This chapter is dedicated to meadow567 who gave me the chapter title
Taylor stared numbly at the coffin in front of her as it was lowered into the dry dirt. A week later and she was still numb. After being patched up at the hospital, she had discharged herself and gone straight to the morgue and pulled open one of the lockers demanding to the body laying in front of her cough up its spirit so she could talk to it. But there had been no response.
She had never expected to have to deal with one of her friends being killed, but she had equally not expected the ghost of said friend to not appear when she wanted it to. As a result, she turned her back on both ghosts who had been to visit her, ignoring them, and telling them that she would continue to ignore the ghosts sent to her now. She never even got to say goodbye.
She glanced down the line of mourners. Everyone was there to say their own goodbyes. They’d all been friends. Marty, who had returned from his conference early the second he had heard what had happened, placed his hand on her shoulder.
Taylor shrugged him off. She wasn’t in any mood for sympathy right now, only answers. She turned around and left, ignoring the surprised glances she was receiving from everyone, including the priest, who was mid-prayer.
She went straight for exit and walked out of the cemetery, walking until she could hail a cab. When she did, she gave him directions to go to Maddy’s old apartment. She paid the driver and left heading straight for the deserted doors in front of her. Instead of entering the building, she leant against the tree in front of the building.
Taylor rested her head against the gnarly bark. “Maddy,” her whisper was lost in the wind. She sank to her knees and shut her eyes trying to fight back the many painful memories that she’d been trying to hide over past few days.
She wasn’t sure how long she had been sat on the pavement, nor was she aware that it had gone cold, not even that her legs were beginning to turn blue from being so cold. Despite it being midsummer, the night had a distinct chill to it. In fact, the only reason no-one had come up to her at this point, was probably the fact that very few people had walked past, and those that had ignored her like they would ignore the homeless which littered the street.
“Hey.” Taylor looked up, vaguely focusing on the blue eyes that were staring back at her, lined with concern. “Jesus, Taylor, you must be half frozen.”
Taylor gazed down at her legs, not really registering much. If she had been in her companions shoes, at this point, she would have said that she was in shock. Fortunately, her companion had already figured this out.
“Come on, let’s get you somewhere warm.” He gently pulled her to her feet, and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “You really are half frozen,” he muttered as he began to rub her arms and back. He quickly led her to his car and helped her in, before turning up the heat as far as it would go, and draping his own coat over her.
Taylor spent the entire journey looking like she was staring at the clock on the dashboard, but not once did the green numbers register in her mind. In fact, the entire journey didn’t really register. She was only vaguely aware of being led into an apartment complex, of the long elevator ride up, and into one of the apartments. She was led through the open plan living area and into a bedroom where she was led to the bed.
Taylor sat on the edge of his bed, allowing him to dress her in his spare sweatpants, extra socks and a few sweaters, before he manoeuvred her up beside him, under the covers, and wrapped his arms around her.
Finally, Taylor began to cry. He didn’t say anything, he just held her tightly, stroking her hair, until she fell asleep on him.
She had never expected to have to deal with one of her friends being killed, but she had equally not expected the ghost of said friend to not appear when she wanted it to. As a result, she turned her back on both ghosts who had been to visit her, ignoring them, and telling them that she would continue to ignore the ghosts sent to her now. She never even got to say goodbye.
She glanced down the line of mourners. Everyone was there to say their own goodbyes. They’d all been friends. Marty, who had returned from his conference early the second he had heard what had happened, placed his hand on her shoulder.
Taylor shrugged him off. She wasn’t in any mood for sympathy right now, only answers. She turned around and left, ignoring the surprised glances she was receiving from everyone, including the priest, who was mid-prayer.
She went straight for exit and walked out of the cemetery, walking until she could hail a cab. When she did, she gave him directions to go to Maddy’s old apartment. She paid the driver and left heading straight for the deserted doors in front of her. Instead of entering the building, she leant against the tree in front of the building.
Taylor rested her head against the gnarly bark. “Maddy,” her whisper was lost in the wind. She sank to her knees and shut her eyes trying to fight back the many painful memories that she’d been trying to hide over past few days.
