Spoilers for 2x20: Run Silent, Run Deep
Taylor was starting to worry. Danny was not sitting at a computer, like planned – not that she expected him to, really – but was pacing back and forth by the door, watching the rest of the lab working. With a sigh, Taylor turned the computer off. As the speakers blasted out the Windows closing down music, Danny turned and stared at her expectantly. “You and me,” said Taylor. “We’re going for coffee.”
“I’m not thirsty,” Danny told her hoarsely.
Taylor shrugged. “Well, I am, and I figure you owe me a cup. And not one of that dreadful stuff you CSIs seem to live off in the break room.”
“I owe you some, do I?” he asked her, knowing instantly why she was doing it.
“Yup, for not saying anything to Lindsay.” She walked over to him, clamped her hand over his and dragged him out of the door to the elevator. “Come on, let’s go give those lab techs something real to gossip about.” She closed her eyes and winced the second the words were out of her mouth.
Danny sighed, “I’m the topic of conversation around here, then.” He wasn’t asking.
Taylor dragged him into the elevator and hit the “G” button. “You always are, Danny,” she told him, trying to make light of the situation. “Looking like that, I’m not surprised, either.”
“Ah,” smirked Danny, playing along, “So you do have a thing for me.”
Taylor winked. “Well, I wouldn’t say no.”
“I knew it,” said Danny, leaning smugly against the wall. “No woman can resist me.”
“Actually,” clarified Taylor. “They can resist you, if you don’t tell them you like them.”
“And,” said Danny, darkly. “They would continue to resist me if I did.” He knew exactly who ‘they’ was, and it wasn’t more than one person. It was one specific one.
Taylor rolled her eyes at him, and, still clamped tightly to his hand, dragged him out of the elevator and into the ground level parking.
“What are we doing in the parking lot, Drew?”
Taylor dug her hands into her pocket and pulled out the car keys she had yet to hand back to Mac. “The keys to Mac’s brand-spanking new Crime Lab SUV,” she told him, using the keys to point to the brand new Avalanche at the back of the garage.
Danny whistled. “How did you managed to get them off Mac. He always told me that I wouldn’t even be able to pry them from his cold, dead fingers.”
Taylor grinned. “That’s because he’s been in a car with you.”
Danny swiped at her. “My driving is not that bad!”
“Danny, when I get in a car with you, I never know if it’s going to be Driving Miss Daisy, or The Fast And The Furious. You don’t have a middle,” she told him with a grin as she got in the driver’s seat. “You know,” she said, changing the subject as the pulled away, “I’ve never understood the guy who designed the Crime Lab. You have the morgue, underneath the parking lot, and the entrance on the second floor, instead of the first. Then you have a whole bunch of office in between.”
Danny shrugged. “Seems to be working fine.”
“I know,” said Taylor. “Only, if it were me, I would have put the parking lot underground, the morgue on the second floor – give it some windows, because lord knows it’s already depressing enough, and stuck the entrance on the first floor.”
“You have too much time on your hand,” Danny groaned. “Seriously, Taylor, you need a hobby or a boyfriend - the schematics of the crime lab?” Taylor grinned and stuck her tongue out at him, before reaching for the radio, quickly replacing the jazz station for a country music station. “And what free time you do have, you seem to be spending too much of it with Lindsay,” he muttered as Trace Atkins came blasting out. But he didn’t try to change it.
“Nah, already liked it,” she told him.
“I’m not thirsty,” Danny told her hoarsely.
Taylor shrugged. “Well, I am, and I figure you owe me a cup. And not one of that dreadful stuff you CSIs seem to live off in the break room.”
“I owe you some, do I?” he asked her, knowing instantly why she was doing it.
“Yup, for not saying anything to Lindsay.” She walked over to him, clamped her hand over his and dragged him out of the door to the elevator. “Come on, let’s go give those lab techs something real to gossip about.” She closed her eyes and winced the second the words were out of her mouth.
