Sara heard the sound of heavy footsteps coming from behind her. It was clear that she was no longer the sole occupant of the balcony. A little flutter of excitement sprung up inside of her chest but she passed it off a symptom of intoxication.
"Don't speak," she slurred. "Let me say what I gotta say to you."
Taking a deep breath she turned around to face him. The moonlight glinting off the points of his hat momentarily blinding her.
"We aren't so different you and I," she began. " Sure, I say potato and you say starchy harvested vegetable, but that's just minor details."
"Ok…" he replied.
"I thought I said no talking!" Sara drunkenly reprimanded. "Just be a good boy and listen to me."
She flashed him a sloppy grin.
"What I'm trying to say is," she said pausing long enough to steady herself. "I don't care about all the stuff that's wrong about us. I only care about what's right."
"Sara-" he bravely interjected. "I don't know what you're talking about."
She threw her hands up in disgust.
"That's so typical!" Sara hissed. "Play dumb, just like you always do. For a Professor you are pretty damn slow sometimes. Well let me spell it out for you I-L-U-B-Y-O-U."
"You lub me?" he questioned. "You really lub me?"
"Yes," she answered not noticing the mocking tone of his voice or her gross spelling error. Sara had been a bright girl but the English language had never been her strong point. Maybe it was a combination of growing up around hippies and Californians.
Her early vocabulary had consisted of two phrases, "Far out!" and "Like yah dude." Neither of which were any use in Vegas unless commenting on Catherine's atrocious parking habits or trying to talk in Sanders speak.
"I think you've passed your limit missy," he teased. "I'm all for fun but whoa nelly! You're trippin' out…"
"Grissom!" she berated angrily. "Quit it with the lingo. You're not down with the peeps so stop trying to be! I want you to be serious with me. I'm telling you how I feel. That I can't stop thinking about you. That I can't forget you. That you're always the first thing on my mind when I wake up and the last thing at night. When you touch me it's too much and I just want to burst into a million pieces but I'm too scared I might get Sidle dust all over your clothes…"
"Sara?" A voice cut in from across the balcony.
"Grissom?" She asked with extreme confusion. "How are you over there and over here- wait! Am I really high?!"
She squinted and cocked her head to the side but the two figures refused to merge into one. Worse still they both began to speak.
"Great minds think alike, eh boss?" Greg disclosed, finally able to find words after the heart wrenching speech he had just heard mumbled by the beautiful brunette. "But I guess the ladies always go for the more distinguished Casanova."
"Actually Sanders," Grissom responded tartly. "I'm Romeo, and I hope you're not trying to suggest that I'm old."
"He's not old!" Sara shouted suddenly, causing them to wonder if terrets was a side effect of prolonged alcohol abuse. "He's lovely! Grissom one and Grissom two. You're both lovely. Stop fighting!"
She promptly went on to collapse against the balcony rail but not before letting out a mournful "Make love, not war" and high above the fallen Juliet a baffled Romeo looked on…
But unlike the popular tale of love and destruction Casanova took the place of the jolly Friar Laurence and he was soon joined by the not so merry band of Cat woman, Zorro, the Texan Cowboy and the parrot wielding Pirate.
They all gazed open mouthed at the prone form of the emotionally spent Juliet. No-one was really sure what was going on except that the real party was evidently out on the balcony.
Catherine knew she would find Grissom and Sara out there, but didn't expect Greg to be a part of this abridged version of Shakespeare's finest.
'What's going on?' Brass attempted seriously when he saw Sara, but the parrot on his shoulder only elicited giggles from the rest of the team.
'I am going to have so much fun with this tomorrow.' Greg piped up and drew the attention of a very intrigued Nick and Warrick.
Catherine stopped him before he could tell them anymore. 'Greg shouldn't you be in there bustin' a groove?' Her accusatory tone was accompanied by a violent pointed finger and proved more than enough to scare Greg into silence.
He whimpered in defeat, he wasn't going to argue with a woman who had nails so long and sharp it looked like she had rented Freddie Krueger's glove for the night.
Sara chose this moment to raise her head towards the festivity that was presently keeping her from dreaming the night away. The addition of several new faces puzzled her momentarily until she realized who they were and why they must be all together.
'Oh hey guys.' She garbled as she stood slowly. 'Have we got a new case?' Everyone exchanged amused glances as Sara spoke. 'I'll get my kit.'
They watched as she moved away from the balcony railing, lifted her dress awkwardly, took a few steps and then fell into what she thought was the wall.
Grissom caught her mid fall and struggled to keep her up.
'How drunk is she?' Warrick asked concerned.
'Too drunk to remember her name, I'd bet.' Nick offered and the others nodded their agreement.
'I know my name!' Came a muffled response against Grissom's chest who released her momentarily and she turned to face the crowd. 'My name is Sara Sidle, S-A-R-A-S-I-D-L-E.'
Greg sighed. 'She's spelling again, that's definitely not a good sign.'
Sara gave him her best glare as she continued to reel off information about herself.
'I'm 32 years old, my birthday is September 16th and I live at…er… I live at…oh crap!'
'I think someone needs to take this damsel home before she gets in any more distress. Brass suggested sagely. 'I'd do it but I didn't drive here tonight.'
He turned his attention to Grissom, thinking he would understand that the suggestion was meant for him. He may have had a patch over one eye but he could see the situation very clearly and he knew exactly why Sara was drinking.
Talk of damsels in distress, reminded Nick that Hodges was still tied to a radiator in the corner of the ball room. He nudged Warrick and they started to leave. Noticing Catherine's questioning gaze as they moved.
'We told Hodges we'd help him out of a bind.' Nick stated, barely containing his laughter. 'Get home safe Sara… if you can find it.'
Warrick adjusted his mask as he followed Nick back inside and Brass wasn't far behind them. 'See ya later guys.'
Only Sara, Catherine and the two Grissoms remained outside. Sara, having regained some stability, was standing unaided next to her Romeo still trying to remember her address.
Greg filled the uncomfortable silence. 'I'll take her home.'
'You've had too much to drink yourself, I'll take her home.' Grissom asserted authoritatively and Sara looked on amazed at the two similarly dressed men.
'Hey Catherine.' She called in what she thought was a hushed tone. 'It's funny, you wait years for one Grissom to take you home and then two offer to in the same night. Have I won the lottery or what?'
Catherine mouthed the words 'two Grissoms' to Gil and he just rolled his eyes whilst pointing to Greg.
'Come on Greg, time to get back to the dance floor. I'm sure I heard Jackie say something about being able to out-twist you.'
Greg was both shocked and offended at Catherine's suggestion and hurried off in search of his lab tech challenger. Catherine trailed his path but not before sharing some parting words.
'Get her some coffee before she passes out and I'll see you at shift tomorrow.'
Grissom nodded as a spike of apprehension overcame him. It concerned him that Sara currently had no idea where she lived, which left him with no option but to take her back to his place.
TBC