Lost and Found (Cal)

[ERIN O'BRIEN]

It had been a strange morning for Erin. Finally free from her captor, she made her way outside only to find out she was residing next door to her own home for the past several days. She had no idea where to go from there, though. Home? Her apartment was probably vacant and locked and she didn't have her keys. She needed to get to the police, or the hospital, but walking from there would take too long. Why were there no pay phones anymore? Erin went into her apartment building and made her way upstairs to her elderly neighbors house. Ms. Tunt would certainly know she'd been missing and would take her in. Sure enough the woman brought her in, called the police and within ten minutes a squad car and ambulance were there. Ms. Tunt had been kind enough to allow Erin to use the phone, and she called her aunt who said she would meet them at the hospital since Erin already knew they would take her there to be checked out and questioned. Sure enough, thirty minutes after Kurt had let her go, she found herself nestled in a hospital bed with her vitals being taken and and two officers questioning her on her abduction. All Erin wanted to do was see her daughter, though. Fortunately when Cora arrived with Molly, the police allowed the pair to have a teary reunion and backed off the questions for a while.

Up until the moment Erin had seen her daughter, she had been very capable of keeping it together, but her hard exterior crumbled as the girl ran sobbing into her arms. She couldn't remember ever feeling so relieved, so overcome with joy, aside from maybe the day the little girl had been born. She felt content for the first time in nearly a week, and she could easily tell Molly felt the same. Molly refused to leave her mothers side and Erin was reluctant to let her go, so she allowed the police to continue their questioning while she cradled the lanky preteen in her lap as if she were nothing more than a toddler. Cora stayed near, and even Erin's parents came to see her. All in all it had been a chaotic day so far, but one she wouldn't trade for the world. Television stations began popping up outside in the hopes of being the first to air the full story on their networks, but no one was talking and Erin was grateful. The less publicity the better, not just for her but for Kurt. Despite everything, she still wanted what was best for him and maintained that he needed some major help. Whether he got it or not was a different story entirely, but she promised she would do what she could, and she intended to keep that promise.

It was early evening by the times things started to settle a little. The police had collected as much information as they needed for the time being, though she was sure more would be collected, and all the hospitals testing had been completed. They really had no reason to continue holding her, but she knew that the media was waiting for her outside, so until a plan was constructed to keep her privacy, she would stay put. Molly was asleep on the bed beside Erin and Cora had run down to the cafeteria to try and get some coffee. Erin was nestled in the hospital bed watching the news on her story. They had shown coverage of Kurt's arrest and the entire thing rubbed her the wrong way. She hated that they were treating him this way, even though deep down she knew he not only deserved it but had it coming. He had to know it was the next step after letting her go. At least he went willingly. The camera showed Cal was there for his arrest and she knew that was the reason she hadn't seen him there at the hospital yet. She was sure he would be practically beating down the door at the opportunity to give her a solid "I told you so!", but she had yet to see him. Of course, that didn't last for long.

Right in the middle of watching the TV there was a knock on the door. She looked over, expecting one of the nurses or cops to come in to tell her what was going to happen next, but a familiar face graced the entrance way instead. Cal looked almost tired, but also a little relieved. She bit her bottom lip, looking down at the sleeping girl beside her and then back at the captain who had vowed to make her life hell. "I thought for sure you would have been here first thing to give me your told you so's." She teased, her voice trying to sound teasing, but clearly a little guarded. She hardly knew what to say to him now and she kept her wall up, in case he disappointed her, though she severely hoped he wouldn't.

[CALVIN HAGAN]

It was Taylor that came in and told Cal the news. Erin had walked into the hospital that morning and was being tested for poisons and treated for minor dehydration and injuries. Cal could have hugged the brunette detective, but knowing how badly that would freak everyone out, especially Taylor, he instead contained his relief except for a big sigh. He had been working on this for a week straight without really sleeping. Whenever he felt too tired to keep searching, he would think of Molly languishing over her mother’s disappearance and feel guilted back into business. It was hard seeing the little girl so depressed. He’d even brought her to work for a day just to try and cheer her up, which worked a little bit, but there were a couple times he had to shoo her from his office to talk about her mother’s case with the detectives under him. Needless to say, it was a big shock to see Cal Hagan walking in with a young girl and actually being friendly. It was going to take some time to get his reputation as a hardass back. He would only do further damage by showing just how relieved he was to hear Erin was okay. Once his mind recovered from the shock of the news, he began to ask for the details. Where had she been? Who had taken her? What happened?

He wasn’t going to deny how vindicated he felt when Taylor told him who had taken her. Kurt Steubenfeld. At first the name meant nothing to him, but when Taylor explained it was the man Cal had been describing and asking around about for the last week. He was the creepy thin man. For a brief second he was pissed that Erin hadn’t listened to him, that she had stood up for him when Cal was right the whole time, but then the more important issue came to mind: getting Steubenfeld. For a week he had watched a little girl suffer without her mother, watched her cry and felt helpless to ease her worry, listened as Cora fretted too and had to stop her from going to crazy trying to find her cousin. He even went in front of cameras with Cora to make a public plea for Erin’s safe return. And for week he had barely slept thinking about what Erin could be going through…or if she was even alive. Cal was itching to slap Steubenfeld’s cuffs on him and throw him in a cell. So as soon as Taylor told him where Steubenfeld was located, he raced from the station with Taylor and a force of other officers to go apprehend their criminal. Erin was in the hospital and probably reuniting with Molly, Cora, and Cora’s daughter Julie: he could wait a few more hours to go see her. At least from Taylor’s account she hadn’t suffered too much physical trauma.

