Spoilers for 2x20: Run Silent, Run Deep
Taylor returned from the phone call quickly, after collecting the car keys from Officer Sullivan. Marty had been in bed, but had forgiven her instantly for waking him up. She told him what had happened and he said he was going to join her, until she told him that they were fine and he should get some sleep. Marty had agreed, but made her promise to call if she, or Danny, needed anything. Danny was still at the surgery doors when she returned.
“I’m sorry, Taylor,” apologised Doc, who had been joined by Carlos. “But we have another call.”
“Don’t worry,” she told them, “I’m sure Mac will be here soon, and I’m fine, anyway.”
Doc nodded. “Just keep that ice on your face for a while. It should help with the bruising.”
Taylor agreed and watched the two paramedics leave. She sank back into the chair and watched Danny, who was still rooted to the spot, ready to jump up if she needed to. She didn’t, and forty minutes later, when Mac arrived with Flack and Lindsay, he was still stood in the same place.
Taylor, who was sat in front of the door, was spotted before Danny, and Mac walked straight over to her. “Taylor? What happened?” he asked, indicating to her eye. Taylor shrugged and nodded towards Danny with her head. Mac turned to Danny, “Danny. Any word?”
Danny turned to his supervisor and let out a long breath. “I don’t know. He’s still in surgery.”
“Are you okay?” Lindsay asked him.
Danny let out a wry laugh, “Yeah, yeah. I’ve had better days to tell you the truth.”
“That’s a tough kid that got brought in, alright Danny,” said Flack. “He’s gonna make it.”
Danny nodded gratefully at his friend.
Mac glanced at Danny before turning to Lindsay, “Lindsay, you get Louie Messer’s personal effects and get them back to the lab.”
“Yeah,” agreed Lindsay. She gave Danny a small smile and squeezed his arm before leaving to find a nurse.
Mac turned his attention to Flack, “You stay here with Danny.”
Taylor stood up. “Mac, if you need Flack to help get the guys who did this, I don’t mind staying here, all night if I have to,” she frowned. “I’m staying anyway.”
Mac nodded. “Thank you Taylor, but this is one of those situations where I want Flack here too.” He turned back to Flack. “Make sure this doesn’t escalate. I don’t want the Tanglewood Boys seeking him out, or him seeking them out. You’re responsible.”
Taylor suddenly realised why Mac wanted Flack there.
“Yeah, we’re not going anywhere,” Flack promised him. “Trust me.”
Mac nodded, said goodbye and left, leaving the three of them standing outside the surgery.
Danny walked over and stared at Taylor as if noticing her for the first time, “What happened to your face?” Taylor dropped her gaze to the floor, not answering. “Did I do that?” Danny asked, his voice filled with guilt.
“Yeah,” Taylor admitted.
“I guess I actually owe you a coffee now?”
Taylor looked up at him. He was grinning weakly. “You owe me more than just a coffee, Messer.”
“Good point. You look like Flack now.”
“Hey!” Flack objected. “Looking like me is not a bad thing.”
Danny grinned. “Yeah it is, when you’re a woman.”
Taylor laughed. “To be fair, Danny, his black eye has just about gone.”
“True,” Danny admitted. “But his cut is still there, as is yours. And don’t you both have matching scars on your arms?” Taylor and Flack both rolled their eyes at him, making Danny laugh. Taylor gave him a small push before holding her hand out. Danny looked blankly at it. “What?”
“Time to cough up on that cash. I’m going to get us some coffee.”
Flack laughed as Danny pulled some change out of his pocket and dumped it, grumbling, on Taylor’s outstretched hand.
“I’m sorry, Taylor,” apologised Doc, who had been joined by Carlos. “But we have another call.”
“Don’t worry,” she told them, “I’m sure Mac will be here soon, and I’m fine, anyway.”
Doc nodded. “Just keep that ice on your face for a while. It should help with the bruising.”
Taylor agreed and watched the two paramedics leave. She sank back into the chair and watched Danny, who was still rooted to the spot, ready to jump up if she needed to. She didn’t, and forty minutes later, when Mac arrived with Flack and Lindsay, he was still stood in the same place.
Taylor, who was sat in front of the door, was spotted before Danny, and Mac walked straight over to her. “Taylor? What happened?” he asked, indicating to her eye. Taylor shrugged and nodded towards Danny with her head. Mac turned to Danny, “Danny. Any word?”