She wasn’t sure how long she had been sat on the pavement, nor was she aware that it had gone cold, not even that her legs were beginning to turn blue from being so cold. Despite it being midsummer, the night had a distinct chill to it. In fact, the only reason no-one had come up to her at this point, was probably the fact that very few people had walked past, and those that had ignored her like they would ignore the homeless which littered the street.
“Hey.” Taylor looked up, vaguely focusing on the blue eyes that were staring back at her, lined with concern. “Jesus, Taylor, you must be half frozen.”
Taylor gazed down at her legs, not really registering much. If she had been in her companions shoes, at this point, she would have said that she was in shock. Fortunately, her companion had already figured this out.
“Come on, let’s get you somewhere warm.” He gently pulled her to her feet, and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “You really are half frozen,” he muttered as he began to rub her arms and back. He quickly led her to his car and helped her in, before turning up the heat as far as it would go, and draping his own coat over her.
Taylor spent the entire journey looking like she was staring at the clock on the dashboard, but not once did the green numbers register in her mind. In fact, the entire journey didn’t really register. She was only vaguely aware of being led into an apartment complex, of the long elevator ride up, and into one of the apartments. She was led through the open plan living area and into a bedroom where she was led to the bed.
Taylor sat on the edge of his bed, allowing him to dress her in his spare sweatpants, extra socks and a few sweaters, before he manoeuvred her up beside him, under the covers, and wrapped his arms around her.
Finally, Taylor began to cry. He didn’t say anything, he just held her tightly, stroking her hair, until she fell asleep on him.
* * *
Taylor looked up as the blood began to drip into her face, mixing with her tears and Pete’s blood which had been splattered on her only minutes earlier. Her eyes focused on the knife which was now protruding from Flack’s upper arm.
As Flack’s eyes went from the knife to meet hers, a small “o” of surprise on his lips, shots rang off from the entrance to the alleyway. All four of them flew millimetres above her to hit Pete and he slumped back to the ground. This time, he wasn’t getting up.
Flack continued to stare at Taylor as Stella, Danny and Lindsay dashed over, followed by Sheldon and a good half a dozen uniforms. She could hear shouts for medical back-up, but she wasn’t sure who was shouting, as Flack was pulled off her by Sheldon who turned doctor in an instant, inspecting the wound.
Taylor could see Stella’s beautiful face hovering above hers as it slowly went fuzzy, and then black.
She awoke in a hospital some time later, with her arm tightly wrapped up in bright white bandages, her feet in fresh white bandages, and a drip in her arm. Ignoring the doctor’s protests, she demanded that the drip be removed and then discharged herself AMA.
Her first trip was to find Flack. Visiting hours were long over and he was lying fast asleep in his bed, his arm bandaged in a similar place. The doctor refused to release too much information, but the gist of it was that he would be alright. The knife had missed all major muscles and only nicked a minor artery – he would be back at work tomorrow.
She gave him one last look before leaving the hospital and flagging a cab down. The Morgue was dead, no pun intended, when she arrived. The CSIs on duty were clearly having a slow night, and Sid, or any other ME, for that matter, were nowhere in sight.
Taylor headed over to the metal crypts and read the labels looking for the desired door. She found it and pulled it out, staring at the body that lay upon it.
She pulled up a stool and sat there, staring at the body for the longest time, waiting for the ghost of Maddy to appear. When she didn’t, her anger began to boil. “Maddy!” She shouted at the empty room, “Maddy!”
“Taylor?”
Taylor whirled around at the voice, but instead of finding the image of Maddy, she found a very solid Marty, bags at his feet. “Marty?” she questioned, choking back a sob. “What are you doing here?”
“I was given a heads-up and caught the first flight back.”
“But why are you here?” she asked gesturing to the morgue
Marty walked over to her. “Sixth sense,” he shrugged, before wrapping his arms around her. “Come on, Taylor, let’s get you home.”
Taylor shook her head, pulling away, “No, Marty. Not yet.”
Marty sighed, “Taylor, she’s gone,” he told her gently.
“No, her ghost came to me, Marty. When she died. She has to come back to me one last time – to say goodbye.”
“What if that was her goodbye?” Marty suggested softly.