When they broke down the door to Steubenfeld’s apartment, they found him sitting on his couch. He was hunched over and barely moved a muscle as the cops swarmed around him. It was obvious he was a man broken. Cal stepped toward him, glaring fiercely down into the pale eyes of the man slowly raising his head. Steubenfeld briefly returned his look, apparently recognizing him, but he eventually lowered his head once again. Cal took the chance to seize the scrawny man by his shirt and yank him to his feet, roughly forcing him to turn around. “Kurt Steubenfeld, you are under arrest for the kidnapping of Erin O’Brien. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be appointed to you. Do you understand these rights as I have read them to you?” As he finished Mirandizing Steubenfeld, he clicked the right cuff closed tight and looked up at the broken man’s face, still lowered and impossible to see behind the black hair falling in his face. “Yes.” His voice was soft, almost a whisper, and Cal fought the urge to punch him. His jaw clenched in pent up fury and he swallowed hard before he began leading Steubenfeld from the too hot and old-fashioned apartment. When the urge to push the creepy kidnapper down the stairs washed over him, he opted to let the other officers take over the arrest from there. He had known from the start that he was too close to the case and now it was all too obvious to him. As much as he wanted to be there for the initial interview with Steubenfeld, he knew it would be better to wait until he was calmer. He was likely to hit the man if left alone with him at this point.

Cameras swarmed them as soon as they walked from the building with Steubenfeld in cuffs. Reporters were shouting questions, but Cal ignored them, walking silently beside Steubenfeld as another officer escorted him. “Captain Hagan, are you willing to make a statement?” “Is Miss O’Brien well?” “How did she escape?”[/i] Bunch of vultures…With a heavy sigh, Cal stopped and looked at the bright lights and microphones waving in his face, flashes of cameras blurring his vision. “Miss O’Brien is well and safe, but the police department will not be releasing the facts of the case at this time. There will be a press conference later this week to answer all of your questions.” And with that Cal turned and hurried from the crowd as best as he could. There were even a couple news helicopters circling the scene like buzzards over a fresh corpse. Cal scowled at them and kept on to his car. He wanted to see for himself that Erin was really okay.

It was a short drive to the hospital, but there was no rest for the weary. The buzzards were here too and Cal simply hurried past them, ignoring their shouts as he continued to the desk. They quietly told him where to find Erin and security thankfully stopped the reporters at the door as Cal swept down the halls towards Erin’s room. Passing by a gift shop, he wondered if maybe he should get flowers for the woman he was rushing to see. It wasn’t a habit of his to buy flowers for the victims he dealt with on a day to day basis. But Erin wasn’t a normal victim. She was…well, she was more to him than any of the other victims were. He couldn’t explain their relationship, but he felt like he should get her flowers. Or would that be weird? It wasn’t until the woman at the cash register coughed that he realized she was eyeing him suspiciously. He was the only person standing still in the hallway and he’d been just standing there staring at the bunches of flowers. With a slightly embarrassed look on his face, he slouched a little and grabbed the assortment of daisies and carnations that he’d been staring at. The cashier continued to eye him curiously as he brought the flowers to the counter. “You want a vase for these?” Cal nodded in return, fishing out his wallet. “Twenty-two fifty is your total.” His eyes shot up and his brow creased. “For flowers?” The woman gave him a mildly annoyed look. “And a vase.” Cal was a penny-pincher from his life at the bottom of the barrel and throwing down $22.50 on flowers and a vase left a sour taste in his mouth, but he reluctantly forked over the cash. Hopefully Erin wouldn’t give him shit for bringing her flowers.

As he neared Erin’s room, he realized he was a little nervous to see her. What kind of state would she be in? They hadn’t parted on the best of terms. Would she still be mad at him? She was probably bitter about his being right about Steubenfeld, but he wasn’t planning to rub it in. She’d just been held captive for a week and he was too tired and relieved to care about being right. Swallowing hard, he arrived at her door and could see she was watching TV with Molly curled up beside her. Cora and Julie weren’t there, which would make this all a little easier. He didn’t want them to see him give Erin flowers. He hid the flowers behind his back as he edged close to the door and rapped his knuckles against it. When her big brown eyes fell on him, another unexpected wave of relief washed over him. Was it relief? He swallowed again and crept into the room as Erin bit her lip and looked down at Molly. The poor thing must have been so relieved she finally passed out. "I thought for sure you would have been here first thing to give me your told you so's." Erin’s voice caught his attention again and he looked up at her. The statement irked him. Did she really think he was that callous? But instead of letting it get to him, he simply pushed a small, lopsided smile to his face and shook his head. “I think you’ve probably been playing my told you so’s in your head enough this week. I’m not going to make it worse.” His voice was a little softer than it usually was, mindful of the sleeping girl and Erin’s probable fragility at the moment. Finally he pulled his hands out from behind him and handed her the bouquet of flowers hidden behind him, the vase in his other hand. “I’m glad you’re okay.” He gave a slightly wider smile, but much more genuine now. She took the flowers from him and Cal couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so awkward. He wasn’t good at giving women gifts. Holding the vase up, he said, “And I got a vase too. Want me to put them in water?” Before she could answer, Molly was stirring on the bed and Cal watched as she turned first to make sure her mother was still there. When she was certain she hadn’t dreamed her mother’s return, she turned her bright eyes to Cal and smiled wider than he’d seen her smile in days. He returned it warmly before giving her his standard greeting. “Hey, Kiddo.”

