Disclaimer: Don't own anything...yadda yadda yadda

For Inconvenience and Discomfort

Chapter 2: The Sounds of Gloria Gaynor

It had been just a day short of three weeks since Scarlett began working at the Crime lab. There really hadn't been any major calls since then. Scarlett stared longingly out the window and sighed. It was raining. She had been prepared this time, she thought, as her eyes went to her trusty umbrella. Her eyes moved along the office, through the glass out at the crowd around the lab she was in. She saw Lindsay and moved to cover her face so she wouldn't talk to her. Apparently, they were friends, or something. She wasn't that bad, but…she was just so damn cheery in the morning. Danny had seemed to share the intolerance, and it had bonded them early on. They thought up different schemes to avoid her in the morning together. Moving along the office window, her eyes fell on Stella and Mac. Stella was great. She had helped find a better apartment for Scarlett, saved her from Lindsay on numerous occasions and put her in a good place with Mac. Mac was…interesting. Sometimes, when he thought you weren't looking, or you catch him off guard, he did the most peculiar things. She grinned as she resurfaced the image of Mac, in a towel, singing 'Everlasting Love' in the locker room.

Scarlett had stayed late out night to try and finish up some paper work from a small misdemeanor she had been assigned, and was getting ready to leave, when the sounds of Gloria Gaynor reached her ears. She quietly rounded the row of lockers and watched Mac belt out all the notes and end with a long, drawn out, off-key one. She leaned against the lockers and clapped smugly. Mac jumped and spun around, pale faced and wide eyed. He slowly put down his would be microphone hair comb and stared at Scarlett for a moment before calmly turning back to his locker.

"This never happened." It took everything in Scarlett not to laugh out loud at him.

"Of course Mac." She exited the locker room and the lab, entered her car and burst into hysterical laughter. The entire way to her apartment she kept breaking into laughing fits and when she got home, and was just about to fall asleep, she giggled to herself. She still gets a good giggle out of it every once in a while.

Moving on from them, there stood Detective Donald Flack, tall, dark and annoying. He was the bane of her existence. In the short time she's been here, he drove her absolutely mad. She did get him just as aggravated, but it didn't really help her own frustration. She glared silently and her mental attempts to make him disappear were interrupted when a knock on the door made her jump.

"Hey Slim, I think we may have your first big case." Scarlett's eyes lit up as she hopped off her stool and walked over to Danny excitedly. He lead her through the office and Mac came up to them.

"Danny, I'll take her, thanks." Scarlett waved excitedly to Danny and he shook his head, smiling as she followed Mac out the door. They got into Mac's car and headed toward the scene, an old warehouse bordering a dodgy suburban area. As they pulled up to the crime scene, Scarlett saw Flack and sunk in her seat.

"Ugh, Mac, it's my first case. Does he have to be here?" Mac looked at her and raised his eyebrow. "What!" He gave her a tired look and got out of the car. After taking a deep breath, she emerged as well.

"Aww, is this Midget's first case?" Scarlett glared at him. She was 5'4 and he was 6'1, this was funny to him.

"Shut up Flack, just because I don't look like the Jolly Green Freakin' Giant doesn't mean I'm a midget."

"Oh man, that cut deep."

"Can you two stop so we can get on with the scene?" Scarlett gave Flack a dirty look as he began briefing them.

"Three girls were found in the warehouse over there, dressed up to the Ritz. Their make up was smudged, and dresses ripped. We need to get the sexual assault kits and check them. The scene is pretty gruesome, they were alive when he did this to them. They have skin peeled off, broken bones, lost teeth, hair pulled out. One of the girls has her tongue cut out. It looks like this creep gave them some kind of date rape drug, dragged them here, tortured them and killed them." Scarlett's face was paling as Flack went on. How was she so excited about this? She felt sick. Mac started walking toward the warehouse and motioned for her to come. She rigidly followed him to the doors. The putrid, metallic smell of blood invaded her senses and her stomach was beginning to rebel against her. She stepped into the room and she felt like her whole body was going numb. Three girls were in different parts of the vast room, their bodies twisted, as if they were grotesque statues.

"Scarlett?" She turned to Mac and he gave her a look. "Are you okay to do this?" She put on a blasé face and gave him a dry look.

