Several hours later, the bar was closing, and somehow, only Taylor was left with a very drunk Danny.
Only he was quite a scary Danny. Not because he was violent, or argumentative, but rather because he was just sat there, staring at the label he was picking off his empty bottle of beer. Taylor bit her lip before pulling him to his feet and leading him out of the door. He didn’t say a word, just followed her silently back to her apartment. (Being as the bar was right by the lab, they were close to hers.)
At some point, during his last beer, Taylor had made the conscious decision not to let him go back to his parents, who were still at his, in that state, thinking that he could take her couch. Only, as she let him lean on her for support in the elevator, she realised that the best place for him would be her bed, and she would take the couch.
Which was why, at that moment, she was sitting him firmly down on the end of her bed. She was about to leave to get him a glass of water, when his movements in the moonlight which was cascading in through her windows, caught her attention. Her breath caught in her throat when she realised what the movements were. He was sobbing.
The water was forgotten about and she was at his side in an instant. Danny lay down, so his feet were curled up under him, and his head was in her lap, as he cried uncontrollably into her legs. Taylor just stoked his hair, letting him cry. She figured it was probably the best thing he could do.
It wasn’t until a good while later that he finally calmed himself down. “She would have liked you,” he said softly, his voice hoarse from the crying. Taylor just continued to stroke his hair. “She was amazing, you know. Always wanted to help people – to protect them, especially those who couldn’t protect themselves. It’s why she went after Pratt like she did. She told me, the night she left, that she wanted to get the bastard for those women he raped. So much, she was willing to sacrifice her career for her. That was Aiden - putting others before herself.” He sighed. “She came to see you, didn’t she?”
“Yeah,” Taylor admitted uncomfortably.
Danny nodded into her lap. “I thought so. Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask to see her. I know I can’t ask you that.”
“If I had any power, Danny…”
“I know, I just… was she… I mean, did she look happy.”
Taylor paused. Aiden had had an inane grin on her face every time she saw her, but that had been because she had been trying to give her a clue, not because of anything else. “I think she will be now,” she told him.
“Yeah,” Danny agreed, “If there’s a heaven, Aiden will definitely be in it.” He sat up. “I’m sorry about this, Tay.”
“Don’t even, Danny. If there is anything I can do, I will. Including let you wet my lap.” Even if she couldn’t have seen his smirk in the moonlight, she certainly would have felt it. “It’s amazing how your mind can get into the gutter so quickly.”
“Yeah, but you must have been thinking it too.”
Taylor rolled her eyes. “That wasn’t what I meant, and you know it.”
The smirk was replaced by a smile. “Thanks, Tay,” he told her, giving her a hug.
“No worries,” she got to her feet. “Right, I don’t want to hear any arguments about this, but you’re having my bed.”
“But-”
“I just told you – no arguments.” She headed to the door. “Now, I’m getting you a glass of water, and when I come back, I expect you in bed.”
“Taylor,” Danny called as she was about to take a step out of the door.
“Yes?” she asked, turning.
“Thank you.”
Taylor smiled at him and went straight to the kitchen. She had just pulled a glass out of the cupboard when there was a quiet knock at the door. She opened it and found a very worried looking Lindsay standing there. “Is Danny here?”
Taylor stood to one side to let her in. “He’s in my bed.”
Lindsay froze. “Oh.”
Taylor sighed. “Not like that. He was drunk, and he I figured he needed a bed, and no parents.”
Lindsay glanced down at the floor. “Is he alright?”
“He will be.” She filled the glass and handed it to Lindsay, who stared at in confusion. “Go give this to him.”
“Oh, I... I didn’t…”
“You didn’t turn up on my doorstep at three in the morning because you didn’t want to see him,” Taylor told her, giving her a push in the direction of her bedroom.
Lindsay looked at the glass, frowned, and then marched determinedly to the bedroom, where she knocked on the door. “I’m in bed, mom!” Taylor could hear Danny call. Without saying anything, Lindsay opened the door and went in. “Montana?”
Taylor smiled to herself and headed to her couch, where she flicked on the television, watching a late night repeat of The A-Team. It wasn’t until it finished that she realised that Lindsay hadn’t returned, and her spare sheets were in her room.
She frowned and knocked gently on the door, hoping not to disturb the two talking. As she stuck her head around the door, a huge grin lit her face. The two were fast asleep on top of the covers, Danny’s head resting on Lindsay’s stomach, which his arm was wrapped tightly around. One of Lindsay’s hand’s was resting on his cheek.
Taylor padded softly over and puller her throw over them, careful not to disturb them, and then grabbed her spare blankets. She headed back to the living room where she made herself comfortable. She was lying, staring at the ceiling, unable to fall asleep when she realised she wasn’t alone. “Aiden?”
