Title: Summer Party
Disclaimer: I don't own CSI, or any of the characters
A/N: This is my first fanfic ever. I am not a native speaker, so please forgive me my poor english. Reviews will be more than welcome.
Chapter one:
"Will Ecklie ever start to behave like a grown adult?" Catherine seemed really annoyed as she and Nick entered the breakroom. Sara and Warrick, who were occupied with discussing several testimonies, looked up.
"Cath, what's the matter"; Warrick asked her. Catherine sat down opposite of him, while Nick poured himself a cup of coffee. "Ok, I will tell you the truth about Ecklie´s madness, the whole truth and nothing than the truth", Catherine started, as she was interrupted by Brass entering the room. "We all know that Ecklie has not only a lots of problems, but is a huge big problem himself. So what's worth the irritation this time?"; Brass wanted to know and sat down beside Catherine.
Catherine smirked and started again: "Brass, if you would be so kind and not interrupt me again, it would be a pleasure for me to tell you the whole sad story. As you should all remember, our yearly summer party will take place in two weeks and like every year you would expect that it consists of a barbecue and a kind of programme, some local band or so, right? It was always a nice opportunity to get to know your colleagues better, without such nice discussion topics like crimes and death in it's various shapes, wasn't it? Ecklie on the contrary seems to think that we should improve the procedure. He really used the term procedure. I swear that ten minutes ago, he said to the sheriff that we shouldn't only think on our personal pleasure, but act like good bureaucrats and think about saving costs. Lovely Ecklie, who is such a smart person, declared then and now I want your attention please, that he already has the perfect idea." Catherine looked really agitated now.
Nick who seemed to have taken the still unknown news ways better, interrupted her to finally come to the point. "So; the deal Ecklie and the Sheriff made is that we won't have a local band or artist this year. Instead, we will have a contest where all of us can show our talents. The winner will get a price and would you like to guess what it is? " He started to smile sarcastically. "No, you would never ever find out. It is a credit note about 100 bucks that the winner, it doesn't matter if you are a single artist or a group, can spend for whatever he wants to." Nick looked around at his colleagues and enjoyed the various kinds of anger and shock he saw on their faces. Catherine looked like she wanted to murder everyone's darling of day shift, Warrick angry shook his head while Sara's face was clearly frozen in shock. Brass finally looked like he couldn't believe it at all.
"So, would you please be so kind to inform me about your hidden talents now, so that we could plan our programme." Everybody turned to the doorframe, where a smiling Grissom was looking at his colleagues. Sara who seemed to have regained control about her body raised her voice. "Grissom, have you gone completely mad. You cannot really think that we would take part in such a childish contest. There are many better ways to blame ourselves. I can not speak for all of us, of course, but you can be sure that I will never be part in this show, or however they will call it."
Grissom still smiled. "Sara, calm down please. I find the whole matter childish too, but now that it is decided it's to late become irritated. We all know that Ecklie will never miss a chance to try to impress the sheriff, even with the craziest ideas. So we have to made the best out of it; be honest do you want to be beaten by dayshift? They have never won against us, not in softball nor in any other discipline. We don't want to change it, will we?"
Sara smiled sweetly. "Ok Grissom, you are right, we don't want to be beaten by dayshift. I am sure that you will do everything that this will not happen, right? I am curious what your performance will be? Will you dance, sing or play any tricks. No wait, I have a better idea. Why don't you train your bugs, so that they will jump through burning earrings, or something like that? Or you could teach your cockroaches how to dance, what do you think?
Grissom looked slightly irritated now, while the others tried hard not to laugh. Warrick patted Sara on the shoulder, "Is that your way of telling us, that you have none hidden talents that you could offer to save our reputation?" "Hey Warrick", Catherine started, "why don't you save our reputation? Sara is absolutely right. The whole thing is ridiculous and not only because of the 100 bucks that aren't worth the effort. What is with you Brass, what is your opinion? Nick seems to find the whole matter more than amusing". She pointed to Nick who was smiling broadly.
Brass who was on his way to the coffee machine turned around. "Guys, I'm sorry but the girls are right. There is absolutely no reason to play the fool, only because Ecklie tries to kiss the sheriff's ass." Nick finally allowed himself to laugh out loud. "Hey Warrick, Grissom what do you say? Could it be that those three are in deepest fear of blaming themselves during the contest? I expected that Brass and Sara would back out, but you Catherine, as a former show talent could show a little more enthusiasm." "Shut up Nick, what do you expect? A table dance? Don't act so damned stupid cowboy.". Catherine was furious now.
Warrick got up and placed himself between Nick and Catherine. "Ok, we all stated our points. It is time to calm down. Sara, Catherine and Brass don't want to participate and they don't have to. To be honest, I would bet that they could never win the contest. Like Catherine said, she couldn't hardly perform a table dance and when it comes to Brass and Sara I couldn't even imagine what the two of them could do. That should be no offense guys."
Warrick´s last remark seemed to be the straw that broke the camels back. Catherine got up, pointed with her finger at Warrick and started to speak quite and slowly. "Ok, lets bet. You and Nick against Sara, Brass and me. I say that we three will win the contest and should we loose, what never will happens we will pay you 500 bucks, but when we will win you two will have to pay us 500 bucks. Does that sound fair."
Before someone could answer to that, Grissom raised his voice; "No one will bet here, is that clear. I thought that it would be possible to see the whole matter for what it is; a bad joke, but that seems to be impossible. We are here to work and we will work. Now. You all know what you have to do, so lets go back to work." His expression was dead serious, so everybody got up and headed for the doors.
Sara and Catherine, who worked a case together, were on their way to the lab to ask Greg, if the samples they gave him a few hours before, were ready. Sara, who was really angry with Catherine, had just started to argue as Catherine's handy began to ring. She smiled, "One moment Sara. You can yell at me when I have finished the call". She grabbed her phone. "Willows. Hey Nick. Yeah ok. Really. See ya later." She turned to Sara. That was Nick. Warrick and he are into the bet. Let's find Brass and tell him the good news. We have a show to plan." With that she passed a frozen Sara.