This is the first of hopefully a couple of stories of how each team member met Mac. I love writing Mac and Sid's friendship so I wrote this one first and also I wanted to do this in order, so Stella will be next. Enjoy and please review your thoughts and suggestions. I will be updating Blinded in the next couple of days so be on the look out for that!

1998

"If you just look at the case, you'll see what I'm talking about," Sid pleaded to the head of the New York Crime Lab, Robinson Walters. The gray-haired older man shook his head as he remained focused on the large lunch in front of him that was sure to clog his arteries even further.

"Dr. Hammerback, I've got more pressing issues to deal with than your side projects," he waved a dismissive hand. Sid felt a ball of anger build in his chest.

"This isn't a side project, it's a case," Sid tried to keep his voice even as he watched the detective stuff another handful of fries into his mouth.

"That has already been solved…by your superior might I add," Walters raised an eyebrow in confidence. "Do you like to make a habit of undermining your boss's work?" he asked. Sid gritted his teeth and kept his mouth shut. He didn't doubt Dr. Kilmar's work…Sid just swayed outside the box that the older doctor confined himself to. It was easier to call the death a suicide than to dig deeper. All he needed was Detective Walters's sign off to run a couple more tests. He knew it was murder and he needed to prove it because the young woman in the morgue deserved justice. Sid had only been working at the morgue and with the Crime Lab for two weeks and found he didn't like the way the detectives dragged their feet or the way his fellow medical examiners skipped steps to come to simple conclusions that left no room for the truth.

Sid was about to open his mouth to say exactly how he felt when he heard the door behind him open.

"Detective Wal-" the man at the door stopped as he realized he had interrupted. "I'll come back later," the man said and turned to leave.

"No, Detective Taylor, wait," Walters called him back. The man slowly turned back, a forced smile more akin to a grimace plastered on his face. As Sid got a closer look at the younger detective he realized he had seen him around the building a couple of times.

Detective Taylor's eyes flickered to Sid and he nodded in greeting as he stepped further into the room, uncertainty written across his face.

"We're in need of a third opinion here," Walters said through a mouthful of greasy cheeseburger. Sid saw another barely concealed grimace cross Detective Taylor's face as his eyes scanned Walter's food filled mouth and the various sauces covering his already messy desk.

"Regarding?" Detective Taylor asked slowly.

"This case," Walter's tossed the file across his desk, clumsily knocking over an empty fast food container. "Dr. Hammerback believes it was a murder and wants to run some expensive tests to prove it." Detective Taylor frowned lightly as he picked up the file and began reading. His eyes read the facts of the case quickly and only a few silent moments passed before he lifted his eyes. "Well?" Walter's asked, his gaze telling the detective what his answer should be. Detective Taylor's eyes flickered to Sid and for a moment Sid saw a flicker of something he couldn't read pass through the man's blue eyes. Detective Taylor's gaze was very sharp and Sid got the impression that he could read more about Sid than Sid was totally comfortable with. A beat passed before he turned his gaze back to Walters.

"I think there is enough evidence of foul play to support the tests," Detective Taylor said, his eyes defiant as a scowl crossed his boss's face. Sid saw the anger in Walter's gaze as his mouth pressed into a firm line. He quickly snatched up the papers Sid held out for him to sign. Sid left as quickly as possible because the tension in the room was building with every passing second. He had a feeling Detective Taylor would be frequently assigned to dumpster duty in the upcoming weeks.

XXXXXXXXXX

Sid looked up as he heard the door to the morgue slide open. He felt a smile form on his lips as Detective Taylor stepped into the room.

"It's not often a homicide detective visits the land of the dead," Sid said as a greeting. Detective Taylor smiled slightly.

"My curiosity got the best of me," he said as he moved closer to the victim laying on the table in front of Sid.

"I have a feeling that happens often for you," Sid said lightly, his eyes watching Detective Taylor closely. The young detective gave nothing away as his eyes met Sid's. Even with the poor lighting and the dark shadows cast across his face, Sid could see a somber flicker in Detective Taylor's eyes as they landed on the young girl's body.

"Did your tests yield any answers for her?" Detective Taylor asked, his eyes not leaving the victim. Sid felt a sudden surge of hope in his chest and he smiled proudly.

"I'm filling out the paperwork to reopen the case as a murder investigation as we speak," he held up the clipboard in his hands. The ghost of a smile pulled at the corner of Detective Taylor's mouth and he nodded in satisfaction. A noticeable but not uncomfortable moment of silence passed between the two men. Sid smiled softly and hopped on his heels lightly. "I never thanked you for your help with Detective Walters earlier," he said.

"The truth is repayment enough," Detective Taylor said and Sid caught the sincerity of his words in his eyes.

"You think you'll find it?" Sid asked. "The truth, I mean," he added. The case had already been closed once and the evidence had already been examined and read incorrectly. As much as he wanted to see the young victim's murdered behind bars he knew the likelihood of catching him or her decreased as every moment passed. Detective Taylor nodded thoughtfully for a second.

"I think we will, Dr. Hammerback," he said, a glimmer of smile in his eyes. Sid grinned as he acknowledged what Detective Taylor's words meant…they would be working together. Sid felt a pinch of excitement he had not yet felt since he joined the ranks of NYPD employees. Detective Taylor tucked his hands into the deep pockets of his long, black coat and moved towards the door. "I expect a call when you finish up that paperwork, Dr. Hammerback," he said as he turned back.

"You can call me, Sid," Sid suggested with an eager smile. Detective Taylor hesitated for a moment before a small smile crossed his lips.

"Mac," he supplied his own name before he pushed through the doors and left. Sid turned back to his work with more enthusiasm than before. He had a feeling he had just found his first true friend in New York.

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