A/N: Back with an update! AND I FEEL COMPLETELY ENERGIZED FROM THE SEASON PREMIRE! Whoo! I love my veggie burgers now! But now, alas and alack, we must wait for the second part this Thursday, and I feel the pain of the people who are not in the US to see the new season on their actual TV yet. So, this chapter is for those outta US people! Hope y'all enjoy it! I'm in love with the reviews so far! IN LOVE!

Disclaimer: Yeah. Me-eo, no ownie-o. Comprehendo?

Chapter 17: Tournament Pt. 1

Sara's POV:

"So, are you okay? Really and truly?"

"Greg!" Everyone else in the room yelled at poor Greg when he asked the same question he'd been asking since I'd entered the breakroom.

"What? I'm just worried, that's all." Greg turned to everyone and held his hands up in defense.

"Yeah, that's cool and all man, but damn! Every breathing second? That's too much, and we're only sitting here listening to it." Warrick claimed, shaking his head in disbelief. "You must be driving Sara crazy over there."

"Just a little." I admitted, still unable to wipe the smile off of my face that'd been there since I left the house.

"So... You've been awfully smiley since you arrived. What happened to you?" Catherine posed the question, but had a knowing gaze in her blue eyes.

"Nothing." I replied simply. "Can't I just be happy for once and not be questioned about it?"

"Sure you can, but this is like a bi-polar change." Catherine said with confidence as she poured out the rest of her coffee over at the sink. "You normally come into work comatose like the rest of us... With the exception of Greg with his ADHD moments."

"Hey! Don't get jealous just because I'm able to bounce in the morning. Blame that one on time and age." Greg piped up from his corner of the room. Catherine shot him a look that could kill, shrinking Greg down to a minimized size. "Sorry ma'am."

"Catherine, are you abusing your CSI seniority here?" Grissom questioned as he walked into the breakroom with assignments in hand.

"I was doing no such thing." Catherine claimed, that knowing look resting on our supervisor now.

"Good. Now then..." Grissom cleared his throat. "Catherine... You have an assault out close to where the Police Ball was. At least twenty guys have been hospitalized and they all have a story to tell." Handing the blonde her assignment, underneath her breath, she sarcastically cheered to herself as she got up to leave. "Warrick? How's your B&E progressing?"

"Slowly." Warrick said with a dragged out sigh.

"All right. Nick? What your status on the DB close to Warrick and Greg's scene?" Grissom's eyes turned to Nick who sat next to Warrick on the couch.

"There's a probability that they're related, but I still can't say for sure there boss." Nick answered. "My DB is still a John Doe."

"Well, I don't have to tell you how to do your jobs. And Sara? I'm putting you in the lab today. After last night's incident at the Police Ball, I think you should take it easy today." Shock painted my face as Grissom turned to me.

"What? You can't stick me at desk duty! Can't I work with Catherine or Nick on one of their cases?" I fought with him, now as a subordinate to supervisor.

Before Grissom could respond to me, Nick raised his hand slightly as if he were a student in a classroom, presenting his hand to answer the teacher's question. "I could use a little assistance on my case boss. Sara could join me if you want."

Grissom looked as if he was about to retort with a definite no, but then something struck him. Apparently he was in a good mood as well, as if I didn't already know that to begin with. "Okay Nick... You can take Sara on your case. I'm still out on my own case, so if anyone needs me, cellphone or pager. Got it?"

Giving a quick nod in recognition of his words, we all took off for our individual cases, Nick filling me in on the case, victim, and crime scene. I was listening, but part of my mind was miles away back at my house.

Brooke's POV:

"Phew! Is this shit fo' real?"

Before my eyes was the most magnificent and majestic construction of metal and an engine that could be invented under this sun. A streetbike. Actually, correction, streetbikes. But not just any streetbikes. No... These two streetbikes were some of the best on the market, and one of them wasn't even on the market yet. A Suzuki GSX-R1000 and a 2001 Yamaha YZF R6, both souped up to their handlebars with brand new equipment not quite on the market yet either. And right now, my eyes were fixated on the Suzuki rather than the Yamaha.

