Chapter 24
Sunday April 16th, 2006
10:35 p.m.
UNLV Auditorium
As the cast came out to take their bows, Thomas had to practically drag Jessica back on the stage, pushing her to the front of the cast so that she could get the appropriate response to her wonderful performance. Jessica gave a quick curtsey before backing up towards the back of the stage, her face pale and her breath short, almost to the point of hyperventilating
"How could you Thomas?" Jessica hissed getting his attention as well as the rest of the cast that was nearby.
"Sara said…" he began as he walked towards Jessica, who was continuing to back away into the wings.
"And you went along with it?" snapped Jessica her back hitting the wall before she slid down it, sitting down on the floor hard, her hastily rebuilt wall crumbling as she crumbled to the floor, the cast gathering around her.
"Damn it Sara," Nick cursed as he watched Jessica start panicking on stage, disappearing backstage moments later. The minute she vanished Nick was on his feet making his way to where he figured she would be, coming across a wall of people blocking his way to Jessica, who's sobs he could hear above the voices of the people gathered around her. "Excuse me," he said as he rather unceremoniously pushed a few of the cast members aside so that he could reach his fiancée. He was not happy with what he saw when he finally made it through the group to Jessica. She was sitting there curled in on herself, overcome with grief. He hadn't seen her this bad since that first phone call from Sara after her disappearance. Without a word, he gathered Jessica into his arms, picking her up and carrying her from the backstage area out to their limo, where he let her cry out her grief in private.
After about twenty minutes, Jessica's sobs had turned to sniffles. "Why'd she do it Nick?"
"I don't know Baby, that's something you'll have to ask her yourself but you know I'm here if you need to talk right?" Nick said reassuringly.
"I know and I will Nick I promise, it's just…it's hard…it's…it's about my father…" Jessica trailed off with new tears.
"Shh, it's okay Baby. You don't have to tell me right now. I hate to say this but the others are probably starting to get worried about us."
"I guess we need to go back in then," Jessica sniffled as she wiped her eyes.
"I would love nothing more than to just take you home right now Baby, but unfortunately we dohave to go back in. I promise I'm not going anywhere tonight," Nick told her. "Are you sure you're ready?"
When Jessica nodded Nick opened the door and helped her out of the limo, putting his arm around her waist in support as they made their way back towards the stage doors.
So wrapped up in each other at first, neither noticed the figure waiting in the shadows, leaning against the stage doors. Sara had heard Nick's comment when he left the group in their seats, and in that moment she knew she had screwed up royally. There was never a time when she cursed her lack of sight more, she had to get the story out of Gil, find out just how Jessica had looked when she was singing Wishing, and when they gave their bows. Her feelings of screwing up only intensified when she heard what he had to say. And when Greg came from backstage, commenting that Nick and Jessica were gone...she had no doubt as to where they had gone. So, without a word to anyone, other than Gil, she had him lead her to the stage doors and she left Sahidi with him as she slipped out to wait for their return. Perhaps not the wisest decision in her life, and one she knew Gil wasn't exactly thrilled about, the thought of leaving her on the other side of those doors with no protection, but she had pleaded and he had consented, but not without informing her in no uncertain terms that he would be just on the other side of those doors to keep anyone from interrupting what might occur, and to make sure if she needed him she could yell and he would hear her, and only be a second away. Which was how she found herself here, listening as Nick and Jessica's heavy footsteps came closer.
"Nick? Jess?" Sara asked softly as she stepped away from the door and out of the complete shadows, remaining half in the shadows just the same.
"Why Sara?" asked Jessica quietly as she and Nick stopped, Nick not letting go of his hold around Jessica, who had her arms wrapped around his waist.
"I'm sorry," Sara whispered
"That's all well and good Sara but that doesn't answer my question," Jessica snapped. "Why did you do that to me? You of all people know that I had my reasons for refusing to sing Wishing and yet you arrange a way in which I have no choice. So why Sara?"
"I had thought..." she began trailing off. "I never understood...just how deep they were. I had thought..." Sara tailed off once more glancing away. "Maybe by letting yourself go, getting in touch with a part of your past...it might make it easier to face your future," she finished softly.
"You had no right Sara," argued Jessica, hurt evident in her voice. "I know I have to deal with my demons but this is one thing that…Sara, granted you have been through hell but the hell I went through watching the one person I cared about more than anything be beaten and killed right before me is something I would never wish on anyone and it's not exactly something that's easy to deal with. I built a wall when I was seven Sara. A wall that I never wanted anyone to see behind because I was afraid all they would see was a scared little girl who had everything she could ever want, yet missing the only thing that ever truly mattered to her. I watched you Sara. I watched you with your family, wishing everyday that I truly was a member of your family because then I could have what you did. You had the one thing I ever truly wanted and tonight you've just torn down the wall I'd built to protect myself and all it took was four little words."
"Four words?" Sara whispered.
"Her father promised her," replied Jessica, wiping away tears. "My father promised me he'd never leave me. That he would be there to walk his little girl down the aisle on her wedding day. I'm not going to have that Sara. Never. And as much as your family claims me as their own, it's not the same Sara. It won't be my father walking me down the aisle. My children will never get the chance to know their grandparents."
"Oh Jyn," Sara whispered softly shaking her head. "You're right, I've been through hell. And I can never escape my past; it's ingrained in my soul. I close my eyes and the memories are there, never letting me forget a moment...a choice...a mistake. I didn't want your past to haunt you like that..." Sara trailed off for a second. "This was the only way I knew to open the doors, to help you remember, find your way back to the good times you had...It had seemed like you had forgotten, especially when you'd forgotten that you were a part of our family too...I never thought...I just never dreamed it would bring the bad times too, not like this...I'm so sorry, Jyn girl. And I know sorry will never cut it, nor will I blame you for never forgiving me...I deserve it more than you might even realize now."
"I'm not angry with you Sara. And I can understand where you're coming from, I can, it's just...What you did, hurt Sara. I refused to sing that song and refused Thomas' offers all these years because I knew that everything I'd built would come crashing down around me with four simple little words. I built the wall because I grew tired of the pity people showed me. I have tried over the years to deal with what happened, that's part of why I became a CSI in the first place but every time I tried..."
"Every time you tried it only hurt more."
"Yes," Jessica agreed quietly. "Why do you think Stevens was so effective at getting to me in Frisco Sara? The Sidles have taken me in as have the Stokes but it's not the same thing. Why do you think I never returned to Heaven's Paradise unless I had to over the years? It's because every time I walk into that house I see my parents; I hear their voices. God Sara, I even see them before me sometimes. Did you know I've never changed my parents room or my father's study?"
"I didn't," Sara replied softly.
