Title: Halloween’s Funhouse
Author: The Dark Zodiac
Fandom: CSI: Vegas
Pairing: Catherine Willows / Sara Sidle [Cara]
Point Of View: Catherine Willows
Setting: Season 6.
Spoilers: Seasons 1 - 9.
Rating: M
Warning: Contains girl on girl action, if this offends please stop here, as well as being kind of surreal.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. They belong to the suits. I just play in other people's sandboxes. Seriously suing me isn't a good idea all you'll get is an IOU and nothing much else. All British spellings are mine.
Archive: Sure, just tell me where I can find it.
Beta: No. Self beta'd, looking for a beta though.
Summery: This used to be a Funhouse...
Author's Note: Sugar + Caffeine + P!nk + Halloween fic = This. I blame my weird muse. I think she's trippin'. Circus/Funhouse imagery ahead!

Act 1

Halloween isn't one of my favourite festivals. It used to be, I used to love taking Lindsey out Trick or Treating, and it was fun to see all the children dressed up. Even Eddie messing around with his visits and or money couldn't stop the fun we had.

Now Lindsey tells me that she's too old for 'kid's stuff'. Like dressing up and going Trick or Treating. I guess everyone grows out of things, but I still have various photos of Lindsey in her costumes. I would always try and get Halloween off for the reason just to take Linds Trick or Treating.

I close the door. Nobody's around, Lindsey's is school and I assume my mother left probably seeing Sam today.

I shake my head, there's three bowls left out on the coffee table, I maybe absent from the festivals but I still know to get enough candy so various people can help themselves. I walk over to the coffee table. I sit down, the first two bowls are empty. The last bowl is half full. It's filled with little neon coloured candy squares. The bright reds, purples, greens and yellows are too tempting, I grab a handful. Happily chewing on them, I pick up a magazine I have left on the coffee table.

I'm half way through my magazine and at least halfway through the remaining candy. Then my head starts to spin, I put my hand to my head, trying to steady myself, my magazine falls to the floor the last image is the cover spread out before I black out.

***

I don't know how long I'm out for, but when I open my eyes, I'm staring at a wooden floor. The wood's old looking, full of knot holes and it looks like it's been waxed heavily because of the dust and dirt has been trapped by the wax, darkening the wood unnaturally all because someone couldn't be bothered cleaning it once in a while. I shake my head slightly, I don't feel any injuries, and bar the headache that is threatening, I feel OK. But it still doesn't help figuring out where I am. Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore or in my case Catherine we're not in Vegas anymore!

Someone clears her throat.

I look up. She's standing there. She's dressed in a Ringmaster's outfit, like the old Circus Ringmaster's I used to see in TV and movies. Black shiny shin high boots, white trousers, red jacket with gold circle buttons, a black waistcoat with tiny pearl buttons and a white shirt, as well as top hat. What is odd, that she's wearing a mask, one side painted white, the other painted black, her mouth is twisted in various expressions the white is frowning but the black is smiling. She takes off her hat and bows, her hair is black and in a pony tail, she carries a black sliver topped cane.

She puts her hand back on, and extends a white gloved hand to me. I take her hand, she helps me stand up.

I look down at myself, I'm dressed in what I went to work in, black trousers, blue shirt and boots. "Where am I?"

"You're safe." She says, her voice is smooth and silky, but I don't recognise her voice. "I'm The Ringmaster, I'll keep you safe." She puts a finger on my lip, "Hush my dear Catherine. You don't need to worry." She removes her hand with a flourish.

"Where am I?" I repeat taking a step towards her.

The mask robs her of any expression but there's a rich laugh that catches attention, "My dear Catherine, you are in the Funhouse!"

I stare at her, "What?" I ask disbelievingly.

The Ringmaster does a little twirl holding her cane high, "The Funhouse my dear Catherine." She tells me, "Thrills and spills are to be found here!"

I just look at her, and then she turns back to me, and then extends her free hand to me, "Are you ready to join me?"

"Do I have a choice?" I ask.

The Ringmaster smiles under her mask, I have the feeling that she is smiling, "You could always say no."

I look around, there's no door, I look up, there's only a line of spot lights. Nothing I can see nothing but bright lights.

"Catherine?" The Ringmaster asks me, "What is your choice?"

I take her hand, "This is my choice."

The Ringmaster pulls me to her, she spins me around, and then bends me back, so my hair nearly touches the floor. Her eyes are covered by contact lenses. In the left eye there is a red heart and in the right eye is a black spade. I can't see any hints of any other eye colour, the contact lenses have completely hidden the true eye colour.

She straightens up, "Much to see!" She laughs, and then leads me off towards a door, the door is painted black with sliver stars painted on it. She opens it, into a well lit corridor. "Follow me!"

I just shake my head and follow her.

***

As soon as we step into the corridor the door slams shut. I jump slightly at the sound. The Ringmaster gently pulls me to her, "I'll protect you my dear Catherine." She says, "I promise nothing with harm you."

I don't pull away from her, her grip isn't tight. It feels quite safe even though I have no clue what is going on.

The Ringmaster's grip loosens, and then she steps away from me. "Take a look around, see what you can see." She instructs me.

I look at the walls. They're painted freezes. The pictures are faded, the wood looks like it's never been varnished. The first one is a circus ring, with a crowd, they're all watching a strong man. But there are no faces. It looks like they were never painted on. The other side is the same sort of set up, but instead of a strong man, it's a group of clowns, they all form a pyramid. We continue walking, the next two freezes are the same circus but it's a wild animal tamer on one side, the other side is a group of three acrobats.

I look towards the end, there's no door this time, just a freeze painted on a red curtain. This time it's the bowing Ringmaster. I recognise her, it's her down to every last detail.

"Pay no mind to the man behind the curtain." The Ringmaster notes gently, "For he is nothing but an illusion." She adds, "The curtain hides his true face. So ignore him, for he is just empty space. Until he reveals his true face." The Ringmaster turns to me, "Are you scared of him?"

"Who?" I ask.

"The man behind the curtain." The Ringmaster tells me. "Are you?"

"No." I say, "I'm not."

"Good." The Ringmaster notes fondly, there's amusement in her tone as she lifts the curtain, I can see a circus ring, sawdust and rows of empty seats.

"Follow me my dear Catherine." The Ringmaster says, "The fools and jesters are waiting." She looks at me, "They are caper and fool their way around our ring, but they do need an audience!" She says, "Because if there is no one to amuse, they can amuse themselves. Eyes and voices are needed."

