This is my first ever CSI fan fic, so please, be nice to me!
Pairing: Grissom/Sara
Spoilers: None that I am aware of!
Summary: Grissom displays a hidden talent and Ecklie loses a bet with Sara.
The song used in this story is property of American Hi-Fi.
The words he was reading began to blur and mix together. Allowing the files held so tightly in his grasp to fall onto his desk, Gil Grissom closed his eyes and allowed himself a sigh. Nothing he did could take his mind off of the one person who both grounded him and yet made him dream the impossible. Sara Sidle.
A soft knock sounded at the door of his office, and he looked up. It was Catherine. "Aren't you done being a hermit yet?" she asked, a hand on her hip. "I'm not being a hermit, Cath. I need to review these files." he replied calmly, well aware that his excuse sounded weak, even to him. She gave a derisive snort. "Right-and I'm the flipping Queen of England." He regarded her, his blue eyes closed and guarded. "Anything else, your Majesty?" he asked lightly, attempting to lighten the mood. Catherine gave him a reluctant smile and said softly, "No. Just don't stay in here forever, Griss."
Once she closed the door behind her, Grissom reached down into the lowest drawer of his desk and pulled out a CD that he'd made Greg burn for him. The young lab rat had seemed shocked with his supervisor's request, but complied. Pulling up Windows Media Player on his computer, he ejected the tray and placed the CD inside it. Once it was in, Grissom's office was not filled with it's normal Opera or Classical music. Turning back to his files, Grissom blinked a couple of times and allowed his head to begin bobbing slightly to the raunchy guitars of Thin Lizzy.
Sara Sidle came out of the break room and ran into Catherine. "Hey Cath, how's it going?" she asked. The older woman rolled her eyes. "Grissom's being a hermit again." she replied, sounding disgusted. "Well you can't exactly say it's a surprise." Sara said wryly. Catherine had to chuckle at this remark. "I guess you're right. He's been that as long as I've known him!"
Just then, both women were surprised to hear rock music coming from down the hallway. "I'd better tell Greggo to turn it down before Grissom has a lab rat hide nailed to his office wall!" Catherine said, laughingly slightly. Greg poked his head out of the lab. "For your information, I don't have my radio on, thank you!" he retorted with a mock huff. Sara frowned slightly. "Greg, if your radio isn't on, then whose is?" The spiky haired tech considered a moment. "Well, there's one possibilty... but naw, it couldn't be." he mumbled. "Couldn't be what, Greg?" Sara proded, beginning to feel exasperation set in. "I'm sure it's not." he protested. "Greg, if you don't tell us in 10 seconds, I'm going to get a plastic spoon from the lounge and castrate you! Out with it!" Catherine hissed, more than annoyed with the stammering young man.
Greg's eyes widened in alarm. "Okay, okay! I don't know for sure, but I burned a CD for someone recently with that song on it." he said, words tumbling out like an avalanche. "Who, Greg?" Sara asked sweetly. "Don't you want to tell me?" Catherine could barely contain her giggles as she watched Greg's resolve crack under the onslaught of Sara's potent charms. He hung his head. "I burned it for Grissom." he said.
The two women looked at one another. "Grissom?" they both cried in unison. "What about Grissom?" asked Nick as he came down the hall. "And who's playing the rock music? It isn't Archie or Hodges." "Greg doesn't have his radio on, and he says he burned a CD for Grissom with this song on it." "Oh yeah, like Grissom's gonna play Thin Lizzy in his office at work." the Texan scoffed. "There's only one way to find out." Catherine announced. "We open his door."
The CSI's looked at one another. "Who's going to do it?" Nick asked. Everyone looked over at Greg. "Oh no people, not me! I'm already on his bad list from the April Fool's joke I played on him!" he squeaked. "Greg, that was over 4 months ago! Stop being such a little girlie man and just do it already!" Sara said. "Okay, but that man's got a long memory and if my hide does indeed go up on his office wall, all I ask is that all of you are present at the nailing." Greg muttered. "GREG, GO!" they all yelled. "Seesh, I'm going, I'm going!"
