XXIII - VIOLENCE FETISH
The Orpheum was packed, and Grissom grimaced as he circled the parking lot for the second time looking for a parking space. "I don't understand why Brass wants us all to come here to take this guy in. I could have just sent Nick and Warrick." He grumbled.
Sitting beside him, Catherine smiled. "Gil, does it matter? I think Brass is concerned since we're on this guys' turf, taking him from a performance. The more people we have here, the less likely there will be a problem."
"We're not cops, Catherine. We're criminalists." He smiled at her. "But you make sense. I'm just not looking forward to the music." Spotting a free place, he quickly pulled in and parked.
* * * * *
"Greg, I can't believe this thing still moves." Warrick laughed as he climbed out of Greg's little silver Toyota Tercel hatchback. He had asked Greg about it as they drove over, and Greg had told him it was an '85. The amount of mileage on it was ridiculous, and the body had definitely seen better days. A big pair of fuzzy scented dice hung of the front mirror. "Three more years and it will be a classic!"
Greg grinned, running his hand over the top of the car lovingly. "Silverbelle already is a classic, aren't you baby?" He grinned at Warrick. "I have to sweet talk her, or else she gets moody and refuses to go anywhere. Grissom and Catherine parked over there somewhere. I guess we'll meet them inside. But first, I want to put on my new shirt."
* * * * *
Nick and Sara were already in the Orpheum talking to Brass when everyone else walked in. "What took you so long? Brass was about to put out an APB!"
Grissom scowled. "Funny, Nick. It was hard to find a parking spot out there. This place is packed. Brass - what's up?"
"Not much. I want to try to get Oscar to come with us without causing problems, but Killjoy is the opening band tonight. I would have brought him in earlier and avoided all this, but we couldn't find him in time. Nice shirt, Greg."
Greg grinned. "Thanks, Brass." A young man walked up to him, slapping him on the back, drunkenly.
"Greggy! You playing tonight?"
Greg smiled. "Nope. Here on business. I'll catch you later, Steve." He turned back to his friends. "I recognize a lot of the people here tonight. But I don't see Oscar or any of the other guys from Killjoy. Aren't they supposed to be starting soon?"
Brass nodded. "Yeah. I would suggest we fan out, but I don't really know what this kid looks like."
Grissom laughed. "He's got green hair - lime green hair."
Warrick laughed. "So do at least 30 other people in this bar, so as a distinguishing feature that's not gonna cut it, Grissom."
Grissom looked around at the other patrons in the bar and smiled. "I guess that's true."
Greg interjected. "Why don't we let them perform, and get him afterwards. They're supposed to start in a few minutes anyway, and since they're the opening band they'll only have about 30 minutes to play. In the meantime, I can talk to a couple of people here and see if I can find out anything else."
Grissom sighed. "Okay. For lack of a better idea, we'll stick around."
* * * * *
Killjoy had taken the stage about 5 minutes later. The first song they played was Sniper, the same one they had performed at The Edge the night Murdoch was murdered. Greg had moved towards the front of the stage and was talking to several different people, Nick and Warrick at his side. Catherine had managed to find an empty table, and she and Sara had slid into. Brass and Grissom were still standing at the bar, trying to get sodas for everyone.
Sara smiled at Catherine as they say down. "You're going to give it away if you keep looking at him like the cat that ate the canary, you know."
Catherine jumped and slanted a gaze at Sara, grinning. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Maybe if I said you look like the spider that just ate the fly, you might understand me better." Sara's tone was teasing, and she and Catherine started giggling. "Seriously, though. Are you trying to keep this a secret, or what? Because the way you look at him is going to give you away."
Catherine sighed. "I don't know. It's still so new and - odd - to think that we're involved. And it's not like you and Nick - you guys are basically on the same level, so there's not a lot of office politics involved. But we have to be careful - Ecklie would have a field day with this. I mean, we don't care if you guys know, we just don't want anyone else too."
Sara grinned. "Fair enough."
* * * * *
Killjoy was currently on their third song, and Grissom was getting ansty. He and Brass had rejoined the ladies, and despite his best efforts to remain calm, the atmosphere was definitely getting to him.
~Bring the violence
It's significant
To the life
If you've ever known anyone
Bring the violence
It's significant
To the life
Can you feel it?
How do you sleep
When you live with your lies
Out of your mouth
Up from your mind
That kind of thinking
Starts a chain reaction
You are a time-bomb ticking away
You need to release
What you're feeling inside
Let out the beast
That you're trying to hide
Step right up and be a part of the action
Get your game face on
Because it's time to play
You're pushing and fighting your way
You're ripping it up~
"Where do they come up with these songs?" Grissom hollered over the noise at no one in particular. "First they perform one about shooting up a town, that last one - I couldn't even make out the words - and now this. I'll be glad when we can get out of here."
