For Lightwoman! I hope you enjoy it! I tried to combine the things you wanted…

This takes place after 'Funhouse' and before 'Rebound.'

Gillian wandered through the halls at The Lightman Group. The party had been over for almost an hour. She and Cal had said goodnight to their employees giving them each a small bonus check as they left. Cal had said goodnight shortly after and had wanted to walk Gillian out to her car but the cleaning crew had not arrived yet and she wanted to give them the gift cards she had gotten them.

The Christmas party had been a huge success. The best part of the evening had been when a drunk Loker brought out his guitar and sang an impromptu rendition of the 12 days of Christmas inserting comical things about the staff. The guitar became the center of the party after that. Gillian smiled when she recalled Cal's reaction as she and Loker sang "Baby its Cold Outside." The staff had loved it. Gillian had never sung in front of anyone at the office before, including Cal. Singing was a part of her past she didn't share. She had been a wild child in college. If Cal ever knew she had played in a band he would never let her live it down!

Gillian walked toward the large conference room and saw that Loker had left his guitar propped in the corner. He was highly intoxicated when Torres dragged him out of the building so it was no surprise he forgot about the instrument. Gillian picked up the guitar case and put it on the table. She picked up the guitar and went to put it away when she had the urge to play. She glanced around checking to see if anyone was around, although she didn't know why; everyone had been gone for a while. She sat down in a chair and put the guitar in her lap. It felt good to hold it. It had been years since she had gotten rid of her own guitar.

She strummed a few chords and got herself reacquainted with the feel of the strings. As she played, she found she missed it more than she thought she had. She stopped for a second, lost in thought, remembering a simpler time; before the alcohol had made her father unavailable to her. He had taught her how to play when she was 10. She started playing that first song she learned…

Cal had said goodbye to Gillian and had honestly been planning to leave when he realized he had left his laptop in his study. Once he got to it, he sat and opened it up. This book was still looming over his head. He was down to the last few chapters and his goal was to be done before the year ended. He had gotten inspired since his little trip down memory lane while in the loony bin. The visit with his mother (albeit only in is head) had given him a new clarity he hadn't felt in years, maybe ever.

He got up and went to his cabinet. His good scotch was screaming to him. Gillian had replaced the bottle she and Torres had made short work of, even though he told her that wasn't necessary. He owed her that bottle of scotch and so much more for the shit he had put her through in the previous months. They had cracked open this bottle last weekend. Gillian had cornered him about his "conversations" with his parents. As much as he didn't really want to talk about it, he was glad he had opened up to her. He felt good about where he stood with Gillian at the moment. He still had a lot of making up to do, but their friendship was back on track. The banter had been light and fun over this past week.

Cal had been lost in thought when he heard music. He walked into the hall and realized it was Loker's guitar. 'I thought Torres dragged his drunk arse home.' Cal walked toward the conference room and stopped dead when he heard the voice. He never knew she could sing much less play guitar. She seemed to always be surprising him. When he had heard her earlier, singing with Loker, it gave him a funny feeling in the pit of his stomach. She was damned sexy anyway, but her voice… so sweet and smooth. He walked around the corner slowly, knowing that if she saw him she would stop playing. As luck would have it, her back was to the door.

"…And I just can't live without you; can't you see it in my eyes?
I've been one poor correspondent, and I've been too, too hard to find
But it doesn't mean you ain't been on my mind

Will you meet me in the middle, will you meet me in the air?
Will you love me just a little, just enough to show you care?
Well I tried to fake it, I don't mind sayin', I just can't make it"

Gillian stopped playing. Every time she heard this song it took her back; back to a time when everything had been right in her life. Her Dad was sober, her mom was happy, her sister was… She strummed a few more chords and took a deep breath. Shaking her head she stood and went to put the guitar away.

"Why'd you stop playing, love?" Cal stepped into the room now.

Gillian jumped and turned to face him. "Jesus! Cal, you scared the hell out of me!" She took a deep breath. "I thought you went home?"

"I started to. Got side tracked. Then I heard this sweet music floating into my office…" Cal was smiling at her.

Gillian blushed and turned back to the guitar. She set it down in its case. "How much did you hear?"

