A/N: We have finally arrived at the ball... After nine chapters, we're finally here... But this is so far from over, so I hope you guys are in this for the long haul. At least another chapter will be taking place at this Ball, if not more. And if Lady Heather seems off character in any of these chapters Even if you are convinced that she's secretly like this, CHLOE, well, I'm blaming it on the loss of her daughter. Makes one crazy, am I not right? Well, she's gonna be crazy, and she's gonna be one viscious beast... Oh yeah, and slightly protective. But DAH WELL... Enjoy! ) Oh yeah, and once again, I can't express my love for the reviews I get from all of you! It means everything to me... I'm a raging review-lover-aholic... But you guys make it go away a little bit.

Disclaimer/Glares/ FINE! I own zip... I don't own the song, but I do own the revisions I made to the song, Gimme That by Chris Brown featuring Lil' Wayne. So, BACK OFF! It's MY revisions! You can't have any/Sticks tongue out/

Chapter 10: Change of Plans

Sara's POV

I gave a slight yawn as I opened up my door to my apartment. For once, I wished the sleep upon my slumping body, anything to escape the physical world. A blank dream was what I needed the most, but I wasn't entirely sure that would be happening if I fell asleep now.

Yet I found my feet carrying me past my breakfast island, tossing the keys on it as I went down the hall for my bedroom. I didn't bother to remove anything from my body; not my shoes, not my jacket or anything of the sort. I just kept walking until my knees hit the head of the bed, promptly falling down face first.

Please just let this be a blank sleep. I begged softly to the atmosphere.

"Well, that was one graceful entrance." I heard a voice say from a corner of the room.

Bouncing up from my preceding position, I drew my issued gun impulsively and aimed it in the direction I heard the voice coming from in the bright room. Holding a breath for the both of us, I quickly let it go when I saw Brooke's hands up in the air with a smirk on her face.

Giving a half sigh and half scowl mixed together in a thick blend, I served it to my sister on a cold platter with my glare. "Brooke! How the Hell did you get into my house? I'm the fifth story off the ground and you don't have keys."

"You should consider holding a Board Meeting with the entire building about security. I slipped right through that faulty window of yours. Well, after I pretty much pulled a Tree Man up that tree next to your window." Brooke threw her thumb over her shoulder to indicate the window behind her. "But that window, it was supposed to be locked but it just slid right open. You're lucky I'm not some homicidal psycho with a vendetta against you."

"Yeah, I should count my blessings on that one." I said sarcastically, not truly feeling in the mood right now to joke around.

"So what's up with you Ms. PMS? Bad day at work?" Brooke said as she threw herself down on my bed next to me as I calmed down.

"I guess you could say that..." I mumbled as I dropped down next to her.

"Wanna talk 'bout it? I got time on my watch." Said Brooke, giving me her undivided attention.

Inhaling, I considered it but quickly denied it. "No... It's irrelevant."

"It's about that guy again, ain't it? What'd he do?" Brooke said immediately.

Quick to lie, I cut myself off this time and remained silent. "It's not what he did," I said I fell back on my back on the bed. "it's what I found myself doing." I deflated into my bed. "I didn't have a case tonight because my partner was just finishing up. So, I went to Grissom to see if I could assist him on his case. He appreciates help sometimes, y'know? But then he questioned me about the car you bought me and I ended up telling him your name. Then I asked him if I could help him with his case but he cut me off half a millisecond after I asked." I recollected his abruptness to the harmless question. "Then he left with telling me to take the night off for myself, to enjoy myself. I was driving around the city and then I ended up right in front of his house. Don't ask me how. It just happened. I was listening to WBRE on the radio and I heard a shout-out to me by an anonymous caller. Then they requested the song, Must Be Nice. You know, the one by Lyfe Jennings? That one."

"D'ya think it was him?" My sister asked me nonchalantly, trying not to put me in a depressed mood with a sympathetic voice.

"I'm not sure. Wouldn't be the first surprise I got from him that he knew songs from the R&B. Probably got it off of Warrick." I mused now that I thought of it. "It could've been though because just then, he pulled up to his house and parked. He seemed to either be concentrating or listening to something and he had his cellphone in his hand closed. I'm not sure anymore." I resolved it with a frustrated grunt as I slapped my hands over my eyes.

"Hmph, we need to find the time to get our plan through! But when?" Brooke thought desperately.