"Like I said Sara, I'm hurt, not angry. This has opened up some really painful memories for me and it's just going to take some time for me to deal with this."
"I wouldn't expect any less. For it to take time that is," she added
"We should probably get back inside before someone sends out a search party for the hostesses," Jessica suggested quietly.
"Any search parties would have to get past Gil and Sahidi," Sara smiled slightly. "Why don't you two go ahead and stay out here if you want, It's after eleven now if my mental calculations are right, we had planned to get out of here by eleven-thirty as it was. I can make our excuses and such, I'm sure the rest of the gang is ready to get out of here too..." she trailed off unsure.
"Meet you at the car then?" Jessica asked
"Are you sure? We can probably get a ride from one of the others, you guys don't have to come by the house after everything that's happened tonight..." Sara offered them a way out.
"We'll come by for a little while, I'm sure everyone has questions about my sudden singing ability but would you mind if I borrowed some clothes? I don't fancy staying in this bloody dress all night."
"Hon, I figured that was a given," Sara smiled.
"Thanks," Jessica replied. "Shall we wait for you and Gil?"
"You don't have to..." Sara trailed off glancing back towards the building behind her. "Not saying we wouldn't welcome the ride or anything like that, but if you guys want some more time to yourselves before you become surrounded by everyone at the townhouse..."
"We'll meet you there then," replied Jessica before Nick led her back the way they had come, helping her into the car before climbing in after her.
Sara waited until the car started before turning and opening the door, only to have her hand butted by Sahidi's head and Gil take her other hand in his. "She and Nick are going to meet us at the house, think we can drag a ride out of Jim?"
"Probably, you okay?" he asked softly.
"In time, but let's get out of here," she smiled softly before taking Sahidi's lead and going to make the final announcements and such.
Monday April 17th, 2006
12:35 a.m.
Grissom-Sidle Townhouse
"Alright everyone, drinks are in the fridge, kindly don't rearrange them, I don't want to make Griss have to kill somebody," Sara warned with a smirk before making her way out of the room, on her way to change. After her 'thank you's and all that fun, they had met up with the gang and gotten a ride from Jim, who was glad to offer his services as Sahidi rode with the Browns. And so everyone found their way to the townhouse, where Jessica and Nick were waiting, although everyone had instructions to not bug Jessica about anything that happened or Sara would tell Sahidi he could sit on any and all of them. And taking a moment to get out of her dress she headed to her room leaving Gil to deal with everyone.
"Do we ask?" Catherine spoke up glancing at Grissom.
"When you open the fridge you'll understand," he replied with a smile before turning and heading into the kitchen.
"Hmm, curious," Greg shrugged before rising and following after him. "Oh cool boss! How long did it take to make all those sticky tab things?" he exclaimed raising the others' curiosity and they followed him to the kitchen to find Grissom rolling his eyes as Greg traced every plastic tab trying to decipher the Braille.
"Sara's idea, and give up deciphering the Braille, it's in her shorthand." Grissom spoke up before grabbing a bottle of water and a raspberry ice tea. Leaving them, he headed back into the living room to set up the game. The others grabbed a drink before following after him.
"Okay, what's that?" Warrick asked as Grissom connected eleven pieces of wood that were basically a long line with a square on one side.
"Jesters," Grissom answered. "Pick a color," he continued looking up at them. "We have Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, Black, Swirl blue, Swirl red, and Orange. Sara uses Pearl, Jess uses Lavender, and Chris uses Teal."
"Orange!" Greg piped up.
"I'll take Swirl blue," Mia added.
"Swirl red," Jim spoke.
"Blue," Nick continued.
"Regular red."
"Green," Catherine finished.
"That leaves me with black," Grissom nodded as he began to place five marbles of each of those colors on the boards, one color to each section.
"Alright, what the heck is this?" Greg asked as he sat in front of the section with the orange marbles.
"It's a game called Jesters. Sara's been trying to teach me, to prepare me for tonight," he explained as he started to shuffle two decks of cards together."
"What is Jesters?" Catherine asked as she sat down in front of her own section.
"Like Sorry! meets a few other games," Grissom began. "Object is to get your marbles from your home to your base, in order to take a marble out of your home, you need a face card or an Ace. Eights only move backwards, but can only be used if they help you go back to your base. Sevens can be split between two marbles, and with a Joker you can trade your marble with any other person's."
"Okay, so then how is this like Sorry?" Jim asked as he checked out the board, from the start point it was eight back to the last hole on the board before his, the opposite direction it was ten holes to the end of his own board. The base was the second hole on the board from right to left, with a hole directly above it, then another one to that one's left, one above that and a final hole to it's left. Five holes in the base to match with the five holes that formed the home.
"Well, if you have a Jack, and move eleven spaces to land on say where Catherine's marble is, you'll send her back to home," Grissom explained.
"Oh evil," Nick mused.
"Ah but the whole point of Jesters is that you want to get your marbles into your base, but also keep anyone else from doing that," Jessica spoke up with a smile. "Then of course there's the Three's Rule, if we decide to play it."
"The Three's Rule?" the entire group asked.
"Wait, you don't know what that rule is?" Catherine asked looking at Grissom.
"Nope, Sara didn't mention that one."
"Ah well it's the best rule, when someone plays a three, you have to trade your hand. Red threes go to the right, black threes to the left," Jess explained. "Sara's cousin Nikolas came up with it when he was ten, God, that was a lifetime ago," Jessica trailed off to herself.
"So how old is Nikolas now?" Catherine asked with a smirk.
"Oh God...umm... Hey Sara!"
"What!" Sara yelled back from the bedroom where she had gone to change.
"How old is Nik?"
"Now?"
"No, ten years ago!" Catherine yelled rolling her eyes.
"Fourteen," Sara yelled back.
"No he's not!" Jessica spoke up shaking her head.
"What? He was fourteen ten years ago," Sara called back with a laugh.
"You got to admit, we did ask for that one," Warrick mused before Catherine smacked his arm.
"Knock knock!" Chris called as he opened the door and walked in, Thomas on his heels.
"Hey Scor," Jessica smiled before seeing his companion. "Thomas," she greeted.
"Evening Duchess," Chris grinned. "By the way, you were fantastic."
"Thanks," she replied quickly as Thomas opened his arms as if to hug her as she walked up to him, before she proceeded to slug him in his gut, causing him to double over with an oomph.
"Something tells me I deserved that," Thomas managed to get out as he slowly straightened, and noticed everyone other than Chris was staring at Jessica and him in shock. Jessica glared at him for a moment before brushing past him and going into the kitchen.
Chris glanced at Thomas before nodding towards the kitchen, then making his way over to the table. "Ah, I see my board is already set up, be prepared to die Princess!" he called to which Sara merely snorted from the bedroom. "Ah, she pretends to not be afraid, yet inside she is trembling."
