Sheldon was having a whale of a time. He was sat at the large, round table with Mac, Danny, Marty and Flack, all of whom – well, not really Mac – were on their way to being… tipsy. They’d only been there for thirty minutes, but the place had an open bar, and when they had found that out, it had been a trip straight there to fill up their glasses. Currently, they were sat around chatting about sports – how the Yankees were doing that season.
“So where’s the woman of the hour?” asked Flack, suddenly changing the subject. “This is her party, isn’t it?”
“And why are you so anxious to know?” Danny asked him.
Flack rolled his eyes. “Don’t even go there, Messer.”
“They’re getting all dolled up,” said Marty. “Tay said something about designer dresses.”
Flack groaned. “Great, they’re going to be hours.”
“Seriously, Don. Why are you anxious to have Drew here?”
“I’m hungry,” Flack responded dryly. “And they’re not going to serve dinner until she turns up.”
“I think you’re in luck,” said Sheldon, pointing to the doorway. He had just spotted their female co-workers, the guest of honour, and Maddy. For the most part, the jaws of the men dropped to the table. The women all looked like the proverbial million dollars. Sheldon glanced over at his co-workers – they were all staring appreciatively – it was times like these that he wished he could read minds. It would most definitely have amused him.
Taylor spotted them and headed across the room towards them. Except when she got to the middle of the dance floor, the room erupted into a round of applause. Taylor grinned sheepishly, and held up a hand in thanks.
“Taylor! There you are,” Alex, her editor headed over towards her. “There are so many people I want you to meet.” He grabbed her by the hand and whisked her away before she could say anything to the others, only giving them a helpless look over her shoulder.
Maddy laughed and followed Lindsay and Stella to the table. “Hi, Marty,” she greeted her friend’s roommate, sitting down next to him.
“What’s up, Maddy. You’re not looking too bad, this evening,” he told her, eyeing her up in an appreciative, yet obvious manner.
Maddy licked her lips, returning the look. “You’re not looking too bad yourself, hot-stuff.”
“Where’s that boyfriend of yours,” he asked her suspiciously.
“He couldn’t make it,” she told him, before turning her attention to Danny, who was ogling over Lindsay. “Am I right in assuming that you’re Danny?”
Danny looked over at her. “That’s me.”
“And you’re Flack?” she asked the detective, who was staring at something behind her.
“Flack?” Danny nudged him in the ribs.
“Huh, yeah, hi,” he said, smiling at Maddy.
“You were at the hospital, weren’t you?” she asked him, quietly.
“Yeah,” he agreed. “Are you alright?”
Maddy nodded. “I’m fine – it was an accident anyway.”
Flack pursed his lips, but chose not to say anything.
Oblivious, Maddy leant over the table towards Danny and Flack. “So, as Taylor’s best friend, I feel it is my duty to tell you that since the age of fifteen, Taylor’s nickname has been Nancy Drew,” she informed them in a conspiratorial whisper.
Danny and Flack looked at each other and grinned. “That is the best ammunition I have ever had,” Danny told her.
“Taylor is going to kill you,” Lindsay muttered, leaning over.
“I know,” grinned Maddy.
Danny, who had been staring at Lindsay with awe since she joined them, finally decided to pay her a compliment. “Montana, you look… wow.”
“Smooth, Messer,” muttered Flack, as Lindsay smiled at him and turned her attention to Sheldon.
“So where’s the woman of the hour?” asked Flack, suddenly changing the subject. “This is her party, isn’t it?”
“And why are you so anxious to know?” Danny asked him.
Flack rolled his eyes. “Don’t even go there, Messer.”
“They’re getting all dolled up,” said Marty. “Tay said something about designer dresses.”
Flack groaned. “Great, they’re going to be hours.”
“Seriously, Don. Why are you anxious to have Drew here?”
“I’m hungry,” Flack responded dryly. “And they’re not going to serve dinner until she turns up.”
“I think you’re in luck,” said Sheldon, pointing to the doorway. He had just spotted their female co-workers, the guest of honour, and Maddy. For the most part, the jaws of the men dropped to the table. The women all looked like the proverbial million dollars. Sheldon glanced over at his co-workers – they were all staring appreciatively – it was times like these that he wished he could read minds. It would most definitely have amused him.
