Title: Masquerade & Disguise

Author: Diabolikal Rapture / Britt

Summary: The CSI's are given tickets to a Halloween ball. Disguise can change all of the rules.

Disclaimer: As much as I'd like to believe, I don't own CSI and everything associated with it.

A/N: First attempt at a new fic since my break. I think I might've lost my talent...or any talent that I had in the first place, haha. It's pre-season 6, Halloween-based, I know it's late and all, but my last Halloween fic wasn't anywhere near Halloween so I figured I'd continue my tradition. Excuse the title, it's pretty stupid, I just suck at naming things so it'll have to do, same goes for the summary. Rating might change in later chapters if y'all want me to continue. Hope y'all like it. Remember to review!

Masquerade& Disguise

Part One

Sara sighed as she looked at her reflection. She looked herself up and down once more. Soft curls fell around her face, while the rest of the curls had been pulled to the back. She was dressed in a Victorian-style gown, almost entirely black except for the corset, which was patterned with green silk and black lace. Her make up was done to match the dress, and it was then that she realized just how long it had been since she'd gotten dressed up like this, make up and all. A knock at her door pulled her attention away from the mirror. She quickly made her way to the front of her apartment and pulled the door open to find Catherine dressed in red and black.

"Wow." Sara said as Catherine entered her apartment. She looked like she'd just stepped out of Moulin Rouge.

"Thanks." Catherine said as she spun around, showing off the back of the dress. "You look great too. It really suits you." She replied, noticing just how different Sara looked in a dress, all done up. "Now we just need to get you all laced up."

The two women went into Sara's bedroom. Sara felt strange having Catherine there, lacing her up into a dress. They weren't the closest of friends, and it wasn't often that she wore a dress, especially one like this. Her thoughts were cut off as she suddenly found it hard to breathe. She winced as the fabric closed in tightly around her chest, and she struggled to take in a deep breath.

"Sorry," Catherine grinned as she noticed Sara's reaction, "these things weren't made to be comfortable." She loosened the lacing a little as she finished tying up the back of the dress.

She let out a sigh as she looked at her reflection. She could breathe a little easier, but she felt as though she was more uncomfortable now than she'd ever been before. "Thanks."

Catherine simply smiled in reply as she looked at Sara's reflection in front of them. She felt a little proud, knowing that she had been the one that had convinced her to wear that dress, and to come to the ball at all. She just hoped that it would all pay off...

"We'd better get going." She said as she headed out to the front door. Sara followed her out after grabbing her purse and mask.

The trip there was in silence. The two of them didn't talk often outside of work, both knew it and both didn't try to make false conversation. Instead they both entertained themselves with their own thoughts. Catherine thought about her plans for the evening, while Sara began to regret agreeing to go at all. She felt as though she needed to be at work, even if they'd all been given the night off for the ball. She began to wonder why the crime lab had been given tickets to the Halloween ball. The tickets were a 'bonus' for all their hard work, but really it was just a freebie that a casino had given the lab for solving a high profile case.

Again she began to hate herself for letting Catherine convince her to go, to have fun, let go, and do something different, as her co-worker had said. She really did want to let go and have fun, try to be someone else for just one night. The mask and the dress would help her do that, but she didn't know if she would, or could, let herself go. She wondered who else would be there, hoping that a certain someone would show up although he more than likely wouldn't. Still, she let herself hope. Maybe that was her biggest mistake.

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Sara followed Catherine into the majestic ballroom. The room was filled with hundreds of people dressed in a variety of gowns and suits, all wearing masks of different shapes, sizes and colors. They were both reminded of their own masks and quickly pulled them on before making their way across the dance floor. They headed towards the bar, their meeting place with the guys.

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Nick was the first to take notice of the two women that had just taken a seat beside them. He discreetly gestured towards them, making Warrick turn to take a look at them. He turned back to Nick and nodded, before turning back to the woman beside him. "Hey," he simply said with confidence as he slid the bar stool a little closer to hers. She stared straight ahead, but he knew that she had heard him. He turned back to Nick for a little encouragement. When he turned back to her she appeared to have a large grin on her face that she was struggling to conceal. He frowned. Nick noticed Warrick's hesitation this time, and figured it was his turn to talk to the other woman.

He leaned against the bar, trying to get a good look at her face, although the mask made the task a little more difficult. Before he could say anything he noticed that she, like the woman beside her was desperately trying to conceal a smile, but was failing. He, like Warrick, was confused by their amusement, and felt the sudden urge to find a mirror and check his appearance, or check himself for body odor. The two women turned to each other and seemed to have a small conversation that neither of the men could hear. If they weren't feeling insecure about themselves before, they definitely were now. Warrick gestured to Nick for them to leave the bar and disappear into the crowd. Before they could move the two women turned to them.

