Sabrena knocked on the door and Monica opened it almost immediately. "Donovan said you were on your way," she whispered as Bre entered the room.
"I wanted to see how you're doing, Anika," Bre said loudly.
"I'm fine. Getting antsy, though. It's like looking for a needle in a haystack." Monica flopped down on the sofa. "Nice outfit. Bet you shocked the hell out of Donovan."
Bre nodded. "He wasn't too thrilled about me coming over. He's afraid I'll blow your cover."
"Not in that outfit," Monica laughed. Sabrena missed the meaning altogether. She had seen the way her boss looked at the lady Fed. Whether either of them was aware of it, there was a strong chemistry between them.
Sabrena sat beside her. "You think so?"
"Oh, honey, you look delicious in that thing," Monica smiled and patted Bre on the knee.
Bre froze at Monica's touch. Her eyes glazed over and her breathing came in short quick breaths.
"Sabrena? Sabrena?" Monica switched on her comm.-link. "Jake, Alex, something's wrong with Sabrena."
"What's wrong," Donovan interrupted.
"I don't know...it's so strange." She shook Sabrena gently. "Sabrena?"
"You...you...touched him." Bre stammered, breathless.
"Who?" Monica whispered.
Sabrena clutched at her chest, remembering the feel of the knife as it dug into her breast and carved her open. "HIM!"
"How can you know?" A knock at the door interrupted Monica. Jake and Alex stood in the hallway.
"Can I help you?" Monica asked.
"Ma'am, we're investigating the murders here on campus." Jake informed her, flashing his badge.
"I'm sorry, I just arrived. I'm sure I can't be of any help."
"Would you mind if we come in for a minute. We just have a few questions." Alex responded.
Monica moved out of the doorway to let Jake and Alex in the room. Once the door was closed, Jake knelt in front of Sabrena. "How long has she been like this?" he asked.
"Just a couple minutes. Did you hear what she said?" Monica asked.
Jake nodded. He also knew Sabrena's secret. Cody had spoken of her often and let it slip one night when he had been drinking a little too much. "Sabrena? Tell me what you see."
"The knife...thick blade, serrated. Face in shadows, can't see him. The knife...no, no...not again!" She released a bloodcurdling scream startling Jake causing him to fall backward onto the floor.
"What in the hell is happening?" Donovan yelled into their earpieces.
"Frank, I'll explain it when we get to the apartment," Jake said, picking himself off the floor.
"Is she okay?" Donovan asked.
"Yes, she's just shaken up."
"Do you think it's okay to leave with her?" Alex asked.
Jake nodded. "I'll take care of it." Turning to Monica, he said, "I don't want to have to upset her any more than necessary. Make sure you listen in when we get her back to Frank."
Monica nodded and opened the door. As they stepped into the hallway, Jake said, "We're very sorry we upset your friend with our questions. We'll make sure she gets home safe."
"Thank you, Detective." She reached for Sabrena but stopped when she flinched away.
They drove the five blocks to the apartment in silence. Once in the apartment, Alex sat Sabrena down on the edge of the bed. Donovan knelt down in front of her and gazed into her terror filled eyes. "What happened to her?"
"I never met Bre before she came to our headquarters, but Cody told me about his childhood friend...and her secret," Jake started.
"Secret?" Alex repeated.
Jake nodded. "Bre can see things...future...past...present. She's psychic."
"Bullshit," Frank said harshly. He stood and ran a hand through his hair.
Jake shrugged. "Believe what you want. Cody believes her and he's know her most of his life. What I saw at Monica's scared the living hell out of me."
"Just tell me what happened with Monica," he demanded.
"Monica touched her, that was all," Alex said.
Jake continued, "Monica said Sabrena told her she touched him."
"Sabrena touched him?" Frank asked, confused.
"No," Jake answered. "Monica touched him. Bre sensed it. That was when she went into her trance."
"What else did she say?"
Alex shuddered visibly. "She described the knife, and said she couldn't see his face because it was shadowed. Then she screamed."
"Scared the shit outta me," Jake commented.
Alex grinned. "Well, it did knock you on your ass."
Donovan knew that scream; it was the same one from her dream. He watched as Jake sat beside Bre and put his arm around her. He whispered something in her ear and Bre sank into his embrace as Jake rocked her gently. A stab of jealousy hit Donovan like a punch in the stomach.
"Can you talk now, Bre?" Jake asked minutes later. When she nodded, he released his hold on her so she could sit up.
"Sabrena, are you all right?" Donovan asked.
She nodded and turned on the bed to face him. "I...I'm sorry. It doesn't usually affect me this way." She cast her eyes downward. "The pain...it's so intense, I don't think I bear it much longer."
