I love Gershwin!
Someone to watch over me
Jessica and Greg left their coats with the door greeter as they walked into the ballroom together, their arms linked together. They talked to other LVPD employees and wandered around, enjoying the beautiful Christmas decorations.
"Does the department have these kinds of parties every year?" Jessica inquired.
"No, it's a benefit program for the local children's hospital," Greg explained, "They just figured to go along with the holiday season."
Jessica smiled and leaned closer into him. "It's nice," she said.
They found more members of their team and began talking with them and meeting their guests.
"This is Stephanie," Nick said as he introduced his date, "We went to college together and we just happened to run into each other at the store last month. So I called her up and asked her to come along."
"Trying to rekindle a college romance that was never going to go anywhere, huh, Nicky?" Greg teased.
"Well looks who's talking, G," Nick retorted, "Having to walk around with Jelly while she waits for her man because you couldn't get a date."
"Actually Jelly is my date," Greg smirked triumphantly. "I even asked her out in person myself."
Sara gave him a measured look. "Holly's your date?" she asked.
Greg nodded at her with a slightly cold expression. "Yes, Holly's my date."
"Don't you think you should have asked someone other than your roommate, G?" Nick inquired.
"No," he said, wrapping his arms around Jessica's shoulders from behind, "I wanted to take Jelly." He kissed the side her head and held her gently.
Jessica smiled and leaned into him. "And I was more than ecstatic to accept his offer."
The dinner began and was quickly followed by drinks and desserts while the selected entertainment performed. Each performer was sponsored by LVPD employees. If the audience enjoyed the individuals then they could pay for them to continue performing.
As a young woman bowed and left the temporary stage the emcee came back out. "Wasn't she wonderful? Victoria Stowell ladies and gentlemen!" The room erupted into another round of applause. "Now our next performer is a new comer to the LVPD Crime Lab, but from what I hear she is incredible with everything she does. Ladies and gentlemen please welcome Dr. Holly Smith."
Jessica sat there speechless with her mouth opened in shock. She looked at Greg and scowled at the smug look on his face. "You bitch," she muttered as she stood, "I know you did this."
Greg chuckled as she smacked him lightly against the side of his head. "Hey I've heard you sing, you're incredible! You needed to perform tonight!"
Jessica sighed as she turned to leave. "What did you tell them I would be singing?"
"Anything by Gershwin," Greg called to her.
Jessica walked up on stage and shook her head at Greg. The emcee continued to introduce her as the small jazz band prepared to play. Jessica whispered to the emcee and he smiled.
"Well apparently we have a special two for one deal tonight," the emcee said, "Because the Doc's expecting." A small smile crept across Jessica's face as her hand ran over her belly that was showing already through her purple dress. "So here's Holly and her baby boy performing a special duet of George Gershwin's 'Someone to Watch Over Me.'"
The band started and Jessica slowly swayed to the music with her eyes closed. Her slowly opened her eyes and looked at the audience as she began.
There's a saying old says that love is blind
Still we're often told "seek and ye shall find"
So I'm going to seek a certain lad I've had in mind
Looking everywhere, haven't found him yet
He's the big affair I cannot forget
Only man I ever think of will regret
I'd like to add his initials to my monogram
Tell me where's the shepherd for this lost lamb
There's a somebody I'm longing to see
I hope that he turns out to be
Someone to watch over me
I'm a little lamb who's lost in a wood
I know I could always be good
To one who'll watch over me
Although he may not be the man some girls think of
As handsome to my heart
He carries the key
Won't you tell him please to put on some speed
Follow my lead, oh how I need
Someone to watch over me
Someone to watch over me
The crowd erupted into a sea of applause as the song ended. People began standing as the applause continued. Jessica smiled and looked out at everyone. She thanked the audience as she acknowledged the band and applauded for them.
Sara hadn't missed it. She had seen the way Holly looked at Greg as she sang the song full of love. She didn't care what anyone said, she knew Holly and Greg were together. Holly was going to have Greg's baby.
After four stand ovations and five different songs by Gershwin the crowd had finally settled down enough for Jessica to take her seat again. She smiled at Greg and kissed his forehead as she sat down.
"Ok, I forgive you," she said as she slipped her hand into his, "I haven't performed like that in years."
"Feel good to get back into the saddle?" Nick inquired.
"Amazing!" Jessica exclaimed, "It made me wish I had majored in Music Performance back when I was an undergrad."
"But if you had you wouldn't be here right now," Greg said to her.
Jessica smiled at him and squeezed his hand. "You're right and if I had I would have never met the amazing man who is the father of my son."
Greg smiled at her. "Good, because the forensics world needs you and this little guy needs a mother."
"What about a father?" Sara asked, "Shouldn't a child grow up with both of his parents?"
Jessica couldn't help the angry look she shot at Sara. "Can't you just drop this for one night, Sara? Please?"
"I don't see what the problem is," Sara said snidely.
"The problem, Sara, is the fact that you keep harassing Greg and Holly about this fake relationship that you seem to think is real," Nick intervened. "I swear every time I see you around Greg and Holly you're always making these accusations. Can't you take a break for one night and let them enjoy the holiday season?"
Sara looked at him with an angry expression. She grabbed her clutch and stood from the table and walked from the ballroom.
Nick sighed and shook his head. "I'm sorry, Jelly, Greg. I think she's just upset because Grissom canceled on her at the last night. Something about finding a rare butterfly or something equally as buggy."
Jessica tried to hide the fact she was brushing small tears from her eyes. "It's alright," she whispered in a small voice, "I understand where she's coming from. I miss my Ryan and father and brother right now."
Greg wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her temple. "Don't worry about her," he whispered, "Tonight is about celebrating, so let's do just that."
Greg's lips brushed against her ear and Jessica smiled. She turned and looked at him and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Alright, I think I can do that."
Greg and Jessica walked out of the hotel's ballroom together holding hands. They laughed and smiled as they made their way outside. It was cold and the wind kicked up and blew Jessica's skirt around. She laughed and stopped to hold it in place.
"Oh dear," she laughed, "I'm like Marilyn Monroe."
Greg laughed with her and tried to shield her body from the wind. He smiled down at her and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Sometimes I wish you really were mine," he whispered to her, "So then I could really love you."
Jessica smiled at him and hugged him tightly. "Sometimes I do, too," she quietly admitted, "But I love Ryan too much."
"I know," Greg said, "And I'm ok with it."
Greg looked up and smiled towards the early eveing sky. "Jess, it's snowing," he quietly said.
Jessica craned her head upwards and smiled as huge flakes landed on her face. "I haven't seen snow in years," she said, "Not since I lived in Pennsylvania. Ok I take that back, there was snow when I was in Germany, but I only saw it for a few days. But I still haven't had a white Christmas in years."
Greg smiled and held her close. "Merry Christmas Jessica," he whispered.
Jessica smiled into his neck and hugged him back. "Merry Christmas Greg," she responded.
Jessica jumped and leaned back from their embrace. Her hand flew to her stomach and she smiled. "He's moving," she said, "My little boy's moving, Greg." She grabbed his hand and placed it on her belly. Greg smiled as he felt the tiny movements beneath his palm. "Maybe it's his way of telling you Merry Christmas," he said.
Jessica smiled and looked into his eyes before she turned her head towards the sky. She swore he could hear his voice. "Merry Christmas, Jessica," he softly said.
"Merry Christmas, Ryan," she whispered as a single tear rolled down her cheek.