"I see he hasn't grown up any since we were seventeen," Thomas mused before glancing at Jessica. "Jess, I want to apologize," he continued softly when they were both in the kitchen.
"Why Thomas? Why did you agree to what happened tonight? You knew I wouldn't sing Wishing and yet you went along with getting me into that production tonight and I want to know why?" Jessica demanded as she paced the kitchen.
"There's no answer for that. Call it selfish desire to sing with you, call it stupidity on my part. Call it downright male ability to forget how to think. There's simply no answer to that," Thomas replied softly as he leaned against the counter to give her room to pace. "Lotte, I was stupid, I was an idiot, all I can do is say I'm sorry and hope that someday you'll at least be able to look at me without wanting to strangle me," he shrugged slightly.
"I had my reasons for refusing your requests to join the cast all these years Thomas and tonight you saw the after effects of my reasons," Jessica said quietly, not looking at him.
"After effects? What after effects?" he replied with a slight smile. "Honey, I saw you sing your heart out on that stage, I saw an audience in complete utter awe of the power and beauty that is your voice. As for what happened after the show, hey, everyone's allowed to have a good cry. Look at what you've been through in the past year with Sara. Far as I'm concerned, the night was an emotional night; you and Sara were opening a branch of a foundation that affects both of you deeply. You just finished a trial with a nutcase who just happens to be that weirdo who was always at the Rose Garden...anything beyond reacting to that... well, that's between you, that great guy who nearly killed us to get to you, and whoever else you intend to share it with."
"Thank you," Jessica replied quietly, raising her eyes towards Thomas finally.
"For what," he countered with a grin.
"For being you and not making a big deal out of my breakdown," replied Jessica with a relieved smile. "It is good to see you again."
"Good to hear, here I was thinking everyone was going to be plotting my murder or something," Thomas grinned. "And hey, would you expect any less of me, we both know the only person I ever push when it comes to emotional outbursts is Fire, and that's only because I earned that right," he added with a wink before dropping to a whisper. "By the way Love, I don't know how things are between you two, but if it helps at all, she hasn't been plotting this for months. I sort of dragged her into this and well, it just spiraled down after our normal Christine came down with strep throat yesterday."
"I'm not angry at Sara, Thomas, just hurt that she felt the right to put me in the position that she did. And Thomas, really the only one you may have to worry about plotting your death would be the Texan in the other room. He gets extremely protective of me in situations like this," Jessica informed him.
"Well, good to hear you aren't plotting her death, and I'll keep my eye on the Texan. Plus as protective of you as he might be, I highly suspect Sara might be upset if he killed me, and that would lead her to killing him, then someone would of course have payback on her...and that's just a road we don't want to go down after all." he continued dryly.
"I'll keep that in mind," replied Jessica with a laugh. "We should probably make our way back out there. After the way I punched you they are probably starting to wonder if you're still breathing."
"Nah, there's no way anyone can kill a man as drop dead handsome as me," Thomas countered as they made their way out of the kitchen only to pause just at the entrance.
"Of all the..." Jessica trailed off with a laugh as she gave Thomas a playful shove all the way out of the kitchen. "You? Handsome?"
"Oh come now, I could have sworn you and the rest of the girls in class used to worship the ground I walk on. Not that I can blame you," he countered with a self-satisfied smirk.
"Hmm, she hits him then she flirts with him," Catherine mused finally out of her shock as they watched Jessica and Thomas by the kitchen.
"Thomas is here huh?" Sara asked causing Nick to jump ten feet.
"Hang on, you knew he was coming? And after seeing the effects on Jess earlier you didn't bother to say anything?" Nick asked after a moment of looking at her.
"I wasn't a hundred percent sure but Scor had inquired about the option. And I really wasn't sure after everything that happened..." she defended herself slightly before sighing. "But, the whole, jealous tension rolling off you in waves just let me know he was here," she replied with a knowing smile.
"I'm not jealous."
"Sure you aren't, and I'm a monkey's uncle," she replied rolling her eyes. "Relax Nick, he's not her type."
"How do you know that?" he grumbled.
"Have you looked in the mirror lately?"
"Huh?"
"Thomas isn't her type, just like he's not Catherine's. If he's anyone's type in this place he's mine."
"And you two are that different?" Nick shot back lightly.
"Nick darlin', let's compare the two of you, shall we? You, ruggedly handsome with that Texas drawl and dimples that go a mile, and a fellow CSI. Thomas, drop dead gorgeous with long hair and amazing blue eyes, no accent, and sings. Well, and yes, he's got an amazing set of dimples, but they compare in no way to yours. Well, I'm assuming that they don't..." Sara trailed off to herself. "Anyway, even if Thomas was her type, she's not his."
"And you know this how?" he asked before her name was called.
"Sara!" turning at the sound of her name being called, Nick saw Thomas coming towards him as Sara stepped towards Thomas. Seconds later Thomas had reached her and promptly lifted her up into a hug and swung her around in a circle.
The group that had been talking amongst themselves about the game, after the earlier show between Jessica and Thomas, stopped to look first towards Nick, and in turn follow his gaze to the two that were spinning in a circle as Sara's laughter filtered to them.
"Oh my God," Catherine muttered when Thomas set Sara down, only to kiss her square on the mouth. Meanwhile, Jessica had walked over to Nick to wrap her arms around his waist.
"Missed seeing you earlier Fire, where the hell did you disappear to after the show?" Thomas asked as he stepped back from Sara.
"Here and there, the normal. How've you been Tommy boy?" she asked with a grin.
"Same 'ol Same 'ol. Still wishing I could have dragged either of you to the stage, but accepting it. Just as I've accepted that you broke my heart," he sighed dramatically.
"Could have sworn you were the one to break her heart," Jessica spoke up.
"And you two are out of your minds, last I checked no hearts were broken," Sara challenged with a smirk. "Besides, it's been over a decade, let it go Love, it's called moving on," she winked.
"But it's so hard to move on after you," he cried with a hand to his heart.
"Sure it is Thomas, that's why you're world famous up in the tabloids for all of your affairs with those celebrities. I mean who haven't you dated?" Chris called as he rose and made his way to the kitchen. "Oh that's right, SandraBullock," he called back from the kitchen.
"Don't remind me," Thomas pouted. "But hey, just because I date doesn't mean I've gotten over your sister."
"Sure it does, that's why we never got back together when I was working in Frisco dingbat," Sara replied rolling her eyes before turning to the others. "And before we continue this ongoing argument and confuse the others in the room, introductions are in order."
"Please," Catherine smiled as Thomas gave an adorable puppy-dog face.
"Everyone, this is Thomas Richards, a.k.a. Raoul, a.k.a. a very old friend of mine and Jyn's."
