Trizzy - nah, I couldn't do that to him again... or could I?! And I quite like the idea of Chad coming back. Maybe he can replace Kendall (can't make up my mind about her!) Okay, that sounds like the coolest balloon!!

sparkyCSI - A week? I still haven't read, lord knows how much!! - so don't feel guilty. I haven't seen Lexi or my muses for a while, but I think I've scared them off with the work schedule - I'm not sure they know when it's safe to come out. And the best bit is that I have no idea what I explained because I have lost my mind!

Bmangaka - another new reader - Hi'ya! Okay, the chavs will do it - I shall run and hide between the bouncers I work with! I hope this will appease you!

demolished-soul - I think I spoke too soon on the housemate front, as it looks like he's sticking around for a few more months yet. And I'd answer your questions, but that would be telling too much!

RK9 - You did tell me - has it really been that long?! Man, I need to work less. Sounds like you had an epic afternoon - I hope you've not had a repeat soon. And by all means, vent as much as you like!! (Yeah, it was kinda short, but the next few are nice and long!)

meadow567 - All will be revealed soon... or as soon as they can with my sporadic updating. Any luck in the days I've been gone?!

Devil-may-care101 - I really can't wait for the wedding (I have bits written all over the place and it seems like it's taking ages to get to use them!) And if I was to kill Flack, at least he would remain that pretty for... ever!

Big thanks to Sparky - not only for being a very patient beta, but for also lending me Cory!

What The Eyes Can't See

Chapter 194: I can hear the angels calling for me

Taylor was helping Cordelia with her English homework when a knock at the door disturbed them. Leaving Cordelia to memorise the spelling of the words she'd been set, Taylor headed for the door. 'Sasha?' she greeted the woman who breezed into the house past her.

'Hey Taylor.'

'What are you doing here?'

'It's nice to see you too,' Sasha returned. 'I'm here to give you this. And I've already RSVP'd.'

Taylor took the opened envelope out of her hands and eyed it suspiciously, before pulling an invitation out. She sighed as she read it. 'Sash-'

'You didn't think I would seriously leave you the responsibility of returning that, do you?' Sasha asked her, pulling the invitation out of her hands. 'And I need company.'

'Sasha – I'

'It's my birthday party!' Sasha told her.

Taylor laughed. 'I would have said yes, you know.'

'And I expect to see that detective fiancé of yours there too.'

'That one I can't promise,' Taylor told her. 'He's on nights that week.'

Sasha shrugged. 'Good enough excuse. Gary will fix you up with an outfit.'

'I'm sure that I can find something in m closet.'

'You didn't read that invitation properly did you?' Sasha asked her as she headed for the door. 'And you've already RSVP'd so there's no backing out now. Catch ya later,' she cried, shutting the door behind her.

Taylor looked back down at the invitation and groaned. 'Fancy dress? Rock star fancy dress?' She returned to the kitchen and glanced down over Cordelia's shoulder at the homework. Flack was right; the child was going to beat her at Scrabble, and it looked like it was going to be sooner, rather than later. 'Come on, kiddo, time for school.'

After dropping Cordelia off (on time, for once), Taylor headed into the office. She was barely seated for a half hour before Gary came bustling in. 'Taylor Turner!' he exclaimed, wrapping her in a hug.

'Hi Gary,' Taylor returned, slightly less enthusiastically.

'And where have you been recently?' he asked her, hands on his hips.

Taylor arched an eyebrow at him, pulling the top drawer of her desk open, and throwing a couple of old editions of the NYC Star, the tabloid rag, on her desk. Even from her side of the desk, Taylor could clearly read the headlines: Daily Reporter Arrested for Arson, Turner Time Bomb, Crime Files Writer Gets Criminal Record. There were more besides.

'And so you were taking the chicken route and hiding?' Gary accused her.

'Gary, that's why I've not been in here. I haven't had the time to do anything else.'

'Well I hope you have your party shoes on – I have the perfect outfit for you,' he grinned. 'And I hope that Detective fiancé will let me dress him too.'

Taylor smirked. 'I'm sure you do, however, he is working the night shift, so that won't be happening.'

'Fine,' Gary pouted. 'In which case, I want you in my office at four on Saturday, and then we can get you dressed. I have the cutest idea.'