"Of course." She began to process the scene intently, trying to ignore the bodies and the smell. Her hands were starting to shake as she finished processing. The coroner came in and took the bodies to the lab. Scarlett scanned the floor again and a glint on the floor caught her eye. She went over with a glove and picked it up. A ring. An engagement ring. Her hands began shaking violently. She placed the ring in an evidence bag silently and dropped it in with the rest of the evidence. She slowly removed herself from the crime scene and walked several feet behind and to the side of the warehouse in the rain. She fell to her knees and her stomach contents emptied onto the dead grass. She was shaking still and tears started to fall from her eyes, mixing with the rain. She threw up again. A gasping sob came from her lips as she covered her face with her hands.

"Dale?" How could he be the one to find her? This wasn't fair, it would never be fair. "Dale, are you alright?" Maybe if she didn't answer him he would go away. She took in a deep breath and took her hands away from her face and slowly stood up. She didn't face Flack, because she knew she would get some kind of shit from him. Her knees shook as she looked through the rain into the empty field. There was still the taste of vomit in her mouth and she had the urge to throw up again. Something caught her eye and she looked closer. Was that a man? Oh my God. She turned to Flack and saw he was saying something. He stopped abruptly and looked down at her with a sagging mouth.

"Look over my shoulder, far down the field." He followed her directions silently and stiffened.

"Holy Shit." He made a move for his gun, but her hand touched his and she shook her head.

"Can you tell if he can see us?" Flack squinted his eyes, but then shook his head no. Scarlett's jaw stiffened and then she stood up straighter. She grabbed her phone and called Mac while she started to move toward the few dead trees in the field.

"Taylor," Mac answered distractedly, probably in the middle of processing. Scarlett bit her lip and took a breath.

"Mac, its Scarlett."

"You okay?" There was a hint of worry in his voice and Scarlett almost smiled.

"I think I found the guy."

"What?"

"The person who's been doing this, I think he's standing toward the end of the field, by the patch of trees before the road."

"I'm coming-"

"No, I have to go now, before he sees me, I've got Flack with me," Scarlett said rushed. There was a brief pause before Mac answered.

"Flack?" There was another pause. "Be careful Scarlett."

"I will be." And she hung up her phone. Flack was standing behind her, devoid of his leather, but he had a coat on. She had taken hers off in the warehouse and was currently soaked. So much for being prepared. She looked at Flack, then followed the fence along the area to the corner quietly, her gun in her hand, shaking a bit. Her heels began sinking into the ground and were becoming a problem. She discarded them and tiptoed through the mud. She shivered as the cold water bleed through to her feet. Flack was silently following her his head somewhat ducked and his knees bent, his gun out as well. They inched toward the end of the tall fence, and saw the man hand not even budged. They edged along the corner of the fence, entering the small, dead forest. Flack went closer to her back, and she heard his breath above her head. As they came closer to the man, Scarlett squinted her eyes at him. What the hell? The man was hovering above the ground. She advanced quicker to him and stood directly behind him, and sort of poked him with her gun. The body swayed, but didn't move. She looked up the body and saw he was hanging from a branch by a barely visible rope.

"Christ…" Flack let out a loud breathe and stepped away from her. Scarlett stood staring at the body with a puzzled expression on her face. She walked around to the front of the body and looked at the man. His throat was slit. Scarlett took a step back and her eyes widened. She moved around the other side of the body to get to Flack.

" Flack-" He turned to her, but then something jumped at him from behind, knocking him into her, his head going into her eye, and they fell to the ground hard. Her head hit the hard, muddy ground and she got dizzy for a moment, before scrambling to get her gun to the opposing creature. Scarlett saw a pale figure moving through the trees and fired off a shot. The figure cried out and slowed for a moment but kept moving. Flack reached for his gun, but it was missing. Scarlett stood to aim but it took a minute for her to focus, and she fired into the foggy distance twice, but neither shot hit home. As the figure went out of range, she fell back against the tree and quickly grabbed her phone.

"Scarlett! What the hell is going on?"

"Mac, we found the perp, but he attacked us and grabbed Flack's gun. I shot at him three times, but only hit once." He's going through to the road, and I going to follow, send some uniforms." Scarlett hung up and pushed off the tree clumsily, and she fell into Flack, who was attempting to stand as well. They both fell again and Scarlett scrambled to get up to get through, but Flack held her.

