Private Dancer

Disclaimer- I do not own CSI or the song Private Dancer, that's Tina Turner's and I couldn't out-do her if I tried –x-

Chapter One- Flashback

"Thanks." Catherine took the glass of red wine that her sister was offering her and cuddled back into the soft sofa.

"Oh Cat I was tidying some stuff out earlier and I found some of your photos, I don't know how they got caught up with mine." Lydia pulled a small envelope out from under the coffee table and took the contents out. She handed one of the photos to her sister. Catherine laughed loudly when she saw it.

"Where the hell did this come from? I don't ever remember asking you or mum to take a picture of me in my dancers outfit. Lindsey would die with embarrassment if she saw this."

"Maybe Eddie took it. You were still dancing weren't you when you were with him?"

Catherine squinted hard in concentration.

"Yeah I guess I was. I was just finishing my studying but I was still trying to get contacts in the crime lab so I carried on working at the club on a night until I got a job."

"Well at least you had your top on in this picture."

"Oh I remember when my picture was taken; I remember what night it was as well. It was coming up to Halloween, that's why I've got the pumpkin hat on and the bats attached to my bikini. That was an interesting night."

Her sister leaned forward in anticipation and Catherine shook her glass for it to be refilled. She took a sip.

"Well, it started off like every other normal night…"

-x-

"You're going out again? I hardly ever see you."

"Eddie, it's not like I'm out seeing friends all the time. I study during the day and work at night. One of us has to." Catherine picked up various items and threw them into her handbag.

"I work."

"Oh yeah I forgot you were a "freelancer"."

"Is it my fault I can't get the work?" Eddie pouted, hand rolling a cigarette.

"It is when you don't look for it! I don't want to be an exotic dancer all my life Ed; I want a proper career."

"A thousand dollars a night in tips is a proper career."

"That's what you say to all those kids trying to get into music is it? The kids that wait tables for piss poor money because they have a dream? It's called a means to an end."

"I've always liked you being a dancer."

"Of course you do because you can sit on your ass doing nothing other than snorting my pay packet up your nose and telling your friends that your fiancé gets her clothes off and gets paid for it. Why should you want life any different? You're living the sweet life."

Eddie got up and put his arms around her. He used his finger to lift her chin.

"What can I do Cat to make things better?"

She grabbed a newspaper and shoved it into his stomach.

"Get a proper job. Get a job period." She glanced at the clock on the wall.

"I'm late! I've gotta go." She rushed out of the house and Eddie threw the paper onto the sofa, grinding his teeth and cracking his knuckles.

-x-

"Cath, where the hell have you been? Your shift started fifteen minutes ago."

"I'm so sorry Deb, I had my final exam today and then Eddie started playing up and I just lost track of time. I'm really sorry."

Deb's face softened.

"That's ok, we've got quite a few girls in tonight so we've made do but try not to let it happen again. Luckily Frank's not in otherwise he would have wrung you and your bikini out to dry."

"Thanks Deb, you're a star."

"No you are, that's why our customers have steadily increased."

Catherine raced behind a screen and swapped her jeans for a purple g-string with bats stitched onto it.

"Where's my" She looked up and Deb was holding out her hat.

"Thanks. We got any of our regulars out there tonight?"

"Yeah, and the rest. We've got a group of young guys in for a 21st birthday party."

"They drunk yet?"

"Getting there."

"Good. They tend to tip big and realize it when they're sober." She came out from behind the screen and Deb beamed.

"I knew it would work on you. The colours go with your hair and your gorgeous eyes." She squeezed Catherine's chin. "Let me get a photo of you honey."

Catherine posed for the photo before bending down and tying the straps on her stilettos.

"Unfortunately I don't get big tips for my eyes. Big tips for big tits." She fluffed up her hair, applied some lip gloss and tottered out on to the stage.

-x-

These first few chapters are the build up to what's to come, so please stick with this story because it will start to get very interesting very soon, but I'm just creating the background story first. –x-