[ERIN O'BRIEN]

Cal smiled and she felt a little unsure about his being there. Would he give her a reason to get frustrated so quickly after walking through the door? "I think you've probably been playing my told you so's in your head enough this week. I'm not going to make it worse.". Though his voice was soft, his words were obnoxious. She hadn't been playing his words in her mind, not in the way he'd hoped anyway. But Erin was too worn out mentally to get too annoyed with Cal just yet. He was there to check on her, and she knew it wasn't because he was a cop. The cops had already checked on her. What really surprised her, though, was the bouquet of flowers he pulled from behind his back. Her dark eyes moved to look at them curiously for a moment before looking back at Cal with a questioning glance. He'd brought her flowers? "I'm glad you're okay." Her stomach did a strange sort of twist at his words. She felt at a complete loss as to what she should say. Thank you cam to mind, but even that seemed a weird thing to say considering who the flowers were from. She reached for the bouquet and looked at the buds instead of Cal, feeling her cheeks warm. "And I got a vase too. Want me to put them in water?" she was about to tell him that was a good idea when Molly stirred beside her. Erin was momentarily distracted, her eyes landing on her daughters as they turned up towards her, the look of terror quickly dissipating. Would Molly ever trust that she would always be there again? Erin gave a arm smile and gently stroked the girls hair as she turned to look at Cal. Though Erin couldn't see her daughters face, she watched her body relax, as though th very sight of Cal was comforting to her. She looked up at the man curiously. Why would She relax for him?

"Hey, Kiddo." Cal!" Molly said in a happy but groggy voice. She squirmedd off the bed and gave the man a hug, and Erin was surprised to see the easy way he hugged her back, as if they were old friends. Her lips pursed and she held the flowers a little tight, not sure how to feel. How close had he stayed to Molly over the last week? She wasn't frightened by him, which meant he didn't try anything funny, but still.. "I saw you on TV!" Molly gushed. "Were you scared? Did he try and shoot you guys? Did you--" "Sprinkle.." Erin interuped and the little girl quieted immediately, looking to her mother. "Cora and Julie went down to the cafe for coffee. Why don't you go down and find them? I think I'd like a muffin. Would you ask them to get one for me?" Not being a baby anymore Molly knew her mom just wanted to get rid of her so she could talk to Cal alone. She sighed and nodded. "You won't go anywhere?" she asked and Erin shook her head. "I'm not moving an inch, and Cal will stay until you get back. I promise. Alright?" Molly looked between them, and finally satisfied she left.

Erin looked up at Cal again, watching him silently for a moment before extending the flowers back. "You should put them in water." She said softly and waited for him to take them. "Thanks.. for bringing those. They're beautiful." She looked down at her lap, feeling strange and unsure. "And thanks for whatever you did for Molly." She looked back up at him, watching him moving. "I hope she wasn't too much of a hassel."

[CALVIN HAGAN]

“Cal!” The police captain’s smile grew as he watched Molly squirm off the bed and pounce for him. As her little arms wrapped about his waist, he draped an arm around her shoulders, the other resting on top of her light brown hair. When she pulled back a little to look up at him, the hand on her head moved to gripping the upper portion of her skinny little arm. “I saw you on TV! Were you scared? Did he try to shoot you guys? Did you—” “Sprinkle… Erin’s voice caught Molly’s and Cal’s attention, the girl turning to look back at her while Cal simply looked up. She didn’t look entirely pleased with how Molly was fawning on Cal, which irked him. He’d spent a week looking out for her kid and she still couldn’t trust him? “Cora and Julie went down to the cafe for coffee. Why don’t you go down and find them? I think I’d like a muffin. Would you ask them to get one for me?” Apparently Molly knew what her mother was trying to do too and Cal let the girl slip from his grasp as she sighed. “You won’t go anywhere?” How long would it take the girl to trust that her mother wasn’t leaving her again anytime soon? Erin shook her head. “I’m not moving an inch, and Cal will stay until you get back. I promise, alright?” Molly looked back up at Cal who gave her another smile. “Go on. I’ll be here when you get back.” She seemed satisfied with that promise and finally headed out the door. Cal watched her a moment until she was out of sight before he turned back to Erin.

To his surprise she handed the flowers back to him and for a second he got annoyed, thinking she was going to refuse to take them. “You should put them in water.” Oh…his annoyance slipped away immediately and he nodded a little stiffly as he took the flowers from her. “Thanks…for bringing those. They’re beautiful.” The comment made him pause and he looked at her with mild surprise. She’d thanked him…thought the flowers were beautiful…shit, he needed to stop looking at her. With another stiff sort of nod and a tight-lipped smile, he moved over to the sink in the room. The water came on and he placed the vase beneath it to catch it. “And thanks for whatever you did for Molly. I hope she wasn’t too much of a hassle.” A more genuine smile quirked up his mouth which she could only see when he turned around to look at her over his shoulder. “It’s no trouble. She wasn’t a hassle at all.” He turned back to shut the water off and he set the vase on the counter while he picked up her bouquet of flowers again and started to pull them out of their plastic wrapping. “You were the hassle.” His tone was mildly playful, trying to lighten the mood but wondering if maybe she took his comment too seriously. His green eyes shifted to look at her briefly before he went on to explain. “I barely got more than four hours of sleep a night trying to find you. There were hundreds of leads and none of them were right. I asked hundreds of people about Steubenfeld and no one knew who he was or where he lived. I wanted to kick myself when I found out he was right next door to your building, but at least you weren’t dead.” In that moment he realized he had confessed how much her disappearance had bothered him. For some reason it made his stomach squirm to admit that. He cleared his throat, dumping the packet of flower food into the vase before he stuck the flowers in. They looked so cheerful all white and yellow and bunching together expertly in the vase. As he plucked at them, trying to get them to present better, he struggled for the next thing to say. His eyes flashed to her again and he swallowed seeing those big doe eyes fixated on him.