“No,” Taylor disagreed, “Maddy wouldn’t say goodbye like that. We’re too close, and we’ve been through too much.”
“Well then, don’t you think that Maddy would rather say goodbye somewhere other than a morgue?” he suggested.
Taylor thought about it, and reluctantly allowed Marty to take her home, where she waited patiently for Maddy to turn up. As she awoke – well, she had stopped sleeping, making sure she stayed awake, just in case – on the morning of the funeral, she knew that she wouldn’t be coming.
As Flack’s eyes went from the knife to meet hers, a small “o” of surprise on his lips, shots rang off from the entrance to the alleyway. All four of them flew millimetres above her to hit Pete and he slumped back to the ground. This time, he wasn’t getting up.
Flack continued to stare at Taylor as Stella, Danny and Lindsay dashed over, followed by Sheldon and a good half a dozen uniforms. She could hear shouts for medical back-up, but she wasn’t sure who was shouting, as Flack was pulled off her by Sheldon who turned doctor in an instant, inspecting the wound.
Taylor could see Stella’s beautiful face hovering above hers as it slowly went fuzzy, and then black.
She awoke in a hospital some time later, with her arm tightly wrapped up in bright white bandages, her feet in fresh white bandages, and a drip in her arm. Ignoring the doctor’s protests, she demanded that the drip be removed and then discharged herself AMA.
Her first trip was to find Flack. Visiting hours were long over and he was lying fast asleep in his bed, his arm bandaged in a similar place. The doctor refused to release too much information, but the gist of it was that he would be alright. The knife had missed all major muscles and only nicked a minor artery – he would be back at work tomorrow.
She gave him one last look before leaving the hospital and flagging a cab down. The Morgue was dead, no pun intended, when she arrived. The CSIs on duty were clearly having a slow night, and Sid, or any other ME, for that matter, were nowhere in sight.
Taylor headed over to the metal crypts and read the labels looking for the desired door. She found it and pulled it out, staring at the body that lay upon it.
She pulled up a stool and sat there, staring at the body for the longest time, waiting for the ghost of Maddy to appear. When she didn’t, her anger began to boil. “Maddy!” She shouted at the empty room, “Maddy!”
“Taylor?”
Taylor whirled around at the voice, but instead of finding the image of Maddy, she found a very solid Marty, bags at his feet. “Marty?” she questioned, choking back a sob. “What are you doing here?”
“I was given a heads-up and caught the first flight back.”
“But why are you here?” she asked gesturing to the morgue
Marty walked over to her. “Sixth sense,” he shrugged, before wrapping his arms around her. “Come on, Taylor, let’s get you home.”
Taylor shook her head, pulling away, “No, Marty. Not yet.”
Marty sighed, “Taylor, she’s gone,” he told her gently.
“No, her ghost came to me, Marty. When she died. She has to come back to me one last time – to say goodbye.”
“What if that was her goodbye?” Marty suggested softly.
“No,” Taylor disagreed, “Maddy wouldn’t say goodbye like that. We’re too close, and we’ve been through too much.”
“Well then, don’t you think that Maddy would rather say goodbye somewhere other than a morgue?” he suggested.
Taylor thought about it, and reluctantly allowed Marty to take her home, where she waited patiently for Maddy to turn up. As she awoke – well, she had stopped sleeping, making sure she stayed awake, just in case – on the morning of the funeral, she knew that she wouldn’t be coming.
* * *
Taylor awoke a few hours later with a start, and looked around. At first, she didn’t remember where she was, or whose arms she was in. She looked up, thankfully not disturbing the man whose chest she was resting against.
She carefully pulled herself out of his grasp without waking him and walked into the kitchen, rolling the sleeves on the large sweatshirt up, so she could pour herself a glass of water. Why she had chosen to dream about that was beyond her.
“Hi Taylor.”
Taylor spun around to find Maddy in front of her. Pushing the strange sense of déjà vu out of her head, she set the mug down before she dropped it.
“Maddy!”
“In the flesh… well, something like that?” Maddy offered with a sheepish grin.
“It’s not funny, Maddy,” she said, trying to glare at her friend, but failing miserably – she was too happy. Her face fell when she realised why she was there. “So this is goodbye, then?”
