Title: Second Chances
Chapter 2 … Never Give in to Despair

A/N: Do you remember who my Garth's Hollywood persona is? Well check out the bio's and see if you could guess before you looked and if you were right. Do you like my choice? Please review their bio's and let me know. Thanks!

By the time Sheldon reached home she had completely exhausted every tear that her body could produce. Her mouth only uttered the words…"Caleb's a junkie…Caleb's gone…" over and over, but her brain still refused to believe that the man that stood before her tonight for a few anguished seconds was the real Caleb Kwan but instead he was the fabrication of a very large scheme, one of which she was the victim. For what reason? And would Caleb be that cruel? She couldn’t believe that either. Truth was, at this second she didn't know what to believe.

"Caleb…I can't believe it…" she lightly cried as she fumbled with her key to get it into the lock and inside. "Damn it!" Sheldon cursed as the key missed the lock and jammed into the wooden doorway. She hit the doorway with her fist and tried again. Her frustration calling all the shots now, her anger in control of her usually calm exterior. She finally got inside and rushed for the phone.

"Garth where are you!" She snapped slamming the phone down. She slumped down into a nearby chair and closed her weary eyes. Caleb's dirty haunted expression immediately sprang into her mind and she was now forced to dwell upon the fact that Caleb was probably lost to her forever.

"Why is he doing this to me?" She wondered in torment. "Caleb…why?" Sheldon asked softly as her eyes watered again. "I have to find him…if Dennison thinks he's…oh my god…" she said opening her eyes wide. "Caleb knew! He knew Dennison was dirty and now…now Caleb's the target and…" she said as her world started to slowly spin around her. "Caleb has the key evidence and…and Dennison doesn't take the word of a junkie and…"

'Neither do you,' her inner voice reminded her.

"But this is Caleb. I'll believe him," she said in a dead whisper.

'Is it fair to judge one over the other?'

"It's...it's not," she finally admitted. "Caleb was right the whole time and I…I just don’t like junkies…even from the past in school…never had respect or even…or even thought what made them into…but Caleb…I mean his family is wealthy and…I have to find him," she said in sudden determination. "I have to find him before Dennison does. I have to know for sure what happened."

Sheldon's heart filled with panic as she quickly pulled her coat back on and headed for the front door. She was back at the office in no time, parked the truck and rushed inside. She stood and listened to the silence before taking a step towards the office, the one she normally she shared with a man she needed desperately to find before it was too late. She headed for her station and was about to sit down when movement caught the corner of her eye and she let out a small gasp as Garth stepped from the shadows.

"Man you scared me," Sheldon said taking a deep breath.

"Sorry," Garth said softly. "I didn't think anyone would come back this late at night."

"I…come here a sec," she gestured to Garth.

Garth stepped into the light and revealed a new look. "I uh…well I liked what you said and…are you from another world?"

"Feels like it. Did you find anything about my…about Caleb Kwan?" She rushed to ask.

"I did," Garth said in a sombre expression. "But I don’t think you'll like it."

"Tell me the whole sordid tale and make it fast. Dennison is dirty and Caleb's the only one that can prove it and I have to find him first," Sheldon said firmly.

"Bruce Dennison? Dirty?" Garth asked with a frown. "Who said that?"

"A friend," she said with a sad smile. "Garth?"

"Right…" he said holding up his latest print out. "Caleb Kwan. Only child to a Nolan Kwan…he died about…"

"Died? Does it say how? Or what he did for work?"

"Nolan Kwan…gunned down outside…he was a carrier and…he had a few run-in's…seems like he was running from…yup his dealer."

"Caleb's dad? A druggie as well?" Sheldon asked in horror. "This just gets worse and worse. What else? What about Caleb?"

"Small arrests…mostly for possession…"

"Does it list what he does for work? Current address? Anything?" Sheldon asked weakly.

"Sheldon by the sounds of this file this guy is bad news. You really want to be getting hooked up with a druggie?"

"Caleb's not a druggie!" She said in protest. "He uh…"

"Just made the wrong choice? What like anyone forced him?" Garth asked snidely.

"I uh…" Sheldon said slowly sinking down into her chair. She felt a large lump starting to form in her throat as her eyes watered once again. "He wouldn't do it…I know it…" she said in soft protest. "Not willingly…not Caleb."

"Why do you care so much about this guy anyways?" Garth asked quickly.

"I just do," Sheldon said wiping away a tear that was about to fall. "Does it say where he lives?"

"Yeah 629 Smithers Road is the last listed address."

"Nice area," Sheldon said in sarcasm. "Thanks," she said quickly jumping off her chair and standing up to leave.

"You can't go out there," Garth said in haste.

"I have to find him. I have to find him before Dennison does," Sheldon firmly stated. "Please don’t try to stop me," she said reaching for her gun. "Besides I think I can handle myself."

"I'm coming then," Garth said reaching for his jacket.

"What? Why?" Sheldon asked in surprise.

"Because I want to help you. I figure if you're that desperate to find him then…I uh…oh god…" Garth said as his eyes widened in terror.

"What?" Sheldon asked as she started to get a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"Dennison," Garth said shoving his other arm into the other sleeve. "He's out now…looking for Caleb…" he said showing her the file. "I found it on Nickel's desk."

"Garth we have to find him first!" Sheldon said turning and rushing for the front door, with Garth in tow. "He'll kill him."

The ride to find Caleb passed in almost silent torment.

"Sheldon?" Garth asked with a frown. "Why so different today?"

"I don’t know," Sheldon said with a weary sigh. "The truth would be too hard to explain."

"Try me," Garth offered.

"I'm not from here," she started with a smirk.

"Where are you from?" Garth asked with a teasing smile.

"Another world I think," she smiled warily.

"How did you get here?"

"The Enterprise," she lightly laughed. "Not really sure…just woke up and…it's fate right? Laughing at me? Showing me what an arrogant fool I really am? That I should listen to others once and awhile?"

