CharmedMummy - The stupid thing was that I didn't even think about that, and it's kind of obvious! There will be wining and dining - I have something quite nice planned. Although there may be a slight delay in that! The rat thing was something I came up with - it seemed better in my head.

miss wizard of oz - I'm going to try my hardest to be regular. I have big things planned with Tanglewood. Including me being very, very evil!

RK9 - lol, you have that penguin! Just make sure you look after him! And I your review did get through, though I'm surprised this site was blocked! That's strange. Maybe you're on it too much! lol

Wolfsong98 - I sat this afternoon and planned this fic out properly. I can just about see an end in sight! It's kind of a relief in some ways. But I'm a ways off it.

demolished-soul - admittedly the idea did seem better in my head than on paper, but I'm gonna run with it. It kinda has a point. I think (:s)

sparkyCSI - there will be more chapters prob when I get back from work. And look - I finally caught up. I thought there was more missing! But I'm' up to date! I did send you the ENTIRE plot! Well, there are gaps, but I would safely say that I have enough to get me up to 200 chapters. Which is a truely terrifying thought. But I do finally see an end! Woot!!

Horatiofan101 - I will keep going, and keep updating because I am addicted to reviews like a junkie is addicted to a number of illicit substances! lol. The fact that I make others smile is enough encouragement!

Trizzy - It's very, very tempting to have a week off. I'm thinking some time near xmas, because that's when Uni is closed, and there's now way some of those nights can be had off! I love Sid. I love CSI: NY. Except maybe Mac. And I still haven't worked out why or when that happened!

Um, spoilers for, oh what's it called... Silent Night, 3x12! And thanks to my wonderful beta, as always!

What The Eyes Can't See

Chapter 135: Even if you cannot hear my voice I'll be right beside you dear

She was running. She wasn't sure what from, but she definitely knew she was trying to escape from something. But all that was around her was an enveloping darkness; an eternal darkness. Taylor glanced around, desperately trying to see a way out, a glimmer of hope – a glimmer of light. Yet there was nothing, except the knowledge she wasn't going to get out alive.

Taylor sat up with a start, breathing heavily in her room which was illuminated only by the soft glow of her alarm clock, the time on which was reading just after three. She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them, trying to draw some comfort as she realized it had been a dream, probably brought on by the fact she had hit her head (which was still thumping dully), only, as her breathing returned to normal, she realized she wasn't alone.

A girl who looked old enough to still be in college was standing in her bedroom, watching her, her pajamas glistening with blood. Next to her, Maddy was standing silently, accompanied by Eirik.

'Maddy!' Taylor cried happily, ignoring the dead girl. 'You're back.'

Maddy nodded.

Taylor frowned at her. 'Why are you acting so… weird?'

Maddy bit her lip and looked over at Eirik.

'She's kinda on probation,' Eirik informed her. 'She has to behave herself and follow the rules.'

Maddy nodded solemnly.

'Does that mean you can't talk to me?' Taylor asked her.

'I can,' she told her quietly. 'But I've got to be careful what I say.'

Taylor frowned. 'And is "hi" against the rules?'

Maddy sighed. 'Hi, Taylor.'

Taylor opened her mouth to say something, but stopped when she realized the girl was waving her hands around. 'Huh?' she muttered. And then she realized there was a pattern to the girl's hand movements. 'Are you signing?'

The girl nodded and began moving her hands around.

'I don't understand sign language,' Taylor told the three helplessly.

Maddy looked at Eirik, who shook his head.

'What?' Taylor demanded.

'We do,' Maddy told her carefully, still watching Eirik. 'But we can't translate.'

Taylor's mouth dropped open. 'You do?'

Maddy looked hopelessly at Eirik.

'We can understand sign language and we can speak various languages too.'

Taylor frowned. 'How many languages?'

Eirik shrugged. 'All of them.'

This time, Taylor's eyes bulging out of her head accompanied the fish imitation. 'Since when?'

'Perk of being dead,' Maddy shrugged before quickly clamping her mouth shoot and looking at Eirik.

'It's not just the English speaking that die,' Eirik shrugged.

'It's also not the talkers that die either,' Taylor spluttered. 'Care to translate?'

Maddy bit her lip. 'We can't.'

Taylor narrowed her eyes. 'And how to the Powers That Be expect me to help with this one? Seriously?'

'You'll find a way?' Maddy offered.

The girl waved her fingers around once more before the three of them disappeared.

'You'll find a way?' Taylor muttered, flopping back into her pillow. 'How long do I have to learn sign language?'

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Taylor walked into the crime lab, her head still throbbing slightly, and headed straight for the break room where she poured herself a glass of water and threw a couple of painkillers down her throat. She turned around and dropped the glass – thankful it was empty as it shattered, hitting the floor – at the sight of the three ghosts staring at her.

'For crying out loud!' she yelped. 'I get you're deaf, and I get that you're not allowed to say anything,' she said, indicating to the relevant ghosts. 'But please, let me know you're there. You don't even have to anything more than clear your throat.'

Maddy just shrugged at her.

'Fine,' Taylor muttered, watching the ghost with the bullet wound flap her arms around. 'Was there even any point?' she shouted to the empty room after the ghosts had disappeared.

'Who are you shouting at?' Stella asked, walking into the room to find Taylor carefully picking up the pieces of glass.

'Ghost with the latest in frustrating clues.'

'And what would be this ghost's latest form?' Stella asked, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

'Oh, no, she's still looking like she did when she died,' Taylor frowned. 'The problem is she's… she was deaf. And I can't understand sign language.'

'You want to talk to Mac,' Stella told her.

