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. Any of the lyrics from Rent you see are not mine. Jonathan Larson wrote them beautifully. Don't sue.

Chapter 8

Sara's final couple days of work before her vacation went along smoothly. She avoided Grissom the whole week since the incident with James in the breakroom. Finally, she and the cast were in for a whole week of long tech and dress rehearsals.

When she was not at the theater for the final rehearsals, she took some time for herself. She allowed herself to relax and enjoy the company of James and the other people in the cast. She became close with all the other members of the cast, and Sara finally realized that she could enjoy herself outside of work.

- The Night of the Play

In the Audience

"Excuse me" Greg mumbled as he squeezed past Catherine and Grissom to get to his seat on the other side of Nick.

"Way to be on time man" Nick chided as Greg squeezed into his seat between Nick and Warrick.

"Have you seen the traffic out there?" Greg huffed. "I was lucky to even make it here this year."

"Well it is great to see you Greg" Tina said as she leaned forward past Warrick to wave at him.

"Thank you" Greg replied, as he elbowed Nick "At least someone is happy to see me".

"Do we have to sit between you children?" Catherine questioned with an arched eyebrow as she looked past Grissom at the boys' childish behavior.

Whatever Greg was about to say was cut short by the lights flickering. Tina, Warrick, Greg, Nick, Grissom, and Catherine all settled back in their seats to watch the show.

Behind the Scenes

Sara stood in the wings of the theater. I'm too nervous she thought to herself. Shake it off Sidle. You can't let a few butterflies in your stomach stop you now!

She smoothed her hands over the long suede coat that covered the leathery bra and boy shorts that were a part of her costume. She ran her hand through her hair which was curly underneath her suede newsboy cap. She fidgeted with her boots and fishnet stockings until John came over to her.

"Hey Sara. Nervous?" questioned John, who was playing Mark in the play.

"A little" Sara managed to squeak out. John raised his eyebrow at her. "Ok, a lot" Sara finally confessed.

"Don't worry about it Sar. With that voice of yours, you'll knock them out of their seats"

"3 minutes to curtain" Jeff the director called out.

"I better go. Break a leg Sar" John said as he gave Sara a quick hug and darted to the other side of the stage.

James came up behind Sara "It will be fine Sar" he said comfortingly. "Break a leg" he whispered into her ear as he gave her a quick friendly kiss on the cheek and took his place on the stage.

Breathe Sara, she told herself. You are going to do fine. With that, the curtain opened to reveal John and James on the stage as Mark and Rodger, and the play began.

Mark (Played by John): We begin on Christmas Eve with me,

Mark, and my roommate, Roger.
We live in an industrial loft on the corner of 11th street and
Avenue B, the top floor of what was once a music publishing factory.
Old rock 'n' roll posters hang on the walls.
They have Roger's picture advertising gigs
at CBGB's and the Pyramid Club. We have an
illegal wood burning stove; its exhaust pipe crawls
up to a skylight.
All of our electrical appliances are plugged into one thick extension
cord which snakes its way out a window. Outside, a small tent city
has sprung up in the lot next to our building.
Inside, we are freezing because we have no heat.

(Mark turns to Roger (Played by James))

Smile!

One spotlight turns on to reveal James' face.

Catherine gasped. "Isn't that Sara's friend James?" she leaned over Grissom and whispered to Nick.

"Yeah I believe it is!" Nick replied shocked. "I thought he worked at the hospital. I had no idea he was an actor!"

No wonder Sara likes him Grissom thought to himself. He is a Jack of all Trades. He sighed and turned his attention back to the stage.

- -

A little while later Roger (James) takes center stage with his guitar and he sings:

One song
Glory
One song
Before I go
Glory
One song to leave behind
Find one song
One last refrain
Glory
From the pretty boy from Maine
Who wasted opportunities
One song
He had the world at his feet
Glory
In the eyes of a young girl
A young girl
Find glory
Beyond the cheap colored lights
One song
Before the sun sets
Glory -- on another empty life
Time flies -- time dies
Glory -- One blaze of glory
One blaze of glory -- glory
Find
Glory
In a song that rings true
Truth like a blazing fire
An eternal flame
Find
One song
A song about love
Glory
From the soul of a young man
A young man
Find
The one song
Before the virus takes hold
Glory
Like a sunset
One song
To redeem this empty life
Time flies
And then - no need to endure anymore
Time dies
MIMI interrupts his song (Sara)

The second Sara stepped out onto the stage, Grissom was automatically drawn to her. The rest of the team all looked at each other and frantically whispered to each other "Is that Sara?"

ROGER

What'd you forget?

MIMI

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
He lights her candle. MIMI starts to leave, but stumbles.
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 discreetly blows out the candle.

MIMI

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

ROGER lights the candle. They linger, awkwardly.

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

Sara's voice rang out beautifully throughout the whole theater. The whole team watched her with their mouths open in shock.

"She is amazing" Catherine whispered to the team, her eyes wide with astonishment.

"She is so beautiful" Grissom blurted out in a soft sigh.

Catherine turned her attention to the awestruck man beside her. She quietly whispered into his ear "Good. You finally realized that. Now all you have to do is tell her".

Grissom could only nod his head, still not taking his eyes off the stage.

TBC Soon… Coming up – The rest of the play! YAY!

Review Please! Please! Reviews keep me rolling! So please review!

And gave me a lot of trouble today to get this chappie up! Arghh!