The seven of them had finally been coaxed out of the water by the tempting smells originating from the open grill, and were hovering around, bugging Mac. “Is it ready yet?” Danny asked, for what had to be the eighth time in as many minutes.
“Daniel Messer, I bet you drove your mother mad, didn’t you,” laughed Stella. She turned to the barbeque and started poking one of the fat sausages on it.
“Stella, you are just as bad as Danny,” moaned Mac, smacking her hand away. “It will be ready when it’s ready.”
Taylor laughed at the two – they were like an old married couple sometimes – and danced over to the stereo.
“Whatcha putting on now?” Marty asked. “Something equally as dreadful as the last half hour?”
“Yup,” she replied, hitting play. The opening chords to Kenny Loggins' Footloose came blasting out. Taylor watched as Lindsay’s eyes widened in delight, meeting hers through the smoke. Within seconds, she was at Taylor’s side and the two of them were dancing to the song. Stella looked up, and watched the two for a few seconds before bounding over to join in.
“How does this go?” asked Sheldon, standing next to Lindsay. It wasn’t long before he got the idea and was dancing away with them.
“You know,” said Danny to Flack and Marty. “One day, we’re going to get roped into this.”
“Cheesy music growing on you, Messer?” Marty asked.
“You were the one singing along to it earlier,” quipped Danny. He turned to Flack who was stood watching the girls dancing. “Hey, Donny-boy, what’s up?”
“I think if we found a foam party, I’ll dance to the cheese.”
Marty and Danny looked at each other and laughed, “I’ll agree with you on that one.”
“Food’s ready!” Mac shouted.
“Daniel Messer, I bet you drove your mother mad, didn’t you,” laughed Stella. She turned to the barbeque and started poking one of the fat sausages on it.
“Stella, you are just as bad as Danny,” moaned Mac, smacking her hand away. “It will be ready when it’s ready.”
Taylor laughed at the two – they were like an old married couple sometimes – and danced over to the stereo.
“Whatcha putting on now?” Marty asked. “Something equally as dreadful as the last half hour?”
“Yup,” she replied, hitting play. The opening chords to Kenny Loggins' Footloose came blasting out. Taylor watched as Lindsay’s eyes widened in delight, meeting hers through the smoke. Within seconds, she was at Taylor’s side and the two of them were dancing to the song. Stella looked up, and watched the two for a few seconds before bounding over to join in.
“How does this go?” asked Sheldon, standing next to Lindsay. It wasn’t long before he got the idea and was dancing away with them.
“You know,” said Danny to Flack and Marty. “One day, we’re going to get roped into this.”
“Cheesy music growing on you, Messer?” Marty asked.
“You were the one singing along to it earlier,” quipped Danny. He turned to Flack who was stood watching the girls dancing. “Hey, Donny-boy, what’s up?”
“I think if we found a foam party, I’ll dance to the cheese.”
Marty and Danny looked at each other and laughed, “I’ll agree with you on that one.”
“Food’s ready!” Mac shouted.
* * *
“You are definitely cooking again, Mac,” muttered Taylor. They had all finished eating a while ago and had dropped onto the towels to sunbathe, none of them feeling the urge to do anything more.
“I second that,” said Flack.
“You should taste his pot roast,” muttered Stella.
All of a sudden, Marty leapt to his feet, swearing loudly.
“What’s the matter?” Danny asked.
“Work. I couldn’t get the night off, and now I’m going to be late.” He took off running for his car, shouting a hurried goodbye over his shoulder.
“He’s going to have a cramp,” said Taylor as she arched her back and rolled onto her stomach.
“You should put some sun cream on,” Stella told her.
“You wanna help me out on that?” Taylor asked, lazily.
“Sure,” she agreed, reaching for the sun cream. She barely had her hands on it when an obnoxious beeping noise began to emit from somewhere. Mac shifted and pulled out his pager from his pocket. “Looks like that’s my afternoon over,” he told them, getting to his feet. “I’m on call, and they have a 419 in Central Park.”
“Five… four… three… two…” where one should have been, there was another obnoxious beep. “Guess that’s my cue, too,” Stella muttered, flinging the sun cream at Flack. “It’s been great, guys, and I’ll see you all on Monday.” The two senior CSIs disappeared leaving the other five on the beach.
“Are you going to stare at that tube, or do you want me to do it?” Danny asked, prodding his friend.
