Spoilers for 2x22: Stealing Home
After not seeing Marty all weekend, Taylor decided to pay him a visit at the morgue to see how he was doing and to fill him in on the latest developments in the supernatural genre. And for the first time ever, she drove in. She parked up and headed downstairs to the morgue. It was empty, short of an orderly who was moving a body, so, ignoring him, Taylor carried on through to the offices.
“I see it’s true what they say about fame,” the orderly’s voice carried across the morgue behind her.
“Excuse me?” Taylor asked in disbelief, stopping in her tracks.
“You get famous and you ignore your friends,” he continued.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Taylor asked, spinning around to confront the orderly. “Louie?” she gasped in surprise. “What on Earth are you doing here?”
“In terms of greetings, you’re not about to be short listed for an award there, Drew,” he laughed.
Taylor arched an eyebrow at him, “Drew? Don’t you ever let anyone convince you you’re not Danny’s brother.”
“That’s our award-winning patented charm you’re knocking there,” he told her before pulling her into a hug.
“Seriously,” she smiled as she pulled away. “Do you work here now?”
Louie nodded, “its all part of my probation.”
“Probation?” Taylor’s mouth dropped open. “Aw crap, Louie. Your court case was last week. What happened?”
“I’m on probation for a year. I have to wear a tracking device, though,” he pulled up his pant leg to show her the device strapped around his ankle. “And I’m not allowed to leave the city.”
“How did you manage to get a job here?”
“Mac,” said Louie simply. “It was because of him the judge agreed – I was all set to be sent down, but Mac said that I could come here under his supervision, and two weekly meetings with a probation officer, and the judge agreed. Mac’s even arranging for me to get my high school diploma in evening classes. I can understand why Danny looks up to him so much. He’s a really good man.”
“That’s really fantastic news, Louie,” Taylor beamed. “What happened with Sonny?”
“He still hasn’t had his trial, but he’s been refused bail.”
“Is there a date set?” Taylor asked, curious.
“Beginning of November.”
Taylor took a deep breath and changed the subject. “Have you seen Marty?”
“He’s in St Louis,” Louie shrugged.
Taylor’s mouth dropped open. “What? Why? When?”
Before Louie could answer, a woman with long dark hair popped her head around the door. “Ah, there you are Louie,” she said, her crisp English accent clipping at the words. “There’s a body that’s about to be dropped off.” She gave Taylor a searching stare before smiling and ducking out of the room.
Taylor turned to Louie. “Who was that?”
“Dr. Peyton Driscoll, the new ME.”
Taylor’s face fell as she processed the news, “She’s never Marty’s replacement?”
Louie shrugged at her. “Kind of. Marty is teaching at Washington University Monday through Wednesday, and working here Thursday through Saturday.”
“Next you be telling me Mac is no longer single.”
Louie laughed, “I know things have changed, but I don’t think they’ve changed that much.”
“What are you doing this evening? You fancy coming around for a meal?”
“I think I’d better give it a miss,” Louie told her, “I value my life.”
Taylor’s mouth dropped open. “Please tell me you did not just say what I thought you said?”
“Well, Danny did tell me all about your culinary skills.”
“I was going to get take-out, thank you very much,” Taylor told him indignantly.
“I was actually referring to my parole officer. I have to meet her tonight.”
“Oh,” Taylor’s expression softened. “Well, alright then.”
“Louie!” A male ME’s voice echoed through the morgue. “It’s here. And you have got to see this!”
Taylor and Louie looked at each other before dashing to the back door. On a gurney was…
“A mermaid?” Taylor blurted out. “Now I really have seen everything.”
“Taylor, I’m pretty certain it isn’t a real mermaid,” Louie muttered with a grin.
“He’s right,” Sid told him, appearing from behind. “From what I can gather, it’s a woman in a mermaid suit.”
Taylor smiled in embarrassment. “I knew that. I was just checking to see if Louie did.”
“Of course you did, my dear,” Sid nodded. “And much as I always enjoy the pleasure of your company, you should probably know that I’m about to perform her autopsy.”
Taylor was out of there in an instant.
“I see it’s true what they say about fame,” the orderly’s voice carried across the morgue behind her.