'I want to be wearing clothes, Gary!' Taylor shouted after him. She sighed and reached over to pick up the papers before thrusting them back into the drawer, the motion sending pens flying. Rolling her eyes at the mess, she slipped to her knees and was under the desk picking them up when there was another knock at the door, causing Taylor to start, knock her head, and curse very loudly.

'Are you alright?' a concerned southern accent called.

Taylor climbed out from under her desk, rubbing her head with one hand and clutching the pens in the other. 'Oh, hello?' she greeted the auburn haired woman.

'Hi,' Cory smiley awkwardly. 'You don't remember me, do you?' she asked at Taylor's slight frown.

'You're the woman from Lone Star,' Taylor responded, wriggling her nose slightly.

Cory sighed, glancing at the ceiling. 'Corrine Reid.'

'I'd introduce myself, but you clearly know who I am...' she trailed off, her eyes narrowing. 'Supervisory Special Agent Cory Reid?' she demanded, her tone accusatory.

'It's just Special Agent now,' Cory admitted.

Taylor smiled at her. 'Nice to meet you. There's the door. I know you're familiar with it already.'

'Look, I'm not here to cause trouble,' Cory started.

'No, you did that already,' Taylor snapped at her.

'I was doing my job,' Cory snapped back. 'And I'm sorry, but you really shouldn't be wandering around crime labs like you do.'

'Well,' Taylor responded, haughtily, 'it will please you know I am no longer allowed in the lab.'

'You shouldn't be wandering around in there like you do!' Cory retorted.

Taylor's eyes narrowed. 'Did you come here for a reason? Because this is my office, and the only person who's going to get banned from it is you.'

Cory, whose fists were tightly clenched, exhaled softly. 'I didn't come here to fight with you.'

'Then what did you come here for?' Taylor demanded, leaning back into her chair and glaring at the FBI agent.

'I need your help,' Cory admitted.

'This is a joke, right?' Taylor asked her, eyeing her suspiciously.

Cory shook her head, a few stray strands of hair falling out of the bun it was swept up into. 'Felix Bohr.'

Taylor blinked. 'If that's the punch line, I really don't get it.'

Cory sighed, walking over to the desk, her hand slipping into her leather briefcase and pulling out a manila folder. She handed it over. 'That's Felix Bohr. Or Antony Carlisle as you may know him.'

Taylor glared at Cory before pulling the photograph over and looking down at it. 'Not a clue,' she told her, pushing the photograph back at Cory and resuming glaring.

'Well, he clearly knows you.'

'He doesn't,' Taylor snapped. 'And I'm beginning to see why this agent went rogue on you,' she added cruelly.

Cory shut her eyes, inhaling deeply before she opened them again. 'I need your help,' she repeated. 'And I just hope you will agree to it before he does something you're going to regret.'

'If you think you can blame his actions on me, you can think again,' Taylor cried, jumping to her feet. 'For the record; you've really outstayed your welcome now.'

Cory picked up the folder, replacing it with a business card. 'If you change your mind, that's my number.'

Taylor watched her leave, before glancing down at the card. With a scowl, she ripped it up, flinging the pieces haphazardly at the trash can.

--

Flack pushed open the door with a sigh and trudged into the living room. All he had been doing, all day long, was chasing down suspects who insisted on trying to run away from him. He stopped in the doorway when he spotted Taylor stretched out on the couch, Cordy lying in her arms as sound asleep as she was, the television still playing High School Musical.

With a small smile, he padded over, suddenly forgetting about his day and pulled out his cell phone and snapping a quick picture. With the phone then back safely in his pocket, he grabbed Cordelia in his arms, gently so as not to disturb either of them, and carried the sleeping child up to her bed. The smile grew as he tucked her up in Taylor's latest purchase – High School Musical bed sheets. He stood in that room for a few minutes, watching her sleep before flicking off the light and heading downstairs.

Once again, he found himself standing in the doorway, watching the rise and fall of Taylor's chest. Unwilling to wake her – he was well aware of how little she had been sleeping – he perched down on the arm.

'How long have you been there?' Taylor asked him breathily as she woke up.

'Not long,' he assured her, giving her a small smile. 'I'm sorry I woke you,' he added, lifting her feet and sliding onto the couch underneath her.

'How was your day?' she asked, poking him playfully with her foot.