"The Police Ball tomorrow." I mumbled as I thought out loud. Damn myself for making that a habit.

"YEAH!" Said Brooke excitedly as she turned to me and grabbed my wrists with her hands. "You genius! I knew you'd come up with a place!" Brooke took my hands off my eyes much to my displeasure. "Is that woman gonna be there too?"

"I think so." I groaned with despair on the inside of my own broadcast of something I could've chosen not to tell her.

"Great... Perfect. Now we just need to get you the dress to impress. After all, that's the key to the plan, isn't it?" The mischievous grin extended across her face as she noticed my discomfort.

"Maybe we should edit that part of the plan... It doesn't seem surefire." I said as I sat up now, too anxious to lay down.

"Stop that B.S. with low self-esteem in your appearance. It's not very becoming of you." Brooke said sarcastically, standing to go to my closet. Before I had a chance to speak, she was raiding my closet of possible clothes I could wear to the Ball.

It took a considerable amount of time, taking into account the fact that most of my wardrobe consisted of t-shirts and slacks, maybe the occasional jeans here and there, and my court clothes for those dreaded days. It was only at the very back of the closet that Brooke was able to recover a dress that I had long forgotten about. It was a simple bright red, strapless dress that ended up about mid-thigh and was sure to be stuck to my skin like a leech.

"Oo-lala! Where did this come from Ms. Sidle?" Brooke held it up to herself and twirled around mockingly to model it.

"No..." I said masking the horror I felt looking at it. "But no. Absolutely not. Brooklyn Maria Waters, if you make me wear that, you will regret it later."

"Oo, is that a challenge from Ms. Sara Sidle?" Brooke taunted me as she placed it back in the closet.

"Name it." I dared her, standing up with my hands on my hips.

"Dancing or rapping... Future loser's choice." Brooke arched an eyebrow.

"Mirror Dancing." I said in a fiercely quiet voice.

"You're on. If you win, you can wear sophisticated work clothes. But if you lose, you have to wear that dress." Brooke laid down the bet. "Oh yeah, and it's gotta be exactly to the song that I choose. Step for step."

"Fine. What song?" I asked as we walked down the hallway to my stereo.

"Are You That Somebody by Aaliyah." Brooke stopped for a breath. "Or... Gimme That by Chris Brown."

Deliberating over my two options, and knowing that neither of the two dances were easy, I knew that Aaliyah was the ultimate dancer and could never be properly imitated. Not even by Brooke who has been dancing since she could walk. But choosing the second option in this game that Brooke and I had devised a long time ago, I knew came the added on job of having to sing/rap the song afterwards with revisions to it so it suited the loser's point of view. A chance to redeem themselves somewhat.

"Chris Brown." I said as I walked over to my radio and turned it on for a CD. "Are you still the kinda weirdo that walks around with cassettes and CDs in her pockets?" I asked when I turned to her.

"Of course!" She said while tossing me the new CD from the inside of her light jacket.

Putting it on the right track, I prepared myself for this. The rules were simple. Copy the moves of your opponent. But since Brooke said that it had to be the exact routine from the video, we had to copy that step for step. And if we messed up, it's a strike against us and they tallied up until the end. Person with the most strikes had to do the singing part. If they perfected it, converting it perfectly, then they won. But if they messed up even slightly then they lost.

To put it short, I lost with the smallest of parts. My left foot when inwards when it should've gone outwards in one of the steps. Apart from losing, I had to at least internally admit that Brooke would always be better than me at the dancing routine. Though at least I wasn't the old Sara Sidle anymore, who couldn't dance to save her life. Growing up in a colored neighborhood in my foster years, I learned a different style of living than most kids I knew after I moved out of there. This included how I danced, acted, walked, and talked. Never once did I regret it.

"Hah! Still can't be the master of the art!" Brooke proclaimed triumphantly, sweating just as much as I was. I guess I wouldn't be sleeping now... I was too energized now. "But I gotta admit, I did pretty good teaching you how to at least come close to my skills."

Her arrogant side never ceased to amaze me sometimes. "Sure Brooke. Sure. Let's just get this over with."

"And remember! Can't mess up!" Brooke fell back on the couch.

Starting the song over, while I waited for the intro to pass I thought to myself. "Hey, do I have to do the Lil' Wayne part?"