“Huh, oh, yeah,” said Flack, squeezing the cream out and rubbing it into Taylor’s back. Once finished, he wiped the cream off on his sides and lay back down.
“Is it wrong that I don’t want to move from this spot,” Lindsay asked sleepily.
“You like New York, Montana?”
Lindsay, who was lying next to him, smacked Danny on his stomach. “It’s Lindsay, Messer,” she growled.
On the other side of him, Taylor burst out laughing. “For a criminalist, you have a dreadful memory, Danny.”
“Shut up,” Drew. She likes it,” he told her, giving her a prod.
“Hey, guys,” interrupted Flack. “Hawkes is asleep.”
Taylor watched as Danny shot upright, a mischievous grin on his face.
“What are you scheming, Messer,” Lindsay asked him.
Danny just wiggled his eyebrows at her and headed for the cooler, pulling out a handful of ice.
“Danny, he is going to kill you,” Taylor warned him, trying to hide her own smile.
Danny just grinned at her and nodded at Flack, who very slowly, raised the elastic to his shorts. Danny crept over and in a quick movement, threw the ice in his shorts.
Hawkes was on his feet in a flash, shouting out in surprise. Danny felt to the floor in laugher. Once the ice was gone, Sheldon looked from Danny to Flack, who was also laughing hard, without saying or doing anything – just a smug luck on his face.
Danny slowly stopped laughing. “What?” he asked the ex-ME suspiciously.
Sheldon smiled. “Don’t worry. I’m going to have my revenge on you two.”
“I’ll be waiting,” Danny told him, settling back down next to Lindsay.
Lindsay propped herself up and looked over at Taylor. “The lab is going to be like a preschool, isn’t it?”
Taylor nodded, “I’m suddenly grateful that I don’t have to work there.”
“I second that,” said Flack.
“You should taste his pot roast,” muttered Stella.
All of a sudden, Marty leapt to his feet, swearing loudly.
“What’s the matter?” Danny asked.
“Work. I couldn’t get the night off, and now I’m going to be late.” He took off running for his car, shouting a hurried goodbye over his shoulder.
“He’s going to have a cramp,” said Taylor as she arched her back and rolled onto her stomach.
“You should put some sun cream on,” Stella told her.
“You wanna help me out on that?” Taylor asked, lazily.
“Sure,” she agreed, reaching for the sun cream. She barely had her hands on it when an obnoxious beeping noise began to emit from somewhere. Mac shifted and pulled out his pager from his pocket. “Looks like that’s my afternoon over,” he told them, getting to his feet. “I’m on call, and they have a 419 in Central Park.”
“Five… four… three… two…” where one should have been, there was another obnoxious beep. “Guess that’s my cue, too,” Stella muttered, flinging the sun cream at Flack. “It’s been great, guys, and I’ll see you all on Monday.” The two senior CSIs disappeared leaving the other five on the beach.
“Are you going to stare at that tube, or do you want me to do it?” Danny asked, prodding his friend.
“Huh, oh, yeah,” said Flack, squeezing the cream out and rubbing it into Taylor’s back. Once finished, he wiped the cream off on his sides and lay back down.
“Is it wrong that I don’t want to move from this spot,” Lindsay asked sleepily.
“You like New York, Montana?”
Lindsay, who was lying next to him, smacked Danny on his stomach. “It’s Lindsay, Messer,” she growled.
On the other side of him, Taylor burst out laughing. “For a criminalist, you have a dreadful memory, Danny.”
“Shut up,” Drew. She likes it,” he told her, giving her a prod.
“Hey, guys,” interrupted Flack. “Hawkes is asleep.”
Taylor watched as Danny shot upright, a mischievous grin on his face.
“What are you scheming, Messer,” Lindsay asked him.
Danny just wiggled his eyebrows at her and headed for the cooler, pulling out a handful of ice.
“Danny, he is going to kill you,” Taylor warned him, trying to hide her own smile.
Danny just grinned at her and nodded at Flack, who very slowly, raised the elastic to his shorts. Danny crept over and in a quick movement, threw the ice in his shorts.
Hawkes was on his feet in a flash, shouting out in surprise. Danny felt to the floor in laugher. Once the ice was gone, Sheldon looked from Danny to Flack, who was also laughing hard, without saying or doing anything – just a smug luck on his face.
Danny slowly stopped laughing. “What?” he asked the ex-ME suspiciously.