"So what is this all about? I mean really?" Garth asked seriously.

"I was working on a case…well this case to be exact…and Caleb…Caleb is my partner at CIA and…and he suspected Dennison…he had a junkie in and…and I said that given the same choice everything would be the same…I guess this is fate's way of showing me I'm wrong. Billy…this guy in my well universe I guess. Billy Chan," Sheldon said with a laugh. "He said that given the chance he'd be Caleb. That he would turn out like Caleb and…"

"And that Caleb would be like him?" Garth asked in confusion. "Sounds like revenge to me."

"But why? Caleb tried to help Chan. In fact he's the only one that would. I just don’t get it. Maybe I'm in hell. Well life without Caleb would be hell."

"He must be very special to you," Garth said warmly. "Does he know how lucky he is to have someone like you so worried about him?"

"I don’t deserve him," Sheldon said sadly. "Not at all. Not after all this."

"In your universe do I…well do I do field calls?" Garth asked softly.

"Point man on many of them," she said making him smile to himself.

They drove the rest of the way in silence until they neared their darkened destination.

"Is this the place?" Garth asked with a frown as he started at the darkened shack that stood before them.

"God I hope not," Sheldon said in remorse. "But I think it is. Ready?"

"I guess so," Garth said in a timid voice as he slowly got out of the truck and stood by the door waiting for Sheldon to take the lead.

Sheldon felt her heart starting to beat a little faster as she flipped on her flashlight in one hand and readied her gun in the other. "Let's go," she hissed to Garth.

Sheldon timidly walked towards what looked like the front door and then stopped. She heard shuffling around inside and knew she had to prepare herself for what she was about to see – Caleb in a drugged out state.

"This is not possible," she mumbled to herself. But she knew she had to get to the bottom of whatever hell she was now forced to live in and so took the first step towards the inside of the building. "Still with me?" She whispered to Garth.

"Believe it or not," Garth said in a semi-sarcastic tone.

"Good to have you back," Sheldon said with a small smile. "Don’t ever let anyone walk all over you."

"Thanks," Garth said happily.

After stepping through the first rotten step at the top and having Garth pull her out, Sheldon pushed the rotting door all the way open and carefully stepped inside. She felt the ground beneath her start to give way and hurried another step over to a more solid looking piece of wood.

"Caleb?" She called out in a small timid voice.

"Why are you so worried about this guy?" Garth asked in a soft tone as he struggled to keep his balance on the pieces of wood supporting him.

"Because I know this isn't the real Caleb," she said softly. "Caleb?" Sheldon tried again. She heard shuffling up ahead and felt her heart starting to beat a little bit faster. "Caleb I just want to talk to you," she said softly. "Please?"

"Go away," a small voice called out to her from the darkness.

"Caleb please," Sheldon pleaded sadly.

"Sheldon maybe…" Garth started.

"Shut up," Sheldon snapped. "Sorry," she said in an apologetic tone. "I just…" she said as she noticed movement from the corner of her eye and immediately shone the flashlight to a corner where Caleb was huddled and squinting at her.

"Who the hell are you lady?" He asked in a weak tone.

"A friend," she said with a warm smile as she took another step towards him. "I just want to…well talk," she said as a small lump formed in her throat.

"Just go away," he said in a weary tone. "I just want to be alone."

"You saw Stewart kill the witness?" Sheldon asked calmly. "An undercover Agent?"

"I did," Caleb said with a heavy sigh. "What the hell do you care? No one believes me."

"I want to," Sheldon said taking another step closer. "Please talk to me."

"What for? So you can send Dennison after me to kill me too?" Caleb said in disgust.

"I would never…I…"

"You did for the last one…my friend Ron…he saw and you guys wanted to cover it up…it will be the same this time. So go away…"

"Look no one is going to kill you and…"

"Sheldon it did happen that way last time. You know Milton will take the money from Dennison and…"

"Caleb I want to help you," Sheldon said taking another step closer, her gun now back in it's holster at her side. "Please?" She asked bending down a few feet from him. She stared at his dirty and battered face and felt her heart start to beat even faster.

"What?" Caleb asked in a soft tone.

"You…like that…it makes me…Caleb I have to ask…did you…I mean did you do all this to show me that Billy well…that you and he were right?"

"Do what?" Caleb asked her with a frown. "Look lady I…"

"Sheldon," she said sadly. "Please call me Sheldon…Caleb…"

"What is it you want Sheldon?" Caleb asked directly.

"I want to help you," Sheldon replied.

"Will you give me a job? Something to eat?"

"I will give you anything I can," she said leaning in closer.

"Why the hell do you care?"

"Caleb you won't believe me if I told you," Sheldon said in a sad tone. "I just want to help you."

"Can you put me in the witness protection program?"

"If your testimony puts away…"

"Sheldon they'll never listen to his word…a jury wouldn't believe the word of a junkie over…"

"He's not a junkie!" Sheldon snapped angrily as she glared at Garth with an angry stare. "He just made the wrong choice."

"Well that is his problem then," Garth snided.

"Garth I know you better than you know yourself…trust me you and Caleb are good friends," Sheldon snapped angrily. "We have to help him."

"He doesn't want help," Garth insisted.

"Why do you want to help me?" Caleb asked sadly.

"Caleb I know Dennison is bad and that he is looking for you," Sheldon said in haste. "Before I tell you anymore I need to get you away from here."

"I can take care of myself," Caleb replied with a wince as he moved and felt his bruised ribs send shooting pains into his body once again.

"I know you can," Sheldon said softly. "Please?" She softly begged, looking up at him with watery eyes. "Caleb whatever hell we are forced to endure apart now please let me at least try to help you…I need to do this. Even if it means that we'll have to spend eternity apart…I…I just have to."

"Why?" Caleb asked in confusion.

"Because I…I just do," she said in torment. "Look just come back to my place and we can talk there. I promise if after that I'll bring you back here and…and you can go back to…to whatever you have here. Just give me a chance okay?" Sheldon watched Caleb look up at her with a look of anguish and then let out a sigh of resignation. "If I say no you'll just wait until I give in right?" He asked with a slight smile.

