NOTE: this chapter has been drastically edited to comply with this website's rules.
Feasibility Study
Written by: Ms Maggs / Edited by: KJT
"In the Bluff – Part 4"
August 20, 2005 (Day 120)
The Grissoms'
9:27 p.m.
Grissom, Roxie and Jim, having folded, sat back watching the remainder of the hand play out between Carrie and Nick while one of Catherine's songs played in the background, Sade's Sweetest Taboo.
"And now for the river," Greg announced as he turned the fifth and final community card. "Queen Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. There's a lady who knows the meaning of taboo."
Gil shook his head. "Thank god you're good at your day job, Greg, because you wouldn't last an hour dealing on the floor of any casino."
Brass quipped, "He might be successful at Circus Circus."
"You boys stop pickin' on Chuckles," Roxie cackled. "I think he's cute."
"Thank you, Ms. Delacroix," Greg replied while getting completely squicked and consequently chugging his latest beer.
Nick and Carrie intensely stared at each other across the table until she finally said, "What's on your mind, Tex? Are you mulling over your…choices?"
Her comment was the final straw. "I'm all-in."
The party goers gathered around to see who would win the lovers' battle.
Carrie matched the bet. "I think you could pretty much count on that move since I have six times the chips than you. So let's see that winning hand."
Nick produced his flush and a smile. "Read 'em and weep darlin'."
"I'm reading them…" One by one she turned her cards…two queens. "And yet, no tears. How can a boy from Dallas be so bad at playing Texas Hold 'Em?"
"And the lady has four of a kind!" Greg enthused. "Mr. Stokes is out of the game courtesy of his fiancée. I'm thinking the future Mrs. Stokes won't be gettin' any lasso lovin' tonight. And Carrie, you really couldn't ask for better timing for your win, because here comes your song…a tune only a girl enamored with show tunes and cowboys could love." The giddy-up sound of Surrey with a Fringe on Top from the musical, Oklahoma filled the room.
"Awww…" Carrie gushed. "I love Oklahoma!"
Nick shook his head. "She takes my money and she chooses Oklahoma over the grand state of Texas. What's next in your line up of torture, Sweetheart?"
A second later, Nick and the party guests found out the answer when Carrie started singing.
With high school drama queen enthusiasm she sang, "Cats and dogs'll dance in the heather, birds and frogs'll sing all together and the toads will hop!"
Nick grabbed Greg's arm. "Fast forward this and I'll make sure you get the prime assignments all week."
Without hesitation, Greg clicked it to mute. "Just remember what this clown did for his Ringmaster."
"Hey!" Carrie was disappointed her song ended so abruptly.
Nick smiled at his buzzed fiancée. "Trust me…you'll thank me later, Sweetie."
In a tipsy confession Carrie giggled, "That reminds me of what you said on our first night together, Nicky."
"OH!" Brass gasped. "We got some overshare!"
Catherine the ever-curious asked, "Did you thank him later?"
"Look at him…what do you think?" Carrie gave her fiancé a come-hither stare.
"Time for a break!" Greg yelled, sensing Carrie and Nick needed a moment alone and knowing he wanted one with Tawny. He skipped to the next song. "Roxie, you space-scamp! This one is yours." When Peter Schilling's space tune,Major Tom, sounded over the speakers, the partygoers blasted off in several directions to be alone with their significant others.
Sara slipped onto her husband's lap. "Having fun?"
"I'm having a great time. Thank you for giving this party and making me attend. I love it…I love you," He answered without hesitation. "And that not just the bottle of Scotch talking. Although, I wouldn't be saying these things with you on my lap, in a house full of our friends, without the Scotch. What was I saying? Oh…are you having fun?"
"A blast," She joked in reference to the song. "Now that you're no one's boss at work, you can relax a little more around our friends. With that said…I dare you to kiss me again." Uncertain if it was her statement or the Scotch or a combo thereof that provoked him, Sara found herself consumed by her husband's kiss once more.
Grinning at his wife, Gil whispered, "How are your boobs feeling?"
"Big…tingly…achy…"
"Stop!" He pleaded. "You're one word away from a full systems launch."
"Plump."
Standing outside the guest powder room, Greg waited for Tawny to emerge. "I didn't want you to miss your song…it's next." Taking her hands, he pulled her close, nuzzling her into his chest. "Are you having a good time?"
"I'm really feeling comfortable with your friends," She admitted for the first time. "Between hanging out at the softball game today with Catherine and Warrick and now this party, it really seems like they're accepting me."
"Why wouldn't they?" He asked in a haze. "You're fun and funny…you're everything I've ever wanted in a woman." Staring at the love of his life through Tequila eyes, he said, "I really want to spend…Tawny, I…"
"Sanders!" Catherine shouted from the end of the hall. "We need you and Tawny in the living room ASAP." The night was still young and she'd have to watch the drunken love-struck loose-lipped fool like a hawk.
