Chapter Five

Sara hugged herself close as the wind threatened to blow both her coat and her away. Her heels clicked on the graveled pavestone and she was already tired walking in them. As it is, her legs had trouble moving flexibly under the petticoats and several layers of her skirt.

She looked around. Saved for the rare street lamps, there was no other source for light. There wasn't a sign of a single breathing soul. The street stretched endlessly in front of her and she saw the yellow double lines extend into nothingness. It was slightly chilly and yet Sara found perspiration soaking her dress.

Suddenly, she saw a flash of something white in front of her. With a momentum totally out of her control, Sara ran towards it. As she neared the sight, she got a clearer view.

Catherine was in her wedding dress. The satin shimmering around her legs like liquid. Catherine was staring at her. Her eyes were sharp but almost lifeless. Sara ran and ran but no matter how hard she ran, the distance between them didn't seem to lessen.

And then, in one unexpected instant, red-hot flames erupted around Catherine. The fire deliciously spread all over her beautiful fiancée. Sara suddenly stopped, her body too frozen to move. Her mind screamed for action but her muscles refused to obey.

And she watched, just watched, until she could see nothing but the devious tongues of fire licking the air. Like a blast, embers and ash blew towards her. Sara removed her hands from her face and looked down.

Her dress, her white, pristine wedding dress, was stained with blood, dust and ash.

A strong and almost inhuman cry tore from within her.

"Ma'am, are you alright?"

Sara opened her eyes to stare into a pair of concerned dark eyes.

"Should I call the flight attendant?" The man fumbled with his newspaper to find the button.

"No!" Sara stopped his hands. She quickly removed them when he gave her a perplexed look. "I'm fine. I think I was having a bad dream."

He seemed far from convinced. In addition, he was becoming markedly uncomfortable. Before he could raise a racket, she forced her nicest smile.

"I'm not that good with planes. They always make me feel this way.'

He slightly eased. "I can understand. My fiancée is the same."

She looked across the aisle to the slouched forms of her fellow passengers. Most of them were fast asleep, or trying to. Some, mainly the younger ones, were engrossed in reading.

"I'll just go and wash my face." She turned to her companion. "Thanks for waking me, though."

"No problem." He shrugged and watched her stand up.

As Sara made her way towards the washroom, she gave a brief glance around. The plane was quite empty. Understandably, since it wasn't a particularly heavy traveling season. A pretty blonde, dressed smartly in her attendant uniform, stepped aside for her to pass.

Sara hardly noticed the sterile white walls of the washroom. She looked straight into the mirror. Her brown eyes contained a haunted drabness in them. But apart from that, there was nothing to suggest that she had just woken up from a near-traumatic nightmare. She repeatedly splashed water on her face and let the cold wetness sink in. Finally, a remnant of her composure restored, she wiped her face dry.

The nightmares had started to become more and more frequent. Before it would emerge in fragments and disappear before she could make any sense of it. But its nature had started to get clearer. This most recent one, where she could see Catherine and the fire as clearly as if it had really happened, had been the most terrifying.

Sara shuddered. She ran a hand through her wet tendrils and wondered whether the nightmares were caused by her nervousness due to the upcoming wedding.

But why would I dream about Catherine being engulfed in flames and me watching everything like a powerless bystander? – screamed her mind.

She shook her head. She didn't believe in premonitions. At this point, she didn't want to believe in premonitions.

But the eerie chill in her gut just refused to leave her alone.

She glanced at her watch. She had timed it according to the EST and by her calculations the plane would arrive at the Lester Pearson Airport of Toronto in 85 minutes.

When she returned back to her seat, her companion immediately glanced at her. Whether to make sure she was alright or just out of plain curiosity, she couldn't tell. He smiled at her which she managed to return.

"You feeling better?" He asked.

She nodded.

"Gwen's even worse when it comes to plane sickness. Once she scared half the cabin to death by claiming that she was sure the plane would crash." The man gave a short laugh. "She can be really paranoid at times."

Sara quelled the urge to snap at the man. She wondered what was the most subtle and polite way of showing that she wasn't interested in idle chitchat.

"But I still love her so much." The man was saying.

Good for you – She rolled her eyes.

"I mean, why else would I marry her this weekend, right?"

Sara immediately looked at him. His expression was distant, as if he wasn't talking to her anymore.

"You are getting married this weekend?"

"Yeah." He let out a shaky smile. "Gwen is from Toronto and she wanted to marry in her hometown. I was like, it doesn't matter where you get married, you know?"

"How long have you guys known each other?"

"Two months."

Sara arched her eyebrows but didn't say anything. Who was she to judge, anyways?

"Yeah, I know it's a short while." The man gave voice to her words. "But sometimes you just click with a person and you know she is the one for life."

Sara considered, actually considered, what he said.

Had I known Catherine was the one for me from the moment we met? - Her mind drifted to the first six years they had spent as mere colleagues, albeit occasionally warring ones.