I just stare, then she taps her cane, "Come on, they can not wait anymore!" She urges me in with a wave of her cane. I do what she says, ducking under arm and stepping into the room.

***

I step inside, I hear the soft thump as The Ringmaster ducks under the curtain then drops it. She comes to stand next to me.

Then there's a burst of smoke. I wave my hand in front of my face trying to clear the smoke out of my eyes, in the middle of the smoke I can see figures, but the smoke get in my eyes. I am now waving both hands down to get the smoke out my eyes.

Then the smoke just disappears, it's sucked into some point behind The Ringmaster. As my eyes adjust I see the lab rats. But not as lab rats. As clowns, I recognise the faces waiting by the curtain. "What the fuck?" I question turning to The Ringmaster.

The Ringmaster just shrugs, "The clowns have been sent, they are waiting to perform we must humour them because they know nothing but to amuse." She continues, "They are the simple folk that live for humour and live to become some else." She adds, "More than just a fool that capers and rolls to avoid the punches." The Ringmaster tells me, "Because they can become part of the fabric as much as you and I!"

I stare at her, "What?"

The Ringmaster extends her arm, she points towards the ring with her cane, "Let them come forth!" She commands.

On cue, the clowns start to run out. Honking and hooting, I can't see what's making the noises. The noise is almost deafening, but it comes a stop as they all appear.

Hodges stops closest to me, he's dressed in white. His face is painted white. He wears a white conical hat with three black pon pons on. He's wearing almost thigh high stockings with white shorts that billow out. He's also wearing a white ruff and a white tunic top. He capers on the spot.

Next to him it's David, he's dressed in a jester's outfit, red and yellow. Complete with the cap with three prongs and sliver bells, his tunic also has sliver bells attached to triangle strips of red and yellow.

Then it's Mandy, she's dressed in a milk maid's outfit, short skirt that billows out, she wearing a short sleeved frilly shirt, her hair is pigtails. She has big red spots painted on her cheeks, with red lips and heavily made up eyes, her eyelashes flutter at someone. In fact Wendy and Mia are all dressed in the same sort of outfit, even made up the same way. They giggle in a group pointing and laughing at the men that are clowning and capering. They cover their mouths a lot, splaying their fingers wide so there's hints of red lipstick. With their free hands they point at the men.

I look towards the last three. Doc Robbins is sitting in a bright yellow car, its way too small for him, he's wearing baggy trousers with various patches, a white with red spots shirt with a big red nose and a white curly wig. He's smiling holding a pipe.

Archie is wearing black trousers they're held up by big red braces, he also wears a white shirt with a white and red polka dot bow tie that is whizzing around, and he has a large flower pinned to his shirt. He's got a big red smile painted on his face, with a red nose and with a black plus sign painted through his eyes, he wears a top hat. It's perched on his head so it leans to one side.

Bobby wears something similar to Archie but he wears a waistcoat and a suit jacket, and instead of a smiling face, his face is a sad face, with a painted red frown.

They all turn towards us, and then Hodges, David and Bobby line up in a straight line, Archie capers over to a plank of wood that is lying over a ball. He stands on one end, and then Wendy jumps on the other end. Archie back flips then lands on David's shoulders.

"Hey!" They all chorus extending their arms.

The Ringmaster claps, "Bravo! Encore! My little capering friends!" She says, "Splendid!" She thumps her heart with her cane. "You warm this old cold heart of mine!" She tells them.

I stare at her. I guess she's taking a leaf out of the 'good audience guide', must enthuse about anything. I think.

The pseudo pyramid disbands. Wendy rides past them on a unicycle. She's followed by Mia and Mandy all riding unicycles. They form a line, followed by Doc Robbins in his clown car. He's grinning like a manic. I can see his knees going up and down madly as he peddles to catch up with the three unicyclists.

I look back at The Ringmaster, she's laughing at the antics, and she’s pointing her cane as she covers her mouth. I shake my head, wondering what is so funny. I look past The Ringmaster, the curtain is parted, and the dark corridor yawns out behind the curtain. The Ringmaster smiles, "Ready to go again?"

I look towards the clowns. Mia, Mandy and Wendy are now shaking as they stifle their giggles as David moves the chair just as Hodges is about to sit down. Archie taps Bobby on the shoulder and squirts him with his flower, while Doc Robbins sits in his car and lights his pipe and starts smoking, instead of smoke, it is bubbles.

Something in the shadows shifts, I look towards it, but I can't figure out what is yet, there is definitely something there. The Ringmaster seems to focus on it then she dismisses it. "Are you ready to join me my dear?" She extends her hand again.

I take her hand. She pulls me to her again, I find myself hypnotised by her eyes again. "Follow me." She pulls away from me and then leads me to the red curtain.

I turn my head look towards the lab rats again, they are all now throwing custard pies at each other. I watch as Wendy pushes a pie in Hodges' face. Then Archie gets a pie from each side by Bobby and Mia. Mandy is ducking to avoid getting hit by Doc Robbins. David is holding two pies waiting for his cue.

Their laugher fades as the curtain falls down.

***

The next corridor's walls are lined with cage bars. As soon as I step in, arms fly out, some clenching bunches of bills, The Ringmaster stares at them, "Sins of the past shall not be forgotten but they can be forgiven."

I look at her again. Then a male voice calls, "Here Kitty...Kitty." The woops of pleasure start and the hands start moving again.

The Ringmaster takes another step forward, the hands swipe at her, but they just go through her, like they are nothing more than smoke. She offers me her hand. "Take it, because this hand will not hurt you."

I take her hand, she gently pulls me to her, her arm loops around my waist, her other arm moves so that she holds her cane close to my chest.

"Strip! Strip! Strip!" A male voice chants from one of the cages.

"Take 'em off." Another male voice shouts.

The Ringmaster slowly walks forward, I walk with her, the hands sway, some shoot out, The Ringmaster slams her cane into them, and I see them recoil in pain. Shaking as they try and work the pain away.

"Hands not eyes see for the blinded." The Ringmaster tells me, "They reach as far as they can reach and further. Leaning as they leer. They want to touch and grope." She adds. "They are sightless."

I look at the cages. She's right. The men who occupy the cages are eyeless. Where their eyes are supposed to be are branded Xs. I shiver backing away from them. "What happened to them?"

