Spoilers for 2x22: Stealing Home
The trip to the ferry proved somewhat useful for the CSIs as they managed to find the primary crime scene and a hair grip, along with a handful of more sequins. For Taylor, it was quite boring. Sarah hadn’t turned up again, and Lindsay hadn’t let her past the tape, so Taylor spent a few hours watching others do the work. In the end, she had told the CSIs that she was going home where she finished her chores and went to bed.
The following morning, she awoke feeling just as tired as if she hadn’t gone to sleep at all. She had been kept awake all night with a nightmare. She couldn’t remember it all properly, but she was pretty certain that she was being chased down a metal corridor, or over a metal bridge. It also didn’t help that she was awoken bright and early… by Sarah, who was once again holding a lasso. “Tell him that I’m sorry.”
“I thought we did this clue already?” Taylor asked, bleary-eyed.
“Clearly not,” Maddy shrugged.
“I want a dictionary on ghost clues,” Taylor complained to her as she pulled a robe on. “How many meanings are there for a lasso?”
A quick shower later and she was back at the crime lab, still yawning. “What are you doing here so early, Drew?” Danny asked her when she joined him and Flack.
“Morning guys,” she managed through a yawn. “Bad dream.”
“You alright?” Flack asked her.
“Just a dream. Nothing a nap later won’t cure,” Taylor shrugged. “Did you find anything from the evidence you got at the crime scene?”
“We got a suspect – paid him a visit yesterday,” Danny confirmed. “We got his clothing off him.”
“And we’re back to the clothing again,” Flack moaned. “The suspense is killing me. What happened with James Vackner’s clothes?”
“He must have washed them,” Danny told him. “Nothing.”
“You’re kidding?” Flack exclaimed. “So not even trace amounts of soil on the knees?”
“Nah. But I got something better.”
“What’s better than soil?” Taylor asked him dryly.
“Oil consistent with the oil that leaked from the water taxi.”
“Yay, oil!” Taylor said, with the same false enthusiasm as before, before she again yawned.
“So we can place him at the dump site?” Flack asked.
Danny nodded. “Found drop size stains in the cuffs of his pants.”
“So what’s next?” Taylor asked.
“Arrest James Vackner,” interrupted Lindsay as she pushed past them and headed for the door. “It’s time for some answers.”
“Is she alright?” Taylor asked the two detectives.
Flack shrugged. “She’s been like that for pretty much the whole case.”
“She did tell me to stay behind the tape,” Taylor recollected. “Which, admittedly is probably where I should be, but you guys have never really had a problem with it. Have we forgotten her birthday or something?”
“It’s not for a while yet,” Danny told her with a shrug. “I think this case is getting to her. The victim was from Montana.”
“Oh,” Taylor mouthed. “You should probably go catch her up before she decides to arrest him by herself.” Danny nodded and hurried after her.
“Are you sure you’re alright?” Flack asked Taylor before he followed after the CSIs.
“I’m fine, don’t worry about me,” Taylor told him with a smile. “You go do your job. I’m going to hang around here a bit.”
The following morning, she awoke feeling just as tired as if she hadn’t gone to sleep at all. She had been kept awake all night with a nightmare. She couldn’t remember it all properly, but she was pretty certain that she was being chased down a metal corridor, or over a metal bridge. It also didn’t help that she was awoken bright and early… by Sarah, who was once again holding a lasso. “Tell him that I’m sorry.”
“I thought we did this clue already?” Taylor asked, bleary-eyed.
“Clearly not,” Maddy shrugged.
“I want a dictionary on ghost clues,” Taylor complained to her as she pulled a robe on. “How many meanings are there for a lasso?”
A quick shower later and she was back at the crime lab, still yawning. “What are you doing here so early, Drew?” Danny asked her when she joined him and Flack.
“Morning guys,” she managed through a yawn. “Bad dream.”
“You alright?” Flack asked her.
“Just a dream. Nothing a nap later won’t cure,” Taylor shrugged. “Did you find anything from the evidence you got at the crime scene?”
“We got a suspect – paid him a visit yesterday,” Danny confirmed. “We got his clothing off him.”
“And we’re back to the clothing again,” Flack moaned. “The suspense is killing me. What happened with James Vackner’s clothes?”
“He must have washed them,” Danny told him. “Nothing.”
“You’re kidding?” Flack exclaimed. “So not even trace amounts of soil on the knees?”
“Nah. But I got something better.”
