This little piece is an experiment. Not my best work but I'm going to see where it goes if y'all are interested. Takes place just after "Funhouse." Oh, and I'm a little bit tipsy so if I screwed up, blame it on slight inebriation. ;)

Cal slowed on approach, studying her from the corner of his eye. In that briefest of moments, she tucked her chestnut hair behind one ear and pressed her lips into a single line. Mild irritation flickered.

He figured it was probably his fault. Somewhere along the line he'd forgotten to dot an "I" or cross a "t."

But that didn't matter. Not really at least. Other issues folded over him thanks to his inadvertent walk on the wild side. Usually his wild side walks were planned, purposeful, and he knew what to expect. Not this time though. His inhibitions had foundered even more than usual, sending him spiraling into new territory and revealing more than he'd ever intended.

"You can do anything you set your mind to."

"Oh yeah?"

He'd stepped into her space and inhaled her sweet aroma and Gillian's hands had flown up to keep the distance. The motion had been automatic: a throwback to when she was married. It was something she was so used to doing that it had become second nature.

At the time, ergot had him floating somewhere around Mercury, but after he'd come down, the scene kept presenting itself to him in a constant loop behind his eyes.

His blatant pass.

Her ingrained response.

But there was something else. Something his drug-addled state didn't catch at the time, but his memory had since honed. At least he hoped that was the case and he wasn't fooling himself into creating something that never happened.

Her mouth had popped open in surprise at his sudden movement, lips glistening, soft and inviting, urging him to meld his with them in that moment. He thought her eyes had darkened just a tiny bit at his approach but now he couldn't decide if it had really happened or if he just saw what he wanted to see.

Shit.

Cal glanced down at his watch. The day was waning. Soon the staff would disperse and leave them alone to work in the soft amber of desk lamps.

He returned to his office to stew over his indecision.

Numbers were dancing around in her vision when she pushed away from the computer.

Enough already. Tomorrow was another day.

Gillian glanced up expecting Cal to be hovering outside her door as he'd done earlier but he was nowhere to be seen. A fleeting sense of disappointment skirted along and she allowed it to keep going, choosing not to stop and analyze it.

She powered down, got up and attempted to stretch out all the kinks which had taken up residence in her neck and shoulders. It didn't work. What she needed was a massage but would settle for a hot bath and a glass of Chardonnay.

As was customary, upon leaving her office, she turned left toward Cal's office, instead of right toward the elevators.

His desk lamp was on but the chair was empty. Light glowed from beneath the closed door of the library, so after a brief hesitation, she wandered over and knocked softly.

"Cal, I'm heading out."

"It's open, luv."

She slid the pocket door aside. "Just wanted to say good-"

He stood just off the entrance. Heart stammering, her hands went up to keep the distance.

Tilting his head, he regarded her for several long moments. "Why do you do that?"

She blinked, face tingling and warm. "Do what?"

"That." He flopped his hand between the two of hers.

Frowning, her gaze dropped. She'd pushed her palms outward, fingers stretched upright. It was a defensive gesture, as if Cal intended to harm her and they both knew that would never be the case.

"I'm not sure." Perspiration prickled along her hairline.

"Are you afraid of me?"

"Of course not." She dropped her hands, meaning to smooth them over her skirt, but he caught one before it reached its destination. Cal cradled it to his chest and she could feel callouses balancing with softness.

His eyes were intent on her features, weighing, reading, judging. Everything was on display for a change and he missed nothing. "Are you sure?"

She took a step back but his hand still held hers, firm but gentle. "What are you doing Cal?"

"Testing the waters."

A nervous laugh bubbled from her. "What's going on, really?" She had the feeling she knew and perhaps she was afraid. Not of him, just of his sharp edges.

His thumb brushed the back of her hand bringing a tingle of warmth and gooseflesh.

"Please don't be afraid." His eyes beseeched, his expression vulnerable and everything began to fall into place.

Gillian swallowed. It was so loud and she wondered if he heard it. "I don't want to be."

"Then don't." His mouth twisted to the side. "How 'bout this? I'd like to take you to dinner tomorrow. Don't answer now. Just think about it."

"On a date."

He paused before nodding.

"What brought all this on?" The question could have been sarcastic but her voice remained soft, caught between a whisper and the huskiness of arousal. She would have willed it back inside if she could have.

To her relief, he didn't run with it despite her tone practically gift wrapping her desire for him. Up until now she'd done a close to perfect job of keeping it in check.

Cal's eyes remained vulnerable but his lip twitched. "I made a pass the other day."

Her brow furrowed. "You were high."

"Yeah, yeah, there's that, but I should apologize."

Should apologize? Meaning he wasn't going to? In fairness, she'd brushed it off for what it was although, if she was going to be honest, she'd wanted him closer, but her automatic response was to block his advance with the very same defensive gesture. It went up without thought, unconscious, but powerful in its symbolism.

Not a line anymore. A wall. Her heart trembled against her ribcage at the realization. Is that what she wanted?

She cleared her throat, attempting more vocal strength. "There's nothing to apologize for."

His eyes flicked back and forth between hers, indecisive. "Yes and no."

"Why yes and no?"

"Yes, because I was pushy-"

"Yeah, like that's never happened before." Laughter erupted around the edges and it felt good.

He continued beyond the light reprimand, a smile playing around his mouth. "No, because it was…honest. You said I could do anything I set my mind to…"

Oh boy. She now knew what he'd set his mind to and the proverbial ball was in her court.

"In the meantime, I know you meant to call it a night." He released her hand and the chill of the a/c rushed in to replace it. "So, let's get the hell outta here."