Disclaimer: I don't own nothin'...derr.

A/N: I'm sorry about the long wait, I've been suffering midterms... Hope you enjoy -Dr. Ry

For Inconvenience and Discomfort

Chapter 3: Early Morning Cold Taxi

When they entered the crime lab, Scarlett leaning on Flack to walk, the receptionist gave them odd looks and shook her head. Scarlett was going to say something but Mac came down the hallway.

"How're you feeling?" Mac looked from Flack to Scarlett worriedly and each assured their own healthiness. He walked down the hall with them, telling them what they picked up at the crime scene. "We couldn't find him by the time we got out there, but we did find a blood trail from the trees. The blood stopped and there are skid marks, so we're sure that he got into a car."

"Did you I.D. any of the victims?"

"Yes and we're calling in family for proof." Scarlett was still leaning on Flack as they walked and he didn't seem to mind. Mac turned to ask them something, and stopped when he saw Scarlett leaning on Flack. They stopped and waited for what he was going to say. He closed his mouth and turned to keep walking. Flack and Scarlett looked at each other before moving on. Mac brought them down to get the families of the victims. First, were the parents of a Kirsten Franklin. Mrs. Franklin walked up to the glass and touched the glass. She started shaking and her husband came behind her and brought her away from the glass. He lingered at the glass for a moment before turning to them and telling them that it was their daughter, and they returned with their condolences. Mac brought the older couple down to his office.

The coroner set up the next body, Jamie Callahan, and a single mother was brought in. She looked at Scarlett, then Flack, nodding to each of them. She slowly went to the glass in front of the body and stared in. She breathed out and stepped away from the glass, but did not look away. She turned to them quietly affirmed that this was her daughter. She didn't move for a moment, but then went to Scarlett. Scarlett took a breath in, but found her throat dry. Mrs. Callahan put her hands on Scarlett's and gently squeezed them.

"Thank you for finding my daughter." Her eyes lingered on hers for moment. Flack stiffened before offering to take her down to Mac's office. He looked back at Scarlett before escorting Mrs. Callahan out to Mac.

The next girl was set out and Scarlett found that this was the one whose engagement ring she had found. She felt sick again. Her hands started to shake as someone opened the door.

"Hello?" Oh God. "I was called in to confirm that they found my fiancé…" There was a great sadness in his voice as he trailed off. She didn't look at him, but nodded and he shuffled up to the glass slowly. His hand touched the glass and his eyes filled with tears. "We got engaged a year ago yesterday. We were getting married in six months. She's so beautiful." He turned to Scarlett. "We were getting married in her parents' backyard. And then we were going to France for our honeymoon. She always wanted to go to France." His tears began to fall silently and Scarlett avoided her gaze. Breathing was becoming increasingly difficult.

"Mr. Geosa?" Flack's head was sticking in the door. Scarlett looked over to him helplessly and he came into the room. "Mr. Geosa, Detective Taylor would like to talk to you. Is that ok?" Mr. Geosa stepped away from his fiancé and turned to the door. He turned back to Scarlett and nodded. She nodded back and tried to smile but failed miserably.

She stood alone in the dark room again, staring at nothing until Flack came in and stood next to her quietly, casually almost.

"We have to go to our other victim's house. They couldn't come in." Scarlett nodded and followed as Flack left the building. They got into the car and sat for a moment. Flack gave Scarlett a once over out of the corner of his eye. "Uh…I think we should go and change before going out to the house, some how I don't think anyone would take us too seriously." Scarlett looked down at herself and smiled sheepishly, she had forgotten she was in these clothes. Flack started the car and she gave quick directions to her apartment.

The car ride was silent and cold. She looked out to the street, watching people trying to run through the raindrops. Everyone seemed to match the weather that day, gray and black, a little overcast and fairly temperamental.

As they pulled up to her apartment, she sat quiet for a second and turned back to him. She opened her mouth to say something, closed it, then moved to leave the car. Flack touched her arm and she stopped. She didn't look at him.

"What if all the cases are like this, Flack?" She took a deep, shaky breath, "What if I don't adjust? What if I can't adjust? What if this isn't the right job for me? I don't know if I can do this anymore." Flack turned her to look in his eyes.