"Enough to realize there are even more things I don't know about you than I thought. You have a beautiful voice and you can play guitar?" He walked to stand in front of her realizing she would probably not turn back around to face him. "I'm impressed."

"Oh, it was just some chords, nothing fancy." Gillian shook her head and shrugged her shoulder. That did not go unnoticed by Cal.

"What was that song? I can't place it."

"It's called 'Sister Golden Hair.' It's by a group called 'America.' They were popular when I was a kid. My Dad loved that song. He used to play it all the time." Gillian closed the guitar case and hooked the clasps. She turned toward the door. "I should go put this in a safe place. Loker will be looking for it at some point."

Cal reached out and lightly grabbed her arm. "Or you could take it out and play another song for me." He smiled at her with his eyebrows raised.

"Not on your life! I've given you enough ammunition tonight to carry you for a while, I'm not adding to the arsenal." She gave him a sideways glance and headed out the door.

Cal headed back to his office. He grabbed another glass of scotch for her and refilled his. He then started toward her office. He ran into her as she exited the break room. "Fancy a drink while you wait, love?"

"I'm guessing Emily isn't coming home tonight?" She smiled at him. They walked toward her office together.

"Nah. She headed to her friend's house after leaving here. Something about a Christmas party for the girls; insisted no boys would be there." Cal had a look on his face that said he didn't actually believe her but had let her go anyway.

Gillian was surprised. "And you let her go? Wow, Cal. Are you feeling okay?" They both laughed.

"My best friend told me I needed to trust my daughter more. Thought I'd finally take that advice." He nudged her shoulder. He then gestured toward the box in her hands. "What's that then?"

Gillian smiled and her eyes got wide. "Double chocolate, Georgetown cupcakes." She closed her eyes. "Mmmm. Best thing ever!" She looked back at him to find him staring at her with his mouth hanging open. "What? They are!"

"Oi Foster. I've never seen a grown woman so nuts about chocolate." Secretly, he loved that about her but he also loved how she would roll her eyes and shake her head just a little whenever he made the comment; much like she was doing now. He felt the funny pull in his stomach again. 'She will be the death of me.'

When they reached her office, she set the cupcakes down on her desk and turned to take the drink from his hand. They both headed toward her couch. She settled on one end crossing her legs and facing him. He lounged back on the opposite end angled toward her.

"What shall we toast then?" Cal raised his glass.

"To another successful Holiday party." Gillian raised her glass then they both took a drink together.

It was quiet for a moment. Cal then raised his glass again. "To my best friend who still manages to surprise me after all these years."

Gillian gave him a slight glare but raised her glass and took another drink. The scotch was smooth-too smooth.

"To-" Cal started again.

"Cal! Are you trying to get me drunk?" Gillian gave him a mock angry face. "I have to drive home you know."

"Bollocks! That's what cabs are for!" Cal winked at her. "Where was I?" He pretended to think for a moment. "Oh yeah, to my fabulous business partner who managed to keep us afloat despite my ridiculous antics."

Gillian raised her glass. "Now, that I will drink to!"

Cal jumped up and started heading toward the door.

"Where are you going?"

Cal smiled. "I have several more toasts I want to make and my glass is empty. Stay put. I'll be right back!"

Gillian kicked off her shoes and curled her feet under her. She hadn't planned on drinking tonight. She had a few glasses of wine during the party but that was it. She hadn't seen Cal drinking at the party either. That was unusual for him. It probably had something to do with his epiphany concerning his parents. He wasn't so afraid of being like his mother anymore. He had surpassed her in years and had come to the realization that he should be afraid of turning out like his father. 'I hope he realizes he is nothing like that. '

Cal grabbed the bottle out of his study and started back to Gillian. Maybe he could loosen her up enough that she would talk to him. He had seen a flash of sadness on her face when she stopped playing the guitar. He was highly intrigued by her, always had been. He couldn't believe as well as he knew her she still had so many secrets from him. It was strange to have someone so familiar with everything to do with you and still feel so in the dark where they were concerned. That wasn't typically what happened with him. He always had the upper hand. Strangely enough, it didn't alarm him. It was somewhat of a turn on.

Cal could see her staring into her glass as he walked toward her. She looked up as he came in.

