An extra part to the ending of season seven, episode fourteen-Smoke Gets in your CSIs

Calleigh heard the curtain at the end of her bed opening and instinctively knew it was Eric. She opened her eyes and stretched, then smiled. "Hey," she said in a somewhat subdued voice.

Eric grinned. "Hey," he replied, walking around the bed until he was standing at her left shoulder. "I, um, I put my watch on you so you'd know I was here, in case you woke up while I was out on the investigation."

Calleigh looked up at him, still smiling. "I knew you were here," she told him.

"How did you know I was here? You couldn't... could you hear me? You heard what I said?"

"Yeah." Calleigh closed her eyes briefly, then looked back at Eric. "It was like a dream," she stated happily.

"It was real."

"Will you stay with me?" she asked him, taking his hand in her own.

"No," Eric said, before a small laugh escaped his lips. "As long as you want me to. As long as you want me to."

Calleigh smiled again, feeling comfortable and safe with Eric there. She let her eyes close, still holding Eric's hand, and fell asleep.

Alexx smiled at the sight that greeted her the next morning when she came into Calleigh's room. Eric had his head on the bed, and was fast asleep, while Calleigh slept soundly with a smile on her face. They were still holding hands, even though it made them uncomfortable. After a few more moments, Alexx stepped up to the bed, gently waking Eric as she did so.

"Alexx?" Eric asked sleepily once he sat up straight in the chair.

"You should go home and rest properly Eric," said Alexx, even though she knew he wouldn't do it. "Calleigh is safe here, nothing will happen to her."

"I'm alright. Is Calleigh doing better today?"

"Yes. A little later this afternoon, I'll let you take her home. For now, go and get some coffee or some sleep. I'll watch her."

Eric hesitated, but his trust in Alexx won out. He stood up, kissing Calleigh's hand, then walked out of the room. He watched as Alexx wrote on Calleigh's chart while sitting in the chair he had just vacated, and felt comfortable to leave.

Calleigh's eyes opened when the warm sunlight from the window hit her face. Immediately, she looked around for Eric, and her face dropped when she found him not there.

"Alexx?" she asked a moment later in surprise. "Is that you?"

Alexx looked up. "Hi baby. Are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah... Alexx, why are you dressed like that?"

"I'm a doctor now. Your doctor."

"There was someone else yesterday..."

"She was doing me a favour. You were asleep when I finished my shift yesterday and I didn't want to wake you, so I asked her to look after you until I came back this morning."

"I've missed you."

"I've missed you too. All of you. But I never want to see you in here again, is that clear?"

"Crystal clear. Where's Eric?"

"He's hopefully gone to get some proper sleep somewhere. I told him either get sleep or coffee."

"He'll be getting coffee then," laughed Calleigh.

Alexx shook her head, laughing. "Some things never change," she stated before standing up to hug Calleigh.

The End