“I tried to keep her distracted. Cora and Julie did a great job with that too but I did what I could to help. I brought her to work with me for a day. It was the second day you were gone and she wasn’t going to school anyway so I brought her in with me. Aw, c’mon, don’t give me that look. She loved it.” Erin was looking at him like he told her he’d taken her out of state without her permission or something. “It was more educational than being at school. Molly wasn’t going to be able to focus in school that day, not with your disappearance so fresh. One of the female detectives took her around the station and showed her what happened where. Molly got a kick out of her accent, too, since Faye’s from Georgia. She said she’d been to your shop before and she was happy to help Molly get her mind off of your disappearance.” Erin seemed to calm a little, but he could tell she wasn’t entirely happy with him for keeping her out of school, even if it had been a Friday and the second day of her missing. Cal rubbed the back of his neck and moved closer, his short hair bristling beneath his fingers. He pulled up a chair next to her bed and sat down in it, finally letting his eyes rest on hers. He knew he was in need of a shave and some sleep and he could only imagine how rough he looked under the fluorescent lighting of the hospital. But it had been worth it to see Erin safe again. The woman was a pain in the ass, but that didn’t mean he wanted bad things to happen to her. His look was serious and his voice lowered as he focused on her. “Did he hurt you?” It was the question he dreaded the answer to, but he had to be sure.

[ERIN O'BRIEN]

Cal was smiling at her gratitude, and Erin had ahard time deciding if it was smug or not. She knew he knew how uncomfortable she was with him invading her life, but it had never stopped him before. If anything, it seemed to encourage him further. "It's no trouble. She wasn't a hassle at all. You were the hassle." She knew he was teasing, but his words struck a chord. She didn't ask him to look for her. If anything, she'd saved herself because he failed. He was sot of the hassle here, but not wanting to fight she kept her mouth shut, even if she was becoming frustrated with Cal. He'd done a lot while she was missing, she already knew that from Cora and Molly's talking. "I barely got more than four hours of sleep a night trying to find you. There were hundreds of leads and none of them were right. I asked hundreds of people about Steubenfeld and no one knew who he was or where he lived. I wanted to kick myself when I found out he was right next door to your building, but at least you weren't dead." dead? Her dark eyesmoved up to look at him, surprised by his words. Had he really been searching that hard? Erin reminded hersef this was a big case. The amount of news coverage proved it, and Cal was just doing his job. He'd be up searching for any missing person. Wouldn't he?

Erin remained quiet, lost for words and unsure how she felt as Cal arranged the pretty flowers in the vase. "I tried to keep her distracted. Cora and Julie did a great job with that too but I did what I could to help. I brought her to work with me for a day. It was the second day you were gone and she wasn't going to school anyway so I brought her in with me.". He'd let her skip school? This was news to her and Erin frowned with her obvious dislike. "Aw, c'mon, don't give me that look. She loved it." Though she said nothing, she huffed at the idea of him playing daddy to her daughter, even if it was a nice thing. She averted her eyes downward, trying to remind herself he was being nice to Molly when all hope had probably seemed lost. He explained she wouldn't have been able to focus anyway and Erin knew it was true. Still, she had mixed feelings about Cal and his comrades showing her around the station. She didn't know what to say, though. Silently she sat and let him talk, refusing to look up in case she gave him a dirty look, even though she wasn't sure if she was angry with him or not. The man was pulling up a chair though, and her eyes moved up a little to watch. He looked worn out, scruffy, and she could see the toll her absence had taken on him. But why?


"Did he hurt you?" Her brows ros3 and she simply stared at him. It was a loaded question in her opinion. Had he hurt her? Yes.. but not in the ways she knew Cal was asking her. Everything was in the police report, he could have found out that way, but he was asking her. Not as a cop, but as a friend perhaps? Is that what they were? She had no idea. Again her eyes went down to her lap and she shook her head. "Not like you think." She had rehearsed her words so many times in the last week, the way sh would yell at him for doing this to her and to Kurt, but the words seemed harsh and unnecessary and truth be told she couldn't remember any of the jabs she'd come up with. "He tied me up at first and gave me mild poison to keep me subdued, but that was th worst of it." Her eyes met his, pleading. "He was frightened of you, what you meant for his chances to get closer to me. He never touched me.. never hit me.. he just wanted me for himself. He loved me. He wanted me to love him. That's all." She bit herbottom lip and tugged at the sheet on the bed. "I'm not angry with him, and you shouln't be either. He's unstable.. he's been through a lot and he didn't want to hurt anyone. He couldn't understand why I would want to leave to be with Molly. I think he's just in some serious need of psychiatric help. Kurt's not a criminal.. he's going to get torn to shreds in prison andit's just not fair." Her cheeks flushed and she chanced a look at Cal, expecting to find rage instead of understanding. Could he possibly understand?