"As real as your gonna get. Oh yeah, and your boss also left this note with me. Said to give it to you when you got here." Mike, the shop's owner, passed a plain piece of paper folded in half, my name scribbled on the front in cursive.

"I've been here since the morning, having to wait for all of your customers and shit, and now you're just deciding to give this to me? It's night now!" I scolded him as I snatched the paper away from his greased up hands, his fingerprints smudging against the paper.

Opening it, I began to read.

Brooke,

Here's another toy that the people upstairs told me to present to you. Choose between the two – though if I were you, I'd go with the Suzuki – and then head down to the Underground. Talk to Justin to get the directions to the next location. But be cautious, Brooke. DIS's people – like you reported – are planning something much more diabolical than just half-assed drivebys. This location you're going to, I need you to be on your toes the entire time. For Blaze's safety, I've put him into hiding for a while – a shelter of sorts. So you will need to take someone else tonight. As your boss, I advise that person be Taj. And just for this once, I'm permitting you to bring your gun with you, though you most likely never listen to me in regards to your weaponry anyways. Report back in the morning on the events at this location, and good luck.

- The Boss

P.S. Don't get too pissed off with Mike. I asked him to stall you.

How does this man manage to do that? I asked myself internally, curious as to how he knew I'd be pissed off at Mike. I've barely known him for a full year, and he already knows everything about me! Slightly creepy.

"A'ight... I be takin' that Suzuki there." I indicated the Sport Royal blue streetbike with the platinum rims.

"Nice choice. I'm gonna miss having this in the garage. That is a piece of art in motion, my friend." Mike let out a long whistle as he passed me the keys.

Sport Royal blue and it melted in swirls so that it seemed almost aquatic – a deep ocean on two wheels. Black leather lined the seat and was over the handlebars that I gripped firmly now, revving the four cylinder engine to warm it up. A tingling sensation ran through my body as I heard the engine rev over and over again.

Well, that's never changed with me at least...

Flipping up a secret cap on my right handlebar, I realized that a nitrous boost button had been generously provided with my new ride, and as I opened another concealed cap on the left handlebar, I saw a switch to change the license place if the need ever arose. And trust me, that need arose often.

Down on the hump between the seat and my handlebars, I noticed even more compartments on either side. A small black button labeled "storage" tempted my fingers, encouraging me to press it as it inched closer. Pushing the small button caused two compartments to fan out to present two more guns added to my arsenal and disposal. A glock and 9 millimeter pistol.

Taking them out of their holsters in my bike, I familiarized myself with my new weapons and checked to ensure that the clips were full.

The Boss sure does know how to take care of his employees. I thought with a smirk as I returned them to my holster.

"Thanks Mike." I said began to walk the bike out of the garage.

"What, you're not even gonna apologize to me for snapping at me earlier?" Mike asked as he leaned against the wall outside, watching me burn rubber in place as I revved the engine some more.

"Nope."

Now I took off for the Usual Spot again. But it was only when I was halfway there that I took a real realization to one part of the note The Boss had left. Blaze was in hiding and I needed a partner, and he'd suggested Taj. And everyone knew what The Boss meant when he "suggests" something; It means he wants it done. And he wants Taj to be my partner.

Great. Just great.

Dropping by the Usual Spot, Justin greeted me and gave me the directions to a local chopshop near the Strip. Complimenting on my new ride as I left, Justin and I parted yet again with a little less casual talk than before. I began the drive back to Jen's house, hoping that Taj had kept his promise to me so I could save gas by not driving all the way to his house on the outskirts of town. From Jen's house to the destination was already polar opposites; Taj's house would be even more of a polar opposite.

Parking the Suzuki in the driveway, I looked up to see Alex and Kylie glued to the front window in fascination and awe as they ogled my new ride. Roxas was right in between them trying to see what they were so eye locked with but struggling because of his height. It only took a matter of seconds for the kids to come busting out the front door and make their way over to me and the bike as I dismounted it.

"Auntie Brooke! Where'd you get that streetbike! I wanna ride it!" Alex claimed excitedly as he bent down to inspect the engine.

"Yeah! Can we, please?" Kylie begged as she joined her older brother.

"Maybe later, you two... Right now, I've got business to handle, a'ight?" I told them with a soft chuckle as I hoisted Roxas into my arms.