Reaching out a slightly nervous hand, Greg quickly opened the door and yanked it open in one fluid movement. The team was not at all prepared for the sight that greeted them. Grissom had two pencils in each hand and was drumming along with the song. Once he was over his initial shock, Nick observed, "Hey, he's pretty good." The others looked at him like he was from Mars. "He is! One of my fraternity brothers was in the marching band and played drums. Looks like Grissom's had a little time behind a drum set."
The song ended, and Grissom looked up, pencils frozen in his hands. A distinct reddish hue rapidly spread itself over his face. Just then, Warrick came running up with a paper clutched tightly in his hands. "Hey guys, day shift from the lab and all shifts of the LVPD want to challenge us to a battle of the bands in 3 weeks, can you believe it?" When no one answered him, he directed his gaze to where everyone else's was. "Ah guys, I hate to sound stupid, but why are we all staring at Grissom?"
Nick turned to Warrick. "I think we have the night shift's drummer." Warrick's head snapped back to Grissom, mouth agape. "Griss...drums?" he asked, feeling slightly faint. "Since 5th grade." the supervisor finally said. It was as thought the floodgates had been opened. Everyone peppered him with questions until he held his hands up. They all fell silent. "I started playing snare drum until I got to high school. The director thought that I was good enough to be moved onto set, and when I was a sophomore, I ended up being selected for the Jazz Band. I continued with that all the way through high school, but once college came around, I didn't have as much time as I once did, and gradually, I stopped. I've been trying to pick up up again."
Archie approched the group, having no clue what was going on and asked, "Hey, does anyone know somebody who'd want to buy my cousin's drumset?" The team looked at Grissom, and were surprised to see a small smile gracing his face. "Archie, I'm interested. How much does your cousin want for them?" Taken aback, Archie replied on autopilot, "$700. They're blue Pearl Exports." Grissom thought about it for a moment. "I'll take them." Archie beamed. "Great! She really needs the money for college books." he said happily as he handed Grissom his cousin's number. "Glad to help." the supervisor said dryly.
Looking at his CSI's, he asked with a glint in his eyes, "So who is going to be in the night shift band? I'd like to do something that'll plunge the police and Ecklie into the ground." Nick looked slightly shy. "Well, I can play bass pretty well." he admitted. "Both Greggo and Archie play guitar, I can do keyboard, so with Nick on bass and you as our drummer Gris, we can do pretty much anything we want." Warrick offered. Greg piped up suddenly. "I know just the song. You know how the cops always refer to us as "The Geek Squad" and all that?"
There were nods. Suddenly, Grissom threw his head back and laughed. "Greg, this scares me immensly, but I think I know where you're going with this." he chuckled. Nick caught on as well. "American Hi-Fi?" he asked with a grin. "Yep." Greg replied proudly. The girls were mystified, and walked away listening to the men plan when they were going to get together and practice their song. "Who would have guessed Grissom was a drummer?" Sara asked out loud. "I don't know...I would have figured him as a clarinet or even trumpet." Catherine mused. "It'll be interesting to see what happens!"
3 weeks passed quickly, and it was finally time for the battle of the bands. Sara met Catherine at the ballroom where it was being held. "Have you even heard the guys play?" Sara whispered nervously. "No. I take it you haven't either." the blonde replied. "Nope." Looking to her left, Sara groaned. "Ecklie at 12:00." Catherine rolled her eyes. "What I wouldn't give for a plastic spoon right now..." she muttered. Sara choked back a laugh as Ecklie sauntered over to them. "Good evening, ladies. Ready to see the night shift get trounced?" he asked, snickering like a bad B move villian. "The only thing that's going to get trounced around her is your toupee after we're done dancing on it, Conrad." Catherine said with a glare. Sara laughed, and Ecklie looked the the brunette with an expression on his face that made Sara feel slightly sick. "Care to wager on that, Sidle?" he asked, leering.
"Sure. What happens if we lose?" "You have to kiss me." he replied. "And if we win?" "I have to do whatever you say." he replied. "Deal." Sara pronounced, shaking his hand. "Get ready for a piece of this, Sidle." he laughed as he walked away. "You'd better hope they win! If I had to lock lips with Conrad Ecklie, I'd shoot myself!" Catherine said, shaking her head. "Come on, Cath, you know Grissom. You think he's going to let his shift do something crappy?" Sara bluffed, trying to exude a confidence she didn't feel. "You're right, Sara. Come on, let's go get seats.