“Excuse me?” Taylor asked in disbelief, stopping in her tracks.
“You get famous and you ignore your friends,” he continued.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Taylor asked, spinning around to confront the orderly. “Louie?” she gasped in surprise. “What on Earth are you doing here?”
“In terms of greetings, you’re not about to be short listed for an award there, Drew,” he laughed.
Taylor arched an eyebrow at him, “Drew? Don’t you ever let anyone convince you you’re not Danny’s brother.”
“That’s our award-winning patented charm you’re knocking there,” he told her before pulling her into a hug.
“Seriously,” she smiled as she pulled away. “Do you work here now?”
Louie nodded, “its all part of my probation.”
“Probation?” Taylor’s mouth dropped open. “Aw crap, Louie. Your court case was last week. What happened?”
“I’m on probation for a year. I have to wear a tracking device, though,” he pulled up his pant leg to show her the device strapped around his ankle. “And I’m not allowed to leave the city.”
“How did you manage to get a job here?”
“Mac,” said Louie simply. “It was because of him the judge agreed – I was all set to be sent down, but Mac said that I could come here under his supervision, and two weekly meetings with a probation officer, and the judge agreed. Mac’s even arranging for me to get my high school diploma in evening classes. I can understand why Danny looks up to him so much. He’s a really good man.”
“That’s really fantastic news, Louie,” Taylor beamed. “What happened with Sonny?”
“He still hasn’t had his trial, but he’s been refused bail.”
“Is there a date set?” Taylor asked, curious.
“Beginning of November.”
Taylor took a deep breath and changed the subject. “Have you seen Marty?”
“He’s in St Louis,” Louie shrugged.
Taylor’s mouth dropped open. “What? Why? When?”
Before Louie could answer, a woman with long dark hair popped her head around the door. “Ah, there you are Louie,” she said, her crisp English accent clipping at the words. “There’s a body that’s about to be dropped off.” She gave Taylor a searching stare before smiling and ducking out of the room.
Taylor turned to Louie. “Who was that?”
“Dr. Peyton Driscoll, the new ME.”
Taylor’s face fell as she processed the news, “She’s never Marty’s replacement?”
Louie shrugged at her. “Kind of. Marty is teaching at Washington University Monday through Wednesday, and working here Thursday through Saturday.”
“Next you be telling me Mac is no longer single.”
Louie laughed, “I know things have changed, but I don’t think they’ve changed that much.”
“What are you doing this evening? You fancy coming around for a meal?”
“I think I’d better give it a miss,” Louie told her, “I value my life.”
Taylor’s mouth dropped open. “Please tell me you did not just say what I thought you said?”
“Well, Danny did tell me all about your culinary skills.”
“I was going to get take-out, thank you very much,” Taylor told him indignantly.
“I was actually referring to my parole officer. I have to meet her tonight.”
“Oh,” Taylor’s expression softened. “Well, alright then.”
“Louie!” A male ME’s voice echoed through the morgue. “It’s here. And you have got to see this!”
Taylor and Louie looked at each other before dashing to the back door. On a gurney was…
“A mermaid?” Taylor blurted out. “Now I really have seen everything.”
“Taylor, I’m pretty certain it isn’t a real mermaid,” Louie muttered with a grin.
“He’s right,” Sid told him, appearing from behind. “From what I can gather, it’s a woman in a mermaid suit.”
Taylor smiled in embarrassment. “I knew that. I was just checking to see if Louie did.”
“Of course you did, my dear,” Sid nodded. “And much as I always enjoy the pleasure of your company, you should probably know that I’m about to perform her autopsy.”
Taylor was out of there in an instant.
* * *
“You’re looking a little wet,” Taylor grinned as she headed up to the crime lab and spotted Danny walking down the hallway with Hawkes.
“If it isn’t our resident sexy celebrity,” Danny grinned.
Taylor glanced over at Hawkes. That was not the smart-Alec comeback she was expecting. “Come again?”
“You’re not going to abandon us now that you’re famous, are you?” Danny continued, preventing Hawkes from doing much more than shrug in response.
“Messer, are you on crack?” Taylor asked in confusion.