"Listen to me." He lifted his hand to cup her face. "You have the potential to help so many people. You're brilliant. Scarlett, you're strong, I know it. This is a tough start, but I promise that it'll get better. You'll get better." Scarlett nodded slowly. She looked away and opened the door. Flack sat back and watched her. She bent over into the car and looked at Flack. "I'm going to drive to me place and change I'll be back in 15 minutes, is that ok?" She nodded and smiled, then backed away from the car. She ran up to her door and quickly started up to her apartment. She hobbled up the narrow stair case, pissing off some other tenants on her way up. A middle aged man sneered as he pushed around her, almost knocking her down.

When she got up to her apartment, she leaned against the door and took a deep breath. She put a hand through her messy hair and stepped further into her apartment. She quickly went into her bathroom and discarded her scrubs and stepped into her shower. Quickly washing her hair, She chose a pair of black pants, a white button up shirt and a blazer. She tried to save her hair, but it was a lost cause. The buzzer sounded as she was hopping to get her shoes on. She hopped to the buzzer.

"It's Flack."

"Yeah, come up." She let him in and continued to hop around her apartment and had fallen when there was a knock at the door. "It's open!" Flack walked in and found her on the floor, still fighting with her shoe. He raised his eyebrow and shook his head. He went over and squatted down in front of her. He wrestled the shoe from her hand and pulled her foot onto his knee. He strategically fit her foot into the shoe and smirked at her.

"Nice coordination, Dale." She glared at him and pushed her self up from the floor. She straightened her jacket and her posture and began to walk out of her apartment. She stood at the door, patiently waiting for Flack to go out ahead of her. He was taking his sweet ass time, stopping to investigate each picture on her wall and table.

"Flack!" He straightened leisurely and waltzed out the door in front of Scarlett's glaring eyes.

As they began walking down the stairs; Scarlett taking a bit longer because of the mixture of her heels and her ankle, Flack was getting impatient. He finally decided it was taking to long and suddenly grabbed her up in his arms and trotted down the stairs.

"Flack! Put me down you idiot! Flack! Ah!" Flack rolled his eyes at the petit woman flailing in his arms and pushed his way through the door at the stairs. He set her down and she stood angrily in front of him, her face resembling a ripened tomato. "What the hell!" Flack shrugged.

"You were taking too long." Scarlett watched him, flabbergasted, move around her to the front doors of her building. She shook her head and followed after him. He was patiently sitting in the car, smiling at her innocently. Scarlett glared before getting back into the car. She folded her arms.

"Where are we off to?"

"Sayville, out on Long Island."

"Long Island?"

"Yeah, we're going to the male victim's house." Flack turned on the radio and searched for a good song, resting on a Billy Joel song. He turned to look at Scarlett, who had her head turned to look out at the dismal roads. She was quite a mystery. She brushed her fingers through her still drying hair, some of the droplets falling on her neck shoulder. He was following the water's trails but jerked his head back to the road when they had started to go down her shirt. Don't go there Flack. It won't end well. She shrugged off her jacket quietly and cracked her back. She turned and looked at him and he saw from the corner of his eye. "What?"

"Nothing, I was just wonder how weird you feel when people stare at you." Flack spluttered and turned all different shades of red. She grinned and rolled her eyes. "What do you want to know?" Flack turned his head to her again and opened and closed his mouth. He looked out his own window and then back to her.

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-two." He raised an eyebrow.

"Really?"

"Yeah, I skipped third grade, did a whole bunch of college courses in high school, went to night school at a college during then, and graduated high school a year early, graduated college a year, zoomed through the academy and here I am."

"No wonder why they never stop talking about you, Christ." Scarlett laughed nervously. "Why'd you want to get though it so fast?"

"I don't know. My family's a bit…odd…and overwhelming. I guess, I just wanted out, you know?" Flack nodded, he did know the feeling.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" Scarlett laughed and rolled her eyes.

"No, when guys are around me they come at me with two sided swords, I come off a bit intimidating I guess."

"How big is your family?

"Well, I have two families really, my mom got remarried and I have 7 people including me and my actual brothers on that side, and then my dad got remarried and I have 5 people on that side including me and my actual brothers. Christmas is a bitch." Flack laughed and asked question after question, to which Scarlett answered each question thoughtfully and truthfully, which surprised him. She was soft, and funny, instead of the cold, distant person that she usually showed herself as. He enjoyed her, and enjoyed her playful banter.

When he found out about her through guys at the prescient, he had thought her something like domineering and bitchy, a woman no one would be able to tolerate. But, surprisingly enough to him, she was a person.