“Actually, no,” Maddy told her.
Taylor frowned, “Is it my time?”
Maddy laughed, “Far from it.”
“Well then, what do you mean?” Taylor asked her.
“I got a new job.” Taylor was completely lost. “I’m not a supply teacher anymore. I’m still a kind of teacher though.”
“I don’t understand,” Taylor told her, shaking her head.
“The Powers That Be, listened to your plea,” she chuckled. “Look at that, maybe I should have dabbled in poetry when I was alive.”
“Hang on,” Taylor cut her off, “What are you talking about?”
“You asked, on more than one occasion, for the spirits that visit you to have someone with them whilst you help them – so they’re not alone,” Maddy reminded her.
“And?” This wasn’t making much sense to Taylor, at this point.
“And, that someone is now me.” Maddy threw her arms in the air. “Ta-da!”
“I didn’t ask that for you to die. I take it back!” Taylor cried, tears threatening to appear again.
Maddy smiled patiently. “Taylor, it was my time to die regardless of what you asked them. Their thank you to you was to allow me to be the one that helps.”
“But I-” Taylor started to object.
Maddy shook her head and cut her off. “It wasn’t your fault, in any way, shape, or form. Everyone has to die,” she laughed. “Death is a hereditary disease, after all.”
“That’s not funny,” Taylor repeated, biting back the tears.
Maddy sighed. “I know. Look, there’s a lot more going off in this life that you, or I know about. My death was all part of a plan in the great scheme of things.”
“And what would that be?” Taylor demanded.
Maddy shrugged, “Life.”
“Life?” Taylor repeated in disbelief.
“Look, I haven’t been dead long enough to know what the plan is with life. I’m not sure I will ever be dead long enough. But what I am here to tell you is that, even though I am dead, I’m not gone. We made a pact in high school that we would be friends to the end. Well guess what, Taylor. This isn’t the end. There’s still a hell of a lot more to come, and from what I can gather, it’s not going to get that much easier.”
“Why me?” Taylor asked her.
“Why me?” Maddy threw back at her. “I’ve told you, I’ve not been dead long enough to have any answers yet. Give me some time.”
Taylor thought about it, growing hopeful. “So, I’m going to be able to see you?”
“Well, you won’t be able to call around for a chat and a glass of wine like we used to before Pete, but I can pop in occasionally, when I’m not working,” Maddy told her brightly. “Plus I’ll be able to help you on cases. That should be fun. I might be around a lot more if you work with that Sheldon.”
Even though she was crying, Taylor managed to laugh. “You always fall for the decent guy when it’s too late.”
“What? You think he might object to dating a dead girl?” Maddy asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
“I think the lack of body might be an issue,” Taylor agreed, unable to keep the smile from her face.
Maddy smiled back. “That’s better. Don’t stop smiling, Taylor.”
Taylor’s smile broke, “But-”
“Ah, no buts. I’m not here, but I’m not gone. Remember, la muerte es sólo el principio.”
“Death is only the beginning?” Taylor quickly translated.
Maddy nodded. “Now, I have to go. I have training to complete before I can do anything. Would you believe it,” she scoffed. “I’m dead, yet I still have to go get an education. I thought we finished with that.” She smiled, “I love you.”
Taylor smiled back, “I love you.”
“Um…. Alright…” Taylor whirled around and found Flack behind her looking, well, petrified sprang to mind.
“No,” she said quickly, “I was talking to Maddy.” She turned back to the ghost, but she was gone.
“Taylor,” Flack paused, wondering how tactful it would be to say that there were no such things as ghosts. Deciding against it he opted for something else. “You can have my bed. I’ll take the couch.”
Taylor looked at him and sighed, “We’ve shared a bed before, we can do it again. It’s got to be more comfortable that the couch.”
Flack nodded. He wasn’t particularly wanting to root out a blanket and pillow.
She carefully pulled herself out of his grasp without waking him and walked into the kitchen, rolling the sleeves on the large sweatshirt up, so she could pour herself a glass of water. Why she had chosen to dream about that was beyond her.
“Hi Taylor.”
Taylor spun around to find Maddy in front of her. Pushing the strange sense of déjà vu out of her head, she set the mug down before she dropped it.
