Aphina - See, I wasn't trying to be funny there - it's the next few chapters where I've tried! lol. I think I may be taking them slightly out of character - but it works for me!

demolished-soul - I'm tempted to keep her around for a while - popping in now and again. I have a fair few things planned for Taylor... I can't give it away!

meadow567 - I would, but I suck at anything remotely smutty. I tried and it was absymal! I'm going to have to leave it to your imagination!!

The Corrupter - Um, WOW! I think you just reviewed over thirty chapters! I'm glad you're still coming back to it and I'm flattered you're taking the time to review each chapter!! I keep forgetting everything so I think you'll just have to roll with it. And yes, Hawkes is gonna get some loving! How you liking Surrey?

RK9 - I think I need some luck! Thank you Seymour! Ok, Double chapter update on Christmas Eve! How's that? Not sure if there's a lotof fluffiness in those chapters, but there is a little coming up!

Thoren - Chanukah! Or Hanukah... I dunno! Merry Christmas to you too... or whatever you celebrate! Glad you liked!

TBD - She's not just Taylor's guardian angel! Yeah, I caved, I got them back together... or they will be soon.

sparkyCSI - You know I've actually had to reread the chapter because I forgot what I wrote! I posted the next chapter of GH too!

So, this chapter, and the following ones in the mini-story arc, are actually dedicated to Heidi. And also to Aphina who cheered me up after the flame and encouraged the idea said flamer had put in my head!! It's also a parody! (It's been in my head for a while) No spoilers, just many thanks to sparkyCSI because she has really helped with the next few chapters, as y'all will soon witness!!

What The Eyes Can't See

Chapter 143: I'm fighting things I cannot see (I think it's called my destiny)

Taylor awoke feeling happy and very, very content. A small smile spread across her lips, compounded by the feel of Flack's arm draped lazily across her stomach. She could tell by the rise and fall of his chest against her back that he was still very much asleep.

Truth be told, she had no desire to move from that spot. As though reading her mind, Flack groaned and pulled her tighter to him.

Which was when his cell phone went off.

'I'm pretending I can't hear that,' she moaned, pulling the duvet over her head as Flack rolled over and grabbed his phone.

After a few muffled minutes of conversation, Flack's head appeared under the covers. 'I've got to go.'

Taylor turned and pouted. 'Couldn't you pull a sickie?' she asked, battering her eyelids.

Flack chuckled, kissing her on the forehead. 'I'll be back this evening. Just because I have to get up, doesn't mean you do.'

'Trust me, I'm not moving,' Taylor informed him, wrapping the covers around her like a cocoon, as he slipped out of the bed.

She should have known then and there, as she declared that statement,it wasn't going to happen.

'Mary Sue.'

Taylor whirled around and found herself staring at the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. She was about her height, with a fantastic figure which had curves in all the right places, golden blonde hair which hung down in perfect waves, and the most striking azure eyes… through one of which, was a coat hanger hook. 'Mary Sue.'

Taylor blinked, feeling her stomach churn, 'Did you just call me Mary Sue?'

'Mary Sue,' the model-like ghost repeated.

'My god,' she muttered to herself, 'The Powers That Be actually listened when I told them to quit with the cryptic. So is that you, or your killer?'

'Mary Sue.'

Taylor sighed, 'Of course it's not going to be that simple.' She sat up and stared pointedly at Maddy. 'I'm pretty certain the conversation we had last night implied I didn't want to see a ghost for a long time.'

Maddy shrugged. 'Because I control The Powers That Be? I can send in Eirik if you'd rather not have me?'

Taylor flopped back on the bed. 'No, it's fine.'

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

With a feeling of deep-set exhaustion which didn't seem to be in any hurry to shift, Taylor ambled into the lab, finding Hawkes almost immediately.

'Taylor,' he smiled. 'You look… hot.'

