Series Title: The Bryan Adams Series

Title: She's Only Happy When She's Dancing - Story Six

Author: ANNE (the insane one)

Rating: R

Summary: Dancing becomes Catherine's only safe haven

Disclaimer: Characters et al belong to the people that make CSI. "She's Only Happy When She's Dancing" belongs to Bryan Adams

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Monday mornin' - it's time to get up
Two cups of coffee and she runs for the bus
Looks in the window and fixes her hair
Nobody notices and nobody cares

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I can still hear Eddie snoring as I slip out of bed. I love him, I do. But sometimes he just makes me so goddamn angry!

I turn on the hot water, feeling it soothe my aching body. I stare down at myself, grimacing at the bruises littering me.

I don't blame Eddie for it. Coke makes people crazy. God knows I go pretty ballistic at him sometimes.

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She admits it ain't no kinda life
Workin' 9 to 5 you know...

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When I step out of the shower, he's there, and his lips press against my neck.

"God, you're sexy," he growls, his hands sliding up my hips. My body shudders. His touch drives me crazy and he enjoys pushing me to the point of oblivion until I writhe beneath him. "I just took a shower, Ed," I murmur, turning in his arms. "You could always take another," he suggests, pulling me close and grinding his arousal against me.

And like always, he has me back.

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She's only happy when she's dancin'
There ain't no place she'd rather be
When she's dancin'
Just her heart and her soul and her fantasies
When Friday evenin' finally rolls around
She grabs a taxi and she heads uptown
Goes to a place they call "The Ball And Chain"
Nothin' matters until Monday so she goes insane

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My body lies prone on the bed. I don't have the energy to get up and take another shower. He can make me forgive him for anything with just one simple touch, or the whisper of my name when his voice gets all husky. Or the look in his eye when he wants me bad, and I tease him.

"See you later, Cat," he murmurs, kissing my temple.

With that, he walks out the door, off on another job.

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Well it's a bitch tryin' to make ends meet
But that's the way the story goes
She's only happy when she's dancin'
There ain't nothin' makes her feel so free
When she's dancin'
The girl's outrageous and it's plain to see

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He's drunk and he's been taking coke. I can always tell by the way he calls my name when he comes home. This time he's really off his wall.

"CAT!!!"

I go to him, knowing better than to hide.

"Ed, I have to go to work."

His hand grips around my arm, holding so tight I know it's going to leave a bruise.

"You're mine," he growls. "They better keep their grubby hands off you. If I hear a word…"

"You won't," I assure him. Shit, I swear to myself. I know better than to interrupt him when he's on a rant.

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She ain't got much but she got independence
Ya - she's doin' alright
His eyes are on her as the evenin's endin'
But she ain't goin' for no mystery
Because nobody rides for free

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I wince as I dab makeup on my bruises. Certainly not good for the customers to see one of their star attractions look like she's been man-handled.

Eddie is at home, snoring off the after-effects of his binge.

I go out onto the stage, facing the audience and plastering a huge smile on my face.

And he's there again. And I know he can see right through my makeup and onto the bruises and tears.

And our eyes meet.

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She's only happy when she's dancin'
Dancin' - there ain't no place she'd rather be
When she's dancin'
Just her heart and her soul and her fantasies - dancin'

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FINIS