"Is that all I am?" Thomas asked giving her a glare as she rolled her eyes.
"I can just hear the annoyance in his voice, he's glaring at me, isn't he?"
"Yup," Mia laughed.
"Fine, fine, a.k.a. Raoul, a.k.a. a very old friend of mine and Jyn's, and my ex. Happy?" she asked looking at him pointedly.
"Yup," he replied with a grin.
"Anyway," Sara began once more. "Thomas, this is Nick Stokes a.k.a. the one who's got issues with your performance with Jyn, and you can kill me later Stokes," she winked towards him. "And everyone else is going to have to raise their hands cause I got no clue where you are," she began. "Greg Sanders, Mia Dickerson, Catherine Willows and her husband Warrick Brown, Jim Brass, and Gil Grissom, a.k.a. Griss or Grissom."
"It's a pleasure to meet all of you, I've heard a lot about you via Scor who of course heard about you from Sara," Thomas smiled. "Oh and Nick, may I call you Nick?"
"I don't see why not," Nick said warily holding Jessica close.
"Nick, no worries. Anything onstage is merely that, the stage. Jess and I never had the connection Sara and I did. Not that I don't love her any less, but only as a friend."
"The feeling is entirely mutual Thomas," Jessica smiled.
"Exactly Little Lotte," Thomas grinned.
"Anyway, we're probably still starting to scare them, so where did my idiot brother go?" Sara asked glancing around.
"I am not an idiot!" Chris spoke up indignant. "I'm our father's son, but NOT an idiot!" he continued shaking his head.
"Hmm, let's see. Idiot, or the son of a hippie...you know I honestly think those have the same meaning. At least in your case, Brother Mine," Sara smirked.
"Oh stuff it, Geek."
"You do realize you're in a room full of 'Geeks' don't you?" Sara laughed.
"And I'm supposed to be afraid?" he asked as he took his drink back to his seat.
"Well, do we need to remind you what we did that weekend you had planned when you were seventeen?" Sara countered and Jessica began to giggle with the memory.
"No," Chris grumbled as he dropped into his chair. "God, Nancy never looked at me again after that, you vindictive little witch."
"Thank you, thank you. And what did you expect, you used all of my feminine products for that stupid teepee-ing party you and the boys went on," Sara glared lightly.
"You know, I'm suddenly very thankful I didn't know you when you were little," Greg spoke up shaking his head.
"And why's that?" Chris and Sara asked in unison turning to look at him with nearly identical expressions, that 'Sidle' look, causing Greg to gulp.
"No reason. I change my mind, I would have loved to have known you two when you were little."
"Actually, you wouldn't have, Chris here was always breaking into Jack's brownies. Although that did provide a good deal of laughter to a great many sleepovers. Especially when he had the guys over and we were in the tree house," Sara smiled.
"Oh, remember the time we threw water balloons on them and his friends thought the sky was breaking down?" Jess laughed.
"That was you!" Chris demanded looking between the two women. "Aww man, and poor Dick thought he had lost his mind. The man's in an institution now."
"That's because he did loose his mind. Remember? Jess and I got stuck with his case in Frisco until Mac realized we had known him," Sara countered shaking her head. "Poor guy, thought that the leprechauns were going to eat him and could track him by his clothing. After the fifth time he streaked down Fisherman's Wharf..." she trailed off shaking her head.
"I remember that, that was Dick?" Thomas asked surprised. "Damn Scor, you have some freaky friends."
"Do we even want to know?" Mia asked with a smile.
"No!" all four replied before looking at each other and laughing.
"Let's just say when Jess first introduced me to the two Sidles, I thought she had lost her mind, and he's only gotten weirder as he's gotten older," Thomas continued before ducking as a wrapper from a Hershey Kiss came flying at him. "Hey no food fights! I doubt Sara would approve."
"Food fight?" Sara asked sitting up as she took the hand Griss had just dealt her. "Alright, we are not back at the B and B, so no food fights. And you have to tell me where everyone is sitting."
"You and Chris are on the ends, I'm on your right, Sahidi is on your left with Catherine in the second seat. Warrick is next to her, and next to him is Jim then Thomas," Griss began. "Next to me is Nick, then Jess, Mia next, and Greg is by your brother and across from Thomas."
"Okay, so to refresh what I heard earlier, colors around the board go my pearl, black, blue, lavender, swirl blue, orange, teal, Thomas probably has brown?" she asked for clarification.
"Always," he replied as he set up his own board between Chris and Warrick's."
"Okay, so brown, then swirl red, regular red, green, and back to me right?"
"Right," Chris replied. "So let's get this show on the road, Grissom dealt so Nick goes first. And are we playing threes are not?"
"I don't care."
"Me neither," Thomas agreed and Jessica shrugged.
"Vote on it?" Chris suggested.
"Why not," Catherine shrugged.
"Everyone for Threes, throw a Hershey Kiss in the air," Chris spoke up before being hit by a silver ball that used to be a Hershey Kiss wrapper. "Okay, that is just war Princess," he spoke before throwing it back at her and she ducked so it bounced off her head.
"Oh no, you did not," Sara grumbled.
"Oh brother, alright, word of warning, everyone might want to start building up stock piles of their own wrappers, those two are going to be fighting all night long," Jessica laughed as the siblings began to crumble up wrappers and Chris went in search of more ammunition.
"Cool!" Greg grinned before starting on his own stockpile.
"Anyway, we were voting?" Nick laughed as Chris returned with about thirty Hershey Kisses, only to pass some to Thomas and Greg.
"I need help, her shot has always been entirely too good. And I highly doubt that's going to make much difference without her sight, she's got some uncanny sixth sense," Chris explained seeing Catherine's upraised eyebrow.
"And who was it that taught me how to throw a baseball?" Sara asked with a smile to which Chris shook his head.
"Biggest mistake of my life," Chris grumbled good-naturally before tossing a wrapper her way, only to have her cock her head at that moment to look at Jessica. "Damn."
"Anyway, I do believe we were voting," Gil spoke up shaking his head.
"Oh yeah, I vote for threes," Sara replied with a smile.
"Same here."
"Me too."
"I suggested it so..." Jessica trailed off with a shrug.
"Yeah let's do threes," Greg agreed.
"What he said," Mia continued
"I think we're already outvoted then..." Warrick mused.
"That you are, accept it," Sara smiled. "So, Gil dealt, Nick goes first."
"Alright, so you said you need a face card to come out," he repeated before playing a King.
Two hours, three packages of Hershey's Kisses, and enough trips to get snacks and drinks to kill a horse later, there were varying sizes of silver balls littering the room, and Chris, Sara, and Gil all had three of their marbles in their homes, whereas poor Greg only had one in and was constantly being sent back either to his base or Chris' side of the board so Chris could get his in.