"Hey yourself." Catherine said as her grin morphed into a smirk.

Warrick couldn't do anything more than stare. He couldn't believe that he hadn't recognized Catherine. Still, he couldn't bring himself to say anything, he could only laugh at himself.

"Is that how you pick up girls these days, huh Warrick?" She asked, amused by his 'tactics'. He really was struggling. He just shrugged in reply. His ego had received a recent battering, his dating skills really weren't as good as they used to be. Maybe he'd completely lost touch.

Sara gave Nick a once over, amused that he hadn't shown up in a cowboy outfit like he had said he would. The only dress code for the ball he'd violated was the lack of a mask. "Where's your mask Stokes?" She asked him she raised an eyebrow.

"Why would I want to hide a face like this?" Nick replied with a big cheesy grin.

She shook her head as she quickly thought of a reply. But before she could say anything her attention was drawn past Nick to the entrance of the ballroom. She didn't know why but she was drawn to him. As quickly as he'd come into her vision, he'd quickly left it as he disappeared into the crowded room. She turned her attention back to Nick. "Is it just us four here?"

"Nope, Greggo's out there somewhere," he said as he gestured to the crowded dance floor, "and I don't think Grissom will show." He thought he saw a glimmer of disappointment cross her features, but if she truly was disappointed, she was pretty good at hiding it. She smiled and turned back to the bar as she ordered a drink.

Soon Sara found herself alone at the bar. Warrick and Catherine had gone off to dance, Nick had become interested in a woman at the far end of the bar, and Greg was MIA. She sighed as she looked down at her drink. So much for letting herself go. She took another sip from the glass as she registered a presence beside her.

"Hey Sara," Greg said cheerfully as he took a seat next to her.

"Hey Greg."

"You look great!" He said a little to enthusiastically. She began to wonder if he really meant it.

"So do you. Nice and simple...I wish I had of thought of that," She said as she admired his costume. A tux and a simple black mask that barely covered half of his face.

"Tarantino inspired." He replied coolly. She raised an eyebrow, not entirely sure what he was talking about. "The Crazy 88? Kill Bill?" She shook her head. She'd never watched it, too much violence. She got enough of that in her own life. He sighed. "Wanna dance?"

"Umm..." She fought her first thoughts. Initially she wanted to say no, but she realized that this was the perfect opportunity to have a little fun. "Sure," she replied with a smile.

She followed him into the center of the dance floor where Warrick and Catherine were already dancing. Greg took her hand and gently pulled her closer to him, as they began to dance to the music. She'd expected some kind of tacky Halloween themed music from the 80's, but it was completely different. She became self conscious of herself, realizing that her co-workers really hadn't ever seen her dancing before. Greg noticed her hesitation. "C'mon Sara, loosen up." He said with a grin as he threw his arms around like he'd just suffered a mental break, "Go crazy!" She couldn't help but laugh.

Songs passed, and she soon realized that she was extremely thirsty, and a little tired from the dancing. She had to admit she was having an amazing time, although it was hard for her to convince Greg of that. Over and over he'd continuously asked her if she was having fun in that annoying Greg kind of way. And over and over she replied that she was, because she truly was. But now she needed a break. "You havin' fun?" He asked her for the millionth time.

"Yeah." She yelled over the music. "I'm gonna go get a drink, I need a break." She yelled over the music.

"You sure you're having fun?"

"Yes Greg, I'm sure." She replied, this time with a hint of annoyance. He grinned as she walked away from him. He'd accomplished his task...make Sara Sidle have fun.

She shook her head as she made her way to the bar. Why was it so hard to convince other people that she, Sara Sidle, was having fun? She ordered a drink and took a seat as she waited. She registered a presence beside her and inwardly groaned.

"I told you Greg, I'm having fun, you don't need to..." She began, assuming that it was Greg who had taken a seat beside her. She quickly stopped herself as she realized that it wasn't Greg. A blush quickly crossed her face beneath her mask, "I'm sorry I thought you were someone else..." She said as she realized it was the man she'd noticed entering the room earlier. Again she found herself drawn to him. She wanted to move, to get away from the bar where she'd just embarrassed herself. But she didn't move, she remained perfectly still, and she knew that it was because of him. He remained silent beside her. She tried to get a better look of him, of his face, but his mask covered almost the entirety of it, except for a small corner of his mouth. She still couldn't figure out why she was so drawn to him.

Before she could register it he had taken her hand, and had begun to lead her towards the dance floor.