Taylor spotted them and headed across the room towards them. Except when she got to the middle of the dance floor, the room erupted into a round of applause. Taylor grinned sheepishly, and held up a hand in thanks.
“Taylor! There you are,” Alex, her editor headed over towards her. “There are so many people I want you to meet.” He grabbed her by the hand and whisked her away before she could say anything to the others, only giving them a helpless look over her shoulder.
Maddy laughed and followed Lindsay and Stella to the table. “Hi, Marty,” she greeted her friend’s roommate, sitting down next to him.
“What’s up, Maddy. You’re not looking too bad, this evening,” he told her, eyeing her up in an appreciative, yet obvious manner.
Maddy licked her lips, returning the look. “You’re not looking too bad yourself, hot-stuff.”
“Where’s that boyfriend of yours,” he asked her suspiciously.
“He couldn’t make it,” she told him, before turning her attention to Danny, who was ogling over Lindsay. “Am I right in assuming that you’re Danny?”
Danny looked over at her. “That’s me.”
“And you’re Flack?” she asked the detective, who was staring at something behind her.
“Flack?” Danny nudged him in the ribs.
“Huh, yeah, hi,” he said, smiling at Maddy.
“You were at the hospital, weren’t you?” she asked him, quietly.
“Yeah,” he agreed. “Are you alright?”
Maddy nodded. “I’m fine – it was an accident anyway.”
Flack pursed his lips, but chose not to say anything.
Oblivious, Maddy leant over the table towards Danny and Flack. “So, as Taylor’s best friend, I feel it is my duty to tell you that since the age of fifteen, Taylor’s nickname has been Nancy Drew,” she informed them in a conspiratorial whisper.
Danny and Flack looked at each other and grinned. “That is the best ammunition I have ever had,” Danny told her.
“Taylor is going to kill you,” Lindsay muttered, leaning over.
“I know,” grinned Maddy.
Danny, who had been staring at Lindsay with awe since she joined them, finally decided to pay her a compliment. “Montana, you look… wow.”
“Smooth, Messer,” muttered Flack, as Lindsay smiled at him and turned her attention to Sheldon.
* * *
Taylor smiled politely at the Mayor, hoping that he would let her get back to the others. Much as it was flattering that someone as important as the mayor wanted to talk to her, she was actually bored. And more importantly, she was hungry. Thankfully, she was saved by Alex. “I’m sorry to disturb you, but the kitchens are ready to serve the dinner.”
Taylor smiled gratefully at him, excused herself from the group and headed over to the table where the others were sat. She sat down – there had been a slight case of musical chairs since she had been gone – in between Maddy and Flack.
“You were gone ages,” complained Maddy.
Taylor rolled her eyes. “Fine you go talk to the Mayor next time. Just be thankful I managed to convince them to let me sit with you.”
“Why wouldn’t you – it’s your party.”
“Exactly,” Taylor muttered as the first course was laid in front of them - spicy stuffed golden mushrooms. (Extra large premium mushrooms stuffed with sautéed crab, mozzarella cheese, and coated with a spicy sesame seed breading before finally being fried). Taylor let out a moan of pleasure as she fed one into her mouth – she was starving. Flack glanced over at her and raised an eyebrow at her.
“Don’t look like that,” laughed Maddy, catching his look. “You’ve just spent the last half hour complaining about how hungry you are.”
Taylor stifled a laugh and returned her attention to the mushrooms. She really didn’t want to eat too much – there were six more course to come, but they were delicious.
“So, what exactly is the program of events?” Stella asked her from across the table.
“Not a clue,” said Taylor, as she took a mouthful of wine. “All I know is that I have to give a speech after dinner, which I am thrilled about,” she told her dryly.
The mushrooms were soon replaced with a soup – Spring Medley Chicken. It was just as good as the mushrooms, and Taylor and Flack were the first to finish. By the time it had gotten to the fifth course (they’d had a mixed baby green salad, garlic cheese bread, braised pork medallions in a creamy salsa red wine sauce), only Flack and Taylor were still eating. However, Flack won the eating competition – Taylor simply had no room to fit the chocolate mousse in.
“They really do love you, don’t they,” sighed Stella in contentment.
Taylor leant back and groaned. “Maybe a little too much,” she muttered, rubbing her belly.
Maddy laughed. “Algunas cosas no cambian.”
