"Right! Tomorrow night, as I am sure you remember, is the LVPD Ball. As per the rotation it is our turn to put in an appearance. Now Greg, I know it's your first of these so please try and not show us up. It isn't like the usual things we go to and have fun at. The governor, sheriff and many other politicians and the such will be there with their wives so please, dress sensibly, wear your hair like you do for court and no funny business!"
"Yes Boss. I promise I won't let you down. I can't wait! I've never been to a posh ball before. Had to buy a tux and everything!" Greg was almost jumping up and down in excitement. He really hadn't expected Griss to let him go but had bought a nice, sedate, tuxedo just in case. He had really wanted the silver one with the huge lapels and love-hearts all over it. But the salesman had convinced him that it probably wouldn't have been appropriate. So he had bought both. He would get to wear the cool one one-day right?
"Gil! You could have warned us! I haven't got a dress or anything! This is so like you. It's not fair. You boys just put the same tux on as last time and the time before and you're done. We females need longer than twenty-four hours notice! I mean, there's the dress, the shoes, the bag. Not to mention hair-do, choosing the right jewellery and finding someone to go with! Typical of you not to think of us girls."
"Catherine. I did not do this on purpose, I told you last week about the ball so if you are not organised don't blame me please."
"I don't believe you. Sara, did he tell you last week? Have you got a dress ready? Do you even know what a dress is?" Catherine was in one of her rants and no-one was going to escape.
Sara looked up from her magazine and nodded.
"Yes, yes and yes. Griss told everyone last week in a meeting and you complained then that you didn't have enough time to choose an outfit. Of course I have a dress all organised although you said that we could go dress shopping together and obviously forgot all about it I had one prepared before then. And lastly of course I know what a dress is as I usually wear one to these things. Unlike the rest of you I have to go every year not just one-in-three. If you need help tomorrow though I will of course help."
Sara thought that she would get the helpful bit in before Cath blew up at her again. It was no-one else's fault but hers if she had not only forgotten about the night out but the shopping trip as well. Of course, Sara had known about the ball for months and had prepared herself as such. One of the downsides to being married to the homicide Captain. Of course, she did get a new dress every year so it couldn't be all bad. Her tailor had excelled herself this year. Again. Even though her measurements had changed slightly since last year, Katie had done her usual wizardry with scissors and sewing machine. Sara couldn't wait till Jim saw her in the fantastic material. She had had to hide it of course, away from where he could find it.
Cath continued her rant but no-one else really cared that much. Finally Warrick calmed her down as he usually did and the conversation was completed. Grissom handed out the assignments for the night and they all went their separate ways. Cath was naturally both trying to figure out where she could get a great dress the next morning and how to kill Gil. How was she supposed to impress everyone with no notice? Of course, she did vaguely remember the meeting that the ball was mentioned in but she was not going to admit it. She resigned herself to the fact that she would have to deal with it later, so she put her mind back to the job and drove to the crime scene.