"What moron decided to give you a streetbike?" Taj's deep voice called from the door.

Turning around to face the older man, I didn't so much as fake a smile. I was still slightly irritated with him. "That moron would be our boss." I responded. "And I've gotta talk to you... in private."

Walking over to the side of the house while Jen collected the kids and put them in the house, I waited for the sound of the door closing before I began talking. "A'ight. Here's what I know... The Boss has put Blaze in hiding for a while for his protection, and I'm needed at a location tonight. The Boss didn't say it directly, but I'm guessing that there's gonna be a team battle, and he wants you to fill in for Blaze. He 'suggested' it, and you know what that means. You're gonna whether you or I like it or not."

"A'ight... So where's this going down?" Taj said after crossing his arms over his chest.

"A chopshop near the strip."

"We'd better get going right now then. You driving or am I?" Taj asked, already moving to walk toward my new ride.

As hypocritical this was about to get in my mind, I couldn't stop myself as I took a hold of his wrist – no attempts to pull him back – and just held him in place. "Wait."

"What's up?"

Now came the difficult part of why I'd stopped him. I was so sure that Taj would try and amend things between us, but I suppose when he just asked who was driving that it became clear that he was going accept the destroyed relationship between us. And as much as I kept telling my mind that's what I wanted, that didn't back up what I was doing now.

"I..." Sighing, I inhaled deeply. "I'm sorry about this morning and snapping at you. Y'know... The whole argument. You're... right. I haven't given you a fair chance."

Everything that I was talking about now came into perspective for Taj as he moved closer. "Well, you're right. You haven't given me a fair chance. But you don't need to apologize." Now it was his turn to sigh. "How can I expect you too after all those years ago? I'm not sure I've forgiven myself for that yet."

Neither of us spoke a word afterwards, just cleared our voices. "So..." Taj was the first to speak up. "Where do we take it from here?"

"Anywhere it takes us." I responded, throwing the keys over to him. "But for now, you have to take us to the destination. Work comes first, everything else second." Pausing, I thought about one part of the car that reminded me of the note. "Are you carrying?"

"I always am."

"Good." I said, advancing toward my bike. "I think we're gonna need it."

Releasing Taj's waist, I dismounted my bike after our journey across town to the location. Above a half an hour sitting in close contact with Taj like that... I wasn't about to say that I enjoyed it, but I can't say with a straight face that I disliked it either. Truth be told, I wasn't sure how I was supposed to feel about him in general.

Stop thinking about him... Job first, annoying and non-important thoughts second.

Very similar to the Usual Spot, you had to go down an alleyway before going through security at the door. The whole operation was held underground, their front being a boxing and kickboxing training building upstairs. It reminded me of Baxter's Place from my childhood days in Brooklyn – just a cover up for a much bigger and illegal operation. Some things in society just never changed.

My streetbike caught the wandering eye of several people passing by, most likely here to speculate the fights. And then, there was Taj and the wandering female eyes that seemed to pick him up like they had him on sonar. Before I knew it, I had linked arms with Taj and began to drag him away from the apparently "interested" girls. And from the looks of Taj's face before I began to lead him away from them, he truly hadn't changed one bit. Still that same old player.

Then again, it wasn't like I wasn't receiving my share of eye locking guys that I could easily label as "my type", but at least I didn't engage or lead them on with my eyes. I knew the look in Taj's eyes as he stared back at each girl that turned their head his way. It was a, "Yeah, I might be interested in you too" look. I knew it too well.

Leading him into a uni-sex bathroom, I practically shoved him through the door and followed in after him, his back hitting the door first. Once we were enclosed in the comforts of the bathroom and I ensured it was empty, the first reaction he got out of me before an actual sentence was my hands landing on my hips and a sigh. "I've known some seriously messed up bi-polar people in my days, but you top them all off with a cherry on top."

"What?" Taj's brows creased with pure confusion.

"Oh, great... Now you're acting stupid! Another added bonus!" The sarcastic remark flew from my lips. "Please Taj... I may not have finished high school, but I am far from being a moron. So don't sit there insulting my intelligence as well as what little is left of yours." The bemused look upon his face annoyed me to no end now as he leaned against the sink's counter, awaiting further explanation. "I saw you making eyes with all those girls out there. And who was it just back at the house that was saying he had changed? It wasn't me!"