Sheldon smiled. “Don’t worry. I’m going to have my revenge on you two.”
“I’ll be waiting,” Danny told him, settling back down next to Lindsay.
Lindsay propped herself up and looked over at Taylor. “The lab is going to be like a preschool, isn’t it?”
Taylor nodded, “I’m suddenly grateful that I don’t have to work there.”
* * *
An hour later, and everyone was asleep, not waking until the heavens opened up on them with a flash of lightning, and a crash of thunder. Taylor, who had been having a very interesting dream about oranges, elephants, and Danny and Flack in a horse costume, leapt to her feet with a scream. Around her, the others were whipping their towels from under them and using them as makeshift umbrellas.
Taylor stood there, watching them dash for the cover of the car, grabbing the stereo on the way. Instead of joining them, she tipped her head back and allowed the heavy raindrops to fall on her face.
“Drew? What are you doing?” Danny shouted at her. Taylor looked at him, grinned, and stuck her arms out to spin around in the rain. Within minutes, she was completely drenched. Finally, she picked her towel and other belongings up and skipped over to the car. “You are actually crazy, aren’t you?” asked Danny, staring at the dripping woman.
“Aw, come on, Danny,” she said, grinning. “When was the last time you danced in the rain?”
“When I was four,” he retorted, dryly.
“Well thirty years is a long time to go before doing it again.”
Danny’s mouth dropped open, “Taylor, I am not thirty four years old!”
“Well you may as well be. Don’t be a bore!” She turned to the others, “Seriously, how many opportunities do you get to do this?”
“Taylor, no one is getting out of this car… Montana!” Lindsay had jumped out of the car and joined Taylor and the two of them were spinning around and laughing in the rain.
“I’m beginning to think crazy was an understatement,” Danny muttered.
“Well Lindsay is just as bad, then,” Hawkes commented, smiling at the two women’s behaviour.
“Give it a month and Montana will be seeing ghosts, too.”
“Messer, there are no such things as ghosts,” Flack groaned.
Danny, who was sat in the driver’s seat of his SUV turned around to look at Flack, who was sat behind Hawkes. “You’re just looking for an excuse not to ask her out.”
“Says the guy crushing on Monroe,” Flack scoffed.
“So you do like her?” Danny said, leaping on the lack of denial.
“You don’t seem to be in any hurry to deny it yourself, Messer,” Flack retorted, pointing accusingly at his friend.
“You guys are pathetic. Really, at this rate, New Orleans will have rebuilt its levees before you two make a move,” Hawkes muttered.
“You are so right,” agreed Maddy, who had been sat in the car with them – unnoticed until then, and continued to be unnoticed. Well, nearly.
Flack couldn’t stop a shiver running down his spine. “Turn up the heat, Messer. It’s cold back here – you’re killing me with that ac.”
“Flack, the ac isn’t on.”
Taylor stood there, watching them dash for the cover of the car, grabbing the stereo on the way. Instead of joining them, she tipped her head back and allowed the heavy raindrops to fall on her face.
“Drew? What are you doing?” Danny shouted at her. Taylor looked at him, grinned, and stuck her arms out to spin around in the rain. Within minutes, she was completely drenched. Finally, she picked her towel and other belongings up and skipped over to the car. “You are actually crazy, aren’t you?” asked Danny, staring at the dripping woman.
“Aw, come on, Danny,” she said, grinning. “When was the last time you danced in the rain?”
“When I was four,” he retorted, dryly.
“Well thirty years is a long time to go before doing it again.”
Danny’s mouth dropped open, “Taylor, I am not thirty four years old!”
“Well you may as well be. Don’t be a bore!” She turned to the others, “Seriously, how many opportunities do you get to do this?”
“Taylor, no one is getting out of this car… Montana!” Lindsay had jumped out of the car and joined Taylor and the two of them were spinning around and laughing in the rain.
“I’m beginning to think crazy was an understatement,” Danny muttered.
“Well Lindsay is just as bad, then,” Hawkes commented, smiling at the two women’s behaviour.
“Give it a month and Montana will be seeing ghosts, too.”
“Messer, there are no such things as ghosts,” Flack groaned.
Danny, who was sat in the driver’s seat of his SUV turned around to look at Flack, who was sat behind Hawkes. “You’re just looking for an excuse not to ask her out.”
“Says the guy crushing on Monroe,” Flack scoffed.
“So you do like her?” Danny said, leaping on the lack of denial.
