It was the night of the party. It had been scheduled to start at 7:00. All the food was on the tables. There was the usual party type of foods. Trays were heaped with fresh veggies and dips as well as trays of meat, cheese and crackers. For a festive flair, the punchbowl had a raspberry flavored hand sitting in it. Lindsay had said that was pretty cool before she had headed out to a Halloween party at her best friend's house. Other Halloween themed party foods included cookies that were made to look like witches' hats. There was gummy worms in cups of Oreo dirt and jack o lantern cupcakes. The decorations were all over. Spider webs hung from the corners. The deejay was making sure everything was set. He was busily checking connections and so forth for the sound equipment.

At 6:00, Catherine had gone to get into her costume. She was going as Sandy from the movie 'Grease'. By 6:45 she was quite anxious and ready to see her friends. She was adjusting her poodle skirt when the doorbell rang. The first to arrive was Jim Brass. He was dressed in a bear costume, "Welcome, Jim. Thank you for coming! You look very handsome in that costume!" Catherine smiled. "The food is in the dining room if you want to go get something to eat."

The next to arrive was Nick and Greg. When Catherine opened the door, Nick looked stunning in his old mobster costume. Greg, feeling a bit shy, had on an overcoat. "Why, come on in." Nick and Greg walked in.

"Cath, will you keep Greg company for me?"

"Sure, but where are you going?"

"Just out to the car." Nick replied. "Greg, it's time for you to take the coat off."

"Do I have to?" Greg whined.

Nick leaned over and whispered into Greg's ear, causing him to smile. He then kissed Greg tenderly on the lips and followed it up with one on the neck. Catherine blushed and turned her head. Greg was slipping the coat off as Brass walked back into the living room."Interesting choice of costume, Greg."

"Isn't it?" Nick smirked. "Why don't you tell him about it while I go put the coat in the car?"

"Yes, Greg, I want to hear about this too." Catherine replied.

"Well, if you must know. I lost a bet. Plain and simple!"

"Hmm, a bet? Let me guess, Warrick?"

"Yep, he sure did. He and I made a bet. We would each become a street performer for an hour. The one who raised the most money would be the winner. The winner got to pick the loser's costume."

"Wonder why he picked a Las Vegas showgirl costume?"

Catherine responded, "I can answer that one for you, I bet. Jim, remember years ago, we had the case of Portia Richmond, the Las Vegas showgirl. You and I worked on it. The people who were in her house said she was off on a cruise somewhere when in fact she had been murdered."

"Yes, I do remember that now."

"You and I went to the Liberace museum and they had one of her head pieces. We were lucky. The headpiece still had strands of hair stuck to the lining. We tested it for DNA."

"Yes."

"Well, I caught Greg dancing around in the hallway wearing it. Then Grissom walked up as well."

"Hahaha…really?"

"Yeah…"

"Anything you want to add to this, Greg?"

By this time, Nick had returned and was standing beside Greg. His arm wrapped around Greg's waist. "Just that I now realize how hard street performers have to work!" Greg paused, "and that I can't wait for this party to be over so I can get out of this."

"Oh, don't you worry, honey. I will get you out of it before the night is out." Nick winked.

"Warrick better get here soon!"

Just about then, both the doorbell and the phone rang. "I'll get the door for you, Cath, so you can answer the phone."

"Thanks, Nicky!"

At the door was standing Lady Heather. She was wearing her dominatrix outfit. "Come on in," Nick said warmly. When she saw Greg standing there and fidgeting, she had to hold back a laugh. "What's going on, Nick?"

"Well, Lady Heather, Warrick made a bet. Greg lost and had to wear a showgirl costume."

"Greg, just remember this. 'This is just one night out of many. Enjoy and have fun being someone different!'"

"I'll try."

"Hey, guys… hello, Lady Heather… that was Warrick on the phone. He is picking up Sara, but he is running late. He will be here later."

"WHAT?!" yelled Greg.

"Calm down, Greg. He is coming. He is just running late." Nick tried to soothe Greg.

"Lady Heather, may I see you privately?" Catherine questioned. "Yes, of course, Catherine."

Meanwhile at Warrick's apartment…

Warrick was making a terrible racket as he clunked around in his suit of armor. "Are you almost ready, Sara?"

"Yeah, almost."

They would have already been in route if not for a bit of extra-curricular activity. When Warrick had seen how beautiful Sara looked in her Renaissance princess costume, he couldn't keep his hands off of her. "Warrick, we shouldn't! Not right now. We will have time for that later."

He pretended not to hear as he kissed her on the neck. Once he did that, she was like butter in his hands. There was no resistance. The dress was off in no time and they were in bed together. His hands caressed her soft and supple skin from the tips of her toes all the way to her neck. It was slow and sensual. Warrick took his time, not wanting the moment to end.

"Greg is probably waiting."

"Forget about Greg. It's all about you, right now." Warrick responded as his lips grazed across her belly.

Once they had finished, Sara had got back into her costume. She was not working on getting her hair to curl. When she emerged from the bathroom, Warrick tried to bow. "Your carriage awaits you, my dear."

By the time they arrived, the party was in full swing. "Hi, Catherine." Sara said warmly as she scanned the crowd.

"Warrick. Sara. Y'all look adorable! A knight and his fair princess!"

Once she got them settled in, she went for the telephone and punched in a number. "Gil, where are you? You were supposed to be here 45 minutes ago!"

"I am on way, Catherine. I got held up with something. I am turning into your neighborhood now."

"Ok… see you soon." She flipped her phone closed and went to find Lady Heather.

When Grissom arrived a few minutes later, Catherine and Lady Heather were waiting. He walked up innocently. "Hello, ladies! My, don't you both look splendid."

"Grissom!" Lady Heather said sharply, "what time did Catherine tell you to be here?"

Grissom, still not knowing was happening, "She said 7 o'clock."

"And what time is it now?"

Grissom checked his watch in the light of the porch. "According to my watch, it is now 7:53."

"Catherine, should we punish him for that?"

"Yes, I think he needs to learn a lesson."

"What? I was involved with something."

"Obviously, it was not getting dressed in your Sherlock Holmes costume."

"No, I like this much better! Don't you?!" Grissom said in a voice that was as excited as a kid would respond on Christmas morning.

Lady Heather replied, "I seem to remember that you were NOT to wear anything remotely related to bugs or anything like it.""But, I am not just a bug. I am a carpenter ant." He said proudly.

"You will be punished for this. I can't having you ruin my friend's party."

"Ruin it?"

"Yes, you are known to follow the rules. You were given clear expectations. Be on time and no bugs. Those are so simple a child could have followed them!"

"But…"

Catherine stood there watching. So far, this part of her plan was working.

"For the crime of being late, you will be given 5 spankings. Now, being the good hearted person I am," Lady Heather paused. " I will give you the choice of having them done publicly or privately."

"Privately."

"You will respond correctly. The correct answer is 'Privately, Lady Heather.'"

"And what if I don't?"

" 'And what if I don't, Lady Heather' better be your response."

Grissom just stood there. "For your repeated disobedience, you will now receive 5 spankings with the paddle. If the disobedience continues, you will not be allowed to speak to any one tonight ."

"Yes, Lady Heather."

"Then let us go to Catherine's bedroom."

"Pardon me, Lady Heather, we are forgetting something." said Catherine. "Oh yes, the matter of your costume." "For that act of disobedience, you will have to crawl on your knees. Ants crawl to get where they need to go and so shall you." Lady Heather replied. "Now, get on your knees and crawl to Catherine's bedroom."

"Yes, Lady Heather."

"That is more like it," Lady Heather responded.