Danny turned to his supervisor and let out a long breath. “I don’t know. He’s still in surgery.”
“Are you okay?” Lindsay asked him.
Danny let out a wry laugh, “Yeah, yeah. I’ve had better days to tell you the truth.”
“That’s a tough kid that got brought in, alright Danny,” said Flack. “He’s gonna make it.”
Danny nodded gratefully at his friend.
Mac glanced at Danny before turning to Lindsay, “Lindsay, you get Louie Messer’s personal effects and get them back to the lab.”
“Yeah,” agreed Lindsay. She gave Danny a small smile and squeezed his arm before leaving to find a nurse.
Mac turned his attention to Flack, “You stay here with Danny.”
Taylor stood up. “Mac, if you need Flack to help get the guys who did this, I don’t mind staying here, all night if I have to,” she frowned. “I’m staying anyway.”
Mac nodded. “Thank you Taylor, but this is one of those situations where I want Flack here too.” He turned back to Flack. “Make sure this doesn’t escalate. I don’t want the Tanglewood Boys seeking him out, or him seeking them out. You’re responsible.”
Taylor suddenly realised why Mac wanted Flack there.
“Yeah, we’re not going anywhere,” Flack promised him. “Trust me.”
Mac nodded, said goodbye and left, leaving the three of them standing outside the surgery.
Danny walked over and stared at Taylor as if noticing her for the first time, “What happened to your face?” Taylor dropped her gaze to the floor, not answering. “Did I do that?” Danny asked, his voice filled with guilt.
“Yeah,” Taylor admitted.
“I guess I actually owe you a coffee now?”
Taylor looked up at him. He was grinning weakly. “You owe me more than just a coffee, Messer.”
“Good point. You look like Flack now.”
“Hey!” Flack objected. “Looking like me is not a bad thing.”
Danny grinned. “Yeah it is, when you’re a woman.”
Taylor laughed. “To be fair, Danny, his black eye has just about gone.”
“True,” Danny admitted. “But his cut is still there, as is yours. And don’t you both have matching scars on your arms?” Taylor and Flack both rolled their eyes at him, making Danny laugh. Taylor gave him a small push before holding her hand out. Danny looked blankly at it. “What?”
“Time to cough up on that cash. I’m going to get us some coffee.”
Flack laughed as Danny pulled some change out of his pocket and dumped it, grumbling, on Taylor’s outstretched hand.
* * *
When she got back, three hot drinks in her hands, Flack had managed to convince Danny to step away from the doorway, and had seated the two of them in the chairs Taylor had been sat in. Taylor sat down and handed the two their drinks.
“Thanks for the drink, Messer,” smiled Flack.
Taylor gave Danny’s arm a squeeze. “Next one is on me.”
Danny looked up at her and gave her a weak grin, “I think you owe me more than just a coffee now, Drew.”
“I dread to think what is currently going around that mind of yours,” Taylor muttered.
Flack cleared his throat. “Look, do you want me to step outside for a moment?” Danny and Taylor looked blankly at him. “You know,” he added. “Give you both some space?”
Danny turned to look at Taylor – a fatal mistake as the two started laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Flack asked, huffily. Instead of waiting for an answer he got to his feet. “I’m going to make a phone call - don’t go anywhere.” He left the two quickly before they had chance to calm down and explain.
Danny laughed. “He’s jealous.”
Taylor stared blankly at him. “Of what? Not being able to buy the coffee?”
Danny smirked, “Something like that. He thinks we’re dating.”
Taylor narrowed her eyes. “Did you not clear that one up?”
“No,” admitted Danny. “But I shouldn’t have to. Sorry, but I have never given any indication that I wanted to date you.”
“And why wouldn’t you want to date me?” Taylor tried to pout, but still laughing, failed miserably and looked more like she was constipated, which made Danny start laughing again.
“With a mug like that, it’s hard to resist,” Danny laughed. “But you’re not my type.”
“Oh yeah,” smirked Taylor. “You prefer the country girl from the west, not the city girl from the west.”
Danny mock glared at her, “I’m pleading the fifth!”
Flack reappeared and looked like he was about to say something, but stopped when he noticed a doctor walking over to them, a very sombre expression etched on his face. “Mr Messer?”
