Disclaimer- We own nada! But we blissfully borrow the characters from CBS and let them out to frolic every once in a while…
Summary- Catherine meddles like never before and a case of mistaken identities brings about embarrassing consequences for our favourite investigators GSR
A/N- This is our first joint fic and KMnO4's first attempt at humour! Please review and tell us what you think.
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Through half-opened eyes Catherine Willows surveyed the scene before her. Five moving targets and one way to bring them all down. Rising up from the dilapidated couch in the corner of the break room she confidently made her way towards the kitchen units.
'Coffee.' She shouted loudly in a sing song voice.
Mary Poppins had nothing on this actress. She would be persuasive. She would be cunning and -if push came to shove- downright ruthless in order to achieve the results she desired. Things had been bumbling along in the same old way for too long and if there was one thing she hated it was monotony.
'Please form an orderly queue.' She said mockingly as Warrick stepped in front of a very unamused Nicholas Stokes.
Now that she was sure she held their full attention it was time to move in for the kill. Catherine held a steaming hot coffee pot in one hand and a bright red flyer in the other. Her sleepy eyed team mates looked longingly at the bubbling liquid. First things first. She began to read aloud.
'The 12th annual law enforcement ball will be held this Saturday night in the grand suite of the Bellagio hotel. All affiliated employees will be warmly received. Dress this year will no longer be black tie, but fancy. Prizes will of course be available for the most authentic portrayals. Tickets are available online at or from the main reception desk. We look forward to seeing you.'
An angry hush fell across the room. Catherine flashed them all a brief grin before slowly pouring coffee into each of their cups. She tried her best to ignore their questioning glances and returned her flyer to the little black purse she had placed beside the previously abandoned couch.
Everyone was sat around the small circular table. They wordlessly sipped at their hot caffinated drinks and exchanged looks of extreme scepticism. All shared one universal thought- Catherine was up to something. But what would it be this time?
'I thought these would come in handy.' She cooed innocently, depositing five lime green tickets onto the smooth grey surface. 'And before anyone says anything. I already swapped the whole team with Ecklie's day shift on Saturday… AND I spent Lindsey's doll house money on this completely non-refundable treat for us all.'
Damn. She was good. In less than five seconds, she had shot every last one of them down. Grissom, Sara, Nick, Warrick and Greg. Nobody had a leg left to stand on. Or enough of the necessary male genitalia to refuse.
Now that every chance of a counterattack had been thwarted, team Willows celebrated victory. All that her colleagues could do was accept the inevitable that -just like Cinderella- they would be going to the ball. She had apparently thought of everything but still Warrick wondered to what extent her almost manic preparation actually went.
'So do you have our costumes picked out too?' He asked cautiously.
'Now that's something I thought you could handle yourselves.' Catherine replied as a smug grin distorted her features.
'I suggest you go to the Costume Warehouse, near western LVU, for all your dressing up needs. Although… I suspect some of you already have costumes hanging in your closets.'
All heads turned towards the sheepish looking lab tech at the end of the table. Greg could do nothing to suppress the wide grin which spread itself across his face, 'I for one think it will be fun. An evening of witty repartee accompanied by dancing, I could not imagine anything better.'
The groans coming from the other CSI's did little to dampen Greg's spirits.
'We could all benefit from a little out of hours socialising.' He hinted raising his eyebrows suggestively at one very unimpressed Sara Sidle.
'Tell me Greggo, will your costume consist of any liquid latex?' She inquired sarcastically causing Nick and Warrick to stifle their laughter.
He nonchalantly took a sip of his coffee. 'Is that a request?'
The change of atmosphere was a welcome surprise to Catherine. All it had taken was a little scheming and she had them right where she wanted them.
But one person had not yet submitted to the allure of light hearted costume banter.
'Any ideas for a costume Gil?' She said loudly, intent on making him fully aware that his position of supervisor did not render him exempt from her plans.
'No, not yet.' Grissom replied. He held her gaze in a sly attempt at unsettling her. But of course- the woman was unshakable.
'I already know what I'm going as.' Nick exclaimed smiling. 'I'm gonna to be a cowboy baby!'
'That's cute Nick.' Sara countered. 'Now if Warrick goes as a construction worker, Greg as an Indian and Brass as a cop, you've got yourselves a Village People reunion.'
'Wasn't there a biker as well?' Catherine added teasingly. 'Hey Gil, that's what you could go as.'
But now image's of leather and lace flooded Sara's mind putting an end to her sadistic enjoyment and the back of Grissom's neck could also be seen to redden slightly. Perfect. Catherine had half way won the war against tedium and now a whole new battle had begun.
TBC
