I know that I am in the middle of another story, but there seems to be such a lack of GRIGSBY on here, that I felt compelled to jump in. I should explain that I have a severe soft spot for big, sweet cops since I married one. No, he is looks nothing like Wayne, but is a gentle giant too.

This is silly and fluffy and has nothing to do with real police work

DISCLAIMER: They are not mine, but I am willing to babysit the lot for a few hours!

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"I don't care if it is for a good cause! This is barbaric and insulting!"

Senior Agent Theresa Lisbon could be heard yelling from behind her office door. Cho, Rigsby and Van Pelt all halted what they were doing to better hear their normally composed boss rant. Even Jane lifted his head from the couch and cocked an ear.

But they got nothing more. Her voice lowered and she began to mumble inaudibly into the phone. Three heads swung from the door to Patrick Jane as they all made the same assumption at the same time. Jane would find out for them. As it turned out, they didn't have to even wait that long. The petite brunette swung open her door and said, "I have an announcement. It seems that Minelli's wife's country club has agreed to hold a fundraiser for Tom Hogan. That's the good news. The bad news is that we are all expected to help out at this event. The worse news is that one of those women thought a 'Bachelor/Bachelorette' auction would be fun"

At the mention of Hogan's name, the agents all nodded. Tommy Hogan was an agent assigned to the tech unit. He had a talent for mimicry and was generally liked. He also had testicular cancer. His medical bills had become epic. They had all given up a couple of days off to him so he could continue to be on the payroll and most of them had contributed to the fund established for him and his family. A big fancy fundraiser would go a long way to easing things for Tom.

"So, which poor suckers are getting stuck being meat for that auction?" Wayne asked before he even followed the thread of Lisbon's anger and the announcement.

"Well, my large friend, what Lisbon isn't telling you is that they are expecting single agents to step up. I am sure volunteers of any quality have not been abundant. So, they are now being hand picked. They will want them to be good looking, young, unattached….." Jane's voice trailed off and his eyebrows went up as he looked over the other agents.

Grace Van Pelt jumped up and said "Ooooh no! I know where this is headed. Absolutely not!"

Cho merely glance up and said, "No." No explanation would be forthcoming. Cho knew his silence would be understood by Lisbon. They had been working together for a long time. Cho was willing to use his standard stoicism when it suited him.

Rigsby still looked a little puzzled. "Why can't you and Jane do it, Boss?"

Lisbon clenched her jaw a little tighter as she explained, "Because *I* am a senior agent and it would undermine my authority. Jane is not an agent. That leaves you, Grace and Cho"

Cho repeated "No", putting his head back down and faked working. The idea of standing in front of a room filled with white women bidding on him was too degrading to even be considered.

"It will have to be Van Pelt and Rigsby then. Local restaurants have given dinners for the dates to be held at. It won't cost you anything. They have even arranged for Tuxedos and gowns for you to wear. Here are the addresses of the stores. It's quiet now. Go and get measured." Lisbon looked even less thrilled than the two young agents. She hated asking them to do this, but knew since her boss's wife was arranging this, her unit would be expected to step up.

The look of horror on Rigsby's face was almost comical. He pictured himself in an ill fitting tuxedo, being bid on by some old hag that he would have to take to dinner. Wayne was not a fool. He knew he was a good looking guy, but the idea of being used like that disgusted him. He wanted to go on a nice dinner date, but he would rather it be with a tall, lovely red-head who made his heart beat faster.

Grace knew Lisbon was stuck and therefore, so was she. It was hard enough to have the men in this field take her seriously with her looks, now to be expected to use them, went against her every instinct. She could only hope that someone not too creepy would bid on the dinner with her. With her luck it would be Connors, that 50 year old perpetual divorcee. If he didn't stop telling her how women his own age couldn't keep up with him she was going to barf on his shoes in the elevator. She took the paper and raised her eyebrows as she recognized the name of the store. It was not one she could have ever afforded. Too bad that expensive dress would be wasted on a creep. It would be fun to dress up.

Jane popped up and offered to go with Wayne to the Tuxedo place. Rigsby would be like raw meat at a shark feeding to those women. He could at least be correctly dressed, and comfortable. Jane's instincts were again correct. The tuxedo shop hadn't really wanted to do this fundraiser and was giving the bachelors basic cheap tuxedos. When Rigsby came out of the dressing room, he felt ridiculous. One glance in the mirror confirmed his fears.

"This is why I hate tuxedos. They never fit me right. If they are wide enough for my shoulders, they are huge around my middle. And they are never long enough. I wind up looking like a gorilla in a tent. God know what will bid on me looking like this" Wayne groaned as he tried to slouch and pull the sleeves down fruitlessly.

Jane decided he needed to intervene. He pulled the owner of the store aside and told him his girlfriend was going to accept his proposal that night. After that, he was putty in Jane's hands. He agreed, much to his own surprise to fit Wayne properly. It turns out Jane had some definite ideas about all of this.

It was a much more confident and better dressed Wayne who appeared out of the dressing room next. He stood up straighter and taller, making the jacket square off on his broad shoulders as it fit perfectly through the middle. Even the sleeves were right. Wayne had gotten used to expecting clothing to be extensively tailored, and as a result bought less expensive clothing to keep the overall cost down. In the expensive evening wear, he was surprised at the difference good fabric and styling made in his appearance.

"Confidence, not clothes make the man, my friend. But well fitting clothes, well, Cinderella, they help", Jane quipped as they left the store.

"Wait, Cinderella??" Rigsby stopped in his tracks carrying a suit bag slung over his broad shoulder. "How am *I* Cinderella? Wouldn't that be Gr-VanPelt?" He queried.

"You forget, Cinderella was transformed for the Prince. You have seen the lovely Grace transformed in that Red Dress. It's time for her to see you in a different light. Watch carefully her reaction to you. I think she will not enjoy feeding time for the cougars"

"Oh God! Cougars? Like How old are we talking do you think? Maybe no one will bid on me. Oh God! Maybe NO one will bid on me!"

Wayne's shoulders started to slump again and the confidence was draining out of him at an alarming rate. He just realized that the only thing worse than someone bidding on him would be no one wanting to bid on him. He was starting to dread Saturday night more and more.

Jane smiled to himself. It never failed to amuse him how a big, good looking sweet natured guy like Rigsby had so little confidence in himself. He knew that Wayne could be going through women like Kleenex, but was a one woman settle down, hearth and home kind of guy. And for Wayne that one woman was Grace. Ever since that kiss, which was obvious Grace returned, the two agents had been sending off enough sexual tension to light a small city. They were also being so very careful to avoid each other's eyes for too long. They each watched the other when they thought no one was looking. Patrick was sure if Grace were more willing, Wayne would have acted sooner, damn the regulations and full speed ahead. Grace was younger, and less sure of herself, Wayne and her place as an agent.

This auction might be just the shove off that cliff of trust that Grace needed. And one quirky blond consultant was more than willing to chip away at the edge of that cliff till she jumped. Grace had trust issues, and Wayne just the right combination of gentleness and strength for her. Grace didn't' know it, but Saturday she was going to see her faithful suitor as other women did. He knew that she was competitive enough to fight for him. Saturday was going to be a lot of fun.

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I am willing to send chocolate via the computer to those who review.....that IS that those slots in my computer are for aren't they??