Take Me Out Tonight

Rating: PG 13 (for now… I might up it soon)

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. Any of the songs mentioned are not mine and come from the beautiful mind of Jonathan Larson.

Chapter 4

2 Days Later

James took Sara up on her offer to practice some songs together before rehearsals officially started. Therefore, Sara left shift right on time in order to pick up some food and clean up her living room a bit. Before she left, she stopped by Grissom's office with a case file in hand.

"Hey, Griss. I'm going to finish this up at home. It will be on your desk before shift tomorrow".

"Sure, Sara" Grissom replied. But before he could say anything else, she was out the door. I wonder where she could be going in such a hurry, Grissom thought to himself. She is actually leaving work on time. I wonder if she is going to see James. Grissom mentally shook himself. James. Whenever Grissom heard that name, a wave of anger coursed through his body. How he loathed that name.

Grissom tried to push those thoughts out of his head until he saw an evidence sheet among the piles of paper. It belonged to the Conley case that Sara was working on. Well, maybe I should stop by her apartment later Grissom thought. After all, she can't finish all the paperwork without the final page of the evidence log. Grissom finished the last stack of papers on his desk, picked up the evidence log, and headed out the door.

After picking up pancakes and fruit from the pancake house two blocks away, Sara burst through her front door. She placed the food on her kitchen counter and ran into her room to change into something more comfortable and nicer smelling. Then she quickly scrambled into her living room. She put away her books that littered the coffee table, including the entomology text Grissom gave her last Christmas. She neatly arranged her forensic science magazines and turned off the police scanner she left on the previous night. After she fluffed the pillows on her couch, she started laying out the food on the kitchen island counter. While she was taking out plates she heard a knock on the door.

She headed towards the door and opened it saying "Hey James! Come on in", she allowed him though the doorway. "Here let me help you with that" Sara offered as she helped him ease his electronic keyboard through her narrow apartment door.

"Thanks" James replied once everything was safely through the doorway. "Nice place" he commented as he noticed the purple walls and rich color tones that gave a warm feeling to her home.

"Thanks. But, if you haven't guessed, I don't spend a lot of time here"

"Right, you're dedicated to your work. But at least your house looks lived in and comfortable. Mine looks more like a sterile hospital room"

Sara chuckled "So, would you like to eat first before we start working on the music?"

"Sure, I just got off shift and those pancakes I smell are making me really hungry"

They both walked into the kitchen and started to eat the pancakes and fresh fruit.

About 15 minutes later, they both finished their meal, and James set up his keyboard as Sara cleared off the table.

After James set everything up, he took out his sheet music and started playing the first few cords of "I Should Tell You".

They both started singing: (a/n. These words come from the brilliant mind of Jonathan Larson)

Roger (James)
I should tell you I'm disaster
I forget how to begin it

Mimi (Sara)
Let's just make this part go faster
I have yet -- To be in it
I should tell you

Roger
I should tell you

Mimi
I should tell you

Roger
I should tell you

Mimi
I should tell I blew the candle out
just to get back in

Roger
I'd forgotten how to smile
until your candle burned my skin

Mimi
I should tell you

Roger
I should tell you

Both
I should tell you

Well here we go
Now we --

Mimi
Oh no

Roger
I know -- this something is
here goes--

Mimi
Here goes

Roger
Guess so
It's starting
-Who knows-

Mimi
Who knows

Both
Who knows where
Who goes there
Who knows
Here goes

Trusting desire - starting to learn
Walking through fire without a burn
Clinging - A shoulder a leap begins
Stinging and older , asleep on pins

So here we go
Now we--

Roger
Oh no

Mimi
I know

Roger
Oh no

Both
Who knows where - who goes there

Here goes - Here goes
Here goes - Here goes
Here goes - Here goes

As James played the last cords of the song his eyes locked with Sara's.

The uncomfortable silence that suddenly filled the room was interrupted by a knock on the door.

Sara quickly excused herself and opened the door revealing…

"Grissom!" Sara exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

"I uh" Grissom was taken aback by the beauty of Sara, even though she just stood in front of him in worn sweatpants and an old Harvard t-shirt, she looked radiant. He quickly recovered and handed her the paper. "A piece of the evidence log for the case was left on my desk and I knew you would need it for your report" he explained.

"Oh thanks" Sara replied, taking the paper out of his hand. "I'll be sure to put this with the rest of the papers. I'll have the report on your desk tonight"

"That would be great Sara" Grissom started, but he was cut off when they both heard a crash coming from Sara's living room.

Sara quickly turned and walked into the room when she saw James looking sheepishly at her.

"Music stand fell" he explained looking embarrassed.

Grissom, who also stepped inside to see what was going on, was shocked to see James in her living room. Are they together? He asked himself.

Sara looked at Grissom sheepishly "Uh Griss, you remember James right?"

"Uh, yeah" Grissom uttered, his eyes not able to hide the pain he felt in his heart. "I'll see you tonight Sara" he said quickly as he made his way over to the door.

Sara quickly followed him out the door "Griss, wait"

Grissom turned and looked into Sara's eyes. She continued "Griss, it's not what you're thinking. He's a friend, and I really need a friend outside of work right now. I need some perspective on my life, and James is helping me do that". And then Sara's demeanor changed: "and even if we were dating, it shouldn't matter to you. I'm "not worth the risk" remember? So stop giving me that look that I'm cheating on you or something. You always make me feel guilty". With that Sara quickly turned on her heel and stormed back into her apartment.

Grissom was dumbfounded. Sara heard that, he though as he rubbed his hands over his eyes. I need to make her understand that she is worth the risk. After the ordeal with Nick… life is too short. I can't afford to not have her in my life anymore. I want someone to wake up next to in the morning. I want to see her lounge around the house in my boxers and shirts. I want everything with her. I need to make her understand.

Grissom walked slowly back to his car, got in, and drove home.

Sara watched him drive away from her apartment.

TBC… Reviews are you're friends… please leave them… PS sorry about the gap between updates… college has a way of giving a lot of work and reading when you don't want it…