Chapter 3

Aida was almost enjoying the night, even though Grissom had warned her that the Ball would be totally boring. She and Sara had smoothed things over, the brunette had approached her,craving for apologising. The red haired tried to fight the laughter at the thought of her earlier abrupt reaction; Aida found that woman amusing, even if she appeared cold and blunt. The funniest thing about her, though, was her evident (and returned) attraction to Gil, which she hopelessly tried to hide.

The girl was then introduced to Captain Jim Brass, a plump man with a witty look in his eyes. As the others, he couldn't see any family ties between his friend and her, then joked abouthisdaughterbearing no resemblance to him at all. Aida chuckled, but noticed the sad expression in the man's eyes. She said nothing, anyway, because she couldn't stand intrusive people, and she definitely didn't want tobe one of them.

The night was going on pretty well; Aida, enjoying the oldie music, had even convinced his uncle to dance with her.

"Come on Gil! This is a Ball, right? People are supposed to dance… the music is so good and you know you're a pretty good dancer, don't you?" She was playing on his latent narcissism, and she succeeded in her purpose. they reached tha dance floor and began to dance as the notes of "Fever" filled the air.

Greg was staring at the two people dancing. Actually, he was staring at the woman, who looked so graceful and elegant while floating at the sound of music, and he was envying the man dancing with her, wishing he was in his place.

"Do you need a bucket, Sanders? You're drooling…" Warrick told him, an amused look in his eyes. Greg noticed there was alsoNick, standing next to the tall man, a grin on is face. "You're so funny, man… your expression is so… so… enchanted and miserable at the same time… Pretty pathetic, you know.."

"Mind your own business, ok? I don't need nor like your jokes. And, for your information, I was not drooling. I was just surprised seeing Grissom dance…" he pretended.

"Come on man!" Warrick replied "we know that look… which is, actually, pretty understandable, I mean… that girl's hot… really. That's why you have no chance with her… she's out of your reach. I'm sorry, but you have to face the facts…"

"I'm sooo glad I have friends like you two guys, so sympathetic, caring and sensitive…" He sarcastically replied. The two just sniggered.

Aida and Grissom had just finished dancing, when his cell went off. After a brief conversation, the man turned to his niece with an apologetic look on his face.

"I'm sorry, Aida. I've just been called from the Department for a murder… I must go immediately, I can't even take you home…"

The girl just smiled "Don't worry, Gil. I'm grown enough to call a cab by myself! Just go, duty comes first, right?"

He smiled back at her, waved her goodbye, then informed Sara he wanted her to be his partner on the case.

Aida saw the woman talk briefly to Greg and then leave the Ball with Grissom.

The girl was about to call a cab, when she was approached by Ecklie.

"Are you enjoying the Ball, Miss? I saw you dancing with Gil a moment ago.. where is he now?" He looked around, as if he was really searching the CSI.

"I'm having a really good time, Mr. Ecklie. Unfortunately, Gil has been called for a case, and has left just a few seconds ago."

"Oh, really? I'm so sorry for you! I mean, you're at a Ball with people you don't know, and your only acquaintance has just left…"

She was getting nervous. She feared he would ask her something she wouldn't be able to refuse, and this thought was freaking her out.

"I hope you don't intend to leave, too. It would be a terrible loss. I wish I could get to dance with you, before you go."Then, a light flashed in his eyes"Oh, wait, if your uncle left, you have no one to take you home! In this case, I would be glad to accomp.."

"This is such a beautiful song, isn't it? Didn't you wanna dance?" Aida didn't let him finish his speech, and went for the lesser evil: dancing with him. At least, she could pretend she wanted to listen carefully to each single word of the song, so that she wouldn't have to pay attention to that man.

Three minutes seemed like hours to the girl, who was looking forward to the end of the song. Suddenly, she spotted Greg, who was talking to Catherine. He seemed to notice he was watched, in fact he turned to her direction. Eye contact was made between them. She gave him the most disconsolate look she was able to make, and he smiled.

Greg took leave of Catherine, then headed towards Aida and Ecklie who, in the meantime, had finished dancing. Ecklie was telling the girl something about... taking her home. She seemed terrified, then, noticing Greg approach, she smiled.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Ecklie, but I've already accepted Mr. Sanders' offer. He will take me home." While saying that, she begged Greg with her eyes to play along with her.

He decided to pretend he knew what she was talking about, and confirmed everything. 'SuperGreg goes into action…' he thought.

Ecklie was disappointed, but wasn't willing to show. Aida dismissed him, then turned and smiled at Greg.

"Thank you.. I couldn't stand him anymore… if he had taken me home I.. I would have jumped out of the car!"

"Don' t worry! Saving defenceless girls from unpleasant men is a vocation and a pleasure for me.."

"Oh! I hadn't noticed the cloak and the S sewn on your suit…" she joked.

He chuckled. "Then you're not a good observer, but I'll forgive you, if you don't tell anybody who I really am. My secret identity must not be revealed…" he whispered, his index finger on his mouth. Then, he had a brilliant idea. "As a reward for saving your mental stability, I think I deserve to dance with you.."

She smiled, and it seemed to Greg that the room had suddenly lit up. They moved towards the dance floor. They didn't speak during the song, they just let their bodies follow the rhythm of music.

Greg was totally ravished by her perfume. Her eyes, which could have been defined mean, frightening somehow, because of their yellow-greenish colour, were now so sweet. 'Calm down, man. You can't be this tensed' he thought. His muscles relaxed.

Aida was trying to ignore the weird sensation she was feeling. She was leaning against Greg, surprised at how firm his body was. She felt secure, protected. She was quite surprised, it wasn't like her to feel that way... She had been so frail,passive and lazy for the past years. She looked up at him, met his dark eyes, then looked away, blushing.

The song was over, and the two parted.

"I... I'll call a cab now…" she said, trying to compose herself.

"W.. Why? I was supposed to take you home… we can leave right now if you want!"

"Well, I…You're not obliged to! I said that to Ecklie just because I didn't want him to take me home, I was just pretending you would. I really don't want to bother you…"

"Bother? Don't even say that! Besides, you don't know how much a cab costs here in Vegas, do you? A ride in my car is free, for you…" he added, winking at her.

"How can I resist to the offer of such an attractive man, who is, indeed,a superhero? I won't have a second chance!" She laughed and headed to the exit, immediately followed by Greg.