“Hello, Taylor.”
“Hey, Tay!” Maddy, who was standing next to the former CSI, piped up.
“I thought you would have gone on, by now,” said Taylor as she pulled herself into a sitting position. “Although, I’m kinda glad you’re not,” she sighed, “I’m sorry.”
Aiden cocked her head. “What are you apologizing for?”
“You being dead,” Taylor offered. “If I hadn’t have been so wrapped up in things, I would have noticed Pratt, and you-”
“If it wasn’t you, it would have been some other woman,” Aiden told her firmly. “And I’m pretty sure I still would be here. And I’m not sorry for that. True, I probably should have gone about things differently – I was so obsessed with catching Pratt – but at the end of the day, he’s not going to hurt anyone else again.”
“No, and you’re not going to be able to live again, either. Danny isn’t going to be able to cope with losing you.”
“Danny will be fine. He has you, and he has Lindsay, when he finally finds his balls and asks her out,” Aiden laughed. “Maybe that’s my fault – ragging on him one time too often. And he has Flack, and Stella, and Hawkes, and even Mac. And that’s before we count his family.”
Taylor nodded. “But he doesn’t have you anymore. You’ve gone.” Aiden looked at Maddy and the two of them grinned. “Ok, you two shouldn’t be allowed to do that, because frankly, it’s worrying,” Taylor told them, eyeing the pair suspiciously.
“Well, you know how some people in life were teachers and when they died, they hung around to help future victims?” said Maddy.
“By some people, you mean yourself,” Taylor said, slowly. “Yeah, why?”
“Well, some people in life were cops and they protected people – and things like that don’t change in death.”
Taylor frowned, “I’m not sure I’m following this.”
“Well-” Aiden started.
“Meet your new guardian angel,” Maddy interrupted, gleefully.
Taylor just stared blankly at them, “Huh?”
“The Powers That Be realised that you needed a little help, sometimes, when the evil spirits come calling,” Maddy frowned. “Well, after you broke your arm, and you made me talk to them, they decided that you were right, and you get a guardian angel, and I get some company.”
Taylor rubbed her temples. “You’re going to protect me?” she asked Aiden, who was smiling happily at her.
“Yup. Although I won’t be around as much as Maddy, here. I will call in occasionally, though.” The smile dropped from her face. “But you’re best off not telling anyone about this. Not even Marty.”
Taylor frowned. “But Danny-”
“That’s exactly the reason why, Taylor. No one but you will be able to see me. That’s not going to be an easy one to explain to Danny – how I can’t go visit him.”
Taylor nodded. She could see her point. She sighed – it had been a very long and very emotionally draining day.
Thankfully, the two ghosts seemed to pick up on this. “Right, we should go,” said Maddy. “You look like you need some sleep.”
Taylor arched an eyebrow at her dead friend. “Is that a not-so subtle way of telling me I look like crap?”
“No,” laughed Maddy. “Well, nothing a few days beauty sleep wouldn’t cure.” The ghosts had disappeared before the pillow Taylor had launched at Maddy could pass through her.
She lay back down, using her arms as a pillow, staring back at the ceiling. She still couldn’t sleep. Instead of settling her, Aiden’s visit had just sent her mind turning at what felt like the speed of light. She sighed and got to her feet, deciding that maybe a glass of water would help.
As she let the tap run cold, and stared out of the window, there was another knock at the door. Frowning, she opened it, to find Flack standing on her doorstep. “Yeah, he’s here,” she told him, opening the door for him.
“Huh?”
“Danny – he’s in my bed,” she sighed. “With Lindsay. And they’re just sleeping,” she added. “But feel free to stick your head around the door and check up on them,” she told him, wearily, as she returned her attention back to filling her glass up. When she turned back around, she was surprised to find Flack still standing there. “You want one?” she asked, holding up the water.
“What are you still doing up?”
“Couldn’t sleep,” she shrugged. “Besides, you knocked at the door, so if I had been asleep, you’d have woken me up.” She walked past him and to her living room, where she flicked a light on and sat down. Flack followed her in. “Why are you here?” she asked, confused at him following her.
“Stella.”
“Come again?”
“Stella rang me. She said I should come over and check up on you.”
Taylor’s face screwed up in confusion, “huh?”
Flack came and sat next to her, “She told me that Pratt was following you.”
Taylor shut her eyes and bowed her head. “Yeah. He was.”
Flack wrapped his arms around her and pulled him to her. “Look, whatever does or doesn’t happen between us, I want you to know that I’ll be there for you, alright?” That was it – the last thing she needed – and the tears were leaking out of her eyes before she could stop them. Flack tightened his arms around her and kissed her hair, “I mean it, Taylor. Any time, day or night, don’t be afraid to turn up on my doorstep.”
