Take Me Out Tonight

Rating: PG 13

Disclaimer: Wish they were mine… alas they are not

Summary: Grissom told her she should get a diversion and she did. (Involves the musical Rent!) GSR

A/N – So this story has been playing around in my head for a long while. Sara uses her talents and performs on stage in a Las Vegas 1 night production of Jonathan Larson's Rent!

Disclaimer – CSI isn't mine, and neither is Rent. Sigh But I love them both.

Chapter 2

March 2nd

With the auditions only a day away, Sara started singing softly wherever she went. She sang in the shower and on her way to work. She made sure that she would be able to leave work on time so she could make the 2 pm auditions.

Sara arrived at work and walked into the break room to grab a cup of coffee. Seeing that the break room was empty, she started singing softly to herself.

Grissom was walking from his office to the autopsy room when he heard a beautiful and familiar voice. He stopped just before the break room to hear Sara softly singing:

"So let's find a bar
So dark we forget who we are
Where all the scars from the
Nevers and maybes die
Let's go out tonight"

Sara had her back towards the door, so she didn't see Grissom hovering by the doorway.

I almost forgot how beautiful her voice is Grissom thought to himself. In fact, I haven't talked to her, or been on a case with her, for a week! Grissom softly sighed to himself before he continued on his journey to see Doc Robbins.

Sara, with her back still facing the door, was surprised when Warrick walked into the break room and said "Hey Sar, nice voice you got there!"

"Oh my gosh War! You scared the crap out of me!"

"Sorry Sar. I didn't mean to scare you. Although you do really have a nice voice. Really powerful like Mimi"

"You like Rent War?" Sara asked. "I never really pictured you as the musical theater type"

"Well Tina's from NYC, and she is what they call a 'Rent head'. And when the movie came out last year, the soundtrack would not stop playing for a second. After seeing it for myself in the theaters, I have to admit that it is a wonderful work. Great music all around"

"Very cool" Sara replied as Nick waltzed into the breakroom.

"What is very cool?" Nick asked as he grabbed a cup of coffee.

"War likes musical theater" Sara answered quickly before Warrick could stop her.

"Really?" Nick asked arching his eyebrow at an embarrassed looking Warrick. "Seems like the old ball and chain has changed Mr. Jazz Man"

"Thanks Sara" War replied shooting a harsh glare her way.

"No problem" Sara smirked into her cup of coffee.

- - -

Sara left shift right on time in order to take a shower and sleep a little before the auditions. When she arrived at the studio she felt nervous butterflies start to fill her stomach. After she gave her name to one of the staff members, she got in line behind a tall man with light brown hair. Sara couldn't help but notice that his face looked slightly familiar. She wracked her brain trying to remember where she has seen him before.

He turned around and introduced himself. "Hi my name is James" he said extending his hand out to hers.

"Hi, I'm Sara" she replied.

"First audition?" James questioned.

"Is it that obvious?" Sara replied nervously.

"Not to the untrained eye, but I've been through this many times. I've seen all types of people on auditions"

"So are you an actor?" Sara questioned.

"No, I actually work the nightshift as a doctor at Desert Springs Hospital" James replied.

"Oh! I thought you looked familiar. I'm a level 3 CSI from the Las Vegas Crime Lab, and I also work the graveyard shift" Sara replied.

"I knew that I've seen your pretty face before" James chuckled as Sara blushed. "Gil Grissom's shift right?"

"Yup, that's the one."

Their conversation was interrupted by a rather large man who stood on a chair in the middle of the crowded room.

"Attention people!" he spoke into his megaphone. "My name is Jeff and I would like to welcome you to the Desert Community Theatre. This is how our auditions will work today. We'll break you into male and female groups who will separately audition in front of our director and assistant director. You will each individually sing a small stanza of the music you prepared for the audition. We will pick the 3 actors that best fit each individual part. The rest of you, sadly, will have to go home and try again next year. Then we will get the finalists all together and ask you to perform a song in partners. Since we don't have a lot of time, we will choose our cast today. So everyone should pull out all stops and give it what you got. Ok? Any questions? Good! Males to my left and ladies to the right! Lets go!"

Sara shrugged her shoulder and waved goodbye to James as he was shuffled over to the left side of the room. Well, he goes nothing Sara thought.

- - - -

When it was Sara's turn for the first round of auditions she belted:

"So let's find a bar
So dark we forget who we are
Where all the scars from the
Nevers and maybes die
Let's go out tonight"

"Very nice and powerful Miss…. Uh" Dave the director shuffled through the papers to find Sara's audition sheet. "here it is… Miss Sidle. Have you done this before?"

"Well, I was in some plays in college but that is about it" Sara replied.

"Well, it really seems like you have some natural talent. I would like to hear you sing again for Mimi in the next round of auditions"

"Wow! Sure!" Sara was flabbergasted and surprised that he wanted her to move on. She was pretty skeptical about moving on in the audition process, especially when she saw how many people turned up today.

Sara moved off stage to where one of the stagehands directed her and tried to mentally prepare herself for the next step. In the room there were about 4 other girls and 3 guys that were also getting ready for the next song. Sara sat down on the couch and tried to calm her nerves when she saw James come into the room.

"Hey Sara, it seems like we both made it through. Congratulations!" he praised pulling her into a friendly hug.

"Congrats to you too!" Sara replied returning the hug.

"Who are you reading for?" James asked as he pulled away.

"Mimi"

"Cool, I'm reading for Roger!"