Definitely not – she inwardly sighed.

"Are you?" The man questioned, loudly.

"Sorry, what?" She blinked out from her thoughts.

"Are you married?" He asked again.

"No."

Something that looked like both disappointment and relief crossed his face.

"But I'll soon be." She hastily added.

"Really, when?"

"This Saturday."

"You are kidding, right?" His eyes widened. "This is incredible!"

"Yeah."

"Wow, we might actually be getting married in the same Church." He looked like a five year old with a new toy.

"I highly doubt that."

"Of course, you are right, that wouldn't be possible." The man rubbed his hands. "So, don't tell me your guy is from Toronto too?"

"No, we are from Vegas."

"Vegas?" His eyebrows shot up. "That's like the marriage capital of the world. Why would you want to get married in Toronto then?"

God, he was nosy – she mentally grimaced. "Because the laws in Vegas won't allow us to get married."

"What?" He scowled, not comprehending and Sara didn't venture anymore information. She hoped this riddle would occupy him until they landed at the airport.

She had obviously undermined his intelligence because he snapped his fingers. "I get it! You are talking about a same sex marriage! You are gay!"

The plane went dead silent as his shout reverberated all around. Even the sleeping, and not-so-asleep, ones woke up and were staring towards them. Sara found her entire body, redden with embarrassment.

"Well, thanks for announcing it." She muttered. His smile didn't falter even a millimeter.

"But that is wonderful!" He declared.

She didn't know whether to be worried, surprised, relieved or all of the above. "It is?"

"Of course it is!" He frowned slightly. "Don't you think it is?"

"I-I suppose it is." She sputtered.

"Oh, I even know the Church you would be getting married in. My brother is the Reverend there. I hope he's your minister."

If he's anything like you, I hope not – Sara stretched her lips. "I'm not so sure about it. My fiancée handles all those details."

"That's like me and Gwen. She goes through all the nifty little details." He chuckled.

"Sounds nice." Sara wanted to push him out of the plane and began thinking of ways to do that without leaving behind any incriminating evidence.

"How long have you known her?"

None of your Goddamn business. "Eight years almost."

"Whoa, that's a long time!" He whistled.

Time! I can't believe it's only been fifteen minutes since I came back from the washroom. It seems like fifteen years of torture already! – Sara decided to take the no-reply route. If she didn't talk, he would give up.

Either he was really dense at taking hints or he loved to hear himself talk, because he didn't stop. When she didn't answer, he assumed answers for her.

When finally, the pilot announced for them to buckle their seat belts, Sara whispered a prayer of thanks to the entire pantheon of gods and goddesses she remembered reading about.

As the plane made its smooth descent on Canadian soil, Sara could see the runway lights twinkle like sparkling stones in the fog. She felt a tingle run down her spine. This was the city where she and Catherine would be officiated with a legal married status. It didn't matter that the state of Nevada, back home, would still overlook their marriage. In her heart, she was already Catherine's and the presence or absence of a document didn't make any difference to her.

But it did make a difference to Catherine's family. Sensible or not, there was nothing like walking down the aisles in front of rows of eager onlookers and exchanging vows and rings to symbolize a lifetime of commitment.

Sara shivered. She once again felt like a high school student, anxiously awaiting news from Harvard University regarding her application.

Getting off the plane, going through the usual checks and documentations didn't take long due to little traffic and the earliness of the hour. She looked around until she spotted the familiarly massive form of Tony Butler.

"Miz Say-dle!" He grinned down at her when she finally reached him.

"Tony." She nodded.

His two young stooges, whom Sara had earlier met during the rehearsal, stood in the background. They wore dark suits and matching eyeglasses and tried to assume the pose of confidence. She secretly chuckled.

Making their way past the airport security and the jam of passengers, Tony eventually led Sara into the parking lot. A metal blue Cadillac was waiting to give them a ride to their hotel.

By the time, they reached the Delta Chelsea Hotel, Sara was exhausted. She had slept sporadically for the past few days and those occasional nightmares didn't help. Considering how much Catherine had already done, Sara thought that it was only fair if she took upon the last minute banquet hall and church planning in her hands.

But these things tired her more than she had bargained. She couldn't wait for it to be over. Her jittery nerves were firing at a rate higher than normal and she was already running on her only supply of blood sugar.

She went straight to her room and collapsed on the bed. She had only three more hours before the church opened and she had to accompany Tony there. That evening, the entire bandwagon was due to arrive and she wanted everything done by then. Her CSI colleagues had pressed for a "bachelor's" party of sorts. She thought it wasn't a bad idea.

Sara drowsily set the alarm in her wristwatch and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.


Sorry for the two separate chapters. Let's just say that my muse and me weren't on talking terms for a while. But now that we've made up, all's well in Fanfic City.

Sunshine dominates until the next chapter. Dress warm for an upcoming stormy weather...