"Yeah, I just ran into the hamper, that's all," came the reply. Laura turned her attention back to the paper before her. This just doesn't make sense. The whole family is there so why would Bobbi notice Julie and not pay most of her attention to Julie's father? The one that makes all the money? It's not like Julie looks ravishing all disheveled and covered with dirt. Laura struggled with the problem until she heard a gentle knock on her door. "Come in."

The door opened and Crystal poked her head inside. "It sounded like you were still up."

"I am." Laura motioned at the monitor. "I'm just working on my story but it doesn't seem to be cooperating tonight."

"It's your story. You don't know what happens next?" Crystal stepped inside and looked at the screen. "I don't see anything but a green screen."

"I minimized it." Laura reached out and clicked on the mouse. The screen filled with text. "I just had Bobbi rescue the furniture baron and his family from the arsonist who tried to blow them up in a warehouse fire. Now Bobbi meets the baron's daughter Julie for the first time and I can't figure out how or why she'd run into her again."

"And you're trying to put the two women together?"

"Well it is a lesbian novel, Crystal," Laura said, a smile forming on her lips. "The i.e.is that Bobbi and Julie become lovers and live happily ever after. Of course they have to go through all sorts of challenges and trials before that happens. But nothing's going to happen if I can't figure out what to do next." She leaned back, giving Crystal more room to look at the words on the screen. "See right now Julie's father is going to thank Bobbi for rescuing them and then the police are going to arrive. I can't figure out how to get her and Julie to talk to each other or even what they would talk about."

"Maybe Bobbi, that's the one that's the hero, right?"

"Yeah, she's the private investigator who gets there just in the nick of time to save them from the bomb. Here, you can sit on the cabinet if you want." Laura pointed at the small two drawer file cabinet next to the desk. Crystal took the suggestion, resting her back against the wall. The blonde hair hung limply against her head, her shirt and pants rumpled from sleep. Laura noticed the bright red polish adorning the bare toes. The chipped surface led Laura to believe that Crystal had not bothered to paint them since the last time she worked at the Tom Cat Club. With a start Laura realized she had missed what Crystal said. "I'm sorry, what?"

"You said Bobbi just rescued them from a fire, right?"

"Right, arsonist sets warehouse full of flammable chemicals on fire with the family trapped inside."

"So what if whatever her name is got burned and had to go to the hospital? Then Bobbi can go visit her."

"Well I don't think I want to disfigure one of my main characters. Doesn't exactly make for the best visual images for the readers."

"You don't have to disfigure her, just give her a small burn, like on her arm or something," Crystal picked up a spongy ball from the desk and squeezed it. "What's this?"

"A stress ball," Laura replied. Looking down at her neatly written notes, she nodded. "I suppose I could put a mild burn in there. It's between semesters so it's not like Julie would have to worry about carrying books or anything. I could have her go visit Bobbi's office to thank her for saving her life." Picking up her pen, Laura busily scribbled notes into the margins of the paper. "Then of course if Julie goes to Bobbi's office she'll see the books on the shelf and suspect Bobbi's gay and that would lead in perfectly with the bar scene" Laura's voice trailed off as she flipped pages in her notebook and made additional notes. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Crystal rhythmically squeezing the stress ball. "Jenny gave that to me. She says it's supposed to help when I get stressed."

"Does it?"

"I don't know. If I think of it, I suppose it does. Usually I just go on a cleaning spree."

"You must not think of it often," Crystal said, tossing the ball back on the desk. Laura smiled at the gentle ribbing and set the pen down. "So what are you doing up, anyway? I left you over an hour ago and you were basically dead to the world."

"I dunno." Crystal shrugged her shoulders. "Too many years of working nights, I guess. I woke up to pee and now I'm wide awake." "Still stoned?"

"I still got a buzz on but I'm not stoned stupid like before." She shook her head. "I could work if I had to."

"Well, you still have quite a few hours before that happens," Laura said. "Do you remember what we talked about in the car tonight?"

"No, not too much. I was pretty out of it." Crystal looked down at her lap and flushed slightly. "I know I kept asking you if you were mad at me," she said sheepishly.

"Oh, once or twice a minute." Laura smiled. "It's all right, really," she said, reaching out and giving Crystal's foot a quick squeeze. "I told you I didn't mind and I meant it. And hey, I do appreciate the help with Bobbi and Julie. I'm sure I can make that work."

"Really?"

"Really. Sometimes I just need someone to jump start my creativity." Laura smiled and withdrew her hand from Crystal's foot. "You know " Picking up the notebook, Laura scanned through the neatly scrawled notes. "Yes, I think it will work

I haven't said anything about her past yet so" The pen returned to her hand and more notes were added to the margins. "Why didn't I think of this before? Julie would make the perfect troubled teen." Drawn into full writing mode, Laura pulled the keyboard tray out and began typing rapidly. "Oh, that would be perfect," she said to herself as words started to appear on the screen. The dam holding back her talent had burst open and now nothing mattered but taking advantage of it. So focused on getting the ideas from her mind onto the screen, Laura never noticed when Crystal spoke to her. Endless clacking filled the room as she continued to type, the story coming more and more into focus with each passing word. The back of her mind registered the click of the door when her Crystal left but Laura was too focused on the story to pay any attention. She had long ago forgotten her roommate was in the same room. All that mattered was the scene unfolding on the screen between Bobbi and Julie. For the first time in weeks Laura felt a sense of direction with her story. The writing fever settled in, causing her world to narrow to the fantasy land in her mind and the screen before her eyes.

