Rhiannon's flat

[mystic]

Well, Rhia's flat is small in size, but cosy and welcoming. It is situated in a block. The green apartment door has the number 16 in golden numbers on it. She thinks it looks a bit kitschy, but she still hasn't changed it. But she is happy to have found such a place in this big city, where she actually felt at home.

There is a place for shoes when you come in and some crooks for jackets and coats. Following the narrow hallway you reach the living room. To the left you find a tiny kitchen, with refrigerator and - for god's sake - a dishwascher.

Next to the kitchen you can find the dining room, where a wooden table with four chairs is standing. The room is very bright and there are many plants in it.

A door to the left leads into the living room. A big red sofa matching the curtains is placed here in front of a TV. There's also a red carpet with golden patterns. You can also find a desk with a laptop in there, which is actually Rhia's workplace. There are also shelves full of books, because she loves to read.

On the other side of the hallway, thus the right side , you can find the bedroom and the bathroom. First, there is a small room for the toilet, which is kept in red and yellow, as is the bathroom next to it. There are flagstones on the floor and the walls. You can find a shower in one corner, a small drawer and a basin in there.

In Rhia's bedroom there is a large bed. The room is kept in a blue tone (curtains, carpets, walls...) having a soothing effect.

[mystic]

Rhia was sitting on the sofa burrying her head in the hands. It has been her first day here in New York and everything which could have possibly go wrong went wrong. She overslept, was late and disturbed her boss in a very important interview.

And now, Sophie was lying in a hospital bed plugged to machines that kept her alive. It had been a car accident. Some stupid drunk ignored a red light... but the docs said she would get through, although she was in coma right now.

Rhia sighed. Sophie was her only friend, more like a sister to her. They knew each other since they were children and both of the girls have chosen to become the arm of the law...only that Sophie had studied law itself to judge over criminals. And now...she only was a ghost of herself.

Fighting back the tears, Rhia took a deep breath. The next day everything would be better...she even smiled, when she remembered Sophie's smile. But then the though of lonliness crossed her mind and she shivered. But then again a slight smile spread on her face. She didn't know her colleagues well yet...but she had a feeling she could trust them. And with that comforting thought she finally fell asleep...

[mystic]

Rhia came home after a long, long day. It seemed to her that she hadn't been home for ages... but it had only been...what? two days...where they had feared for Brian's life.

Shaking away all those horrible thoughts she put her handbag on the sofa and went to the bathroom. She undressed slowly, still lost in thoughts. When the warm water ran across her skin she finally started to relax. She hadn't slept for ages. Fear, rage, hope had kept her awake. But everything had turned out fine - more or less. Brian was lacking a finger...and he had been brutally cruciated. Rhia felt her fingers bale into a fist. But they had caught them, put them into prison for the rest of their lifes.

She closed her eyes feeling the lack of sleep creeping in on her. Finally, she got out of the shower, put on her bath robe and went in her room. Lying down on her bed her mind drifted off again. She saw Brian being put away by paramedics looking at Sam at her gratefully, even trying to smile. She recalled the hours of uncertainity, where he was in surgeon. And she remembered the relieve when they heard he'd done it and they would be allowed to see him soon. Now he was probably sleeping. Crawling under the bedspread Rhia called the picture of him in her mind and finally fell asleep...

[mystic]

It was another shift's end. Tired Rhia lay on her bed trying to follow some stupid series on TV. The last days had been terrible - and she meant really terrible. This mass murder scene wouldn't leave her head - it kept haunting her in her dreams. And the baby she had held...lost her mother, because some madman wanted to proof himself. She told herself not to think about this case anymore, the paperwork still wasn't done and soon a week was finished.

Rhia stood up to make some hot chocolate. She turned off the TV and went into the kitchen, where she took some soymilk, filled her cup and put it into the microwave. Suddenly her phone rang. It was Brian. A smile spread on her lips when she hurried to answer it.

"Hey Brian, how're you?", she asked merrily. Carefully she listened to his words, her look becoming more disbelieving the longer he was talking.

"Are you sure?"

[briguy4588]

"I'd say you have about three seconds to talk me out of it before I make up my mind," Brian replied. "All I'd really have to do is take some aptitude tests for the department, such as shooting and running and all that police jazz, which I'm sure I can do, and when that's taken care of, all I need is a certain someone's signature!"

[mystic]

Rhia sighed. "I won't talk you out of anything, Brian. It's your decision. But you're a great CSI and you know it... Is there any particular reason you won't be a CSI anymore, if I may ask? You don't seem to sound like someone who has just decided to take a change. ", Rhia returned.

He had sounded firmly and resolute. She knew it was no use trying to talk him out of this. The microwave beeped and she put the hot milk out of it to pour some cacao powder into it. She stirred and slowlsy started sipping her hot chocolate, trying not to make any strange sounds through the phone.

[briguy4588]

"Ah... well," Brian fumbled for the right words, not wanting to go into too much detail. "Let's just say I think I can better benefit the team if I work as a detective. I can still apply my CSI skills to that job!"

[mystic]

Rhia let out a sigh. "I will miss you in the field...", she simply stated, but still she was smiling. "Well, do you already have a date for the test?"

[briguy4588]

"Hey, I'll still be out there working with you guys! I'll make sure of it. And, why, yes, my tests start tomorrow morning."

Brian could picture her smiling and rolling her eyes.

[mystic]

"Wow...tomorrow already...", there was a short pause, before Rhia continued to speak. "I'll keep my fingers crossed. You're gonna lemme know how you did, then, aren't you?", she laughed.

Still, she couldn't quite believe the whole situation. But...that was life.

[briguy4588]

"Of course I'll let you know. Hey, word on the street is there's a new psychologist in town. I'm sure the lab will be fine without me, right?"

[mystic]

"Sure...maybe it's better this way...", Rhia was thinking about the Christmas Party.

"Yeah, there'll be a new psychologist. Her name's...", it took her some time until she remembered her name. "Lily Heart."