“What’s better than soil?” Taylor asked him dryly.
“Oil consistent with the oil that leaked from the water taxi.”
“Yay, oil!” Taylor said, with the same false enthusiasm as before, before she again yawned.
“So we can place him at the dump site?” Flack asked.
Danny nodded. “Found drop size stains in the cuffs of his pants.”
“So what’s next?” Taylor asked.
“Arrest James Vackner,” interrupted Lindsay as she pushed past them and headed for the door. “It’s time for some answers.”
“Is she alright?” Taylor asked the two detectives.
Flack shrugged. “She’s been like that for pretty much the whole case.”
“She did tell me to stay behind the tape,” Taylor recollected. “Which, admittedly is probably where I should be, but you guys have never really had a problem with it. Have we forgotten her birthday or something?”
“It’s not for a while yet,” Danny told her with a shrug. “I think this case is getting to her. The victim was from Montana.”
“Oh,” Taylor mouthed. “You should probably go catch her up before she decides to arrest him by herself.” Danny nodded and hurried after her.
“Are you sure you’re alright?” Flack asked Taylor before he followed after the CSIs.
“I’m fine, don’t worry about me,” Taylor told him with a smile. “You go do your job. I’m going to hang around here a bit.”
* * *
Taylor had spent the time in the morgue, chatting with Louie about the new ME who she still had yet to meet properly before Sarah had turned up again. She was still holding the lasso and still asking her to apologise to someone. “I’ll catch you later,” Taylor told Louie before she abruptly left. Louie didn’t know about the ghosts still, and Taylor wasn’t sure she wanted anyone else knowing about her ‘gift’.
She headed back upstairs and spotting Lindsay leading Vackner into an interview room, Danny just behind. Deciding it was better to wait to ask about the lasso she headed back down the hallway to the coffee machine thinking coffee would wake her up. Only she wasn’t alone at the machine. There was another man there who clearly looked upset, his hands shaking as he tried to count out the change for the machine.
“Here, let me,” Taylor offered, putting a dollar in and buying the man a coffee.
“Thank you,” the man managed in a hoarse voice, his eyes still red and puffy from the crying. Taylor put in some money for her own drink and then sat down beside him. “I told her she shouldn’t have come here,” he told her with a sob.
“Tell him that I’m sorry,” Sarah said, appearing opposite them, pointing at the man.
Taylor’s mouth dropped open. “Are you kidding me?” she asked in alarm as she once again disappeared.
“I’m sorry?” Sarah’s dad looked at her.
“I mean, are you talking about Sarah?” Taylor quickly covered.
“Do you know my daughter?”
Taylor nodded, looking at her coffee. “You could say that.”
“It’s my fault, you know.”
“What is?” Taylor asked, frowning in concern.
“I should have been more supportive. If I had, then-” he broke into a sob.
“Mr. Butler, I don’t think Sarah thinks that,” Taylor assured him.
Sarah’s dad looked at her in confusion. “Thinks?”
“I got to know Sarah,” she said slowly, picking her words carefully. “And I know she loved you very much.”
“I just loved singing, too,” Sarah added, now appearing dressed in white.
Taylor’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. “She never stopped loving you, she just needed to pursue her singing,” she told Sarah’s father after some persuading from Sarah. “She just wanted to make you proud.
Mr Butler smiled. “I was always proud of her. I still am.”
“Don’t blame yourself, Mr Butler. The person to blame is being read his rights as we speak.”
“Thank you.” Sarah’s father got to his feet. “Excuse me, but I have to make arrangements.”
“Thank you,” repeated Sarah when her father had gone.
“You mean that you didn’t need help catching your killer after all of that?” Taylor asked incredulously.
Sarah shook her head. “I needed help telling Daddy how I felt.”
“A heads up would have been nice,” she complained to Maddy after Sarah had disappeared.
“Can’t do that. Sorry,” Maddy apologised before she also disappeared.
She headed back upstairs and spotting Lindsay leading Vackner into an interview room, Danny just behind. Deciding it was better to wait to ask about the lasso she headed back down the hallway to the coffee machine thinking coffee would wake her up. Only she wasn’t alone at the machine. There was another man there who clearly looked upset, his hands shaking as he tried to count out the change for the machine.
“Here, let me,” Taylor offered, putting a dollar in and buying the man a coffee.
“Thank you,” the man managed in a hoarse voice, his eyes still red and puffy from the crying. Taylor put in some money for her own drink and then sat down beside him. “I told her she shouldn’t have come here,” he told her with a sob.