"They can get him; you aren't going to do anything but hurt yourself if you go out there." Officers entered into the wood and Scarlett pointed toward the road and they followed her direction and left towards there. Scarlett lifted herself up slightly, but got dizzy again. She rested her head down on Flack and closed her eyes. She opened them again to see Flack staring at her. He started to move and successfully sat up, bringing Scarlett with him. She put her hands on his shoulder and pushed herself up. She held out her hand to Flack and he took in graciously. She pulled him up and they stumbled into the tree. Flack looked down to her and she looked warily up at him. They were too close for comfort.

"Scarlett, Flack, you okay?" They jumped away from each other as Mac headed towards them. Flack answered on behalf of them.

"We're a little banged up. He came out of nowhere. I was paying attention and everything. I just…I don't even know how it happened." Flack stood a bit stupefied for a second before shaking his head. He grinned a little, "You've got a good shot here though Mac," and nodded to Scarlett. She smiled lightly and cracked her back. She was still leaning against the tree and didn't think she could safely move without getting dizzy. Flack was looking pale and came back to lean against the tree. There was a small amount of blood running down to his collar from the back of his head.

"Should we go…to the hospital…or something?" Scarlett said looking at Flack. She knew there was a bruise forming around her eye and she tasted blood in her mouth. Her ankle was hurting a bit too. Mac nodded and called for an officer. He asked him to take them to the hospital near the CSI building. He obliged and led the way toward the cars. Flack and Scarlett fell behind the speeding officer as they limped along.

"Flack…I- Well- I…" Flack looked down at her and smiled warmly. Scarlett took a deep breath and looked up at him embarrassed. Flack wasn't used to this; he thought it was funny though. She was so strong and guarded and now…Flack just smiled again. "Thank you…for coming around back before, I mean." Scarlett looked back down to the ground. "I was kind of freaked. I didn't expect my first case to be like…that. I always thought it would be something like a misdemeanor…and after I found one of the women's engagement rings I lost it." Flack nodded and looked down at her again.

"Mac took you on this case, because he knows that you are as good as they say you are. I mean, all the talk about you through the office, I was getting nervous." He grinned, "I was surprised after the first time I met you that you were the fuss. The kid who couldn't find her way through the office in gym shorts and running shoes, it was refreshing to know you had a personality." Scarlett blushed and continued to be silent. "My first case alone was a hit and run. Only it was a guy that was hit and he wasn't hit by a car, he was tied up and hit by a truck. I got sick every time I pictured it for a week. It was horrible." He brushed his hand against hers, and she looked back up at him. "We all know what you're going through, everybody had a first case."

They finally reached the impatient officer in front of Flack's car. Flack rolled his eyes and threw him the keys. Scarlett climbed into the back seat and Flack went up front. The ride to the hospital was a quiet one, except for the impatient sighs of the officer whenever they hit a red light. They finally reached the hospital, and the officer dropped Scarlett, Flack and the car off and caught a taxi back to the precinct, where he could get back to the crime scene.

The pair made their way into the hospital and went up to the desk. Flack flashed a charming smile to the middle aged, angry-looking woman, who seemed to be annoyed by Flack's charm. His smiled wavered when she gave him a dirty look and turned to Scarlett.

"Can I help you Miss?" Scarlett smiled kindly and leaned against the counter. Flack scowled and turned around and leaned his elbows against the counter.

"Um, yes, I- uh, We are detectives and-"

"Oh, Honey! Why didn't you say? After you fill this out-" She shoved two clip boards into Flack's elbows, so he slipped off the counter, "-there's a doctor waiting to see you. Your supervisor called before hand." The secretary smiled brightly at Scarlett and then sneered at Flack. Flack, indignant, followed Scarlett to two open chairs. He quietly stared angrily at his clip board.

"How did she like you and not me!" He burst suddenly. Scarlett looked up at him dryly for a moment before turning back to her own paper. "I mean really! I didn't even do anything!" Scarlett looked back up to him with an eyebrow raised. Flack's words came back to him and he looked embarrassed for a minute before filling out his clipboard. Scarlett shook her head and finished her questions. She waited for Flack and handed in both their clip boards. Flack refused to return to her desk.

They headed up to the appointed room and opened the door to a doctor who was bent over his charts. His head raised and smiled at them and then went back down to his charts. Flack closed the door, a bit confused and waited patiently, leaned against the door. Scarlett coughed into her hand. The doctor smiled at them and closed his folder.

"Sorry about that, I just wanted to finish something up." He patted the table, "Who's first?" Flack looked at Scarlett who nodded to him. He reluctantly hopped up on the table. Scarlett settled into a chair and relaxed her muscles.