“Maddy!”
“In the flesh… well, something like that?” Maddy offered with a sheepish grin.
“It’s not funny, Maddy,” she said, trying to glare at her friend, but failing miserably – she was too happy. Her face fell when she realised why she was there. “So this is goodbye, then?”
“Actually, no,” Maddy told her.
Taylor frowned, “Is it my time?”
Maddy laughed, “Far from it.”
“Well then, what do you mean?” Taylor asked her.
“I got a new job.” Taylor was completely lost. “I’m not a supply teacher anymore. I’m still a kind of teacher though.”
“I don’t understand,” Taylor told her, shaking her head.
“The Powers That Be, listened to your plea,” she chuckled. “Look at that, maybe I should have dabbled in poetry when I was alive.”
“Hang on,” Taylor cut her off, “What are you talking about?”
“You asked, on more than one occasion, for the spirits that visit you to have someone with them whilst you help them – so they’re not alone,” Maddy reminded her.
“And?” This wasn’t making much sense to Taylor, at this point.
“And, that someone is now me.” Maddy threw her arms in the air. “Ta-da!”
“I didn’t ask that for you to die. I take it back!” Taylor cried, tears threatening to appear again.
Maddy smiled patiently. “Taylor, it was my time to die regardless of what you asked them. Their thank you to you was to allow me to be the one that helps.”
“But I-” Taylor started to object.
Maddy shook her head and cut her off. “It wasn’t your fault, in any way, shape, or form. Everyone has to die,” she laughed. “Death is a hereditary disease, after all.”
“That’s not funny,” Taylor repeated, biting back the tears.
Maddy sighed. “I know. Look, there’s a lot more going off in this life that you, or I know about. My death was all part of a plan in the great scheme of things.”
“And what would that be?” Taylor demanded.
Maddy shrugged, “Life.”
“Life?” Taylor repeated in disbelief.
“Look, I haven’t been dead long enough to know what the plan is with life. I’m not sure I will ever be dead long enough. But what I am here to tell you is that, even though I am dead, I’m not gone. We made a pact in high school that we would be friends to the end. Well guess what, Taylor. This isn’t the end. There’s still a hell of a lot more to come, and from what I can gather, it’s not going to get that much easier.”
“Why me?” Taylor asked her.
“Why me?” Maddy threw back at her. “I’ve told you, I’ve not been dead long enough to have any answers yet. Give me some time.”
Taylor thought about it, growing hopeful. “So, I’m going to be able to see you?”
“Well, you won’t be able to call around for a chat and a glass of wine like we used to before Pete, but I can pop in occasionally, when I’m not working,” Maddy told her brightly. “Plus I’ll be able to help you on cases. That should be fun. I might be around a lot more if you work with that Sheldon.”
Even though she was crying, Taylor managed to laugh. “You always fall for the decent guy when it’s too late.”
“What? You think he might object to dating a dead girl?” Maddy asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
“I think the lack of body might be an issue,” Taylor agreed, unable to keep the smile from her face.
Maddy smiled back. “That’s better. Don’t stop smiling, Taylor.”
Taylor’s smile broke, “But-”
“Ah, no buts. I’m not here, but I’m not gone. Remember, la muerte es sólo el principio.”
“Death is only the beginning?” Taylor quickly translated.
Maddy nodded. “Now, I have to go. I have training to complete before I can do anything. Would you believe it,” she scoffed. “I’m dead, yet I still have to go get an education. I thought we finished with that.” She smiled, “I love you.”
Taylor smiled back, “I love you.”
“Um…. Alright…” Taylor whirled around and found Flack behind her looking, well, petrified sprang to mind.
“No,” she said quickly, “I was talking to Maddy.” She turned back to the ghost, but she was gone.
“Taylor,” Flack paused, wondering how tactful it would be to say that there were no such things as ghosts. Deciding against it he opted for something else. “You can have my bed. I’ll take the couch.”
Taylor looked at him and sighed, “We’ve shared a bed before, we can do it again. It’s got to be more comfortable that the couch.”
Flack nodded. He wasn’t particularly wanting to root out a blanket and pillow.
Originally posted: 09/06/2006