"Right," Sheldon said standing back up. "Help me Garth," she said kindly. Garth stepped in and together they helped Caleb stand to his feet, collect his equilibrium and then head for the front door.

"You really think Dennison is going to come for him tonight?" Garth asked as they slowly headed for the front door.

"I do," Sheldon said sadly. "Just as Ca…just like a friend told me."

"Shouldn't you bring Billy in on this? He is your partner after all," Garth suggested as they helped Caleb into the front seat of the F150 and close the door behind him.

"Look I don’t know Billy well enough to trust him with Caleb's life. I know that he's my partner right now and it might sound strange that I don’t know him but believe me it's true. I just need to keep Caleb safe until I can convince another cop…hopefully a good one to listen to what he says. Once that's done then…then I guess things will go back to normal," she said turning to Caleb with a sad glance. "Regrettably."

"Well I might know someone who can help us," Garth said heading around to Sheldon's side to get in as well. "After you drop me back at the office I'll start making some calls. Don’t worry I can wake them up this late," he said with a small smile.

"Can we trust them?" Sheldon asked with some hesitation.

"We can," Garth replied in a firm tone.

"Garth you don’t have to you know," Sheldon said getting inside.

"I want to," Garth said firmly as he glanced at Caleb. "Because I too believe that everyone deserves a second chance."

"Why the sudden change of heart?" Sheldon asked softly.

"I guess you have a good effect on me in more than one way," Garth replied.

"Good," Sheldon said with a smile as she put the truck into drive and headed back to the office. The ride back was one of tormented silence but she wanted to say things to Caleb in private and had to keep Garth at bay on a few things, afterall this still wasn't her Garth or her world. But even sitting this close to Caleb and for him not to know her was torment. Pure and utter hell. They finally arrived back at the office and Garth promised to check in with her in a few hours.

"Hungry?" Sheldon asked softly as they headed for her place.

"Not really," Caleb said lied, leaning his head back on the headrest. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Sheldon replied casually.

"Do you really know me? Or did someone pay you to get cozy to me before I'm dead?" He asked frankly.

"No one paid me," Sheldon stated flatly. "And I do know you but…but it will seem strange when I tell you and…and I just can't explain it…well not really…"

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not even sure I believe it myself." And with those few words the conversation was closed and the rest of the trip was spent in silence until they reached Sheldon's place. She quickly rushed around to Caleb's side, after stopping the truck, and slowly helped him to the ground and then into her front entrance-way.

"Want some coffee?"

"Sounds good," Caleb said with a frown. "This hangover is…" he said and then quickly stopped as he noticed the look on her face. "I suppose in this other universe I don’t drink or take drugs?" Caleb asked softly.

"No," Sheldon said just staring at him, unable to move in any direction. "You're a martial arts master and CIA Agent," she said softly.

"Wow," was all Caleb managed.

The next few minutes ticked by in slowness as each just stood in the silence, staring at one another, as if seeing the other for the first time.

"What is it?" Caleb asked finally.

"Can I ask you something?" Sheldon said gently taking him by the arm and leading him into the living room to sit down.

"Anything."

"When did you…I mean the drugs…did you…"

"When did I start using?" Caleb asked in a half whisper.

Sheldon simply nodded her head and bit back her tongue, preparing herself for a sad morbid tale.

"When I was a kid. My father," Caleb said looking down, his hands starting to fidget with the edge of his torn and frayed jacket.

"He took them?" Sheldon asked in surprise.

"No he uh…well sometimes but mostly he sold…sold them to kids and…and he…he gave them to me," Caleb said looking at her with a sheepish look.

"What?" Sheldon asked in shock. "He gave them to you? Why?"

"He didn't want me. I was an only child and he…well he said my mother slept around and that I wasn't his and…and so he would show his dislike by…"

"By forcing you drugs?" Sheldon asked in anger, the disgust in her stomach after listening to his sordid life was starting to take it's toll on her.

"Well at first it was forced and then…" Caleb said looking away once more and letting out a sad sigh. "Then I just needed them and…and I guess after that I…"

"Caleb he forced you?" Sheldon asked sadly, her eyes immediately watering as she was forced to play out in her mind Caleb being held down by his father and injected with drugs against his will. "I can't…I just can't…believe it…" she whispered sadly, shaking her head no, trying to convince herself that the hell she was in wasn't real and the image of a torn man before her was just a figment. Sadly it was her reality, like it or not.

"In your line of work? I'm sure you hear my kind of story all the time," Caleb said with a small smirk. "Why did my story phase you?"

"Caleb I…"

"Right because you know me," Caleb said as he pushed himself to the edge of the couch and stood up. "But I'm not buying it."

"What?" Sheldon asked in shock.

"This…this whole help the druggie routine…I'm not high now? So what? Some kind of bet at the club? Yeah I know you work there," Caleb spat angrily as he tried to steady himself from an oncoming dizzy spell.

"What are you talking about?"

"How much did they pay you? The girls at the club? Oh he's kinda cute…take him home and see how good he is in bed! Some kind of sick fantasy!"

"That's not true!" Sheldon said in her defense, immediately standing up to her feet to look at him square on. "I believe you about Stewart. I might be the only one and I thought I could help save your life. Thanks for the gratitude."

"Save my life? Lady he probably followed you here! I have known about Dennison and Stewart for a long time. The only reason I'm not dead yet is because no one has tried to help me! I can take care of myself!" Caleb said angrily, his heart rate elevated and his breathing a bit more shallowed. The room started to spin a bit more and he knew if he didn't get out of there he'd pass out.

"Caleb you can't leave. I want to he…"

"Help me? Then give me money," he said holding out his hand.

Sheldon looked at the dirty trembling limb before her and blinked back some stray tears. "I will not help you give in to your addiction!"