"We'll catch him," Jake said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
She smiled up at him. "You know, don't you?"
He nodded. "Cody told me, I hope you don't hold it against him."
"Never. I love him too much. He must consider you a good friend to share that. Most people would think he was nuts, not to mention that I should be locked in an insane asylum." She stood, crossing her arms as if cold.
"Why don't you two go back to your room? I think Sabrena needs to get some rest." Donovan ushered Jake and Alex to the door.
Alone with Donovan, she felt more uneasy than with a room full of people. She knew he didn't believe she was psychic. She knew he would be hostile. She knew he would laugh at her.
She backed away from him as he drew closer and she didn't stop until her back contacted the wall. His intense dark eyes never left hers and she longed to know what he was thinking, but at the same time, she was afraid to know.
When she finally had nowhere left to run, he reached out and gently ran a finger across her cheek then tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. "Bre," he whispered, pulling her into his embrace. "You scared the living daylights out of me."
"I'm sorry, Frank." She felt safe in his arms and snuggled against his firm chest. His hands were gentle and warm against the bare skin of her back and she wondered why she was ever frightened of him. He was an intimidating man, and although he probably never showed this side of himself to his coworkers, she was temporary and he didn't have to worry about her thinking him weak.
After what felt like hours, but was only a few minutes, she pushed out of his embrace. "I need to change," she said after realizing she was still dressed in her skimpy outfit. She grabbed something from her bag and went into the bathroom, leaving the door slightly ajar.
"How long have you had this ability?" he asked, glancing at the door. He could see her partial reflection in the mirror through the open door. He knew he shouldn't watch, but he couldn't help himself. Her back was to the mirror and he watched as she slipped the halter top over her head, struggling slightly to free her long hair from the garment.
"As long as I can remember," she responded. "The first time I clearly remember, I was seven. I told Cody's mother not to let him play in the field because a snake was looking for him." She opened the bathroom door and laughed when she saw Frank's grin.
"Nice outfit," he commented. Bre had changed into an oversized T-shirt.
She shrugged. "I like sleeping in T-shirts."
"So, what did Cody's mother think," he asked, genuinely intrigued.
"She told me to stop making up scary stories and behave like a little lady," she said, flopping down on the bed. She pulled her hair around front of her shoulder and began to brush it. "I cried because she thought I was lying. That was until the next day when Cody was bitten by a rattlesnake. At first everyone, including my parents, were afraid of me...but eventually they came to terms with it."
Donovan approached her and took the brush from her hand and sat down behind her on the bed. "Have you come to terms with it?" he asked, brushing her hair. It felt like silk between his fingers and he had to fight himself to not bury his face in it.
She shook her head. "No...I don't think I ever will get used to seeing the things I see. It's usually visions of accidents, death or destruction of some kind. Rarely do I see anything good."
"Have you ever cut your hair? I don't think I've ever seen hair this long?"
"Very subtle subject change," Bre laughed. "Only trimmed the ends. I promised my grandfather when I was a child I would never let anyone cut my hair. And let me tell you, it was hell on my mother." She smiled fondly remembering her childhood. "I was a devil of a child and very much the tomboy. No matter what my mother did, my hair would be a tangled mess by the end of the day. She tried to convince me to let her cut my hair, but I refused."
"I'm glad. I've never seen anything so beautiful," he said, huskily.
Bre turned to face him. He still held her hair in his hand, softly brushing the ends and all she could see was the top of his head. When he looked up at her, his lips were mere inches from hers and without thinking; she leaned closer and gently brushed her lips against his.
He moaned, grasping a fistful of Bre's hair, he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss, losing himself in the taste and softness of her. Dammit, he was on a case. What in the hell was wrong with him? But, God, she felt so good. Reluctantly he pulled away. "Get some rest," he murmured, kissing her on the forehead. He pulled the covers back and urged her to lie down then pulled the covers to her chin.
"I don't want to dream, Frank."
Her voice was small and frightened. He lowered himself to the bed and propped himself up against the headboard. "I'll be right here, Bre," he said as he held out his arms and she snuggled against him. "I can watch the monitors from here. If something frightens you in your dreams, try to remember that I'm with you."
She sighed contentedly, closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep with Frank softly stroking her hair.
Donovan looked down into her sweet face and wished there was something more he could do for her. He also wished he understood his feelings for her and how she had managed to get under his skin so quickly. He just met her a few days ago and yet he felt as though he'd known her his whole life. He shook his head and turned his attention back to the monitors. There would be time enough to explore his feelings after they caught this sadistic bastard.
To be continued...