~How do you live without playing the game
Sit on the side and expect to keep sane
Step right up and be a part of the action
Come get a piece of it before it's too late
Take a look around
You can't deny what you see
Were living in a violent society
Well my brother let me show you a better way
So get your game face on because it's time to play
You're pushing and fighting your way you're ripping it up
So tell me what am I supposed to be
Another goddamn drone
Tell me what am I supposed to be
Should I leave it on the inside
Should I get ready to play?~
The crowd on the dance floor was cheering loudly, screaming their appreciation at the song. The lead singer grabbed the mic - "Thank you! You guys are great! And now, are you ready for this?"
Yells and cheers.
"I said: ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?"
Screaming and stamping of feet.
"Greg Sanders - drummer extraordinaire is in the audience - get him up on stage!"
Cheering and yelling. Greg looked up, startled, as he heard his name. Hands grabbed him and pushed him up to the stage before he could object.
"Greggy! Nice shirt, buddy!" The crowd yelled again. "Grab a set of sticks, Greg - your public wants you to join us in a battle of the drummers - you against Oscar!"
The crowd was getting louder and louder. Grissom shot Brass a concerned look. "I don't like this."
"Me either. Let's roll!" The two men stood, quickly followed by Catherine and Sara. The crowd on the dance floor was packed so tightly, they were having a hard time moving towards the stage.
Greg was shifting besides Edd, "No can do - sorry. I'm working."
Edd turned back to the crowd, working them like a showman. "Do you guys want Greg to play?"
Deafening cheers, and chants of "Play - play - play!" There was no way Greg would be getting off the stage. Looking anxiously over the crowd, he saw Nick and Warrick where he had left them, trying to push their way to the front. Further back, Grissom and Brass were doing the same thing. Greg sighed - he would have to go along with this charade until they could get to the stage, but he didn't like it. There was no way this was Oscar's idea - and Greg had a feeling he was being set-up. Sighing in resignation, he took the drumsticks Edd was pushing at him. The stamping and cheering got louder.
"Alright, Greg! And here's how it works - Greg will go first - no accompaniment. He'll have two minutes to beat the skins, and than it's Oscar's turn. Winner will be chosen by audience appreciation."
Greg smiled weakly at the crowd as he approached the drum set. Oscar smirked at him as he gave up his seat. "Nice shirt, Greg. But not very subtle. You think you're so smart, but you don't have anything on me."
Greg kept his face perfectly bland as he tried to digest Oscar's words. What the hell? He tapped experimentally on the drums.
"You ready Greg?" Edd hollered. "Let the drumming begin."
Greg started off slowly, building up, pounding a vicious, blinding rhythm. The screaming got louder, the stamping faster. On stage, a strobe light began flashing over the crowd.
Grissom was pushing through the crowd with little regard for niceties now, just shoving his way through. The flash of the strobe lights was dizzying, and the surreal feeling of moving in slow-motion and fast-forward at the same time was making him ill. He looked anxiously over the crowd and saw Nick and Warwick shoving through as well. They had to get to Greg.
The rolling rhythm of the drums was urging his heartbeat faster and faster. Behind him, he heard Brass yelling, "Out of the way - official police business! Out of the way!"
All of a sudden, the drumming ended. The whistling and cheering pierced Grissom's ears, making him wince. He was close enough to the stage to see Greg stand and wave, face flushed from his recent exertions. He turned to hand the drumsticks to Oscar, and watched as Oscar clapped him on the shoulder. Greg winced, but stepped out from behind the kit. Off to the right, Grissom saw Nick jump on the stage and walk quickly to Greg's side, grabbing his arm and pulling him away, before grabbing Oscar by the front of his shirt.
Grissom could read Nick's lips over the roar of the crowd. "You're coming with me, asshole. We're taking you in for questioning." Behind Nick, Warrick reached out to take the drumsticks.
Oscar looked like he was going to resist, but then shrugged. "Sure man, whatever."
The other band members were converging on the two CSIs, bristling. Grissom was finally able to get up on the stage and he rushed to help. The crowd was getting angry. He could hear yelling "Get on with the show!" "What the fuck is going on?" "Who are those guys?"
Brass, Sara and Catherine were on the stage behind him, flashing their badges at the crowd. Someone turned on the lights, and Grissom blinked against the glare. He walked over to Greg.
"You alright?"
Greg looked at him. "He did it. He did it." His words were slurred. Grissom saw the pulse at the young man's throat beating. Greg leaned forward. "He liked my shirt, Grissom. He really liked my shirt."
Grissom barely caught Greg as his eyes rolled back in his head and he sank to the ground.
_____
Author's notes: The song is VIOLENCE FETISH by DISTURBED. Excellent song. Please R&R - tell me what you think!