Danny’s grin was one that could well rival the Cheshire Cat’s. “You really don’t have a clue, do you?”
Taylor stared blankly at him. “You mean that’s supposed to make sense?”
“Right!” Danny cried. “We’re going for a drive. You coming, Hawkes?”
Hawkes smiled. “I wouldn’t miss this!” He followed Taylor, who was practically being dragged through the lab by Danny.
“Ah, so here’s my sexy crime writer,” grinned Flack as he spotted them at the elevator.
Before Taylor could voice her increasing confusion, one of the gossip queens ran over to her thrusting a pad and paper in her hands. “Can I have your autograph?” she gushed.
“Have I slept a week away, or something?” Taylor asked the lab tech, Mandy.
“No. Why?” Mandy asked, looking just as confused as Taylor.
“Because you’re a week early for April Fools,” Taylor snapped. As Mandy stormed off, Taylor turned to the three men who were not trying to hide their amusement. “Seriously, has there been a solvent spillage in the lab, because you’ve all got to be high!”
“You don’t know?” Flack asked in surprise.
“Not a clue,” Danny told him, answering for Taylor. “I’m going to show her now.”
“Show me what?” Taylor asked impatiently. The response that she got was to be blindfolded and bundled into the back of Danny’s SUV. A short car journey later and Taylor was helped out of the car and the blindfold removed. “Time Square?” she asked, even more confused. Danny pointed at something. Following his outstretched hand Taylor found herself at an eighty foot image suspended down the side of one of the buildings of… herself. Her jaw practically hit the floor. “Are you fricking kidding?”
It was obviously from the photo shoot several weeks ago, but Taylor didn’t remember the top showing that much cleavage, nor the skirt being that short. Next to the image of her was the caption, Taylor Turner, Crime Files: Crime Just Got Sexy.
Taylor turned and held her arms out to Flack. “Arrest me now!”
“What for?” he laughed.
“Conspiracy to murder – because if you don’t it’s going to be straight up murder when I lay my hands on Alex and Sasha.”
“It’s not that bad,” Hawkes chuckled.
“Not that bad?! I have a ten foot cleavage on display to the whole city!” she shrieked.
“I’m not complaining,” a random passer-by commented.
Taylor stared after him. “Screw this,” she muttered, turning and starting to leave. She stopped when she saw herself drive past on the side of a bus. “A bus?!” She turned back to the three men who were trying hard to stop laughing. “It’s been nice knowing you.”
“Where are you going?” Flack asked.
“The Brooklyn Bridge. And then I’m throwing myself off it,” she told them, miserably.
“It’s really not that bad,” Flack told her, still smiling as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and directed her back to the others. “It’s just a few buses.”
“And a few subway posters,” Danny added.
“And a few bus stop posters,” said Hawkes.
“Oh, and don’t forget the billboard posters,” continued Danny.
“Or the benches,” Hawkes imputed again.
“Kill me know,” Taylor begged. “Please?”
“I like it,” Flack told her.
“Do me a favour and…” she trailed off when she saw the mermaid standing in front of her, accompanied by Maddy. “You have got to be kidding me,” she muttered under her breath.
“Nice suit,” Maddy told her with a grin, nodding her head in the direction of the giant poster.
“Don’t start,” Taylor told her shortly.
“Don’t start with what?” Danny asked. “We started before we left the crime lab.”
“It’s not that bad,” Hawkes told her, misreading the expression on Taylor’s face as one upset about the posters, rather than the dead girl in front of her. “Al, Mel and Nigel all have posters too.”
Taylor briefly glanced up at the similar posters of the sports, weather, and politics journalist, before softly shaking her head. “Mermaid,” she muttered softly, pointing at the ghost in front of her.
“Tell him I’m sorry,” the mermaid told her quietly, as she held out a lasso.
“I think this may be our queue to get back to the crime lab,” said Hawkes as he glanced at his pager which had begun beeping furiously. “I have a DB too. Can I be dropped off at 88th and Columbus?”
“If it isn’t our resident sexy celebrity,” Danny grinned.
Taylor glanced over at Hawkes. That was not the smart-Alec comeback she was expecting. “Come again?”