"What?" Greg asked as he approached his co-worker.
"Have you tried the bean dip?" She asked. "It's really good."
"Huh?" He gaped at her. "That's what was so urgent?"
Tawny smiled. "I had some. It is really good!" Taking his hand, she led him toward the kitchen.
In the darkened empty room at the end of the hall, Nick and Carrie spoke heatedly in between urgent kisses.
"I can't believe you kicked my ass at poker," He declared while smoothing his hands over the sateen of her black crop pants. For a reason beyond his grasp, he found her win over him a huge turn-on.
"I hope you won't hold it against me later," She teased while tugging his polo out of his slacks.
"What are you doing, Baby?" Flustered he broke into a chuckle. "We're not at home."
"I just want to run my hands over your strong, muscular back, that's all." And as she did as she craved, she sighed with pleasure. "You know how much winning a court case turns me on? Winning at poker has the same effect. And that wine is really good. I can't believe I downed a whole bottle by myself."
Having enjoyed her case-winning euphoria several times, Nick found her statement incredibly arousing. Suddenly, he couldn't believe what he was contemplating with his future wife, especially with his co-workers nearby. Old Nick wouldn't have thought twice about partaking in this adventure, but the New Nick…the responsible fiancé and supervisor who respected the future Mrs. Stokes above all else, knew better. Of course, both the old and the new cerebral Nick shared the same human body with the same primal urges, urges that in his experience, were always a little stronger when fortified with Tequila and beer.
"Do they have the air conditioning turned off in this room?" Carrie rasped.
"It was cold when we came in here, but now…hey, darlin' what are you doing…this isn't…" New Nick continued to apply the brakes, although it was getting very hard to focus on the line between right and wrong with Carrie gently scraping her nails over his back and deepening her kisses. Apparently excess wine consumption and poker was his future wife's secret aphrodisiac combo. Before he knew it, he was making a mental note to buy and fill a wine rack before bringing home a new deck of cards. And when Carrie slid her hands around to his chest he asked himself…is it so wrong for Old Nick to come out and play with New Nick's fiancée? "Uh…did you lock the door?" That was sneaky party love rule number one…always lock the door. He learned that the hard way…twice.
"You're not suggesting…"
"Sorry, I…" His words were halted by her eager mouth. And just when he knew with certainty they would be delving into the risqué, the music changed. But it was a good change! The new song had a smooth piano lead in and he thought for sure it would set the perfect mood. Well, maybe it was a bit slow, but it was better than the space song. He made a mental note to thank Greg for the stimulating programming. That is until Carrie heard the opening lyrics soulfully sung.
"Awww…" Carrie's passion instantly melted into sweetness. "It's a contemporary version of A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes from Cinderella! This has to be Tawny's song. Isn't that sooooo sweet! Greg is trying so hard to make her forget her sleazy past and bring back the innocent Tawny. Gosh…I love this song. It reminds me of being a little girl playing princess dress-up."
As if Carrie's manic mood change wasn't enough buzz kill, she had to utter the words sweet and innocent along with painting an image of her as a little girl. Now Little Nick was retreating, Old Nick was pissed, and New Nick, who had gotten his hopes up too, made a mental note to kill Greg as soon as he had the chance.
When he saw Catherine sticking to Greg and Tawny like a fly to honey, Warrick asked Roxie to distract his mate. And as soon as Catherine was in Roxie's clutches, Warrick was pleased to see Greg fleeing out the backdoor with Tawny. With Greg head over heels and the full moon bright, he could almost feel the fifty bucks in his hands.
"I love my song," Tawny confirmed in a sigh of pleasure as she and Greg stole a moment alone on the back patio.
"And I love you," Greg easily admitted while coaxing his lips down to hers.
While everyone else was occupied, Jim Brass sat alone in a deck chair by the illuminated pool. He had fled the house upon hearing the unexpected song. It was tugging at his heart strings in the worst way, and there was only one girl on his mind…Ellie.
"Daddy…" She asked while spinning around in her Cinderella costume. "Can I be a princess when I grow up?"
Kneeling down before his six year-old daughter he assured her, "You can be anything you want Sweetheart."
"Then I want to be a princess."
Staring at the water gently lapping against the pool walls, he wondered what his errant princess was doing tonight. As he had done many times over the years when this mood struck him out of the blue, Jim grabbed his cellphone and punched in her number.
"You know what to do," Her voice instructed after three rings.
"Hey, Ellie…it's me." The message was always relatively the same. "Just checking in…reminding you if you need anything all you have to do is call. Of course, you can call if don't need anything too. But who are we kidding right? You're not going to call. That's okay. I know you have a lot going on. I just wanted to let you know I was thinking of you and that I'm still here. I'll always be here for you. I just wanted to make sure you still knew that. Take care of yourself, okay. I love you, Ellie." Folding his phone, he reconciled that at least her number was still active and her voice still strong…strong like her will, the iron will that kept her from him. Maybe one day she'd come around, he told himself as he always did after these calls.
