Spoilers for 2x20: Run Silent, Run Deep
“Louie, hey, it’s me – Danny. I just talked to Dad. He’s coming down here with Mommy. Doctor says you’re in a coma, and that you might not make it out of here. Listen to me. I heard you on the tape. That night, you got me out of there on purpose. I never knew that. You couldn’t have just pulled me aside and told me you were putting on a front? You had to keep that up all these years? You can call it tough love if you want, but I was young, man. And that hurt me in the heart. Let me tell you now that I forgive you because now I understand why you did what you did. And I just wanted to say, thanks for that. And I love you. You hear me? Louie?”
Taylor and Flack were stood at the door, watching Danny talk to his brother. They couldn’t actually hear anything through the closed door, but Taylor was pretty certain that was what was being said. She managed to get the gist of it through lip reading, and what she couldn’t, she’d filled in the blanks herself.
Lindsay had gone home, and shortly after Flack and Taylor had given Danny the good news. It wasn’t until Mac had arrived, and Taylor had happened to catch Danny break down on him, that Danny found out that the only reason he was in the clear was because of Louie. So he had gone straight up to see him.
“You know, Tanglewood has been shut down, Flack. You don’t need to be here any longer, if you need to go,” Taylor muttered to Flack, never taking her eyes off Danny.
Flack looked down at her, “It’s not just Danny who needs some company.”
Taylor smiled at him, “Come on.” Flack frowned, but instead of explaining, Taylor just grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the door to Louie’s room. “Hey, Danny,” Taylor called softly. “You want some company?”
Danny looked over and nodded, pointing at two seats on the other side of the bed. Taylor and Flack headed over to them and seated themselves.
“How are you holding up?” Flack asked him.
Danny shrugged. “I’m alright, I guess. The nurses came in and took his vitals. He’s doing better. They seem to think that he should make it.”
“That’s brilliant news,” said Taylor with a smile.
Danny sighed. “He’s going to make it. I know it.”
“You don’t seem as overjoyed as I’d expect at that,” observed Flack.
Danny sniffed. “Well, he’ll get better, and then he’ll get sent down, and then things will go back to how they were, and then, in the meantime, I’ll have to do all the explaining to Mom and Dad.”
Taylor and Flack looked at each other. “Let’s not jump to any conclusions until he’s awake,” said Flack, uncomfortably.
“It’s not jumping to conclusions,” said Danny bitterly. “It’s accepting reality. He spent fifteen years letting me believe that he didn’t like me anymore.”
Taylor watched Danny fight back the tears and sighed. “He did it because he loved you.”
“What would you know?” Danny asked her bitterly.
“More than you’d expect,” Taylor admitted, looking down at her hands. She could feel both Danny and Flack’s eyes on her. “I had… have a brother.”
“You had, or you have?” Danny asked her.
“I have one. Only, he’s temporarily dead,” Taylor clarified, rolling her eyes.
“How can someone be temporarily dead?” Flack scoffed.
“When they choose to be,” Taylor shot at him.
“I don’t understand,” said Danny.
Taylor sighed, “Christopher is four and a half years older than me, and I idolized him. He took after Daddy – he was very patriotic - and joined the Navy,” she smiled. “We called him Paws.”
“Paws?” Danny questioned.
“Yeah, Christopher Antoine Turner – C.A.T,” Taylor explained.
Flack smirked. “You two must have loved your parents for their choice of names.”
Taylor nodded, “It caused a few disagreements at times,” she frowned. “Have you ever seen Con Air? It’s a similar story?”
“Your brother hijacked a plane?” asked Flack in disbelief.
“No!” exclaimed Taylor. She rolled her eyes. “He wasn’t a Ranger, like Nicholas Cage’s character, he was a Diver. He returned home from active duty and ended up in a bar fight, defending his girlfriend, and killed someone. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He’s coming up for seven years in January.”
“So how is he temporarily dead?” Danny asked softly.
