Vesta Hospital - Psychiatric Wing

Los Angeles, California

"He was found in a private terminal," the police officer explained, "sitting by the bodies."

"And what was he doing with them?" Dr. Devon Woodcomb, the hospital's chief administrator asked.

"Talking to them," the officer said. "Telling them about someone called 'Mistress'."

"Very odd," Devon admitted. A handsome man in his early fifties, one couldn't tell by looking at him. Dr. Woodcomb kept in such fantastic shape, he looked to be nearly twenty years younger.

"No, sir," the officer disagreed. "Very odd was when he ate the spider in the backseat of our patrol car and then asked for seconds." A beat, "And a grape soda."

Devon quirked a brow. Grape soda? Well, that confirmed it. Mr. Morgan Grimes was right at home in his facility.

"Well, Officer, he's in good hands now. If you'll excuse me, tonight I have a date with my daughter."

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The lovely young brunette attendant quivered under the intense gaze. "Ma'am," she stuttered, "I shouldn't divulge that information. Many of our patrons expect a level of privacy."

Sarah loomed over the petite girl. Her sharp blue eyes bored holes into her soul.

"Admirable of you to protect your patron's privacy," Sarah intoned in a sultry, hypnotic voice. "But I really must ask that you make an exception for me."

With long, pale fingers, Sarah brushed the girl's cheek. The touch seemed to enthrall the girl.

"I can take you to Dr. Woodcomb's box," the girl promised earnestly.

With a predatory smile, Sarah said, "That's a good girl."

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In a private box of the Los Angeles opera house, Dr. Woodcomb – dressed in his finest tuxedo - indeed had a date with his daughter, Carina.

The tall, slender brunette wore a gorgeous midnight blue gown as she sat with her father. But they weren't alone on this date, for Carina brought guests. Her fiancé, Chuck Bartowski – likewise donning a tuxedo - and his sister, Ellie, looking ravishing in a shimmering black gown.

Since childhood, the three young people were like the Three Amigos. Best of friends who did everything together. But it was only six months ago that Carina and Chuck finally saw the chemistry that everyone else had for years. They were engaged to be wed in two months.

During the intermission between the first and second acts, Devon turned to his daughter and asked, "Have you found a location yet?"

"Yes!" Carina happily declared. "There's a spot on the beach that would be PERFECT."

Devon mock sighed in disappointment. "I still wish you'd be married in a church."

"C'mon, dad, you know I don't like all that formality. I just want a nice little ceremony, the wind in my hair, sand between my toes..."

"What do you think, Chuck?" Devon asked, a twinkle in his eye.

With a grin at his bride-to-be, Chuck said, "I think whatever she thinks."

Carina returned the smile and patted her love's hand. "That's my good boy."

"I've known you over twenty years," Chuck quipped back. "It didn't take long to figure out when to simply say "Yes Ma'am"." He purposely ignored his sister's amused snort.

"The key to a successful marriage," Devon smiled.

"Sage words," Ellie shyly complimented. Chuck and Carina mentally rolled their eyes. Both were aware of the long-standing crush she held over Devon.

At that moment, a gorgeous blonde woman appeared in their box. Even draped in a long black coat, which she clutched closed with those pale fingers, the woman was a true vision of beauty.

"Excuse me, I hate to intrude…but is this the box of Dr. Devon Woodcomb?" she queried.

Devon was entranced. He rose from his seat and accepted the hand Sarah offered, lightly kissing it. "Indeed it is. I'm Dr. Woodcomb. And who you might be?"

"Sarah. Sarah Walker," she smiled. "I was attending the show this evening and thought I might introduce myself. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all," Devon declared. "Please, allow me to introduce my family. This is my daughter, Carina. Her fiancé, Chuck and his sister, Ellie."

"Charmed," Sarah assured them. Her eyes flittered between the three youngest members of the group. When her vision crossed Ellie, she noticed how the attractive brunette seemed to blush under the attention. But then, with good grace, she turned her focus back upon Devon.

"My company has recently purchased the land next to your facility," Sarah explained. "We'll begin development of it shortly. So, in a sense, we're neighbors."

"Excellent! It's always a pleasure to welcome new people to the neighborhood."