The laughter evaporated in an instant as Danny leapt to his feet, a fearful look in his eyes. “Is Louie… is Louie alright?” he asked, his voice breaking.
The doctor sighed. “Louie has suffered from massive internal beating, and he took a few good hits to the head. He has some serious swelling in his brain, but at the moment, he’s too unstable to operate on.” Danny let out a sob and dropped to his seat.
“How long until you can operate?” Taylor asked.
The doctor shook his head. “In all honesty, that depends on Louie. We won’t do anything until he stabilizes. It’s too risky.”
“Can we go in and see him?” Taylor asked, hopeful.
“In a while. The nurses are dressing him and cleaning him up. They’ll show you to his room when they’re ready. But he is in a coma.”
“Will he wake up?” Danny whispered.
“I don’t know, I’m sorry. We’re going to run some tests in the morning.” His pager started beeping, “I’m sorry, that’s the ER.”
“Thank you, doctor,” said Flack before the man disappeared.
Danny watched him go, and then turned sharply to Taylor, “I want to see him,” he demanded.
Taylor blinked, “The doctor said-”
“I know what the doctor said, Taylor, but I don’t want to talk to his body, I want to talk to him,” Danny repeated.
Taylor’s mouth dropped open as she struggled for something to say.
“Danny,” Flack started in a low voice.
“No, Flack. She sees ghosts and now I want her to show me Louie.”
“Danny, Louie’s not dead,” Taylor pointed out quietly.
“The doctor just admitted he’s as good as a vegetable,” Danny said coldly, walking towards Taylor until she was trapped between him and a wall.
“Danny, Louie’s not dead! And he didn’t say he was a vegetable. They’re just going to have to wait to do some tests,” she repeated. “And you can’t ask me something like that. I have no power over who comes to see me, and I certainly have no power over the living.”
Flack grabbed Danny’s shoulders and pulled him away, sending Taylor an apologetic look.
Taylor sighed and wrapped her arms around Danny. She could feel him tense up, so she hugged him harder, until he relaxed. “I don’t get it,” said Danny in a strangled voice. “Why?”
Taylor looked helplessly at Flack. Flack placed his hand on Danny’s shoulder. “The only one who can tell you that is Louie.”
“And me.”
All three of them turned and found Lindsay a few feet from them, looking like she was arguing with herself over something.
Danny shrugged Taylor off him and walked over to her. “What do you mean, Monroe?”
“I… uh, there was a tape.”
Taylor bit her lip and turned to Flack, “I don’t know about you, but I fancy a coffee. Care to join me?”
Flack looked down at the three, still full and still steaming cups of coffee on the floor and nodded. “Sounds good.” The two of them started to leave, but Flack grabbed Lindsay’s shoulder before they did. “Don’t let him out of your sight until we get back,” he told her in a low voice so that only she and Taylor heard it. Lindsay nodded and gave a small smile before Flack and Taylor left.
“Thanks for the drink, Messer,” smiled Flack.
Taylor gave Danny’s arm a squeeze. “Next one is on me.”
Danny looked up at her and gave her a weak grin, “I think you owe me more than just a coffee now, Drew.”
“I dread to think what is currently going around that mind of yours,” Taylor muttered.
Flack cleared his throat. “Look, do you want me to step outside for a moment?” Danny and Taylor looked blankly at him. “You know,” he added. “Give you both some space?”
Danny turned to look at Taylor – a fatal mistake as the two started laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Flack asked, huffily. Instead of waiting for an answer he got to his feet. “I’m going to make a phone call - don’t go anywhere.” He left the two quickly before they had chance to calm down and explain.
Danny laughed. “He’s jealous.”
Taylor stared blankly at him. “Of what? Not being able to buy the coffee?”
Danny smirked, “Something like that. He thinks we’re dating.”
Taylor narrowed her eyes. “Did you not clear that one up?”
“No,” admitted Danny. “But I shouldn’t have to. Sorry, but I have never given any indication that I wanted to date you.”
“And why wouldn’t you want to date me?” Taylor tried to pout, but still laughing, failed miserably and looked more like she was constipated, which made Danny start laughing again.
“With a mug like that, it’s hard to resist,” Danny laughed. “But you’re not my type.”