“Tell him that I’m sorry,” Sarah said, appearing opposite them, pointing at the man.
Taylor’s mouth dropped open. “Are you kidding me?” she asked in alarm as she once again disappeared.
“I’m sorry?” Sarah’s dad looked at her.
“I mean, are you talking about Sarah?” Taylor quickly covered.
“Do you know my daughter?”
Taylor nodded, looking at her coffee. “You could say that.”
“It’s my fault, you know.”
“What is?” Taylor asked, frowning in concern.
“I should have been more supportive. If I had, then-” he broke into a sob.
“Mr. Butler, I don’t think Sarah thinks that,” Taylor assured him.
Sarah’s dad looked at her in confusion. “Thinks?”
“I got to know Sarah,” she said slowly, picking her words carefully. “And I know she loved you very much.”
“I just loved singing, too,” Sarah added, now appearing dressed in white.
Taylor’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. “She never stopped loving you, she just needed to pursue her singing,” she told Sarah’s father after some persuading from Sarah. “She just wanted to make you proud.
Mr Butler smiled. “I was always proud of her. I still am.”
“Don’t blame yourself, Mr Butler. The person to blame is being read his rights as we speak.”
“Thank you.” Sarah’s father got to his feet. “Excuse me, but I have to make arrangements.”
“Thank you,” repeated Sarah when her father had gone.
“You mean that you didn’t need help catching your killer after all of that?” Taylor asked incredulously.
Sarah shook her head. “I needed help telling Daddy how I felt.”
“A heads up would have been nice,” she complained to Maddy after Sarah had disappeared.
“Can’t do that. Sorry,” Maddy apologised before she also disappeared.
* * *
Taylor stood in the doorway watching Lindsay flick through pictures of home. Taking a deep breath, she turned and headed for Mac’s office. He was there, filling paperwork, and nodded her in, offering the seat opposite. “Another ghost?” he asked sceptically.
“Of sorts,” Taylor told him. “Ghosts of the past,” she explained.
“Lindsay?”
Taylor nodded. “How did you know?”
“Danny’s been to see me already. I take it you think Lindsay is struggling with this as well?” he asked her.
“A little,” she admitted. “I can understand it. I don’t understand it.” She frowned. “I mean, I can understand why Lindsay doesn’t understand because I don’t understand why Vackner did it, either. Does that even make a thread of sense?”
“It does, and I wish I could offer you some clarity, but with some suspects, there isn’t a reason,” Mac sighed.
“But there has to be a reason!” Taylor objected.
Mac stared at her. “Would it make you feel any differently if I was to tell you that he was abused as a child by his babysitter who looked like Sarah Butler?”
“No. Yes.” Taylor sighed, “I don’t know. Maybe, I guess?”
“I’m sorry, Taylor. Sometimes there just isn’t a reason.”
“Of sorts,” Taylor told him. “Ghosts of the past,” she explained.
“Lindsay?”
Taylor nodded. “How did you know?”
“Danny’s been to see me already. I take it you think Lindsay is struggling with this as well?” he asked her.
“A little,” she admitted. “I can understand it. I don’t understand it.” She frowned. “I mean, I can understand why Lindsay doesn’t understand because I don’t understand why Vackner did it, either. Does that even make a thread of sense?”
“It does, and I wish I could offer you some clarity, but with some suspects, there isn’t a reason,” Mac sighed.
“But there has to be a reason!” Taylor objected.
Mac stared at her. “Would it make you feel any differently if I was to tell you that he was abused as a child by his babysitter who looked like Sarah Butler?”
“No. Yes.” Taylor sighed, “I don’t know. Maybe, I guess?”
“I’m sorry, Taylor. Sometimes there just isn’t a reason.”
* * *
After watching Mac talk with Lindsay, Taylor knocked on the glass door and wandered in. “What’s up, Taylor?” Lindsay asked her as she turned her computer on.
“I came to see how you were doing,” Taylor told her, flashing her a smile.
“I’m fine. I’m just heading out.”
“You want a ride home?” Taylor offered.
Lindsay shook her head. “No, I’m alright, thanks.”
“Come on, I have a brand new car. You have to check Maggie out,” she insisted. “Besides, you guys won’t let me walk home alone, so why should I let you go home alone?”
“Taylor, I have a gun,” Lindsay pointed out.