Only he was quite a scary Danny. Not because he was violent, or argumentative, but rather because he was just sat there, staring at the label he was picking off his empty bottle of beer. Taylor bit her lip before pulling him to his feet and leading him out of the door. He didn’t say a word, just followed her silently back to her apartment. (Being as the bar was right by the lab, they were close to hers.)
At some point, during his last beer, Taylor had made the conscious decision not to let him go back to his parents, who were still at his, in that state, thinking that he could take her couch. Only, as she let him lean on her for support in the elevator, she realised that the best place for him would be her bed, and she would take the couch.
Which was why, at that moment, she was sitting him firmly down on the end of her bed. She was about to leave to get him a glass of water, when his movements in the moonlight which was cascading in through her windows, caught her attention. Her breath caught in her throat when she realised what the movements were. He was sobbing.
The water was forgotten about and she was at his side in an instant. Danny lay down, so his feet were curled up under him, and his head was in her lap, as he cried uncontrollably into her legs. Taylor just stoked his hair, letting him cry. She figured it was probably the best thing he could do.
It wasn’t until a good while later that he finally calmed himself down. “She would have liked you,” he said softly, his voice hoarse from the crying. Taylor just continued to stroke his hair. “She was amazing, you know. Always wanted to help people – to protect them, especially those who couldn’t protect themselves. It’s why she went after Pratt like she did. She told me, the night she left, that she wanted to get the bastard for those women he raped. So much, she was willing to sacrifice her career for her. That was Aiden - putting others before herself.” He sighed. “She came to see you, didn’t she?”
“Yeah,” Taylor admitted uncomfortably.
Danny nodded into her lap. “I thought so. Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask to see her. I know I can’t ask you that.”
“If I had any power, Danny…”
“I know, I just… was she… I mean, did she look happy.”
Taylor paused. Aiden had had an inane grin on her face every time she saw her, but that had been because she had been trying to give her a clue, not because of anything else. “I think she will be now,” she told him.
“Yeah,” Danny agreed, “If there’s a heaven, Aiden will definitely be in it.” He sat up. “I’m sorry about this, Tay.”
“Don’t even, Danny. If there is anything I can do, I will. Including let you wet my lap.” Even if she couldn’t have seen his smirk in the moonlight, she certainly would have felt it. “It’s amazing how your mind can get into the gutter so quickly.”
“Yeah, but you must have been thinking it too.”
Taylor rolled her eyes. “That wasn’t what I meant, and you know it.”
The smirk was replaced by a smile. “Thanks, Tay,” he told her, giving her a hug.
“No worries,” she got to her feet. “Right, I don’t want to hear any arguments about this, but you’re having my bed.”
“But-”
“I just told you – no arguments.” She headed to the door. “Now, I’m getting you a glass of water, and when I come back, I expect you in bed.”
“Taylor,” Danny called as she was about to take a step out of the door.
“Yes?” she asked, turning.
“Thank you.”
Taylor smiled at him and went straight to the kitchen. She had just pulled a glass out of the cupboard when there was a quiet knock at the door. She opened it and found a very worried looking Lindsay standing there. “Is Danny here?”
Taylor stood to one side to let her in. “He’s in my bed.”
Lindsay froze. “Oh.”
Taylor sighed. “Not like that. He was drunk, and he I figured he needed a bed, and no parents.”
Lindsay glanced down at the floor. “Is he alright?”
“He will be.” She filled the glass and handed it to Lindsay, who stared at in confusion. “Go give this to him.”
“Oh, I... I didn’t…”
“You didn’t turn up on my doorstep at three in the morning because you didn’t want to see him,” Taylor told her, giving her a push in the direction of her bedroom.
Lindsay looked at the glass, frowned, and then marched determinedly to the bedroom, where she knocked on the door. “I’m in bed, mom!” Taylor could hear Danny call. Without saying anything, Lindsay opened the door and went in. “Montana?”
Taylor smiled to herself and headed to her couch, where she flicked on the television, watching a late night repeat of The A-Team. It wasn’t until it finished that she realised that Lindsay hadn’t returned, and her spare sheets were in her room.
She frowned and knocked gently on the door, hoping not to disturb the two talking. As she stuck her head around the door, a huge grin lit her face. The two were fast asleep on top of the covers, Danny’s head resting on Lindsay’s stomach, which his arm was wrapped tightly around. One of Lindsay’s hand’s was resting on his cheek.
Taylor padded softly over and puller her throw over them, careful not to disturb them, and then grabbed her spare blankets. She headed back to the living room where she made herself comfortable. She was lying, staring at the ceiling, unable to fall asleep when she realised she wasn’t alone. “Aiden?”
“Hello, Taylor.”
