Well, aren't I doing a good job at updating? Your turn Sam;)
The game is afoot –insert evil laugh here-
Oh, and I got permission to kill of Grissom, anyone object? ;)
This is short and sweet, but I hope you're not too disappointed.

Love,
Jellicos

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Chapter fourteen: Dreams vs Reality

The blonde hair was sprawled over the pillow like the wings of an angel. Plumb lips that where kissed swollen parted ever so slightly to let heavenly sounds of pleasure escape into the thick air. Soft skin was trembling, scents intoxicating every part of the mind, filling the bloodstream so that nothing could penetrate the haze of pure bliss and complete exhilaration.

"Sara… Please…" The words where barely audible, but the sound of those very lips uttering pleads of such desperate desire while those eyes where looking at me through heavy lids and the usually baby blue colour had turned dark, dripping with lust. It was magic.

"Catherine…" I whispered, pulling my pillow closer and burying my face in it. 'It's not a dream, it's not a dream, it's not a-' My mental mantra was cut short by the annoying sound of my stupid alarm going off.

I let out a loud groan as my eyes reluctantly fluttered open. It had happened again.

My body was covered in sweat, tangled in the soaked sheets as I reached over to my nightstand and smacked the off-button on my alarm clock.

My body was still shaking with the aftermath of the dream, my hands where trembling and no physical exercise in the world would get my pulse racing faster than this.

This was not good. The mornings when I didn't wake up with the vision of my blonde co-worker in the nude where getting fewer and fewer and I had no idea why my unconscious kept tormenting me like this. I'd had these dreams since I started at the Las Vegas lab, since I first laid eyes on her. I'd woken up wondering why her arms where so hairy and realized that Grissom was holding me. The guilt had been devastating then. It wasn't better now.

At least I wasn't hurting him anymore.

The thought brought me back to reality. To my task this shift. I had a meeting with Ecklie before I started and I was going to ask him for a few days off. Should I mention the transfer now? Maybe I should wait… Casey would have me killed otherwise.

Well, first I needed to get to work. As the physical sensations of the dream started to wear off, the memory still remained.

Shit, I'd have to face both Catherine and Grissom today. And I never called her like she asked me to. Well, she was probably thrilled about that one. She didn't need me calling and interrupting her time with her new girlfriend.

"Fucking hell!" Grabbing my foot with both hands I started jumping on one leg. Damn it! I need to stop kicking things without my shoes on. It hurts like hell!

Right… shower.

A long and thorough shower later, the dream was still there, haunting me, teasing me.

In the car I could still smell the scent of her hair, feel the soft texture of her skin. It was amazing the way the mind could come up with memories that the body did not possess.

Because the truth was that I had no idea how Catherine's hair smelled, or how her skin felt under my fingers. The thought alone made my knees weak.

But one memory I did possess. A memory of my utter stupidity. Her lips to mine, her arm around me, her body flushed against mine fitting so perfectly, and that moan…

"Shit!" The car horn behind me brought me back as I gripped the steering wheel and managed to get my car to stop swaying. Damn, the woman was lethal.

I shouldn't have run away. Why the hell did I run away? Oh, right… Catherine kissed me in the heat of the moment. I was trying to forget her and date Grissom, and she wasn't making it easy. For a split second I thought there might have been something there, the way she kissed me, but then, the look in her eyes, her words and actions when I came to talk to her about it.

I kept telling myself that it would be easier if I didn't see her. I could forget about her and the dreams, the desire would slowly fade away.

With the temptation gone, I could focus on other things, forget about her. It was like any other addiction, you take away the drug and the withdrawal will fade after a while.

As I pulled up at the lab I knew I was seriously kidding myself. There was her car. Jesus Sara! If her car makes your stomach do acrobatics, what chance do you think you have of forgetting the way she smiles?

I was addicted. And my Catherine-addiction had much better odds at killing me then my alcohol addiction.

I was extremely pleased with myself for being able to walk thought the labs without running into anyone, especially her. Pleased and for some reason incredibly disappointed.

I couldn't deny that I had been hoping, somehow secretly wishing she'd step around any of the corners I passed. Just to see her, if only for a second.

God, I was in deep shit.

"Sara, come on in." He wasn't frowning, now that was probably a good sign. But then again, who knew with Ecklie.

---

"You what?" I sighed. He was going to give me trouble about this, I should have known.

"I'm just asking for a few days off." I told him, trying to keep my calm.

"First Catherine and now you. This is turning out to be a very bad week." He said rubbing his forehead. I felt my heart leap at the mention of her name. What did he mean 'first Catherine' ?

"Catherine's taking time off?" I asked, sitting down in one of his chairs. He looked up with a bit of a surprised look. Something that looked quite comical since it made his receding hairline look almost like it belonged on one of those dogs whose face consists of nothing but big wrinkles of skin.

I could understand him though; I never sat down in his office. I preferred standing when dealing with him. It provided me with an easier way to escape.

"She took last night off. Something about a fight with Grissom, I don't know. Look…" He sighed and I didn't hear the rest of his sentence. I was too busy trying to make sense of the information he'd just given me.

Catherine had taken last night off? She'd had a fight with Grissom?

Oh god… Last night, the night I'd trapped her against the locker and asked her why she wanted me to get off her after she'd kissed me some days before. I buried my face in my hands, the shame and guilt at what I'd done and said to her washing over me.

"Sara?"

"Look, just give me the days off and when I get back we can discuss the possibility of a transfer alright?" I bit my lip. Shit. I wasn't supposed to say that. But after what I'd done I couldn't stay. I couldn't work beside the woman I loved while she tried to avoid me and in the meantime falling in love with some cheesy little tramp.

"Transfer?" God, was he deaf or just stupid? Dumb question Sara. He's not deaf.

"Look, I know you're anxious to get rid of me but we can discuss it when I get back ok? Now do I have my four days off?" I asked, finally meeting his eye.

"Well, you have more vacation days than anyone in the labs, including Grissom." He agreed and I stood up.

"Good. See you in four days then."

"Sara, I-" He continued but I'd gotten what I'd wanted.

"Thanks Ecklie." I said as politely as I could manage and walked out before he could say anything else.

I stood outside the door for a moment, my back to the hallway and my forehead leaning against his door, trying to get hold of my thought and emotions.

I had just asked my boss to consider my transfer from Las Vegas when I got back from my days off. Could I go though with this? Did I have a choice?

God, I didn't want to. Las Vegas was the one place that had actually kinda felt like home. But then, two of the people that had made this feel like home where currently not speaking to me, and I doubted they ever would again.

Way to go Sidle. You sure know how to get yourself in these situations huh?

I didn't want to leave. I didn't want to leave her. But what I wanted could never happen.

Pushing myself away from the door, I turned too fast and bumped into someone coming from around the corner.

"Ouch! Damnit!" I cursed as I felt something knock into my ribs.

"Watch it!" An angry voice hissed as papers came flying in all directions. My heart took a leap and my stomach started flipping so fast I thought I was going to throw up.

"Catherine…"

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Mwaahaha, eeevil cliffie! Well my dears, you know what to do:) The button to yell at me is down to your left;)