Title: Summer Party

Disclaimer: I don't own CSI, or any of the characters.

A/N: I would like to thank you all who took the time to review the first two chapters. Reviews and constructive criticism are always more than welcome. I am not a native speaker so I beg you to forgive me my mistakes.

Chapter three: Musings

Warrick was on his way to the breakroom. He was lost in thought and didn't notice the other employees who greeted him. Only five more days till the party and most of the people around him had started to act weird. The last piece of information he gained, didn't help him at all to solve the puzzle, that was the behaviour of his colleagues. Especially Sara and Catherine acted totally out of character during the last days.

He was glad to find the breakroom empty, except of Nick who was busy with reading a magazine about sports. Finally someone he could talk to, without the feeling that the person wasn't only hiding something from him, but furthermore find it more than amusing.

"Hey Nick, how are you?"

Nick looked up and was about to answer, as he watched him more closely. "Warrick, what's up with you? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Warrick sighed and sat down. "Didn't you notice it? Half of the people around here are busy with planning their performances for Saturday and they act like crazy. The ones who'll perform as group are the worst of the bunch. All that secret whispering and loud laughing is getting on my nerves. For example Greg and Archie. As I went to the lab to ask Greg if the samples were ready, I found him and Archie loud laughing; in front of them a catalogue about ties. And what do you think they did when they spotted me? They snapped the catalogue shut, stopped their laughter immediately and looked at me as if I had come to spy on them. "

Nick nodded his understanding. "Yeah, I know what you mean. To be honest, I fled from Sara and Catherine. If I had to bear their knowing looks any longer, I swear I would have killed at least one of them. Could you tell me please, what it is what they find so damned funny?"

Warrick shook his head. "Nope, but I would like to know it myself. You wouldn't believe what I saw earlier this night. Hey, I've got an idea. Let's sum up what we know, perhaps we could solve the riddle."

"Ok, let's collect the evidence. We are supposed to know how to do it, aren´t we?" Nick smiled. "Do you like to start, or should I?"

"Nope, I will start. Two hours ago I met Sara in the locker room. She carried a bag full of sequins. As I asked her for what she needed sequins she didn't gave me an answer at all, she only smiled. I mean what could someone do with sequins? Stitch them on their clothes probably, but could you imagine that Sara would wear clothes full of sequins. Nope man."

"Sara and sequins? That sounds really odd to say the least. I have absolutely no idea with what they'll come up with." Nick shrugged his shoulders. "I hadn't told you yet, but yesterday I saw Brass with a suit bag and he grinned like a Cheshire cat. Brass of all people. Unfortunately I wasn't able to identify what was inside. "

Warrick grimaced. "Brass….grinned…. like… a…. Cheshire cat? Are we talking about the same Brass, our former boss? I start to feel like I'm in wonderland. I will be more than happy when this all is over and people behave like themselves again. Even Cath acts different. Yesterday she talked to some Laura on the phone; three times in an hour and all she said was ´yes´, ´no´ and ´you are the best´. And when she smiles, she looks like Mona Lisa herself, absolutely fathomless. I will never bet with Cath again, I swear."

"What do you swear?" Grissom entered the room to get himself some coffee. He looked at Warrick for an answer.

Warrick looked up, relieved that Grissom didn't hear the part about the bet. They had all agreed that it would be the best to say nothing to him. Although he would like the thought that it would still be possible to beat dayshift, he wouldn't approve the fact that they made a bet out of it.

"Oh, I just said to Nick that I swear that I really don't know what Ecklie, or the members of dayshift will perform on Saturday. Do you know what he is planning?"

Grissom shook his head and sat down beside Nick. "No, I don't know and to be honest, I don't care. I only hope that someone else will win the contest. The usual ill-humoured Ecklie is bad enough, I don't want to know how hell behave, if he or someone from dayshift will win the contest."

It was a slow night so Grissom grabbed a magazine of the table and started with the crossword puzzle inside of it. Nick and Warrick looked at him but decided it would be better not to talk about the contest anymore. So they started a conversation about football.

Twenty minutes later they could hear laughter outside the break room. The door opened and they saw Brass who entered the room together with Catherine. He had wrapped an arm around her shoulders. They were followed by a laughing Sara. As the three spotted their colleagues they stopped dead in their tracks.

Brass let go of Catherine and went off for the coffee machine, while Catherine blushed and went to sit down beside Warrick. Sara's laugh stopped immediately and she glanced uncertain at her colleagues. "Hi guys, what are you doing? It's an incredible boring night, isn't it.? With that she walked off to the refrigerator and grabbed a package of orange juice." The room felt silent.

Grissom knitted his eyebrows. He looked at his employees and Brass one after another. He couldn't see Sara who stand behind his back, but Brass tried to look impassively, Catherine avoided his gaze and Warrick and Nick bore both looks of pure innocence.

"Does somebody care to explain what's going on? And please don't tell me that there is nothing." He smiled deridingly. "I may be a little bit absent-minded from time to time, but I am definitely not stupid."

Catherine finally met his gaze. "Ok Grissom, I think you should know it." She sighed. "Sara, Brass and I decided to take part in the summer party contest. We were of the opinion that Greg and Archie shouldn't be the only ones to represent night shift. I think you will agree with that, won't you?"

Grissom frowned. "I cannot believe that you haven't give up on the bet. I thought that it was clear that I wouldn't tolerate it. What you do in your private time and your private live, I cannot and I would not influence, but this upcoming event is somehow work related, wouldn't you agree with that. So I forbid you any kind of bet, is that finally clear?"

Catherine shot an angry glance at Grissom. "You can calm down Grissom. There is no bet. As you and all the others here know I wanted to bet at first, but you forbid it and so be it. But do you really want Greg to be our only chance to win."

Sara was impressed. Although Catherine was lying straight in Grissom´s face it didn't seem to bother her.

"Are you sure that Greg will perform?" Grissom grimaced.

Catherine nodded.

"Ok, and do you know what it is what he wants to show us? Grissom asked Catherine.

She shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. "Nope, I have absolutely no idea."

"I would also be interested to know what you three will do to save our reputation?" Grissom smiled slightly.

Sara came round to face Grissom. "I know that you would like to know it, but nobody knows it, except of us. You'll have to find out on Saturday but I guarantee you it will be worth it."

She smiled at him. "If I am not mistaken shift ended four minutes ago. Catherine, Brass and I have to practice. If you three would excuse us." She left the room, followed by Brass and Catherine who waved them goodbye.