Time lost all meaning as she continued to write. Hours later, even the rising sun lightening the sky outside failed to capture her attention. The sound of Crystal's alarm clock buzzing through the walls was just another sound tuned out by Laura's mind. Finally the sound of the shower running broke through and caused the writer to break her tunnel vision and look at the clock. Six fifteen? Not believing what her eyes told her, Laura turned and looked at her alarm clock. The red numbers confirmed what the computer had told her. The whole night had been spent writing and if the page numbers were any indication, it had been a productive night at that.

Stretching her arms high above her head, Laura gave a healthy yawn and stood up. Now the bladder that had been quiet all night awoke with a vengeance, making clear what was to be the first priority.

"Oof," Laura grunted when her body came into full contact with the unyielding door. The urgency of the situation caused Laura to forget that Crystal was in the bathroom and thus the door was locked. "Crystal?" Laura banged on the door. "You almost done in there?"

"Gimme a minute," came the reply.

"I can use the one downstairs if you're going to be a while."

"No, I'm done," Crystal said just as she opened the door. The blonde woman found herself not so gently moved out of the way in Laura's dash for the toilet.

"Sorry," Laura said as she watched Crystal shut the door. "I didn't realize how bad I had to go."

"It's all right, I was just finishing up," Crystal said through the closed door. "I'll get the coffee started."

"Okay. I'll be down in a minute." Laura frowned at the balled up towel sitting atop the hamper. That's the quickest way to make this room smell musty, she thought to herself. When Laura left the bathroom, the towel was draped neatly over the shower rod and the countertop was wiped clean.

"Sorry about running you out of the bathroom like that," Laura said when she entered the kitchen. Crystal was at the table, the newspaper in her hand. Laura walked over to the coffee maker and frowned at the half-full pot. "One of these days I'm going to have to break down and buy one of those pause and serve models. I hate waiting for coffee." Laura was unable to stop herself from yawning. "Oh my, I'm just about asleep on my feet."

"Were you up all night?" Crystal asked.

"Yes," Laura said proudly as she walked over to the table. "Once I start writing, nothing else matters. I think I got ten pages done last night." "Well good for you then."

"You know how long it's been since I was able to just sit and type ten pages without stopping?" Laura pulled out a chair and sat down. "I can't believe it. It's like someone turned on a faucet in my brain and everything is just flowing." Yawning, she looked over at the coffee pot. "Maybe you should forget about coffee and just go to bed," Crystal said.

"Oh no, are you kidding? I'm on a roll. Some coffee to wake me up and I'll be good as new." Standing up, Laura walked over to the cupboards. "Cream and sugar, right?"

"Right."

Another yawn escaped Laura's lips as she reached for the mugs. "So what time are you coming home tonight?"

"I dunno. Whatever time I get finished, I guess."

"Do you want me to make dinner for both of us or are you going to stop somewhere along the way to pick up something for yourself?" "Are you offering real food or rabbit food?" Crystal teased.

"You liked my lemon chicken and there's nothing wrong with vegetables." Filling the mugs with coffee, Laura did a quick mental inventory of the refrigerator. "We could have linguine with clam sauce." She licked her lips. "I haven't had that in a long time."

"Clams? Ugh."

"How about some vegetarian chili? I haven't used the crock pot in a while."

"I'll pass on the chili too," Crystal said. "Guess I'll go through a drive-through and get a burger."

"Burgers aren't healthy. Don't you read the health reports?" Laura put the lid on the sugar bowl and turned to catch the look on Crystal's face. "Me? Read the health report?" The blonde woman gave a snort. "Puh-lease."

"Do you have anyi.e.what that does to your body?" Laura set the mugs down on the table and resumed her seat.

"Look who you're talking to," Crystal said. "Do you really think one hamburger is going to do more damage than my smoking and drinking?" Unable to resist, Laura leaned forward and smirked. "You could always quit those too."

"Well not today, Laura. Here." Crystal smiled and pushed the folded up sections of newspaper across the table.

"Thanks." The pair read in silence for a few minutes until Laura piped up from behind her newspaper.

"How about braised chicken and leeks?"

"What's a leek?"

"Now don't be afraid but it's a vegetable."

"Naw."

"So what do you like?"

"I dunno. Don't worry about me. I'll get something."

"Well if you change your mind, call me and I'll whip something up."

"You know, I can swing by the Tom Cat Club and pick up my check. We could order pizza." Crystal set the paper down and reached for her mug. "I'll even compromise and get just mushrooms on it."

Laura smiled at the gesture but shook her head. "I can make a dozen pizzas for what those places charge. I have some dough in the freezer and it's nothing to run out and

" She was unable to stifle a yawn. "Oh excuse me. I was saying it's nothing for me to run out and pick up some cheese and sauce." "Naw, stay home," Crystal said. "You need to catch up on your sleep." She rose to her feet and picked up her now empty mug. "I've gotta get going. See you later."

"Crystal, do me a favor?"

"Sure, what?"

"If you're going to be late, call me, okay?"

"You don't have to worry about me going over to Steph's or anything."

"I know I don't have to worry but I will anyway. Just call if you're going to be late, all right?"

"All right. If I'm gonna be late, I'll call. Anything else, Mother Hen?" Crystal handed Laura the empty mug. "I'll see you tonight."

"Miss Sheridan? Miss Foster will see you now," Jenny secretary said as she hung up the phone. Crystal nodded and entered the therapist's office. "Good afternoon, Crystal. I wasn't expecting to see you again this week." Jenny took a seat on the couch while Crystal took the recliner.