Hi guys! I love writing this story a lot more than I expected… which scares the RaiN ½ of me LOL… don't worry! I love you and CaRWash equally =). There's a slight Hiphuggers past moment in this one, so hopefully that will satisfy some of you in some way. Anyway, review and please enjoy! [[Note: Already Gone, the sequel to BTHE, is on a slight hiatus]]

On the Edge of Somewhere- Chapter 2

"Miss Duquesne," Horatio called, and Calleigh whipped around, surprised.

"Horatio. What is it?" she inquired, pushing the hair behind her ear.

"Calleigh," he began, removing his tinted shades, "are you aware that Mr. Foreman was released from Miami Dade Penitentiary this morning?"

"I am now," she whispered. "Horatio, how did he get out so soon?"

"It's average detainment for an attempted murder. Ten years roughly, am I right?"

"Yes, you are, Horatio, I'm sorry. I'm just…preoccupied." Calleigh watched slowly as Ryan spoke to Natalia, a bright grin covering his tan face as she joked and he chuckled in reply. She winced. Horatio followed her glance, his eyebrows knit in sudden realization and amusement, and then turned back to the woman in front of him. "Miss Duquesne, if you'd like protection…"

"I'll be fine, Horatio, I promise," Calleigh snapped. "Let's get back to work."

"If you need anything," he called after her, "you know where," he paused, as if for dramatic effect, "where to call."

"Hey Cal," Ryan called as he strode into ballistics. He watched her as she gazed at the screen intently.

"Hey Ry, you got anything for me?"

"I have the bullet from the Knowles case. It's your present."

"Aww, you shouldn't have," Calleigh drawled with a giggle and turned back to her work, scanning through several old newspaper articles from ten years ago. Ryan looked at her, confused.

"Hey, Calleigh, aren't you going to run this?" he inquired. There was a pause.

"Sorry, Ryan, I'm just miles away. I'll get to that after I look up on an old case… of mine," she mumbled awkwardly, clicking on an article in specific and scanned it with her gleaming emerald eyes.

"Which case?" Ryan breathed, his minty breath stinging her eyes and she immediately minimized the screen. Ryan laughed. "Apparently none of my business."

"Sorry… just a little personal," Calleigh whispered. "I'll run your bullet."

"You wanna talk about it?"

"No, not really," Calleigh joked and turned to the bullet he had placed on the shelf.

"Good, because I was not ready for that," he laughed and turned to walk away.

"Ryan?" she called after him and he turned back towards her in response. "How about we have another run tonight? I'll tell you what… this is about."

"Okay, whatever you want. Meet you outside at six?"

"Sounds good," Calleigh agreed. "It's a date," she sputtered, immediately regretting the words. Ryan's eyes brightened noticeably and there was a slight skip in his step as he strode out of ballistics. "It's a date," Calleigh confirmed to herself, scratching the corner of her eye. What the fuck are you doing, Duquesne?

Xxx

"What the fuck are you doing, Duquesne?"

Calleigh rolled her eyes and dropped the gun on her table. "Sorry, Eric, I was expecting someone else," she replied earnestly and ushered him inside. "You want dinner?" she asked, rummaging through her pantry. "I guess I could microwave some old pizza or something…" she began, tossing things over her shoulder. "There's always my aunt's brisket," Calleigh offered and Eric laughed.

"Just came by to see how you were doing. I heard the trial didn't go so well."

"Meh," Calleigh replied, inspecting a week-old piece of calzone. "It could have gone better. He made a house call, actually, so now he's in jail for attempted murder. Joke's on him, the bastard."

"Cal!" Eric cried, shocked. "He came to your house and you didn't even tell me? Listen, babe, you should tell me about those things! I could've helped! I could've stayed with you so you were safe!"

"That's very sweet," Calleigh complimented, "but totally unnecessary. Last time you slept on my couch I distinctly remember hearing some unruly noises during the night, so let's just keep our relationship as is," she joked and Eric blushed.

"I told you, that was the movie!" Eric whined.

"Did you add your own soundtrack?" Calleigh teased and he burned darker with a blush.

"Cal…" he groaned and she smiled.

"Oh ease up, you know I'm just joking."

There was a small knock at the door. Calleigh grabbed her gun absently, and Eric noticed the gesture but dropped it. He supposed it had become second nature since the attack five weeks ago. Calleigh opened the door to Speedle's smiling face. "Ice cream's here," he greeted and Calleigh smiled softly.

"You did not have to do that, Timmy," Calleigh spoke quietly.

"Well, I gotta run anyway, but I figured what Delko's Cuban sex can't fix, ice cream will!" Tim joked, and Calleigh frowned in mock anger.

"You're lucky you brought ice cream," Calleigh challenged, offered a small grin, and slammed the door in his face. Eric, in spite of himself, smirked widely at her discomfort. She turned her eyes back to him. "Eric… this stalker… he'll go away, won't he?" she whispered, her eyes swimming. Oh god, she's gonna cry, Eric thought, and immediately grabbed her hands.

"Calleigh, honey, don't worry about him. He'll be in jail for a long time. You'll completely forget about him, I promise."

