A/N - I have been trying to write this for like a month now and finally just dealt with it last night. I hope you enjoy, and concrit is welcome and encouraged. Thanks for reading. This got really long, so I'll post the second half tomorrow. Also, I do not own CSI, Lenny Kravitz, Survivor, Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel, Alannah Myles, Guns N Roses (believe me, I've been trying for years), or Madonna.

"Black velvet in that little boy's smileeee,

black velvet in that slow, southern style,

A new religion that'll bring you to your knees...

black velvet, if you please!"

Everyone watched Catherine Willows sing the popular song from the nineties, not sure if they were disgusted or aroused. Catherine's long blonde hair was up in a ponytail, which really allowed her to either inappropriately headbang like a rockstar or have a very alarming seizure.

Karaoke night started out as a whim, really; talked about and planned to lift Nick's spirits in the face of the near-tragedy he'd been through just a few weeks earlier. He was doing okay now, after all--physically, anyway. The ant bites were almost completely healed, and his other injuries, like his broken wrist, were sore but not incapacitating. He was trying to keep a brave face and got back to work as soon as the doctor cleared him, but his friends and co-workers could tell that he was a long way from being emotionally healed.

Before his kidnapping incident, Nick was always trying to get everyone together for karaoke. Even though he always managed to hang out with mostly everybody one on one (he and Sara had a weekly date at a dive bar off the strip on Monday, he and Catherine sometimes had dinner with Lindsey--he'd teach her card games and answer her questions about boys), when it came to group karaoke, everyone always had excuses.

"Sorry, Nicky, I need to spend some time with Lindsey," Catherine would always inevitably say. "She's a teenager, you know. She already tried her hand at hitchhiking, I'd hate to think what's next for her."

"I'd love to, man, but this girl I'm seeing, you know, Tina? Things are getting really serious. I think she may be the one," Warrick told Nick. Nick didn't want to interfere with love, but he was annoyed with 'Rick and his whole p-whipped situation.

On the one occasion he actually asked Grissom, somehow knowing his boss would say no, Grissom didn't surprise him. He said no.

"I have to go home and walk my dog," he told Nick.

"You have a dog?" Nick asked, raising an eyebrow. Grissom was a lot of things, and a liar wasn't one of them. But when did Grissom have a dog?

"Oh, yeah. I saw him by the side of the road a few months ago when it was raining. I'd always had dogs growing up and I thought maybe it would be nice to have one again. So I picked him up, took him home, fed him some steak...and now he's my dog. His name is Hank. You know, Hank Aaron and all."

Nick wasn't sure what to say to that, especially since it was the most Grissom had said to him that wasn't work related in...years.

When he asked Sara and Greg, who he was pretty sure were always up for a fun night out, they surprised him with even more excuses.

"I'm painting my apartment," Sara told him. "I, uh...have had some rage issues lately and may have punched a hole or two in the wall. So. That's what I'm doing."

Nick backed away slowly and ran off to find Greg, who inevitably told him that Papa Olaf was in town and they were going to hit the strip for some fun.

He didn't understand why his co-workers were so reluctant to have a fun night out together. Wasn't it obvious they needed to blow off a little steam? He pressed for it even more after Ecklie broke up the team, fracturing an already weak morale. Nick even tried to get Sofia involved, but she was too busy trying to find her own place within the lab. Catherine and Sara were at odds, Grissom was on the edge of a nervous breakdown, Ecklie was more of a dick than ever, and nothing was as it should be.

So when the team descended upon Nick on a sweltering night in late June a few weeks after he got out of the hospital, he was admittedly hesitant about going along with the karaoke plan. Before the lunatic mad man left him for dead in a coffin full of ants, nobody wanted anything to do with karaoke. But then Nick realized that the team, his team, were doing the best they could in light of what happened to him. It seemed like all of them, even Grissom, were trying to take some time to enjoy the little things.