“Oh yeah,” smirked Taylor. “You prefer the country girl from the west, not the city girl from the west.”
Danny mock glared at her, “I’m pleading the fifth!”
Flack reappeared and looked like he was about to say something, but stopped when he noticed a doctor walking over to them, a very sombre expression etched on his face. “Mr Messer?”
The laughter evaporated in an instant as Danny leapt to his feet, a fearful look in his eyes. “Is Louie… is Louie alright?” he asked, his voice breaking.
The doctor sighed. “Louie has suffered from massive internal beating, and he took a few good hits to the head. He has some serious swelling in his brain, but at the moment, he’s too unstable to operate on.” Danny let out a sob and dropped to his seat.
“How long until you can operate?” Taylor asked.
The doctor shook his head. “In all honesty, that depends on Louie. We won’t do anything until he stabilizes. It’s too risky.”
“Can we go in and see him?” Taylor asked, hopeful.
“In a while. The nurses are dressing him and cleaning him up. They’ll show you to his room when they’re ready. But he is in a coma.”
“Will he wake up?” Danny whispered.
“I don’t know, I’m sorry. We’re going to run some tests in the morning.” His pager started beeping, “I’m sorry, that’s the ER.”
“Thank you, doctor,” said Flack before the man disappeared.
Danny watched him go, and then turned sharply to Taylor, “I want to see him,” he demanded.
Taylor blinked, “The doctor said-”
“I know what the doctor said, Taylor, but I don’t want to talk to his body, I want to talk to him,” Danny repeated.
Taylor’s mouth dropped open as she struggled for something to say.
“Danny,” Flack started in a low voice.
“No, Flack. She sees ghosts and now I want her to show me Louie.”
“Danny, Louie’s not dead,” Taylor pointed out quietly.
“The doctor just admitted he’s as good as a vegetable,” Danny said coldly, walking towards Taylor until she was trapped between him and a wall.
“Danny, Louie’s not dead! And he didn’t say he was a vegetable. They’re just going to have to wait to do some tests,” she repeated. “And you can’t ask me something like that. I have no power over who comes to see me, and I certainly have no power over the living.”
Flack grabbed Danny’s shoulders and pulled him away, sending Taylor an apologetic look.
Taylor sighed and wrapped her arms around Danny. She could feel him tense up, so she hugged him harder, until he relaxed. “I don’t get it,” said Danny in a strangled voice. “Why?”
Taylor looked helplessly at Flack. Flack placed his hand on Danny’s shoulder. “The only one who can tell you that is Louie.”
“And me.”
All three of them turned and found Lindsay a few feet from them, looking like she was arguing with herself over something.
Danny shrugged Taylor off him and walked over to her. “What do you mean, Monroe?”
“I… uh, there was a tape.”
Taylor bit her lip and turned to Flack, “I don’t know about you, but I fancy a coffee. Care to join me?”
Flack looked down at the three, still full and still steaming cups of coffee on the floor and nodded. “Sounds good.” The two of them started to leave, but Flack grabbed Lindsay’s shoulder before they did. “Don’t let him out of your sight until we get back,” he told her in a low voice so that only she and Taylor heard it. Lindsay nodded and gave a small smile before Flack and Taylor left.
* * *
The hospital cafeteria was empty, apart from two nurses who were busy chatting about ‘the cutest baby,’ they had helped deliver, so finding an empty table wasn’t a problem. Taylor chose one by a window, while Flack went for the drinks. He walked over carrying two polystyrene cups and a chocolate chip cookie, settling it, and a cup, in front of Taylor.
Taylor took a sip and frowned. “Chocolaty coffee?”
Flack nodded sheepishly. “You said you preferred hot chocolate to coffee, but drank coffee when you needed to stay awake, and given that it’s 4am, I figured you’d appreciate the best of both worlds.” Taylor stared at him. “What?”he squirmed. “I can take it back if you want?”
Taylor shook her head. “No, that’s… perfect,” she told him. She frowned, “I told you that?”
“Not in so many words, but yeah.”
“When?” Taylor asked, puzzled.
“The day after you got attacked – I brought three drinks into your room.” Taylor continued to stare at him. “What?” he repeated, feeling more uncomfortable.
Taylor looked down at the cup. “Nothing, I’m just surprised you remembered.”
