The Blind Fortune Teller/What a Scot fears most

The body was on the back of a cart behind the scenes of a circus. Of all the places - a circus? Bernie Lynch glanced around at the various acts and costumes. She'd never actually been to a circus - Scotland wasn't known for it's warm attitudes to traditional family-friendly fun. She almost wished the experience of being at the circus was in better circumstances.

The flash of Ed's camera brought her back to the task at hand. Homicide. The body was on a cart but a quick check revealed that it was not where the poor wee woman had died. There was early sign of blood-pooling in the limbs that didn't match the way that she was laying.

According to Detective Gordon - the ringmaster had admitted to moving her.

'Whut's wi' all the fake snakeskin?' Bernie frowned as she inspected what looked like knife wound number three. It was a deep cut - had gone almost to the bone. Whoever had done it had some power and motive for inflicting this kind of damage and yet - they were mostly centred on the torso. The poor woman's face remained clear. Bloody - certainly, but not cut. She twisted an arm to get a look at the defensive wounds that littered her arms like the marks of a self-harmer. One finger had almost exclusively been cut off - only a thin strip of skin kept it latched on like a macabre hinge.

'As I understand it - The victim was a snake dancer.' Ed snapped a quick photo of the finger in case it came loose in transit - Bodies will do that to you.

'Snakes?!' She dropped the arm and glanced around in alarm.

'Bernie?' Ed frowned 'Are you okay?'

'Ah hate snakes!' She fretted.

'That's a perfectly understandable phobia,' Ed agreed. 'All snakes are at least partly venomous, and excellent at camouflage.'

'Their wee little beady eyes an' -'

'Did you know that the first snake dancers were considered charmers? it was an honourable profession in history - these people could die from a single bite.'

'Ed, yer not helpin'.' She grumbled. It wasn't like she hadn't tried this rationally after all - and it was hardly a phobia. It wasn't like she was up on the cart screaming blue bloody murder because-

Rustle

She was up on the cart screaming blue bloody murder.

There were giggles coming from all corners as she finally got control of her mouth. her face flamed red at the sudden attention and she sneaked a peek towards Ed. He looked shocked and amused in equal measure.

Kill her now.

'You don't need to worry, Bernie. Detective Gordon has already taken the snake as evidence.' Ed smiled as she gingerly connected with terra firma again amid the tittering laughter.

'Ah dunno, wha's with him an' finding bodies ter investigate? Wasn't he meant ter be on a date?' She grumbled - her face still a very impressive shade of red. She took to re-organising her tools to avoid looking at anyone.

'I believe he was,' Ed replied amicably. 'Are you scared of snakes, Bernie?'

'Whut? Naw!' She defended hurriedly; she realised as it exploded out of her mouth - too hurriedly.

'Everyone's afraid of something.' He replied diplomatically. She couldn't help but be reminded of his aversion to the morgue when he'd first started to work at the GCPD. He'd have done anything to avoid going there - at least until his hand had been forced during the Spirit of the Goat case and then to his jubilaition - he found it really wasn't that bad. In fact it was just like another kind of riddle; Nowadays you had to pry him from the morgue with a crowbar. Or Takeaway. 'Perhaps you should do some more research on the subject? Knowing the facts could help put you at ease.'

Or make her worse.

Rustle

She was halfway up the cart again when Gordon's voice boomed across the hill somewhat exasperatedly- 'Alverez will you stop harassing the technicians?!'

She wasn't one to wish for bad things to happen to people - but she kind of hoped something unpleasant happened to Alvarez in the near future as she climbed down.

She wasn't the only one.

'What an insensitive jerk,' Both she and Ed turned and caught sight of Leslie Thompkins.

'Lee?' Bernie frowned. The Medical Examiner shouldn't be here just yet. The only reason the morgue van was here was because they'd been in the area scraping up a suicide. Suicides were messy - especially the jumpers. 'Whut're you doin'-' She caught sight of the dress underneath the warm overcoat and put two and two together. 'Yer not...'

Leslie raised an eyebrow in confusion. 'I'm not...what?'

'Please tell me yer no' here with Gordon.' She begged.

The other woman blinked in surprise and then laughed. 'I suppose the cat's out of the bag. Yes. Yes I am.'

'Sod almighty,' Bernie gulped.

'Why? Is there something wrong with me being on a date with James Gordon?' Lee asked with a wry smile.

'Let's start wi' the fact yer too guid for him, aye?'

A/N: Stitcher let Real Life drag her away last week. Sorry. I have religiously watched each and every episode - I just haven't had time to write some of them. :( Anyway - in the spirit of having missed writing for the great and good episode The Scarecrow - I'd like you to comment with what YOU'D see on fear toxin.

For me - that would be spiders. I watched Arachnophobia once and some of those scenes would be disturbingly accurate to what I'd see on Fear Toxin.

Review time!

Bat-teen28: It was pretty epic, wasn't it? xD Ed's revenge is best served slightly chilled with a hint of decay.

scribblescribblescribble: It would have to be a bloody big brick! I absolutely agree but I keep chickening out of writing one xD Perhaps his next big failure with Kristin. Haha! That's what I aim for! I can't take a better compliment than she belongs on the show. :) I have! I've also watched the entire 10 minute teaser trailer and wept when they pushed the release date back a further two weeks. Why do they do this to us?! WHY?!

Dragonturtle21: I am incredibly sorry that I was forced to take an unscheduled break. It happens sometimes.