We all have our fall to ME stories, even if we don't admit it. This is one of mine, let me know what you think! I have tried my very hardest to keep things out of Suedom. Sasha isn't perfect, isn't a walking super beautiful godess, and surely didn't arrive in ME willingly.

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Disclaimer: All known characters are property of the late, great J.R.R. Tolkien. This is for my (and hopefully your) amusement only. I'm making no money, but if you can find a way to make it happen, sign me up!

//blah blah blah// = Sasha's thoughts

**~~Somewhere in Time**~~
Chapter One.

"You just don't let up, do you?"

"Nope!" Sasha Knauer grinned cheekily at her trainer and almost friend Catherine. "What can I say? It's a flaw. I need help."

"Oh I'll give you help. For starters, you cannot, and I mean cannot stick your gun into another's backside and say 'Don't move or I'll blow your ass cheeks off."

"It worked, didn't it?" Sasha was appalled. Wasn't the general idea anything goes when the law was involved? "We got our sample and now we can go on our merry way." //Your way wasn't working//

"I can't tell whether you're brilliant or nuts. We had a warrant, we would have won the battle."

"Alright, alright, alright. So I'm this reckless loser who's never going to make it, right?" Sasha unwrapped ther messy braid and shook her head letting her hair fly.

"No, I didn't say that. You got balls kiddo, you just need to learn when to keep them hidden."

"Oh that sounds wonderful."

Catherine smirked, "Come on rookie, I'll buy you some java."

The pair walked to Bistro d'OC, enjoying their rare moment of peace. Crime was never going away, therefore, the state of Washington D.C. owned their souls until they were either dead or reached retirement; whichever happened first.

"So tell me something.." Catherine calmly asked the younger girl. "Crime scene technician.. Inspired by that show? Totally wrong you know, but it's good entertainment."

"No," Sasha laughed looking around for a sugar packet. "It was my dad actually. I guess you can say family pushing? I've got an uncle who heads one of the SWAT teams in New York, so…" she trailed off, letting the sentence close itself out.

"Wow, SWAT. You can't get anymore dangerous. So is that what you're looking to do eventually? Work in New York?"

"No, not even close. One day, I don't know when, or even how but I want to end up at the FBI crime lab in Virginia. But that's a long way off… like I said, one day."

"Oh yes, since your co-workers will be the brilliant minds of the FBI." Catherine teased warmly, wiping her mouth on her napkin. "Actually, you'll be the best trained out of all of them! Now we've sat too long. Come, up."

"All work no play I see."

"Oh get used to it. Why do you suppose there is such a high turnover rate?"

"Maternity leave?"

"Ah, if only. Now I am going to retrieve the rest of our goodies and you are going to go home and enjoy your last night of sleeping in your own bed. After tonight, it'll be cars and the odd couch or two. I mean it Sasha, your life won't be your own anymore."

"I get it, really. Um, when do I come back?"

"When I call you." Catherine replied, brushing imaginary wrinkles out of her clothes. "When you're needed."

"When's that?"

"Exactly. Go on now, go."

Tying her hair up in her usual ponytail, Sasha sighed and shoved her hands into her pockets. Although she had no life she had to worry about giving up, could she handle this on call business? Maybe she should have followed her mother's advice and studied teaching. At least she would have specified hours and specified curriculum.

"Is there anything else I'd rather be doing?" she questioned herself walking back home. That was her mom's favorite deep question. Sasha couldn't count all the times it had spelt out her choices.

"No, not at all. I'm doing exactly what I want and soon I'll be where I want to do it. Just gotta stick it out. Baby steps…"