Wednesday

Only a few more steps and she was there. She could do it. Almost there. Closer, closer, closer and…"Arrived." Sofia fell on her knees and tried to catch some air. The run around the main island was more difficult than she had believed. Her legs were sore from the run yesterday and Marcus didn't allow her to cut back some speed.

"I wonder what you did last night that you're so tired today." Marcus leant against the bar and sent an amused smile down to Sofia.

"I slept."

"With whom?"

"Alone! And even if I wasn't alone it's none of your business."

"Bitchy."

"Bite me!"

"I'd love to sink my teeth in various areas of your body Sofia but we shouldn't do that here at the bar. Maybe we need to get back to your island."

"In your dreams. I've a breakfast date."

"Do you expect me to sit next to you in the sand or will you sit with me here at the bar?" Sara asked smiling.

"Hand please."

Sara offered Sofia her hand and pulled her up. "Better?"

"Yes. He shooed me around the island, not bearing in mind that as a diving instructor I don't run that much."

"We'll change that. From now on we'll have every morning a run. I get you fit and in a better shape."

"She's in great shape." Sara defended Sofia.

"Thanks Sara. Rhys, can I have a huge coffee and some bagels? I need a real breakfast today. Peanut butter and jelly on the bagels."

"I need to shoo you around the island two times more if you eat that."

"No! I'm not a model I can eat and nobody cares when there's a little bit of fat on my hips."

"Fat isn't sexy. Don't you want to be a sexy dive instructor?"

"Don't listen to him, Sofia, you're sexy. A little bit of fat won't change that. Besides you're so skinny you can eat a dozen bagels with peanut butter and jelly today and still look skinny and sexy. Just because models panic when they hear fat it's no reason not to enjoy your well earned breakfast. Plus you have to quit chocolate when you want to avoid fat."

Marcus gave Sara a look over. "Want to join us on our runs?"

"Oh I'd love to run with you but unfortunately I've better things to do. I need to paint my nails or brush my hair. And book a flight to Vegas."

"What?" Sofia almost choked on her bagel. That had to be a joke. A flight to Vegas? Did she miss something. Why needed Sara to go back to Vegas? There was no reason for her to go there. Her future was here on Magical Beach, this was her new work place, her new home. Not Vegas. Not….Grissom!

"I've some of my things still in Vegas and when I start working here I want them here. I'll fly over to get them and take the chance to say hello to a few people."

"When?"

"I thought about Monday and Tuesday."

"No!"

"Why not?"

"Because…okay, your decision."

"You want me here?"

"It's her birthday Beauty, you know that." Rhys answered for Sofia. "You can't leave her for her alone when it's her birthday."

"She won't be alone, I'm here and I'll take good care of her." Marcus grinned.

"Sorry man I know you want her but my Golden Treasure wants Beauty around."

"According to all newspapers and magazines I'm beautiful. Very beautiful and handsome."

"Paper is very patient." Sara mumbled what makes Rhys smile. "Do you want me to go to Vegas later, Sofia?"

"If these days are convenient for you I'll celebrate without you."

"They are. But your birthday is more important. I want to throw a cake in your face."

"Chocolate?"

"Yes."

"Nice idea." Sofia chuckled. "You can do that in Vegas too"

"No I can't when you're here."

"Why don't you ask me if me if I want to join you?"

"Do you? I mean it's only a trip for two days. I'd fly Sunday night and be back here on Tuesday."

"Fits perfectly in my two days off schedule."

"Okay if you want to spend your birthday in Vegas I'll book a flight for you too."

"Thanks."

"You leave me alone?" Marcus asked not happily.

"Sorry I can't let her go shopping without me. And I should see my parents again."

"Why not later?"

"Because after these two days off I won't have two days off in a row for a long time. It's the best chance. Sorry Marcus."

"Yeah, I'm sorry too." He left his half full cup of tea and walked away.

Rhys put the tea away, wiped the bar. "I think somebody is mad."

"Yes." Sofia sighed.

"Somebody's ego is crying right now." Sara bit on her lips not too laugh. Her point. "I wonder if you need to run tomorrow morning Sofia or if you can sleep in."

"He won't miss a chance to change her mind." Rhys got a little packet in front of Sofia.

"Ohhhhh chocolate spread! Where did you get this from?"

"Voodoo priest secret. Do you want it or has it too much fat?"

"Screw the fat I want it!"

"There's no fat on your body." Sara let her hand run over Sofia's side. "Only muscles."

"There's some fat but only a tiny little bit. And when you turn twenty-one you're allowed to have some fat. Is it okay for you that I come with you to Vegas?"

"Of course. I prefer to fly with you than alone."