Tawny dreamily stared into Greg's dilated pupils. "So, this is my song and later I'll hear our song." Tawny dreamily stared into Greg's dilated pupils. "So, this is song and later I'll hear song."
"That's right." As he reached up to caress her cheek, he knocked her earring loose sending it to the ground. "Sorry…I'll get that." When his knee hit the ground, he heard Catherine shriek.
"Greg! No!"
Spinning around, he saw her frantically approaching.
"Don't worry, I found it." Holding the earring he returned to his feet. "You know…you're acting kinda weird tonight, Cath. Maybe too much sun at the softball game?"
Fifty minutes later…
While Brass's song, Frank Sinatra's My Way, was playing, the poker match continued. It was down to just Brass, Carrie and Gil because Roxie had left five minutes ago in a cab feigning a headache…but really she was on her way to a hot date.
With bets placed, Greg dealt the flop. "Ace of spades…two of hearts…ace of hearts."
Gil noticed a fleeting curve on Carrie's lips. One of her pocket cards had to be an ace and possibly she also had a two. The wine was getting to her and she was losing her ability to hide her emotions.
The three players anted and Greg flipped the turn card. "Four of hearts."
Gil caught Carrie pursing her lips tight. "I fold."
Brass laughed at his friend. "Can't handle what's on the table, Old Man? Well not for me. I'm all-in." Staring at Carrie, he taunted in a pathetic cowboy drawl, "Watcha gonna do now, lil' lady?" When she matched without hesitation, he swallowed hard.
Gil tossed his head back and laughed. "Like the song says, Jim…you might have just bit off more than you could chew."
"And now let's set sail for the river!" Greg yelled as he flipped the final card. "Three of spades. Gather around peeps! It's time…for the showdown. Who will take the pot? The lovely cutthroat card shark Carrie Blake or Old Brown Eyes himself…Mr. Jim Brass?"
Jim flipped his pocket cards…a five of hearts and three of clubs. "So close to a straight flush but alas just a straight."
Frustrated, Carrie slammed her hand on the table. "That really stinks!" Then her face exploded into a smile. "FOR YOU! Because I've got exactly what I'm going to have with Nicky in the next ten years…A FULL HOUSE!" She flipped her ace and two.
"Yes!" Nick smacked his hands together and then yanked his fiancée out of her chair. He was thrilled…not only because she won but because she'd be twice as turned on as she was earlier. "Carrie needs another glass of wine and a fifteen minute break!" It wasn't that he was going back on what he told her about their love life being completely fulfilling. He just didn't realize what it was missing until he had a taste of it. Not that he wanted it to be the norm…just a little treat now and then.
Carrie concurred, "Yes, a big glass of wine to celebrate!" She couldn't remember the last time she had let her hair down this much…or ever. "I'll be in the kitchen, Nicky."
Leaning down, Nick caught Greg's ear and whispered, "Sanders, tell me you've got a good song coming up after this Sinatra snooze fest."
"Lookin' for a little MOOOOOd music, Cowboy?" Very pleased with his joke, Greg broke out into a fit of laughter.
"If you don't want the next decomp case, Mr. Weak Guts, you'll stop laughing and give me some good news."
Always one to respond to a threat from a bigger guy, Greg pulled himself together and replied, "Next up is another Alicia song, and the ladies will love it. Be prepared for the pounce! You've got thirty seconds to find a good make-out spot, pal."
"What is this, high school?" Nick laughed.
"No, thank god! In high school I never had anyone to hide with in a dark corner at parties. Holy shit! This is my chance to cross that one off the list." Greg jumped out of his chair and set off in search of his fantasy girl.
Gil continued to console his friend on the back. "Jim…your way didn't turn out so good but don't worry, I'll win your money back from her shortly."
Grabbing his tumbler, Jim left the table grumbling.
Sara tugged her husband out of his chair. "Wanna get some fresh air before the final match up?"
"I'd love to." He stood and when he did, he was a little surprised that he felt the Scotch knocking him off balance. "How much have I drunk?"
"Generally when a person asks that question the answer is too much, but it's your party and you're entitled to have a night of reckless abandon every once in a while." Taking his arm, she escorted him. "Don't worry, I won't let you fall."
Grinning, he asked for clarification. "Back up…what was that reckless abandon thing you just mentioned?"
By the time the first intriguing notes of Alicia Keys' uber-sultry What a Woman's Worth drifted through the speakers, Brass was alone in the kitchen picking at the buffet while Nick had his worthy woman and her quickly diminishing glass of wine at the door of the Pool House.