"It was for a bus ticket!" Caleb said angrily as he turned to leave. Sadly he turned to fast and felt the room start to really spin and knew he was in trouble. He turned back to Sheldon but upon doing so, felt his legs start to buckle and the room start to dim. He took one step back towards the couch but found himself falling and hitting the carpet a few feet from the edge.

"Caleb!" Sheldon gasped as she raced to his side. She felt for a pulse and let out a sigh of relief when she felt one. A few minutes later she sat beside his unconscious body on the couch, just looking at him. But she was up again once more, shed her jacket and quickly retrieved a damp cloth and a small bowl with some water in it and was back at his side. She started to gently rub the dirt from his face and soon enough traces of her old Caleb started to show through. This Caleb's face, however, was a little more haggard and worn looking, a few more wrinkles and faint scars were to be seen and a healthy amount of stubble still remained. But it was still Caleb, the man she knew inside she'd love forever.

"Why am I so afraid to tell you?" She asked gently touching his cheek with her finger. She watched him a few more minutes before heading into the kitchen to fix him a sandwich and some coffee to drink. She sat down on one of the island chairs and just watched him sleep.

"Come back to me Caleb," Sheldon whispered into the stillness. "Please tell me I haven't lost you." Sheldon leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes, immediately playing in her mind the last words she spoke with her Caleb. They were heated and angry and basically she told him she didn't believe him and his word wasn't good enough for her.

"Caleb I'm so sorry I didn't listen," Sheldon said looking into the dark mirror of her coffee cup. "Why didn't I listen to you before?"

"I tried to tell you," Caleb's faint voice called out to her from the couch, breaking her from her morbid fantasy and snapping her back to her harsh reality.

"What?" Sheldon asked in surprise.

"I tried to tell you about Stewart," Caleb said trying to sit back up.

"Just rest," Sheldon said getting up and walking over to him. She gently sat down beside him and looked at him with a frown. "I'm sorry."

"Why didn't you listen to me?"

Sheldon looked at him and knew her eyes started to water, against her will and better judgement. "I…I'm sorry," she replied lamely.

"Is my word not good enough?" Caleb asked in an anguished tone. "Not good enough for your partner?"

"It's complicated," Sheldon lied.

"Please tell me," Caleb said in a pleading tone. "You say you care for me and want to help me and…"

"You're right…your word wasn't good enough…at first," Sheldon started. "But…but when you left in a huff I…well I started to reconsider and…and I just didn't get the chance to tell you that I really did want to believe you and that we should go and talk to…well our witness, even if he was a druggie," she said looking down.

"I am trying to stop you know," Caleb said firmly.

"You don’t have to justify yourself to me," Sheldon said in haste. "I don’t deserve that now."

"Well like you I believe that everyone deserves a second chance," Caleb said with a smile, making her smile as well.

"It's just that…" Sheldon said softly. "Can I ask you something else? If you hadn't…well I mean if your father hadn't…well what would you have done with your li…"

"My life instead of waste it on drugs?" Caleb asked with a haunted expression, the dimly lit room playing with the dark shadows on his face.

"Yeah."
"Probably become one of you," Caleb said with a slight wince. "Or a Lawyer."

"How about a doctor?" Sheldon asked lightly.

"No, but maybe someone in my family," Caleb said with a small smile.

"Hungry?" Sheldon asked offering him the small plate of food.

Caleb eyed the plate hungrily but didn't want to give in too easily for fear the kind woman before him saw right through him. But in a matter of seconds he was grabbing the sandwich and stuffing it into his mouth.

"Sorry," he mumbled in slight embarrassment.

"Don’t be," Sheldon replied. "It honestly doesn't bother me."

"So what makes you think someone will believe me?" Caleb asked as he put the plate and reaching for the still steaming cup of coffee. He held it tightly in his dirty hands and then went to take a sip.

"Because if you…careful it's hot," Sheldon said quickly as she noticed Caleb spit the coffee back into the cup.

"Yeah," Caleb said with a slight smile that looked more like a grimace. "Sorry," he mumbled softly, as he wiped the excess coffee off his mouth with his dirty sleeve.

"If I can get a signed confession and if you well…stay I guess clean until…"

"Sheldon my word will never be good enough," Caleb said sadly. "No one will ever want to trust what I say is the truth."

"Look my friend Garth is going to…"

"Dennison will find a way to discredit them as well," Caleb said in protest as he took a gulp of the coffee. "I can handle this on my own," he said firmly.

"Why are you being so stubborn!" Sheldon snapped. "Don’t you care about the lives of innocent people? Is all you care about yourself!" She said in haste. She didn't wait for an answer but instead pushed herself off the couch and stormed into the kitchen. She stood angrily in the corner, choking back tears that were threatening to spill if this situation wasn't remedied sooner. Finally after a few minutes she felt Caleb's warm hand on her shoulder and turned to face him with a down cast expression.

"You believe in me that much?" Caleb asked with a pained voice.

Sheldon simply nodded her head but didn't utter a reply, wanting to see what he would confess, if anything.

"If you believe in me then I can believe in me," Caleb huffed. "I'll give you a confession," he said pulling out a piece of crumpled paper from his back pocket.

"You…had this…" Sheldon started in surprise.

"I hoped one day someone would believe me," Caleb said with a sad voice. "But if they didn't and I was killed I would hope that it would be found on…well on me and then…"

"Caleb I promise it won't come to that," Sheldon said firmly.

"You believe I deserve a second chance?" Caleb asked as he leaned in a few more inches closer.

Sheldon felt her heart start to beat a little more rapidly just from his nearness. She felt his fingers gently brush her skin and that area start to tingle more than the rest of her. I have to focus, she said inside. I have to find a way out of this mess.

"Do you believe that…" Caleb tried again.

"I…" Sheldon started only to be interrupted by screeching tires coming to a fast halt outside her front door. "What on earth?" She said rushing to the window. She rushed to the door just as a very flushed Garth was about to bang on it to be let in. "Garth?"

