TITLE: Curtain Up
AUTHOR: Cara
PAIRING: Cath/Sara
RATING: Pretty much PG-13
GENRE: Alternate Universe
DISCLAIMER: I just own my own spin. Characters property to anyone that has legal say so.
SUMMARY: The CSI gang. 1920's Chicago. Vaudeville. Interested?

***


On State Street, that great street
I just wanna say, they do things that they don't do on Broadway...

Phonograph crooned in the small dressing room, providing a rhythm Catherine Willows could move to. Singing along, though slightly off-key, the strawberry blonde moved around the room with an agile grace developed through years of dancework. Bending over the vanity, a dainty hand scooped up twin dangly earrings and commenced to fastening them.

"I saw a man, he danced with his wife..." Turning a pair of strikingly clear blue eyes to the mirror, Catherine smiled at her daughter. Lindsey was perched on their ratty couch, tapping her toes back and forth in the air, whaling along with the music. Lindsey met her mother's eyes and grinned before flinging herself across the room and into Catherine's (who had spun around just in time) arms.

Laughing delightedly, the two Willows women swung around the room as they finished the song. "In Chicago... in Chicago... in Chicago!"

The tiny six-year-old beamed and wrapped her arms around Catherine's neck. "I love that song, Mommy."

Catherine drew her fingers through baby soft hair, cuddling the energetic bundle to her. "Me too, baby."

It was another beat before Lindsey moved back to look at her mother. "Moooooom," she warned, rolling her eyes dramatically, "I think you have somewhere to be don't you?" Catherine's set was only minutes away.

Sighing, Catherine smirked and placed Lindsey back on the floor. "Yes, Lindsey, I do." Turning from the child, the slender blonde curled fingers around her white feather boa and wrapped it over her shoulders.

"That one's pretty, Mommy."

Catherine's eyes moved down to the shimmering white evening gown that fit her curves so snugly, the cops could have her arrested for moral indecency. A slow smile stretched across her features, "Yeah, Linds, it's very pretty." Of course, Lindsey only saw the smile; she missed the hint of sadness that ghosted behind her mother's pale blue eyes.

A knock on the door interrupted the moment. "Lindy Looooooooou..."
"UNCLE GREG!" the blonde girl squealed in delight as the sandy haired man appeared in the doorway. Much like she had done moments before with Catherine, Lindsey launched herself into open arms.

"Hey there, munckin," Greg greeted as her swirled Lindsey up to sit on his shoulders. Greg Sanders was the theater's best clown and had one of the sweetest dispositions Catherine had ever encountered. The goofy twentysomething was wearing a pair of khaki boaters held up by blue suspenders over a white undershirt. His wet hair and pasty skin hinted to the fact he'd completed his act in the last twenty minutes.

"Hello, Greg."

"Evenin', Catherine." He shot her a boyish grin.

"I should be back in a few hours. Grissom's throwing a party for his latest 'angel'." And Gil Grissom needed an angel of the highest heavenly choir; his theater was going under... and quickly.

"Well, you're the star, Catherine. Make us look good." Greg winked. "Me an' Lindy Lou here are gonna have a dandy time ourselves. Right?"

"Right!" Lindsey piped in from above.

Catherine couldn't help but grin despite her warning," Greg, don't you let her play poker with you and the riggers again. I'll skin you alive, you hear me?" The riggers were Greg's best friends "“ Warrick Brown and Nick Stokes. They were Catherine's buddies, too.

"The boys and I'll keep her occupied just fine, Cath."

"MOOOOOM... They're gonna play your music without you..." Lindsey reminded.

"Alright, alright... I'm going..." she acquiesced. "Love you, baby girl. Be good." Catherine shut the door behind her to the sounds of Lindsey's mirthful giggling.

The heels she wore clicked against hardwood floor as Catherine moved down the hallway. The blonde huddled her boa closer to her chest and stepped up the four stairs that led to the wings. Warrick Brown was propped against the wall watching Bobby and Buddy (a ventriloquist act) receive rounds of applause. Approaching the tall black man, Catherine placed a hand at his back. "Hey, Warrick."

Devastatingly handsome features turned her way with a warm smile. "Hey, Cath."

As they exchanged greetings, the applause died down and Bobby left the stage. From above, Nick Stokes lowered the grand curtain. "You ready?" Warrick asked.

Wearing an easy smile, Catherine glided to center stage just behind the curtain. Bending down, she hiked up the gown to bear the garter belt on her left thigh. She turned her head to Warrick and winked. "Aren't I always?"

The curtain pulled open. Music played. Applause roared. And "Kitty Willows", the theater's headlining burlesque striptease, was in her element.

------

Immersed in deep conversation with Lady Heather, resident dance captain and contortionist, Catherine failed to notice the approach of her employer. Clearing his throat politely, Gil Grissom shared a flicker of a smile with Lady Heather as Catherine spun around, surprised. "Excuse me, ladies, but may I borrow Miss Willows?" Catherine loved Gil. He was the first man to treat her like she was worth more than her naked body.

Lady Heather inclined her head and waved an elegant hand. "Be my guest..."

Grissom gave the dancer his version of a smile before offering his arm to Catherine and leading her away. "Excellent as always, Catherine."

"Thank you, Gil." She smiled. Sometimes she allowed herself to forget just what she was so excellent at.

"If you don't mind, I have someone I'd like you to meet..." Gil stopped just short of a pair with their backs to the dancer and theater owner. "Miss Gribbs, Miss Sidle..."

At the man's gentle imploring, the two women turned around. Holly Gribbs Catherine recognized right away. At one time, Holly had been a dancer in a speakeasy Catherine worked at. But rumor had it she'd found more lucrative work on the streets. From the size of the stones around her neck, Holly seemed to be acin' it just fine.

"Catherine Willows, I believe you know Holly Gribbs." Gil supplied.

"Hello, Holly."

"Hey, Kitty Cat," Catherine tried not to grimace at the nickname. The petite blonde smirked, gesturing to her companion. "This swell damn 'a mine is Sara Sidle, your new patron."

Catherine turned her attention to the tall woman, and momentarily forgot to breathe. She took in the woman head to toe. Black heels supported endless legs clad in tailored tuxedo pants. A white dress shirt with a starched high collar fit snugly to a lithe upper body beneath a black tailcoat. Catherine's eyes continued upward, drinking in gorgeous features and smokey, charcoaled eyes. Dark hair was kept shoulderlength and slicked back from her face. Finally, Catherine zeroed in on a pair of soulful earthen eyes.

Then Sara flashed an enigmatic, gap-toothed grin and pressed a kiss to the back of Catherine's hand. Catherine Willows couldn't help but feel she was staring at the rest of her life.

***