"Three please," Chris announced as he played a red three.
"Which one?" Catherine asked glancing around the large board.
"Farthest one," he replied with a smirk before Catherine looked over and shook her head as she moved the marble.
Sara frowned as she glanced at the board before looking up at her brother. "You sir," she began as Jessica snorted to stop her laughter at recognizing the statement Sara was in the process of saying, and had yet to speak that night. "Are a jackass!" Sara continued as Chris smiled.
"You ma'am, are entirely correct," he replied before Warrick laughed.
"Okay, how did you even know that he had knocked you back to home without us telling you?" Nick asked exasperated. The entire game she had always seemed to know where everyone was without a word.
"Nicky darlin', this is me. I'm pretty sure everyone in the room, other than Tommy Boy can remind you that I was the woman everyone went to for code breaking. Like it's that hard to have a mental picture of a game I've been playing since I was five and not keep track of where everyone's marbles are."
"Yeah, she's OCD after all," continued Chris before being hit by three Hershey wrappers. "Hey! She can't have thrown all of those!" he complained as Jessica, Sara, and Thomas just smirked.
"You realize Laura would kill you for that statement," Sara replied with one eyebrow raised.
"Okay, I'm calling a break, I need the restroom and to stretch my legs," Jessica announced as she laid down her cards before rising.
"Sounds like heaven," Catherine agreed with a grin as she followed suit.
"More than heaven," Mia laughed
"So thirty minute break?" Chris asked with an evil smile that the members of the lab were curious about, and those who would know to recognize it for what it might mean were either out of the room in Jessica's case, or unable to see it in Sara's. And Thomas was just remaining silent.
"Sounds good to me," Sara agreed with a nod, "What do you guys think?" she continued to the others.
"Sounds great," Greg grinned.
"Fair enough, okay then, I shall be right back," Chris announced before heading out of the house.
"Where did he go?" Sara asked curiously as she made her way to the kitchen.
"Out," Warrick shrugged.
"I see," Sara mused as Chris returned carrying a large case.
"I'm taking over part of your living room," he informed Grissom who watched him curiously but remained silent.
"Oh nice," Warrick smiled when he saw the keyboard Chris was setting up and he joined the other man to compare notes.
"Oh dear God, he's got the piano," Jessica sighed when she returned, just as Sara came out of the kitchen with a bottle of water.
"You brought the piano?" she asked before shaking her head. "I swear sleep is going to be something none of us remember when all of you go to work tonight," she continued with a smile.
"Oh of course Princess," Chris grinned as he began to play a tune. "So Sunshine, we've heard Jess tonight, I'm thinking payback would be her's in getting you to sing."
"Oh no, we are not going there," Sara spoke up quickly.
"Oh yes we are," argued Jessica. "Sara it's not like we're asking you to hit the high note at the end of Phantom of the Opera as I seem to recall doing that myself, but it's your turn. I had to sing for our friends and everyone at the gala, which reminds me, I need to thank whatever God it was that made sure Conrad Ecklie was not in attendance tonight," Jessica said with a shiver at the thought. "But back to my point. I sang. You sing."
"Oh for the love of..." Sara trailed off with a sigh. "Alright, alright. I'm going to need a chair next to him," she continued as Jessica linked her arm into Sara's and led her over to leave her with her brother, who was grinning as Thomas produced the chair. Turning to look at her brother she raised one eyebrow when she heard the familiar opening he was playing. "And just who am I singing with, Brother Mine?" she asked as he turned on the pre-programmed background instruments for the song.
Instead of answering Chris merely began to sing.
"Don't go breaking my heart"
"I couldn't if I tried," Sara continued shaking her head
"Oh Honey if I get restless"
"Baby you're not that kind," she countered
"Don't go breaking my heart," Chris repeated
"You take the weigh toff me"
"Oh Honey when you knock on my door"
"Ooo I gave you my key," Sara answered before he joined her.
"Ooo Ooo
Nobody knows it "
"When I was down," Chris sung
"I was your clown,"Sara continued before he joined her once more.
"Ooo Ooo
Nobody knows it
Nobody knows"
"Right from the start," Chris continued
"I gave you my heart
Ooh Ooh I gave you my heart,"Sara answered
"So don't go breaking my heart"
"I won't go breaking your heart"
"Don't go breaking my heart," They sung together
"And nobody told us,"Chris began
"'Cause nobody showed us"
"And now it's up to us babe"
"Woah I think we can make it,"Sara smiled
"So don't misunderstand me"
"You put the light in my life,"Sara laughed
"Oh You put the sparks to the flame"
"I've got your heart in my sights," Sara answered before they started the chorus once more.
"Ooo Ooo
Nobody knows it
When I was down
I was your clown"
Ooo Ooo
Nobody knows it,"the chorused before Thomas, Greg and Jessica joined in with the background lyrics. "Nobody knows."
"Right from the start," Chris began after a moment
"I gave you my heart
Ooh Ooh I gave you my heart,"Sara answered
"Don't go breaking my heart"
"I won't go breaking your heart"
"Don't go breaking my heart
Ooo Ooo
Nobody knows it,"they sung together once more before continuing on with the repeats of the chorus, Thomas, Greg, Mia, and Jessica joining in as background.
"I won't go breaking your heart," Sara finished with a smile as Chris played the final key.
Nick and Gil merely sat there shell shocked, as Jessica giggled. The others were just shaking their heads. "Damn, always said the girl could sing, and she always replied she was like chalk on a board," Nick continued coming out of his shock.
"Chalk on a board?" Thomas repeated looking at him then over at Sara. "Fire, do I have to drag your ass back to a class reunion to remind you just how unlike nails on a chalkboard you are?"
"No."
"Good," he replied with a nod. "No more hearing that you're saying you're like nails on a chalkboard. I'll hunt you down and beat you're head with sheet music."
"Tommy boy, chill pill," Sara rolled her eyes. "And hey, compared to other people I know, I am nails on a chalkboard."
"Don't say that Sara," snapped Jessica, sobering quickly. "Just because you can't hit the same notes, doesn't mean you can't sing."
"Yes Jyn girl," Sara answered contrite.
"Good, cause both of you can sing just fine and dandy. Better than me at least," Catherine spoke up.
"So are we done then?" Sara asked with a smile.
"Oh I don't think so," Jessica smiled evilly. "What do you think Kinickie?" she asked before Sara turned to glare at her.
"No way, we are so not going there."
"What's wrong Sandra Dee?" Chris teased before she turned to look at him.
"We are not going there," Sara replied evenly.
"Going where?" Catherine asked with a smile.
"They are trying to get me to get in touch with my inner sixteen-year-old," Sara grumbled.