Danny sighed, “I’m the topic of conversation around here, then.” He wasn’t asking.
Taylor dragged him into the elevator and hit the “G” button. “You always are, Danny,” she told him, trying to make light of the situation. “Looking like that, I’m not surprised, either.”
“Ah,” smirked Danny, playing along, “So you do have a thing for me.”
Taylor winked. “Well, I wouldn’t say no.”
“I knew it,” said Danny, leaning smugly against the wall. “No woman can resist me.”
“Actually,” clarified Taylor. “They can resist you, if you don’t tell them you like them.”
“And,” said Danny, darkly. “They would continue to resist me if I did.” He knew exactly who ‘they’ was, and it wasn’t more than one person. It was one specific one.
Taylor rolled her eyes at him, and, still clamped tightly to his hand, dragged him out of the elevator and into the ground level parking.
“What are we doing in the parking lot, Drew?”
Taylor dug her hands into her pocket and pulled out the car keys she had yet to hand back to Mac. “The keys to Mac’s brand-spanking new Crime Lab SUV,” she told him, using the keys to point to the brand new Avalanche at the back of the garage.
Danny whistled. “How did you managed to get them off Mac. He always told me that I wouldn’t even be able to pry them from his cold, dead fingers.”
Taylor grinned. “That’s because he’s been in a car with you.”
Danny swiped at her. “My driving is not that bad!”
“Danny, when I get in a car with you, I never know if it’s going to be Driving Miss Daisy, or The Fast And The Furious. You don’t have a middle,” she told him with a grin as she got in the driver’s seat. “You know,” she said, changing the subject as the pulled away, “I’ve never understood the guy who designed the Crime Lab. You have the morgue, underneath the parking lot, and the entrance on the second floor, instead of the first. Then you have a whole bunch of office in between.”
Danny shrugged. “Seems to be working fine.”
“I know,” said Taylor. “Only, if it were me, I would have put the parking lot underground, the morgue on the second floor – give it some windows, because lord knows it’s already depressing enough, and stuck the entrance on the first floor.”
“You have too much time on your hand,” Danny groaned. “Seriously, Taylor, you need a hobby or a boyfriend - the schematics of the crime lab?” Taylor grinned and stuck her tongue out at him, before reaching for the radio, quickly replacing the jazz station for a country music station. “And what free time you do have, you seem to be spending too much of it with Lindsay,” he muttered as Trace Atkins came blasting out. But he didn’t try to change it.
“Nah, already liked it,” she told him.
* * *
Taylor had driven them to the most obscure little coffee shop on the island, which, considering its location, and the time of night, Danny was convinced should have been closed, and if not there was a very good chance that the reason it was still open was because of the illegal wrong doings that were taking place inside.
He was actually pleasantly surprised to find he was very much mistaken. The place was admittedly overrun with students, but there was a free table at the back, and the light chatter was actually a welcome relief.
“So, Messer, I’ll have a hot chocolate, please.”
Danny scowled, “I’m not so sure about this owing you a drink, lark.”
“Deal with it, Danny. My throat is parched,” Taylor told him with a grin. “Chop chop.”
Danny swiped at her but disappeared to the counter, returning a few minutes later with a hot chocolate and black coffee. “How did you find this place, then?”
Taylor shrugged. “It’s a few blocks away from the library. I ended up living here whilst I was studying for my finals.”
“I thought you went to NYU?”
“Oh, I did,” Taylor nodded. But the library here is much better, and being off campus meant that I was less likely to find a story.”
Danny smirked, “I bet you found one anyway.”
Taylor laughed. “Sure did. I saw someone get stabbed and nobody did anything to help, other than me. I wrote an article complaining about the crime in the city, and how it wasn’t going to get any better if people didn’t stop to help. Got me an internship at the Daily, and well, here I am nearly six years later.”
“You always want to be a journalist?”
Taylor nodded, “I created my first paper at the grand old age of five. Interviewed all my teddy bears for an exclusive on…” she trailed off.
