A/N: So, CBS canceled CSI: NY... so sad... I just hope this beautiful fandom will survive.

I'm not a doctor. Please, forgive my eventual medical inaccuracies. Thank you.

Chapter 06: The talking dead

Flack was speeding to Taylor's office, still gulping down his sandwich, when Danny stopped him by tapping on the glass of the lab.

"What?"

"Mac is waiting for you in the morgue"

Don wasn't happy: "Wait... Why do I have to go to the morgue?"

"I'm analyzing some traces and I can't leave and, as we have earlier agreed, you were eager to talk to our dear pathologist", Danny concluded smiling, clearly mocking his friend.

"Messer, you do know I have just eaten a sandwich with peppers, anchovies, mustard and tomatoes..."

"Oh, how listless! I should do something for my memory", he was still laughing.

"You'll pay for this, I don't know where, when and how, but you'll pay"

"Now I'm scared", Danny grinned going back to the evidence.

Flack sighed and, using the elevator, reached the morgue. Obviously he didn't have a problem with dead bodies; it was the smell that didn't sit well with him. It was a nauseating mix of decay, filth and corporal fluids. But the most absurd thing was how Hammerback was at ease in the place.

The first thing he noticed was the chilling cold. Like a grave. He shivered slightly, hoping the digestion of the sub wouldn't be compromised. You're so dead, Danny Messer...

His two coworkers were lovingly talking at the two sides of the corpse like it was the most normal thing to do. They really seemed engrossed and almost in eternal – eternal, sic! - love with the body. Science people...

"Here I am"

"Good... come closer, he won't bite you"

Flack did as he was told, even if he kept a certain distance. He looked at Sid, waiting for him to start.

"COD is gunshot wound. Enter hole on the chest, exit hole on the back. The diameter suggests a high caliber, maybe a .50. As you can see", he pointed to the wound, "There are little burns around it, a sign indicating he was hit at short distance"

"Sorry, Sid, I'm here to play the ignorant one, so I'm asking you: Is it possible he shot himself?"

"Mhh... the angle excluded the possibility. And I haven't found any traces of gun powder on his shirt or hands"

"Why do you think at suicide? Something at his home?"

"Not really. Yes, his wife is dead and he seemed to be depressed, but... just wild guessing"

Mac raised an eyebrow without commenting. It was enough to trigger a reaction from Flack.

"I know! It's just... we have nothing! No murder weapon, no crime scene, no suspects, no motive... and I know I sound like Messer right now, but you're right: We're spending too much time together", he took a breath, "Okay, doc, you can go on. Sorry", Flack concluded, sounding a little frustrated.

Sid smiled, putting his glasses back on. "The shot shattered the aorta, killing him rapidly and with little pain. The internal organs are normal", Hammerback skimmed through the pages of his report, "Organs were in good conditions – color, dimension, weight, all normal – he didn't smoke. No evident physical problems, he was only a little underweight"

"Stress, depression?"

"Probably... but, I repeat, no illnesses or anomalies"

"Was he taking meds?"

"The toxicology is negative"

"Have you found medical prescriptions?"

Flack shook his head: "No. Just plain meds everybody has: Aspirin, gauze, band-aids, ointments. You know, my med cabinet is more furnished"

"Sid, something else we need to know?"

"Nothing relevant under the nails, but I found this in the chest wound", the doctor gave Mac a little plastic box containing a dark shred.

Taylor took it and look at the little piece carefully: "It could come from the blanket the body was in. Thank you, Sid"

"And considering he was on the ground, I brushed his hair before washing it. This is what I collected", Mac studied it, "It seemed soil..."

"From the crime scene?", Flack sounded very hopeful.

"Maybe it's time for us to start being lucky... Sid?"

"That's all. His clothes are there. The final report will be send to you asap"

"Good", Mac grabbed the bag with Buster's clothes, "Thank you, doc"

"Nema problema, detectives. Don? It was great to see you, you're barely here...", he gave a little sigh, "By the way, say hello to Jessica and, please, tell her the orange-flavoured sugared almonds are the best"

Flack smiled, tilting his head: "I'm not down here often because you know...", he moved his hands, gesturing to the corpses waiting to be autopsied, "Don't worry: I'll let Jess know". Leaving, Flack wondered how Sid could thinking at food in a place like that. Though a happy thought formed in his mind: His lunch had stayed with him.