Ah…pool houses, Nick had seen the inside of a bunch over the years in Vegas. Therefore, he knew the one thing they usually had was a couch or lounge chair of some sort. "Bingo!" He gleefully announced as he caught the image of wicker couch with cushy pillows. After locking the door, he wasted no time pulling Carrie into his arms and consuming her lips with his.
"Mmmm," She groaned into his mouth as his hungry kiss ignited her body. Required to be a smart, responsible woman every day at work and having a lifelong reputation for loathing players, Carrie couldn't believe how exciting she was finding this scenario…especially the part she was encouraging her fiancé to play…a role she knew he lived for many years with many women.
Then she realized the beauty of the situation…Nick was hers and only hers now, and he knew exactly what a Bad Boy should do and say. It was the best of all worlds…he was a SAFE Bad Boy. Heated by her poker win and the wine, Carrie encouraged her man in a throaty voice. "Something tells me you've done this before at parties, Smooth Stokes."
His eyes never leaving hers, he took the glass of wine out of her hand and stowed it on a ledge without spilling a drop. "You really wanna know?" He was starting to get the feeling she was looking for something different, and with a powerful combination of alcohols surging through his veins he finally didn't feel too inhibited to give it to the future mother of his children.
His voice was as mesmerizing as his moves. "Tell me." Hearing a truthful answer was sure to enhance the pseudo-fantasy.
"Many times with many women," He admitted in Old Nick's tequila voice, as he continued to ply Carrie's apparent desire for something naughty. "Mmm…but you're the very last, Baby…and you know what they say…always save the best for last." He accented the statement with a killer smile.
There was no denying he deserved his nickname. "Very smooth."
"Like your skin," He murmured while he drove his hands under the back of her camisole. Staring into her charged brown eyes, he pulled her close and moved their bodies in time with the passionate rhythm.
Her knees weak she was certain she would have been on the floor if it weren't for his strong arms holding her. It was the ultimate 'you know you shouldn't be doing this, but you know you want him' fantasy and it was a completely secure indulgence because this Bad Boy would snap out of the role and be snuggled up next to her in the morning. In her mind she rejoiced over the new duo in her life…a trusting relationship and an active imagination! Breathless from his skilled seduction of her libido, she exclaimed, "Oh god, you're good."
"Good?" Taking one step back he let his next line slide off his velvet tongue. "Then maybe I should go, because a woman as wonderful as you only deserves the best."
Never had just kisses and words boiled her to such an extreme. It defied all logic that she, a woman with a reputation for hating men who spoke like this, was so turned on by it! The lines were oh…so…BAD. Then she realized why it was working. Bad was what she was craving.
"Does knowing you're not the first woman I've taken a toss with in a pool house bother you?" He taunted, knowing she never wanted him more. "I mean…does my vast experience at pleasuring women worry you?"
"No, I'm not worried…I'm sure I'll benefit from your expertise." As he swept her up into his arms and in one slick move had her on the couch, she purred a little something to fuel his fire, "That's what I'm talking about…bestow some knowledge on me, Stokes."
"Here's my first tip, Baby." Giving over to the naughty side completely, he growled in her ear, "If you like this sort of thing…next party…wear a skirt, not pants. Access issues waste valuable time." Running his hand down her leg, he wrapped his fingers around one of her sexy sandals and pulled it off. In a devilish tone he informed her, "I know how much you love your shoes, Sweetheart. If you wore a skirt…you would have been able to keep them on."
"Damn!"
Sequestered in their bedroom, Gil and Sara exchanged hungry kisses until they found themselves on top of their bed. "I can't get over how gorgeous you look tonight, Sara."
Certain that pregnancy hormones had taken control of her body, Sara taunted, "Busy guy…wanna race?"
Knowing his current limitations, Gil informed his wife, "Uh…considering how much Scotch I've downed it would be a marathon not a sprint, but I'd love to cheer you on."
"Actually I do have something special I'd like to try."
After knocking on the guest powder room and hearing Warrick's voice, Greg hurried down the opposite hall towards the other bathroom.
"Where's the fire, Chuckles?" Catherine asked when she saw him zip by. Following him down the hall, she teased, "Looking for a bucket of water to throw at the audience?"
Standing in front of the bathroom door he jittered, jonesin' for a Tawny fix.
"Greg…" Catherine, unable to stand the suspense, flat out asked, "Are you going to propose to Tawny tonight?"
"What?" He choked on his laughter. "Hell no! Are you nuts? I'm not proposing to Tawny. Why would you think I'd do something so stupid?" When he proposed it wasn't going to be in a drunken stupor without a plan and most importantly, he would have a ring.
From behind he heard the bathroom door open and he whipped around. "Tawny! There you are! I've been…"
"I don't believe you!" She yelled while her heart cracked in two. "You've been leading me on!"
Once the shock of her statement wore off, he snapped, "What! Are you crazy!"
"How could you do this to me!" A second later she was racing down the hall.