“On?” Danny pressed.
“A missing chocolate bar,” said Taylor, quietly. She sighed. “Did you always want to be a criminalist?”
Danny shook his head. “Wanted to play professional baseball.”
“Don’t most kids?” Taylor laughed.
“Yeah, but I was good. Would have gone professional, if my batting arm hadn’t have been destroyed.”
Taylor frowned as a fragment of a memory made it into the present. “You’ve mentioned something about this before, haven’t you? What happened?”
“I was jumped,” he told her, shortly, his tone of voice telling her to drop it.
Taylor frowned, tempted as a journalist to press, but didn’t. She glanced down at her cast and changed the subject. “I’m going to buy a car.”
“You? A car?”
Taylor shot him a glare, “Yeah, actually. I happened to know something about them. I want a Mustang. A brand new blue one.”
Danny pulled a face. “If you’re going to get a Mustang, you have to get a classic.”
“Nope,” Taylor told him, shaking her head. “I want something that is going to survive when I drive it across the country back to California.”
“You’re going back to California?” Danny asked. This was news to him.
“Eventually, but not permanently,” Taylor assured him. “I promised myself I would drive across the country, and the finishing spot would be home to visit my mother, because lord knows she calls on a regular basis to complain that I haven’t been back since I graduated college.”
Danny laughed, “Why not?”
“My mother is one of those women who think that college for women is the time for them to find a husband. In her eyes, I am a disappointment that I’m still single. Having said that,” she sighed. “At least I’m not in prison.”
“Something you want to tell me, Drew?” Danny asked, his eyebrows arched.
Taylor sighed again. “It’s not what you think,” she started. She was about to continue when Danny’s cell phone rang.
“Hold that thought,” he told her, flipping the phone open. “Yeah… that’s me… Louie?” All the colour dropped from his face. “No, I’ll be right there.” He was on his feet before he had hung up, sending the half finished mugs of hot liquid flying, namely over Taylor.
She jumped to her feet, ignoring the liquid which had seeped through her clothing and tore after Danny. “Danny,” she cried, grabbing his arm and turning him to her. His eyes had gone red, and there were already tears forming. “What’s the matter? Has Mac-”
Danny shook his head, furiously wiping the tears away. “It’s Louie,” he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. “He’s been beat up. He’s at Mercy.”
“Come on then!” cried Taylor, surprising Danny as she grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the SUV.
“Taylor, what are you doing?” he demanded, although he allowed himself to be swept along by her.
“I’m going to the hospital,” she told him.
“You don’t have to do that,” Danny choked.
“True, but I’d be a pretty lousy friend if I didn’t,” she said. “Besides, I’ve always wanted to drive one of these things with the lights and sirens going.”
Danny managed a weak grin of thanks as he leant over and switched them on.
He was actually pleasantly surprised to find he was very much mistaken. The place was admittedly overrun with students, but there was a free table at the back, and the light chatter was actually a welcome relief.
“So, Messer, I’ll have a hot chocolate, please.”
Danny scowled, “I’m not so sure about this owing you a drink, lark.”
“Deal with it, Danny. My throat is parched,” Taylor told him with a grin. “Chop chop.”
Danny swiped at her but disappeared to the counter, returning a few minutes later with a hot chocolate and black coffee. “How did you find this place, then?”
Taylor shrugged. “It’s a few blocks away from the library. I ended up living here whilst I was studying for my finals.”
“I thought you went to NYU?”
“Oh, I did,” Taylor nodded. But the library here is much better, and being off campus meant that I was less likely to find a story.”
Danny smirked, “I bet you found one anyway.”
Taylor laughed. “Sure did. I saw someone get stabbed and nobody did anything to help, other than me. I wrote an article complaining about the crime in the city, and how it wasn’t going to get any better if people didn’t stop to help. Got me an internship at the Daily, and well, here I am nearly six years later.”
“You always want to be a journalist?”