Before assignments, Sara, Grissom, Catherine, Greg, Warrick and Brass all cornered him in the break room when he was pouring some tepid coffee into a Styrofoam cup.

"Okay, what is this?" He said, immediately feeling defensive. "I'm doing fine, you guys. No more interventions. No more telling me I need more time off. I'm fine."

"We know," Sara said. "You're a stud and we know that. So we wanted to get together this weekend and have a karaoke night. We know a place. It's a hole, but it has a microphone and plenty of alcohol. Greg will sing Journey. It'll be amazing."

He looked at all his co-workers and friends suspiciously.

"Really? I've been asking you guys for months. This is a pity date, right?"

They all became a group chorus of protesting. Nick couldn't hear anyone over all the "NO!" that was being shouted at him.

"All right, I'll go," Nick said. "But on one condition."

"What's that?" Greg asked eagerly. "That you're the designated driver? Done!"

"No. I'll go on the condition that all of you sing at least one song. That includes you, Grissom. Everyone. I'm not going just to hear myself sing."

Nick was amused by the stricken looks on his co-workers faces. They all had panic in their eyes.

"Now, Nick, I don't think--" Grissom started, but stopped when Nick focused intensely on him. Grissom wasn't used to this side of Nick, and honestly wasn't quite sure if he liked it.

"No excuses. I've been trying to talk you guys into this for months and I refuse to let this be a pity party for me. So we're all going to sing, and we're going to have fun, and that's that, no excuses."

Nobody dared argue with him. He was on a roll. Frankly, they were all relieved to see him feel so passionate about something again. So plans were made, driving arrangements were set, and before they knew it, karaoke night was upon them.

_________________________

Sara was already uncomfortable and the night had barely begun. As one of the designated drivers, she'd driven to the bar with Nick in the front and Greg and Sofia in the back. Riding with Sofia, someone she'd never been able to have any kind of sincere small talk with, bugged her. The worst part was, Sara knew it shouldn't bug her. They weren't in competition with each other. If Gil and Sofia were dating, well, that wasn't her business. But that didn't mean she had to like Sofia. And as much as she tried, she couldn't seem to do that. In the car, Sofia seemed intent on learning Greg's life story. If Sara wasn't so sure Sofia was interested in Grissom, she could have sworn Sofia was trying to get into Greg's pants. Hell, maybe she was after all the guys. At this point, Sara wouldn't be surprised.

While Sofia and Greg were busy talking about the merits of early nineties R&B (Greg preferred Boyz II Men while Sofia argued for Jodeci), Sara asked Nick if he was excited about karaoke night.

"I'm very excited. I can't wait to get a beer and watch my friends make asses of themselves," he said, grinning.

"Are you pissed that we took so long to get this night together?"

"I was at first, yeah. Why should I always be the organizer, you know? But I'm just happy that my friends could get together and have a good time, whether it's out of pity or not."

"Well, that's good. And, Nick...I know this goes without saying, but we're all so grateful that you...that you're still here with us. We were all so terrified, and..."

"I know," he said. "I know, and thank you. That means a lot to me. It meant a lot to me when I was buried, going crazy from the isolation...I had my low points, but it was easier when I thought about coming back to you guys."

Sara reached over and grabbed his hand, and they rode the rest of the way to the bar in contemplative silence.

_________________________

When the team walked into the bar, a bleached blonde was drunkenly singing a Trisha Yearwood song in a way reminiscent of American Idol auditions. There was almost a mass exodus straight out the door, but Nick gave a stern look. Everyone sighed and continued the journey into the bar. Everyone but Grissom and Sara ordered an alcoholic beverage.

"Designated driver, too, huh?" He asked her as they watched everyone order massive amounts of alcohol.

"Yeah, but it's cool. I've been trying to cut back," she says. And it was true. Ever since her near-arrest almost a year ago, she was drinking a lot less and in moderation. When Grissom took her home that night, he didn't try to lecture her. He didn't try to understand her reasoning. All he said before she got out of the car was, "I'm here if you need me." And just knowing that he was behind her every step of the way, however silent and stoic he could be, was a huge factor in getting the help she needed.