Greg filled with panic and looked to Catherine for help. "Why would she say that stuff!"
Catherine filled in the blanks for the tequila-numb fool. "She heard me asking if you would be proposing. Then she heard you say no and refer to the idea as stupid."
"But that's not what I meant!" In a panic, he began to explain. "What I meant was…
"Tell her, not me, you idiot!" Catherine pointed in the direction Tawny ran and shoved him.
Gripping the wicker of the couch with one hand and Nick's bare shoulder with the other, Carrie breathlessly blurted, "Oh my god!" Just days ago she was hoping tomove beyond her inhibition, but it felt contrived and impossible. Now, out of the blue, it was happening naturally. "Nicky, this is a side of you I've never experienced!" His intensity was exhilarating.
"Yeah, but…" He asked between moves. "…is it good…or bad?" When she didn't answer, he was concerned that maybe he had taken it a little too far. "Good or bad? Let me hear it, Baby."
"Bad!" She gasped. "And it feels oh…so…good!"
"Go to hell, Greg!" Tawny screamed as she fled the house, knowing he was on her heels.
"Tawny!" Greg squealed when he saw her racing faster through the dark yard. He couldn't believe how adept she was at running in high heels. "Stop!"
"No!" Momentarily halting her dash, she took off her shoe and launched it at his head. "Stay away from me!"
Ducking the jeweled sandal he shrieked, "You totally misunderstood!" For a moment he imagined what his mother would say if the shoe she had purchased Tawny ended up killing her little boy. It wasn't pretty.
"I heard what you said about proposing to me!" She grabbed her remaining shoe, prepared to pummel him. "And I heard Catherine laughing about it too!"
Lunging, he grabbed her forearm so she couldn't flee any further into the enormous yard. "Stop running!"
"Let go of me!" She smacked his arm with her shoe. "Let go!"
"No!" Ignoring the pain of the heel strikes over various parts of his body, he heatedly replied, "Not until you listen to me. You're not going to run off every time you THINK you know what I said. This is just like when the paternity test came up. You didn't give me a chance to explain! You need to stay, and you need to ask me what I really mean if you don't know. And you need to trust me! How the hell can you not trust me after everything I've said and done! You need to give me a chance here! Give me a chance!"
"Fine! I'll give you a chance." She smacked his arm hard with her shoe again. "But get your hand off me, Mr. Anger Management Class! I've been manhandled enough to last a life time!"
"Sorry." He released her arm, feeling bad his fingers left an imprint. "I didn't grab you out of anger. I grabbed you because I didn't want you to run out into the dark yard like you were. I've been here during the day…there are boulders, bushes and trees out there and this winding brick-bordered path. I was worried you'd be so upset you wouldn't watch where you were going and you'd fall…hurting yourself and the baby. I was scared."
"Oh." She felt her heart rate start to slow. "I thought you were getting rough."
"Never gonna happen. But while we're on the topic of anger…could you please not lob any more sharp heeled shoes at my face."
In response she lowered her head.
"Are you ready to listen to me?" Reaching out, he slipped his hand into hers.
"Give me another minute to calm down." She dropped the shoe from her hand so she wouldn't be tempted to use it should his answer be pathetic.
"Damn it!" She yelled. "I'm not in the mood for this seductive music! I had to listen to this shit every night when I was dancing. It really gets on my nerves sometimes. Like NOW!" Frustrated, she asked, "Where the hell is the music coming from anyway!"
"That rock." He pointed to a large boulder next to a tree. "It's really a speaker. My parents have the same set-up in their yard. The song is almost over. The next one is Hoobastank, for Nick, you'll be fine." Trying to catch her eye he softly asked, "Are you calm enough to ask and listen now?"
"Yes!" She huffed, realizing from her tone that she was still a little wound up. After another deep breath, she calmly asked, "Okay…why did you say you wouldn't propose to me and that it was a stupid idea?"
"Because I don't want my proposal to be a Krispy Kreme."
"Huh?" It was not the answer she was expecting. "I'm not tracking."
Taking her other hand too he said, "You love that TV show, Perfect Proposal, and that's exactly what you deserve…a perfect proposal. Proposing to you when I'm tanked at a party with no ring would be cheap and tacky…like bringing you Krispy Kremes instead of taking you out for a nice date, was cheap and tacky. So when Catherine asked if I was planning on proposing to you tonight that's why I said it would be stupid. I don't want my proposal to be just another donut in your life." When he saw her smile return it fueled his. "I want my proposal to be…to be an omelet! And not a plain omelet…I want it to have a whole bunch of stuff in it…the works! Because nothing is too good for you!" Now she was laughing and it made his heart soar. "And it should come with juice, toast and hash browns. Wait…not hash browns, they're too ordinary. Country potatoes! You know, the ones cut up into cubes and sautéed with onions and bell peppers then dashed with a little paprika. And pancakes! Not just a short stack, and not silver dollar pancakes. Huge pancakes…the kind that fill up the whole plate! Wow…suddenly I'm really hungry. Are you?"