The day shift's band was bad, but the LVPD's were worse. Sara grew increasingly nervous as the show went on. The night shift was the last to play. Crossing her fingers, she prayed that at least they'd be better than Ecklie. They didn't have to be great, but she would seriously hurt someone if she had to smooch Conrad Ecklie! Catherine nudged her. "Look at them..." she whispered. Sara did as she was bade. The guys all looked great, but it was Grissom sitting at the drum set that made her jaw drop open. He was wearing worn jeans that fit him like a glove and a black t-shirt that said, "It's all about the beat" on it. Grissom started with a small drum solo and they were off. Greg and Nick were doing the singing. Sara recognized the song and started laughing.
Another Friday night, to get the feeling right
At the bar when he sees her coming over
What you gonna do, if she walks up to you
Tongue tied better get yourself together
Pound another drink, to give him time to think
What's your sign hey I think you know a friend of mine
All the stupid lines, that he had ever heard
Wouldn't come to mind he couldn't say a word
Tonight tonight, he's gonna get it right
Even losers can get lucky sometimes
All the freaks go on a winning streak
In a perfect world, all the geeks get the girls
Catherine heard the chorus and understood with perfect clarity why the night shift had wanted to do this song.She cracked up at the look on Ecklie's face. They were good. She looked over at Sara, who only had only eyes for Grissom who was totally into what he was doing.
Got her holding steady, forget her name already
Sweatin' hard not a smooth operator
She's got it going on, dancing to her favorite song
He's got the line is it your place or mine
She turns and walks away, where did he go wrong?
But waiting by the car, she says what took you so long
Tonight tonight, he's gonna get it right
Even losers can get lucky sometimes
All the freaks go on a winning streak
In a perfect world, all the geeks get the girls
The very next day, he guessed she ran away
The one and only in his bed so lonely
But she comes walking in, with coffee and a grin
Crazy as it seems, it wasn't just a dream
And all around the world, people shout it out
The geek's got the girl
Last night he finally got it right
Even losers can get lucky sometimes
All the freaks go on a winning streak
Shout it all around the world cause the geeks get the girls
Last night he finally got it right
Even losers can get lucky sometimes
All the freaks go on a winning streak
Shout it all around the world cause the geeks get the girls
Shout it all around the world cause the geeks get the girls
They finished to loud and racous applause. Each member of the group was introduced, and both Catherine was amused to see how badly Grissom blushed when most of the women whistled and hooted at him. Sara immediately sought out Ecklie and dragged him backstage with her by which point, Catherine had explained Sara's bet with the day shift supervisor. "Conrad, here's what I want you do, then your end of the bet will be upheld." Sara told him, a wicked grin on her face. "What would this be?" Ecklie asked, a look of fear on his face. "You have to kiss the ground Grissom walks on-literally-for 10 minutes."
Ecklie groaned loudly. Grissom gave Sara a bemused look. She walked up to him and whispered, "Be sure you go out in the parking lot or in the men's room." He grinned at her, and gave a mock bow. "Come Ecklie, let's go outside for a minute." Grissom announced. Closing his eyes, Ecklie opened them, shot Sara a look of pure venom until Grissom's hand connected with his head and smacked him a good one. "Play nice, Conrad." He walked away, the day shift supervisor trailing behind, literally kissing the ground Gil Grissom was treading. Sara could hear the laughs when they reached the ballroom.
It was late, and people were leaving the ballroom. Sara was surprised to feel a hand on her arm. "Hey there. I think Ecklie is going to have a brain annurysm." Grissom chuckled. Looking up at him, dressed in his jeans and t-shirt, she couldn't say anything except, "You were REALLY good, Gris." He ducked his head, an inexplicable shyness sweeping over him. "What are you doing Thursday?" he was shocked to hear himself ask. "Gil Grissom, are you asking me out?" Sara asked, a look of shock on her face. "Yeah, I am?" he half asked, half answered. "Well, Thursday I have to work, but I'm not doing anything tonight." she replied coyly. He smiled at her, and took her hand in his. As they left, Nick and Greg both softly sang, "Tonight tonight, he finally got it right. Even bug guys can get lucky sometimes. All the CSI's go on a winning streak. Shout it all around the world cause Grissom got his Sara."