The Orpheum was packed, and Grissom grimaced as he circled the parking lot for the second time looking for a parking space. "I don't understand why Brass wants us all to come here to take this guy in. I could have just sent Nick and Warrick." He grumbled.
Sitting beside him, Catherine smiled. "Gil, does it matter? I think Brass is concerned since we're on this guys' turf, taking him from a performance. The more people we have here, the less likely there will be a problem."
"We're not cops, Catherine. We're criminalists." He smiled at her. "But you make sense. I'm just not looking forward to the music." Spotting a free place, he quickly pulled in and parked.
* * * * *
"Greg, I can't believe this thing still moves." Warrick laughed as he climbed out of Greg's little silver Toyota Tercel hatchback. He had asked Greg about it as they drove over, and Greg had told him it was an '85. The amount of mileage on it was ridiculous, and the body had definitely seen better days. A big pair of fuzzy scented dice hung of the front mirror. "Three more years and it will be a classic!"
Greg grinned, running his hand over the top of the car lovingly. "Silverbelle already is a classic, aren't you baby?" He grinned at Warrick. "I have to sweet talk her, or else she gets moody and refuses to go anywhere. Grissom and Catherine parked over there somewhere. I guess we'll meet them inside. But first, I want to put on my new shirt."
* * * * *
Nick and Sara were already in the Orpheum talking to Brass when everyone else walked in. "What took you so long? Brass was about to put out an APB!"
Grissom scowled. "Funny, Nick. It was hard to find a parking spot out there. This place is packed. Brass - what's up?"
"Not much. I want to try to get Oscar to come with us without causing problems, but Killjoy is the opening band tonight. I would have brought him in earlier and avoided all this, but we couldn't find him in time. Nice shirt, Greg."
Greg grinned. "Thanks, Brass." A young man walked up to him, slapping him on the back, drunkenly.
"Greggy! You playing tonight?"
Greg smiled. "Nope. Here on business. I'll catch you later, Steve." He turned back to his friends. "I recognize a lot of the people here tonight. But I don't see Oscar or any of the other guys from Killjoy. Aren't they supposed to be starting soon?"
Brass nodded. "Yeah. I would suggest we fan out, but I don't really know what this kid looks like."
Grissom laughed. "He's got green hair - lime green hair."
Warrick laughed. "So do at least 30 other people in this bar, so as a distinguishing feature that's not gonna cut it, Grissom."
Grissom looked around at the other patrons in the bar and smiled. "I guess that's true."
Greg interjected. "Why don't we let them perform, and get him afterwards. They're supposed to start in a few minutes anyway, and since they're the opening band they'll only have about 30 minutes to play. In the meantime, I can talk to a couple of people here and see if I can find out anything else."
Grissom sighed. "Okay. For lack of a better idea, we'll stick around."
* * * * *
Killjoy had taken the stage about 5 minutes later. The first song they played was Sniper, the same one they had performed at The Edge the night Murdoch was murdered. Greg had moved towards the front of the stage and was talking to several different people, Nick and Warrick at his side. Catherine had managed to find an empty table, and she and Sara had slid into. Brass and Grissom were still standing at the bar, trying to get sodas for everyone.
Sara smiled at Catherine as they say down. "You're going to give it away if you keep looking at him like the cat that ate the canary, you know."
Catherine jumped and slanted a gaze at Sara, grinning. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Maybe if I said you look like the spider that just ate the fly, you might understand me better." Sara's tone was teasing, and she and Catherine started giggling. "Seriously, though. Are you trying to keep this a secret, or what? Because the way you look at him is going to give you away."
Catherine sighed. "I don't know. It's still so new and - odd - to think that we're involved. And it's not like you and Nick - you guys are basically on the same level, so there's not a lot of office politics involved. But we have to be careful - Ecklie would have a field day with this. I mean, we don't care if you guys know, we just don't want anyone else too."
Sara grinned. "Fair enough."
* * * * *
Killjoy was currently on their third song, and Grissom was getting ansty. He and Brass had rejoined the ladies, and despite his best efforts to remain calm, the atmosphere was definitely getting to him.
~Bring the violence
It's significant
To the life
If you've ever known anyone
Bring the violence
It's significant
To the life
Can you feel it?
How do you sleep
When you live with your lies
Out of your mouth
Up from your mind
That kind of thinking
Starts a chain reaction
You are a time-bomb ticking away
You need to release
What you're feeling inside
Let out the beast
That you're trying to hide
Step right up and be a part of the action
Get your game face on
Because it's time to play
You're pushing and fighting your way
You're ripping it up~
"Where do they come up with these songs?" Grissom hollered over the noise at no one in particular. "First they perform one about shooting up a town, that last one - I couldn't even make out the words - and now this. I'll be glad when we can get out of here."
