Author's Note: MJ Taylor is my creation however, CSI: New York and its characters belong to CBS.
The time frame is a few years after M.J. Taylor has completed the NYC Police Academy. Her family, brother Mac Taylor and his wife Claire Taylor are the heart and soul that drives her. She has strived to overcome her past and make her parents, Walter and Marie Taylor, proud of what she's accomplished in her life. However, the nightmares of her childhood are never far and are still a threat to everything she holds dear. Keeping her family safe is basis of everything she does. Now in order to keep them safe she has to face her the monster from her past, but she won't face him alone, whether she likes it or not.
CHOICES
"What do you want to know?" The question hung in the air. Danny had a million questions. He started to pace. He walked over to the window and peaked out. She sat in silence staring at the amber brown liquid in her glass. She never thought she would utter those words and actually be prepared to answer the questions asked. Or at least she thought she was prepared. Danny turned and watched her in silence. He had so many things he wanted to know, except where to start.
He walked over and stood in front of her with his arms crossed over his chest. MJ looked up and couldn't help but giggle. "Oh D, some things don't change. You had that same stance every time you interrogated a "suspect" in the academy. Trust me it will be a lot easier…" she paused, "on both of us, if you just relax, have a drink and play a game." Danny gave her a puzzled look. "A game?" He asked. MJ nodded as she pushed Danny's glass closer to him. She downed her shot and then poured herself another generous glass. "Yep, a game. 20 questions. But we'll change it up. No yes or no questions. You ask, I'll answer, then we'll see where the conversation takes us." He gave her a half laugh. He realized she was doing the one thing he couldn't, find a way to break the ice and start.
"Okay." Danny agreed. "Any question?" MJ looked up. "Sure, but as with any game there are rules." She paused. Danny grinned. "I'm not real good with rules. You know that." MJ shook her head. "This one you'll follow or we don't play." She hesitated. "I'm trusting you D to keep your word. It's important." He nodded in agreement. "What I tell you doesn't get repeated. To anyone, not even Mac. Understood?" He looked into her eyes and saw seriousness instead of the usual playfulness. Danny nodded. "You have my word."
With that MJ emptied the shot of liquor and pour herself another. "I'm ready when you are." It was Danny's turn to hesitate. He got up and paced the room. So much had happened the last few days. He stole glances at her but she offered no assistance of where to begin. Finally he looked at her and simply asked. "Who are you?" But the question was complicated and he knew it. "When we were in the academy together, I thought I had a pretty good idea of who you are and your story but after the past few days… It's like you are a total stranger." MJ interrupted his thoughts. "Don't feel bad D, I don't think anyone truly knows who I am. That's usually my intent." She sighed. "It's safer for everyone, including myself." Danny looked at her. "You helped them with the case against Murphy didn't you? That's why they're worried. They think he's coming after you." MJ shrugged. "No offense D, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out that I helped the feds and yeah, they're worried that he's coming after me." She paused. "But not for the reasons you think. I honestly don't believe he even knows I'm here." Danny had a confused look on his face. "You don't?" MJ shook her head. "He wants a face to face with Kat. Which means a face to face with me and that's what has the feds nervous." Danny following her or at least he thought he was. "Right, he'll ID you, know you from Chicago and he'll know you're working with the feds." MJ looked at him. "D, he hasn't seen me in 16 years."
Danny was really confused. "What? 16 years?" MJ waited for Danny to process what she just said. "The Chicago case was 8 years ago." Danny stated. "That would be correct." She confirmed. He didn't have MJ's exact age but he had an idea and 16 years would make her about 10 or so. "You were a kid." He declared. MJ nodded. "Yep. Supposed to be, but I lost my childhood when I was eight after my folks were killed in a car accident." Danny looked at her. He knew some of Mac Taylor's background and was aware that his father died of cancer just before he came here to New York. So things weren't adding up. MJ finally took pity on his confusion and helped him. "D, I was taken in by the Taylors when I was fourteen." He digested that bit of information. "Okay, and the years between the time you were 8 and fourteen?" MJ took a breath. "Hell on earth, well at least until I was 11 then it was just a nightmare." Danny was starting to get frustrated with not understanding so he point blank asked the question. "Why is Murphy a threat to you?" MJ downed another shot. "I was born Sarah Ann Murphy. The daughter of Stephen and Kathleen Murphy." Danny ran through Murphy's file in his mind. "Murphy has a brother named Stephen." MJ blankly stared at the wall. "Had. Had a brother named Stephen. A brother that was killed along with his wife in a car accident." Danny was stunned. MJ finally admitted out loud what he was finally wrapping his head around. "Patrick Simon Murphy is my uncle."
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