The doctor began by cleaning the back of Flack's neck and finding the cut on the back of his head. He shined the light into Flack eyes and declared that he didn't have a concussion but needed stitches. He next asked Flack to take off his shirt. Flack obliged uncomfortably and Scarlett turned her head. The doctor found a number of bruises on his back, but nothing serious.

"Okay, I'm going to stitch you up now." Flack turned to the doctor, wide-eyed and pale.

"What?"

"Detective, I have to…" Flack wasn't listening. He looked like he was going to break into a panic attack. Scarlett reached up and grabbed his hand.

"Better, you big baby?" Flack crushed her hand as the doctor gave him a quick dose of Novocain.

"Just to make it less painful, Detective." Flack nodded nervously and then turned and looked me straight in the eyes as the doctor stitched up his head. His hand was converting her fingers to dusk as the doctor proclaimed, "Done!" Flack let out a breath and got down off the table. The doctor looked at me and patted the table again. Scarlett went to climb up on the table and Flack laughed.

"Need a lift?"

"Shut up Stitchy." Flack stopped laughing and gave her a dirty look. The doctor gave her a smile.

"So, what's up with you?" Scarlett explained how she fell on her head and Flack's head going into her, she also let him know about her ankle. He first took her ankle and lifted up her pant leg. It was then that she remembered that she forgot her shoes at the scene. She looked at Flack.

"Why didn't you say that I forgot my shoes?" He looked at her feet and laughed.

"I guess it wasn't the highest priority on my list." She turned her attention to the doctor massaging her ankle.

"I'm going to put pressure on certain points and I'd like you to tell me where it's hurting." Scarlett nodded. He put pressure on a few different places, but none of them hurt until he held her ankle directly. She grimaced.

"Uh, ow?" The doctor chuckled and put her ankle down softly.

"You probably just rolled it, it's going to swell up a little bit and it might be tough to walk but you'll get through it." He shined the light into her eyes and declared she was also concussion-free. "You're going to get quite a bruise on your eye though. You've got a hard headed partner."

"You're telling me." Flack gave her a sardonic look and rolled his eyes.

"I need you to take off your shirt as well," the doctor said and stepped back for her to do so. She stared at him, then at Flack. Scarlett then pushed away her embarrassment and peeled off her still wet clothes. Flack stared at her for a minute. He swallowed, embarrassed and looked away.

Scarlett avoided the gaze of Flack as the doctor was inspecting her back and sides.

"Nothing serious, you're probably going to be a bit achy." Scarlett nodded and went to get her wet shirt. "Don't bother, I'll run to the nurses and get you a set of clothes from the hospital. What shoe size are you?" Scarlett answered 7 and he nodded, "I'll be right back." He left the room quickly and Scarlett sat, half naked, in a room with Flack. She put her arms across her stomach and tried to cover herself as much as she could. She still had her bra on, but it was a bit…extravagant. It was the only one she had clean (She was supposed to do laundry that night). She looked everywhere, but Flack. A nurse came in with a set of clothes and generic nurses shoes. Scarlett murmured her thanks.

"Uh…Flack?" He was staring into space. She couldn't change in front of him, but threw the shirt on quickly. She grabbed a tongue depressor and threw it at him. He jumped from the chair and looked, confused at Scarlett. "Um…I have to change…can you…?" Flack mumbled, embarrassed, and left the room quickly.

Scarlett took off her pants and replaced it with the scrubs the nurse had given her. Her tee shirt was one from the gift shop, reading the hospital's name. The oversized clothing was quite comfortable and she was warm in them. She threw the socks and shoes on and stepped of the room with her wet clothes in a plastic bag they had given her. Flack was leaning against the door frame, waiting. He grinned.

"Nice digs."

"You're an idiot." Flack was also donning the scrub pants and tee shirt; apparently the doctor didn't want either of them uncomfortable. He was confronted by a burly male nurse who almost suffocated him with the clothes. He had his shiny black shoes still on though. They looked a bit out of place.

Flack found his car in the parking lot and Scarlett wrestled the keys from his hands.

"I don't want to drive into a pole because you pass out from your head injury, thanks." Flack rolled his eyes and got into the passenger seat. They rode to the lab in silence.

(A/N: I'm in the middle of the third...let me know if I should continue. Thanks - Dr.Ry)