“You don’t seem to be in any hurry to deny it yourself, Messer,” Flack retorted, pointing accusingly at his friend.
“You guys are pathetic. Really, at this rate, New Orleans will have rebuilt its levees before you two make a move,” Hawkes muttered.
“You are so right,” agreed Maddy, who had been sat in the car with them – unnoticed until then, and continued to be unnoticed. Well, nearly.
Flack couldn’t stop a shiver running down his spine. “Turn up the heat, Messer. It’s cold back here – you’re killing me with that ac.”
“Flack, the ac isn’t on.”
* * *
“When you two end up with a cold tomorrow, don’t come looking for me for sympathy, because you won’t get none,” Danny said, eyeing Lindsay and Taylor in his rear view mirror.
“Won’t get any, Danny,” Taylor corrected. “You’re implying we will get sympathy when you say we won’t get none.”
Lindsay gazed out of the window. “Darn rain. I was enjoying myself.”
“Why don’t you all come back to mine, and we can watch a movie again,” Taylor offered.
“Sounds like a plan,” agreed Sheldon.
Lindsay nodded. “We can pick up some takeaway on the way back.”
“Jeeze, Montana!” Danny exclaimed. “Are you hungry already? We’ve only just had Mac’s feast.”
“It’s Lind-”
“Messer, are we going to sit around in the parking lot all day, or are you going to drive?” Flack asked impatiently.
It took a lot longer to get to Taylor’s apartment than it did to get to the beach, what with the heavy traffic, torrential downpour, Sheldon and Danny arguing over what radio station they wanted, and of course, waiting for Lindsay to come out with a few pizzas. It was her suggestion, thus she had to order and collect. Finally, they were all settled in the living room tucking into pizza (Danny a good slice ahead, despite his earlier comments) and trying to decide what watch.
In the end, it was Danny, who after being shouted at by Taylor to wipe his hands first, picked a DVD for them, before sitting back down on the couch with Lindsay and Flack. They had almost gotten to the end of the film when the TV turned itself off.
“Not funny, Maddy,” Taylor muttered as she crouched down in front of the television to turn it on, assuming her friend was still there. Outside there was a loud crash of thunder, and the lights flickered before the apartment plunged into darkness. “Great.” Taylor’s voice was loud because of the silence. “Just sit there, guys. I’m going to go check the fuses.” She headed into the kitchen, stumbling over Danny’s legs and the empty pizza boxes on the way. Using the dim light from her cell phone she rooted in the cupboard looking for a torch.
“What are you doing down there, Drew?” came Flack’s voice as she wrapped her fingers around what she was looking for.
Taylor jumped, smacking her head on the top of the cupboard. “This,” she told him, shining the light in his face whilst she rubbed her head. She moved the light to the closet. Before she could open it, arguing voices carried in from the living room.
“Come on, Linds! All I said was that I wouldn’t mind a new identity, sometimes.”
“Have you ever thought what it must be like to have a new identity, Danny? Those people give up everything,” Lindsay was arguing back.
Taylor looked at Flack, who shrugged. “Those two can argue over anything, sometimes,” he offered.
As Taylor opened her mouth to respond, Lindsay stormed through, “I’m sorry, Taylor, I should go.”
“Don’t let Danny bother you,” Taylor told her.
“It’s not that,” she sighed, “I just really should go. I’ll call you later.”
She made to leave, but Danny appeared and stopped her, “I’m sorry, Lindsay.”
Taylor was surprised – he must have really meant it as well, considering she didn’t think she ever heard him call her Lindsay before.
Lindsay sighed, “Look, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it Danny, it was stupid. But I really should be going.”
“Then I’m giving you a ride. I’m not letting you walk back by yourself, Montana.” Lindsay nodded and the two left.
“Are we going to be standing in the dark all night?” Flack asked impatiently, when Danny stuck his head back around the door.
“The whole building is in darkness, Taylor, so don’t even waste your time with the fuse box,” he told her, before leaving again.
“In answer to your question, it looks like it,” she sighed, sticking her head back in the cupboard and emerging seconds later holding a box of matches. In the living room, also trying to see his way around, was Sheldon, trying to tidy up for her. “Don’t bother, Sheldon,” she told him, lighting the candles which were dotted around the living room. As the room was lit with a soft glow of the candles, she turned back to the others, “I’ll tidy this up in real light.”