When they reached the town of Sayville, she quieted considerably, he knew she was nervous, and she was getting pale again.

"Dale?" She didn't respond, she was looking out her window, her fingers twitching nervously and chewing her lip. "Dale? Scarlett!" Her head snapped over to him, her eyes glassy.

"Hm?" Flack breathed out a laugh and smiled.

"Stop worrying. You're going to be fine." Scarlett smiled, her face fully of doubt, and went back to chewing her lip. When they pulled into the driveway, she stared straight ahead, pale and nervous. She licked her lips and Flack stared at her face, willing her to do it again.

"I don't know if I can do this." Flack looked over at her and touched her hand.

"You can." And then he went out of the car, running around to her side to get her out. He gingerly opened the door and bent into the car. "C'mon kid, you'll get through this." He offered her his hand and Scarlett stared at it, looked at him, then put her jacket on and took his hand. They hurried up to the doorstep and Flack knocked on the door. He put his hand on the small of her back and she leaned towards him a little bit. A little kid answered the door and Flack felt Scarlett stiffen against his hand.

"Who are you?" Both Detectives took out their badges.

"I'm Detective Flack, this is Detective Dale, is there a parent home?" A girl about the age of sixteen came and leaned against the door, shooing the kid away. She was cleaning a dish with an old rag.

"Can I help you guys?" She paused for a moment. "Did Kyle do something? Or Rebecca? I swear I'll kill them! I told them-" Scarlett put a hand up to stop her and the girl slowed her threats.

"Is there anyone older home?"

"No, my dad went to a party last night, my aunt was here over night with us, but she left a while ago. What's going on?"

"Where's your mother?"

"She died a long time ago. Why!" Scarlett took a deep breath.

"Can we move into a different room?" The girl breathlessly nodded her head and lead them into a small dining room. They sat down, the girl across from them, her eyes worried. Flack opened his mouth to talk but Scarlett started.

"Is your father Thomas Dawlton?"

"Yes." The girl blinked and Scarlett swallowed.

"We found your father…Your father is a murder victim. We're sorry for your loss." Scarlett's hands shook underneath the table as she watched the reaction of the young girl in front of her.

"What?" Flack looked at Scarlett, who quickly looked at him. "It can't be him. No. I don't- Do you have proof it's him?" Flack took out a picture and Miss Dawlton snatched it up, held it close to her nose then lowered it back down with shaky hands. She looked back up at Flack and Scarlett. "I have to…call my aunt…its- I'm- She'll be here in a minute to answer any other questions that you have…" She went into the kitchen, shaking, and Flack and Scarlett sat quietly at the table. Scarlett stood up abruptly and went into the kitchen. She saw the petit girl staring at a framed picture.

"I lost my mom when I was four." She handed Scarlett the photo. It showed a beautiful young pregnant woman and a shadow of the man they had found at the scene. In between them was a smaller version of the girl in front of her. "How am I supposed to be able to raise these kids?" Scarlett opened her mouth, but then an older woman burst into the kitchen. She pushed Scarlett out of the way to embrace the sixteen year old.

"Oh Halie, baby, I'm so sorry I wasn't here." Flack ducked into the room quietly and stood behind the pallid Scarlett. He softly grabbed her hand and began to pull her backwards.

"We're going to give you guys a minute, when you're okay to talk; we'd like to ask you some questions." The older woman nodded her head appreciatively. Flack pulled her out of the kitchen and sat back down at the table. Scarlett stood opposite him, slouched against the wall. She looked over to Flack and he smiled softly and she returned it. They heard a muffled bang and then a loud beep and Scarlett leaned around to go into the kitchen, only to be almost knocked over by the two people coming out of the kitchen.

"Oh, I'm sorry dear, I'm Johanna Dawlton. Thank you for being so patient." She handed Scarlett a hot mug and sat down next to her neice, sliding a similar mug across to Flack. Scarlett moved over to sit down next to him and folded her hands around her cup. She felt the warmness start to spread through her hands and the sensation calmed her.

"You don't mind me asking personal questions about your brother, do you?" Ms. Dawlton smiled softly and shook her head no.

"As long as it will help you, I'll answer anything." Scarlett smiled at the older woman.

"We really appreciate your cooperation." Flack touched Scarlett's knee with his own under the table.