The Ringmaster smacks another hand then turns to me, "They are blinded by the Siren. They turned their faces towards the Siren. Now they will use their hands to satisfy their carnal needs. Because they are enslaved to this woman."

I look towards the end of the corridor a freeze greets me. But the person in the freeze is intimately familiar. It's me, back when I was stripping. I'm wearing red underwear, high cut thong which is held to my body with the tiniest strings and tied in a knot on my hips. The bra is pretty much the same, just enough to cover me, tied in little knots on my back. And not much else, bar red sparkly high heels. My expression is predatory, my smile is more of a smirk. My eyes are cold, they glitter with lust. Lust not for their bodies or hands, it was more lust for their money. They are surprisingly clear, I wasn't doing coke that early in my career. My hair is a little more blonde, and a lot longer it's half way down my back. I'm posed so that I can show off my best parts, ass and breasts. I'm standing behind a chair, my arms are either side of my cleavage forming a V, and so I can push them out so people can get a good look down my bra. The sage advice I was offered when I started, "Ass and tits and they're yours." I shake my head. "I wouldn't call myself a Siren." I comment.

The Ringmaster just nods her head, "But for these poor unfortunate creatures you are the Siren. You are sex in it's most fleshiest tones. In it's most delicious feeling, all sweat and heat. It is addictive, you can't help but want more."

I snort. "You been at something?" I ask. "Another junkie carnie?" I look towards her. "'Cause I've encountered enough of them."

The Ringmaster stops, then she pulls away from me. "Is that what you want?" She asks me.

"I don't know what I want." I tell her.

The Ringmaster kneels in front of me, "My dear Catherine. You are a Siren. Someone would say a Succubus. Driving them made so much they would tear their own eyes so that they would not have to look at you, but their mind will not let them forget you." She cocks her head to one side, "But they are not the ones that you want. They haven't been found yet." She taps her heart again, "By this still beating heart I shall find what you are searching for in this house of the mirth and mystery." She says, "So forgive me if that Siren's charm has worked too well for you. I can not help but fall under the spell." She extends her arms, "I must find what you are missing." She stands up, "Because you must be happy ever after." She adds.

I look at her, "What do you mean?" I ask.

The Ringmaster moves back to me her free arm snakes around my waist, she pulls me close to her.

I turn my head, but I can feel her breath on my neck, "I mean that you can turn a man mad, but you are only a figment of their fantasies using their imaginations to conjure you in so many different ways. So they can keep it close to the lustful hearts so they can extend their torture." She whispers in my ear, "The dream is a sweet torture that they must endure to keep you with them. Once they stop, you're gone." She licks my ear.

I turn around then I put my hands on her chest and push her away. I watch as she flies back, I never knew I was strong. I watch as she lands on her ass. She stares at me. Then I watch in horror as a tear of blood appears from under her eye. I watch as it rolls down the white side of the mask.

"I..." I go to say something.

"No my dear Catherine." She cuts me off, she pulls out a red silk hand chief, wiping the tear and the trail, "You always bring out the worst in me." She notes, "But I must be what ever that is needed." She tucks the hand chief back into her pocket, then she gets up, using her cane to help her stand up. She dusts herself down, "I overstepped my lines. I apologise for over stepping."

"At least you didn't try and grope me." I reply trying to lighten the mood.

"I have eyes, I do not need my eyes to be in my hands. My eyes feast I do not need to make a famine. Hands can not compare to the eyes. Hands see textures, but eyes see light and colour. When we are blinded, we need the texture." The Ringmaster tells me adjusting her hat. "You would probably burn me from the inside out if I was allowed to touch you."

I raise my eyebrow, "You seem pretty confident about my abilities." I say, "I wasn't that good a stripper." I say. "I was pretty good, but not that good."

The Ringmaster cocks her head to one side, "I wasn't talking about the Siren." She tells me, "Mother, friend and siren." She tells me, "A woman can be a lot more than just one. Mother, maiden, crone." She adds, "We are all." She smiles under her mask, "And don't underestimate the power of you sense and sexuality." She tells me. "People can be blinded, but they are shallow if they are just blinded by beauty but not seeing the mind and soul behind it." She adds, "They forget, but you have the power to remind them, a rabbit punch that side swipes them."

I just look at her, then she offers me her arm, "Come, we must not linger in this corridor of carnal cages." She adds, "They will soon break, and I can not protect you for that long if that happens."

I take her arm, and she leads me down the corridor, the freeze lifts up showing another ring full of sawdust.

We both step inside.

***

This time there's a man standing waiting. He's wearing a red and white stripy leotard, which is cut out to expose most of his chest. He twirls his handle bar moustache. As I move closer, I recognise him, it's Detective Vega.

The Ringmaster smiles, "My dear Angel, where for art thou your heavenly play mates?" She asks Vega.

Vega bows, "Ah, my dear Devil." He grins at The Ringmaster, "They are in the sky, just waiting for your guests."

The Ringmaster laughs loudly, a deep belly laugh, "My Angel, you jest calling me a Devil." She says, "I keep myself on the ground to be free not like the angels that float through the air." She points towards the net, which is spread across the circle, it's tied to the poles that are stationed very close to the opposite edges of the circle. "Angels can not fall, they are not deemed ready to fall." She looks up.

I look up too. I can see two stages, and two figures. One female and the other male. I put my hand to shade my eyes. The leotards that they both wear are the same as Vega's, the man is the closest to me. I squint, he bows down, as he lifts his head up, it's Detective Vartann, complete with handle bar moustache. The other is a blonde, her hair shines in the spot lights, and she tosses it away from her face. It's Sofia, she smiles down at The Ringmaster and bows. The Ringmaster bows to them. Then she turns back to Vega and asks, "Are they ready yet?"

Vega smiles, "They are waiting for you my Ringmaster, as I said, and if you are ready they are ready."

The Ringmaster lifts her cane up, "My dear heavenly creatures." She calls up them, "Please let yourself roam free in the star spangled sky, let us down here on the earth revel in your beauty and grace I beg of you. Please let us watch!"

I shake my head at her, and then I see something in the shadows again. This time it seems to have more a shape, but still the thing is misshapen, it seems nothing more that a deeper shadow. I'm not scared of what ever it is. But there's something...disconcerting about it.

"Watch!" The Ringmaster calls to me. "Grace and beauty." She adds, before she turns her face up to watch.