"Eh, as a reward for doing better than I thought you would, I'll do the Lil' Wayne part. I'll convert it too..." Brooke said with a heavy sigh as she got off the couch and leaned against the back of it. "Start it over."

"What it is folks?
This right here is the 35-year-old phenom Sara Sidle!
Me myself I'm the 30-year-old CEO... Who?
Young Brooklyn, harder than them other girls,
I ain't even frontin' baby I can take a summer off
I take any man's dance off,
I can shake the stomach off, one of my trucks now I'm ridin' in their grills
Line it on up guaranteed you'll get served
Lil' Sar ain't runnin' so I'm runnin' it to him
I'm that Cash Money Youngin', Birdman Junior
Just a female president lookin' for a male Monicer." Brooke finished off the intro and the first verse and then passed it onto me to finish.

"The young girl just turned 35 and I got
64's and hot Lambos that I rock
Keep three or four hunks on my watch,
But all that confidence in that saunter just might convince her
Slow all the traffic down to a complete stop,
'Cause you speaking that slang that I talk
That sassy tempo with that walk,
Maybe the reason that all this other men may never see me." I struggled to make everything fit into my lifestyle. I would not wear that dress.

"Boy you may be, fifteen-years-older, but you hot
You be talking like you like what I got
You know I like it how you lean in the 'lac,
I could be in the back saying, gimme, gimme, gimme." I repeated the chorus twice, feeling the heat rising in my cheeks at the thought of my words.

"Boy take a break, let me explain to you,
What ya body got a young girl ready to do
If you take a chance to let me put them things on you,
I could show you why I made them straight A's in school
I'm a hustler, trust my frame and age
Know you thinking that I'm just too young to turn your page
I can picture, us switching lanes,
In the coupe with me in the back screaming your name,

Gris!" I couldn't face Brooke for a second as I spoke the last lines to the next verse going back to the chorus. Gaining more confidence, knowing that it was only Brooke in the room, who knew exactly what I felt about my boss, I turned back to her. She was grinning like a Cheshire Cat. "Listen baby, baby what it do, I'm tryin' to holla at ya
I ain't upset but I'll blind you if I smile at you
You rockin' wit young Sar and the best rapper,
So leave ya phone, bring ya friends, let the rest happen
A lil patron, lil Hen I'm on Pavody Vodka
I'm in Carbony jeans, got on my secrets just to mock ya
I'm fresher than a new born,
And, umm, I'll let work me out like a futon
And, umm, you can leave ya birthday suit on
You leave your boots on, you leave ya jewels on,
Never know what I want, you better leave that tool on,
Never know who home, I learned that from a Biggie song
Umm to a new-born, something like a red palm
Oh I think he like me, he got me on his cellphone,
And I told him, holla at ya girl, and don't ya stunt
Now gimme that, some of that that, gushy stuff." Brooke still had no shame in what she spoke about, so diverse from myself.

I continued through with the chorus until the song ended, when I was glad it was over. Seeing as that had satisfied Brooke's competitive spirit, she declared that I'd won this time, but that I shouldn't let it go to my head.

"Brooke, you shouldn't be talking about things going to people's heads. You're head is pretty big from your ego to begin with, and with each passing day it doesn't get smaller." I teased, glad that I had at least had won to save myself from public embarrassment.

"What a shame. It probably would've attracted him even more, y'know? Oh well, guess we'll never know now." She gave me a shrug with her guilt trip. "Let's pick that outfit out, Miss Thang."

Brooke ended up throwing together brownish or tan slacks that weren't exactly work clothes but weren't court clothes either. Together with that was a white woman's tank top with a matching brownish or tan jacket. Overall, I wasn't ashamed when I observed in the mirror. It was still me but slightly different. Slipping on my court shoes however, as uncomfortable as they were, I figured I could manage if I stuffed the toes with tissue like I normally did so I wouldn't be in pain at the end of the day.

"Okay, well now that this is settled, I would like to get some sleep so I look rested for this thing tonight. You're welcome to stay on the couch unless you have other business to attend to." I said as I went into my bathroom to change into more comfortable clothes.

"All right... I guess so, I haven't gotten a call out yet, so I guess I could rest before I do." Brooke called to me from within my bedroom. "Hmm, but now that we've got you figured out for the Ball, what should I do for my dress? I don't think I'll fit going in like this."

"Wait, you're coming too?" I said as I was amazed that Brooke, of all people, would want to be surrounded by a bunch of cops and criminal investigators for the whole night.