Grissom ordered an iced tea and Sara got a Dr. Pepper. They sat down, Sara on one end of the table next to Catherine, and Grissom at the other end, sitting next to Nick. They should have sat together. They didn't. Which really, when she thought about it, defined their relationship. Truth be told, something interesting had been happening lately. Grissom had been stealing a lot of looks at her. Looks of longing; looks of pining. Sara didn't know a lot about love and the ways of the heart, but she knew enough. And when she was able to get a look in those blue eyes of his, they were always so telling that she'd have to look away. Why didn't he want this? It had been too many years and time was running out. Sooner or later, the statute of limitations on whatever it was between them would end.

Forcing herself to forget about it for a few minutes and be cheerful, Sara watched as everyone argued who would be first to embarrass themselves on stage.

"I think Nick should go first because it was his idea in the first place," Greg said, giving his friend a nudge.

"No way. I should go last because it was my idea. I think you should go first for always having a dumb excuse to get out of coming with me," Nick said, grinning slightly.

"I disagree strongly," Greg said. "I think Sara should go. I've heard her voice. It's amazing."

Sara blushed as all her colleagues turned to look at her, intrigued.

"Trust me, you don't want me to go first. It would not end well, Maybe Catherine--"

"I'll go," Warrick said. "Whatever, one of us has to go. I'm the only one here with any soul anyway. I've got the skills. I'll go."

"What are you going to sing, man?" Nick asked, clearly delighted.

"You'll see."

Everyone in that stale, foul-smelling bar watched as Warrick got up and handled business. As soon as the bleached blond was done with her song and nearly drunkenly stumbled off the stage, Warrick strolled up, confident as ever. Sara looked over at Catherine, who was staring at Warrick with utter fascination and what was clearly unresolved lust. If anyone knew about that, it was Sara. And she saw it in Catherine's eyes.

As the music for Again by Lenny Kravitz started, all the bar-goers who had been conversing with each other stopped as they witnessed Warrick on the makeshift stage. Drunken tourists, sober locals, the gigging UNLV sorority girls in the corner, even the men playing pool behind the bar...they all stared as Warrick began his song.

Warrick reached into his pocket, pulled out a pair of sunglasses and put them on, while somehow also winking at the sorority girls. They gave a little shriek and Warrick grinned. The music started, and he got serious.

"I've been searching for you,

I heard a cry within my soul,

I've never had a yearning quite like this before,

Now that you are walking right through my door,

All of my life,

Where have you been?

I wonder if I'll ever see you again,

And if that day comes,

I know we could win,

I wonder if I'll ever see you again..."

As Warrick continued, Sara looked at the audience. Everyone seemed to be deeply fascinated by the specimen on stage. But the award for most intrigued person would have gone to, who else, Catherine Willows.

Sara wanted to ask Catherine what she was thinking while Warrick was up there, but they just didn't have that kind of relationship. They were trying to be better colleagues since Nick's incident, and it was going well. They didn't snap at each other as often, at least. But that didn't mean either woman was ready to open up about their love life and all it entailed. Sara surely didn't wanted to confide in Catherine. What was there to tell, anyway? That lately, Grissom had been extra sweet and adorable? That she was sure he was always on the verge of asking her on a date but never found the intestinal fortitude to make it happen? It was one thing to live on the edge of unrequited love, but as the days passed, Sara was pretty sure it was more requited than ever. There was now only the small detail of proving it. Even now, as she smiled along with Warrick's pitch-perfect voice, she caught Grissom's eye. They shared a shrug, a "what the hell is happening here" look that should have been innocent, a funny thought from boss to co-worker, but as usual it was fraught with tension. Sara couldn't take much more of it, truthfully. Something was going to need to happen soon, or she might need to pursue greener pastures.