“I have a gun,” Taylor retorted. “I just choose not to carry it with me at all times. But that’s going off topic. Let me give you a ride.”
Lindsay stared at her. “I’m not going home.”
“Well let me give you a ride where you’re going.”
“I don’t know,” Lindsay sighed.
Is it that important that I don’t know that you and Danny are together? Taylor thought. “Did I mention it was a ‘67 GTO?”
Lindsay sighed again. “I’m going to Riker’s.”
“What on earth is at Riker’s?” Taylor asked, pulling a face.
“Vackner,” Lindsay told her simply.
Taylor nodded and then shrugged. “Sure.”
“I came to see how you were doing,” Taylor told her, flashing her a smile.
“I’m fine. I’m just heading out.”
“You want a ride home?” Taylor offered.
Lindsay shook her head. “No, I’m alright, thanks.”
“Come on, I have a brand new car. You have to check Maggie out,” she insisted. “Besides, you guys won’t let me walk home alone, so why should I let you go home alone?”
“Taylor, I have a gun,” Lindsay pointed out.
“I have a gun,” Taylor retorted. “I just choose not to carry it with me at all times. But that’s going off topic. Let me give you a ride.”
Lindsay stared at her. “I’m not going home.”
“Well let me give you a ride where you’re going.”
“I don’t know,” Lindsay sighed.
Is it that important that I don’t know that you and Danny are together? Taylor thought. “Did I mention it was a ‘67 GTO?”
Lindsay sighed again. “I’m going to Riker’s.”
“What on earth is at Riker’s?” Taylor asked, pulling a face.
“Vackner,” Lindsay told her simply.
Taylor nodded and then shrugged. “Sure.”
* * *
“Lindsay, are you sure there’s nothing wrong,” Taylor asked a while later as they pulled up outside the prison. “You can tell me, you know. I’m good at keeping secrets.”
Lindsay looked searchingly at her. “I know. I know that there’s something you’re hiding back on now, more so with Flack, than with me. But I can’t tell you, like I can’t tell Danny, like you can’t tell Flack. I will, eventually. I’m just not ready.”
Lindsay got out of the car, leaving Taylor staring after her. “Is it that obvious?” she muttered to the empty seat next to her.
She was on her way back from prison, minus Lindsay who had insisted she would catch a cab back, when she pulled over. “If this was me, I’d kill me for doing this,” she complained to the cell phone she pulled out of her pocket. “But then again, I’d want someone to meet me.” She groaned. “How about having a conversation with a person other than yourself?” she muttered, dialling.
“Messer.”
“Hi Danny, it’s me.”
“Hey Taylor, what’s up?”
Taylor took a deep breath. “I think you need to come and pick Lindsay up.”
“Where are you guys?”
“I’m in the car, but Lindsay’s at Riker’s.”
“What the hell is Lindsay doing at Riker’s?”
“She’s after answers,” Taylor offered.
“Thanks Taylor. I’m leaving now.”
Unsure as to whether or not she had made the right decision, Taylor headed home. At the last minute before she pulled into her apartment’s underground parking, she changed her mind, heading for Flack’s. She parked up and headed for the door, hitting the buzzer.
“Hello?”
“Hey, it’s me.”
“Taylor? You alright?”
“Just wanted some company,” she told him, quietly.
Lindsay looked searchingly at her. “I know. I know that there’s something you’re hiding back on now, more so with Flack, than with me. But I can’t tell you, like I can’t tell Danny, like you can’t tell Flack. I will, eventually. I’m just not ready.”
Lindsay got out of the car, leaving Taylor staring after her. “Is it that obvious?” she muttered to the empty seat next to her.
She was on her way back from prison, minus Lindsay who had insisted she would catch a cab back, when she pulled over. “If this was me, I’d kill me for doing this,” she complained to the cell phone she pulled out of her pocket. “But then again, I’d want someone to meet me.” She groaned. “How about having a conversation with a person other than yourself?” she muttered, dialling.
“Messer.”
“Hi Danny, it’s me.”
“Hey Taylor, what’s up?”
Taylor took a deep breath. “I think you need to come and pick Lindsay up.”
“Where are you guys?”
“I’m in the car, but Lindsay’s at Riker’s.”
“What the hell is Lindsay doing at Riker’s?”
“She’s after answers,” Taylor offered.
“Thanks Taylor. I’m leaving now.”
Unsure as to whether or not she had made the right decision, Taylor headed home. At the last minute before she pulled into her apartment’s underground parking, she changed her mind, heading for Flack’s. She parked up and headed for the door, hitting the buzzer.
