Author's Note: So, first things first: english isn't my first language but I swear I did my best. Second: I have to thank Mrjamesileee for helping me with of the corrections.

Hope you enjoy!

Dream a Little Dream of Me

This is the first day back for Rafferty at Firehouse 51, after accomplishing her suspension. She spent most of those three months traveling and away from pretty much everybody. Even Shay. They haven't met but exchanged a few messages, some emails and sometimes even phone calls. None of them extremely personal, most of the time Shay was telling gossip and news about the guys from the 51. Rafferty was happy to be back, another month without working, and she probably would've gone mad. However, she had this thing, this awkward feeling in her chest, perhaps, anxious to get back to work, but she knew it wasn't only that... "I don't want to think too much about what that it would be."

As soon as she arrived she was very well received by everyone and Chief Boden was glad that she returned to 51, according to him, there was nobody better for replacing Dawson, now that she was a candidate in Austin.

She hadn't yet seen Shay, the other paramedic was probably in the locker room, so the brunette decided to go there to talk with her. When she was on her way, she saw Shay coming down the hall.

- I figured you would make a great reception for me

- Oh, you know, I tried to get a strip of rainbow with your name, but they don't had no more... you know, the parade this weekend

- I must admit I missed your jokes in these last 3 months

- You just missed the jokes?

That ... that was it, this "thing" that Rafferty was feeling when she arrived this morning. She knew that the gay jokes probably would remain, just wasn't sure if the flirtation would continue on the "game". Rafferty was thinking of something clever to say, something to reaffirm her heterosexuality, but the bell rang and they had to go on a call.

The call was simple, two idiots students decided to dress like vampires to scare some girls in a sorority, and one of them thought that would be more realistic if he withdrew some blood from his friend, to do they makeup ... It turns out that neither of them knew that before remove the syringe from the vein they had to untie the elastic around the arm ... at that time one of the dumbass Twilight, was bleeding in the bedroom and the other decided it was time to ask for help.

When they were returning to the firehouse Shay turns on the radio and is playing Dream a Little Dream of Me, Rafferty surprise herself staring at Shay while she's singing.

Shay realizes that Rafferty was staring at her and looks back at the brunette. It becomes clear to both that some attraction was happening there. Shay maintains the look, while the car is stopped at the sign, and continues singing.

"Stars fading but I linger on dear

Still craving your kiss

I'm longing to linger till dawn dear

Just saying this"

But Rafferty realizes the situation and decides that the best would be to stop this right now. She doesn't want Shay getting the wrong idea about that.

- It would be great if you could shut up.

- Come on, I don't sing so badly.

- Singing or speaking your voice is unbearable. Would be better if you didn't neither.

Shay is furious and doesn't understand what it's that. Everything was just fine, and Rafferty isn't the kindest person in the world, yet, isn't this monster that Shay is seeing in her eyes.

Shay decided stop trying to understand the paramedic and followed to the firehouse, the shift was almost over, and maybe next shift Rafferty decides to use a less insufferable personality.

After all this the only thing that Shay wanted was to go home, take a shower and sleep until the time of the next turn.

She even tried to look again Rafferty's eyes and see if the monster was gone, but, apparently, was worse.

Upon reaching the firehouse the two women left the ambulance without exchanging a word and they went straight to inventory. They continued don't exchange a word while they finishing the job.

After finish the inventory Shay turn around to go away. Rafferty begins to feel bad for what happened, and calls for Shay, with a look in her eyes like she has lost her dog, however, Shay was too angry to notice the change in her tone of voice, and she turned to Rafferty and says a dry and coarse

- What you want now?

Rafferty gets angry again, due the tone at Shay's voice, and decides to leave the monster return to the surface.

- Before you go, you must update the inventory's database of the last three shifts. I consulted this morning and you were late.

- But this shift already over!

- I don't care if this shift began or ended, database's update isn't something that the PIC does, then it's up to you. And if you don't update now, in this shift, I'll report you!

They were talking loud enough to attract the attention of the guys and of Dawson, who were in the garage about to leave. When Rafferty made her way to the locker room, she realized that everyone was staring at them. She walked right into the door without speaking to anyone.

Shay wants to kill Rafferty, and also passed without speaking, but not only with angry, mostly ashamed about being called attention in front of all your friends and colleagues.

When Rafferty is closing the locker, she sees in the corner of her eye, Dawson approaching, and by the look on her face, the conversation will not be friendly.

- Hey Rafferty, tough day?

- What do you think?

- What do I think? Ok, first I'll tell you what I think as a former PIC and Shay's colleague. I believe you know she is an excellent professional, as competent as the two of us, in fact I don't know why she's not a PIC yet. You were lucky to come for a firehouse that has wonderful people and even luckier to have Shay as your partner, because you know that she'll always cover your back. As former PIC, I also know that sometimes we have to play hard to get the job done right, but we never do it using payment as blackmail, and we both know, that what you asked for, shouldn't be done after the shift have finished. I know you've problems with lesbians, and Shay, just so you know, has problems with homophobic, and even then, I didn't notice her being rude to you because of that, then the least you can do, professionally speaking, is treat her the same way she treats you, regardless if you agree with her sexual orientation or not.