"There's another matter I wish to discuss," Sarah stated seriously. "One of a personal nature. It seems that one of my assistants has recently checked into your care. Morgan Grimes?"

"Oh yes!" Devon said. "A terrible case, I'm afraid. Your Mr. Grimes is a very troubled young man."

"Yes," Sarah sympathetically agreed. "I'm not sure what's gotten into him. He was fine one moment, and the next…well, I'm sure you've seen."

"Hmm," Devon hummed. "It was a drastic change of state, you say? That could be vital bit of information. Will you excuse me while I call the hospital?" Devon was already producing his cell phone and exiting the balcony.

As Devon left, Sarah turned to the others, her eyes lingering a moment longer on Ellie. "I bid you all good evening. Enjoy the rest of the performance."

Very quietly and smoothly, she left. Carina turned to her fiancé to find him practically gaping after their departed guest. With nothing but amusement, she whispered to him, "You can pick up your jaw now."

Chuck's mouth shut with an audible 'pop'. He sheepishly smiled in return.

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In the apartment the Bartowski siblings shared, Ellie lounged in her bedroom, talking on the telephone with Carina.

"That's just wrong," she insisted to her best friend.

"Please. How is it wrong? I'm just vocalizing the naughty thoughts you've harbored for my father since you were fourteen," Carina teased back.

"Stop it," Ellie lamely retorted.

"I'm not saying it wouldn't be weird if you acted upon those desires," Carina continued. "After all, he is my father, and you're my best friend. I'm just saying if you want to have hot monkey sex with him, I won't fault you."

"Carina!"

"Hey, I want him to be happy. And what could make a man in his early 50s happier than having a fling with a hottie half his age?"

"You're deplorable."

"That's right. Insult the woman who's giving you permission to sleep with your long-time crush."

Ellie paused as she pushed open her window. "Are you…you really wouldn't mind?"

"If you dated my father? Go for it. Just don't expect me to call you 'mom' if all goes well."

"Good night," Ellie said, the conversation becoming too much.

Putting the phone back into its cradle, Ellie went about getting ready for bed. She slipped out of her opera dress and donned her standard sleep garb – a gray tank top and men's boxers. She turned down the covers and slipped into bed before reaching over to grab her iPod off the nightstand, hoping a little music might distract her from her thoughts.

"Meow."

Before she could slip an earbud in, she heard the pitiful sound. Sitting on her windowsill was a black cat, its soft fur glistening in the moonlight.

"Well hello kitty," Ellie smiled. The cat meowed again. "Won't you come in?" she called to the cat.

Gracefully and silently, the cat hopped down to the floor and up onto her bed in a single leap. The creature walked right up to Ellie and crawled into her arms. Charmed, Ellie stroked and scratched the cat's back as it purred contently.

"Where'd you come from?" Ellie asked. "You don't have a collar." The cat meowed and rooted its head into the crook of her arm. "You're a nice girl, aren't you? It's gonna be a cool night. You wanna stay here?" The cat again meowed in reply. "Well, you're welcome to. It'd be a nice change of pace not to sleep alone."

The cat crawled from Ellie's arms and moved to the foot of the bed. There it scratched at the comforter, getting it ready. It then flopped over onto its side, staring up at Ellie with bright green eyes and flicking its tail idly.

Ellie rearranged her pillow just so, then reached over and flicked off the bedside lamp. She then lay down and went to sleep…

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Ellie was startled from her slumber by a gust of wind rattling the windows. She watched in confusion as a mysterious fog rolled in, threatening to overwhelm the room.

Before she slid from the bed, she noticed the cat was nowhere to be found. "Kitty?" she called. When the cat didn't appear, she murmured disappointedly, "They never stay till morning."

She went to the window and quickly closed and locked it. As she stared out the glass into the courtyard, she saw a shadow – a very large shadow – hurriedly cross her line of sight. Or did she? It was so quick…

"Ellie…"

She leaned into the touch as a hand cupped her cheek from behind. Turning slowly, she found herself staring into the most beautiful blue eyes.

"I know you," Ellie whispered.

"Of course you do," Sarah answered.

The blonde stood before her, looking radiant in a shimmering and form fitting black gown. The woman reached out and gently stroked Ellie's cheek. The brunette continued to lightly lean into the touch.