"I have…found a…guy…who…" he started with slight gasps for a breath.

"Breath Garth," Sheldon said helping him inside. "Just breathe okay? Relax…you have time to…"

"No…no time…Dennison…he's…behind…followed…but I got a name…" he said finally taking a deep breath and standing up straight. "Where's Caleb?"

"Right here," Caleb said walking out of the kitchen. "You found someone who will listen to me?"

"Yes," Garth panted. "Can you…write a confe…" his words were broken off by another car coming to a screeching halt.

"Got it right here," Caleb said showing Garth the crumpled up piece of paper. He too rushed to the window and stood beside Sheldon and watched as Bruce Dennison got from his car, gun in each hand.

"I know you're in there Kwan!" Dennison's angry voice boomed loudly, slowly filtering in through the door that Garth had left open.

"Quick out the back!" Garth said in haste.

"No wait!" Sheldon shouted only to watch in vain as Garth rushed for the back door. But as soon as he opened it, he was met in the face with a blinding beam of light as Dennison's partner Stewart shone the bright spotlight into the now open door.

"Drop your weapon!" The other officer shouted.

"I don’t have a gun!" Garth shouted back. All he had in his right hand was his silver cell phone that as he turned to head back to Caleb and Sheldon let a small glint of light off, tricking the other officer into thinking he had a gun.

"I think that…" was all Garth managed as a shot sounded out and Garth found himself gasping for air as he was propelled forwards to the ground.

"NO!" Both Caleb and Sheldon shouted at once as they watched their dying friend calling to them for help.

"Garth!" Sheldon said rushing to his side and pulling him out of the pathway of the now fully open back door.  "Caleb call an ambulance!" She shouted.

Caleb rushed for the phone only to be met with a spray of automatic bullets, piercing anything they could find. Caleb quickly ducked behind a now bullet riddled counter and tried to shield himself from Dennison's attack.

"Garth just hold on," Sheldon said, her tears now starting to come as she held her friends dying body in her hands.

"Sheldon…I believe Caleb," Garth whispered in torment. "I…"

"Garth…shhh don’t talk," Sheldon moaned. "Caleb!"

"The phone's dead," Caleb said flatly.

"No one coming to your help now druggie!" Dennison's angry voice yelled into the night air. "Besides I'm just an Agent doing my job," he snided. "Like anyone is going to care about you or what you think you saw!"

"I care," Garth whispered gruffly.

"Garth," Sheldon said sharply. But as she tried to shake her friend to life once more she quickly realized that it was no use, Garth Bensen was dead. "NO!" Sheldon shouted in vain. "I'll kill you Dennison!"

"Come and face me Alexander," Dennison called back.

"Sheldon no," Caleb said in a panic, his face as tense as his body.

Sheldon eyed Dennison but was also mindful of the other man waiting out back. "I'll take the man out back," she whispered to him. "Stay put."

"Sheldon please don’t do this," Caleb begged sadly, his eyes threatening to run sad tears down his battered face. "He'll kill you."

"Not if I get him first," she said moving from her place by Garth's side and slowly crawling for the back door.

"I'll draw his attention," Caleb said quickly standing up and heading for the other side of the living room.

"Caleb!" Sheldon yelled as she watched in horror as bullets started to dance around him, breaking and smashing whatever they hit. She watched his body slam into one of the tables and knew immediately that something was wrong. But she also knew she didn't have time to waste. He was still moving and right now that's all that mattered. She pressed herself against one of the back walls of the hallway and watched as the second man started to slowly come towards her.

Everything happened in slow motion.

Sheldon eyed the man before her and got ready to aim.

Dennison didn't waste anymore time and decided to charge the house.

Caleb eyed a large kitchen knife lying in a wood block and decided to make a move for it.

Then all hell broke loose.

Sheldon watched the charging man come closer, stood up and fired. The man fired back at the same time. Sheldon felt the bullet whiz past her left shoulder, cutting open a strip of flesh before it buried itself into the drywall behind her. But her bullet had met it's mark and embedded itself into the heart cavity of her target and he instantly fell to the ground, gasping for air as his heart began to immediately slow. Then he was dead.

Dennison reached the front door as Caleb readied the knife in his hands. Caleb flung the knife, catching Dennison in the side. Dennison cried out in agony as he felt the knife tear a strip of his chest cavity wide open, spilling his precious life blood.

But Dennison managed to get his shot off and Sheldon watched in horror as Caleb's body slammed into the wall a few feet away from her as the bullet lodged itself into the soft folds of the tissue on his left side, dangerously close to his heart – his life force.

"Caleb!" Sheldon shouted, firing off a few shots at Dennison as she rushed towards him.

"Shel…don…" Caleb gasped as he staggered to his knees.

Sheldon managed to catch him in her grasp to keep him from falling to the floor. "Can you head for the back?"

"Yeah…go…" Caleb wheezed as he felt the burning pain from the bullet start to worsen. "Have…to…hurry…" he gasped as they started to move. Caleb's hand, still clutching his confession in it, tried to apply pressure to the wound as he let Sheldon help him to the back door, and hopefully to safety.

"I'll kill you both!" Dennison shouted in anger.

"We…have to…hurry…" Sheldon panted as they finally reached the back door. She fired off a few more shots in Dennison's direction and then proceeded to push Caleb onto the back steps. Caleb miscalculated the first step and found himself falling to the damp ground, taking Sheldon with him.

Sheldon cursed angrily as she tumbled to the ground after Caleb, but quickly untangled herself and was on her knees by the time Dennison managed to get himself upright and into the back hallway.

He fired off a shot that whizzed past them, missing Caleb's leg by a few feet. Sheldon urged Caleb to get up faster and soon had his arm draped around her shoulder once more and was heading for the cop car. Sadly it was a short lived attempt.

"Kwan!" Dennison shouted as he cocked his gun and prepared to fire. "You die now!"

"I'm innocent!" Caleb shouted back.

"I don't care!" Dennison retorted, his finger easing back on the trigger.