"What? Brooke, how can you limit me to nothing when we're not even going out? Why do you care if I look at girls or not?" A look of recognition slipped over his face, which actually began to make me nervous. "Is it because we're jealous? Feeling a little competition? Worried that I'll find someone and leave you alone?"

"NO!" I yelled as soon as he half finished the world "alone". "I could give a damn less who you look at! You could stare at guys' asses if you wanted to, I don't care. What I do care about is that you're sitting there saying you've changed when you can't even keep your eyes to one girl in this crowd!"

"Aw, ain't that touching. You care about some random broad out there that I couldn't give a rat's ass about." Taj said with an eye roll as he pushed himself off of the counter. "You know what? I'm not even bothering anymore... I saw a lotta guys turning their heads in your direction too."

"Yeah, but I didn't even give them the time of day!" I defended with the truth.

"Whatever Brooklyn... Why don't you just go sign us in? I need to use the bathroom." Taj said nonchalantly as he entered one of the stalls.

Turning and storming out, the bathroom door slammed against the wall it was attached to with me heading off toward the Bet Taker – the man who took all of the money in regards to people's bets on who would win. After announcing Taj and I were here, I was drawn to the prize vehicle which would be awarded to the winner of this tournament. A Hummer H3. Not worth me riding, but I figured I could sell it off for money. All I knew for certain was that I was getting the cash prize of $200,000.

Still, I had to hand it to the car... It wasn't bad structure wise, it just wasn't my style. I was built for speed, not brawn – car wise. Focusing on the car so I could get my focus off of Taj, I didn't even notice when Rai, from D.I.S.'s group, approached me from behind, his powerful and tanned arm slipped around my waist to pull me closer.

"Like what you see, huh Brooke? Well, it's a good thing I'm taking this car home with me tonight, so I guess that means you're coming with me." It was a statement and not a posed question.

I had to admit, Rai wasn't necessarily bad on the eyes in my book, but he was arrogant as all Hell – as if that wasn't obvious. Rai had a skin color of a native Puerto Rican and the muscles of a body builder. Russet brown eyes and jet black hair that would be perfect for running your fingers through, and a cute baby face as well.

"Nah, you're not really my type, Rai. Because I'm gonna be the one to take both of these home tonight." Taj's voice called as he now took a hold of me by my waist, replacing Rai's tree truck arm, and pulling me away from Rai.

"Taj! I thought Blaze was supposed to be here tonight." Rai said in pure disbelief, with a hint of anger.

"Brooke here decided it was time to get a real fighter on her side instead of Blaze, so naturally, she called me." Taj said, locking glaring eyes with him.

"Hah... Real fighter, huh? By the end of this tournament, I think you just might lose a few teeth and your girlfriend to me, brah." Rai claimed with a sneer.

As much as I was pissed off with Taj at this moment, nothing set me off worse than someone thinking they can own me. That's what provoked my next action and words.

"Rai, you're gonna have some difficulty with both of those things." I claimed as I rotated into Taj and captured his lips with mine in a deep and apparently passionate kiss.

The moment Rai stalked off, frustrated and red faced with anger, I broke apart immediately from Taj who looked like he'd just died and went to Heaven. For once in my life, I felt speechless myself, but lucky for me, I recover quickly. I made my way to the ring, as the first match was up in two minutes, shoving Taj aside with one hand as he blocked my way in his dazed state.

"Don't stand there looking stupid all night, Taj. We have a tournament to win." I called over my shoulder with a curt tone.

TBC...

A/N2: Sorry, I know there wasn't any GSR in this chapter. I'm sorry! In fact, I know, I was developing my OC people more than anything else! I'm sorry, once again! Please don't hate me! I can only promise it's not the end of GSR! Never. But I mean, y'all can stand my OC characters right? Y'know, Taj, Brooke, Jen, ect. Ect.? Right? Well, I'm gonna get that update up as soon as I get some reviews, so... You know what to do.

Peace out, one love,
MC New York