~How do you live without playing the game
Sit on the side and expect to keep sane
Step right up and be a part of the action
Come get a piece of it before it's too late
Take a look around
You can't deny what you see
Were living in a violent society
Well my brother let me show you a better way
So get your game face on because it's time to play
You're pushing and fighting your way you're ripping it up
So tell me what am I supposed to be
Another goddamn drone
Tell me what am I supposed to be
Should I leave it on the inside
Should I get ready to play?~
The crowd on the dance floor was cheering loudly, screaming their appreciation at the song. The lead singer grabbed the mic - "Thank you! You guys are great! And now, are you ready for this?"
Yells and cheers.
"I said: ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?"
Screaming and stamping of feet.
"Greg Sanders - drummer extraordinaire is in the audience - get him up on stage!"
Cheering and yelling. Greg looked up, startled, as he heard his name. Hands grabbed him and pushed him up to the stage before he could object.
"Greggy! Nice shirt, buddy!" The crowd yelled again. "Grab a set of sticks, Greg - your public wants you to join us in a battle of the drummers - you against Oscar!"
The crowd was getting louder and louder. Grissom shot Brass a concerned look. "I don't like this."
"Me either. Let's roll!" The two men stood, quickly followed by Catherine and Sara. The crowd on the dance floor was packed so tightly, they were having a hard time moving towards the stage.
Greg was shifting besides Edd, "No can do - sorry. I'm working."
Edd turned back to the crowd, working them like a showman. "Do you guys want Greg to play?"
Deafening cheers, and chants of "Play - play - play!" There was no way Greg would be getting off the stage. Looking anxiously over the crowd, he saw Nick and Warrick where he had left them, trying to push their way to the front. Further back, Grissom and Brass were doing the same thing. Greg sighed - he would have to go along with this charade until they could get to the stage, but he didn't like it. There was no way this was Oscar's idea - and Greg had a feeling he was being set-up. Sighing in resignation, he took the drumsticks Edd was pushing at him. The stamping and cheering got louder.
"Alright, Greg! And here's how it works - Greg will go first - no accompaniment. He'll have two minutes to beat the skins, and than it's Oscar's turn. Winner will be chosen by audience appreciation."
Greg smiled weakly at the crowd as he approached the drum set. Oscar smirked at him as he gave up his seat. "Nice shirt, Greg. But not very subtle. You think you're so smart, but you don't have anything on me."
Greg kept his face perfectly bland as he tried to digest Oscar's words. What the hell? He tapped experimentally on the drums.
"You ready Greg?" Edd hollered. "Let the drumming begin."
Greg started off slowly, building up, pounding a vicious, blinding rhythm. The screaming got louder, the stamping faster. On stage, a strobe light began flashing over the crowd.
Grissom was pushing through the crowd with little regard for niceties now, just shoving his way through. The flash of the strobe lights was dizzying, and the surreal feeling of moving in slow-motion and fast-forward at the same time was making him ill. He looked anxiously over the crowd and saw Nick and Warwick shoving through as well. They had to get to Greg.
The rolling rhythm of the drums was urging his heartbeat faster and faster. Behind him, he heard Brass yelling, "Out of the way - official police business! Out of the way!"
All of a sudden, the drumming ended. The whistling and cheering pierced Grissom's ears, making him wince. He was close enough to the stage to see Greg stand and wave, face flushed from his recent exertions. He turned to hand the drumsticks to Oscar, and watched as Oscar clapped him on the shoulder. Greg winced, but stepped out from behind the kit. Off to the right, Grissom saw Nick jump on the stage and walk quickly to Greg's side, grabbing his arm and pulling him away, before grabbing Oscar by the front of his shirt.
Grissom could read Nick's lips over the roar of the crowd. "You're coming with me, asshole. We're taking you in for questioning." Behind Nick, Warrick reached out to take the drumsticks.
Oscar looked like he was going to resist, but then shrugged. "Sure man, whatever."
The other band members were converging on the two CSIs, bristling. Grissom was finally able to get up on the stage and he rushed to help. The crowd was getting angry. He could hear yelling "Get on with the show!" "What the fuck is going on?" "Who are those guys?"
Brass, Sara and Catherine were on the stage behind him, flashing their badges at the crowd. Someone turned on the lights, and Grissom blinked against the glare. He walked over to Greg.
"You alright?"
Greg looked at him. "He did it. He did it." His words were slurred. Grissom saw the pulse at the young man's throat beating. Greg leaned forward. "He liked my shirt, Grissom. He really liked my shirt."
Grissom barely caught Greg as his eyes rolled back in his head and he sank to the ground.
_____
Author's notes: The song is VIOLENCE FETISH by DISTURBED. Excellent song. Please R&R - tell me what you think!