"Do you know if your brother was seeing anyone?" Johanna and Halie looked at each other quickly before Halie answered.

"My stepmother and him separated about three months ago, but he went to the party I had mentioned with a woman he worked with."

"Do you know who the woman was?" Halie squinted her eyes in thought for a moment before nodding.

"Um… Jamie…Jamie Callahan?" Scarlett's back straightened and she saw Flack's hand pause momentarily as he was taking notes.

"Do you recall the name of the place that the party was being held at?"

"Uh sure…The Jericho Terrace? Yes I believe that was it." Flack nodded as he wrote down the notes.

"Thank you very much Ms and Miss Dawlton." He reached into his wallet and handed them a card with his number on it. "If you think of anything important please call me." The older woman nodded and smiled at them again. They stood up and followed the younger woman out of the room, Scarlett turned around as they were about to leave the room.

"Thank you for coffee!" Ms. Dawlton chuckled lightly and Scarlett continued to follow her partner out of the room. Halie shook both their hands.

"Thank you for being so patient with us."

"Please, don't thank us, I hope you get through this okay, if you need any help sorting out anything, give Detective Flack a call and I can get you in touch with a good lawyer." Halie smiled sadly and nodded. Scarlett and Flack headed out to the car Flack smiled at Scarlett.

"I'm proud of you, kid." Scarlett smiled and climbed into the passenger side of the car. The ride back to the lab was comfortably silent and to the sound of The Who.

3:36, it's cold, I know I'm growing old,
With life's best side on the downward slope,
It's in my own hands, I know I'll cope,
My girl's with me and all my friends can see.

Here I am again,
Early morning cold taxi.
Early morning cold taxi.

Scarlett felt the realization that began to set in. She realized that her life would never be the same, that this was what her life was going to be based on. Death. It made her cold, but she couldn't give in. This was what she was made for. It set in. And she was almost okay with it. Almost.

Done it before, do it again,
Know from experience it's not in vain,
She's the best I've had, I cannot see, what someone else can do to me.
It's a long way home but love's so warm, you'll see.

Here I am again,
Early morning cold taxi.
Early morning cold taxi.

Flack knew this had to be hard for Scarlett, but he knew she would be the best at her job some day; an example for the rookies in years to come. And he found himself wanting to be there. Wanting to see what she would become. He wanted her to know it, but knew he couldn't tell her. And he hated that.

Early morning cold taxi,
Each time I do it, I feel so down and out,
Early morning cold taxi,
'though my mind thinks strange I'll keep on, no doubt.

3:36, it's cold, I know I'm growing old,
One day we'll be wed,
This I know for it's what she said,
Then no more will my mind be uneasy.

Scarlett stole a look a Flack. Who knew he could be human, with the capability of being able to console? He was a surprise, and she enjoyed it. Maybe they could…no…it'd be too weird. He didn't like her anyway. Rumors were he had a thing for a girl in the office. Oh well.

Early morning cold taxi,
Each time I do it, I feel so down and out,
Early morning cold taxi,
'though my mind thinks strange I'll keep on, no doubt.

3:36, it's cold, I know I'm growing old,
One day we'll be wed,
This I know for it's what she said,
Then no more will my mind be uneasy.

Flack stole a look at her reflection in the windshield. She was the type of girl he wanted. The type he needed. She was a surprise, the best kind. He should ask her out, he knew it, but he wouldn't. It'd be too weird. Word around the prescient was she had a thing with a guy in the office. Oh well.

Here I am again,
Early morning cold taxi.
Early morning cold taxi.

They pulled up to the office and stayed in the car, silent for what seemed like hours, staring as the steady rain fell on the windshield. Flack opened and closed his mouth a few times and then resided on the sad fact that he just wouldn't ever know. He sighed and got out of the car, waiting outside for Scarlett. She quickly followed suit and joined him in the front of the car. He smiled down at her and they walked quickly into the building. They walked to Mac's office and found a pair of muddy shoes in a plastic bag and a note tagged on addressed to them.

Scarlett and Flack,

Meet me in Lab 2.

PS Scarlett, I don't even want to know how you left these behind.

Flack laughed and Scarlett rolled her eyes. He held the door open for her and watched her walk through. These were going to be long days.

A/N: I really don't like this chapter, but the next will be much better...and quicker...oh by the way, The Whos song's name is Early Morning Cold Taxi...if you didn't catch on. P -Dr.Ry