When I woke up this morning, the first thought that came to my head was, 'Oh, no. It's springtime.' I inhaled deeply. A cool breeze was blowing in through my open window and as I inhaled, I decided the weather wasn't going to affect me. No allergy medicine this morning.
I got up and pulled on a pair of tan khakis and a bright pink-and-cream striped tank top and sweater. Then I fixed my hair in a big loopy ponytail and lined my face with tendrils. After my makeup was done, I was ready for work. I grabbed my gun and I.D., and headed for the Palm Beach Police Department.
Once I was there, I met up with my partner Tom Ryan. He explained that we were first up for a stakeout for a robber. So we got in the car and drove to the robber's house. We were supposed to monitor to see if anyone came to or left the house.
I decided it was too hot in the car and opened the window. A familiar, unfriendly scent wafted in through the window and began to make my eyes tear.
"Oh, man…" I couldn't hold it in.
"What'sa matter, Cass?" Tom asked, looking around.
"It's…I've…uh, ACHOO!" I let loose with a groundbreaking sneeze.
Tom jumped and began to laugh. "Allergies, huh?"
I opened my mouth to answer but sneezed again instead. He kept laughing at me.
I punched him. "Be quiet!" I snapped playfully.
* * * * *
Later that night, when I was home, I took my allergy medicine and fell asleep.
* * * * *
"Cass!"
"Hmph…" I mumbled.
"Cass, wake up!"
"No…." My head, which was resting upright in my hand, suddenly slipped. It hit the desk hard. "Ow," I groaned. I slowly pried my eyes open and lifted my head up.
Tom was standing there, leaning on my desk. "Are you okay?" he asked, holding back his laughs.
"Where am I?" I asked, seriously discombobulated.
"You're at work, Cass. Palm Beach PD."
"Ugh…I'm so tired."
"Listen, uh, things are a little slow here, Cass, so why don't you go on home and try to sleep some?"
I nodded sleepily. "That sounds good."
So I went home and didn't sleep a wink.
* * * * *
The phone was jangling on my ear. Without opening my eyes, I picked up the phone and promptly said, "Hullk."
"Cass?"
I cleared the frog out of my throat. "I am going to kill you, Ryan." I glanced at the clock. 2:30 a.m.
"Come on, Cass. We've got stakeout duty. I'll pick you up in twenty minutes." *Click*.
I hung up the phone and moaned. "Man! I *just* fell asleep!"
* * *
As soon as we were parked outside the house, Tom turned off the engine.
"You alive?" he asked, looking at me.
I didn't respond. Instead, I scooted over next to him on the seat. I grabbed his right arm and propped it up on the back of my seat.
"Since you woke me up, I didn't get to sleep at home, so I'm sleepin' here." I snuggled up against his shoulder and closed my eyes.
I could tell he wanted to laugh at me, but he didn't. He just let me curl up on him and rested his chin on my head.
* * *
"Aw, Cass! You drooled all over my shirt!"
I sat up. "What?!" I said, wiping my mouth. It was true. I *had* drooled on him!
"Oh, Tom, I'm sorry!"
"Yeah, yeah." He began wiping at the stain on his shirt.
Suddenly I looked out the window. "Tom!"
"Get out of the car, lady!" The robber whose house we were monitoring was pointing a gun at the side of Tom's head. "Get out now."
"All right, all right," I said in a soothing tone, not making any jerky movements. "I'm coming." I slowly opened the car door and stepped out.
"Come over to me," the robber demanded, keeping his gun pointed at Tom. I walked over to him.
"Good," he said, grinning wickedly. He pulled the trigger and shot Tom in the head.
"NO!" I screamed.
The robber turned to me and punched me out. When I recovered, he was gone.
"Tom…"I struggled to get up off the ground. "Tom…can you hear me? Tom, are you alive?" I stood up and wrenched the car door open.
There was Tom, lying on the seat, bleeding. I rushed over to the other side of the car and climbed in.
"Tom!" I felt for a pulse. "Tom, no!" I cradled his head in my arms.
* * *
>GASP<
I sat up with a start.
"Cass?"
I turned to Tom. "Did I drool on you?" I asked, panicked. I put a hand up to my mouth.
Tom gave me a curious look. "No. What's the matter?"
I breathed a sigh of relief. "How long was I asleep?"
"Um, about a minute. Maybe a little more. Why?"
I slammed my fist against the dashboard. "Damn! I'll *never* get to sleep!!"
"What happened?"
"Oh, I just had some weird dream, that's all," I said, disappointed. "Man."
Tom was looking at me like I was crazy. "How about I take you home and finish the stakeout myself? You really seem like you need some sleep."
I waved it off.
"I'm taking you home." Tom started the car.
* * *
Tom opened my front door and led me inside. It was dark and I was getting really sleepy again.
Tom helped me into bed and covered me up. He was about to leave when I reached up and grabbed his hand.
"Will you stay with me?" I asked him. "Just until I fall asleep?"
"Sure, Cass," he replied. "Yeah, I'll stay." He pulled a chair up to my bed and sat down. He took my hand again and stroked my hair. I fell asleep to the sound of both of us breathing.
* * * * *
I woke up and glanced at my clock. 8 a.m.
"Yes!" I shouted, stretching. "Yeah!" I leaped out of bed and flung open my curtains. It was a bright and sunny day. I pulled the window up to open it. There was a warm breeze blowing. I inhaled deeply. Nothing happened. No allergies today!!
I dressed and skipped into work. "Morning!" I sang to anyone who passed. "Morning!"
"Morning yourself," Tom said when I met up with him. "Aren't we happy and chipper today?"
"Yes!" I said, grinning. "I feel great! Thanks so much, Tom. Last night was the only night in a *while* that I've slept through!"
"Glad I could help, Cass. But I *do* have one question for you."
"What?"
"What was it that made you so sleepy?"
"Oh, it was my allergy medicine!!"
The End
Note to readers: This story is actually a dream I once had when I first started watching Silk Stalkings.