Title: The Softball Game
Author: Lifeguard
Disclaimer: I do not own CSI or any of the characters. Please don't sue, I am a poor student!
Archive: Sure, just e-mail and tell me where
Spoilers: Umm, none for now I guess
Rating: PG
Summary: The annual CSI softball game is coming up, and it's day shift vs. nights. Can Grissom pull the team together in time for victory? Does softball lead to romance? It should lead to some funny situations!
Author's Note: Well, I am back! I haven't written in awhile because I am working on an original story of my own. Currently I am experiencing writers block with that, and am itching to write some CSI stuff. I may update Truth in/Truth of the Matter soon, but really, my muse for that one is gone for now. Maybe it will come back later. Oh and please excuse my limited knowledge of softball, the idea just seemed intriguing to write about, so I will do the best I can. Any errors are my own, and if you would like to beta, considering I don't have anyone who does, it would be appreciated. So enjoy this bit of humour, and hopefully it isn't to out of character! Enjoy!
"Sorry to keep you, but there will be a quick meeting in the break room in five minutes," Grissom said, poking his head into the locker room.
Nick nodded in response as he closed his locker, and then turned to give Warrick a quizzical glance.
"Wonder what its all about?" he muttered.
"I have no idea," answered Warrick, as they both headed for the meeting.
They joined the rest of the team a few moments later. Catherine paced the room, looking annoyed that she was being kept after shift, as Greg sat half asleep on the couch. Sara was sipping a cup of coffee as Grissom entered the room with Hodges.
"Thank you Hodges, now if you'll please sit down.." Grissom was saying.
"What do you want to bet that he was ass kissing again?" Warrick whispered to Catherine, who cracked a small smile at the comment.
Grissom cleared his throat and the room became silent.
"Thank you all for staying, this won't take long. Ecklie has informed me that the annual softball game is coming up and that our shift is expected to enter a team. I assume that means we have no choice as to whether or not we want to play. So as the appointed coach, I think we should have a few practices before the actual event, so I was wondering when it would be convenient to have our first one."
Everyone seemed to look around at each other before starting to talk.
"How about late Saturday afternoon?" suggested Warrick.
"I think Sunday would be better," said Catherine.
"What do you think Greg?" asked Nick.
There was no response, as Greg was still snoozing.
Nick shoved him and called his name a little louder.
"Huh! What?" a startled Greg responded.
"Please pay attention Greg," said Grissom.
Hodges smiled smugly at Greg's reprimand and Sanders shot him back a look of hate.
"When exactly is the game?" Sara asked.
"In two weeks," replied Grissom.
"You know, Sunday doesn't sound so bad. All in favour?" Nick questioned the group.
There were nods of agreement and it was set that their first practice was to be Sunday afternoon.
Sunday
It was a hot afternoon as the team arrived at the baseball diamond. Equipment had been supplied by Ecklie from former games and the team milled around it and Grissom outside the dugout.
"I am glad that you all made it here, and I appreciate you coming. Now, has anyone played softball before on a team?"
Nick raised his hand and said he had played in college, and Greg answered that he had played little league.
"I've played occasionally, but they were only pick up games," Warrick replied.
All eyes then were set on Catherine, Sara and Hodges who had not answered.
"It's not that I don't know the basics of the game, it's just that I was never taught how to play properly," Sara said shyly.
"We'll teach you," said Grissom, thinking that she looked awfully cute in her shorts and ball cap.
"I can pick it up as I go along," said Catherine.
"What about you Hodges?" asked Nick.
"What? You think I've never played ball before?" he replied curtly.
"I dunno, you tell us," Greg said sarcastically.
Hodges was not impressed.
"All right, that's enough. Why don't we hand out the gloves and toss the ball around then?" Grissom said, cutting off the impending argument.
Soon the team was in the outfield, positioned in a circle.
"Now the object is to call out the person's name and throw the ball to them. Let's try it," Grissom explained as he passed the ball between his hands.