[CALVIN HAGAN]

Cal waited patiently for Erin to think about her answer, probably gauging what his reaction would be to the answer. He tried to tell himself he would be calm and professional, but nobody who knew Calvin Hagan would believe that, including himself. Finally she shook her head and internally he breathed a sigh of relief. “Not like you think.” Wait…what did that mean? Immediately he was snatching back that silent sigh. “He tied me up at first and gave me mild poison to keep me subdued, but that was the worst of it.” The worst of it? That sounded like he hurt her enough! His muscles began to tense and his mouth formed a thin line as he watched Erin with barely concealed irritation. “He was frightened of you, what you meant for his chances to get closer to me. He never touched me…never hit me…he just wanted me for himself. He loved me. He wanted me to love him. That’s all.” So Steubenfeld felt threatened by Cal? Just because he hung around Erin? He must have thought…did it honestly look to other people like he was trying to woo Erin? The thought made him squirm. What made him squirm more was the thought of Steubenfeld trying to get Erin to love him. Cal refused to admit how much that thought bothered him.

“I’m not angry with him, and you shouldn’t be either. He’s unstable…he’s been through a lot and he didn’t want to hurt anyone. He couldn’t understand why I would want to leave to be with Molly. I think he’s just in some serious need of psychiatric help. Kurt’s not a criminal…he’s going to get torn to shreds in prison and it’s just not fair.” Her big brown eyes moved to him and Cal had to bite back asking if she knew what Stockholm syndrome was. He wanted Steubenfeld to be torn to shreds, if only a little bit, for what he had done to Molly…to Erin. Cal couldn’t explain why he was so protective of them. Molly reminded him of his favorite niece which had initially drawn him to her, but now he was protective of her because she had needed his protection on more than one occasion now. Erin was a pain in the ass that he loved to torment, but he was the only one allowed to do the tormenting. He tried to tell himself it was also because she was important to Molly and that’s why she was important to him, yet he knew it was more than that. How much more was the part he didn’t know…It was because she was important to him (for whatever reason) that he bit his sharp tongue and instead frowned ponderously down at the bed sheets. “You’ll probably make a great witness for the defense…” he grumbled, finally letting his hazel green eyes lift to hers again. “Of course the guy’s unstable—stable people don’t kidnap others. But he took you away from your family for a week and everyone was beginning to think we would fish your body out of the bay or something and he deserves punishment for that.” He could see her protest rising to her lips and he sighed, raising his hand so she would know he wasn’t done. “That being said…I have nothing to do with how he’s punished for this. That all goes down in court. I’m sure if you made a plea at his sentencing, it would be taken into consideration. He’ll most likely end up in an asylum.” That wouldn’t stop Cal from having a few words with the man before he was shipped off, though.

When his eyes came back to Erin’s, he looked weary again, even worried. “What about you? Think you’ll be able to relax after this?” He didn’t know how traumatized she was by all of this, but he was fairly certain she would be looking over her shoulder more…One thing was for certain—he was walking them home every night now. He couldn’t handle another week like the one he’d just gone through. “I can take the trash out for you from now on if you want. I don’t think anyone wants to kidnap me.” His smile was lopsided and small, but it was genuine and he was obviously trying to lighten the mood with his joke. To his surprise, however, he found that he actually would take out the garbage for her if she asked…if only to give Molly peace of mind. At least, that’s the reasoning he would give…

[ERIN O'BRIEN]

His frown spoke more than any words could. Someone like Cal could never understand. Erin had been judged plenty for decisions she had made, and people had assumed things about her that had simply been false. Why shouldn't she stand up for someone else who needed it? Cora had stood up for her, protected her, gave her a hand to hold and a leg up in the world when no one else would. It was time she paid it forward. "You'll probably make a great witness for the defense..." Cal grumbled. She frowned slightly herself, meeting his gaze. His sarcasm wasn't necessary but wasn't unexpected either. "Of course the guy's unstable...stable people don't kidnap others. But he took you away from your family for a week and everyone was beginning to think we would fish your body out of the bay or something and he deserves punishment for that." his words made her flinch, knowing they were true. Had everyone truly feared the worst? She couldn't blame them for that. She was about to ask when he held his hand up to stop her from talking, andfor once she obeyed. "I have nothing to do with how he's punished for this. That all goes down in court. I'm sure if you made a plea at his sentencing, it would be taken into consideration. He'll most likely end up in an asylum." It was better he end up there then in jail. With how terrified he was of being touched, Kurt wouldn't last more than a day or two.

Erin found herself unable to speak. She felt bad for what everyone was put through on her account and she felt like nothin she said to Cal would ease him. She as too weary to argue and all she wanted to do was go home, go back to normal. She wanted to get up and bake at her cousins shop, send her happy go lucky tween off to school, and come home, have a glass of wine and settle down for the night. "What about you? Think you'll be able to relax after this?" she gave a snort of a laugh and rolled her shoulders. Would she be able to? Not even she was foolish enough to think she wouldn't be looking over her shoulder now. "Who knows."She said honestly. "All I've wanted to do all week is relax, but now that I can.." She shrugged again, knowing it was easier said than done.

"I can take the trash out for you from now on if you want. I don't think anyone wants to kidnap me." A choked sob of a laugh exited her lips and Erin was suddenly aware of how damp her eyes had grown. She reached up and wiped at her eyes with her palm, shaking her head. "It's alright. I'll Just take it out in the morning. But.." Her wet, reddened eys met his. "Thanks for offering. Really, you don't.." she licked her lips and then bit the bottom one, frowning as tears continued to threaten her brave facade. "We're going to be alright." It was weak, but in her mind it was true. She had never accepted help from anyone but her cousin and she wasn't great with change. How could she let Cal, of all people, in? "But I think Molly would feel better if you stopped by the shop more." Her voice was small, clearly unsure about what she was saying or even asking. "For whatever reason she's grown fond of you." She forced a halfhearted smile up at him.