Taylor smiled back. Sadly, he didn't mean hot in a good way. Outside, it was the hottest day to date that year. It felt like everything was melting into one big puddle. And the flip flops, short shorts and halter neck top wasn't helping. 'Why is it so hot in here?' she asked him, fanning herself with her hand.

'AC is on the blink,' Hawkes shrugged. 'The labs have to be temperature controlled, so it's lucky they're still working,' he frowned. 'I wouldn't say hello to Adam just yet though.'

Taylor stopped fanning herself and turned around. Adam was in one of the labs, warming his hands on a Bunsen burner as some chemical mixture bubbled away on top of it.

'He's actually serious, isn't he?' she muttered in disbelief.

'Yeah,' Hawkes laughed. 'But after boiling in the corridors, it's actually freezing in those labs. So is this a business or pleasure visit?'

Taylor grimaced. 'Trust me, if this was pleasure, I wouldn't be here, rather curled up under my duvet.'

Hawkes arched an eyebrow. 'Duvet? And you think Adam's mad.'

'Hey, I didn't realize how warm it was outside when I woke up.'

'So, what delight has your ghost shared with you?' he asked, leading her back to the elevator.

'Human is the new fur?' Taylor shrugged.

Hawkes stared at her as the elevator pinged open.

'Sheldon!' Angell exclaimed. 'Just the CSI I was looking for.'

Hawkes turned to Angell. 'What have I done?'

Angell grinned. 'Nothing. It's just that you're the CSI on my case.'

'And what case would that be?'

'The one dispatch is about to call you with. Fashion designer killed in a Tribeca loft. With a coat hanger!'

Taylor's head whipped around. 'A coat hanger?' she repeated. 'I don't suppose the victim's name was Mary Sue, per chance?'

Angell frowned and glanced at her notebook. 'Michelle Adams. Why?'

Taylor pulled a face. 'Crazy dream?' she offered with a shrug.

Hawkes looked between the two women, sensing things were about to get awkward. 'Come on, Jen. We'll catch you later, Taylor,' he told her, trying to send the message of wait in the break room with his eyes.

Taylor nodded, very content not to have to see the victim in real life.

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'Hey Taylor!' Stella greeted her warmly, pulling a bottle of water out of the fridge. 'What brings you here?'

'Same old, same old,' Taylor shrugged. 'What are you working on?'

Stella smiled. 'The joy that is paperwork.'

'Ouch,' Taylor muttered in sympathy. 'You need a hand?'

'It's not the research kind, it's the I've-been-putting-off-writing-up-the-Luke-Blade-case-and-Mac's-on-my-back-for-it kind.'

Taylor cocked her head. 'That doesn't sound like you.' She stared scrutinizingly at her friend. She looked tired – the sleep deprivation hidden beneath layers of makeup. 'Stell, you alright?'

For a moment, Taylor saw something in Stella's eyes, but it was gone before she could work out what it was.

'I'm fine,' Stella told her, her smile never faltering. 'Anyway, I should get back to the computer.'

Taylor nodded, watching her leave.

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Sometimes, Taylor forgot just how long it took to actually process a scene. Ready to ditch Maddy and Michelle, who had turned up, coat hanger still hanging from her eye, she got up and stretched, heading for the water fountain.

Which was when she walked into someone. Literally. Or rather, someone hurried into her.

'I am so sorry,' the woman apologized. 'Are you alright?'

Taylor nodded. 'I'm fine. Are you?'

The woman nodded, then shook her head. 'I am hopelessly lost. And late.'

'What are you looking for?'

The blonde looked down at a piece of paper she was clutching in her hand. 'I'm looking for a Detective Mac Taylor.'

'Mac?' His office is that way,' Taylor told her, pointing down the corridor. 'Think goldfish bowl.'

The blonde thanked her and hurried on.

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'She's obsessed with Sex and the City,' Hawkes declared, dropping on the couch next to Taylor, who was pretty thankful he had returned as Michelle and Maddy had reappeared some time ago.

Taylor glanced sideways at him. 'Sex and the City?'