Taylor rolled her eyes, “Some things do, Mads.”
Maddy leant over. “Él tiene gusto de usted.”
Taylor glared at her. “Che cazzo stai dicendo?”
“Great,” muttered Flack. “I feel like I need a dictionary with me in the lab, and here I feel like I need a translator.”
“Well, Taylor is talking in Italian, and Maddy in Spanish,” Danny leant over and told him.
“I gathered that,” Flack muttered, as he watched the two women talk to each other in their own languages.
“I’m not exactly sure about Maddy, but Taylor is insulting someone.”
Flack scowled as Taylor switched seats with Maddy and started talking to Marty. Maddy turned her attention to her right and looked at Flack, who was both scowling, and looking confused. “Baile conmigo.”
“Huh?” he asked, blankly.
“Dance with me,” Maddy repeated in English. Flack shrugged and allowed Maddy to lead him to the dance floor. “You’re not bad,” Maddy told him after a while.
“You can thank my grandmother that. She imprinted on us that all good men should be able to dance.”
“You learnt to dance?” Maddy asked in disbelief.
“When I wasn’t playing basketball, yeah,” Flack nodded.
Taylor smiled gratefully at him, excused herself from the group and headed over to the table where the others were sat. She sat down – there had been a slight case of musical chairs since she had been gone – in between Maddy and Flack.
“You were gone ages,” complained Maddy.
Taylor rolled her eyes. “Fine you go talk to the Mayor next time. Just be thankful I managed to convince them to let me sit with you.”
“Why wouldn’t you – it’s your party.”
“Exactly,” Taylor muttered as the first course was laid in front of them - spicy stuffed golden mushrooms. (Extra large premium mushrooms stuffed with sautéed crab, mozzarella cheese, and coated with a spicy sesame seed breading before finally being fried). Taylor let out a moan of pleasure as she fed one into her mouth – she was starving. Flack glanced over at her and raised an eyebrow at her.
“Don’t look like that,” laughed Maddy, catching his look. “You’ve just spent the last half hour complaining about how hungry you are.”
Taylor stifled a laugh and returned her attention to the mushrooms. She really didn’t want to eat too much – there were six more course to come, but they were delicious.
“So, what exactly is the program of events?” Stella asked her from across the table.
“Not a clue,” said Taylor, as she took a mouthful of wine. “All I know is that I have to give a speech after dinner, which I am thrilled about,” she told her dryly.
The mushrooms were soon replaced with a soup – Spring Medley Chicken. It was just as good as the mushrooms, and Taylor and Flack were the first to finish. By the time it had gotten to the fifth course (they’d had a mixed baby green salad, garlic cheese bread, braised pork medallions in a creamy salsa red wine sauce), only Flack and Taylor were still eating. However, Flack won the eating competition – Taylor simply had no room to fit the chocolate mousse in.
“They really do love you, don’t they,” sighed Stella in contentment.
Taylor leant back and groaned. “Maybe a little too much,” she muttered, rubbing her belly.
Maddy laughed. “Algunas cosas no cambian.”
Taylor rolled her eyes, “Some things do, Mads.”
Maddy leant over. “Él tiene gusto de usted.”
Taylor glared at her. “Che cazzo stai dicendo?”
“Great,” muttered Flack. “I feel like I need a dictionary with me in the lab, and here I feel like I need a translator.”
“Well, Taylor is talking in Italian, and Maddy in Spanish,” Danny leant over and told him.
“I gathered that,” Flack muttered, as he watched the two women talk to each other in their own languages.
“I’m not exactly sure about Maddy, but Taylor is insulting someone.”
Flack scowled as Taylor switched seats with Maddy and started talking to Marty. Maddy turned her attention to her right and looked at Flack, who was both scowling, and looking confused. “Baile conmigo.”
“Huh?” he asked, blankly.
“Dance with me,” Maddy repeated in English. Flack shrugged and allowed Maddy to lead him to the dance floor. “You’re not bad,” Maddy told him after a while.
“You can thank my grandmother that. She imprinted on us that all good men should be able to dance.”
“You learnt to dance?” Maddy asked in disbelief.
“When I wasn’t playing basketball, yeah,” Flack nodded.
* * *
“Maddy and Flack look cosy,” Marty observed.
Taylor turned and watched the two – a pain twanged in her stomach.