I look up as well as the two acrobats bow again, they grip their swings tightly and then push themselves off.

They swing through the air, letting go at the highest point, grabbing the opposite swing, they repeat this a few times. Each time, their movements get bolder. Summersaults, back flips and front flips.

I must admit it is pretty impressive. Then the most complex movement happens. Vartann is sitting on the swing, Sofia lets go at the highest point, Vartann catches her and pulls her into arms, and she’s straddling him. They both smile.

"Is that what you want my dear Catherine?" The Ringmaster asks me. "To hold someone like that." She pauses, "Knowing that they are completely yours and they want you in their world. And they will do anything to help hold your world up. Let it blend by osmosis, let them bleed together, so you don't know where your world stops and theirs starts."

I look at her, "Aren't you going to tell me what I want?" I snarkly reply.

She laughs, "The Ringmaster only controls what is happening in the ring. I can not control what is inside you." She says, "I can't slip into your skin, although the shadows slip inside mine."

"Huh?" I ask her. The acrobats forgotten for a few seconds, "What do you mean?"

The Ringmaster smiles, putting her finger to her lips, "The heart that beats in my chest is owned by someone who doesn't know that they own me yet." She says, "The shadow holds my heart, but the shadow fades into the light when they are not needed. I am never scared of the shadows." The Ringmaster then back flips head over heels, "I am free to be who I am."

I take a step forward, The Ringmaster then back flips out of the ring, she disappears into the curtains.

I look towards the swings again. Sofia's resting her head against Vartann's chest, there's a tiny smile on her face. Vartann holds her in a gentle embrace, as they sway.

Vega looks towards me, "The Angels must rest now, my dear. Good luck on your quest." He summersaults into the shadows.

I shake my head and follow The Ringmaster out.

***

Act 2.

This time I step into another cage lined corridor. The Ringmaster is waiting for me. She's completely still.

I look towards the nearest cage. Inside a large black panther stalks around the cage. It turns it's head towards me, big green eyes watch me. It's tail twitches. If a cat could smirk, this would be smirking. On the opposite there's a lion. It's staring at me. He shakes his head, ruffling his mane. He seems to be reacting to what ever is the corridor with us.

"Are these not animals?" The Ringmaster notes, "These are the wild beasts that lurk inside the human condition, or the human contradiction."

I take a step forward, in the cage next to the panther, a white tiger is lying down, it looks like it's asleep but as soon it senses my eyes, it opens it's eyes, a cool calm blue. They appraise me, but there's nothing that scares me. The eyes seem more curious than anything.

I turn away from the tiger looking towards the animal which is the other cage, it's a leopard which is prowling around the cage. It's rubbing itself against the bars ruffling its spotted fur.

The Ringmaster smiles, "They are all wild, but still we can only name them. Let them tell you their names? Or would you like to conquer them and give them names? Do you conquered and conjure?" She asks me, "Or would you rather let them come and tell?"

I walk towards her again, the loud growl makes me turn towards the huge brown bear that is occupying the last cage.

The Ringmaster bangs her cane on the bars, "Silence, you are not of flesh and bone, you should not interrupt the musings of our flesh." She tells the bear, "You can not object because we do not know your name."

The bear moves back, I'm stunned by The Ringmaster's forceful nature or maybe the fact that she's not scared by the bear. I look towards the other cage, a cheetah is lying there. It looks towards me lazily, then turn it's attention back to the wall.

The Ringmaster smiles again, "For in all human hearts there shall be a beast lying in wait. Do you let is howl and bare it's teeth? Or do you hold it so tightly that your grip will bleed in supplication?"

I look at her, "What do you mean?"

The Ringmaster smiles, "In the purest hearts, I greet them with this one truth. We are flawed." She tells me, "The flaw'd heart is such a beautiful object, I will treasure it as I hold it in my most fragile grip."

I take another step towards her, "Christ you are on some strong damn stuff aren't ya?" I ask.

The Ringmaster pulls me to her, she traces a heart on my cheek, "I speak the truth, believe me what you will." She tells me, "I will not lie when you seek the truth." She tells me. "Come now. We must not disappoint our last trickster."

She steps back, the freeze on the curtain is a woman I assume because I can't see her face. She's got her top hat over her face, and a bull whip is snaking around her, she holds it in her free hand.

The Ringmaster simply holds the curtain up for me as we both duck under it at the same time.

***

In the middle of the sawdust circle stands Lady Heather complete with whip, she's dressed in the same outfit as The Ringmaster. She smiles as she sees us. She's sitting on a chair. Completely nonplussed by anything.

"Wild animals are so hard to train." She offers.

The Ringmaster smiles, "Then you shouldn't worry!" She says, "You shall tame them in no time my dear Lady!"

Lady Heather smiles, "You are so sure of my talents aren't you my Ringmaster?" She asks crossing her legs.

I see off to one side, the animals that I just seen in the cages are waiting. They're all on little stools.

I blink again.

"My dear Lady." The Ringmaster steps forward. "I know of your talent." She says, "One look they say that you will know everything that they desire!" She replies. "I can not help but wonder if you can get behind every armour that I would have."

Lady Heather laughs, "Only because they are so naked even though they hide behind smoke and mirrors." She looks towards me, then she looks back at The Ringmaster, "People hide or try to hide the chinks so well, but a tiny part of them wishes that they could reveal everything. I am only a mouthpiece."

I look towards Lady Heather her expression doesn't reveal anything, "What?" I ask.

The Ringmaster laughs, "They are denuded for a good reason. Although we think ourselves as evolved creatures, strip away the layers that we use to separate us, we are still as primal as the animals that we seek to tame, domesticate and scared of." The Ringmaster looks at me, and then she turns away, "We are not animals but something more complex. Although sometimes we just boil down to primal instinct."

Lady Heather cracks her whip, "I rip the layers off and let them be."

There is a beat of silence. I look between The Ringmaster and Lady Heather but their expressions don't give anything away.

The Ringmaster tells me, "There's someone who doesn't belong." She gestures towards the shifting shadow. The one that's been following us. The shape solidifies into a wolf. Dark fur and white teeth, yellow eyes stare at us.

Lady Heather stands up, she grabs her chair, twirling it around. She cracks her whip and holds her chair up.

I look back at the animals, they all rear back on their back legs. Stretching themselves so they can stand tall on the tiny perches.

