Thank you all for your wonderful words of encouragement! You rock!! And as promised, this update is quicker, but a little… strange. Don't worry, there's a reason for that too, and I think you can guess it:)
Enjoy my dears!

Jellicos

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Chapter four: Misinterpretations

Ever since Lindsey showed up at my doorstep, Catherine has been acting peculiar. I can't say I mind it because I really don't. It just confuses the hell out of me. It's as if she knows how I feel and now she's playing games with me. Still, there is something about her that makes me come back for more instead of just running away like I know I should. Maybe it's just my wishful thinking, but my mind has made the decision to find out. Right now all I can do is follow her lead and hope it doesn't end in my emotional demise. I might have to postpone that payback plan of mine…

It was her complete dislike for me when I first arrived that attracted me to her. Weird, isn't it? She's sexy, no one with eyes can say otherwise. But it was during something as simple as seeing her hug her little girl a few months ago that made me realise that this was more than just a simple attraction.

Yes, I have feelings for Catherine. I wouldn't admit it out loud for anything in the world, but there it is. Really, how can you not fall for a woman who walks into a room and owns it? She knows exactly what effect she has on people, and she's fully aware of how her walk demands the attention of everyone around her.

That's the attraction, the feelings build their roots in how she'd sacrifice everything she is for the little blonde seven-year-old who hangs on her every word. It's the way she pushed herself that extra mile for the young woman who was hurt on our last case, or how her entire being lights up at the thought of something that can get her adrenaline flowing.

Fuck, I've got it bad.

Scratching my neck absentmindedly, I'm aware of how dangerous this path is.

Catherine and I have been working together for a little over three years now. And I can honestly say she's never really liked me. Hell, after Eddie's murder I was sure she hated my guts. Not that I can really blame her for her reactions, he was her husband and the father of her daughter. Closing the case was the hardest thing I can remember doing.

And now? The teasing, the occasional flirting… I can't help wonder if this is another one of her games or if this is her way of telling me that I'm one of the guys. I know it's nothing sexual; women don't come any straighter than Catherine Willows.

I jump at the sound of my beeper going off. Shit, I've been sitting in the break room for twenty minutes without doing anything.

It's Wendy, the test results are in. I must admit, the girl has some serious guts hitting on Catherine like that. No wonder I never really liked her, she's got the courage I lack.

Standing up, I discard the untouched paper cup of coffee I was supposed to be drinking and head towards the labs. Just as I'm about to enter, Catherine walks out waving a paper at me.

"We got a match off the harness thing." She says as she walks past me and I follow her, taking the paper she's offering me. "And I'm driving this time." She tells me and I know better than to argue.

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We arrive at the designated address and we're greeted by a barely clothed brunette in her late twenties. She invites us in and even I can see her eyes lingering on my legs as I make my way into the large one room apartment, closely followed by Catherine. I can't help but find it odd that anyone would be looking at me with my blonde co-worker in the room, but I do notice that Catherine isn't showing any sign of surprise as she starts the interrogation, though I do detect some irritation in her voice as the young woman keeps looking over at me as she replies even if Catherine is asking all the questions.

"What did you say your name was again?" She asks me as she stretches her left leg a little, making the thin negligee she's barely wearing slide up her thigh just a little bit more.

"Sara Sidle." I reply, refusing to take any notice of her blatant flirting. It's like she can see right through us, ignoring the straight blonde and hitting furiously on the one that would actually react… if it wasn't for said blonde. God I'm an idiot. "You were talking about what happened two nights ago?" I lead her back on track and I can hear Catherine huffing as the woman starts answering the question she didn't acknowledge from her. I suspect my co-worker isn't quite used to playing second string like this, usually she's the one in the spotlight and I can't help smirk at the fact that it seems to be getting to her.

"You look so familiar." She tells me at the end of her long statement about her games with our victims.

"I have one of those faces." I brush her off, but she's not that easily discouraged as she cocks her head slightly to one side and surveys me.

"So you didn't see them after that night then?" Thank god for Catherine's impatience. The woman turns to her with something of a surprised expression.

"Huh?" She asks and I can see Catherine's blood start to boil. "Oh, no, I didn't." She answers carelessly before turning back to me.

"You ever been to the Cherry Lounge?" She smirks at me.

"Mind if I take a look around?" Catherine asks her between clenched teeth and I have to bite my lip to keep from saying anything as the woman just waves her off and tells her to help herself.

"Not my scene." I answer her question as she directs her focus back onto me and I pull up a picture of the toy with her blood on it. "We found this at the scene, do you know it?" I ask and notice how her pupils widen just a little and her smirk grows. Out of the corner of my eye I can see Catherine stride off towards the bookshelves. She's still within hearing distance but now she can pretend not to notice.

"Oh yes, Mrs Garret loved that one. I wore it that night as a matter of fact." She muses as she takes the picture from me and is for a brief moment lost in thought. "Maybe I could show you how it works…" She looks up at me with what I think is supposed to be a seductive gaze.

"Sorry, you're not my type." I tell her coldly and snatch the photo back. She looks a little angered for a second, before her eyes find the back of Catherine's frame and my body freezes. She's still close enough to hear us.

"Oh, I see… You and blondie?" She asks and I really don't like the look in her eyes as she speaks.

"No." Is all I say, trying to ignore that saying it out loud actually hurts more than I had thought. "Just one more thing before we go…" I say as I stand up, anxious to get away from her and her questions. "Were you ever in the rest of the house? The kitchen, the bathroom…?"

"The Garret's preferred to keep it in the more… secluded areas of the house, if you catch my drift?" She says, her demeanour still reflecting some flirtation, but not quite as blatantly.

"So none of the rooms with large windows then?" I ask, making note of the glass wall between the kitchen and the garden, as well as the two heavy sliding glass doors in the den.

"That would be correct." She answered. "I'd come and leave through the back door, Mr Garret preferred we keep our time together in the privacy of the back part of the house; bedroom, bathroom, I assume you found the room?" She asks and I know what she's referring to.

"We did." I tell her. "Well, thank you for your time." I continue as I hand her my business card and look over at Catherine who is now standing at the door, looking like she's ready to bolt out of there as soon as I take a step. "We'll be in touch." I offer as I make my way over to the door.

"Please do." I hear her calling after me as we walk out the door and I see Catherine sneering.

"She's lying." I say as soon as we're safely in the car on our way back to the labs.

"Who? Your friend?" She asks me scornfully. I can't believe she's this petty!

"Don't start with me." I warn her in a tired voice. We were getting on so well and I really don't want to start fighting her again.

"Start what? You'd make a cute couple." She says, her eyes fully focused on the road ahead and she leans on the horn a bit too roughly as a car cuts her off.

"You can't stand not being the centre of attention can you?" I ask, turning so I'm facing her in my seat.

"What?!" She looks genuinely shocked at my words as she turns towards me, but then quickly turns back as the car behind us honks. "You can't…" She trails off and now it's my turn to look confused. "Forget it." She mutters through her teeth and I get the distinct feeling I've just missed something. I called her on something and she doesn't take the chance to yell at me? What the hell?

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-mwahahaha-