Reviewers, you rock my world. Nothing gives me more pleasure than to see people begging for updates. Gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside.
To meg: Ha, funny you should mention that. I was actually inspired to do this fic while watching Dirty Dancing (my mind is forever developing plot lines...it's totally ridiculous...). I'm almost positive I'm going to have them do the mambo (although salsa IS an interesting idea...I have to do more research) I'm kind of iffy about the lift at the end of the dance. Swayze was a professional in the movie, while Greg and Sara are NOT. We'll see, though. Apologies in advance for any spelling mistakes. My spell check isn't working, and I typed this in a hurry.
Disclaimer: I forgot to do this last chapter. Repeat after me: Jerry Bruckheimer owns the woooorld...and my soul, with his movies and TV shows. If I owned CSI, Greg would dance only with ME.
That night, Sara found it completely impossible to concentrate on the job, preoccupied as she was with the thought of the imminent contest...that she had signed up for (that one still baffled her). Fortunately, all Grissom had for her was a B&E on the Strip, the simplest of cases, which she would be working on with Greg. She suppressed a groan. She wasn't ready to deal with him just yet.
What HAD she been thinking? It had been over twenty years since she last danced, and she'd hated the classes every step of the way. So what possessed her to sign up for a CONTEST involving it? She winced. Well, that answer was easy. Jealousy; mad, raging, green eyed envy had coursed through her veins at the thought of Greg choosing Sophia to be his dance partner. As if the blonde CSI hadn't stolen enough from Sara already, now she wanted to whisk away her best friend. (Something in the deeply buried logical part of Sara's mind said that blaming Sophia wasn't quite fair, as she probably hadn't had a clue about Greg nearly asking her, but right now reason wasn't the first thing on the brunette's mind).
Thankfully, Greg didn't make mention of the contest throughout the entire time they were at the bar that had been robbed. When they brought the evidence back to the lab, he kept the conversation at convivial, lighthearted topics such as why a thief would be so idiotic as to ask for a drink before the burglary, hold the glass without gloves and then leave it there after he left. Obviously it was a first time villain.
Of course, it couldn't last.
Greg became conspicuously silent following his impersonation of an idiotic criminal that left Sara in stitches. If she hadn't been trying so hard to regain breath after cracking up twice, she would've noticed that he seemed almost nervous now.
"Whew," she gasped, wiping tears from her eyes. "I haven't laughed that hard in ages. I definitely think you should do that for Nick and Warrick, it'll kill them." Greg didn't say anything; merely looked at her oddly. "What?" she asked, suddenly self conscious. He shifted.
"Weeelll..." he said, appearing to choose his next words very carefully. "You know...that contest is in three weeks, so, if we want to be prepared for it, I think we should work out some kind of practice schedule." As he said it, Sara's heart sank. She had been so close to forgetting about anything to do with dance, too.
"Yes, I suppose so," she said, sighing resignedly.
"You know," he began hesitantly. "If you really-I mean REALLY don't want to do this, I can always go to Grissom and tell him I'm switching partners. You don't HAVE to participate."
'Really? Okay!' screamed Sara's excited subconscious at the prospect of a cop out. However, one glance at the almost puppy-like expression on Greg's face, and Sara's insides melted like goo. Resistance. Was. Futile.
"No, really, I want to," Sara insisted. 'LIAR!' She forced a grin. "Besides, it'll be fun to see the look of defeat on Ecklie's face when we kick his ass. Again." Greg grinned, all timidity gone.
"And Catherine and Warrick," he added. Sara was dumbfounded.
"Catherine...and...Warrick." she repeated slowly. Greg appeared confused.
"Yeah...someone didn't look closely enough at the sign up sheet, I take it?" he teased lightly.
"I was trying to cope with the image of Ecklie on a dance floor," she retorted.
"Touché," he conceded.
"So. Catherine and Warrick are partnered up," Sara mused. "Well, maybe this will give them the push that they need." Greg's brow furrowed.