“Mama got very depressed when he was arrested and as good as disowned him. Daddy was only a Lieutenant-Commander then, but he tried to pull some strings. It didn’t work, and the judge decided to make an example of him. He got 7-10 with no chance of early parole. Mama refused to go to court, and I… when I said goodbye, he told me he didn’t want to see me anywhere near his prison. I didn’t think he was serious, but when I tried to visit him, he refused to see me, and sent me a letter telling me I may as well accept the fact that he was as good as dead, until he got out. That I deserved a better brother.”
“Didn’t you write back to him?” Flack frowned at her.
“Of course I did,” Taylor snapped. “And he’s returned every letter I’ve ever written, unopened.”
“I’m sorry,” said Danny, gently.
Taylor sighed. “Don’t be mad at your brother. He did what he did because he was trying to protect you, and yeah, he did it in a crazy way, but at least he cares.”
“Your brother cares for you,” Danny told her.
Taylor nodded, “I know. It just took me a while to realise that.
The door opened behind them, and with an anguished sob, a woman dashed in and to the bed, throwing herself over Danny. “Hi Mommy,” he said, hugging her back.
Taylor and Flack got to their feet. “We’ll come back later, Danny,” said Flack. “I’ve got a mountain of paperwork waiting for me.”
Danny’s mom peeled herself of Danny. “Are these your friends, Danny?”
Danny nodded, “That’s Flack, remember?”
Mrs Messer suddenly recognised the detective standing awkwardly in front of her, “Donny! You’ve had your hair cut since I last saw you.”
“Hi, Mrs Messer,” he smiled, uncomfortably.
“And is this your girlfriend?” she asked him, referring to Taylor.
“I’m Taylor Turner, and I’m not seeing Flack. I just loiter around the Crime Lab too much,” said Taylor, offering her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs Messer, although I’m sorry it couldn’t be under better circumstances.”
Mrs Messer ignored the hand, instead giving Taylor a hug, “So you’re the girl from Montana that Danny is always talking about whenever I talk to him.”
Taylor bit back a laugh as she saw Danny cringe from over Mrs Messer’s shoulder. “No, ma'am, I’m from California originally.”
Mrs Messer pulled away, “I’m sorry, dear. Daniel has yet to introduce me to his girlfriend, although I hear "Montana this" and "Montana that"-”
“Mom!” Danny exclaimed, “Lindsay is not my girlfriend. She’s just a colleague.”
“That’s what you kept saying about Aiden.”
“I wasn’t seeing Aiden, either!” Danny exclaimed.
“That’s a shame because I always thought you two would make a good couple.” Taylor turned and found Danny’s dad watching the exchange from the doorway. Louie was a spitting image of his dad, whereas Danny definitely took after his mom.
“I’ve just spoken to the doctor,” said Mr Messer, changing the subject. “They want to come in and run some tests in a while.”
“I think that that’s our cue to leave,” said Flack.
“No, don’t leave on our account,” said Mrs Messer.
“It’s alright,” said Taylor, “I have a column to write anyway.”
“Taylor Turner?” asked Mr Messer. “The crime columnist?” Taylor nodded. “Good work you do.”
Taylor smiled shyly. “Thank you. We’ll call back later,” she told Danny. “Just give me a call if you need anything.” Danny nodded and Taylor and Flack said their goodbyes, before leaving.
“Do you need a ride?” Flack asked her as they headed out of the hospital.
“No, thank you, I have a car,” Taylor informed him.
“Since when?” Flack asked in disbelief.
Taylor shrugged. “It’s Mac’s Crime Lab truck. I need to drop it back off at the lab.”
Flack’s eyes widened. “Mac trusted you with that?”
Taylor grinned. “Yeah,” she told him before heading over to the parking lot to see if she could find where it had been parked.
“Hey, Drew,” Flack called after her. Taylor stopped and turned. “I’m sorry about your brother.”