The Ringmaster claps, slowly. I look at her. She seems fascinated with the show. The wolf is now sitting on it's haunches watching as well.

I look back at the animals, then the picture shifts. The air around them makes warp, noses expand pulling away from the face, mouths shorten, fur becomes patchy, showing cloth or skin underneath, ears move down, claws and paws turn into hands and feet. The panther warps into Warrick, the tiger turns into Gil, the lion turns into Nick, the leopard is Greg, the bear is Jim Brass and the cheetah is Eddie.

"Figures." I say, staring at the men that are now perched on the little stools. They are standing up straight their arms by their sides, their arms are bent so their hands touch their shoulders.

What catches my attention is what is on their t-shirts, they're all wearing black t-shirts, Ever one bar Gil and Jim are wearing black jeans, Gil and Jim wear black suit trousers. Warrick's has a red heart covered by a red curtain. Gil has a brain with a keyhole with a key next to it. Nick has the same red heart, but this time it has an arm around the heart. Greg has a wide smile printed on his t-shirt. Jim has a pair of handcuffs that are in a whisky bottle. Eddie has a black heart which is shattered, the jagged tips of the smash are red.

The sound of the whip makes my head turn again, I look towards Lady Heather. She gives me a feline smile, "Look again." She tells me. "They're hiding again." I turn my head back to where the guys are, they have changed back into their animal selves and they're back posing. But the wolf is still there.

It takes a step into the ring, and then it warps. Instead of a wolf, it's Sara. Not just Sara. She's naked, she's the only one who was naked. The guys were clothed but bare footed, but Sara's naked. Why? I muse as watch as she crawls slowly towards us. A second later it's the she wolf.

The Ringmaster watches the she wolf's progress with interest. "She can't harm you Catherine."

I look at her, and then look back at the wolf, and then she's Sara. Her expression is predatory, but her eyes are the feral yellow, she bares her teeth in a snarl. Then she's the she wolf with dark brown eyes.

The Ringmaster smiles, "She's hunting for you."

I look towards the she wolf. She steps out of the ring.

"Why her?" I ask weakly. "Why Sara?" I ask.

The Ringmaster looks towards me, "I thought you said you weren't scared of the man behind the curtain?"

I look at her, "I'm not." I insist.

"Then why are you so scared to his true face?" The Ringmaster tells me.

"Huh?" I ask.

The Ringmaster smiles under her mask. "His true face isn't what you expect it to be." She looks towards the she wolf. "You always hide. Behind the blue eyes, they are not so different. From the brown eyes that watch you. Eyes that watch everyone, no one escapes the stable gaze." The Ringmaster says, "She seeks to watch, always on the outside, never drawn to anything. She maybe drawn to the mind, she will seek to engage, but yet they disconnect, she is left again. Alone and waiting for another chance to connect only for the heavy burn of rejection to be set alight again."

The she wolf changes into Sara again, she slowly moves towards me. Her expression is still predatory. She reaches where we are, I can feel her skin as she rubs herself against my legs. I must admit that is an odd feeling. But it feels kind of interesting, almost ... erotic. Then I look down it's the she wolf, she's growling in the back of her throat. It's not threatening, it's playful.

"She wants your touch my dear Catherine, she has come to you, to tell you her name and let you name her. She seeks for you to tell her name. Name the animal and the human that lies under it's skin." The Ringmaster tells me. "She will not harm you, unless you reject what she is offering and what she holds to her own animal heart."

I kneel down, the she wolf moves to me, she nuzzles her head against my cheek, "What do you want Sara?" I ask. I stroke under her muzzle, "Do you want me? Or this a figment of my imagination?" I ask, enjoying the feel of the fur underneath my fingers. "'Cause my imagination is a little fucked up at the moment."

The growl starts again, I find myself smiling at that.

I watch as the she wolf turns into Sara again, she looks at me, and then she leans forward, and nuzzles my fingers then presses a kiss on my fingers. Then she's the she wolf again.

The Ringmaster nods, "She'll take you were ever you are destined to be." She tells me, "We shall follow."

The wolf pulls away from us. Then it's Sara. This time she's naked, but standing up. She shoots us a smile, before she walks away. She walks into the curtain then she's gone.

"Follow her my dear Catherine! We are nearly there!" The Ringmaster takes my hand and leads me into the curtain.

***

The last corridor there's only the she wolf sitting next to the curtain, she's at the end, and the curtain is just plain red velvet.

But what catches my eye in the freeze that it painted on the wall nearest me, it's a triptych. The other wall is completely black. The Ringmaster smiles, "The heart is painted and played on this wall, there are no mirrors left. No smoke left to hide behind."

I look back at her, and then look to the freeze. It's me and Sara. In various positions. I see Sara sitting in on the floor with her head in her hands, I can see my shadow in the door way. I don't know what I'm wearing but Sara's only wearing a white vest and jeans and her boots. She seems to be leaning against a wall, I can't see if she's laughing or crying. Then on the other side it's me standing straight in front of her, I have my hands on my hips. I getting in her face, but she's just staring at me with an angry expression on her face. That's Sara she usually gets back in my face. We're dressed like we were when we had the Russian mail order brides fiasco argument.

But the middle picture is what draws my attention and holds it. Above our heads are two masks, one is white and frowning, the other is black and it's smiling.

But I'm too busy trying to get my jaw back off the floor by what's underneath.

"Tied in velvet ropes. Bound to the one who she seeks." The Ringmaster whispers, "They are held together in the most gentle fragile embrace, yet no one seeks to break it, because they revel in this and want more. Want it all in it's glory. Even though it will hurt like a burn of a thousand suns, they still are in love and wanting to suffer because they know that the rewards are so bittersweet." She whispers in my ear.

The freeze is me and Sara naked in each other's arms, Sara's head is bowed so is mine as we rest our foreheads together. Covering us at various stragic parts is a red velvet or silk strip. It's tied us together. I see that my hand is dipping inside the strip that is lying in between Sara's legs. Sara's hand is splayed against my stomach, but her fingertips are reaching under the strip that lies in-between my legs.

"Wow." I say.

"Is this what you want Catherine?" The Ringmaster asks me.

"I..." I pause.

"Do you want to be inside her? To feel how she feels? How she reacts to your touch?" The Ringmaster sweeps her hand, I follow her hand with my eyes. She's gesturing to the other wall.