"Oh come on, it'll be fun. Maybe you can even get Greg to join in again," Warrick suggested.
"Sure," Greg grinned.
"Oh for the love of...All right, all right. Play away Kinickie," Sara ordered rolling her eyes. "And you," she continued pointing towards Jessica. "Are so getting involved."
Jessica sighed before shaking her head. "Fine, fine, you win," she agreed.
"Oh wait, if we're going to do this, we're doing this like we did when Sara and I graduated," Thomas announced.
"How the hell are we suppose to do that?" Sara asked whipping her head towards him. "You know I sort of can't see to dance anymore you dingbat!"
"So, that's what having me for a partner is for. But we need someone to play the piano so we can drag Scor into this."
"I can play," Warrick spoke up.
"Perfect, Chris, find the damn sheet music for him," Thomas ordered as he rose. "What do you say Little Lotte, we did our little show tonight, ultimate payback, get Fire to do one as well."
"Okay, as embarrassing as this might be, for that alone, I'm in," Jessica agreed as she rose and helped him move a clear path.
"Oh God, save me now," Sara groaned.
"Hey, it could be worse," Chris spoke up as he handed Warrick the sheet music, the other man smirking and shaking his head as he took his position at the recently moved keyboard. "After all, we could be forcing you to do the end song."
"That one's not that bad," Sara argued from her chair as Chris led Sahidi over to Grissom.
"I meant the end romantic song," he replied and she reached up to rub her forehead with a groan.
"I hate you."
"Feelings mutual Sunshine," Chris laughed as Thomas came over and pulled Sara to her feet before leading her over to stand next to Jessica who was shaking her head and laughing at Sara's annoyance.
Chris came over and took his place across from Jessica and next to Thomas, who was across from Sara and grinned. "Hey, I want to hear about what Danny did at the Beach," he announced turning to Thomas.
"It was nothing."
"Sure it was nothing, Zucco, right. You got in her drawers, right?" Chris continued with a knowing look to which Thomas remained silent but smiled knowingly. "Tell us about that girl."
"What did you do this summer?" Jessica asked turning to Sara who rolled her eyes before sighing.
"I met a boy at the beach."
"All that way for some guy?" Jessica asked as if she had lost her mind.
"He was special."
"Ain't no such thing," Jessica countered to a snort from Catherine.
"He was really romantic," Sara argued.
"Come on, you don't want to hear all the horny details," Thomas spoke up to Chris.
"Are you kidding me?" Jessica continued to Sara.
"All right," Thomas agreed.
"I'll tell you!" Sara continued and Warrick started to play.
"Summer loving had me a blast," Thomas began
"Summer loving happened so fast," Sara continued with a blissful smile
"I met a girl crazy for me."
"Met a boy cute as can be."
"Summer days drifting away to oh oh the summer nights," they sung together.
"Tell me more, tell me more." Jessica and Chris sang
"Did you get very far?" Chris asked before Jessica joined him again.
"Tell me more, tell me more."
"Like does he have a car," Jessica winked.
"She swam by me she got a cramp
He swam by me got my suit damp
I saved her life she nearly drown
He showed off splashing around
Summer sun something's begun but oh oh the summer nights."
"Tell me more, tell me more
Was it love at first sight?" Jessica asked with a giggle.
"Tell me more, tell me more
Did she put up a fight?" Chris held up his fists as if boxing.
"Took her bowling in the arcade
We went strolling drank lemonade
We made out under the dock
We stayed out till ten o'clock
Summer fling don't mean a thing but oh oh the summer nights,"Sara sighed as Jessica and Thomas joined in.
"Tell me more, tell me more
But you don't gotta brag
Tell me more, tell me more
Cause he sounds like a drag," Jessica spoke up rolling her eyes as Sara turned to glare at her slightly before turning back and getting all dreamy-eyed.
"He got friendly holding my hand," Sara sung before she and Jessica giggled.
"She got friendly down in the sand," Thomas countered and Chris grinned before patting him on the shoulder.
"He was sweet just turned eighteen
Well she was good you know what I mean," Thomas continued with a wink to Chris.
"Summer heat boy and girl meet but oh oh the summer nights."
"Tell me more, tell me more
How much dough did he spend?
Tell me more, tell me more"
"Could she get me a friend?" Greg joined in and the rest of the group lost it, other than Sara and Thomas who were singing.
"It turned colder that's where it ends
So I told her we'd still be friends
Then we made our true love vow
Wonder what she's doing now
Summer dreams ripped at the seams but
oh those summer ni-ii-ghts."
"Tell me more, tell me more," Chris and Jessica chorused softly as Sara and Thomas held the note.
"Okay, that was just cool," Mia grinned.
"Yeah, but anyone else getting the heebie jeebies from watching Sara's brother sing with her ex about their time in the summer sand?" Greg spoke up before being smacked over the head by his girlfriend.
"You so shouldn't have gone there," Mia grumbled rolling her eyes.
"Hey, I'll have you know we had a very similar conversation when they were dating!" Chris replied indignant.
"You didn't!" Sara exclaimed turning to look at him in shock.
"Something tells me I really should have kept that to myself," Chris groaned.
"You think?" smirked Jessica.
"I'll just shut up now..."
"Oh hell no, no backing out of this now. Just what were you two discussing when we were dating?" Sara demanded stalking towards the two, who unfortunately were only two footsteps away from her.
"Umm," Chris began as Thomas held up his hands.
"I didn't have a choice."
"How could you not have a choice about discussing your relationship with his sister to him?" Catherine asked with a smirk. "Dead men breathing," she whispered under her breath and Jim laughed.
"This would be a curious subject to hear the answer to," Grissom added as he leaned forward.
"Oh, I am such a dead man," Chris groaned even more. "My sister is going to kill me, and her fiancé is going to provide the bugs to get rid of my body. Oh, I am so dead..."
"Damn straight," Sara snapped. "I can't believe you did that..." she continued to herself. "You, here, now," she ordered pointing at Thomas then the spot next to her. He shrugged at Chris before doing what she said. "Spill," she added.
"Thomas!" Chris protested and Thomas merely shrugged before leaning down to whisper in her ear, and Sara's face moved from pissed to dead shock as her mouth fell open and all color drained from her face. "I'm going to KILL you!" she shrieked towards her brother before lunging towards him and Thomas grabbed her around the waist to stop her.
"Do we ask?" Warrick began concerned as Grissom rose and made his way over to take Sara off Thomas' hands.
"No, she'll kill me if anyone else knows," Thomas replied with a sigh. "And Chris man, I'm so not getting involved. I'm now going to be waiting for her to get back at me someday and when she does, I'm coming after you, that is if you're still alive of course," he added as an afterthought.