Taylor nodded, “I created my first paper at the grand old age of five. Interviewed all my teddy bears for an exclusive on…” she trailed off.
“On?” Danny pressed.
“A missing chocolate bar,” said Taylor, quietly. She sighed. “Did you always want to be a criminalist?”
Danny shook his head. “Wanted to play professional baseball.”
“Don’t most kids?” Taylor laughed.
“Yeah, but I was good. Would have gone professional, if my batting arm hadn’t have been destroyed.”
Taylor frowned as a fragment of a memory made it into the present. “You’ve mentioned something about this before, haven’t you? What happened?”
“I was jumped,” he told her, shortly, his tone of voice telling her to drop it.
Taylor frowned, tempted as a journalist to press, but didn’t. She glanced down at her cast and changed the subject. “I’m going to buy a car.”
“You? A car?”
Taylor shot him a glare, “Yeah, actually. I happened to know something about them. I want a Mustang. A brand new blue one.”
Danny pulled a face. “If you’re going to get a Mustang, you have to get a classic.”
“Nope,” Taylor told him, shaking her head. “I want something that is going to survive when I drive it across the country back to California.”
“You’re going back to California?” Danny asked. This was news to him.
“Eventually, but not permanently,” Taylor assured him. “I promised myself I would drive across the country, and the finishing spot would be home to visit my mother, because lord knows she calls on a regular basis to complain that I haven’t been back since I graduated college.”
Danny laughed, “Why not?”
“My mother is one of those women who think that college for women is the time for them to find a husband. In her eyes, I am a disappointment that I’m still single. Having said that,” she sighed. “At least I’m not in prison.”
“Something you want to tell me, Drew?” Danny asked, his eyebrows arched.
Taylor sighed again. “It’s not what you think,” she started. She was about to continue when Danny’s cell phone rang.
“Hold that thought,” he told her, flipping the phone open. “Yeah… that’s me… Louie?” All the colour dropped from his face. “No, I’ll be right there.” He was on his feet before he had hung up, sending the half finished mugs of hot liquid flying, namely over Taylor.
She jumped to her feet, ignoring the liquid which had seeped through her clothing and tore after Danny. “Danny,” she cried, grabbing his arm and turning him to her. His eyes had gone red, and there were already tears forming. “What’s the matter? Has Mac-”
Danny shook his head, furiously wiping the tears away. “It’s Louie,” he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. “He’s been beat up. He’s at Mercy.”
“Come on then!” cried Taylor, surprising Danny as she grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the SUV.
“Taylor, what are you doing?” he demanded, although he allowed himself to be swept along by her.
“I’m going to the hospital,” she told him.
“You don’t have to do that,” Danny choked.
“True, but I’d be a pretty lousy friend if I didn’t,” she said. “Besides, I’ve always wanted to drive one of these things with the lights and sirens going.”
Danny managed a weak grin of thanks as he leant over and switched them on.
* * *
They pulled up as Louie was being unloaded on a stretcher. Danny was out of the car before Taylor had even stopped and was trying to fight his way through the paramedics, doctors and nurses. “He’s my brother. He’s my brother!” Danny shouted as he tried to get to the stretcher. Taylor leapt out of the car, abandoning it where it had come to a stop, straight on Danny’s tail. “Louie, can you hear me? Louie! Louie?”
Both she, a paramedic, and a police officer were on him, trying to pull him away. Danny swung his arm back, trying to get free, but only resulted in smacking Taylor in the face. Taylor grunted and grabbed the arm.
“Listen, who did this to you? Who did this to you? Don’t you die on me Louie!” he shouted as Louie was wheeled inside. “Not now! LOUIE!”“
“DANNY!” Taylor yelled.
Danny stopped struggling and slumped back, sobbing. He turned around and flung his arms around Taylor, nearly making her fly backwards herself. Taylor wrapped her arms tightly around him and allowed him to cry into her hair as she rubbed his back.