Now in the middle of that wall is a mirror. There's nothing anything special about it, a simple wood frame but I find myself staring again. As I watch the younger version of myself straddling the Sara from the left part of the freeze, they're sitting in a booth of some sort, the lights are low so I can't make out the colours of the seats, but the walls are black. The younger me smiles at her version of Sara as she lifts the vest up. Sara's head tips back as I watch the younger me strip off Sara's top. I watch as the younger me puts her hand between Sara's breasts as she leans down to kiss her. Sara's just waiting.

I can see the smile on the younger me's face as she pulls at the strings that are holding the bikini top to her breasts.

"Or is this what you want?" The Ringmaster says.

The mirror now shows the argument, I see me getting in with the angry words, and I see Sara firing back her own angry words. Then I watch as I shove Sara back against the wall. In front of the lab where Conrad Eckile was lurking. I'm shoving her hands above her head I watch as I move my right hand to her cheek, gently stroking her cheekbone. My eyes are dipping towards her lips. My hand moves down her neck and rests in-between her breasts, as I lean up to kiss her.

"Maybe this?" The Ringmaster says.

This time, it's me curled up against Sara, just like Vartann and Sofia on the swing. She's got a protective arm around my waist, her eyes are closed but there's a small smile on her lips as we swing. We're naked but I can't see anything. The red silk/velvet strip is wrapped around us.

My throat's gone dry. "I..."

The Ringmaster simply smiles, "Or maybe this?"

I see myself standing behind Sara, she's wearing a robe, but it's slowly falling down, I'm kissing her neck then I see in my hand a scalpel.

"No!" I shout. But I'm too late, I watch myself slit Sara's throat. The image in the mirror switches now to me kneeling down, Sara's lying naked but her throat is slit. I can see myself holding the scalpel, but I'm crying. The tears are real.

"I don't want that!" I shout at the mirror.

The Ringmaster sighs, "You harm and hurt, with out even trying." She says, "Red rage. But she will never let you see how much it hurts." The Ringmaster pauses, "Sharp tongue and teeth makes a bloodied wound that can not heal easily. But will a kiss make it better?" She looks towards me, "Soft silken words can, and they can bind." She tells me, "They can wound, but they can heal a thousand hurts."

The mirror still shows me and Sara, but I'm cradling her limp body in my arms. My head's bowed, my bloody fingers are trailing over her body, leaving smears over the skin. I can see that I'm murmuring words. Then I look up, the mirror's image eyes meeting mine. Red rimmed, I can help but watch the tears that are falling down the mirror me's face. I don't know why this affects me but I can't tear myself away.

The Ringmaster waves her hand, "That is gone."

Then the mirror shows me lying down with Sara, naked again, I'm on top of her. This time I can see everything. The sheet is lying covering our legs, Sara's expression is one of pure pleasure, and her eyes are closed as I move my head down.

The Ringmaster smiles, "Rewards are so sweet, they are as sublime as they are seductive." She notes.

The mirror then shows Sara in between my legs, kissing my chest, I'm not topless, in fact I'm wearing the same outfit that I'm wearing now. I'm reclining arching my back so that I can feel her.

"She wants to please and pleasure." The Ringmaster smiles, "That in the moment is all what she wants."

The mirror shows me another image, Sara. Her wrists and ankles are bound by the red velvet ties, but the red silk covers her breasts and crotch. She looks at me, her eyes are seductive and the smile is too. Bu the way her head is tilted she's shy. Her hair falls over her face.

I tear my eyes away from the mirror. "I want all that." I tell her.

The Ringmaster steps forward, so she's behind me. But I can see me and Sara in the mirror. I watch as Sara lowers her head to kiss my neck. I can feel lips on my neck. Sara's arms snakes around my waist bringing me closer. I can feel the arm around my waist.

"Is this what you desire my dear Catherine?" The Ringmaster's voice drops to a husky whisper. "Do you desire to feel her on your skin?" She pauses, "Feel her fingers inside you, reaching so deeply that you want to trap her inside."

I nod, I'm still hypnotised by the picture I can see in the mirror, Sara's hand reaches up touching my face, and I can feel her finger tips on my skin.

"You want to feel her mouth on you, swallowing, tasting and feeling." The Ringmaster's voice is bordering on seductive, "And you want to do the same for her. You want to burn her into your senses. And you want to burn into her senses."

The mirror wipes the image of me and Sara. I spin around, facing The Ringmaster again, I swallow, "I want all that." I repeat. "Completely."

"Pain and pleasure?" The Ringmaster asks. "Because there can't be pleasure with out pain. It's the bittersweet yin and yang of the world. Derive what you will, but know that your pleasure when it is sweet is like purity, when it's bad it's destructive and sour."

I just stare at her, and then say, "I want it all." I don't know why I have to tell her this. And I don't know why I'm reacting so strongly to the images of Sara. Maybe if I get out of this place...this dream? I can figure it out.

The Ringmaster nods, "Then follow the she wolf. She will lead you to your heart's desire. Just trust the animal that you see, as well the woman under the skin."

I look toward the she wolf, and then it's Sara. She's got a little half smile on her face, her eyes reach mine. She's naked as well, but then I see the red velvet/silk strips slither around her, across her breasts and her hips.

"Come find me Catherine." Her voice is smoky, "Come find me." She tells me, "I can be anything you want. If you reward me with your desire." She leans down, "I can be what you are wanting."

I turn, then the she wolf is back and she turns diving into the curtain. I run towards the curtain.

***

 

Act 3. The Final Act.

I push my way through the curtain, it seems thicker than the others and harder to get through. I stumble slightly, I right myself a few seconds later.

Then I'm standing in an empty room. The walls are painted black, again with little sliver stars painted all over the room. I look up, tiny little spotlights light the room.

Then I see the she wolf sitting in front of a mirror, the same wooden framed non script mirror, then it's Sara. Her eyes glitter with lust. "Following what you desire can lean you into weakness." She says. She's wearing tight black jeans and a simple white shirt.

"What do you mean?" I ask her.

Sara smiles, she pulls at her neck, she rips her own face off. The face underneath is painted with a red heart, the eyes open they are a pair of red hearts, "Hearts beat so fast. They explode."

I take a step forward, "I understand."

Sara reaches up and carefully takes off the heart, revealing a half black half white face, but unlike The Ringmaster's mask, the black frowns and the white smiles, "You lance into hearts. But are you so sure that your heart can cope with being exposed?"

"I can." I tell her.