"Hell yeah! It's my plan! You think I'm not gonna come along to see how it plays out?" She asked one of those question that didn't need a response with a scoff.

"Keep it simple... Jeans and a t-shirt." I advised her as I walked out.

"Yeah, right... Like I got any jeans or shirts that would be 'suitable' for this Ball thing." She eyed her clothes now. "This is what my whole wardrobe is like."

"Oh, poor Brook-erella, doesn't have any clothes for the Ball." I said lightheartedly, folding up my clothes and setting them on the chair beside my faulty window. "Whatever shall she do?"

"Well, are you my Fairy Godmother?" Brooke asked to go along with it.

"No, so I'm sorry to say that you're on your own there little sister." I threw a glance back at her.

"Oh, the amount of help I'm getting here is so overwhelming, I'm about to explode." She replied in a flat, sardonic tone.

"I'm not cleaning it up though." I jokingly as I set up my bed for sleep.

"Guess I won't be staying then... But hey, do you want me to meet you there or do you want me to come get you? And what time is it... Wait." She took a thoughtful pause. "I don't know anything about this Ball. Maybe it's just better if I go with you."

"All right. Just be here by 7:00... We'll leave at about 7:30." I informed her, sitting back down on my bed.

"A'ight... I'll be here on time. Have a good sleep, sis!" She called as she exited my bedroom, closing the door.

Getting under the covers after shutting the blinds, I slowly let eyes droop close as I thought of what was to come tonight. I sent a silent wish to anyone that could hear me to let the plan work correctly.

Waking up abruptly around 6:00, I got up and took my shower, then put on the clothes for tonight. Applying an adequate amount of make-up to show my effort tonight, I debated with my reflection about what to do with my hair.

Up or down? Partially wet or fully dry? Straight or naturally curly? My mind waged a war of its own just to decide.

Eventually, I just decided to leave it down and slightly curly, but fully dry. Just as soon as I was finished fussing with my disobedient hair, my buzzer rang loud enough to make me jump with a start. Power walking out of my bathroom and to the door, I swung it open to reveal a very mature appearing Brooke Waters, albeit an uncomfortable one.

Her roommate must've forced her to wear every single bit of the articles of clothes she was wearing, as well as the make-up, which just let me with my mouth open. Never once in my entire life had I seen Brooke in any form of make-up. Not even chapstick. Yet here she was now with blush, lipstick, eye shadow, and every other kind of make-up imaginable on; actually looking like a lady. And that wasn't even the start of it...

Notwithstanding the fact that this was a Police Ball, and that Brooke looked like she was ready to go party down at one of the clubs, she still looked classy in what she wore. A pair of jeans that actually fitted her and flared out at the bottom was what I noticed first. Next, she had shoes, not sneakers, on. And not just any shoes, but black high-heel shoes. A shocker all in its own. For a top, she had a plain white tank top, not muscle shirt, underneath a small army zipper-up, short-sleeve, hoodie sweatshirt where the hem stopped right at her ribcage. Her hair, still wet and slick, was brushed back into a French braid, a single spiraling strand of hair dangling freely from her bangs.

And though she had the appearance of an innocent woman now, her appearance change didn't change her attitude at all.

"One word... Just one word, Sara Sidle, and I will clear that expression from your face so fast you won't have an expression to make up for it." Brooke said huffily as she barged inside and sat down stubbornly on my couch.

"I wasn't gonna say anything! I think you actually look nice for a change! It's just strange to see you like this, dressed up and such. It's a nice change, though." I said, holding my hands up in defense.

"Meh... Okay, I'll admit, I do look different, but this is just for you. If it was anyone else, I wouldn't go to this length." Brooke pointed at me accusingly. "You'd get what you'd get, like it or not, but I did this because you're my sister." She took a breath as she was about to relax, but then turned back to me on the couch. "I'd say the both of us are gonna clean up that place though. The plan's foolproof... You're gonna get him one way or another." Brooke promised.

"Well, let's just get there first. You ready?" I asked as I snatched my keys to go.

"Yup... Let's hit the road!" Brooke said energetically as she got up from the couch and went out the door. "Meet you down there."

Following her down after shutting off all the lights, I locked the door from the outside and swiftly followed her down the flights of stairs to ground level. We really needed to get that elevator working again. Only several paces behind her, we crossed the parking lot to get to my car. Silence ensued as I turned it on and drove off toward the designated place, Lake Mead's Party House.