Flack gave her a small smile. “I’m a detective. I’m supposed to remember the small details.”
Taylor returned the smile. “Thanks.”
Flack frowned, choosing to stare at his coffee, rather than making a comment, allowing a silence to fall over them. Suddenly, Flack’s cell phone started ringing. “Flack… uh huh… no, Lindsay’s with him – something about a tape… that’s great news. We’ll tell him as soon as we see him. Bye Mac.” Taylor looked expectantly at him. “That was Mac.”
“I guessed,” Taylor smiled. “And you’re smiling, which mean’s its good news.”
Flack nodded, “Danny’s in the clear. That tape that Lindsay has is a confession from Sassone for the murder.”
Taylor grinned and leant back, breathing out a large breath. “That’s great.”
Flack grinned back and ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah. I think we should give Danny and Lindsay a little while longer, and then head back.”
Taylor nodded, and took a piece of the cookie. “What’s going to happen to Louie?” Taylor asked a while later, the quietness driving her mad.
“I don’t know. You heard what the doctor-”
“No,” interrupted Taylor, shaking her head. “That’s not what I meant. When he wakes up, I mean.”
Flack frowned, thoughtfully. “Well, I suspect there will be some therapy of some kind.”
“No,” Taylor shook her head again. “He was beat up and... Look, I don’t know what happened, or what was on that tape, but what I am beginning to realise is that Louie knew something, and the only way he could know something is if he was there, right? Won’t that make him an accessory, or something?”
Flack swore, “I hadn’t thought of that. You’re right. He’s looking at a jail sentence.”
Taylor frowned. “Maybe we shouldn’t mention that to Danny. Not until Louie’s in the clear, anyway.”
“Yeah,” agreed Flack. “We should get back to him.”
Taylor took a sip and frowned. “Chocolaty coffee?”
Flack nodded sheepishly. “You said you preferred hot chocolate to coffee, but drank coffee when you needed to stay awake, and given that it’s 4am, I figured you’d appreciate the best of both worlds.” Taylor stared at him. “What?”he squirmed. “I can take it back if you want?”
Taylor shook her head. “No, that’s… perfect,” she told him. She frowned, “I told you that?”
“Not in so many words, but yeah.”
“When?” Taylor asked, puzzled.
“The day after you got attacked – I brought three drinks into your room.” Taylor continued to stare at him. “What?” he repeated, feeling more uncomfortable.
Taylor looked down at the cup. “Nothing, I’m just surprised you remembered.”
Flack gave her a small smile. “I’m a detective. I’m supposed to remember the small details.”
Taylor returned the smile. “Thanks.”
Flack frowned, choosing to stare at his coffee, rather than making a comment, allowing a silence to fall over them. Suddenly, Flack’s cell phone started ringing. “Flack… uh huh… no, Lindsay’s with him – something about a tape… that’s great news. We’ll tell him as soon as we see him. Bye Mac.” Taylor looked expectantly at him. “That was Mac.”
“I guessed,” Taylor smiled. “And you’re smiling, which mean’s its good news.”
Flack nodded, “Danny’s in the clear. That tape that Lindsay has is a confession from Sassone for the murder.”
Taylor grinned and leant back, breathing out a large breath. “That’s great.”
Flack grinned back and ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah. I think we should give Danny and Lindsay a little while longer, and then head back.”
Taylor nodded, and took a piece of the cookie. “What’s going to happen to Louie?” Taylor asked a while later, the quietness driving her mad.
“I don’t know. You heard what the doctor-”
“No,” interrupted Taylor, shaking her head. “That’s not what I meant. When he wakes up, I mean.”
Flack frowned, thoughtfully. “Well, I suspect there will be some therapy of some kind.”
“No,” Taylor shook her head again. “He was beat up and... Look, I don’t know what happened, or what was on that tape, but what I am beginning to realise is that Louie knew something, and the only way he could know something is if he was there, right? Won’t that make him an accessory, or something?”
Flack swore, “I hadn’t thought of that. You’re right. He’s looking at a jail sentence.”
Taylor frowned. “Maybe we shouldn’t mention that to Danny. Not until Louie’s in the clear, anyway.”
“Yeah,” agreed Flack. “We should get back to him.”
Originally posted: 29/06/2006