They were interrupted by Jeff who walked into the room to address the remaining actors. "Congratulations people! You've made it this far. We're going to split you up so you can sing in pairs, to see if you guys have chemistry and whatnot. The first set of pairs will be Mimis and Rodgers. We paired you up randomly and you will go in the order I call you. So we have Jones and Williams, Johnson and Fox, and Sidle and Peterson. First group, let's go!"

"Hey! Looks like we are singing together!" James exclaimed.

"Oh, so you're full name is James Peterson"

"Yup, so you ready Sidle?"

"I hope so"

"Just relax Sara" James said putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You'll do fine"

- - A few minutes later

"Sidle and Peterson, you're up!" Jeff shouted.

"Ready?" James questioned.

"Ready as I'll ever be"

The both walked onto the stage and Jeff addressed them. "Ok you both will be singing Light My Candle. There is sheet music right on the stand in front of you if you get a little nervous, but try singing the song to each other. Ready you two?"

Sara and James both nodded.

"Ok Sam" Jeff gestured to the piano player.

They Sang:

Roger (James):What'd you forget?

MIMI (Sara):Got a light?

ROGER:I know you? -- You're --
You're shivering

MIMI
It's nothing
They turned off my heat
And I'm just a little
Weak on my feet
Would you light my candle?
What are you staring at?

ROGER
Nothing
Your hair in the moonlight
You look familiar
Can you make it?

MIMI
Just haven't eaten much today
At least the room stopped spinning.
Anyway. What?

ROGER
Nothing
Your smile reminded me of --

MIMI
I always remind people of -- who is she?

ROGER
She died. Her name was April

MIMI
It's out again
Sorry about your friend
Would you light my candle?

ROGER
Well --

MIMI
Yeah. Ow!

ROGER
Oh, the wax -- it's --

MIMI
Dripping! I like it -- between my --

ROGER
Fingers. I figured...
Oh, well. Goodnight.
It blew out again?

MIMI
No -- I think that I dropped my stash

ROGER
I know I've seen you out and about
When I used to go out
Your candle's out

MIMI
I'm illin' --
I had it when I walked in the door
It was pure --
Is it on the floor?

ROGER
The floor?

MIMI
They say I have the best ass below 14th street
Is it true?

ROGER
What?

MIMI
You're staring again.

ROGER
Oh no.
I mean you do -- have a nice --
I mean -- You look familiar

MIMI
Like your dead girlfriend?

ROGER
Only when you smile.
But I'm sure I've seen you somewhere else --

MIMI
Do you go to the Cat Scratch Club?
That's where I work - I dance - help me look

ROGER
Yes!
They used to tie you up --

MIMI
It's a living

ROGER
I didn't recognize you
Without the handcuffs

MIMI
We could light the candle
Oh won't you light the candle?

ROGER
Why don't you forget that stuff
You look like you're sixteen

MIMI
I'm nineteen -- but I'm old for my age
I'm just born to be bad

ROGER
I once was born to be bad
I used to shiver like that

MIMI
I have no heat -- I told you

ROGER
I used to sweat

MIMI
I got a cold

ROGER
Uh huh
I used to be a junkie

MIMI
But now and then I like to --

ROGER
Uh huh

MIMI
Feel good

ROGER
Here it -- um --

MIMI
What's that?

ROGER
It's a candy bar wrapper

MIMI
We could light the candle

MIMI
What'd you do with my candle?

ROGER
That was my last match

MIMI
Our eyes'll adjust, thank God for the moon

ROGER
Maybe it's not the moon at all
I hear Spike Lee's shooting down the street

MIMI
Bah humbug ... Bah humbug

ROGER
Cold hands

MIMI
Yours too.
Big. Like my father's
You wanna dance?

ROGER
With you?

MIMI
No -- with my father

ROGER
I'm Roger

MIMI
They call me
They call me Mimi

"Wow… Good job kids" Jeff stood up and applauded.

Sara and James tore their eyes away from each other's intense gaze.

"You two have the part"

"Oh my Gosh! Really?" Sara questioned, shocked.

"Yes, great job guys. Good chemistry. Great voices. Here are the schedules for the rehearsals." Jeff said putting the papers on the stage. "Great Job!" he praised them again.

"Thank you!" Sara said excitedly as James pulled her into a hug and spun her around. Sara laughed loud as he put her down. James retrieved both schedules and thanked the judges as he led Sara offstage.

"This is so awesome" James spoke excitedly to Sara. "I can't wait for rehearsals to start"

"Neither can I" Sara replied. "You have such an amazing voice"

"So do you" James complimented. "Hey, since rehearsals don't start for another 5 days, do you want to get together for some coffee and maybe practice a little bit after? I have a keyboard that we can use and I always play around with it"

"Sure, that would be great! How about we meet after shift at the diner that's right across the street from the crime lab. My shift ends at 8 or so"

"Sounds great I know exactly where that is!"

"Here is my number" Sara jotted it down on James' schedule "We can keep in touch just in case I have to pull a double. I need to make sure that I can leave work on time on rehearsal days so I should get my overtime done now"

"Oh, the wonders of the graveyard shift" James chuckled as he led her to her Tahoe.

"So I'll see you tomorrow" James said pulling Sara into a quick hug.

"Yup, congratulations again!" Sara replied.

"Thanks, you too!"

"Bye" Sara waved as he wandered over to his own car.

What a great day! Sara thought as she drove towards her apartment. I found a diversion and a new friend. Good for you, it feels great to be moving on.

TBC? Please review! I love to read them to see if I should continue. Criticism is always welcome because I am a new writer and I would take any suggestions to make my stories even better. I hope you all like it so far!