I only realized the consequences of showing up in my newly bought car when it was too late. If Grissom had questioned me about it, everyone else would surely. That's when I pulled over to the side of the road about five-minutes from the club.

"What's up? Don't tell me you forgot something." Brooke questioned from the passenger seat.

"No... Switch spots with me. You drive the rest of the way." I instructed as I started to lift myself over the middle barrier into the passenger seat.

Getting bumped out of her seat, Brooke jumped out of the car and got in on the driver's side. "Now the explanation?"

"My boss questioned me about the car, and while I told him the truth, I don't feel like going through all of tonight having people question me about where I got the money for such an expensive car. I don't need them thinking that I'm getting paid off or doing things I shouldn't be to earn extra cash to buy this." I briefed her as she pulled the car back on the road. "And no speeding Brooke."

"Fun-sucker-outerer." Brooke said with a pout, but kept to the speed limit.

Pulling into the parking lot of the club, Brooke and I got out of the car simultaneously. Across the parking lot, just standing outside and chatting away, was Catherine, Greg, and Nick in one group while Warrick and Brass stood slightly out to the side talking privately. All talking between them came to a stop however, once Greg laid eyes on both Brooke and me. One-by-one, the other four of them turned their attention to us as we approached, the parking lot having a long stretch.

Our entrance would've been completely movie-styled if it hadn't been for two cars entering the parking lot and pulling in abruptly to two empty spaces side-by-side. And out came the two people that the others were probably betting wouldn't come at all, besides myself. Grissom and Lady Heather.

With everyone's attention, including Brooke and mine's as we stood in the middle of the parking lot. Grissom began to walk toward the entrance with Heather at his side, clad in a simple black dress. But that wasn't what caught my eye first... It was him...

I've seen Gil Grissom dressed up in many ways... I've seen him in his court clothes, I've seen him in his casual wear, and I've seen him in his work clothes. But this new style, a very gentleman-like look, was by far his Best In Show. I was helpless against his mesmerizing looks and hypnotizing walk. Dressed in a simple black and white three piece suit, I could tell it was at least a year or two old from the way that the sleeves of his jacket constricted around his muscles on his biceps. If I ever had any doubts about his body physique before, it was gone for good now. For his age, he was quite in shape.

And for a single moment in time, once his eyes set on mine, he stopped walking as we began our staring game we had at some points at the lab. Little did he know that I couldn't help but stare at him sometimes. And though they hardly even lasted very long, it was long enough for Lady Heather to notice the intense gaze between us, altering her vision from her date to me once or twice. She whispered something which made Grissom break the stare we had going and he cleared his throat and continued to walk on. I cursed at Lady Heather under my breath for cutting off my vision of his beautiful eyes.

Continuing to walk to rest of the distance, but at a slower pace than before, I witnessed as Grissom continued to amble up toward our group of friends while Lady Heather took a slight detour to Brooke and I. She stopped directly in front of our walking path and had a calm, but hidden fiery expression on her face now. I was on her radar now...

"I'm warning you... I don't care who you are, or what your plans are, but do not think of trying to advance any relationship between yourself and Gil. You had your chance, and now it's gone. So, move on..." Her speech was soft and calm for the most part, yet I found it to be the most intimidating tone yet.

And with that, she sauntered away to leave an internally stunned me, and an outwardly astonished Brooke, mouth hung wide open to land a plane in.

"Oh no she didn't." Brooke said once she was out of earshot. "Uh, Sara? Remind me to come out before the party ends so I can make some... revisions to that lady's car, will you? There's about to be a change of plans in our plan tonight..." Brooke said as she cracked her knuckles while she glared at Lady Heather's back.

Feeling a slight fire of a temper flare up inside of me at the woman's sudden attitude, I managed a mischievous smirk as I stared with Brooke. "All right. I can work with that..."

TBC...

A/N2: Okay, I just wanna make sure of one thing... I'm going to be very involved with music in this fic... It won't be every chapter, but especially while I'm in any kinda club or this Ball, music and lyrics will be involved... Just thought I'd let you know in advance... Now do you're part in this strange little relationship of Author/Reviewer, and I'll keep up my end of the bargain. Deal? Cool... But now I gotta bounce... Later!

Peace out, one love,

MC New York