"Push?" Sara stared at him like he'd grown a second head.
"You mean you missed it?" she demanded. "Come on, they're completely obvious. The little looks, and touches...they're both crazy about each other!"
"Well...I haven't really been paying attention to what's around me these past months," he admitted a little sheepishly. "Most of my time and effort has been concentrated into getting promoted to CSI."
"It's there," Sara said certainly, punctuating the statement with an affirmating nod of her head. "Call it a woman's intuition. I can sense when someone's in love." Greg gazed at her through unreadable brown eyes.
"Can you now?" he asked strangely. Sara didn't even blink.
"Of course. And those two are definitely in love. Maybe this dance thing is just what the doctor prescribed."
"Maybe," Greg echoed. "But, anyways, before we got sidetracked by Catherine and Warrick..."
"Right," Sara interjected. "Um, what did you have in mind?" 'Please let it be painless' she prayed fervently.
"I have a friend who owns a dance studio, and she's going home to Italy for a few weeks. I'm sure I can get her to let us use her space to practice while she's away," he said confidently. "We've known each other forever. Since before I came to Vegas, in fact." To Sara's unending surprise, she felt a flash of jealousy at his words. 'Since before Las Vegas?' she thought unhappily. 'I don't know anything about him before Vegas. In fact, I barely know anything about him, period.' This thought disturbed her more than she thought it rightly should. But she was his friend, wasn't she? He was certainly her best friend. Shouldn't she know things about him? But she'd never even been to his apartment. 'But SOPHIA has.' The snarky voice of jealousy that had been banished to the back of her mind was back full force. 'Because SOPHIA is so wooonderfull, and beauutiful, and she's just the best CSI EVER-'
"Uh, Sara, are you even listening to me?" Greg asked uncertainly, and Sara realized that while she had zoned out, he'd been speaking.
"Sorry?" She became instantly attentive, and he looked faintly annoyed.
"I was just asking what you were doing after shift?" he reiterated. "Because if you're not doing anything, you could stop by my place and we can discuss what we're going to do while not on company time."
"What does it matter? We could solve this case in our sleep," Sara said, wondering why all of the sudden he was so concerned about wasting time. "Besides, it's not like it's going anywhere." Greg flinched slightly, and inclined his head towards her.
"Because Grissom is standing right behind you," he said. Spinning, Sara pasted on a fake smile for the unamused supervisor.
"Heeey Grissom," she said in what she hoped was a casual tone of voice. "Greg and I were just about to..." She looked at the former lab tech for help.
"To...compare...the bartender's story...to what other possible witnesses were saying," he improvised. While not the best excuse, it was better than sitting there looking guilty. Sara nodded in agreement to what he was saying. Grissom looked thoroughly unconvinced, but said nothing.
"Right," he said skeptically. "Well, just make sure it stays that way." With that, he exited the room. Sara stared at where he had been.
"What's his problem?" she muttered to herself. Greg shrugged with a 'why are you asking me?' expression on his face. Shaking her head, she returned her gaze to the crime scene photos sitting in front of them.
"Soo...my place?" Greg said. Sara nodded. Her vindictive side mentally punched the air. 'Sophia: 1; Sara: 2!'
Huh. That chapter didn't turn out quite like I wanted it to. I'm afraid it was too boring. Hoooowever...next chapter things heat up. Because SARA is going to GREGGO'S apartment. Hee hee hee...
Ooh, how's this for strange coincidences: I was in the car thinking about this story, and the song from Dirty Dancing (which is the movie that inspired this fic, as stated before the chapter) came on to the radio! Y'know, the 'I've Had the Time of My Life'. Just thought it was kinda cool...
Okay, you all know what a review whore I am. IF YOU WANNA SEE SARA AND GREG MAMBO/TANGO/SALSA/WHATEVER I'M GONNA HAVE THEM DO, please, click the little purplish blue review button. Until next chapter, then!