A/N: I do not own CSI Miami or any of it's characters, affiliates...etc. This is just my imagination running with it! I hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 3

Roses and Gold

Staring at the house he'd seen her walk into hours before, he wondered what it would take to get her into his graces again. Scaring her into it wasn't working. And he couldn't get close to her with that woman and her boyfriend around constantly. He wouldn't try to touch her at work unless he got desperate, but he hoped it wouldn't come to that.

Smiling at his phone, he pulled up a website. Flowers. Flowers would make her come running back to him. She'd always had a thing for roses. Roses and gold. That would do the trick right there. Then she would be his again.

"So what are you doing tonight?"

He had asked her so innocently, it had made her blush. "I don't know. What did you have planned?"

He shrugged. "I was going to take you to dinner, but I've got this stupid History homework and...I can't stand History. I'm bombing and my parents are going to kill me." he said, trying to sound as desperate as he could.

She closed her locker door and leaned against it. "I could help you with it if you want."

"Really? You'd do that for me?"

"Yeah! Let me get home and change out of my Spring Picture clothes and I'll come by your house around five?"

Smiling lightly he looked her up and down. "I love your picture clothes."

"Alright. I'll call my mom then and let her know I'm going to help tutor."

"Sounds good to me."

Suddenly she was thrust into his bedroom and onto his bed. "Quit fighting me Frederica! You asked for this! Remember?"

"No. Not like this. I told you I didn't want..."

"Shut up! You knew when I asked you over here tonight that it was about this!"

"You said you were failing History."

"You believed me? I'm getting a ninety eight in history. I have to keep a high GPA in order to keep on the team." Pinning her arms up on the bed with one hand, he ripped her shirt off with the other one.

"Stop! Please! I didn't ask for this!"

"Freddi? Honey wake up." came from nowhere.

"You knew! You wanted this! I could tell it the way you blushed at the lockers! You know you want it!" Luke sneered.

"No! Please!" she cried. "I didn't ask for this! I didn't want this!"

"Freddi! Come on baby! You're having a nightmare! Come back honey!"

"Please stop! Please!" she whispered softly.

Calleigh turned back to Eric. "I don't know what to do." she admitted, then turning her attention back to Freddi, she shook her hard. "Freddi!"

Coming awake with a gasp, and sitting straight up like she did before, she opened her eyes and was instantly in Calleigh's embrace. "I didn't ask for it. I didn't want it. I didn't ask. I didn't want it." she said, as desperately as she had in her dream, tears wetting the shirt that she was leaned on.

"Easy sweetie. I'm here. You're safe."

Just as the night before, she cried herself almost completely back out when they left the bedroom. Turning to hug her own rock, as soon as they were back in the bedroom, she almost knocked him off of his feet with force of it. Wrapping his arms around her in a warm embrace, he rocked her lightly. "Do I need to tell you, that you're safe?"

Hugging him back, she smiled. "Maybe. I almost called you when this happened last night."

He stopped rocking, then started again. "Why didn't you?"

She let go of him and walked to the bed as they both got in. "Because it was three thirty in the morning."

"I would have talked to you."

Reaching up again, she rested her hand on his cheek. "I know you would have. I didn't want to wake you up though. I don't like that you got woke up in the middle of the night tonight."

"Yeah but she's not just dreaming Calleigh. She's reliving a nightmare."

"How do you know?"

"One of my sisters was raped when she was twenty. They caught the guy and he was later killed in jail, but for years, she had night terrors about that night." then his glance roamed to the other bedroom door. "She's reliving something that happened to her. I'm sure of it."

Saddened by what he was telling her, she glanced toward the bedroom door and hoped she would open up. "We're supposed to run in the morning. She didn't do it this morning, but then, neither did I, so...I don't know." she said the last part softly. "Maybe she'll talk to me. Maybe she'll talk to Gene when she goes in tomorrow. Or well, later today. I just don't like this Eric. I don't like it."