“Hello?”
“Hey, it’s me.”
“Taylor? You alright?”
“Just wanted some company,” she told him, quietly.
* * *
Danny stuck his hands deeper in his pockets, wondering if Taylor had been mistaken. And then he spotted her. She didn’t notice him and followed the few other people to the parking lot. “Lindsay!” he called.
Lindsay turned and froze. “Danny? What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same question,” he told her as he jogged over.
“Visiting Vackner,” Lindsay muttered before turning and starting to walk away.
“Hey,” Danny grabbed her shoulder. “Hey, hey, hey – what’s this about, Lindsay?”
“It’s nothing,” Lindsay told him, refusing to turn.
Danny stopped in front of her trying to catch her gaze. When she refused to meet it, he gently pushed her head upwards. “Talk to me, Linds.”
“I can’t,” Lindsay told him.
“Come on, Montana. You can tell me anything.”
“Montana?” Lindsay snapped, taking a step back, her eyes full of fire. “My name is Lindsay! Why is that such a hard idea for you to grasp?”
Danny held his hands up. “Whoa! Lindsay? What is the matter with you?”
“You wouldn’t understand,” she muttered, the anger leaving her.
“Try me,” he told her.
“I… I can’t.”
Danny exhaled softly. “What are you holding back on, Linds?”
“Nothing,” she told him, flatly.
“It’s not nothing,” Danny corrected her. “It’s the same thing that you’ve been hiding since you transferred here.”
“Don’t push me, Danny. It’s nothing,” Lindsay retorted through gritted teeth.
“I’m not trying to push you, Lindsay. But when you hide something, it doesn’t just affect you, it affects me too. It affects us. We’re in a relationship – that’s how it works.”
“Well maybe we shouldn’t be,” Lindsay told him, storming past him.
Danny watched her, stunned. Had she just broken up with him? “Lindsay!” he shouted, chasing after her. “What just-”
“You’re right, Danny. I’m sorry,” Lindsay told him, spinning around, tears filling her eyes. “I can’t tell you and it’s not fair to you. I can’t do this any longer.”
“Lindsay-”
“I’m sorry, Danny. I really am. But I can’t do this to you.” With a final sob, she practically broke into a run.
Danny watched her go, wondering what had just happened, and why he felt like someone had stuck their hands into his chest and ripped his heart out.
Lindsay turned and froze. “Danny? What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same question,” he told her as he jogged over.
“Visiting Vackner,” Lindsay muttered before turning and starting to walk away.
“Hey,” Danny grabbed her shoulder. “Hey, hey, hey – what’s this about, Lindsay?”
“It’s nothing,” Lindsay told him, refusing to turn.
Danny stopped in front of her trying to catch her gaze. When she refused to meet it, he gently pushed her head upwards. “Talk to me, Linds.”
“I can’t,” Lindsay told him.
“Come on, Montana. You can tell me anything.”
“Montana?” Lindsay snapped, taking a step back, her eyes full of fire. “My name is Lindsay! Why is that such a hard idea for you to grasp?”
Danny held his hands up. “Whoa! Lindsay? What is the matter with you?”
“You wouldn’t understand,” she muttered, the anger leaving her.
“Try me,” he told her.
“I… I can’t.”
Danny exhaled softly. “What are you holding back on, Linds?”
“Nothing,” she told him, flatly.
“It’s not nothing,” Danny corrected her. “It’s the same thing that you’ve been hiding since you transferred here.”
“Don’t push me, Danny. It’s nothing,” Lindsay retorted through gritted teeth.
“I’m not trying to push you, Lindsay. But when you hide something, it doesn’t just affect you, it affects me too. It affects us. We’re in a relationship – that’s how it works.”
“Well maybe we shouldn’t be,” Lindsay told him, storming past him.
Danny watched her, stunned. Had she just broken up with him? “Lindsay!” he shouted, chasing after her. “What just-”
“You’re right, Danny. I’m sorry,” Lindsay told him, spinning around, tears filling her eyes. “I can’t tell you and it’s not fair to you. I can’t do this any longer.”
“Lindsay-”
“I’m sorry, Danny. I really am. But I can’t do this to you.” With a final sob, she practically broke into a run.
Danny watched her go, wondering what had just happened, and why he felt like someone had stuck their hands into his chest and ripped his heart out.
Originally posted 05/08/2007