“You’re not going to abandon us now that you’re famous, are you?” Danny continued, preventing Hawkes from doing much more than shrug in response.
“Messer, are you on crack?” Taylor asked in confusion.
Danny’s grin was one that could well rival the Cheshire Cat’s. “You really don’t have a clue, do you?”
Taylor stared blankly at him. “You mean that’s supposed to make sense?”
“Right!” Danny cried. “We’re going for a drive. You coming, Hawkes?”
Hawkes smiled. “I wouldn’t miss this!” He followed Taylor, who was practically being dragged through the lab by Danny.
“Ah, so here’s my sexy crime writer,” grinned Flack as he spotted them at the elevator.
Before Taylor could voice her increasing confusion, one of the gossip queens ran over to her thrusting a pad and paper in her hands. “Can I have your autograph?” she gushed.
“Have I slept a week away, or something?” Taylor asked the lab tech, Mandy.
“No. Why?” Mandy asked, looking just as confused as Taylor.
“Because you’re a week early for April Fools,” Taylor snapped. As Mandy stormed off, Taylor turned to the three men who were not trying to hide their amusement. “Seriously, has there been a solvent spillage in the lab, because you’ve all got to be high!”
“You don’t know?” Flack asked in surprise.
“Not a clue,” Danny told him, answering for Taylor. “I’m going to show her now.”
“Show me what?” Taylor asked impatiently. The response that she got was to be blindfolded and bundled into the back of Danny’s SUV. A short car journey later and Taylor was helped out of the car and the blindfold removed. “Time Square?” she asked, even more confused. Danny pointed at something. Following his outstretched hand Taylor found herself at an eighty foot image suspended down the side of one of the buildings of… herself. Her jaw practically hit the floor. “Are you fricking kidding?”
It was obviously from the photo shoot several weeks ago, but Taylor didn’t remember the top showing that much cleavage, nor the skirt being that short. Next to the image of her was the caption, Taylor Turner, Crime Files: Crime Just Got Sexy.
Taylor turned and held her arms out to Flack. “Arrest me now!”
“What for?” he laughed.
“Conspiracy to murder – because if you don’t it’s going to be straight up murder when I lay my hands on Alex and Sasha.”
“It’s not that bad,” Hawkes chuckled.
“Not that bad?! I have a ten foot cleavage on display to the whole city!” she shrieked.
“I’m not complaining,” a random passer-by commented.
Taylor stared after him. “Screw this,” she muttered, turning and starting to leave. She stopped when she saw herself drive past on the side of a bus. “A bus?!” She turned back to the three men who were trying hard to stop laughing. “It’s been nice knowing you.”
“Where are you going?” Flack asked.
“The Brooklyn Bridge. And then I’m throwing myself off it,” she told them, miserably.
“It’s really not that bad,” Flack told her, still smiling as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and directed her back to the others. “It’s just a few buses.”
“And a few subway posters,” Danny added.
“And a few bus stop posters,” said Hawkes.
“Oh, and don’t forget the billboard posters,” continued Danny.
“Or the benches,” Hawkes imputed again.
“Kill me know,” Taylor begged. “Please?”
“I like it,” Flack told her.
“Do me a favour and…” she trailed off when she saw the mermaid standing in front of her, accompanied by Maddy. “You have got to be kidding me,” she muttered under her breath.
“Nice suit,” Maddy told her with a grin, nodding her head in the direction of the giant poster.
“Don’t start,” Taylor told her shortly.
“Don’t start with what?” Danny asked. “We started before we left the crime lab.”
“It’s not that bad,” Hawkes told her, misreading the expression on Taylor’s face as one upset about the posters, rather than the dead girl in front of her. “Al, Mel and Nigel all have posters too.”
Taylor briefly glanced up at the similar posters of the sports, weather, and politics journalist, before softly shaking her head. “Mermaid,” she muttered softly, pointing at the ghost in front of her.
“Tell him I’m sorry,” the mermaid told her quietly, as she held out a lasso.
“I think this may be our queue to get back to the crime lab,” said Hawkes as he glanced at his pager which had begun beeping furiously. “I have a DB too. Can I be dropped off at 88th and Columbus?”
Originally posted 30/07/2007