'Obsessed,' Hawkes repeated. 'She has pictures and posters all over her flat, and enough Manolos in her closet to rival Carrie. Or so Angell tells me,' he added quickly upon receiving the look Taylor sent him.

'And as far as I can remember, there isn't a character called Mary Sue in Sex and the City.' Taylor frowned. 'I'd have to check though.'

Hawkes frowned. 'I might be missing something, but isn't it usually a lot harder than this?'

'What do you mean?' Taylor asked him.

'Well, you've never been to me with the murderer's name before, let's put it that way.'

Taylor nodded. 'I'm still holding out that it will be that easy,' she told him, whilst sending a pointed glare at Maddy – which was lost on her as she only had eyes for one person in that room. And it wasn't the other dead one.

'Well, I think I might see if Adam has found anything.'

Taylor whipped her head around. 'How can Adam have found something?'

Hawkes patted her thigh sympathetically. 'I've been back, processing evidence for a while.'

'Oh,' Taylor mouthed at him. 'Did you find anything?'

Hawkes laughed. 'Hasn't the conversation we've just had indicated that I don't?'

Taylor pouted. 'Yeah.' She got to her feet and followed Hawkes out to the lab. 'Oh, Sheldon, I meant to ask, do you need a running buddy?'

Hawkes looked at her. 'A running partner?'

Taylor nodded. 'Marty used to run with me, but he isn't here. And I haven't been out in so long. He told me you ran.'

Hawkes smiled. 'You're more than welcome to join me.' The pair walked into the lab. 'Hey Adam. Have you got anything for me?'

'Have you had a page?'

'Defensive much?' a familiar voice laughed.

Taylor turned and found the tall blonde who had run into her earlier. 'You!' they both said at the same time, smiles on their faces.

'You found Mac alright?' Taylor asked.

The blonde nodded. 'Goldfish.'

Adam stared suspiciously between the two of them. 'How do you two know each other?'

'Actually,' said Taylor with a smile. 'We don't. I just gave her directions.' She turned to the blonde. 'Taylor Turner.'

The blonde's mouth dropped open. 'I knew I knew you.'

Taylor could feel the heat rising into her face. 'Yeah.'

'Sorry,' the woman apologized. 'I bet you must be sick of that! I'm Kendall Novak.'

'Sheldon Hawkes,' Hawkes smiled, shaking her hand.

'Do you want to know what I have?' Adam interrupted.

Taylor blinked. Those weren't jealous vibes, were they?

'I thought you said you didn't have anything,' Hawkes shrugged.

'I said I hadn't paged you,' Adam corrected him, practically bristling up in defense. 'I found something on the vic's laptop.' He led them over to the said item. 'I was looking through her emails. The work ones are all dull. But her personal email is filled with emails from something called FanFiction.'

'What on earth is that?' Hawkes asked.

'A website dedicated to fans of television shows, books, films, cartoons – you name it, where they can write their own stories using developed characters,' Kendall answered without skipping a beat.

Taylor pursed her lips. 'So what does Michelle have to do with it?'

Kendall took a seat, virtually pushing Adam out of the way, and clicked on a link in the email. 'It seems she writes. For Sex and the City.'

Hawkes laughed. 'That does not surprise me. But is it relevant?'

Kendall shrugged. 'Honestly, I couldn't say without reading what she's written and we're swamped.'

Taylor beamed. 'I have time to read.'

'It might be nothing,' Hawkes warned her.

Taylor shrugged. 'Dude! It's Sex and the City!'

Sheldon nodded. 'Alright. You wanna give me a call if you find something.'

Taylor returned the nod. 'And you let me know if the name Mary pops up.' She leant over, took the username and the website address and turned, heading for home.

So, I've been looking back over my story – trying to find time to tie up loose ends and re-edit the early chapters and I realized I've lost a few reviewers. Have I done something wrong, or are you lurking in the shadows. To all those who are still reviewing – thank you! You really do make my day!!

BTW, The next chapter of Gotham's Heroes is up and waiting to be read!