"Nick," he called, throwing the ball rather well at the CSI.
Nick caught it with no difficulty, and shouted out to Greg, who had to run back a bit to catch it.
"Hey, not everyone here is an expert!" he shouted at Nick through a smile.
"Hodges!" he yelled, whipping the ball at the new lab tech.
Hodges fumbled a bit and dropped the ball, garnering a laugh from Greg who called out,
"I guess you haven't played ball before!"
The others giggled as Grissom shot a look at Greg before Hodges could get another comment out. He picked the ball off the ground and said Sara, before tossing the ball lightly her way. She caught it and threw it to Catherine, who shielded her face instead of trying to catch it.
"Cath! Use your glove to catch the ball!" Warrick laughed, who got the ball hurled at him in response.
They continued for a while longer and it seemed that they got better with each throw and catch.
"That was good everyone! Time to move onto batting practice!" Grissom called out and the team headed to home plate, stopping for water along the way.
After the short break, Grissom put himself on the pitchers mound and the team lined up to take a crack at hitting the ball. Warrick went up first and hit a foul to the left.
"I haven't played in a long time…" he muttered.
"Sure sure," Nick grinned slyly at him.
"Let's see you do it then," challenged Warrick.
Nick nodded and stepped up to the plate. Grissom sent the ball flying at him and then Nick swung. Bat and ball collided and the ball sailed far out into centre field. Nick smiled smugly at Warrick before handing the bat to Greg. Greg let the first ball go, then hit his second attempt and sent the ball towards third base. It was now Catherine's turn and she stepped nervously up to the plate.
"Be kind," she called to Grissom, who threw a light underhand at her. She swung low and missed it, and it became obvious that she didn't know how to swing properly.
"Try again," Grissom called back, sending another light pitch her way.
She missed again, and swore.
"I didn't want to do this anyway. I could be at home relaxing right now," she complained loudly.
"Here, let me help you," Warrick said, approaching her.
"Now you have to bend your knees a little and hold the bat up higher…" he said, positioning himself behind her. He put his arms around hers and held placed his hands on the bat along with hers.
"Now when the ball comes, you have to swing hard, and don't forget to keep your eye on the ball," he said gently into her ear.
Catherine wasn't really paying much attention to his advice, because she was now to focused on the proximity of his body to hers. Despite the afternoon heat, her face flushed a little at having Warrick's arms around her in front of everyone. She didn't have any idea that similar thoughts were running through his mind.
The ball came at her again and this time, Warrick pulled the bat back with her and she was able to hit a low grounder back to Grissom. She smiled at her success and that Warrick had yet to let go of her. It wasn't until Sara approached the mound that he let go and she thanked him casually.
Sara's claims of never having been taught properly suddenly sounded not so true as she was able to hit the ball just past second base.
"Lucky try…" she said, handing the bat to Hodges.
"Hey batter batter batter! Swing batter!" Greg taunted as the ball sailed past Hodges.
"Quit distracting me Sanders!"
"Eye on the ball Hodges!"
"Shut up!"
Grissom pitched another one and Hodges swung and missed.
"Strike two!" Greg hollered.
Hodges sent him a death glare and the third ball came at him. He hit it weakly and it landed a few feet to Grissom's right.
"Not bad Hodges, let's do this again everyone!" Grissom called.
Hodges, pleased with his effort walked away from the plate.
"I still hit it further than him," Greg muttered, as Nick laughed.
The team continued practice for another hour before calling it quits. They decided that another few were an order before anyone was ready to play in the big game.
Like it? Love it? Hate it? Think that the Warrick/Cath scene was like the baseball scene between M&S on the X-files? (That was so cute and romantic! Wasn't it?) Well let me know whether I should continue or if this is a horrible idea that needs to be turned into flames. I love feedback, and constructive feedback is welcome! Let me know! Let your opinion be known! Byes for now,
Lifeguard.