The silence that followed was deafening and the screams that accompanied the shots were piercing, bone shattering, death dealing.

Sheldon heard the gun cock and tried to push Caleb out of the way, wanting to save his life at any cost.  Caleb however had the same thing in mind and, despite the agony his body was now in, turned on his heel to take the bullet for Sheldon.

Dennison fired.

Sheldon fired.

Silence.

"Nooooooooo…" Dennison yelled in vain as his body started to fall to the ground in slow motion, Sheldon's bullet lodging itself into his heart, killing him in a matter of seconds. His body slammed onto the back steps, causing the wood to reverberate and splinter in a few places. He was dead.

But fate wouldn't be kind this time.

"Caleb!" Sheldon shouted in vain as she watched Caleb's body absorb the bullet that had been engraved with her name on it. It slammed itself into his chest, taking him immediately to his knees in a fury of tormented anguish.

Sheldon instantly fell to her knees as Caleb's body slammed to the ground, his hand only now letting go of his signed confession, his last words, his epitaph.

"Caleb…oh god Caleb…" Sheldon cried as she held Caleb's dying body in her arms, a piece of crushed paper now stained red at her feet. "Caleb!" Sheldon yelled into his lifeless expression, her hands red from trying to stop the flow of blood coming from his battered body.

Suddenly his eye lids slowly fluttered open and he looked up at her with a haunted look. "Sheldon…" he whispered in a soft hoarse tone. "I…"

"Caleb…shhhh…don’t talk," Sheldon cried, her tears falling onto his bloodstained face and causing grisly trails to appear. "You have to hang on okay…you…you can't leave me…Caleb I…I believe…oh god Caleb I do…" Sheldon said trying to shake him to keep him awake. "Caleb…please…" she cried. "Please don’t die…" she begged in sorrow.

"Don't cry," he whispered as he tried to lift his arm to touch her face one last time.

"Caleb you have to hang on," Sheldon begged in agony. "Caleb…"

"Sheldon…I…I lo…" he said with one last breath and then…

"NO!" Sheldon yelled into the cold dark night, drops of rain still blanketing her and the precious life form she held in her arms. "Caleb you can't leave me! I believe…I do…I…" Sheldon yelled in agony. "How could I have been so blind…why didn't I…Caleb…NO! You can't die!" Sheldon yelled once more… "I love you!"

Suddenly a light shone on her and she froze in place, Caleb's lifeless body still in her arms. "Sheldon…" a voice called to her as a figure approached. "Sheldon………." Sheldon heard her name but kept her watery eyes fixed firmly on Caleb's dead body.

"Sheldon…"

"No…" she whispered in vain "I….believe…I do…Caleb…please come back to me…Caleb…I believe…"

"Sheldon…Sheldon!"

"What!" Sheldon shouted in terror, her eyes flying open, finally realizing where she was for the first time. "Caleb? Caleb!" She asked in shock as she sat up in her bed, her eyes immediately flying to every corner of the room to verify that she was safe at home and not locked into her nightmarish ordeal. Finally she turned to see Caleb sitting beside her, clean shaven, no bruises and smiling that trademark smile that usually made her go weak in the knees.

"What…happened?" Sheldon asked in a trembling voice. "Where am I?"

"At home, in your bed," Caleb answered. "Are you okay?"

"I…you…" she said reaching out a hand to touch him, feel him, make sure that this wasn't the dream. "Are you really here?"

"Yes I am," Caleb smiled.

"You're dead…I…I saw you…" she whispered in torment.

"What? Sheldon you called me…don’t you remember? On the phone? A few hours ago?" Caleb asked with a frown as he brought a cool cloth to her forehead.

"I…no I…Caleb I…why are you here?" She asked firmly. "Come to…why are you here?"

"Well after we argued I figured you'd feel bad and want to apologize," Caleb said lightly, not wanting to provoke a fight. "So when I saw your number on the call display and then it went dead I…well I was worried. I think it was the storm but I wanted to be sure," he said softly, looking down at one of his hands as it toyed with the edge of the bed sheet. "Then I came here and found you passed out on the floor. Nice bump by the way," he said gesturing to the small purplish dot on her right temple.

"Oh. Must have stumbled in the dark getting out of bed," she said gingerly touching her wound. "Y-you still wanted to help me? You were worried about me?" Sheldon asked in surprise. "But I…Caleb I was so rude and…"

"Sheldon we are allowed to argue about professional things you know," he said looking back up at her with a slight smile. "We can't agree on everything. I'll admit I was a bit taken back by you're not wanting to listen but…"

"I'm so sorry," Sheldon said in a shamed tone. "I was so wrong and…and I did want to say sorry," she humbly admitted. "I…"

"Thanks," Caleb said quickly. "I know that was hard for you to say."

"I can admit when I'm wrong Caleb," Sheldon retorted. "Just doesn't happen very often," she said making them both lightly laugh.

"I'm glad you're okay," Caleb said softly as he put the cloth back into it's small bowl and pushed himself away from the bed.

"It was so real," Sheldon whispered as she leaned her head back on the bed frame. "So real."

"I think you need some real sleep," Caleb said gently kissing the top of her head.

"Where are you going?" Sheldon asked, almost too quickly.

"Back home," Caleb lied. "It is only 3am," he smiled. "Still lots of dreaming left for you."

"I…I was dreaming," Sheldon said looking at him with a blank stare. "It was…it was so real," she admitted with a frown. "Garth was dead and Billy was in it…my partner…I didn't know him even in my dream world. I guess he wasn't real because I don’t really know him…at least not really," she smiled slightly. "I…are you really going home?"

"No," Caleb said with a yawn as he rubbed his eyes.  "Working with Milton to…Billy escaped from Dennison tonight and…"

"There was…Dennison and…Dennison!" She said looking up at him with a startled expression. "We have to find Billy."

"Billy Chan?" Caleb asked in shock. "What are you talking about?"

"Dennison…my dream he was…Caleb we have to help Billy…" Sheldon stammered.