Rafferty is more than ashamed, and worse, all that Dawson said is more than true ... and worse yet ... she doesn't have really problems with lesbians and much less problem with Shay. But, how could she explain what happened?

- Dawson, listen...

-No! YOU listen to me, and I'll speak as Shay's friend now. If you talk to her like that again, our next conversation won't be so civilized as that.

- I'm sorry!

- It's not me you have to apologize to.

Dawson leaves the locker room and will see what Shay is doing. She found her in the Casey's office, using his computer to update the damn database.

- Hey Shay, how are you?

- Hmm, it depends. I've some emotions inside me, I don't know if I kill her first or kill myself in shame, for having been called attention to in front of everyone.

- I wouldn't worry about shame right now. Actually, became clear that for some reason she wasn't very well. Something happened during the call?

- No... I don't think so. I was just singing you know? As I like to do sometimes, when our shift is ending and the round was good, no one died, no one tried to kill us... I was just happy and singing and suddenly she became this crazy bitch, telling me to shut up, don't sing, don't talk ... And after that, the great spectacle in the garage. Sometimes, I don't understand Rafferty... Ok, actually, 90% of the time I don't understand. But I know she is a good person, I don't understand why, sometimes, she treats me this way. I know she doesn't like lesbians ... but I didn't do anything, really.

- I believe you. Maybe she doesn't like lesbians but has a crush on you? And this could be a problem for her. You know that the biggest homophobes are those who have feelings for what they reject more.

- I don't think so.

Shay said, however that wasn't what she thought ... in fact she had been thinking about that, not that Rafferty liked her specifically, but, that she has feelings for women and wasn't able to admit to herself yet. Maybe, because of this, she behaves as a fucking Hitler sometimes.

- Maybe! You know you don't need to do that right now, don't you? Your shift is over.

- I know... I just want to do this shit soon. Who knows, maybe the general of the third Reich will give me a cookie on the next shift.

- Look at you, making jokes about Nazis.

- You know, anger makes me clever.

They both laugh and Dawson leaves to go meet with Casey.

Rafferty is lying in the rest room, thinking about how to resolve the situation, and taking courage to go talk with Shay and apologize. But, to apologize, she needs to explain what happened. And she honestly didn't know what happened, so, how could she apologize...

"Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you

Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you

But in your dreams whatever they be

Dream a little dream of me"

Rafferty falls asleep, and wakes up when one of the paramedics on the next shift, drops something from her locker. When she looks at the clock she realizes it's after 11am. Surely Shay's already gone… she collects their thing and decides she'll call Shay; it would be better to talk in person but as it is no longer possible, she'll definitely call, she didn't want to wait until next shift to sort things out. She makes her way out the firehouse, her head exploding with thoughts.

When Rafferty was passing by Casey's office she looks out the window, and sees Shay lying on top of the computer keyboard ... sleeping.

If she was already feeling guilty and embarrassed to talk to Shay, see her lying like that didn't help.

She knocks lightly on the door and talks as gently as possible

- Shay... Shay, wake up.

Shay jumps off the chair and was already talking

- I'm finished! Done, all set!

Shay was still dazed from sleep, but when things became clearer, she looked coldly at Rafferty.

- Shay, I wanted...

-Anything else you need or can I go home now?

This time, Rafferty don't let the monster inside her go up to the surface

- Yes, you can, of course you can.

Rafferty wanted to talk to Shay, explain what happened... but... what happened? Shay makes her way to the door, and is starting to move away... then, without think, Rafferty pulls her by the arm and gives her a hug. Shay was so scared of the action of Rafferty that she doesn't try to get away.

- Shay ... I'm so sorry.

Rafferty pulls away gently and looks at Shay.

- I wish I could explain what happened, but I don't know what happened and I know it's hard to accept excuses that way, but believe me, it's the most sincere apology I've ever done.

Shay doesn't know what to say, she was still very angry, but to see Rafferty looking at her like that... it was impossible to be angry with those big brown eyes staring and apologizing in such a sweet way.

- If it was something I did, you can tell me, and I'll try not to do it again.

- You did nothing ... just ... I. .. Wasn't a good day, just that. That will not happen again, I promise.

Shay smiled

- I sing so badly? Because you know, I was considering signing up for American Idol, but if the judges will have your reaction, I think I'll give up. I thought I could charm them with my voice.

Shay smiled again, and Rafferty knows that everything will be fine, she was so happy she didn't thought about what words go out of her mouth

- You have other things to impress apart from your voice.

Rafferty is taken by surprise as much as Shay by what she said. Millions of gay jokes passed through Shay's head. Thousands of confused feelings passed through Rafferty's mind. Shay decides not to do jokes right now.

- Ok you don't need to go that far, I've already accepted your apology.

Shay smiled shyly, with the unexpected compliment.

Rafferty feels a huge relief that Shay didn't take advantage of the situation to let her feel embarrassed

- I'm really sorry.

- I know. Let's going home and sleep, will be good for both of us

- Hey just because I gave you excuses that doesn't mean I'll sleep with you

Shay laughs

- Woman, not everything I say has a double meaning.

"Say nighty-night and kiss me

Just hold me tight and tell me you miss me"