“Are you alright?” Marty asked her, watching her movements.
Taylor smiled. “Yeah, I think I just ate too much.”
“You look really hot, you know?” he added with a grin.
Taylor laughed. “I don’t think hot was the word Gary was looking for, but thank you. Can I ask you something?” Taylor asked as the others left the table.
“Sure.”
“In all the times that you’ve been visited by ghosts, have they ever mentioned The Powers That Be?” Taylor asked him quietly, conscious of all the movement around them.
Marty frowned and shook his head. “Not that I can remember. Why?”
“The name keeps cropping up, and I get the feeling that what they have planned is not going to be good.” She sighed. “I was hoping that you would know something about them.”
“Why are you two looking so sombre?” laughed Maddy as she dragged Flack back to them. “It’s a party!” She grabbed Marty. “Your turn.”
Taylor watched Flack as he sat down next to her. “Is she always like that?” he asked her, watching her energy with amazement.
“You should be thankful she’s not single – she’s a nightmare when she’s looking for a boyfriend,” Taylor told him.
Flack turned his attention back to the black haired woman sat next to him. “She’s still with that boyfriend then?”
Taylor nodded sadly. “She thinks she loves him, and from what I can gather, he practically worships the ground she walks on. But he hit her, Flack. And I’m scared he’ll do it again.”
Flack looked at her, unsure as to what to say. Instead, he reached over and grabbed her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
Taylor turned and watched the two – a pain twanged in her stomach.
“Are you alright?” Marty asked her, watching her movements.
Taylor smiled. “Yeah, I think I just ate too much.”
“You look really hot, you know?” he added with a grin.
Taylor laughed. “I don’t think hot was the word Gary was looking for, but thank you. Can I ask you something?” Taylor asked as the others left the table.
“Sure.”
“In all the times that you’ve been visited by ghosts, have they ever mentioned The Powers That Be?” Taylor asked him quietly, conscious of all the movement around them.
Marty frowned and shook his head. “Not that I can remember. Why?”
“The name keeps cropping up, and I get the feeling that what they have planned is not going to be good.” She sighed. “I was hoping that you would know something about them.”
“Why are you two looking so sombre?” laughed Maddy as she dragged Flack back to them. “It’s a party!” She grabbed Marty. “Your turn.”
Taylor watched Flack as he sat down next to her. “Is she always like that?” he asked her, watching her energy with amazement.
“You should be thankful she’s not single – she’s a nightmare when she’s looking for a boyfriend,” Taylor told him.
Flack turned his attention back to the black haired woman sat next to him. “She’s still with that boyfriend then?”
Taylor nodded sadly. “She thinks she loves him, and from what I can gather, he practically worships the ground she walks on. But he hit her, Flack. And I’m scared he’ll do it again.”
Flack looked at her, unsure as to what to say. Instead, he reached over and grabbed her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
* * *
Maddy let out a squeal that Taylor could hear from the other side of the dance floor. Taylor had been chatting with Sheldon and Al, while Maddy had been dancing with Danny, when their song came on. When they were eighteen, the two of them had gone to Majorca for an ‘end-of-high school’ celebration, and the song of the week had been Los Del Rio’s Macarena – incredibly cheesy by all accounts, but they still knew the dance to it.
Maddy almost flew across the room to pull Taylor onto the dance floor, grinning like a Cheshire cat. Without Taylor even realising, Maddy had gone and grabbed Lindsay and Stella too, lining them up beside her, teaching them the dance. It didn’t take long for them to catch on, and soon the whole room was watching four women, dressed to the nines, laughing hysterically as they took over the dance floor.
One song changed into another, and the four women didn’t look like they wanted to go anywhere – even when, to Lindsay’s delight, the music changed to country – all four of them stayed out there, (with Lindsay teaching them the moves).
Danny glanced at Flack and Marty. “What happened to the women we know, and who are those impostors?”
Marty laughed, “I haven’t seen Taylor have so much fun in a long time.”
“Do they even realise that they’re the only people out there?” Flack asked, glancing around the room.
Danny shrugged. “They probably drank that much, they haven’t even noticed. The DJ’s loving them, though.” Danny, Flack, and Marty’s eyes suddenly widened in surprise. Even Danny’s mouth fell open. “Mac?!” exclaimed Danny in disbelief. Stella, who for the last eight songs had been waving madly at their boss, had finally convinced him to join them. He had no rhythm in him at all, but he actually looked like he was enjoying himself.
