Hey guys. Here's the newest chapter from me. I'm trying really hard to get back into writing. Hope ya'll enjoy it :)
About an hour later the fair was beginning to wind down and the group wandered slowly towards the exit, Greg leading the way munching on bright blue cotton candy and carrying an oversized stuffed Piglet on his shoulders; Catherine had won it for him on a darts stall when his whining and pouting over losing all night had become unbearable.
Just as they approached the gate Greg stopped dead causing Sara and Nick to crash into him and sending Piglet flying to the ground.
"What the hell dude?" Nick exclaimed, rubbing his elbow. His friend pointed to the Afterburner ride which had just come to a stop, the operator announcing the last ride of the night.
Quick as lightening he dashed over to Catherine, jumping around her as he spoke.
"We have to go on that ride Cath, please? Can we can we can we?"
"Greg I'm not a pole, stop dancing around me," the strawberry blonde answered wearily; his motions were gradually making her feel dizzy. "And if you want to go on the damn ride go, I won't stop you."
"But I want us all to go on it! It's the last ride of the night!" He pouted and his supervisor rolled her eyes.
"Dear God! You pout more than Lindsey did when she was seven! You have zero chance of getting me on that death trap so don't even try."
With a final pout for good measure Greg ran off to persuade the rest of their friends to join him on the ride.
"And here I thought my days of looking after a toddler ended years ago," Catherine muttered and Lou laughed. "You not joining the hyperactive puppy and company on 'the last ride of the night'?" she mocked and the handsome detective grinned. "Go, I'll stay right here with Piglet," the redhead picked up the discarded prize and settled it on the bench behind her once Lou had stolen a kiss and jogged over to the team.
"So Cath, you had a good night?" Nick asked, seemingly appearing from nowhere.
"God Nick are you trying to give me a heart attack?"
The Texan laughed. "Sorry Boss Lady, didn't mean to scare you."
"You not going on the ride?" Her eyebrow rose. "Greg will tease you mercilessly if you bail on this one, you know that right?"
"Oh I'm going on it alright." A wide grin spread across his face.
Before Catherine could question him further she felt two pairs of hands grab an arm and a leg each and hoist her into the air then move in the direction of the ride.
"What the hell? Nick, Greg put me down right now before I kick both your asses," she shouted, kicking her legs to try and break free of their hold. The two men merely grinned up at her.
"The mountain won't go to Mohammad, we must bring Mohammad to the mountain," Greg stated with a nod.
"You should get a second ass kicking just for mangling that quote now put me down!"
Her struggling intensified the closer they got to the ride. "What are you going to do? March past the attendant with me like this and forcibly strap me into a seat?"
"That was the plan," Nick replied with a grunt. "Jeeze, stop wiggling! It's like trying to hold on to a snake."
"I'll stop wiggling if you let me go," she shot back, twisting as much as she could to try and break from their combined grip.
Seconds later both Nick and Greg gave a shout of protest and simultaneously released Catherine, causing her to pitch forward in mid-air and let out a shriek as she squeezed her eyes shut and braced herself for impact with the dirt. The impact never came however; she seemed to just halt in the air then she felt herself being moved backwards. She slowly opened her eyes and a relieved smile spread across her face as she realised she was slung over Lou's shoulder and being carried away from the death trap and towards the safety of the bench.
"Thanks," she said, once she was right side up again and sitting next to Piglet.
"Not a problem. I had a little help," Lou replied, cocking his head in the direction of a grinning Sara and a rather smug looking Hodges.
"Damn it, we were so close to getting her on the ride!" Greg whined then yelped as the brunette cuffed him round the back of the head.
"Now all you two have ended up with is a month worth of crappy cases," Catherine called back, grinning at the dual groans that escaped them. Lou stole another kiss then headed back to the group, just in time to climb onto the ride and take a seat between Ray and Sara on the opposite side to Nick and Greg.
Catherine couldn't help but laugh at the expression on Hodges' face as the ride started to spin in place, at the same time as the long arm began to swing. What started out as an almost gentle motion soon ended up as a huge swing which left the circle of seats and its occupants hanging upside down in mid-air for what probably felt like a lifetime for those on the ride, but was in actuality only a few seconds before the ride swung back down again. Each motion of the long mechanical arm gradually began to reduce in size until it came to a complete stop and the safety harnesses were released.
As her group of friends and colleagues disembarked and made their way towards her, Catherine couldn't help the bubble of laughter that escaped; she was more grateful than ever to Lou, Sara and Hodges for saving her from the ordeal they'd just endured. The latter had currently stopped and was leaning over a trash can emptying his stomach; Sara's hair was practically sticking up on end, making her look like she'd just stuck her fingers in a plug socket. Greg and Nick were clinging to each other for support and swaying dangerously, even Ray looked a little unsteady on his feet.
Brass and Lou were the only ones who appeared unaffected; neither was exhibiting any balance deterioration nor green and pale looking skin.
"I owe you big time Lou," Catherine addressed him once he'd reached the bench. "That looked like hell on earth."
Lou chuckled and dropped to sit next to her, squeezing her jean clad thigh as he leant in close. "Trust me, I fully intend to collect once I get you home."
"I'm gonna be sick," Greg wailed and lurched forward out of Nick's grasp, vomiting into the dirt in front of the couple.
"Really glad he didn't do that on the ride," Lou remarked while Sara rubbed Greg's back, fighting to tamp down her own rising nausea.
"I'm good," the former lab rat announced once the heaving had subsided.
"So you say, but no more cotton candy for you," Catherine stated as she picked up the bag that had been discarded with Piglet and deposited it into the trash, despite Greg's half hearted protests.
"So now what?" Brass queried as the group made their way out of the fairground.
"We party!"
All eyes turned to Greg who, in spite of retaining a pale green tinge seemed to still have possession of his boyish enthusiasm.
"The night is still young guys and gals! I propose we head back to my place where there are copious amounts of alcohol and all the ingredients for a good time."
Everyone exchanged glances then shrugged before following Greg, apart from Lou who found his arm in the grip of Catherine's hand.
"Are we really going to join them? Wouldn't you rather just go home?"
"Come on baby it'll be fun. We'll stay for an hour or so and then head home so I can collect what you owe me." He winked then pulled her from the bench and guided her in the direction of the parking lot.
"Famous last words," she mumbles as she climbed into the passenger seat of Lou's car and they drove off in the direction of Greg's house.
Hope ya'll liked it :)
Lily
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