[CALVIN HAGAN]

The sound of Erin’s choked sob of laughter coaxed Cal’s eyes to hers. Those big brown eyes of hers were watering and as her hand came up to wipe a couple tears away, he felt as helpless as he always did when women began to cry. “It’s alright. I’ll just take it out in the morning. But…” Their eyes met and Cal felt compelled to reach out and take her hand. He didn’t, but he wanted to. “Thanks for offering. Really, you don’t…” Her tears overflowed again and Erin bit her lip. Cal swallowed hard, not sure what to do. “We’re going to be alright.” Finally those eyes were off him and he felt able to breathe again. What could he do to make the tears stop? “But I think Molly would feel better if you stopped by the shop more. For whatever reason, she’s grown fond of you.” At her halfhearted smile, he smiled too with more heart. “So this is your ploy for getting me to spend more money on your crack cakes.” His own smile turned into a grin more genuine than any of his smiles had been since before Erin’s disappearance. Erin actually laughed too and Cal felt ridiculously proud for it. He was no good at comforting women, but he was able to make this crying woman laugh. That was an accomplishment.

“I’ll come by twice a day for the next few weeks. Afternoon and evening. I won’t even ask for a discount.” His grin widened slightly. “And I’m going to walk you home in the evenings. It’ll make me feel better.” He shrugged a shoulder, trying to be cool about his sudden protectiveness of Erin and Molly. “You’re more than welcome to pay me with cupcakes.” It was a joke and Erin forced a smile, but Cal could still see her doe eyes glittering softly. She was crying again and he felt deflated. His hand went into his pocket a produced a plain white handkerchief. He was a little old-fashioned when it came to handkerchiefs, but his older sister had always insisted he go out with a handkerchief. He hardly used it, but he washed it once a week and right now it was totally clean as he bunched the cloth in his fingers and leaned in to wipe some of her tears away. He’d done the same for Molly a couple times last week. The cloth pressed into Erin’s slightly sunken cheeks and sopped up the moisture there. “Come on, don’t cry. I never know what to do with myself when women cry. Especially the pretty ones.” His smile was warm as he watched Erin. Why was she looking at him like that?

Oh right…wait, what the fuck had he just blurted out? Before he could stop it, his weathered cheeks felt hot with embarrassment. He cleared his throat, suddenly releasing the handkerchief even though he was still pressing it to her cheek. It stuck to her cheek and flapped there awkwardly. “Oh, sorry, uh…” His fumbling fingers reached up again but paused as her own thin fingers came to the cloth. Immediately and awkwardly, he dropped his hand, letting it hide in his lap once more. “Yeah…you can use that as much as you need. Molly got some good use out of it too.” He forced a smile to his mouth again. She looked at him with those big eyes again and he couldn’t hold her gaze. It made him squirm. He moved his eyes to the television instead and saw his own face pop up, footage from the press conference he had done while Erin was missing. They must have been doing a recap of the investigation. He looked like a damn monkey in that uniform they made him wear for the press. His mouth scowled momentarily before he looked back at Erin. There was a topic that would take their attention away from his awkwardness. “Do you want to make a statement for the press? I bet there’s going to be a few networks that will want an exclusive interview. It’s up to you whether you want to do it. It’s weird seeing your face plastered all over the place, though.” She probably had some idea of that by now, but Cal was more than a little familiar with the strange feeling of seeing his face on TV. That’s what happened when the city made you captain of a police squad.

[ERIN O'BRIEN]

“So this is your ploy for getting me to spend more money on your crack cakes.” He teased and she couldn't help but smile, wiping at her eyes to try and hide the tears she had shed unwillingly. "Something like that." She said softly, though she knew it wouldn't be right to charge him for the cupcakes anymore. Cora wouldn't hear of it now, and he wasn't the type of person to take advantage of the giveaways. Not completely, anyway.

“I’ll come by twice a day for the next few weeks. Afternoon and evening. I won’t even ask for a discount.” She wrinkled her nose playfully at him, as if the idea bothered her, but she wouldn't say it. She'd have given anything for him to leave her alone before, and there was a part of her that still was annoyed with him, but Erin had been told about his efforts at finding her. He hadn't succeeded, but he'd tried like hell and she needed to warm up to him since it seemed he wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. Besides, maybe he would be less obnoxious now, and maybe she could get him to eat at the damn tables instead of the counters like a hobo. “And I’m going to walk you home in the evenings. It’ll make me feel better.” For this she actually pursed her lips, but no words of protest came out. She wasn't crazy about the idea of him walking them home every night, but she knew it would be safer. Maybe she would go get a car.. Owning one in the city could be pricey, but it might be safer for them. “You’re more than welcome to pay me with cupcakes.” He was teasing her but she felt herself growing upset again. Was this what her life had become? After all her work at being independent and insisting she needed no one, did she really need to rely on this guy walking her home? She felt like a failure, her pride having gotten in the way of hers and Molly's safety. She'd been foolish to think the city was safe, that they were somehow invincible.

Erin lowered her head, attempting to hide the tears that welled in her dark eyes, but Cal's touch made her jolt and look up at him. He was holding a cloth. Was that a handkerchief? She allowed him to silently wipe her tears for a moment before shyly jerking her head away, embarrassed by his kind gesture. She hated how emotional she was and that he was there to witness it all. “Come on, don’t cry. I never know what to do with myself when women cry. Especially the pretty ones.” Her cheeks flushed and she gazed at him with uncertainty. Had he just called her pretty? He was just being polite. He looked just as embarrassed and dropped the handkerchief, which stuck to her face. “Oh, sorry, uh…” She reached up and took the handkerchief, sighing as she balled it into her fist awkwardly. Everything about this seemed all wrong. “Yeah…you can use that as much as you need. Molly got some good use out of it too.” He forced a smile but all she could do was watch him silently, at a loss for not only words, but a reaction. He was a mess. She was a mess, but dammit she had a reason to be! Why wasn't Cal keeping it together? What was it about her and her daughter that got him so worked up? Was he like this with every woman he met? Seeing them as damsels in distress, or were they just special?