Taylor shrugged. “Thanks, but, I’m fine. I’ll have him back soon.”
“Hey, Taylor,” Flack called, stopping her once again. “If you ever need a chocolaty coffee again, or just some company… give me a call.”
Taylor smiled at him. “Thanks, I will.”
Taylor and Flack were stood at the door, watching Danny talk to his brother. They couldn’t actually hear anything through the closed door, but Taylor was pretty certain that was what was being said. She managed to get the gist of it through lip reading, and what she couldn’t, she’d filled in the blanks herself.
Lindsay had gone home, and shortly after Flack and Taylor had given Danny the good news. It wasn’t until Mac had arrived, and Taylor had happened to catch Danny break down on him, that Danny found out that the only reason he was in the clear was because of Louie. So he had gone straight up to see him.
“You know, Tanglewood has been shut down, Flack. You don’t need to be here any longer, if you need to go,” Taylor muttered to Flack, never taking her eyes off Danny.
Flack looked down at her, “It’s not just Danny who needs some company.”
Taylor smiled at him, “Come on.” Flack frowned, but instead of explaining, Taylor just grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the door to Louie’s room. “Hey, Danny,” Taylor called softly. “You want some company?”
Danny looked over and nodded, pointing at two seats on the other side of the bed. Taylor and Flack headed over to them and seated themselves.
“How are you holding up?” Flack asked him.
Danny shrugged. “I’m alright, I guess. The nurses came in and took his vitals. He’s doing better. They seem to think that he should make it.”
“That’s brilliant news,” said Taylor with a smile.
Danny sighed. “He’s going to make it. I know it.”
“You don’t seem as overjoyed as I’d expect at that,” observed Flack.
Danny sniffed. “Well, he’ll get better, and then he’ll get sent down, and then things will go back to how they were, and then, in the meantime, I’ll have to do all the explaining to Mom and Dad.”
Taylor and Flack looked at each other. “Let’s not jump to any conclusions until he’s awake,” said Flack, uncomfortably.
“It’s not jumping to conclusions,” said Danny bitterly. “It’s accepting reality. He spent fifteen years letting me believe that he didn’t like me anymore.”
Taylor watched Danny fight back the tears and sighed. “He did it because he loved you.”
“What would you know?” Danny asked her bitterly.
“More than you’d expect,” Taylor admitted, looking down at her hands. She could feel both Danny and Flack’s eyes on her. “I had… have a brother.”
“You had, or you have?” Danny asked her.
“I have one. Only, he’s temporarily dead,” Taylor clarified, rolling her eyes.
“How can someone be temporarily dead?” Flack scoffed.
“When they choose to be,” Taylor shot at him.
“I don’t understand,” said Danny.
Taylor sighed, “Christopher is four and a half years older than me, and I idolized him. He took after Daddy – he was very patriotic - and joined the Navy,” she smiled. “We called him Paws.”
“Paws?” Danny questioned.
“Yeah, Christopher Antoine Turner – C.A.T,” Taylor explained.
Flack smirked. “You two must have loved your parents for their choice of names.”
Taylor nodded, “It caused a few disagreements at times,” she frowned. “Have you ever seen Con Air? It’s a similar story?”
“Your brother hijacked a plane?” asked Flack in disbelief.
“No!” exclaimed Taylor. She rolled her eyes. “He wasn’t a Ranger, like Nicholas Cage’s character, he was a Diver. He returned home from active duty and ended up in a bar fight, defending his girlfriend, and killed someone. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He’s coming up for seven years in January.”
“So how is he temporarily dead?” Danny asked softly.
“Mama got very depressed when he was arrested and as good as disowned him. Daddy was only a Lieutenant-Commander then, but he tried to pull some strings. It didn’t work, and the judge decided to make an example of him. He got 7-10 with no chance of early parole. Mama refused to go to court, and I… when I said goodbye, he told me he didn’t want to see me anywhere near his prison. I didn’t think he was serious, but when I tried to visit him, he refused to see me, and sent me a letter telling me I may as well accept the fact that he was as good as dead, until he got out. That I deserved a better brother.”