"Come here, you big goof!" Tawny took him into her arms. "I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions and I'm really sorry that I rocketed one of my sandals at your face and then beat you with the other one. It's not that I don't trust you, I swear I do when I'm thinking rationally. It's just…I guess deep down I'm still such damaged goods I get really defensive when I hear something that sounds like betrayal…I blow. I promise I'll address it at my next session with Dr. Meyers." With a voice full of vulnerability she confessed, "There's still a big part of me that believes I don't deserve to have my dreams come true."
"You know what…don't move." Jamming to the harder edge of a Hoobastank Bad Boy rock song, Let It Out, he tore off toward the house. "I'll be right back!"
Grinning uncontrollably, Tawny watched Greg dash away. "OH!" She covered her hands with her face. "Are you okay?" He had tripped over her thrown shoe that was hidden in the grass.
"See I wasn't bluffing! A person can easily fall when running in a dark yard!" Picking himself up off the ground he shouted, "Just stay there!"
"Okay!" And as she stood under the stars waiting for her lovable clown…a sweet, patient guy with a penchant for incorporating breakfast foods in his analogies, she heard the opening chords of a new song float from the speaker/rock. She recognized it instantly because she had the CD in her car. It was Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson's duet of A Whole New World, a recent remake of the song from Disney's Aladdin movie.
When she glanced toward the patio, she saw Greg returning. "Watch my shoe!" She warned as her eyes began to well.
"Right!" He skirted it and hurried toward her.
"Our song is perfect!" She delighted in telling him when he was at her side again. "You really have given a new fantastic point of view."
"I'm glad you think so." Bringing his hands to her face he brushed a kiss over her lips. "This next part…it's exactly how I feel and I hope you do too. Dance with me?" He held out his hand and when she slipped hers into it his, he swore the stars twinkled a little brighter.
In the kitchen, Catherine stood at the window between Warrick and Brass. Having witnessed the lovers quarrel, plus Greg's face plant into the grass and his subsequent frantic rush in and out of the house to change the song on the stereo, they felt compelled to keep watching what was going on outside.
"They're each other's lobsters," Catherine sighed while remembering what it was like to be so insanely in love for the first time.
Brass shot her a look. "What the hell does that mean anyway? Gil said it when Sara was in Tahoe and I figured it was some science geek thing, but Cath…you're no geek so how do you know about this lobster thing too?"
Warrick smiled as he stealthily grabbed his partner's hand.
"Rumor has it Lobsters mate for life so when two people are each other's lobsters…" She gave Warrick's hand a squeeze confirming she felt the same way he did. "…it means you're perfect partners and by perfect I don't mean physically. It means you get each other when other people don't. You know what makes your partner tick…like Greg knew this song would speak to Tawny's heart, while the same song gives me a cavity." Pausing for a sip of scotch, she watched the oddballs dancing to a Disney song in the yard. "It means you embrace each other's eccentricities and you can handle imperfections other people wouldn't or couldn't. Two people who balance each other out." She gave a little laugh. "Or in Tawny and Greg's case…two people who are SO MANIC they don't think it's odd to be nuts most of the time."
Jim nodded. "I get it now."
"Jim…" Catherine nudged him. "…Roxie's not your lobster but, I bet there's one waiting somewhere out there for you." She grinned, "She'll be a special lady too, because no ordinary woman will do for The Brass Man."
"There's no going back, Tawny." Clutching each other, they continued to sway to the music, enjoying the sweetness of their first dance together. "It's all about the future."
Sara was right…her hormones were out of control. So out of control that when Gil offered to delight her she couldn't resist in a little indulgence. Standing in front of their bedroom's full length mirror with a throw pillow stuffed under her dress, she giggled. "So what do you think?"
"I think you look beautiful even with a pillow stuffed under your dress." Stepping behind her he wrapped his arms around her and caressed the faux-baby. "But when this pillow is really our child, I guarantee you'll take my breath away every time you walk into a room. I love you, Honey. I can't wait."
With her big pillow propped belly she turned to kiss her husband. "Me either."
After helping his once again fully-clothed fiancée up from the wicker sofa, Nick caressed her flushed cheek. "It's a dead giveaway walking in with a new hairdo…you need to take a minute and get those flips and clips back in place like they were."
"And the lessons continue," She purred with satisfaction while watching him search for her hastily discarded clips. "Thanks for sparing me the embarrassment. See…even Naughty Nick is a gentleman."
"Busted." He laughed as he bent down to pick up the last clip.
"Yeah, I'm going to have to say it…even when you're being bad, you're a pretty good guy."
