I do not own CSI or any part of the cast, production or show. If I did we would all be attending a party in Vegas or California and I would have a secretary to write my stories.
It was supposed to be one hell of a New Years Eve Party. A luxury dinner cruise on Lake Meade set up by the citizens of Las Vegas and some unnamed Multimillionaires for theLas VegasPolice and Fire departments and also the Crime Scene Investigation Unit. It was the end ofone year, 'out with the old, in with the new" and the start of another and the powers that be decided against the usual boring black tie affair in one of the local casinos. It has been the talk around the unit for weeks, each person exchanging the usual pleasantries and the questions "Are you going to the New Years Party and Who you asking?"
In the end, the unit decided to go together. Warrick was bringing his new wife Tina, Nick was flying solo along with Catherine, Grissom and Sara. They decided to meet outside the Luxor Hotel and take one vehicle for the event.
They all knew Conrad Ecklie would make his usual grand appearance and were hoping to be on their second or their drinks by the time he arrived.
Catherine looked stunning in the emerald green ¾ length dress she chose for the occasion and the matching shoes and earrings looked striking against her creamy skin. Warrick wore a black tuxedo with a burgundy cumber bun that matched the dress that Tina had chosen. Grissom wore a simple black tux and Catherine was the one that had to help him fix his tie "Thank God I had years of practice with these" she fussed at the ends of the material getting it just right. "Nicky who the hell tied yours its perfect?" she turned to look at Nick who looked very dapper in his Armani Tuxedo. "Thank you Catherine, I had many black tie dinners to attend what with my father and everything" he stood beside his co-workers and checked his watch for the fourth or fifth time. "Sara did say she was meeting us here right?" he looked a little nervous.
Grissom stepped forward and stood beside Nick "Yes she was picking Greg up and then meeting us here then you have to figure about an hour at least to get to Lake Meade" he checked his watch "taking into account traffic, the lights change one an average of….." everyone rolling their eyes finally shut him up. He stepped back beside Catherine, stuffed his hands in his pants pocket and shrugged. "She'll be here Nicky" she touched his shoulder and smiled "She was actually looking forward to spending an evening with friends" she looked up and down the strip and saw people of all ethnicities walking around from Casino to Casino. She had to laugh at the changes that had been made to the city from the time she first got off the bus from New York…The glitz and the glitter was never ending as old buildings and casinos were torn down and new ones took their places.
"If you weren't fusing about your damned hair Greg" she pressed her foot on the accelerator and yelled at him for the fiftieth time that evening "If they leave without us I'm going to kill you" she saw Greg still trying to make his usually unruly hair behave itself "You never seemed to worry about this before.." he turned to her "I was a lab rat Sara, now I'm a CSI and I want to look professional is there anything wrong with a little change?" he looked offended. "Greg you're fine the way you were, too much change…." Greg turned and looked at her "You should talk Sidle!" he turned sideways to face her "Look at you." He pointed to her "You never wear that much make up, nor have I ever seen your hair so done up!" she pulled the visor down "I have on too much makeup? Do I look that bad?" she started to panic and Greg quickly realized his mistake "No, you look great, you look terrific but it's a change" he smiled "A change for the good but it's a change" he shook his head and hoped Sara would calm down before they got to the hotel.
The Denali stopped at the curb only 15 minutes later than she had originally planned thanks to some quick maneuvering between yellow lights. Greg was almost grateful to finally be standing still. He got out of the passenger side and slipped into the third row of seats along with Grissom. Warrick, Tina and Catherine got into the back seat and Sara got out and switched with Nick who was taking over driving duties. "Hey Sa…" he could not get his mouth to work and everyone covered their mouths as they took in the sight of Nicky at a loss for words. The dress Sara had chose was an off the shoulder red sequin number that left little to the imagination starting at the low cut across the cleavage area. "You look phenomenal" he swallowed hard then reached out a hand to touch her "I love the hair as well" he smiled, took her hand and helped her into the front seat, closed the door and stood there a moment longer than necessary taking in the sight before him. He slid into the front seat, adjusted the mirror and smiled at her once again before driving off for what he hoped was the New Years party of his life.