Title: Take A Chance With Me
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Tenth Doctor/Cal Lightman
Fandom: Doctor Who/Lie to Me
Rating: PG-13
Table: slash_me_twice
Prompt: 16, Chance
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my own imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the Tenth Doctor or Cal Lightman, unfortunately. Please do not sue.

***

Cal looked up as the Doctor heaved a sigh, surprised to see that the Time Lord was resting his chin on one hand as he leaned against the console. He looked disconsolate, and Cal didn't need to think hard to know what the problem was.

He'd told the Doctor that he couldn't stay away from Earth for much longer; as much as he enjoyed his time here, he had to go back to his job and his family. He hadn't been gone for long, but even a few hours was enough to make him worry.

Still, it didn't seem fair to the Doctor. He'd been looking for someone he could be with, someone to trust and to love -- and when he thought that he'd finally found that person, it turned out to be someone who couldn't stay with him.

Maybe it was best if things ended here, Cal told himself, feeling guilty as soon as the thought bloomed in his mind. He'd told the Doctor that he cared, that they could have something between them if they tried to work things out; he couldn't renege on those words.

Besides, he didn't want to. He wanted to have a relationship with this man; he was much more attracted to the Doctor than he'd been to anyone in a very long time. And it wasn't as though he'd never had a physical relationship with a man before.

Of course, that had been a long time ago, he told himself, smiling a little at the memory. There had only been two men, and only one of them had been a real emotional involvement. The other had been simply for fun and games, but they'd both wanted it that way.

He wanted more than that with the Doctor. He wanted the two of them to settle into a relationship, and if he was honest with himself, he had to admit that he wanted to be here, on this ship, spending time with this fascinating man and exploring the galaxy with him.

But he had responsibilities. He had his company to run; he had his daughter, and people who depended on him. He couldn't suddenly turn his back on all of them because he was attracted to someone who wasn't even human.

It didn't matter that the Doctor wasn't human. That didn't even figure into the equation. This man had more integrity than most people Cal knew; if there was anyone in the universe who he'd want to spend time with and be involved with, it was the Time Lord.

They would have to try to make things work out even if they couldn't always be together. Even though it might seem best for them to go their separate ways, Cal knew that he couldn't do that. He was already too deeply involved in an emotional sense.

They might not have made love yet, but there was a connection between them that went deeper than mere desire. Cal had felt that from the beginning, even if he might not have realized it at the time. And he wasn't going to simply turn his back on that connection.

No, it wasn't going to be easy for them to maintain a relationship, he told himself with an inward sigh. But if the Doctor was willing to take a chance with him, then he would do the same. After all, what was life without a bit of risk here and there?

He wanted to take a chance with the Doctor; he'd thought about their situation during the time that he'd been here on the Tardis, and it was the only solution that he could think of. Maybe it might not work out -- but he knew that they'd both regret it all their lives if they didn't try.

Cal's attention was drawn back to the Doctor when the other man looked down at the viewscreen on the console; it was obvious that the Time Lord didn't want Earth to appear on that screen. And, truth be told, Cal didn't want to go back -- at least, not at the moment.

But he'd already been away for hours; how could he be sure that the Doctor could take him back to the exact time that he'd left? He would be able to explain away a gap of a few hours, but more than that, and he'd be in a sticky situation.

How much more time did they have together? Not much, in Cal's estimation. Yet he was already feeling regretful about having to leave the ship before he'd really had a chance to explore -- and he wanted to go out into the stars and see other planets.

He could always do that in the future, he reminded himself sharply. They'd agreed that they were going to try to make a relationship work. They might not be with each other every day, but that would only make appreciate their time together all the more.

"Are you ready to go back?" The Doctor's soft query broke into Cal's thoughts, almost startling him. His first instinct was to shake his head, but he sighed and nodded reluctantly, his gaze meeting the Time Lord's. Cal was surprised to read sadness there.

"Hey," he said softly, stretching out a hand across the console. "You don't have to look so down. We're going to make this work, remember? I might not be with you all the time, but I'll be waiting for you. I thought we'd already agreed we were going to take a chance with each other."

"Are you sure that's what you want?" the Doctor asked, his voice quiet and subdued. "Wouldn't you be happier with someone who can be with you all the time? Someone who'll be waiting when you come home at the end of the day?"

"I've had that," Cal said, moving around the console to stand beside the Doctor. He slid an arm around the taller man's waist, frowning slightly as their eyes met again. "I know what I want. I want you. Even if we're going to have to be a little creative to make this work."

"We can make it work -- can't we?" the Doctor asked, his tone uncertain. "I know it isn't going to be easy, but I think you're worth it. I don't want to let you walk out of my life, but there's a part of me that feels it would be best to let you go."

Cal shook his head; now it was his turn to sigh. "If that's what you feel you should do, then I can't stop you. But I'm willing to see if this can work out. That is, if you're willing, too. I don't want you to feel like I'm pushing you into this."

"We haven't even slept together yet," the Doctor blurted out, his face reddening even as he spoke. "I mean .... how can you be so sure that you want me when we haven't ...." His voice trailed off; he stood there with his eyes averted, blushing furiously.

"That's easily remedied," Cal told him, a smile starting to form on his lips. "I'm assuming you have a comfortable bedroom somewhere on this ship, don't you?" He raised an eyebrow in question, wanting to lean forward and kiss the Doctor, but not sure if he should.

"Of course I do," the Doctor whispered, his gaze locking with Cal's. "Are you saying that you want to .... now?" He sounded breathless, his dark eyes widening. "But I thought that you wanted to go back to Earth. I'm taking you there now."

"I've been away for a few hours already," Cal told him, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "A few more isn't going to make much of a difference, is it?" He almost laughed aloud, his heart starting to race in anticipation of the Time Lord's next words.

"I want to be with you before you have to go back to your own life," the Doctor said softly. Cal could hear the longing in that voice; and to his surprise, he felt that same yearning. He wanted to be with the Doctor, here and now. He didn't want to wait.

He was sure they could make this work. It wouldn't be easy to be away from his lover, but he wasn't a man who had to be with the person he cared for every moment of every day. And he would be faithful. He was sure of that.

"If you're willing to take a chance with me, then I think this is a done deal," he said, finally leaning in to press a kiss against the Doctor's temptingly parted lips. The moment he did, he knew that he'd made the right decision.

Desire coursed through him like a stream of molten lava, setting him on fire from the inside out. But this was more than mere desire; this was a part of him reaching out to the Time Lord, wanting to take this man not only into his arms, but into his life and his heart.

This would be the first time in a very long while that he'd been with a man -- but that didn't seem to matter at the moment. All that mattered was that he wanted the Doctor, and he was absolutely positive that the other man felt the same.

"I'm more than willing to do that," the Doctor whispered, his thin arms sliding around Cal's waist. "And yes, I do have a very comfortable bedroom here. If you'd like to see it, I'd be more than happy to show it to you." His voice was soft and husky, breathless with desire.

"Then lead the way," Cal told him with a smile, his heart banging against his rib cage. This was going to seal their relationship; once they were together, there would be no turning back. It was a risk, yes -- but a risk that he was definitely ready to take.

***

Next story in series - Burning Desire.