Handing over the clips he cringed. "Well, yeah…you'd think that the rest of the night but, you'd form a new opinion when I didn't call you tomorrow as promised."
"Oh yeah…and if I saw you on the street and you dared to speak to me…I'd kick you in the nuts." While restoring her hair to its original state, she assured him, "But since we'll be waking up in each other's arms tomorrow and for the rest of our lives, I don't ever have to worry about feeling cheap, and you don't ever have to feel guilty for being a cad again. We both walk out of here satisfied and comfortable, right?"
"Right." His smile returned. "Engagement has its privileges."
With a glint in her eye she replied, "And marriage will have more."
"That was beautiful," Tawny whispered in Greg's ear as the song ended. "Thanks for making dancing innocent for me again. Let's dance the next one too."
"Uh…actually…"
That's when Boom Boom's theme song started.
Cringing Greg told her, "I knew that was coming up."
"Yeah…we've already done that dance so let's skip this song."
"Definitely!" Laughing, he explained, "This one is Sara's…it's an inside joke. Not about her and I though! So drop your shoe!" He laughed harder when she did. "It's a reference about her and Grissom getting a little crazy in San Francisco a few months ago." Taking her hand he said, "Let's get back inside and see how ticked she is."
Sara flew into the living room passing Brass, Catherine and Warrick. "GREGORY HOJEM SANDERS! Just because you saved my life doesn't mean I won't kill you!"
Greg loudly retorted, "She's definitely pregnant because she's invoking the middle name and copping a maternal tone of disgust! I know that tone well!" Hiding behind Tawny he shook with laughter. "Sara, remember the baby needs a daddy."
Gil, who had just arrived, saw the perfect 'kiss the girl' payback opportunity. "Everyone, sing it with me and mortify my wife!" He was pleased when they eagerly complied.
"Boom Boom Boom let's go back to my room..."
Secretly, Sara couldn't deny it was humorous. "Yeah, okay fine! You're all hilarious." But she tried to bluff. "Sanders, you'll pay for this at work. When we're alone in the field, I'm in charge and I'll have you doing the nastiest of the nasty!"
"Speaking of doing the nasty…" Catherine smirked as only a Bad Girl pretending to be innocent while getting a Good Girl in trouble can. "Are Nick and Carrie still out in the Pool House?"
"What?" Sara flipped. "Are you saying DNA transfer is taking place in MY Pool House?"
Warrick shook his head and replied in an empathetic tone. "The nerve of some people."
Greg reminded her, "Technically, Sara, you only said the Jacuzzi and the pool were off limits. You never mentioned the Pool House."
Tawny sighed, "And he wonders why he got pummeled in high school."
Just then Nick and Carrie strolled in holding hands and looking as chummy as two peas in a pod.
Sara glared at her friend and half laughed. "Carrie, I can't believe you had sex in my Pool House!"
Frozen in her tracks she gasped, "You can tell by looking at me? But I fixed my hair!"
Greg shook with laughter. "Okay, Sara, now you're REALLY starting to remind me of my mother. You're accusing people of having sex under your roof!"
Nick held up Carrie's left hand. "I'll tell you the same thing that worked with my mom when she busted us in Dallas. Look…she's got a ring on her finger!"
Gil explained the cold hard truth about his wife. "It's not the moral implications, Nicky. It's the germs."
"Exactly! My husband knows me well." Sara pointed her finger at Nick. "You just lost your Tahoe cabin privileges, my friend."
"Yep!" Greg confirmed. "She's definitely a mom. She's taking away privileges."
Getting into the spirit, Sara yelled, "You're on time out, Greg!"
"Oh no he's not!" Gil directed Greg to the poker table. "He has to deal cards so I can take Carrie's shoe money."
Greg plunked down in his spot. "Now mom and dad are disagreeing on my punishment. Another familiar scenario. Which one of you is going to buy me something or give me a privilege to piss the other one off?"
Settling in his seat, Gil played along, "What do you need, son?" Grinning, he filled his scotch glass.
"A house," He joked, saying the first thing that popped into his head. A couple of months ago it would have been the last thing on his list, but his priorities were quite different now.
"No problem. My old townhouse is sitting empty. I'm hanging onto it as an investment but didn't want to deal with renters." He raised his glass. "You can have it for six months rent-free and I won't have to worry about it sitting empty. You pay all the utilities and the maintenance. That should be long enough for you to get your act together. After that, if you still want to rent it, you can pay a reasonable going rate."
"You're bluffing!" Greg retorted as he shuffled the cards.
"No, he's not." Sara tossed the townhouse keys she had just retrieved from the kitchen onto the poker table. "Mom and Dad agreed on this decision earlier today. We were going to wait and tell you when you were alone but since DAD has been hittin' the bottle hard, he spilled the beans publicly." The moment Greg mentioned that he needed to find a bigger place so his father would believe he had suitable means to raise a child, she thought of Gil's empty townhouse.