"If you want I can ask my parents if they have a room for us."

"You can take the room I take a casino hotel room. Nothing against your family but that's too much family for me."

"You're probably right…my mom will try to change my mind about my job again and if she hears that you change from a real job to a teenager job too she'll shoot us both. I want a casino hotel room too."

"Why don't you share a room? You do that the whole time anyway." Rhys grinned.

"Not true. I slept alone last night. Like I said. Sara was in her bungalow and I was in mine. I don't say I didn't miss her but I was alone."

"I miss your hammock why don't you invite me over for tonight?"

"Maybe. Depends on how you behave this afternoon when we dive."

"Didn't I always listen to my instructor?"

"So far, yes. Talking about diving instructor. I need to get ready for work. Hopefully my model isn't that mad anymore we'll spend the next four hours together."

"He'll try to boost his ego."

"A strong ego needs to be taken care of. I know that, mine isn't different. Thanks for the breakfast Rhys. Sara, three o'clock at the dock of the other side of the island."

"I'll be there and on time."

"Good. Don't put a werewolf case on me."

"What? Are you serious?" Sara rolled her eyes. "That was years ago and I didn't see…"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, safe us the excuses. Book our flights and hotel room and you're forgiven. For today. Later cuties!"

"Enjoy your day Golden Treasure."

"Bitch." Sara grumbled. She never let Sofia wait on purpose. What did she have to do to make the blonde believe? And why did she remember this case after all those years?

"Why do you smile like that, Rhys?"

"Because you are jealous."

"What?"

"You are jealous. You don't like the fact that Marcus hits on our Golden Treasure."

"He doesn't deserve her."

"Do you deserve her?"

"I never said I want her."

"Do you want to see her with somebody else?"

"I don't want him for her. She deserves better."

"Does she deserve you?"

"No."

"Not?"

"No, she deserves better."

"What's wrong with you?"

"I…why are we talking about this thing? It doesn't matter because Sofia and me are friends and I don't want this Mister Universe for her because she needs somebody with a brain. He sees only her body, wants her because she looks good. And makes a tragedy out of a little bit of body fat. Do you want him for her?"

"No."

"See. Are you jealous too? Do you want her?"

"No I'm not the one she meant for."

"People aren't meant for somebody else."

"You don't believe there's the perfect one for everybody?"

"No. I think there are a few people who can make you happy. But with billions of people on this planet it seems like there's only one. We change all the time why stay with the same person when you find out it doesn't fit anymore? Maybe there is somebody who makes you happy for twenty years but after that you meet somebody else who makes you happy. The new one wasn't the right person the first twenty years but is it now."

"You don't want to get married with somebody for the rest of your life?"

"I want to spend my life with somebody as long as it makes us both happy. Maybe it's only for a year, for thirty or even the rest of my life. What is important is that both are happy the way it is."

"The way it looks to me you make Sofia happy."

"That's…what she says." Sara swallowed. It was easier to talk about love and relationships in general. When it became personal it was something else.

"You don't look too sad yourself when she's with you."

"I like…her. She's very important to me and…shit." Sara buried her face in her hands.

"Sara." Rhys was next to her and pulled her in his arms. Immediately there was a lot of heat in her body and she felt… held. "It's all right."

"She confuses me. I confuse myself. Rhys, I…I don't know what's right or wrong."

"What makes you happy is right."

"And if it's not supposed to make me feel happy?"

"Then you live in a world of beliefs that are not yours. What-ever makes you happy whatever feels right for you is right for you. It doesn't matter what makes somebody else happy or is right for somebody else. It's your life so the only one who matters are you."

"I don't know anything anymore."

"Come on." Rhys got his arm around her waist. "We take a little walk."

"Don't you have to work?"

"I'm sure my boss will appreciate it when I take a break. Lets have a little walk." He pulled her with him away from the bar and towards the beach. Time to give Sara the chance to calm down again.

"Where's your friend, Sofia?"

"I don't know." Sofia checked her watch again. Almost three. Sara should be here by now. Sofia checked her diving gear again.

"If she won't be on time we'll go without her." The expert said.

"I'm sure she will be…there she is."

Sara jumped down the little stone stairs. She wore her wet suit, had her fins and mask under her arms. "Sorry, am I late?"

"Just in time." Sofia handed her the diving gear.

"Thanks."

"Okay so we can start. Andrew and Mister Flinders are one team, Sara and me the second. The two of you lead, we follow. Sara?"

"I'll stay by your side, no solo tour, pay attention to your sign and won't argue when you tell me something."

"Good." Sofia squeezed Sara's hand for a short moment. "I'll keep an eye on you."

"And I keep one on you."