“Didn’t you write back to him?” Flack frowned at her.
“Of course I did,” Taylor snapped. “And he’s returned every letter I’ve ever written, unopened.”
“I’m sorry,” said Danny, gently.
Taylor sighed. “Don’t be mad at your brother. He did what he did because he was trying to protect you, and yeah, he did it in a crazy way, but at least he cares.”
“Your brother cares for you,” Danny told her.
Taylor nodded, “I know. It just took me a while to realise that.
The door opened behind them, and with an anguished sob, a woman dashed in and to the bed, throwing herself over Danny. “Hi Mommy,” he said, hugging her back.
Taylor and Flack got to their feet. “We’ll come back later, Danny,” said Flack. “I’ve got a mountain of paperwork waiting for me.”
Danny’s mom peeled herself of Danny. “Are these your friends, Danny?”
Danny nodded, “That’s Flack, remember?”
Mrs Messer suddenly recognised the detective standing awkwardly in front of her, “Donny! You’ve had your hair cut since I last saw you.”
“Hi, Mrs Messer,” he smiled, uncomfortably.
“And is this your girlfriend?” she asked him, referring to Taylor.
“I’m Taylor Turner, and I’m not seeing Flack. I just loiter around the Crime Lab too much,” said Taylor, offering her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs Messer, although I’m sorry it couldn’t be under better circumstances.”
Mrs Messer ignored the hand, instead giving Taylor a hug, “So you’re the girl from Montana that Danny is always talking about whenever I talk to him.”
Taylor bit back a laugh as she saw Danny cringe from over Mrs Messer’s shoulder. “No, ma'am, I’m from California originally.”
Mrs Messer pulled away, “I’m sorry, dear. Daniel has yet to introduce me to his girlfriend, although I hear "Montana this" and "Montana that"-”
“Mom!” Danny exclaimed, “Lindsay is not my girlfriend. She’s just a colleague.”
“That’s what you kept saying about Aiden.”
“I wasn’t seeing Aiden, either!” Danny exclaimed.
“That’s a shame because I always thought you two would make a good couple.” Taylor turned and found Danny’s dad watching the exchange from the doorway. Louie was a spitting image of his dad, whereas Danny definitely took after his mom.
“I’ve just spoken to the doctor,” said Mr Messer, changing the subject. “They want to come in and run some tests in a while.”
“I think that that’s our cue to leave,” said Flack.
“No, don’t leave on our account,” said Mrs Messer.
“It’s alright,” said Taylor, “I have a column to write anyway.”
“Taylor Turner?” asked Mr Messer. “The crime columnist?” Taylor nodded. “Good work you do.”
Taylor smiled shyly. “Thank you. We’ll call back later,” she told Danny. “Just give me a call if you need anything.” Danny nodded and Taylor and Flack said their goodbyes, before leaving.
“Do you need a ride?” Flack asked her as they headed out of the hospital.
“No, thank you, I have a car,” Taylor informed him.
“Since when?” Flack asked in disbelief.
Taylor shrugged. “It’s Mac’s Crime Lab truck. I need to drop it back off at the lab.”
Flack’s eyes widened. “Mac trusted you with that?”
Taylor grinned. “Yeah,” she told him before heading over to the parking lot to see if she could find where it had been parked.
“Hey, Drew,” Flack called after her. Taylor stopped and turned. “I’m sorry about your brother.”
Taylor shrugged. “Thanks, but, I’m fine. I’ll have him back soon.”
“Hey, Taylor,” Flack called, stopping her once again. “If you ever need a chocolaty coffee again, or just some company… give me a call.”
Taylor smiled at him. “Thanks, I will.”
Originally posted: 30/06/2006