TRU CALLING "The Man In Black"
(This is a Tru Calling/Charmed crossover)
by J. B. Tilton email: Rating: G

Disclaimer: "Tru Calling" and all related characters and events are the property of Jon Feldman and the Fox television network, and "Charmed" and all related characters and events are the property of the WB television network, except for those characters specifically created for this story. This is a work of fan fiction and no infringement of copyright is intended.

(Author's note: This story takes place during Tru Calling season 1 episodes "Death Becomes Her" and "Rear Window" and Charmed season 6 episodes "Hyde School Reunion" and "Spin City".)

When Tru Davies attends a medical examiners conference in San Francisco she is asked for her unique help by a most unexpected source.

ONE

Tru Davies breezed into the morgue in New York City. She was a little bit late because she had actually stopped to take a few minutes to admire the sunset. Things had been relatively normal of late. Meredith, her sister, seemed to be behaving herself. There had been no indication of any recent drug use, though Tru knew that was only temporary.

Harrison, her brother, and Lindsay, her best friend were spending even more time together. Harrison hadn't involved Tru in one of his quick money schemes for nearly a week and she was thankful for that. Jack, the new guy at work, was just as enigmatic as ever but seemed to be preoccupied with something the past few days and had very little time to make those cryptic remarks that she had trouble figuring out. Davis, her boss, was as friendly and helpful as ever, even though he was going to California for a medical examiners convention for four days.

But the most important aspect of the last week or so was that none of the "guests" at the morgue had asked for her help. There had been no rewound days where she spent the day running around trying to prevent a death with everyone she talked to thinking she was a little off center.

All in all everything was as normal as possible for a recently college graduated twenty-two year old young woman. Her love life was in a sort of stasis at the moment but she was getting used to that. Having to run off at the last minute without giving any explanation that she was reliving a day and had to prevent a death wasn't very conducive to most "normal" relationships.

"Hey, Davis," she said as she glided into the morgue, "sorry I'm late. It was just such a nice day out I sort of lost track of time."

"Oh, that's okay," said Davis, a strange sound in his voice. "We don't have any arrivals yet so it's been kind of quiet."

"I'm sure that will change," said Tru, suddenly noticing a pair of crutches leaning against the wall by Davis' desk. "What's with the crutches?"

Davis didn't say a word. He simply turned and stuck out his left leg. From the calf to the toes he was wearing a cast that seemed to be recently applied. Tru just stared at the cast for a moment before she spoke.

"What happened?" she asked.

"Just a stupid accident," said Davis. "I was filing some paperwork upstairs earlier today. Coming down the stairs I stumbled. I have three hairline fractures on my ankle. I'm going to be on these for a while."

"What about the conference?" Tru asked. "Isn't that going to be inconvenient? You're supposed to leave in the morning."

"I'm not going anywhere," said Davis. "It hurts like hell just walking across the room. There's no way I can spend four days schlepping from one lecture to another. So I guess I'm not going."

"Bummer," said Tru. "From what you said, that's going to cost the city some of the money they've paid out for the conference. Isn't some of it non-
refundable?"

"Yes," said Davis. "But you know, if someone were to go in my place, it might placate the accountants somewhat. At least the money wouldn't go to waste and you know what kind of financial situation the city is in right now. That person could get the information and bring it back to me."

"Someone?" questioned Tru. "Someone like me, you mean."

"Well," said Davis.

"No, no, no," said Tru, shaking her head. "I can't do that. I'm not a doctor. I wouldn't even understand what the heck they're talking about. Besides, can't you just call the conference and ask them to send the information to you?"

"I could," said Davis. "But there's the non-refundable fees already paid out. Tru, everything is already arranged. The plane ticket is paid for, the fees for the conference were sent in weeks ago, even the hotel room has been prepaid for four days. You wouldn't even have to attend the lectures. Just stop by each one before it begins and pick up the handouts and bring them back to me. You'd have most of the two days of the conference to do whatever you wanted. There's even five hundred dollars for incidental expenses. It would be like a paid vacation."

"I don't know," said Tru. "What about my duties here?"

"I can get someone from one of the other morgues to cover for a couple of days," said Davis. "Besides, we have Jack here now. You'd get to ride a trolley car. Not to mention seeing some of the sights in San Francisco."

"What if," Tru said, pausing for a moment, "someone needs my help? I can't very well be here to help them if I'm in California."

"Tru," said Davis, "what you do is very important. But you can't revolve your whole life around your gift. If it's going to happen then it's going to happen no matter where you are. You know as well as I do that it's happened at other places than in the morgue. Besides, you never know when it's going to happen. It could be another week before it happens again."

"I guess so," said Tru. "I don't have to attend any of the lectures?"

"Not even one," said Davis, holding an envelope out to her. "They give out handouts of all the information and the lectures are just to expand on that information and answer any questions that might arise. All you have to do is collect the handouts for me."

"I suppose," Tru said tentatively, taking the envelope from Davis. "But only because I know what these conferences mean to you."

"Thanks, Tru," said Davis, smiling. "You won't regret it. I hear California is beautiful this time of year."

"It's always beautiful," said Tru, sticking the envelope into her purse. "Temperate climate and all. I guess I should go home and pack. The flight out is at eleven a.m. Think you can handle this place without me tonight?"

"I think I can manage," said Davis, smiling again.

Tru turned and walked out of the morgue hoping that she wasn't making a mistake.