"Don't you just want to put him on a cracker?" Catherine whispered to Sara, startling her.

"What? Warrick? Cath, I don't know--"

"Seriously, don't you just want to bottle that guy up?"

"He's pretty amazing," Sara said, giving in.

"I wonder what he's like in bed," Catherine said. Sara spit out her Dr. Pepper, not able to contain herself.

"Cath, um...isn't Warrick seeing somebody? Nick said it was getting pretty serious."

Catherine sighed but then shook it off. "That doesn't mean he's off the market. He can still look at the menu, you know. He just can't order."

Sara shook her head and laughed. It had been a long time since a woman had confided in her. Apparently alcohol was all it took for Catherine to spill her guts.

On stage, Warrick was still belting it out.

"At every time I've always known

That you where there, upon your throne,

A lonely queen without her king

I longed for you, my love forever,

All of my life,

Where have you been?

I wonder if I'll ever see you again,

And if that day comes,

I know we could win,

I wonder if I'll ever see you again..."

Warrick finished his Lenny Kravitz imitation and earned an ear-shattering round of applause for the effort. He returned to the table to high-fives and laughter and accepted compliments about his amazing voice, saying it was just one of his many gifts.

"So who's next?" He asked, looking at Sara with a gleam in his eye.

"I can't follow you," Sara said, refusing to budge. "I'll go after Greg."

"Looks like Sara just volunteered you, bro," Nick said, poking Greg's arm. "Get up there. Prove your manhood."

"Okay, you know what? I'll go. I'm not afraid of humiliating myself, as you all know. And I have something all prepared. See ya."

But by the time the decision was made, someone else had made his way to the stage, this time a tourist in a cowboy hat who was determined to do his best twangy Garth Brooks impression. When the awful rendition of "Shameless" was over, Greg got up on stage and made an announcement.

"This song is for my friend Nick, who went through Hell and lived to tell about it. He's the strongest person I know, and I've met Arnold Schwarzenegger."

Eye of the Tiger started, and Nick snorted. Sara could tell he was pleased by his good friend Greg's choice.

"Risin' up, straight to the top,

Had the guts, got the glory,

Went the distance, now I'm not gonna stop,

Just a man and his will to survive..."

Greg kept pointing at Nick and giving him the thumb's up. Sara thought it was pretty damn adorable.

When the song was over and Greg came back, everyone turned to stare at Sara.

"Okay, I get it. It's my turn. I'll take it like a man," she said. At that moment, Sara wished she wasn't the designated driver. What she was about to do would have been easier with a little liquid courage.

Sara approached the stage and chose a song from the book. It only took seconds for the song to start. She took a deep breath and sang the song that had been so heavy on her heart lately.

"You could be my silver springs,

Blue green colors flashin',

I would be your only dream,

Your shining autumn, ocean crashing,

And did you say she was pretty?

And did you say that she loves you?

Baby, I don't wanna know..."

Sara sang Silver Springs, the Fleetwood Mac song her mother used to sing to put her to sleep, and let the pent-up emotions flow out of her. She let herself look straight at Grissom, even stare at him. Every time she looked in his direction, he was staring back, blue eyes shining, giving her more attention than she knew what to do with. She could almost feel the vibes radiating through the air; the sexual and emotional pull they had towards each other.

"Time casts a spell on you, but you won't forget me,

I know I could have loved you, but you would not let me,

I'll follow you down til' the sound of my voice will haunt you,

You'll never get away from the sound of the woman that loves you,

Was I just a fool?

I'll follow you down til' the sound of my voice will haunt you,

Give me just a chance,

You'll never get away from the sound of the woman that loves you,

You could be my silver springs,

My blue green colors flashin'... "

Sara could tell that the small audience at that dive bar didn't know what to make of her, but they all gave polite applause anyway. Her co-workers and friends all complimented her on an amazing performance. The one person who's reaction she cared about the most didn't say anything. That was okay. She was used to it, unfortunately.

TO BE CONTINUED!