"What are you doing here?" Ellie asked.

"You were lonely, so I came."

Ellie saddened, the blonde's words ringing true. But Sarah would have none of it.

"Do not cry, dear one," she cooed. "I will visit you often. Every night, if you wish."

Ellie smiled softly. "I'd like that," she said.

With a fond sigh, Sarah told her, "Then so it shall be."

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…Ellie awoke shortly past ten am, nearly two hours past the time she usually allowed herself to sleep in on weekends.

But even after ten hours of sleep, Ellie felt fatigued and drained of energy. She was slightly pale, as if she was coming down with an illness.

A little black form leapt upon the bed, startling her. The cat situated itself in Ellie's lap and nuzzled its head against her cheek. "Good morning," Ellie said. "Sleep well?" The cat meowed. "That makes one of us. Because I had the strangest dream…"

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"Really? Because I was thinking we could hit Europe. London, Paris, Berlin, then maybe down to Rome," Chuck said.

"Europe in the wintertime?" Carina questioned. "I was hoping more for the Caribbean. Maybe even Australia or Southeast Asia. Someplace warm and steamy." With a sexy smirk, she added, "Someplace I can show off this tremendous bikini body."

Chuck returned the smirk. "Well, it's not like we'll actually see any sights. I don't plan on leaving our hotel room. So the only person who's gonna see that tremendous bikini body is me."

"Pfft!" Carina snorted. She looked across the bar table to Ellie. Their brunette companion seemed in her own little world, far away from the din and revelry of their present location. "Can you believe your brother? Treats me like a piece of meat or his personal plaything." Turning back to Chuck, she said, "Feel lucky that I'm into that sort of stuff, or else I'd pop you one."

"Oh, for God's sake," Ellie finally snapped. "Must everything between you two be about sex?"

Best friend and brother blinked. "Sorry, sis," Chuck apologized. "We're just playing around."

Contrite, Ellie immediately offered, "No, I'm sorry. It's just…lonely always being the third wheel."

Carina immediately reached across the table and took Ellie's hands. "Oh, sweetie, you're not the third wheel." A mischievous expression crossed her face. "Though, when I think about it…"

"Eew!" the siblings cried out simultaneously, well aware where Carina's lurid thoughts were taking her.

"On that note," Ellie said, pushing up from the table and gathering her jacket, "I'm going home and to bed."

"Aw," Carina pouted. "Stay a while. We'll do that whole 'girl dance' thing that turns all the boys to jelly."

"Maybe next week," Ellie promised. "See ya, sis-to-be. Bye, bro."

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"Hey kitty," Ellie greeted, opening her bedroom window. The black cat hopped through and bounded onto the bed. "You keep coming around, I'm gonna start charging nightly."

The kitty curled up on 'its' side of the queen bed and watched as Ellie turned down the covers on the other. Soon as Ellie slipped in and settled down, the kitty flopped next to her, pressed against Ellie's leg.

"See ya in the morning, kitty."

Kitty meowed.

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"Ellie…"

Ellie sat upright and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "Sarah!" she smiled. "You came!"

"I told you I would," Sarah reminded.

The beautiful blonde sat perched beside Ellie on the bed. Once more dressed in a shimmering black gown, she reached out and caressed Ellie's cheek. "Did you miss me?"

"Very much," Ellie said. "It's nice to have a friend of my own."

"I can be your friend forever," Sarah insisted. "If you want me to be."

"That'd be nice," Ellie smiled.

Sarah brushed aside Ellie's hair. "Yes, it would, wouldn't it?"

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"Ellie!" Chuck screamed. "Ellie! Please, God, wake up!"

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Carina paced the room, talking on her cell phone. "Mom," she interrupted, "the wedding's postponed until further notice." There was a frustrating pause. "Mom, my fiancé's sister just died, the wedding's postponed until further notice."

Without further argument, Carina shut off the phone and tossed it aside. She joined Chuck on the couch and wrapped her arms around him. "Sweetie, is there…can I do anything?"

Chuck said nothing. He simply adjusted in his seat and lay down in Carina's lap. She softly stroked his hair until he fell into fitful sleep.