"Penny for your thoughts?" He gestured the bottle toward her and she raised her glass so he could refill it.

"Just thinking how I've missed this with you." She gestured her arm back and forth between them. "It feels good to be back on track." She smiled at him.

"That it does." He set the bottle down on the side table and resumed his spot on the couch. "I do owe you an apology Gill." He waited for her to look at him. "I'm sorry for all the shit I put you through. You deserve so much more from a partner and a friend."

Gillian looked at him with surprise in her eyes. "Thank you Cal. It means a lot to hear you say that."

"You okay love?" Cal was staring at her when she looked up at him.

Gillian was confused. "I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

Cal took in a deep breath. "I just saw your face earlier, when you were playing. I… I saw a little sadness. Just want to make sure you're all right."

"Oh. I'm… I'm fine. Just, playing that song… it brings back a lot of memories for me. That's all." She smiled at him a little too forced.

"Really? You want to talk about it?" He scooted a little closer to her. "I'm a very good listener."

"There's nothing to talk about, Cal. Holidays make you think, you know?" She looked at him now, telling him with her eyes to drop it.

"Hey. I'm not gonna push love. Just want you to know I'm here if you want to share. You helped me last week work through my parental issues. Just thought maybe I could return the favor, that's all."

"I appreciate that Cal. I do." She paused for a second. "But, it's Christmas! We should be happy, and celebrating, so…" She looked at him pointedly.

"Ok. How about after Christmas? We can talk then?" Cal was leaning in toward her.

"We'll see. Okay? I won't promise more than that." Gillian stuck her chin out defiantly. "Now. Finish your toasting!"

He raised his glass again. "To sexy red dresses." He looked her up and down with a grin on his face.

"Cal!" She blushed and looked away.

"What? I'm a man first and you could stop traffic in that dress, love."

She shook her head and self consciously placed her hand over her chest covering up the small amount of cleavage that was showing.

"No need to be embarrassed Gill. You look absolutely beautiful tonight." He took a sip of his scotch. "Half the blokes we employ couldn't keep their eyes off you!"

"Cal. Now you're just being silly. Cut it out." She glared at him and took a sip of her drink.

"All silliness aside, you are breathtaking in that dress. You look sexy as hell in red." Cal thought for a second. "Actually you look sexy as hell in everything if I do say so myself!"

"How much have you had to drink?" She was laughing at him now.

"Oh, darling, you are gorgeous every day. Stop trying to blame my attraction on the alcohol! Won't work!" Cal took another sip of his scotch.

"Your attraction?" She raised her eyebrows at him and took another sip of her drink.

"Aye, aye." He was looking at her seriously now.

"What are we doing Cal?" Gillian looked at him skeptically. It wasn't a good idea for them to be drinking and talking like this.

"Well, I thought we were flirting love. Am I that bad at it?" Cal laughed and leaned back into the couch.

"No, you're too good at it. That may be the problem."

They both heard noises in the hallway and then saw the cleaning crew coming in. Gillian swallowed the last of her scotch and stood up. "That's my cue." She handed him the glass.

Cal jumped up. "Leaving so soon?"

"Yes." She smiled at him. He put both glasses on the table and stepped toward her. He put his arms out and she leaned into him for a hug. "Thanks Cal."

"No. Thank you, love." They pulled back from each other. "Hey, uh, you have plans for Christmas? I mean, Em's with her mum and I was thinking maybe…"

Gillian walked over to get her coat. "I'm volunteering at the shelter Christmas morning. But we could get together for dinner. Would that be okay?"

"Perfect." Cal helped her get her coat on. "We'll figure out the menu this week." Cal couldn't hide the happiness on his face at her response. "Drive safe."

"I will. You too." Gillian slung her purse over her shoulder and grabbed her cupcakes and the gift cards.

"Always. See you Monday then?" Cal walked out of the office behind her.

She turned to him and smiled "See you Monday. Goodnight Cal."

"Night love."

This will be the gift that keeps on giving… I might add another chapter here, haven't decided that yet. I've also been working on another fic called "House That Built Me" that takes place after 'Killer App' and this fic ties in nicely with that one. It won't be ready to post for a while-I'm finishing "It's a Lot to Carry" first!

Merry Christmas Kate!