Everything was so vivid. He saw a boat on the water behind his house and laughed as it almost struck the large tree trunk on that side of the river. The sky had looked funny and it was only then that he questioned if this was for real. He would not know the answer to that question for about eight more hours.
It took him a few minutes to get oriented. It wasn't until he heard Sonja's voice that he realized that he was in his new home in Washington, D. C.
It had been a difficult decision to leave New Orleans but after chasing Percy down six months after she left 'Nola', they realized how much they loved each other and he knew it was the right thing. Now four years later, he laughed as she came into the bedroom. She was still able to work out even at five months along but her belly was starting to bulge and looked like half a basketball stuck to her small frame.
They had looked for a house with a three-car garage and converted the third stall into a mini gym. While they would often go to the nearby police gym or on his installation, they appreciated just stepping a few feet away and lift or run on their own treadmill.
She could not decide if she was surprised or not when he jumped in the shower with her. They were learning to work around the challenge of her protruding stomach and her ability to maintain her balance with the baby that she was carrying. Their passion had never waned no matter how many times she threw up the first three months of the pregnancy. She became even more endearing to him the first time he felt his son kicking in her stomach. They had seen him moving a week earlier at the ultra sound, then he work her up early one morning and Sonja was able to guide LaSalle's hand so he could feel the slight kick of their little one.
Sonja had quickly realized that no man had every loved her as much as Christopher LaSalle. She began to miss him the moment she stepped on a jet plane. He missed her just as much as his hand would often reach out to his right in the place where she usually slept in their bed.
In the dream he looked around the bedroom as he put lotion on her back and belly. She was at the place where he now had to help her with tennis shoes and boots. He laughed every time and began to automatically ask her what she would be wearing on her feet then go pick them out of the closet.
He walked over to the dresser to get his watch and noticed the photo of their wedding. Sonja looked like a princess in her wedding gown. He never figured out while he was asleep where the photo was taken.
The dream proceeded through the birth of their son Christopher and then of their daughter Megan. He would see individuals whose faces he did not recognize as well as those of friends and family from his life in Alabama and New Orleans.
He was awaken by a knock at the door. He greeted the delivery man half awake. LaSalle took the package and carried it into the house, deposited it on the sofa and then walked back to his bed. Sitting there, he was surprised at how much of the dream he remembered. He thought for a few minutes and reached over for his telephone.
"Hey Tammy" he said still with sleep in his voice.
"Hello Christopher, please don't tell me that we've drawn a case already."
"Oh no, nothing like that. I ran into one of my old teammates from NOPD Thursday" he lied. "He asked about Percy and I told him that I would text him her number. I thought I had it on my computer. You don't happen to have it do you?"
"Sure LaSalle. Let me text it to you."
LaSalle did not even bother to get up. He quickly dialed the number knowing that D.C. was two hours ahead of 'Nola in time hoping that she was in country.
"Hey City Mouse, it's Chris LaSalle…"
LaSalle did not play around this time. He found a reason to get her to welcome him to D.C. He already knew how he felt and was hoping that her heart would be open to him. He was going to take every opportunity to make his dream come true.
Sonja did not have a chance and never knew what hit her. LaSalle courted her so slyly that she did not realize that she had also left behind the best thing for her. This was an old friend who needed some time away from his tough job she thought. They were engaged six month's later and married three months after that at Chris' childhood home. The site of the ceremony overlooked the island where Chris and Cade fished and talked.
"I know that dreams do come true" he told his bride at the makeshift altar "because mine came true on the day I met you."