"Okay, so we're getting the hint that Sara is definitely the pop culture music as compared to Jess who can blow us away with musicals and classics right?" Greg asked with a smile, making sure the subject stayed sufficiently changed.
"I think those were the exact words of our music teacher," Thomas mused.
"So do I, for that matter." Jessica agreed as she thought back.
"Music teacher?" Mia asked curious.
"To be explained," Chris replied with a wink before glancing over at Sara who was standing with Grissom and glaring at him slightly. "Okay then, my life is already over so...We've heard duets, before we go back to games, I'm claiming a debt that you owe me sister mine," Chris spoke up as they rearranged the room back to how it was, and Sara changed her expression, one eyebrow now raised. Walking over to her he whispered in her ear before stepping back and she stared at him in shock.
"You..." she began before stopping and narrowing her eyes. "I amend my earlier statement, you sir, are an asshole!" she continued before rolling her eyes. "Fine, fine. Do you're poll and get it over with," she waved her hand before making her way over to the keyboard and kicking Warrick off as Grissom made his way to his chair, glancing at the two men before looking back at Sara.
"Actually, no need. Know just what I want," Chris answered with a smile before joining her for a moment to whisper in her ear once more. She stared at him for a moment before shaking her head in disbelief. Making his way back to his chair he smiled when Grissom turned to look at him questioningly.
Sighing softly Sara trailed her fingers lightly across the top of the keys as those who had made last minute runs returned to take their seats.
"Wait, is she going to sing?" Nick asked confused.
"Yes."
"But why aren't you over there playing then?" he continued to Chris. The other man merely smiled knowingly, glancing from Chris to Thomas and Jessica, Nick found both of them with the same smile. Just as he was about to speak once more, he looked over in surprise when a melody was heard from the keyboard.
The keyboard Sara was sitting at with her eyes closed as her fingers danced across the keys.
"Holy cow!" Greg whispered as Sara continued to play a few melodies before settling on one. Playing the chorus twice she chewed on her lip for a moment before starting to sing softly.
"When I was young
I never needed anyone
And making love was just for fun
Those days are gone
Livin' alone
I think of all the friends I've known
When I dial the telephone
Nobody's home"
Gradually her voice grew more confident as she started in on the chorus; fingers continuing to move across the keyboard almost as if without a conscious thought.
"All by myself
Don't wanna be
All by myself
Anymore
Hard to be sure
Sometimes I feel so insecure
And loves so distant and obscure
Remains the cure"
/-/Damn, if we had seen her sing this before she ever left, I doubt their relationship would have taken forever and a day to start,/-/ Catherine thought to herself as Sara started in on the chorus once more, putting herself more into it.
"All by myself
Don't wanna be
All by myself
Anymore.
All by myself
Don't wanna live
All by myself
Anymore."
Moving into the repeat of the bridge Sara's voice grew softer once more.
"When I was young
I never needed anyone
Making love was just for fun
Those days are gone."
Sara nodded her head to the beat in her mind as she simply played a few cords before starting in on the chorus once more, as strong as before.
"All by myself
Don't wanna be
All by myself
Anymore.
"All by myself
Don't wanna live
Oh
Don't wanna live
By myself, by myself
Anymore.
"By myself
Anymore
Oh
All by myself
Don't wanna live
I never, never, never
Needed anyone".
"Wow," Grissom murmured as Greg clapped enthusiastically. Sara smiled softly as she continued to play, changing tunes.
"Another song?" Jessica asked glancing over at Chris. "Just what type of favor did you cash in?"
"One she's owed me for a number of years," Chris replied with a grin. "Sister mine, you can't play forever, we'll never get back to the game.
Sara glanced up at him with a glare before turning her attention back to the keys.
"There were nights when the wind was so cold
That my body froze in bed
If I just listened to it
Right outside the window."
"There were days when the sun was so cruel
That all the tears turned to dust
And I just knew my eyes were
Drying up forever."
"I finished crying in the instant that you left
And I can't remember where or when or how
And I banished every memory you and I had ever made."
Closing her eyes Sara took a breath before continuing softly, more emotionally.
"But when you touch me like this
And you hold me like that
I just have to admit
That it's all coming back to me."
"When I touch you like this
And I hold you like that
It's so hard to believe but
It's all coming back to me."
"It's all coming back, it's all coming back to me now," she continued stronger as she moved to the bridge.
"There were moments of gold
And there were flashes of light
There were things I'd never do again
But then they'd always seemed right."
"There were nights of endless pleasure
It was more than any laws allow."
"Baby baby."
"Okay, just what notes can that girl hit?" Jim asked glancing over at Jessica as Sara was lost in the song.
"If I kiss you like this
And if you whisper like that
It was lost long ago
But it's all coming back to me."
"You'll see," she replied with a soft smile.
"If you want me like this
And if you need me like that
It was dead long ago
But it's all coming back to me."
"It's so hard to resist
And it's all coming back to me
I can barely recall
But it's all coming back to me now."
"But you were history with the slamming of the door
And I made myself so strong again somehow
And I never wasted any of my time on you since then," she trailed off once more playing a few cords in silence before continuing softer than ever, almost whispering, then growing stronger with the next section.
"But if I touch you like this
And if you kiss me like that
It was so long ago
But it's all coming back to me.
"If you touch me like this
And if I kiss you like that
It was gone with the wind
But it's all coming back to me."
"It's all coming back, it's all coming back to me now," Sara sung as she continued to sway slightly to the music before just breaking out as strong and as high as they'd heard her earlier, only to gain range as she sang.
"There were moments of gold
And there were flashes of light
There were things we'd never do again
But then they'd always seemed right
There were nights of endless pleasure
It was more than all your laws allow."
"Baby, baby, baby."
"When you touch me like this
And when you hold me like that
It was gone with the wind
But it's all coming back to me."
"When you see me like this
And when I see you like that
Then we see what we want to see
All coming back to me."
"The flesh and the fantasies
All coming back to me
I can barely recall
But it's all coming back to me now."
"Holy cow," Catherine whispered as she held the note for a good six beats, only to play a few more notes and begin with a whisper of her voice.
"If you forgive me all this
If I forgive you all that
We forgive and forget
And it's all coming back to me."
"When you see me like this
And when I see you like that
We see just what we want to see
All coming back to me."
"The flesh and the fantasies
All coming back to me
I can barely recall but it's all coming back to me now."
"And when you kiss me like this
And when I touch you like that
If you do it like this
And if we..."
"Uh…guys?" Jessica asked trying to get everyone to break out of their shock. "Hello! Hey Nick!" she yelled shoving her fiancé to get his attention. "Were you all this bad when I was singing?"