Cal suddenly looked at the TV and her eyes followed, watching him speak about her and the case. They'd been showing clips of the press conference throughout the day now that she had been safely returned and she wondered how much this would affect her life in the upcoming months. “Do you want to make a statement for the press? I bet there’s going to be a few networks that will want an exclusive interview. It’s up to you whether you want to do it. It’s weird seeing your face plastered all over the place, though.” Finally a topic that didn't make her want to cry, but rather wince. She sighed and shook her head before rolling her shoulders. "I don't even know. I feel like a phony.. People don't want to know that I'm okay, they want to know what happened to me and they'll be disappointed when they find out I wasn't raped or beaten or forced to do weird stuff. That's what the media wants to hear, that makes good TV." She gave a sarcastic laugh and looked at the handkerchief tucked into her hands. "Actually maybe that's a good thing. The buzz will die down quickly and maybe things will get back to normal. It is a little weird seeing my picture on the TV. I hate that Cora chose that picture of me, too. I have two chins in that one." She pursed her lips as the door opened suddenly. Molly bounced in followed by Cora and Julie, a bag in Molly's hand and coffee's in the women's. "We got you muffins!" Molly announced excitedly, climbing onto the bed and immediately into her mothers lap though she was a little too big for that now. "There's one for you in there too, Cal. Banana nut, because bran is gross and they were out of chocolate chips and the blueberry ones were really little." She explained, nestling her body close to her mothers and looking at the TV as Cal talked. "You're like a famous person now." She told Cal, smiling as Cora brought the coffees over.

[CALVIN HAGAN]

Yep, his diversionary tactic worked. From the look on Erin’s face, Cal could tell she was now thinking more about the unpleasantness of going in front of cameras instead of his awkwardness. He was going to cringe at the memory of his stupidity for quite some time. “I don’t even know. I feel like a phony…People don’t want to know that I’m okay, they want to know what happened to me and they’ll be disappointed when they find out I wasn’t raped or beaten or forced to do weird stuff. That’s what the media wants to hear, that makes good TV.” Fuck the media. That’s what Cal almost emphatically said before she let out a sort of sarcastic laugh. It was almost a sad sound, but Cal knew she was right. The media wanted something juicy and Cal was glad Erin couldn’t give them what they wanted. He was happy she had nothing terrifying to tell. “Actually maybe that’s a good thing. The buzz will die down quickly and maybe things will get back to normal. It is a little weird seeing my picture on TV. I hate that Cora chose that picture of me, too. I have two chins in that one.” Cal’s wide grin and soft chuckle were warm and genuine for once, wrinkles crinkling at the corners of his green eyes and his wide set mouth. Of all the things for Erin to be concerned about in regards to the media and she was focusing on the supposedly bad picture chosen to represent her.

Suddenly the door opened and Cal turned in his chair to see who it was. Molly came bounding in with a bag in her hands and a bright smile followed by Cora and Julie holding coffee. “We got you muffins!” Perfect. Now he could watch Erin eat while he was reminded of the empty hole that was his stomach. He’d barely had a chance to eat all day. Molly climbed onto the bed with her mother, sitting in Erin’s lap and Cal had to smile at how almost absurd it looked for the tall, gangly girl to be sitting in her mother’s lap. “There’s one for you in there too, Cal. Banana nut because bran is gross and they were out of chocolate chips and the blueberry ones were really little.” Thank goodness he hadn’t been forgotten. Now he wouldn’t have to worry about his stomach rumbling while Erin ate. “Thanks, kiddo,” he said softly, watching as Molly leaned against her mother and looked at the TV. She was quick to look back at him however. “You’re like a famous person now.” Her smile was playful and Cal guffawed. “Ha! If that’s the case then I should be making more money. Think you could talk the Chief of Police into giving me a raise?” He grinned at Molly before turning to Cora and taking the coffee she offered him with a soft, “Thank you.” Julie had gone around to the other side of the bed to give Erin her coffee and they all took a moment to settle in, Cal plucking his muffin from the bag when it was passed to him. Like he suspected, it wasn’t as good as Cora’s, but it would definitely suffice.

“So ladies…” Cal started while giving the last few chews to the bit of muffin in his mouth before looking up at the women surrounding him. “Who wants to gear up for another press conference?” Cora outright laughed loudly. “Oh Cal, you’re so funny. My fifteen minutes of fame are up. If I’m going on TV again, there better be a chance at winning a million dollars.”[/i] Cal couldn’t blame her for that. Julie looked at her mother thoughtfully, her brow creasing a little as her lips pouted outwards in consideration. “You’re pretty enough to be on TV.”[/i] A grin cracked across Cora’s face as she looked at her daughter and crinkled her nose playfully, earning a wide grin from Julie in return. “Daww, you’re pretty.”[/i] Cora’s exaggerated cooing was accentuated with a touch to Julie’s cheek that seemingly filled the young woman with warm fuzzies that made her shoulders bunch up beneath her jaw. Cal couldn’t help but smile at their banter while Molly giggled. He’d gotten used to the way their conversations bounced back and forth with humorous statements and retorts. Finally he looked at Erin again, more serious but still gentle. It was strange for him to be so genial but not necessarily unpleasant. “I think you should make a statement. The hype will die down when they find out that you’re okay and relatively unscathed. It may take a few weeks, but it’ll only get worse if you just leave it without a word. Trust me, I’ve seen it before. But it’s up to you whether you want to do it or not.” Even if she didn’t want him to, Cal would be there to support her just in case she needed it. She wouldn’t ask him to do it, he was certain, but he couldn’t just throw her to the wolves. A hush had fallen over the room in anticipation of her answer.

