breaks her heart and steals her breath.

"I know, I know," she whispers. She leans forward and brushes his lips with hers. "I've just been on my own for so long I don't know how to let you."

Their eyes hold, speaking volumes. Speaking feelings she has no idea how to verbalize.

After a few seconds, she looks away, taking a deep breath. "So," she says, giving him a hesitant smile, "I could really use that neck rub...my shoulders are killing me."

His face softens and he nods.

She slips off his lap and turns to sink down between his legs. She's not entirely sure what to do, but she tries to relax back into him, her hands on his thighs.

She feels his hands in her hair first, slipping her ponytail free from its holder. She has to suppress a moan when his long fingers fluff out her curls and then dig into her scalp. The tension starts to melt from her.

He massages her head for a few more minutes, then she feels his hands slip down to her neck. This time she can't keep back the soft moan as he finds each tight muscle and teases it into relaxing.

She eases into him a little more, putty in his very capable hands. They move from her neck to her shoulders. She whimpers a little when he finds a particularly nasty knot between them, but he gently works it into submission as well.

He leans forward and presses a soft kiss to her neck. "Turn around," he murmurs.

She complies without protest. She's determined to let him have control for now. To let him tend to her however he wants.

When she gets turned around, she raises her eyebrow at him in question.

"Feet," he says with a grin.

Her other eyebrow rises but she puts her right foot in his hands.

He pulls the sock off and tosses it to the floor. She leans back on her elbows and gets comfortable. His hands are warm and strong. His gentle touch heats her from her toes up.

She hisses a little as his knuckle presses into the arch of her foot, causing him to look up at her, question in his eyes. She shakes her head, waving him on, only to groan in pleasure as those lovely fingers rub over the ball of her foot.

She notices that same little frown of concentration he wore while he was reading creasing his brow as he reaches for her other foot and she can't help the smile on her face. He's completely adorable.

She giggles softly, bringing his attention back to her face again.

"What?" he says, half smiling with her.

His touch and tenderness have completely devastated any defenses she may have had, causing the words to tumble from her mouth before she can stop them.

"You make me happy."

As soon as the words are out, she bites her lip, as if to take them back in. She hesitantly raises her eyes to his face and her heart nearly stops.

His eyes are wide and have gone a beautiful, indescribable shade of blue-green. After a second, a wide smile breaks across his face and she feels his hands tighten on the foot he still holds. He looks like he's just been handed the moon.

"Callie..." he breathes.

She tries to remember to take a breath. Her heart pounds in her chest. She's expecting to feel terror at being so vulnerable, but instead finds a flush of pleasure that she can put that look on his face.

Simply reacting to his voice, to the need she hears there, she reaches for him. Her fingers stretch toward him as her eyes remain locked on his.

He sets her foot gently to the side before crawling over her. Resting gently in the cradle of her hips, he strokes her cheek. "Callie," he says again, request in his voice this time.

"You do, Sam," she murmurs. "I know I don't tell you like I should, but you make me happier than I've been in a very long time."

He swallows hard and something she doesn't understand flashes in his eyes. Then there's no more time to think as his mouth descends on hers.

The fire in his kiss sets her ablaze from the inside out. But the tenderness and joy of it absolutely decimates her. Their tongues tangle, exploring hungrily.

She reaches for his shirt, dragging it over his head, so her hands can find the smooth skin of his back. Her fingernails drag down his spine as she arches against him.

He moans softly against her mouth as his hands begin their own exploration. Her shirt is the next piece of clothing to go and allows his mouth to drift across his collarbone and down the valley between her breasts.

"Sam..." she moans as he undoes the front clasp on her bra and pushes it out of the way. His mouth closes over one breast and sucks hotly as his tongue teases the tight bud of her nipple. Waves of pleasure crash over her and her fingers tighten on his shoulders as she moves beneath him.

He pays equal attention to the other breast, wringing ever more incoherent sounds from her. He slides back up over her, pressing hot, wet kisses along every inch of skin on his way. His lips brush over hers, teasing.

"You make me happy, too," he whispers against her lips. His roaming hands slide over her waist to her hip, pulling her close. "You make me feel again."

Rubbing her leg over his, she rocks into him. "Yes," she sighs, plucking his lips with hers. "I feel so much..."

He nips along her jaw, his breath uneven. "I need you, baby," he murmurs as he sucks her lower lip into his mouth. "I need you so much."

"God yes," she pants. Her hands struggle to undo his jeans, but they're trembling with the desire overwhelming her and she can barely get them unbuttoned.

"Let me," he commands and slides down over her again. His mouth is still scorching as it makes its way over her stomach.

He makes quick work of her jeans and panties, pulling them off and tossing them to the side. He kisses his way from her knee to her thigh to her hip, leaving her writhing beneath him.

Her fingers tangle in his hair as she tries to get him back over her. "Please," she whimpers, unable to put any other words together given the way he's winding her up.

But he resists her plea and her tugging hands, instead settling between her thighs. When his tongue finds her core, she nearly comes off the bed. The pleasure is all-consuming, white-hot. He licks and teases, relentlessly pushing her higher and higher. Closer and closer to the edge.

When the searing tension finally breaks, it's his name she cries out. His name she repeats as she comes back to herself, shivering with the aftershocks of her orgasm.

He shifts to the side and strips off his remaining clothes. Instead of sliding back over her, however, he pulls her on top of him. His mouth finds hers again, swallowing her sighs as he strokes her slick, feverish skin.

"Callie girl," he moans as she twists over him.

She smiles against his mouth, her hands drifting over him. Teasing, tempting. Her wandering fingers find his hard length and she strokes him just as mercilessly as he pushed her.

She smooths heated kisses along his jaw as she teases him, feeling him grow even harder under her ministrations. His hands tighten on her hips as he struggles beneath her, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

"God, baby, I want you," he says huskily. "Please...now..."

Their mouths meet and tongues mesh again. Breaking the kiss, she slips down over him, sucking in a sharp breath as she takes him inside her.

Sitting up, she begins to rock against him, her fingers scraping across his chest. She feels him arch to meet her, plunging him deeper.

Their eyes meet and the tension spikes upward. His eyes are nearly black with pleasure and she can hear him chanting her name. Her rhythm falters as she loses herself in the heat of his gaze, but his hands on her thighs keep her moving.

The air between them feels superheated. She's so close and she can tell his control is very near to breaking.

With a rough growl, he sits up, wrapping her legs around his waist. His mouth finds hers, devouring her as his hands on her bottom urge her on.

The change in position and the increased friction send her over the edge again with a long moan, her body pulsing convulsively around him. With a shudder, he reaches his peak as well, gasping her name.

Cradling her to him, Sam collapses back on the bed. He kisses her temple and the top of her head, arms tight around her.

She buries her face in his neck, still trembling with the force of her release. She wraps her arms around his neck, probably near to choking him, but if she lets go, she might simply shatter into a million pieces.

Long moments pass as they each come back down to earth. Sam rolls her onto her back, coaxing her to look at him. She tries desperately to get the rising wave of emotion inside her under control.

His gentle touch on her cheek tempts her. But it's his tender voice that's her undoing.

"You ok, sweetheart?"

Her eyes flutter open and meet his. She finds strength there, calm and sure. It eases some of the turmoil still roiling inside her. She smiles up at him. "Way, way better than ok," she replies with a giggle.

He chuckles, relief flashing briefly in his expression. He kisses her forehead, brushing a damp curl from her cheek as he does.

"Still happy?" he asks, the lightness of his tone belying the seriousness of his question.

Sliding a hand around his neck, she pulls him down for a long kiss. "Nothing could make me happier than being here with you."