"But why Sheldon? He's a junkie remember? You don’t believe his…"

"I do," she said pushing herself out the other side of the bed. "I do believe Caleb," she said rushing for her closet. "We have to find him before…"

"Before Dennison has him killed?" Caleb finished as he walked up to her.

"You said Dennison is bad right?" Sheldon asked pointedly.

"I did," Caleb agreed as he watched her start to unbutton her pyjama top. "And I…"

Sheldon realized that Caleb was now staring at her and finally realized why. "I uh…" she said quickly turning around. Caleb did the same and allowed her to pull on another sweater and zip up her jeans. "Sorry," he mumbled with a slightly flushed face.

"Were you going after Billy tonight?" Sheldon asked.

"Thought had crossed my mind," Caleb replied.

"Alone?"

"Had no one else that wanted to believe me," Caleb said in a sad tone.

"I believe you," she whispered.

"Why now?"

"Sudden change of heart," she admitted softly.

"Then help me," he said taking her hand. "Please? Help me find him," he slightly begged. "Before it's too late."

"Do you know where Billy might be?" Sheldon asked softly.

"Just follow me," Caleb smiled, feeling relief between them for the first time in hours.

"Caleb I really am sorry," Sheldon said touching his arm, halting him from escaping out her bedroom door. "Even as a professional I am sorry. What I said was uncalled for and…and I'm sorry. Please forgive me. What you say and think do mean a lot to me."

"Nothing to forgive," Caleb smiled. "But thanks."

"You're welcome," Sheldon smiled back, standing inches from his warm body, feeling the heat on hers.

Caleb just smiled once more as he led them out to her front door and then outside.

"How did you get in by the way?" Sheldon asked with a frown.

"Picked the lock," he smirked. "Skills of a mis-spent youth."

"Right," Sheldon said with a slight roll of her eyes as she locked her now powered house and followed him to his truck. Once inside Sheldon just sat in silence as they headed for their destination.

"How come the sudden change of heart?" Caleb asked softly. "I mean earlier you were so…well so adamant and…"

"I was shown the light," Sheldon said with a deep sigh. "In more ways than one," she said as she remembered her confession as Caleb lay dying in her arms. "It was so real," she said touching her cheek. "So very real."

"So was I your dream a lot?" Caleb asked as a slight smile played across his handsome face in the dark.

"You were…well a little," Sheldon lied. "Did I call your name?"

"A little," he smiled. "Why was that?"

"I…well I wanted to call before and…so um where are we going?" Sheldon finished awkwardly, trying desperately to change the topic.

"629 Smithers Road," Caleb replied. "So was I in your dream more than a little?"

"629 Smithers Road?" Sheldon practically shouted. "That's not…"

"What?" Caleb asked quickly.

"Caleb that's not possible," Sheldon said firmly.

"Why not?" Caleb asked with a frown.

"It's…" yeah right like he'll believe me, Sheldon told herself before she continued. "Oh never mind. By the way Milton know about all this?"

"And then some," Caleb told her.

"He's not listening to the highest bidder is he?" Sheldon asked in uncertainty.

"Uh no. Why do you ask that?" Caleb asked in surprise.

"No reason…fuzzy head," Sheldon answered weakly.

"I'm glad you are here with me," Caleb said softly after a few minutes of silence. "I would have hated to face Dennison alone."

"I am too…yeah that would have been bad," Sheldon said flatly. "Why do you believe Billy so much? You were never in his situ…well like him…I mean a…"

"Junkie?" Caleb finished for her.

"Right."

"Because I believe that everyone deserves at least once more chance," Caleb answered her in a soft tone.

"You're a better person than I am," she said sadly. "I can't believe I almost let you…"

"What?" Caleb asked in shock.

"Let you come in the next morning and…well us still mad at each other," Sheldon stammered to reply.

"Yeah that would have put a damper on my asking you out plans," Caleb said looking at her quickly.

"I…what did you say?" She asked, trying to downplay her obviously growing smile.

"I said…we're getting close," Caleb said turning down an abandoned street, towards the man that could put another away for life.

Sheldon just smiled back in return. She stared at Caleb for a few more minutes before pulling her eyes back to the window and staring into the blackness of night. I almost lost you Caleb, Sheldon moaned inside. How could I have been so stupid!

"Do you believe in fate?" Caleb asked softly.

"I do now," she said as their truck came to a halt outside the house she had already been in. "I sure do now."

"Well then let's go," Caleb said getting out of the truck.

Sheldon quickly followed after him, catching up in a few seconds. "Careful of the first step…it's a little rotten."

"I…how did you know that?" Caleb asked with a frown as he walked around the step that would have given way if he put his weight on it.

"Trust me you wouldn't believe me if I told you," Sheldon said with a sardonic smile.

"You have to tell me what you dreamed," Caleb said with a smile.

Sheldon followed him inside and after a few minutes of prowling around in the dark finally found the man they had come to see. Sheldon watched Caleb go up to Billy Chan, who was huddled against the wall like Caleb had been in her dream and try to reason with him that he was safe and needed to testify after all.

"You believe me now?" Billy demanded of Sheldon in an angry tone a few minutes later.

"I do," Sheldon said softly.

"Why! You didn't before. You turned me over to…"

"Because I was wrong and I'm sorry," Sheldon said in haste in a soft tone, making Billy's face soften immediately. She edged her way over to them and bent down beside Caleb. "Because I do believe that everyone deserves a second chance. Will you give me one now?"

"I…" Billy started.

"Please?" Sheldon asked softly.

"I know what I saw," he said pulling out a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket.

"Confession in case you're body was found?" Sheldon asked simply.

"Here," Billy said handing it to her. "I know what I saw…I know who Stewart is and that Dennison is on the take. I know it and I will testify to that."

"Can you stay clean until you testify?" Sheldon asked softly.

"I give you my word," Billy told her.

"We believe you," Caleb said firmly.