Nick jokingly huffed. "So, I lose my cabin privileges but Greg gets a townhouse? Being the middle child really does suck. I'm used to being the spoiled baby boy!"
"This has nothing to do with pecking order." Sara chuckled. "Greg didn't defile the Pool House!"
Brass reminded her, "He did puke in your john that night we crashed here."
Sara grinned. "I'll cut him some slack because without Greg…I wouldn't be standing here today celebrating my husband's birthday, having a great time with my friends and hoping I'm pregnant. He helped me when I was in need and now I'm helping him." Trying to lighten the mood she cracked, "Anyway…I have no problem doling out my Sugar Daddy's assets! So take the keys Greg."
"Really…it's too generous. Saving Sara's life was reward enough for me." Greg slid the keys over to Grissom. "And no offense, but you're so plowed you kissed your wife in front of us. In the morning you'll feel differently about this offer."
"I'm sober," Sara reminded him while elbowing Tawny. "What do you think he should do?"
"Oh, it's not my place, I mean I'm just his girlfriend and…" Smiling, she reconsidered, "Well…I do have an idea how to make it better for everyone. Sara…you want to help Greg so you can feel like you've done something as generous for him as he did for you. Gil…same for you, because he saved your wife's life. But you both know he was just doing his job and really all you want to do is help him out."
Sara and Gil exchanged knowing glances.
Tawny glanced at her man. "Greg...you don't want to take a handout and you don't want to be paid back for saving Sara. So how about this….Gil, you make it Greg's dealer tip for the night. Trust me…I've seen some pretty odd tips in my day. It's crazy for the average gambler, but it's not out of the realm of possibility for a high roller. One time this Sheik gave a girl his Mercedes after only an hour in the VIP room. Although, since he paid the club to turn off the security cameras, I'm pretty sure she did more than the standard lap dance…anyway…it's Vegas...my point is, outrageous stuff happens all the time." She finished off her idea with a radiant smile in Greg's direction. "Just a thought."
When Catherine caught Greg's eye she said, "Since I'm all about taking my rich daddy's money, I'm fine with you taking the keys, but as a girl who used to work for tips, I agree with Tawny. Make it your tip. Hell, I think you deserve it for DJ skills alone. I'm sure Nick and Carrie would agree with me that the music has been very agreeable this evening."
Nick gave a thumbs up. "Alicia set the mood, Hoobastank carried us home and the Disney tune wasn't bad for the afterglow. I'd say he deserves it. Take the keys, Greggo." Throwing his arm around his fiancée, he teased, "What about you, Honey? Were you satisfied with…the music?"
"The music…rocked my world." She felt a blush return to her cheeks. "Take the keys, Music Man."
Warrick, no stranger to Grissom's generosity since he had once received the best gift of all from him…a second chance, wanted to help. "The tip thing is right on. I've seen jewelry tossed by a high roller at a waitress. And Greg's been a hell of lot more entertaining than your average casino waitress, although not as stacked. Take them, Sanders."
Brass quipped, "His hair is as big though. Take the friggin' keys already."
Grissom slid the keys back to Greg. "You've done a great job dealing."
"Okay…okay." Smiling bright, Greg accepted the tip and whispered, "And I know the word dealing has multiple meanings in that sentence."
Carrie took a seat at the table across from Grissom. "I certainly hope you don't think that generous tip will get you good pocket cards."
"Good work, Tawny. I'm liking you more all the time." Catherine threw her arm around the girl and walked her away from the group. "You saved your guy's pride and you got a really cool place to live. That Mercedes story…was it true?"
"Nah, I was bluffing."
"Nice job!" Catherine high-fived her. "Plus, I was going to be really pissed that I never got offered a Mercedes when I was dancing. Because let me tell you…I was good enough to deserve one. One more thing though…you're very good at bluffing and covering. You're not uh bluffing about how you feel about Greg, are you? Because he's a nutjob and frankly…"
Sara came up alongside Nick. "Soooo, earlier today you were worried I knew too much about your sex life but tonight, you go and have sex while I'm in the house. Interesting paradox, Horndog. Let's hope your fiancée wins so she can buy me new cushions for my Pool House couch."
Busted he snarked, "What makes you think I used your couch?"
She winked, "Because I know you're not an up against the wall man, Straight Shooter. The lil' lady needs to be comfortable to get maximum enjoyment."
"Your ability to read me really has me bugged."
At the sound of the famous cockroach song, Gil raised his glass. "Ahh…one of my favorites."
"Let's make him kiss a cockroach!" Carrie suggested while shuddering. "Blech!"
Staring at her Brass deadpanned, "You say that like he'd think it was offensive."
"I hope you're bluffing." Then she glanced over at Gil who was merrily singing along and suddenly she wasn't so sure Jim wasn't telling the truth. "Ewww."