“Hey, Tay!” Maddy, who was standing next to the former CSI, piped up.
“I thought you would have gone on, by now,” said Taylor as she pulled herself into a sitting position. “Although, I’m kinda glad you’re not,” she sighed, “I’m sorry.”
Aiden cocked her head. “What are you apologizing for?”
“You being dead,” Taylor offered. “If I hadn’t have been so wrapped up in things, I would have noticed Pratt, and you-”
“If it wasn’t you, it would have been some other woman,” Aiden told her firmly. “And I’m pretty sure I still would be here. And I’m not sorry for that. True, I probably should have gone about things differently – I was so obsessed with catching Pratt – but at the end of the day, he’s not going to hurt anyone else again.”
“No, and you’re not going to be able to live again, either. Danny isn’t going to be able to cope with losing you.”
“Danny will be fine. He has you, and he has Lindsay, when he finally finds his balls and asks her out,” Aiden laughed. “Maybe that’s my fault – ragging on him one time too often. And he has Flack, and Stella, and Hawkes, and even Mac. And that’s before we count his family.”
Taylor nodded. “But he doesn’t have you anymore. You’ve gone.” Aiden looked at Maddy and the two of them grinned. “Ok, you two shouldn’t be allowed to do that, because frankly, it’s worrying,” Taylor told them, eyeing the pair suspiciously.
“Well, you know how some people in life were teachers and when they died, they hung around to help future victims?” said Maddy.
“By some people, you mean yourself,” Taylor said, slowly. “Yeah, why?”
“Well, some people in life were cops and they protected people – and things like that don’t change in death.”
Taylor frowned, “I’m not sure I’m following this.”
“Well-” Aiden started.
“Meet your new guardian angel,” Maddy interrupted, gleefully.
Taylor just stared blankly at them, “Huh?”
“The Powers That Be realised that you needed a little help, sometimes, when the evil spirits come calling,” Maddy frowned. “Well, after you broke your arm, and you made me talk to them, they decided that you were right, and you get a guardian angel, and I get some company.”
Taylor rubbed her temples. “You’re going to protect me?” she asked Aiden, who was smiling happily at her.
“Yup. Although I won’t be around as much as Maddy, here. I will call in occasionally, though.” The smile dropped from her face. “But you’re best off not telling anyone about this. Not even Marty.”
Taylor frowned. “But Danny-”
“That’s exactly the reason why, Taylor. No one but you will be able to see me. That’s not going to be an easy one to explain to Danny – how I can’t go visit him.”
Taylor nodded. She could see her point. She sighed – it had been a very long and very emotionally draining day.
Thankfully, the two ghosts seemed to pick up on this. “Right, we should go,” said Maddy. “You look like you need some sleep.”
Taylor arched an eyebrow at her dead friend. “Is that a not-so subtle way of telling me I look like crap?”
“No,” laughed Maddy. “Well, nothing a few days beauty sleep wouldn’t cure.” The ghosts had disappeared before the pillow Taylor had launched at Maddy could pass through her.
She lay back down, using her arms as a pillow, staring back at the ceiling. She still couldn’t sleep. Instead of settling her, Aiden’s visit had just sent her mind turning at what felt like the speed of light. She sighed and got to her feet, deciding that maybe a glass of water would help.
As she let the tap run cold, and stared out of the window, there was another knock at the door. Frowning, she opened it, to find Flack standing on her doorstep. “Yeah, he’s here,” she told him, opening the door for him.
“Huh?”
“Danny – he’s in my bed,” she sighed. “With Lindsay. And they’re just sleeping,” she added. “But feel free to stick your head around the door and check up on them,” she told him, wearily, as she returned her attention back to filling her glass up. When she turned back around, she was surprised to find Flack still standing there. “You want one?” she asked, holding up the water.
“What are you still doing up?”
“Couldn’t sleep,” she shrugged. “Besides, you knocked at the door, so if I had been asleep, you’d have woken me up.” She walked past him and to her living room, where she flicked a light on and sat down. Flack followed her in. “Why are you here?” she asked, confused at him following her.
“Stella.”
“Come again?”
“Stella rang me. She said I should come over and check up on you.”
Taylor’s face screwed up in confusion, “huh?”
Flack came and sat next to her, “She told me that Pratt was following you.”
Taylor shut her eyes and bowed her head. “Yeah. He was.”
Flack wrapped his arms around her and pulled him to her. “Look, whatever does or doesn’t happen between us, I want you to know that I’ll be there for you, alright?” That was it – the last thing she needed – and the tears were leaking out of her eyes before she could stop them. Flack tightened his arms around her and kissed her hair, “I mean it, Taylor. Any time, day or night, don’t be afraid to turn up on my doorstep.”
Originally posted 21/07/2006