[ERIN O'BRIEN]

"Ha! If that's the case then I should be making more money. Think you could talk the Chief of Police into giving me a raise?". Molly giggled and Erin smiled gently, combing her fingers through the girls long sandy brown hair. Molly took her moms muffin out and offered it to her, which erin took but simply just held. She wasn't really all that hungry, but she gratefully accepted the coffee julie offered, taking a deep sip. It warmed her throughout though she wasn't cold. Cora knew how she took her coffee and though it was bad hospital coffee, it still felt good settled in her tummy. Like a warm comforter on a winters night.

"So ladies...Who wants to gear up for another press conference?" Erin sighed. She hadn't had one but she didn't want to. Oh Cal, you're so funny. My fifteen minutes of fame are up. If I'm going on TV again, there better be a chance at winning a million dollars." Erin grinned but part of her felt bad that Cora had ben placed in this situation because of her. The woman had done so much for her over the year and this was how she thanked her. "You're pretty enough to be on TV.Aaww, you're pretty." ern smiled but took another sip of her coffee, used to the others banter, but still disappointed they were all faced with this media mess.

"I think you should make a statement. The hype will die down when they find out that you're okay and relatively unscathed. It may take a few weeks, but it'll only get worse if you just leave it without a word. Trust me, I've seen it before. But it's up to you whether you want to do it or not." the room grew still and four sets of eyes landed on Erin, forcing her cheeks a gentle shade of pink. She bit her lower lip and looked around before letting her eyes settle on Cal. He had a point, and she'd said it herself earlier. That didn't mean she wantd to do it. "I think it's best I get it over with so we can all just move on." She leaned in and rested her head against Molly's with a sigh. "And who knows, maybe business will boom now that I'm a minor celebrity." She teased with a slightly forced smile.

[CALVIN HAGAN]

Cal could see Erin was nervous about all the eyes on her and he almost regretted asking her the question. A media circus wasn’t what she needed right now, but it was only going to get worse with her continued silence. God forbid rumors start to fly that it was just a hoax and she just didn’t want to admit it. “I think it’s best I get it over with so we can all just move on.” Cal nodded and inwardly felt relieved. Watching her sigh and lean her head against Molly’s, he could see her weariness and decided not to pester her about it anymore right now. He was what some people might call a, “go-getter,” but that didn’t mean he was insensitive to other people’s feelings. “And who knows, maybe business will boom now that I’m a minor celebrity.” Her smile was forced but shared, his own lips quirking up in a small, amused half-smile. One glance at the other ladies revealed they shared his amusement. “Then I might have to do some more marketing. You looking for a career move, Jujubee?” Cora looked at her daughter who gave her mother an incredulous look. “And let Remy do it all by himself? He’ll run the Remington into the ground.”[/i] The ladies smiled at her joke, but it was lost on Cal. He knew very little about Julie except that she was pretty high up at the Remington and planned some of their events.

With that, he sighed and pushed himself to his feet. His muffin was done and he tossed the wrapper in the trashcan, still holding his less-than-average tasting coffee. Coffee was coffee, after all. “Well, I’ll let you ladies be. I feel like a fifth wheel here.” Cora waved her hand. “Oh Cal, you’re practically family now! You won’t be the only guy when Luke gets here.” Cal actually liked Cora’s husband. He had met him a couple times since the investigation started and he found they had a lot in common. He just didn’t think he could wait for the man to abandon his restaurant long enough to come down and visit with Erin. It would be awkward to stay. Shaking his head, Cal offered a smile. “Sorry, I should get back to the station. That place doesn’t run without me. But tell Luke I say hi.” Cora looked at Erin and pointed a finger at Cal. “Cal and Luke have a total bromance going on. It was bro at first sight.” Julie was nodding her head gravely, obviously fighting back a smile. “It’s true. I saw the sparks flying.”[/b] Cal actually laughed softly, shaking his head. These women were a trip.

When his eyes fell on Erin he was still smiling, his eyes crinkling once more before the smile slowly feel to half the size it started out as. “I’m glad you’re okay, Erin. I’ll be in touch with you on the statement. Just rest up and I’ll see you around the shop.” He had every intention of making good on his promise to visit her twice a day and walk her and Molly home in the evenings. Cal wasn’t happy that he worried so much about Erin, but he was resigned to the fact that he did. His eyes lingered on her momentarily, glad he had a chance to see her again and that she was safe, before he looked at Molly. He reached his hand out and ruffled her long, sandy hair at which she grinned. “See you around, Kiddo.” “Bye, Cal!” His smile widened before he waved to everyone else and said his goodbyes to them. One last look and smile at Erin was enough to push him out of the door. He sighed heavily, the weariness of the past week suddenly falling on his shoulders as he walked down the hall. Maybe today he would actually go home before eight.

What he didn’t hear after he left was Cora’s reaction to Erin’s flowers. “Are those from Cal?” she asked Erin, pointing to the vase adorning her hospital room. When she found out they were, her blue eyes grew wide. “Oh Erin…he’s in love with you!” And nothing now would convince her otherwise.