Wrapping his arm around her shoulder, he squeezed lightly. "I know. You'll figure it out."

Settling down into his arms, she took a contented sigh. "I'm glad you're here tonight." she said softly.

"I am too."

Tossing again, she glanced at the clock. It was time to get up and jog almost. Fifteen minutes. Staring at the numbers and remembering the reason her eyes felt like sand was in them, she rolled up and got her clothes on, donning her running shoes and sneaking out early.

When Calleigh checked on her a few moments later, she leaned against the door jamb looking at the now empty bed. Turning to look at the man standing behind her, she hugged him quickly. "I'm going to go catch her."

"She probably isn't far."

"She's on the beach." she called back as she disappeared around the corner. Jogging a little bit faster than normal, she reached the beach and found Freddi where she knew she would. "Hey sweetie."

Without turning around and looking, she hung her head and picked up another handful of sand. Calleigh sat down beside her and she knew when she looked up at her, she would see the tears.

Seeing them, as suspected, she reached he arm around her shoulders. "Why don't you take the day off today?"

She considered that real possibility. Thinking, she realized there were no tests today in any of her classes and she could probably get away with it. But she would need to go into work. She wouldn't be able to call out, but she could stay from class for the day. She had an appointment with Gene Anders at four. She wondered if she could move it up some and go in before work? Work was from noon to three thirty, so if she could get in this morning, she could come home and be safe by five.

Safe. Yes, she did feel safe there. So why was she allowing her dreams to manipulate her safety net. It made no sense to her at all and she damn sure didn't like it. Yeah, she was definitely talking to Gene about it. Coming back to the moment, she took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Yes. Badly. But she shook her head, ashamed.

"Eric seems to think that you're reliving something that happened to you a long time ago."

She refused to look up and just sat there, neither confirming or denying how right she was.

"You know I'm here sweetie. I will listen, or talk, or just sit here if you want."

"I know." she finally said softly. "It's okay, I'm just...I don't know how to start." then she shook her head. "I feel so stupid." she whispered. Then as if being hit, she got a sickening feeling that she was being watched from afar. She didn't know where from but she had a good idea of who. She stood up. "Ready to get back? I'm going to make you late for work if we sit here any longer."

"If you need me, sweetie, I'll call out of work. I'm not worried about it."

"No. But I am." and she started out at a faster pace than normal. Generally they just jogged. She was running, and running hard.

Able to keep up the pace that she was keeping, they both made it to the back porch in almost record time, with Freddi actually running through the door, instead of staying on the porch. She grabbed a bottle of water for herself and one for Calleigh before Calleigh made it into the kitchen. "What was that about?"

She shook her head. "Probably just me being paranoid."

"Paranoid about what Freddi?"

Staring into the concerned gaze of her friend, she shook her head once more. "I don't know. It's hard to explain."

Looking at the man who had just stepped around the corner, she looked at the clock and stopped, before rushing upstairs. "You sure you don't need me to be late?"

"No. I'm okay. Go. I think I am going to stay home, and I'll call you if I need anything. I think I'm going to try and see Gene early."

"Alright honey. Let me know. Okay?"

She nodded, as the blond disappeared. Eric stepped closer. "You sure you're alright?"

Looking away, she nodded. "Just being stupid, I'm sure."

"You're not stupid Freddi. You know that. Don't ever feel stupid for feeling or thinking a certain way either. You're one of the strongest people I know."

Glancing up, that had set with her for some reason. Grinning slightly, she nodded. "Thanks. I think I needed that."

"It's understandable. You've been through a lot. How is Gene helping you out?"

"She's helping a lot actually. I'm glad you suggested her when I first came here. I haven't told you that yet, have I?"

Shaking his head, he smiled slightly. "You haven't, but that's alright. I don't mind."

"Well thanks. She really is great."

"Good. I'm glad it's working out for you. She is a good person and she's helped me before too."

"Cool." she whispered.