Taylor arched an eyebrow. 'Mac can understand sign language?' she asked in surprise.

Stella shook her head. 'No, he's the lead on a home invasion. The vic was a nineteen year old deaf girl.'

'Oh,' Taylor sighed. 'Mac?'

Stella nodded. 'But Sheldon is working with him,' she offered. 'In fact, I need to speak to Sheldon. Care to join me?'

'Sure,' Taylor agreed, following Stella out of the room.

The two had barely started down the corridor when Stella turned. 'Taylor, will you excuse me a minute?'

Taylor nodded as Stella took off after someone walking down the corridor. 'Lindsay, hold up.' She called. The figure stopped and turned. 'You can talk to me off the record.'

Lindsay looked miserable. 'What do you want me to say?'

Stella frowned. 'You left the crime scene, Lindsay. I covered for you, but I-'

'Yeah, thanks,' said Lindsay, shortly, cutting her off.

'Look, if you have a problem, you should tell someone. I'm just trying to help.'

Lindsay stared stubbornly. 'Well don't. Okay? Just leave me alone.'

Stella's expression hardened. 'Clearly I made the mistake of trying to be your friend her, so I'll be your boss. When you're requested at a crime scene, you show up and you do your job. Speaking of your job, I expect to see you in autopsy this afternoon.' She finished curtly and turned, walking back to Taylor.

'Okay, I realize this is none of my business, but what's the matter with Lindsay?' Taylor asked, watching Lindsay disappear around a corridor.

Stella shrugged. 'Your guess is as good as mine.'

Taylor took a breath. 'You know, I think I'll go find Mac.'

Stella looked questioningly at her.

'I think I should have a chat with Lindsay – see what's wrong. And I can't really do that if there's going to be a ghost popping up every five minutes, so if I find Mac, maybe we can wrap this up quickly.'

'I'm not sure if your logic is right, but ok,' Stella shrugged at her. 'Oh, Taylor?'

'Yeah?'

Stella pointed at Taylor's bandaged up finger. 'What did you do to yourself this time?'

Taylor bit her lip. 'Um, it, uh… it got bitten.'

'Didn't your parents teach you not to pet strange animals?'

Taylor forced a smile. 'I think they might have mentioned that, yeah. I should go find Mac.'

'Taylor, are you alright?' asked Stella, slightly concerned.

'It's the middle of the night, I have a throbbing head, and a mute ghost. Things are,' Taylor shrugged. 'Things are just like normal.'

Stella nodded, although it was clear she didn't quite buy it. 'I think Mac might be in the morgue.'

--------------------------------------------

Taylor could hear Mac's voice drifting out of the morgue before she got there.

'Maybe she knew the shooter, felt she could get close enough to stop what was going on.'

Taylor took a deep breath and was about to open the door fully and walk in, when Mac's next sentence made her stop.

'Peyton I'm sorry. I'm sorry for what happened. I want to talk, maybe over lunch or coffee.'

'Mac, I have a lot of work to do.' Peyton informed him. Taylor poked open the door and peered in. Mac's back was to her, but Peyton was clearly upset about something – although the tone of her voice had given that away. 'Would you like me to send these up to ballistics for you?'

'I'll take them,' said Mac, taking something off Peyton and turning.

Taylor quickly jumped back and ducked behind the door. Mac walked out and stopped. Taylor held her breath. If he turned, he would spot her and it would be obvious that she had been eavesdropping. Thankfully, he just sighed deeply and carried on walking.

When she felt he was a sufficient distance away, Taylor exhaled and walked quietly into the lab, catching Peyton wiping her eyes.

'Taylor?' she sniffed quickly, regaining her composure.

'Peyton, are you alright?' Taylor asked her.

'I'm fine. It's just the, uh, chemicals,' Peyton quickly told her.

'It's alright,' Taylor reassured her. 'Mac's made me cry before. Well, nearly, anyway.' She stopped seeing the look on Peyton's face. 'No, I mean, not like that. I've never… me and Mac… there's never ever been anything between us, I mean, ew.' She froze again. 'Not that there's anything wrong with seeing Mac. He's just not my type. Oh, um.' She frowned. 'I mean, if you want to date him, then that's your choice. I, um,' she faltered. 'Crap.' She threw her hands in the air. 'What the hell. I know about you and Mac.'

Peyton's mouth dropped open. 'How do you know?'

Taylor smiled uncomfortably. 'Um, I… I can't reveal my sources?' she finished lamely.

Peyton sighed. 'It's alright. I don't think there's anything to hide anymore anyway.'

'What happened?'

He pulled away.'

Taylor stared quizzically at her.

Peyton gave her a watery smile. 'He pulled away when he saw Stella.'

'I'm sorry, Peyton,' Taylor told her giving her a hug. 'Want me to beat him up for you?'

Peyton managed a small laugh. 'You're alright. I'll be fine. So what brought you to the morgue anyway?'

'I was after Mac,' Taylor explained. 'I should probably go find him.' She turned to leave but was stopped by Peyton's next question.

'Not that I'm bothered by you talking to Mac, but I have to ask: what's so important that you need to see him at five in the morning?'

'Um,' Taylor glanced over her shoulder. I can't actually answer that question.'

'Taylor, are you alright?'

Taylor nodded. 'Yeah, I am. But I'm going to leave now, before you change your mind on that fact.' Taylor dashed out. Tempting as it was, she wasn't about to share her secret with anyone else.

Short, I know - but two jobs, remember!

Well, I'm coming up to Lindsay's dark and secret past(!) I will of course be doing this my way! I had this bit planned long before it aired! So just to warn you, it's not going to match what you see on the TV!