As the music changed to the Timewarp, even Hawkes went out and joined them. As he went out, several others from around the room made their way to the dance floor. The boys watched in both disbelief and amusement.
Laughing loudly, Taylor walked over to them. “Come on, boring boys – dance!” The three of them looked at each other, causing Taylor to laugh harder.
“Taylor?”
Taylor turned around to find Alex, once again, waiting for her. “Hey boss. What can I do for you on this fine and dandy evening?”
Alex smiled, “I see someone is enjoying themselves. It’s time for the mayor to present the award to you.”
Taylor frowned. “The mayor is presenting it?”
Alex nodded. “According to NCR he was happy to do so.”
Taylor turned back to the guys and smiled at them. “You’ve been saved. This time!”
Maddy almost flew across the room to pull Taylor onto the dance floor, grinning like a Cheshire cat. Without Taylor even realising, Maddy had gone and grabbed Lindsay and Stella too, lining them up beside her, teaching them the dance. It didn’t take long for them to catch on, and soon the whole room was watching four women, dressed to the nines, laughing hysterically as they took over the dance floor.
One song changed into another, and the four women didn’t look like they wanted to go anywhere – even when, to Lindsay’s delight, the music changed to country – all four of them stayed out there, (with Lindsay teaching them the moves).
Danny glanced at Flack and Marty. “What happened to the women we know, and who are those impostors?”
Marty laughed, “I haven’t seen Taylor have so much fun in a long time.”
“Do they even realise that they’re the only people out there?” Flack asked, glancing around the room.
Danny shrugged. “They probably drank that much, they haven’t even noticed. The DJ’s loving them, though.” Danny, Flack, and Marty’s eyes suddenly widened in surprise. Even Danny’s mouth fell open. “Mac?!” exclaimed Danny in disbelief. Stella, who for the last eight songs had been waving madly at their boss, had finally convinced him to join them. He had no rhythm in him at all, but he actually looked like he was enjoying himself.
As the music changed to the Timewarp, even Hawkes went out and joined them. As he went out, several others from around the room made their way to the dance floor. The boys watched in both disbelief and amusement.
Laughing loudly, Taylor walked over to them. “Come on, boring boys – dance!” The three of them looked at each other, causing Taylor to laugh harder.
“Taylor?”
Taylor turned around to find Alex, once again, waiting for her. “Hey boss. What can I do for you on this fine and dandy evening?”
Alex smiled, “I see someone is enjoying themselves. It’s time for the mayor to present the award to you.”
Taylor frowned. “The mayor is presenting it?”
Alex nodded. “According to NCR he was happy to do so.”
Taylor turned back to the guys and smiled at them. “You’ve been saved. This time!”
* * *
Taylor stood on the podium holding tightly to the golden, pen-shaped, award, looking out over the room. “Well, first of all, thank you. Five years ago, when I started at the New York Daily I certainly didn’t think that I would be stood here receiving this award. It’s been a thrilling time for me, and I certainly enjoyed writing this as much as it seems you guys enjoyed reading it. However, I think a large portion of this award belongs to Detective Mac Taylor and his team at the Crime Lab.” She pointed over to the table where a spotlight picked out Mac. She was about to continue when the light picked out a beautiful little black girl standing just behind him, clutching tightly to a teddy bear. “I… um…” Taylor stared intently at the child. And then it hit her – she was translucent, and she was dripping wet.
Taylor dropped the award, bringing her hand to her mouth. Dead bodies, blood and gore, were one thing… but a child? From all of the ghosts she’d encountered, the youngest had been about eighteen. But this one didn’t look any older than five – and that was pushing it.
Ignoring everyone who was beginning to whisper and point, Taylor fled from the stage, tears burning at her eyes as she ran out of the first door she came across.
Taylor dropped the award, bringing her hand to her mouth. Dead bodies, blood and gore, were one thing… but a child? From all of the ghosts she’d encountered, the youngest had been about eighteen. But this one didn’t look any older than five – and that was pushing it.
Ignoring everyone who was beginning to whisper and point, Taylor fled from the stage, tears burning at her eyes as she ran out of the first door she came across.
Originally posted: 03/06/2006