daynaa - yeah, it is that episode (it is also the episode with the giy who played Boone in Lost, too) and this is the start of the party, too.

Cassandra - yes, I'm glad you noticed that - it's something I'm setting up in the long run for my 'finale' if you will. Cheryl's finding denial land just a little bit too cosy at the moment.

wraiths-angel - a large part of that will be revealed here, and the rest later.


Cheryl awoke late the following afternoon, after having fallen asleep on her couch to The Green Mile, still dressed in the outfit she had raced in, minus the boots. She got up, fed Seth and Eddie, and went upstairs for a shower. She got dressed quickly, changing into a grey pant suit, and a white camisole, and her usual running shoes. After grabbing a quick bite to eat, and her dress for the party later, she left her house, making sure her Skyline was parked in clear view should someone be looking for it from the street, but in a place where it was secluded from her neighbours, and headed to work in her Hummer.

She was pretty certain they wouldn't try to take it if there was even the remote chance she was at home, and she needed to leave before anyone noticed the fact her Hummer had Las Vegas Crime Lab plastered all over it. (Whilst having her time off, she had finally gotten around to changing Miami Dade, with Las Vegas – she didn't want to confuse anyone – and what with the whole incident of what happened with Nick and his car, the department had demanded it.)

It was raining heavily, which made it perfect conditions for her car to get stolen – whilst not pleasant to work in, it would wash most evidence away. And it was already dark. It was almost depressing that when she finished work the sun still had to rise, and even more so that it had already set when she started.

The lab was almost deserted by the time she got there. The only ones working were those doing overtime, had no family life, and had no intention of going to the Christmas party. It left only a handful of criminalists, and almost no lab technicians, so she was almost surprised to see Nick stretched out in the break room watching the appalling Christmas Eve television programmes. 'I wasn't expecting you in.'

Nick looked up, 'I knew you weren't going to let that car out of your sight for long, so I figure I would give you some company. I also figured that should that car get stolen tonight, you would go chasing after it, regardless of whether or not you had FBI or police backup. I'm just here to make sure you don't get shot again.'

Cheryl smiled, 'thanks, Nick.' She settled down on the couch next to them, and the two of them began watching Titanic. They actually managed to watch the whole thing and were considering whether or not to get ready to go to the Christmas Party, which was going to start in a few hours, when the alarm on Cheryl's phone went off. Cheryl looked over at Nick, 'it's time.'

The two of them grabbed their jackets and hurried out to Cheryl's Hummer, running quickly to try and avoid the rain, where Cheryl quickly turned the engine on, and her computer on, loading up her GPS programme. The computer revealed that her car and its drivers were heading south on Boulder Highway. Cheryl set off, heading in the same direction.

Eventually, the Skyline came to a stop on Wagon Train Drive. Fifteen minutes later, and several speed limits ignored, Cheryl pulled up a few houses down from where the computer was telling her her car was – an autoshop. Nick and Cheryl got out of the Hummer and headed over to the garage. There was no sign of anyone around, so the two of them headed around to the back. The two were so busy peering into the murky windows that they didn't hear the movement behind them until it was too late, and both were hit around the back of the head, and knocked unconscious.

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'Why can't I come?'

Catherine glanced in the mirror at Lindsay who was sat behind her on her bed, watching her put her make-up on. 'Because, Lindsay, it's a party for adults. Now, please stop whining, and go get a bath. Your grandmother will be here soon.'

'But, mom!'

'Don't "but mom" me, Lindsay,' said Catherine, turning to face the sulky teenager, 'you are far too young to be going to this. Besides, you would be bored. There wouldn't be any other children for you to play with.'

'I'm too old for playing, mom. Besides, Greg would dance with me.'

Catherine managed a smile. It was no secret that the fourteen year old had a crush on the hyperactive CSI, 'maybe,' she told her, 'but he's not going to want to dance with you all night.'

'Well, Cheryl would dance with me.' Cheryl had been around a few times and her and Lindsay got on great – it was something to do with her younger step-brother and sister, or something.

'Lindsay, Cheryl is going to be busy dancing with someone else tonight.'

'Is she going to tell Nick she has a crush on him?'

Catherine laughed. Trust her child to notice something that neither Cheryl nor Nick could see. 'I'm going to try to make sure that happens,' she told her, 'now go answer the door – that will be my mother.'

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By the time Catherine actually made it to the casino, the party was in full swing.

'Hi, Mugs,' he father greeted her as she walked in, 'merry Christmas.'

'Merry Christmas, Sam,' she said, leaning up to give him a kiss. 'You went all out this year.'

Sam shrugged. The room had been decorated to look like a winter wonderland. Everything was white, with ice sculptures, and Christmas trees everywhere. 'I can't stay, I just wanted to say hello, and that you and Lindsay are invited to Christmas dinner tomorrow.'

'Thank you,' she told him, before he walked off. She looked around, spotting Grissom and Jim chattering away, both in suits, under an enormous tree. Sat at the bar was Sara, looking nice in black dress, although she was sat as though she was extremely uncomfortable, drinking a bottle of beer. Well, Sara had never been anything short of a bit of a tomboy, so Catherine wasn't exactly surprised.

She was going to go and join her when she spotted Warrick at one of the large windows staring at the snow – Sam had even gone to the trouble of getting a snow machine.

'Evening,' she said as she walked up to his side.

Warrick turned with a start, 'wow, Catherine. You look… beautiful.'

She was wearing a graceful knee-length purple dress, and did actually look stunning, 'thank you. You look pretty good yourself.' He was wearing a black suit and tie, with a deep red shirt.

Warrick smiled and looked back at the snow, 'Sam really pulled out all the stops, didn't he?'

Catherine nodded, 'it's a good job that terrace is under a cover, because the rain would wash the snow away.'

'How did Lindsey take not being able to go to this?'

'She is in her room sulking. Her argument was that she could dance with Greg all night.'

Warrick chuckled, 'she's still not over that one, then?'

'Oh, and she also asked me when Cheryl was going to tell Nick she liked him,' she turned and took a glass of wine that was being offered to her by a waitress.

Warrick rolled his eyes, 'you're not going to give up on that one, are you?'

'Nope. Someone around here deserves to be happy.'

'I'm happy!' Yelled Greg. It was 9pm, and he was already drunk, dancing around with a lab tech on each arm, whose names Catherine couldn't quite remember, (but suspected to be Jenny and Allie). Somewhat unsurprisingly, Greg was wearing a t-shirt underneath his suit, in replacement of a shirt and tie, as well as sneakers. And on top of his spikes (he'd found the hair gel again) a crown was perched.

'Excuse me, Ladies,' he told them, gently dropping their arms, 'I owe this dance to my be-you-tiful senior colleague, but I will be back.'

'Less of the senior, Greg,' she laughed as he pulled her onto the dance floor. Unfortunately for Catherine, it was an up-tempo number, and Greg was throwing her around to his version of the jive. He ended his dancing with a tango move, dropping Catherine backwards. As he held her with one hand, the other went into his pocket and pulled out a, rather pathetic looking, sprig of mistletoe.

'I have you now, Ms. Willows,' he told her as he leant down and planted a big sloppy kiss on her lips, complete with smacking noises.

'Thanks, Greg,' said Catherine, wiping her mouth as he set her upright. She hurried back to Warrick before he could accost her again.