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Chapter 3

'I hate my sister' Catherine thought for the millionth time that night. She had told her a thousand and one times that she did not do blind dates, and the sneaky little rat had set one up anyway. To give her some credit she had stayed true to her word; he was a good guy, a doctor. He was smart, and funny, and handsome ... and none of it mattered because try as she might Catherine could not care less about this date. No matter what she did, her mind kept wandering to...

"Catherine." His voice snapped her back and she looked up sharply.

"Huh?" She asked oh so eloquently.

"Are you okay?" He asked with concern, eyeing her closely. She hadn't said anything for a while and it was making him nervous. She thought about lying to him but what was the point?

"No, actually, I'm not." She answered brusquely. He looked like he didn't really know what to do with that so he shuffled uncertainly in his seat.

"Oh, uh, is there anything I can do?" Normally she would have found his discomfort quite cute. But not tonight.

"No." He seemed taken aback by her bluntness but she didn't notice as she stooped down to get her bag and stood up. "Listen, it was great to meet you but I've got to go." She rushed out, already backing away from the table. In a matter of steps she was outside in the cool night air, and finally she could breathe again.

x x x x x

"You look nice." The voice stirred her from her thoughts. She glanced up and smiled but didn't answer. After leaving the bar she had driven around and somehow found herself in the locker room at work. "Got a date?" Sara continued, tossing something in her locker and closing it again.

"I had a date." Cath corrected with a sigh.

"What happened?" Sara asked softly, scrutinising her. She looked worn out. Cath sighed again. "Bad guy?" Sara asked, sitting next to her on the bench.

"No, he was sweet and funny, and cute, he was just ..." she trailed off.

"Not the one." Sara guessed. Cath smiled at her and nodded slowly.

"Exactly." They shared a moment of silent understanding. Eventually Sara placed her hand on Catherine's for the briefest of seconds, but long enough to send shivers coursing through the blonde's body.

"You want to go for a drink? On me?" Momentarily stunned, Catherine found herself shaking her head, unable to form words.

"Rain check?" She stuttered out eventually. Sara smiled and nodded, touching her shoulder briefly in an act of comfort before departing as silently as she arrived, leaving Catherine tingling inside.

x x x x x

"What the hell is wrong you?" The voice made her jump so much she nearly fell off the couch. "Why did you run out on Doug?" Nancy demanded, appearing in front of her big sister with her hands on her hips.

"Who?" Cath asked puzzled.

"The doctor!" Her face changed to one of guilt.

"Oh." She whispered.

"Yeah 'oh'. He said you walked out without even an explanation. Or an apology! What the hell, Cathy?" She barked. Cath held up her hands in defence.

"Alright, I'm sorry. I just couldn't do it." She confessed. "And I did tell you I did not want a blind date." She pointed an accusatory finger at Nancy but dropped it when she saw that familiar raised eyebrow. "I'm sorry." She repeated genuinely. "But if it makes you feel any better I made an ass of myself later on." She said miserably. Nancy sighed and dropped onto the couch next to her.

"Why? What'd you do?"

"I went to the lab."

"And?"

"And Sara was there." Nancy rolled her eyes. "I told her about the date, and she offered to take me for a drink to cheer me up. And I said no."

"She asked you out?" Nancy asked, stunned. "And you said no!"

"She asked me for friendly drinks." Cath pointed out. "And I still said no." She finished dejectedly. Seeing her sister's misery Nancy softened her voice.

"You really like her don't you." It wasn't a question but Catherine answered anyway.

"Yeah, I do."

"So, can I ask you something?"

"Sure." Cath sighed, playing with the tassel on a cushion absently.

"What is it about her that's so special? I mean, you've worked with her for a few years; what's suddenly changed?" Nancy asked, leaning back against the arm of the couch.

"I don't know." Cath sighed. "She's sweet. And she makes me laugh about stupid things." A dreamy smile crept onto her lips. "And she has a nice ass." Her eyes shifted to Nancy's face when she realised that she'd said that out loud. "Urgh, what's happening to me?" She groaned, curling into a ball.

"So ask her out." Nance said eventually. Cath looked up in surprise.

"I thought you were against that idea."

"Look, I'll admit I was a bit shocked, and the idea of my big sister with a woman is kinda..." she searched for the right word, "...weird" she settled for at last. "But it can't hurt to give it a shot."

"Thank Nance, but after tonight I'm not sure I could talk to her let alone ask her out." Cath answered softly.

"Wow, you too nervous to ask someone out! That is something I never thought I'd see." Nancy laughed. Cath just sighed.

"Thanks sis. I'm going for a shower." She kissed her sister's cheek and departed upstairs, leaving Nancy to watch her disappear with concern.