Title: The Pool
Author: jenbachand
Rating: General
Pairing: Grissom/Sara
Disclaimer: I made no profit from the writing of this fic.
Spoilers: Nothing Specific but we'll say through 7x17
Summary: It started as bickering, but wound up as more.
Author's Notes: The second of my Oscar Poll Winner ficlets. This one for jadedchord. Thanks to mingsmommy for her wonderful beta work.

The Oscar pool had been started as a bit of a joke. Sara and Greg were arguing about the better animated movie. Greg was firmly in the Cars camp, while Sara was supporting Happy Feet, then moving on to best picture & the actors' categories. Egged on by Nick and Warrick, they had taken to randomly tossing out names of movies or actors, or even costume designers. The day he couldn't make it through the briefing, he realized he'd have to step in. To put an end to it, Grissom had set up a way to resolve it. He printed out sample ballots, put a collection can on the table, and told everyone to put up or shut-up.

He didn't realize how popular it would be.

Brass and Sofia had been the first to inquire if they could join in. After answering the affirmative, it seemed every detective who worked with them had an opinion on movies. It made Grissom wonder if the LVPD was solely funding the cinemas of the city.

When the pot reached over $500, he decided he'd better take some care with it. He delegated out the record keeping to Archie and Judy, as neither of them had joined the pool. He figured having two sources would avoid any conflict of interest with anyone.

On the night of the ceremony the criminals of the city seemed to be staying in to watch the show as well. Archie put the broadcast up on the big screen and kept running tally as to who was winning.

Sara and Greg were in a dead heat, but they weren't in the lead. The lead at that time belonged to Mandy, with one more correct than Greg and Sara each had. Heading into the best actress category the calls started rolling in. It seemed that that the people of Las Vegas weren't very happy with the Academy's choices and were taking it out on each other.

Five hours later the graveyard shift wandered back into the lab in twos and threes; everyone made sure to swing by the A/V lab and check the stats board.

Grissom had taken a burglary on his own and was the last to return to the lab. He stopped by his office first, only to find a pouting Sara stretched out on his couch.

"What's wrong?" he asked sliding his kit under his desk and taking off his jacket.

"Greg won. He's offered to take the team out to breakfast," she sat up sullenly.

"And the problem is?"

"That Greg won," She frowned again.

"Chalk the loss up to the fact that you spent more time enjoying the company of your boyfriend, rather than racking up frequent movie watcher points at the multiplex," he smirked at her.

Her answering smile assured him that her ego had been soothed.

But perhaps a book of movie passes wouldn't be remiss either. There was always next year.