Another bolt of lightning lit up the room, illuminating the rain which was lashing against the window. “You guys may as well stay here,” she offered. “You can’t want to step outside in that.”
“Actually, I have no choice,” said Sheldon unhappily. “I have to be at work in a few hours.”
Taylor turned to Flack. He stared at her for a while then turned to Hawkes, “I’ll walk back with you.” Taylor let them out, and then got ready for bed.
“Won’t get any, Danny,” Taylor corrected. “You’re implying we will get sympathy when you say we won’t get none.”
Lindsay gazed out of the window. “Darn rain. I was enjoying myself.”
“Why don’t you all come back to mine, and we can watch a movie again,” Taylor offered.
“Sounds like a plan,” agreed Sheldon.
Lindsay nodded. “We can pick up some takeaway on the way back.”
“Jeeze, Montana!” Danny exclaimed. “Are you hungry already? We’ve only just had Mac’s feast.”
“It’s Lind-”
“Messer, are we going to sit around in the parking lot all day, or are you going to drive?” Flack asked impatiently.
It took a lot longer to get to Taylor’s apartment than it did to get to the beach, what with the heavy traffic, torrential downpour, Sheldon and Danny arguing over what radio station they wanted, and of course, waiting for Lindsay to come out with a few pizzas. It was her suggestion, thus she had to order and collect. Finally, they were all settled in the living room tucking into pizza (Danny a good slice ahead, despite his earlier comments) and trying to decide what watch.
In the end, it was Danny, who after being shouted at by Taylor to wipe his hands first, picked a DVD for them, before sitting back down on the couch with Lindsay and Flack. They had almost gotten to the end of the film when the TV turned itself off.
“Not funny, Maddy,” Taylor muttered as she crouched down in front of the television to turn it on, assuming her friend was still there. Outside there was a loud crash of thunder, and the lights flickered before the apartment plunged into darkness. “Great.” Taylor’s voice was loud because of the silence. “Just sit there, guys. I’m going to go check the fuses.” She headed into the kitchen, stumbling over Danny’s legs and the empty pizza boxes on the way. Using the dim light from her cell phone she rooted in the cupboard looking for a torch.
“What are you doing down there, Drew?” came Flack’s voice as she wrapped her fingers around what she was looking for.
Taylor jumped, smacking her head on the top of the cupboard. “This,” she told him, shining the light in his face whilst she rubbed her head. She moved the light to the closet. Before she could open it, arguing voices carried in from the living room.
“Come on, Linds! All I said was that I wouldn’t mind a new identity, sometimes.”
“Have you ever thought what it must be like to have a new identity, Danny? Those people give up everything,” Lindsay was arguing back.
Taylor looked at Flack, who shrugged. “Those two can argue over anything, sometimes,” he offered.
As Taylor opened her mouth to respond, Lindsay stormed through, “I’m sorry, Taylor, I should go.”
“Don’t let Danny bother you,” Taylor told her.
“It’s not that,” she sighed, “I just really should go. I’ll call you later.”
She made to leave, but Danny appeared and stopped her, “I’m sorry, Lindsay.”
Taylor was surprised – he must have really meant it as well, considering she didn’t think she ever heard him call her Lindsay before.
Lindsay sighed, “Look, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it Danny, it was stupid. But I really should be going.”
“Then I’m giving you a ride. I’m not letting you walk back by yourself, Montana.” Lindsay nodded and the two left.
“Are we going to be standing in the dark all night?” Flack asked impatiently, when Danny stuck his head back around the door.
“The whole building is in darkness, Taylor, so don’t even waste your time with the fuse box,” he told her, before leaving again.
“In answer to your question, it looks like it,” she sighed, sticking her head back in the cupboard and emerging seconds later holding a box of matches. In the living room, also trying to see his way around, was Sheldon, trying to tidy up for her. “Don’t bother, Sheldon,” she told him, lighting the candles which were dotted around the living room. As the room was lit with a soft glow of the candles, she turned back to the others, “I’ll tidy this up in real light.”
Another bolt of lightning lit up the room, illuminating the rain which was lashing against the window. “You guys may as well stay here,” she offered. “You can’t want to step outside in that.”
“Actually, I have no choice,” said Sheldon unhappily. “I have to be at work in a few hours.”
Taylor turned to Flack. He stared at her for a while then turned to Hawkes, “I’ll walk back with you.” Taylor let them out, and then got ready for bed.
Originally posted: 18/06/2006