Sara laughed softly as she continued to play, changing between different tunes. "Other than Nick who was wanting to kill Thomas, I believe they were. Of course, as far as I can tell they're just driving you batty so," she trailed off with a shrug.
"Alright, so the group from Vegas is sufficiently in shock, may as well leave them in shock and get that last song you owe me out of the way." Chris spoke up with a grin. "God, I love having favors to call in, don't you Jess?" he continued glancing over at her.
"You bet," agreed Jessica with a laugh. "Payback is nice too but lucky for her it's only family in this room."
"I know that very well," Sara smiled as she changed the tune once more. True sign it's been a while since Chris and I played together," she began with another smile. "Christmas 2003, went back to the B and B for a few days. Shocked the hell out everyone here when I actually went on vacation..."
"Quite, Laura, Jack, and I were in shock that she was there as well," Chris agreed with a smile.
Sara shook her head as she giggled. "Well, my dear brother had recently discovered a new singer, and as such had gathered all his music and was playing it like a madman, then he insisted on me learning a few of the songs. Wouldn't let me sleep until I knew them as well as I knew all the Broadway hits that we know."
"Damn straight," Chris agreed, "Now sing!"
"Slave driver," she teased softly before closing her eyes as she played through the opening once more.
"When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.
"You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.
"You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.
"There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.
"You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.
"You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be."
"Well, my singing time is done," Sara smiled as she laid her hands in her lap and raised an eyebrow at the still silent room. "Don't tell me they're all still staring at me like I've fallen through a hole in the ground and am now dancing around naked with Hitler, Ivan the Terrible, and a few other demons."
"Is Erik there with you?" Thomas asked with a chuckle.
"Sadly no," Sara sighed. "No men dressed all in black wearing masks and singing amazing songs. Damn, we could use him to provide music to our dancing too," she continued snapping her fingers.
"God girl, you are so going to be singing from now on," Catherine announced as she smiled. "Course considering you'll never get me doing that, you two are going to have to be the family singers."
"Now, that's just wrong," Jim argued. "We can't make them sing whenever we want to be entertained, even considering they are both amazing."
"Well, you aren't going to get me up there so..."
"Why not, you can sing," Warrick began turning to look at her knowingly.
"Yeah, in my shower. But I'm so not going to be singing in front of people."
"Jyn, I think she just challenged us," Sara mused.
"Sure sounded like it," agreed Jessica. "I mean it's not like we'd make her sing opera or anything, since I believe that's my job, but I'm sure we could find something. "
"Oh, I quite agree, and you know, I know the perfect thing," Sara smiled rather evilly. "Jyn girl, come here."
"Okay," agreed Jessica as she made her way back over to Sara.
Sara leaned over and whispered in her ear before pulling back to raise an eyebrow at her. "What do you think."
Jessica smirked in reply. "It's perfect."
"Okay, you get Tommy boy, I got Scor," Sara smiled. "Oh Brother Mine, here please," she called as Jessica made her way over to Thomas.
"Why do I get the feeling I'm being plotted against..." Catherine asked glancing around at the various people who were talking.
"That's because you are." Sara replied as she stood and Chris took her place, sending an evil grin her way before he trailed his fingers across the keys.
"Okay, we're ready," Thomas announced as Jessica made her way over to take Sara's arm and they in turn walked over to where Catherine sat, before pulling her to her feet.
"Okay, what the hell is going on?" Catherine asked glancing between the two.
"You,my dear, are singing. And considering it is four in the morning, and half the group here is drunk, don't even try the whole it's too embarrassing excuse. Besides, Jess here sang in front of how many people? And I had to sing a song about my summer with Thomas only to learn that he and my brother had a conversation eerily similar to the one Danny and the guys had in Grease so...the embarrassing excuse is beyond used."
"God save me," Catherine groaned. "Alright, alright. I've got enough caffeine and lack of sleep in me that I'll actually go along with this," she continued with a sigh.
"YES!" Greg cheered before Jim smacked him over the back of his head.
Sara glanced back towards Chris and he nodded before playing a few piano cords, when he stopped Sara looked over at Jessica.
"You Don't own me
I'm not just one of your many toys"
"You don't own me
don't say I can't go with other boys"Jessica continued.
"bababababababa"they sung together before Chris began to play a few single cords and Catherine started to sing
"And don't tell me what to do
and don't tell me what to say
And when I go out with you
Don't put me on display."
"Pretty good," Jessica announced.
"I'm impressed," Sara agreed before Chris started playing the song completely.
"You don't own me
Don't try to change me in any way
You don't own me
Don't tie me down cause I'll never stay" they sung together before Thomas, Greg, Chris, and even Mia joined in singing: "do wop do wop do wop sho wop do wop," in the background.
"I don't tell you what to say," Sara sung
"I don't tell you what to do," Jessica continued
"So just let me be myself," Catherine began before they joined her. "that's all I ask of you."
"I'm young and I love to be young
I'm free and I love to be free
To live my life the way that I want
To say and do whatever I please."
"I'm young," Catherine began
"I'm young and I love to be young," Sara continued
"I'm free," Catherine started once more
"I'm free and I love to be free," Jessica replied before they both joined her.
"To live my life the way that I want
To say and do whatever I please."
"No no you don't own
You don't own me
You don't me
Forever young and free darling
You don't own me."
"You don't own me
You don't me
Forever young and free darling
You don't own me," the three continued to repeat the chorus two more times before Catherine shook her head and laughed. Jessica and Sara poked her in her sides to get her to keep singing.
"You don't own me
You don't own me
Forever young and free."
"Oh my God. I can not believe you guys made me do that," Catherine groaned as Greg rolled on the floor laughing. "Can I kill him?"
"No, but don't worry, he'll be sufficiently punished," Mia replied with a smile.
"Ooo, I was pretty sure I knew I liked this girl when we were together on Valentine's. Now I know. I love this girl," Catherine smirked as Greg stared at his girlfriend in shock.
"I so agree," Sara smiled. "But come on, we have a game to finish," she continued as Chris packed up his keyboard.
"Thank God," Chris spoke up with a grin.
"Oh, shove it Scor, you are the one who forced me into singing so much."
"Ah, but that's my job in life, to torture my sisters," he replied as he slipped an arm around both Sara and Jessica's waists. "So, onto to Jesters, and beating your butts."
"In your dreams Scor," Jess countered as she slipped out of his arm and made her way back to her seat.
"They still put on a brave front," Chris sighed as he picked up his cards. "Your turn, Thomas."
"Going, going," replied Thomas rolling his eyes. "Okay, eleven please."
"Ah hell," Greg groaned as his only one on the board was returned to his home.
"Welcome to jesters love, just remember, next time don't sit next to a Sidle," Thomas grinned, "Or surrogate Sidles."
"I'll remember that," Greg sighed as Jim drew.