Sara then turns away, when she faces me again. She's wearing a pair of wolf ears and a faux wolf face, "You conquer but do you let them come to you? Or are you not the ones to let them speak?"

"I can." I tell her as I move towards her. "Just give me a chance Sara."

Sara turns away again, this time her face is painted with tears, "Chances come so few, I can't hold my heart." She pulls her sleeve, I see a painted heart, "On my sleeve all the time. I can't let you wound me with your eyes, mouth and tongue."

"I didn't mean to hurt you." I tell her.

Sara pulls out a red silk hank chief, she wipes her face clear. Then she drops the hank chief, I see the trail of blood from both eyes, "Don't promise that you don't believe." She says. She closes her eyes, another blood tear appears from her eyes, "Do you Catherine? Can you and would you say sorry."

I reach out to touch her, "Sara..."

Sara shakes her head, "No, you can not. You wounded me, I can not be this." She gestures toward me, "If you want me, then you must find me."

"No! Sara don't!" I shout.

Sara stops, she turns to me, she's now wearing a black t-shirt, she's got a heart in a cage. "I'm not easy to stop or turn Catherine." She says, "Forgive me if I don't have the stomach for this kind of fight. I'm not strong, but I'll be stronger than you know."

I run towards her, but then she's the she wolf again, she simply walks into the mirror as I reach the mirror it disappears turning into another piece of the wall. I slam my fists into the wall.

I can feel someone watching me. I grit my teeth then turn around. It's The Ringmaster, she's got her head down, and she doesn't say a word. That irritates me.

"Where is she?" I demand, "I want to see her!" I say.

The Ringmaster raises her head again, "Maybe she was with you all the time." She says.

Now I recognise that voice. It's Sara's voice. I blink, and then look back at the wall, it's still a wall. "How...?" I say.

"You should of trusted The Ringmaster." Sara's voice comes back. "She knows everything." She adds.

"Sara?" I say weakly.

The Ringmaster reaches up, carefully gripping the mask, she pulls it away from her face, revealing Sara's face under the mask. She drops the mask. "Is this who you seek my dear Catherine?"

I walk to her, "Yes."

Sara smirks, "Are you sure?"

I grab her, pulling her close to me. I grab her top hat and throw it somewhere. I don't care where it goes.

Sara looks at me, "I'm here." She says. "If that is what you want."

I don't answer verbally, I reach for her hair, and I push my hand into her hair and pull her down and kiss her. I nibble on her bottom lip before she opens up and lets me inside. My other hand tangles its self in her hair. I hold her to me as I kiss her hungrily.

Sara pulls away from me. Her hand cups my face, "You don't lie with out words." She tells me, "But you lie with words."

I look at her.

Sara smiles, "Words are so smokey. They send signals but often they aren't the ones you want to say." She looks at me. "I wound you, you wound me." She exhales, her breath coming out as smoke. "But it doesn't me that I am walking wounded." She exposes her arms, I see the thin lines of red, "They heal over time." She drops her sleeves again.

I take a step forward, "Shut up Sara."

Sara looks at me, and then she shakes her head, "I can't do that." She tells me. "I need to speak." She tells me. "I need to put the barrier between us." She says, "I am never sure of your motives."

I look at her, "Is this what you think of me?" I ask her.

Sara looks towards the wall, the mirror unfurls it's self again. I see the younger me wiping her mouth as she stares at the tank top and jeans Sara, a large bill roll in her free hand. She moves over the prone Sara, she kisses Sara softly.

"Are you this?" Sara asks me.

I look at her, "Do you want me to be that?"

Sara turns her head back to the mirror. The next image is the argument. I watch me zipping up my trousers, the other Sara is slumped against the wall. She's breathing hard. I can see her chest heaving up and down.

"Or this?" Sara asks me.

"What if I say yes?"

Sara shakes her head. I stalk towards her. Sara looks at me, "You can't change."

"Can't I?" I say.

Sara looks at me, "Natures of beasts never change." She tells me, looking at the mirror. "You can't change."

I smirk at her, "You underestimate me."

Sara looks me, "No. You underestimate me." She snarls. I see her face shift into the she wolf's again.

I smile, "Beasts don't scare me."

Sara walks so that she's in front of the mirror. "Then do you want me?" She changes into Warrick, he smiles lazily at me, "Or me?" He changes into Nick, he tips his cap towards me, flashing a wide smile at me, then he changes into Gil who looks over his glasses at me, "Or me?" He changes into Greg who smiles, "You only wear skin?" He asks, then changes into Eddie who leers at me, "Or me?" He changes into Paul, "You shouldn't made me a suspect." He changes into Chris, "What do you expect I'm a night club owner."

"I don't want anyone like that." I say evenly. "Shadows and mirrors don't scare me anymore."

Chris changes into Sara, she still wearing The Ringmaster's outfit, "Are you so sure that you're the one I want?" She looks at the mirror. I see my reflection change into Hank, then Gil. She snarls at me, "Do you understand?"

I lunge at her. Somehow we end up going through the mirror. It just feels like I'm going through the red curtain again.

Sara's still snarling. We land against a wall. "Oof." Sara hisses as the wind is knocked out of her.

I grin at her, "I can be everything." I push myself up against her, "And I could blow your mind." I tell her. "That's what I want, and I know it's what you want.." I smirk at her, "You wouldn't have made it so hard for me if you didn't want me." I tell her.

Sara looks at me, and then she threads her fingers into my hair and pulls me into a kiss. I return her kiss hungrily.

Somehow we end up lying down, I can feel the silk against my skin as well as the velvet, and somehow we're naked. I don't know how we got here.

I pull away opening my eyes, Sara's looking at me, her eyes are full of wonder. Her pupils are dilated, I can see the velvet that's tying us together, wrapped around waists, torsos and arms. I look down, the red silk sheets surround us as well. I pull my right hand out of her hair, I trail it down her body, stopping briefly to feel her racing heart beat before I slide it down in between her legs. She opens slightly for me.

"You're so wet." I murmur softly as I slide two fingers into her. I bow my head, kissing a line down to her breasts. Sara arches her back, I smile then bite the nipple closest to my head. Then I switch to the other breast. Biting the other nipple before I return to her lips, kissing her again. Sara doesn't let me kiss her for long, she pulls away.