Xxx

But she hadn't forgotten. She hadn't forgotten the knife to her throat, the drawling seductive words whispered in her ear as he raped her, nor the soft humming of a lullaby as she drifted into unconsciousness. And for the life of her, Calleigh didn't think she'd ever forget. Calleigh slipped on her light sweatshirt and grabbed her purse, slamming her locker door. Ryan meandered into the locker room and smiled as he saw her.

"Hey Cal, you wanna run or not?"

Calleigh nodded. "Let's go. Sorry for the wait- I was just cleaning my locker."

"It's okay- it's only 7:00," Ryan dismissed, clearly a little hurt.

Calleigh's jaw dropped in surprised. 7:00? You planned it for 6:00! "Ryan- I'm so sorry- I didn't mean to forget about it, I've just got a lot on my mind."

"I can see that," Ryan agreed and sat down on the bench. Calleigh locked her cabinet and turned to sit down next to him, sighing. "You wanna tell me what you were going to on our run?"

"I don't know. It's not even all that important."

"Calleigh, I'm giving you an out," Ryan observed quietly and she nodded.

"Okay. Ten years ago, a man named Peter Foreman was in a seminar I was directing. He asked me out, and I turned him down. A few times he confronted me and sent me flowers. I continued to reject him, and then I called the police. When they got to my house, he was gone. One day I returned home and he slit my throat," Calleigh paused slightly as Ryan gasped. "I testified, and they only granted a TRO instead of charging him with attempted murder. He attacked me one last time and the police caught him. Today… he was released."

"Cal- you can't think that he'll come after you, honey!" Ryan whispered.

"I'm the reason he was in there for ten years, Ry," she muttered. "What if he wants revenge?"

"I won't let him," Ryan spoke firmly. "I'll stay at your place tonight."

"Ryan, that's sweet, but completely unnecessary. I'll be fine."

"Really? Just as fine as you were ten years ago?"

"Ryan…" Calleigh protested and he shushed her by placing a finger over her mouth.

"No arguments. I'll sleep on the couch."

"How is that gonna do either of us any good? Me ending up dead from an attack through the window, and you ending up with a stiff neck the next day?"

Ryan's eyes widened. "Calleigh, don't say that!"

"Hey, if anyone can make tasteless jokes, it's me," Calleigh laughed and he joined in, albeit feeling slightly fearful for her. "Ry, seriously, I'll be okay."

"Stop saying that," Ryan snapped and Calleigh looked up at him, shocked that he would be speaking to his superior like that. "I'm staying at your place tonight whether you like it or not, got it?"

"Got it." Calleigh replied, wiping her eyes.

"Good. Meet you at your house in an hour?"

"See you then," Calleigh agreed. As Ryan stood to leave, she grabbed his arm and he stopped. Calleigh stood up timidly and molded her body into his. She planted a soft kiss against his chapped lips, sucking lightly on his bottom lip, before releasing him and smiling softly. "I'll be waiting." Ryan watched as Calleigh took the initiative and walked away from the charged moment. He eyed the swaying of her hips and slowly raised one eyebrow, subconsciously impressed. Calleigh caught his staring, rolled her green eyes, and trotted off, energized from their electric moment under the spotlight. I can't wait for tonight, Ryan thought.

Xxx

"I can't wait for tonight!" Eric called as he locked his locker.

"Really? I never took you as a dancer!" Calleigh remarked sarcastically and slammed the locker door. "I'm not going."

"Why not, Calleigh?"

"I'm not gonna dance alone! I'm not very good, either."

"I'd dance with you," Eric offered nonchalantly.

"Hmmm…we'll see," Calleigh grinned and her friend groaned.

"Calleigh, I'm gonna be there with Speed and his girlfriend- alone!"

"Well, get a girlfriend!" Calleigh teased as she scribbled a few notes on her palm.

"I've been bugging you about that for two years," Eric quipped and Calleigh rolled her eyes and laughed.

"Eric, just find some hot blonde at the Department Ball and let me know where she lives so I can send her a 'thank you'-note.

"Low, Calleigh, that's low," Eric laughed and stood to walk out of the room.

Calleigh's eyes widened at the note she was reading that she had found in her locker.

"Cal, what does it say?"

"It says: 'thinking of you'… Love Peter," she whispered.

"That could mean anything. Could be that guy Elliot that keeps hitting on you."

"Eric… I need to get this to QD!" Calleigh grabbed some Latex gloves and started walking away from him.

"Great, we'll go to the ball from there," Eric chuckled and Calleigh smirked.

"I don't have a dress, Eric," she whispered.

"Ah, so that means you would consider going if you had a dress? SCORE!" Calleigh laughed at Eric's immaturity. "Alright, we'll just…"

"Call my fairy godmother? I'll meet you outside at 8:00 and then I might decide to go. Is that fine?"

"You always are!" Eric quipped. Calleigh rolled her eyes.

"Another great pickup line from Mr. Delko. I'll be at QD if you find my fairy godmother."

Xxx

211 Shell Cove. He'd be waiting.

Alright, I know I promised that the stalker would show up in this one, but I'm just trying to build the tension. He'll show up in the next one and the confrontation/action will begin. R&R!