'I spent the day chasing after suspects,' he growled.

'Ah, my poor baby,' Taylor pouted at him as she righted herself and slid in behind him.

'What are you do-ahhh,' Flack sighed as she began to massage her shoulders. 'That feels good,' he murmured. 'How was your day?'

Taylor sighed. 'Sasha has invited us to a party.'

'And that's giving you reason to sigh?'

Taylor paused. 'It's fancy dress. And it's alright for you because I know you're working.'

Flack laughed. 'Ah, and I was looking forward to dressing up as a fireman.'

Taylor burst out laughing. 'It's rock 'n' roll themed. Although I guess you'd fit in nicely as one of the Village People,' she snorted.

Flack snapped around and pulled her out from behind him before pinning her to the couch. 'I beg your pardon?' he asked in mock outrage.

Taylor blinked innocently. 'Well you did the cowboy. And you're the police officer every day,' she shrugged.

'I'm a detective,' he growled at her.

'I didn't think the detectives did the running?' she continued, although losing the "innocence" to her tone as she struggled to keep a straight face.

'Oh, you've asked for it,' Flack cried as his mouth headed for her collar bone.

Taylor sighed loudly.

Flack stopped and pulled back slightly to look at her. 'Okay, that wasn't the kind of sigh I was after. What's wrong?'

'Nothing,' Taylor told him.

Nothing?' Flack repeated, arching an eyebrow. 'I'm expecting a very different kind of sigh, and you tell me nothing's wrong? What are you thinking about?'

'Nothing,' Taylor tried again, before letting out another sigh. 'That FBI agent; Cory.'

Flack sat upright, still straddling her, and cocked his head. 'You're thinking about another... woman?'

Taylor nodded, glumly. 'She came to see me in my office.'

'Why?' he asked, his blue eyes darkening.

'She seems to think I hold the answer to life's mystery.'

'You know the meaning of life?'

Taylor rolled her eyes. 'Apparently I may have some information as to her rogue agent's whereabouts. I told her to get out of my office.' She frowned at Flack's silence. 'What?'

'Maybe you should help her.'

'What?' Taylor asked, incredulously. 'You want me to get involved with this?'

'Yes and no,' Flack admitted. 'So long as you stay behind a desk.'

Taylor blinked, then cocked her head, poking at Flack.

'What are you doing?' he asked her.

'Who are you, and what have you done with my fiancé?'

'Agent Reid may have a point. At least hear her out.'

Taylor narrowed her eyes. 'I did.'

'You did?' Flack repeated, eyebrow arched.

'Gah!' Taylor grunted in frustration before sticking her tongue out. 'Fine. I didn't listen. But that still doesn't mean I want to help her.'

'I'm not going to force you to-'

'What, like you're not forcing me to see a shrink?' Taylor asked, cocking her head at him.

Flack shifted, clearing his throat.

'I don't like that look,' Taylor muttered.

Flack sighed. 'I guess now is as good a time to tell you.'

'What?' Taylor asked suspiciously.

'I made you an appointment.'

'With who?'

'Augusta Broussard.'

Taylor frowned. 'And who's she, when she's at home?'

'A therapist.'

'A therapist?' Taylor repeated as the implication slowly dawned on her. 'The departmental shrink?'

'Look, just go see her once, and I promise I won't push it anymore,' Flack begged her. 'I'll even go with you, if you want?'

'Fine,' Taylor relented. 'But if she makes me sing, I'm pushing her out of the window.'

'Thank you,' Flack told her, sincerely, before leaning in to kiss her. He pulled away, taking in her thoughtful expression. 'Alright, what are you thinking about now?'

'Fish.'

Flack blinked. 'Fish? Maybe making that appointment was a good thing.'

Taylor pulled a face, swiping at him. 'Fish,' she said, pointing at the empty fish tank in the corner of the room. 'We need fish in that.'

'Can we turn the attention away from the non-existent fish, and to the guy straddling you?'

Taylor grinned evilly. 'Well maybe you should keep my attention,' she shrugged.

'Oh, that can be arranged.'

Wow, I am exhausted! Fresher's Week hit and in eight days I have worked over 140 hours with far too many 4am finishes and 8.30am starts!

As thanks for the patience, I'm posting two chapters for y'all, so I hope you enjoy!