"But a jury won't," came Bruce Dennison's taunting voice behind them. Both Caleb and Sheldon turned to see Dennison standing over them, his partner beside him, their guns drawn. "Thanks Kwan," Dennison smiled. "Following you was easy. Course waiting outside her house was a waste of time. But now…"

"You'll never get away with this Dennison," Sheldon warned. "I called Nickel and…" Sheldon tried to lie.

"Right? Two loser Agents and druggie they trust.  Like they'll believe your word over mine. I'm about to be promoted to Field Director – remember?" Dennison taunted. "Even if I hadn't hired Stewart to kill those undercover Agents…I requested doing you for free."

"And Charlie Buchan?" Sheldon asked in veiled sarcasm.

"A convenient fall-guy," Dennison snided back.

"How much Dennison?" Sheldon questioned. "How much did you and Stewart get paid to kill those men? Undercover Agents just doing their job? How much to sell out your own kind!"

"A lot more than it was worth really," Dennison snided. "Life is cheap you know."

"Only yours is," Sheldon retorted, her anger getting the best of her.

"Both Director's knows were here," Caleb said firmly.

"Kwan I'll be a pleasure to kill you first and then your girlfriend and then your druggie snitch!" Dennison said raising his arm, cocking the trigger in the process.

"You kill us and…" Sheldon started as Dennison's partner did the same.

"And what?" Dennison mocked. "There is no one here to help you now."

"Care to rephrase that?" Milton's voice said as he stepped out of the shadows, two men beside him and two from behind Dennison. "Caleb had a hunch," Milton said walking up to Dennison and staring at him. "All we had to do was wait. Looks like he was right."

"Billy…" Sheldon said turning to him. "You knew?"

"I knew Dennison would try to kill me," Billy admitted. "Milton believed me as well."

"Caleb?"

"Well we thought that if Billy was free that I would figure it out and that Dennison would follow me and…and I just didn't count on you coming," Caleb said with a soft smile. "Glad you did."

"Thanks for the confession," Nickel said snatching the gun from Dennison's hand. "But we really didn't need it."

"You think they'll believe him!" Dennison taunted.

"They'll believe the evidence," Caleb said firmly as he stood up to face Dennison one on one. "And we have more than enough of that now. Thanks for the DNA," Caleb smiled as he watched Dennison's gun being put into an evidence bag.

"You're under arrest," Milton said to Dennison. "I think you know the rest."

"One day Kwan and you'll pay for today," Dennison threatened Caleb under his breath, making Sheldon look up in dread. "One day I'll get out and…"

"Let's go," Milton said gesturing one of his Agents. "And you…" he said looking at Billy. "Want to spend the night in a place with some real comforts of home?"

"Really?" Billy asked happily.

"Really," Milton said with a wry smile. He helped Stewart stand up while Caleb turned his attention to Sheldon and helped her stand up as well. "Thanks," Milton said to Caleb and Sheldon. "I owe you guys."

"No thank you," Sheldon said softly. "For believing in the truth."

"Always do," Milton said turning to leave. "Oh by the way Garth says you own him Caleb."

"Right," Caleb smiled.

"Owe him for what?" Sheldon asked Caleb as they slowly headed outside into the cold night air once again.

"He helped me find Billy. Worked all night to find the list."

"He did?" Sheldon asked softly. "Even in dream world he's always helping us," Sheldon stated as they stopped at the bottom of the stairs and watched as the cop cars disappeared one by one, Milton's FBI Agent's cars coming to the front from behind them. Finally it was just them standing side by side, their warm breath making misty patterns in the cold night air.

"Well he was right," Sheldon mumbled.

"What? About Dennison?"

"No about turning out like you," Sheldon said looking at him with a warm expression. "Given another life he became you," she half whispered. "But I guess given the wrong choices we all could change and…and that would be bad," she said with a frown, her gaze turning back to the fading red and blue flashing lights as the darkness started to envelop them.

"All of us? Who else changed?" Caleb asked.

"Oh you wouldn't believe me if I told you," Sheldon replied, stifling a yawn as she started to walk away.

"Sheldon?" Caleb asked turning to her, making her stop and look at him.

"Yes?" She asked with a wondering stare.

"Did I die in your dream?"

"Did I…did I talk in my sleep?" Sheldon asked in horror.

Caleb tried to keep a straight face as he turned to the van.

"Don’t you walk away from me Caleb Kwan!" Sheldon demanded as she rushed after him. "What did I say?"

"What?" Caleb asked in fake innocence.

"Don’t play coy with me mister," Sheldon warned. "What did you hear me say?"

"Something about Garth and an ambulance," Caleb admitted in a soft tone as he opened his side of the truck.

"That's it?" Sheldon half begged, the suspense killing her to know if Caleb her heard confession of love.

"Well I heard you say don’t die Caleb," Caleb said warmly. "Did I die?"

"Yes," Sheldon finally admitted. "I won't tell you how."

"Don’t want to know how," Caleb frowned.

"Did you hear anything else?" Sheldon begged.

"Well that and…"

"And what!" Sheldon half screamed, making Caleb to face her with a broad smile.

"Just this," he said suddenly.

And before Sheldon could react Caleb pulled her into his arms and gently brought her lips to his and started to lightly taste them.

Sheldon felt her heart start to race faster and her body temperature start to rise. She felt Caleb's strong arms capturing her tightly against his chest and felt herself giving in more and more to his kiss. But sadly after a few seconds he pulled away and just gazed at her with a smile as flush as her own.

"You were saying?" Caleb lightly teased.

"I was?" Sheldon whispered.

"I just have one question," Caleb said leaning in close once more. "Why did it take you so long to admit it?"

"Admit what?" Sheldon asked in wonder, her lips inches from him, his breath hot on her face.

"That you loved me?"

"What!"

THE END!

**Dear readers? What did you think? And yes I left it open for a sequel just in case you guys wanted more! Please review if you liked my hard work and want more of this story and a little Dennison revenge! Thanks **