Sara bites her lip as she does her own journey down my front, I spread my legs, and I welcome her fingers inside me, moaning as she grinds the heel of her palm against my clit. I do the same with her. The velvet that covers my hand tightens. I move slowly inside her, enjoying the way she's reacting to my touch. I force myself to go as deep as I can, wanting to find the special spot. I know when I've found it as Sara moans my name, "Catherine..."

I smile at that, then she pushes deep inside me, I return her moan, "Sara." I call her name, I see a sultry smile as it registers what she's found. Then her mouth goes to my shoulder, sinking her teeth into my shoulder. I gasp, but it's more pleasure than pain. Sara pulls away from my shoulder, she smiles at me.

I don't know how long we move together like this, it doesn't seem long enough, but I feel my orgasm approaching. The wetness against my hand and the velvet that is trapping it, the sensations begin to blur as I move harder against Sara. Sara's right with me, her eyes haven't left my face, I can see her eyes beginning to loose focus, and her teeth bite down as I move. She's so close, I can feel her muscles tightening around my fingers. I arch into her as I orgasm with a long moan. A few seconds later Sara comes, her sound is more of a growl.

I collapse into her, resting my forehead against hers. I gasp, but I don't pull out, I want to stay inside her for as long as possible.

Sara just smiles, "I told you that I would protect you Catherine." She whispers, she raises her head and kisses my forehead, "Always believe The Ringmaster because her truth shall set you free. It may take a while but it can."

I go to say something but then the picture explodes blinding me.

***

"Sara." I murmur, jerking my arm a little, seriously surprising Nancy who's sitting at my bedside. I look around, "Huh?" I realise where I am. In the hospital. I shake my head, "What happened?"

Nancy smiles, then she gets up and walks to the door, "Warrick, she's awake." She calls down the corridor.

I look at her, "What's wrong?" I ask, as Nancy comes back in, she's followed in a few second by Warrick. "Why am I here?" I ask.

"I got worried." Nancy tells me, "You didn't answer your phone." She looks towards Warrick, "So I called Warrick, he told me that you left on time...so I went round, I found you out cold. I called 911."

Warrick steps forward, "You weren't the first." He adds, "The doctors told me that there was a couple of adults came in with the same thing. And also a lot of children."

"The candy." I say. Now it makes sense, the candy must of been spiked with something, 'cause no way would I just collapse with out due cause!

"Someone in their own twisted way wanted to create an 'Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test'." Gil notes from the doorway.

We all look at him, "Tox came back on the candy." He adds, "High level of LSD." He steps inside, "Day shift is working the cases."

"So some stupid idiot laced candy with LSD for what?" I ask, "Extra fun on Halloween?" I add, sitting up.

"Or they were taking Halloween at it's most basic form. A night were all the dead, demons and evil creatures would wreak havoc on the living before the day which is believed to by the Holy day which is November 1st, All Saints Day." Gil offers, "A lot of Halloween rituals have roots in folk lore and practices, although not forgotten, just repackaged." He adds.

"Remind me to ask you if I ever have to do a festival pop quiz for you to be on my team." I deadpan at Gil.

That gets me a smile from everyone, Gil included.

"Ah Ms Willows." The Doctor comes in, he's a tall almost lanky man with soft brown eyes and short light brown hair, "I'm Doctor Craig." He says, "You were lucky, the dose of LSD that you ingested was not as high as previously thought, we can probably discharge you in a few hours, after all the test results come back."

"Thank God, I don't really want to explain to Lindsey why I'm here." I say.

"Someone is an idiot?" Nancy ventures.

"Indeed." I say, before I slump back down and close my eyes. The image of Sara dressed as a Ringmaster, with her clothes open so I can see the skin underneath, I find myself smiling again. I open one eye, "Did I say anything while I was out?" I ask.

Nancy shakes her head, "Just a lot of mumbling. It must of been one hell of a dream or trip."

I just smile, "Oh yeah, it was definitely." I tell her, "Never underestimate the power of carnies." I say.

That gets me an odd look from everyone, I just smile. "Romance to the power of the mystery." I add.

Again everyone stares. I just laugh.

***

Luckily for me, I was released in time for shift that night as well as seeing Lindsey to ask how her Halloween went, which got me an eye roll and a comment about how boring it was. She wasn't allowed any of the candy I bought. She seemed glad that she wasn't Trick or Treating, but she missed the candy. Luckily for me, Warrick had probably taken the offending candy to the lab as evidence, I really didn't want to explain that I went on an acid trip because of Halloween candy.

I walk into the break room, it's surprisingly empty. Sara's sitting in the corner with her coffee, "Hey where is everyone?" She's engrossed in a magazine, she's wearing jeans and a black zippy top with a white t-shirt underneath, trainers on her feet. Her hair's straight. I head towards her until I'm standing in front of her.

Sara looks up and smiles, "Hey Catherine. Grissom took Greg to a 419 and Nick and Warrick have a double DB at one of the motels." She put her coffee down, "And I'm on paperwork, and Griss wants you in the lab tonight." She looks at me, "I think he's still a little worried about you." She looks at me, "How are you? I heard about the whole spiking thing." She offers.

I look at her, "I'm fine, a little freaked out though." I tell her, "I had I dream or a trip that I was in a funhouse. It was a little surreal." I smile at her. I won't tell you that I had sex with you after you revealed yourself as a ringmaster, as well as being a wolf. Also the lab rats, Doc Robbins and David were clowns, Vartann, Sofia and Vega were acrobats and the guys, Eddie and Brass were wild animals and Lady Heather was their trainer!

Sara looks at me, and then she shakes her head, "Weird." She tells me her head still hanging low.

"Sara?" I ask.

She looks back at me, "Yeah?"

"What do you think of funhouses?" I ask.

Sara frowns, "Not a big fan of carnivals." She tells me, "Cotton candy, yes, but carnivals no."

I smile, "Cotton Candy eh?"

Sara shrugs, "It's a flaw."

"No." I tell her, "It's kinda sweet."

Sara just looks at me, then she shakes her head. I touch her arm. "Maybe I can change your mind about carnivals."

Sara looks at me, then she smiles, "Maybe you can."

I find myself smiling, "What are you doing for breakfast?" I ask. Internally thanking the dumb shit who laced the candy.

"Nothing." Sara says. "Why?"

I just shrug, "If you're not doing anything, maybe you'd like to have breakfast with me."

Sara smiles, "That sounds great."

Who ever said that Trick or Treat had to end on Halloween? I think as I return Sara's smile.

Fin.