Both she, a paramedic, and a police officer were on him, trying to pull him away. Danny swung his arm back, trying to get free, but only resulted in smacking Taylor in the face. Taylor grunted and grabbed the arm.
“Listen, who did this to you? Who did this to you? Don’t you die on me Louie!” he shouted as Louie was wheeled inside. “Not now! LOUIE!”“
“DANNY!” Taylor yelled.
Danny stopped struggling and slumped back, sobbing. He turned around and flung his arms around Taylor, nearly making her fly backwards herself. Taylor wrapped her arms tightly around him and allowed him to cry into her hair as she rubbed his back.
* * *
Danny was standing, fixed, in front of the doors to surgery, watching the doctors work on his brother, intently. Taylor was sat to one side, watching him, an ice pack placed firmly on her left eye and cheek. Sat next to her on one side of her was Doc. He had been one of the paramedics, along with Carlos, who had been called to the scene to pick Louie up. Sat on the other side was Officer Davis. Taylor only knew of him – he lived with Carlos, but they’d never met until now.
“Are you alright?” Doc asked her, peeling the pack away to examine the forming bruise.
Taylor nodded, “I’ll be fine, but will Louie?”
Doc sighed, “He took a pretty bad beating. There’s so much internal bleeding, I wouldn’t want to say.”
Taylor bit her lip, “What are his chances, Doc?” she asked him, quietly.
Doc glanced over at Danny, before turning his attention back to Taylor. “In all honesty, pretty slim.”
Taylor nodded, glumly.
“Do you need me to call anyone?” Davis asked her.
“Um, Detective Mac Taylor. He’s Danny’s supervisor – a CSI,” she frowned, “If you can’t get through to him, I guess, Detective Flack in homicide.”
Davis nodded, “I’ve worked with them both before, I know who they are.”
“Oh no!” moaned Taylor suddenly, getting to her feet.
“What’s the matter?” Doc asked her.
“The SUV! I left it in the middle of the ambulance bay with the keys still in it. Mac is going to kill me.”
Davis pushed her back down. “Don’t worry,” he told her. “My partner spotted it and is parking it up for you.” Taylor let out a relieved sigh. “But what about you?” Taylor looked up in confusion. “You’ve given us names of people to call for Detective Messer, but none for yourself.”
Taylor shook her head, “I’m fine. They’re my friends too. But I should call Marty, before he panics. Will you keep an eye on Danny, please?” she asked Doc. He nodded, and she followed Davis out to use the phone.
“Are you alright?” Doc asked her, peeling the pack away to examine the forming bruise.
Taylor nodded, “I’ll be fine, but will Louie?”
Doc sighed, “He took a pretty bad beating. There’s so much internal bleeding, I wouldn’t want to say.”
Taylor bit her lip, “What are his chances, Doc?” she asked him, quietly.
Doc glanced over at Danny, before turning his attention back to Taylor. “In all honesty, pretty slim.”
Taylor nodded, glumly.
“Do you need me to call anyone?” Davis asked her.
“Um, Detective Mac Taylor. He’s Danny’s supervisor – a CSI,” she frowned, “If you can’t get through to him, I guess, Detective Flack in homicide.”
Davis nodded, “I’ve worked with them both before, I know who they are.”
“Oh no!” moaned Taylor suddenly, getting to her feet.
“What’s the matter?” Doc asked her.
“The SUV! I left it in the middle of the ambulance bay with the keys still in it. Mac is going to kill me.”
Davis pushed her back down. “Don’t worry,” he told her. “My partner spotted it and is parking it up for you.” Taylor let out a relieved sigh. “But what about you?” Taylor looked up in confusion. “You’ve given us names of people to call for Detective Messer, but none for yourself.”
Taylor shook her head, “I’m fine. They’re my friends too. But I should call Marty, before he panics. Will you keep an eye on Danny, please?” she asked Doc. He nodded, and she followed Davis out to use the phone.
Originally posted: 28/06/2006