Disclaimer: I don't own CSI:NY – I'm just borrowing for a little while and will put them back when I am finished playing. I do own Kelli Taylor and the other characters that you don't recognize – please ask before borrowing. And any errors or typos are all my fault – as I don't have a Beta yet. Also anything in Italics means that my character or someone else is using American Sign Language.

A MAGNET FOR TROUBLE

Chapter 1 – Crime scenes and old friends

Detective Mac Taylor and Dr. Sheldon Hawkes – M.E. turned CSI exited the hotel elevator on the 11th floor and greeted Detective Don Flack, who was standing outside room 1105.

"What do we have here, Flack?" asked Mac, as he and Hawkes both proceeded to pull latex gloves on.

"Two victims, the male victim's throat was slashed and the female victim appears to have been strangled," Flack reported. "Looks like our guy struck again."

"Who discovered the victims?" inquired Hawkes.

"The hotel maid, she freaked out when she discovered the bodies. She became so hysterical, that we had to get the hotel doctor to give her something to calm her nerves."

"Any I.D. on the victims?" asked Mac as he was examining the door for fingerprints.

"The room is registered to an 'Alexander Chambers' according to the hotel manager. But we haven't confirmed it for sure, we were waiting for you."

"And the female vic?"

"Jane Doe for now."

Mac and Hawkes finished processing the room door, lifting several prints from the doorknob, before entering the room, where they saw the male victim lying on the floor between the two beds. And the woman had been tied spread eagle on one bed naked, her hands and feet tied to the bedposts, blindfolded and gagged. Mac shook his head in disgust, before both he and Hakes started taking pictures, swabbing for blood and other biologicals, bagging and tagging evidence.

"I see needle marks on her abdomen, do you think drug addict?" Mac wondered out loud.

"We'll have to send blood samples to tox to confirm," replied Hawkes. "It looks like our perpetrator used a bed sheet to restrain the victim." Hawkes marked his cuts before starting to cut the strips of material from the victim's hands and feet – placing them into paper evidence bags. Then Hawkes gently removed the gag and started to remove the blindfold.

Victim's POV:

I slowly regained consciousness, keeping my eyes closed, I realized that my hands were free, suddenly I sensed that someone was leaning over me. Gasping, I reared up and struck out blindly with my hands at this person, who fell back with a shout.

Mac's head snapped around, when he heard Hawkes yell, then gently restrained the woman's hands. "Easy, easy," soothed Mac. "Hawkes, are you injured?"

"Nah, she didn't hit me very hard."

"She's blind with fear," Mac commented as the woman continued to struggle against his grasp, spotting a medic alert bracelet on the woman's wrist.

"Please, let me go," the woman whispered, continuing to struggle. "Please don't hurt me."

Mac eased the blindfold off the woman's eyes, who blinked when the sunlight hit her eyes, then focused her gaze on Mac and Hawkes.

"Mac Taylor," she whispered. "Don't let him hurt me again." Mac took a closer look at the woman that he was holding and groaned. "Kelli Taylor."

"Mac, you know her," Hawkes asked, looking shocked.

"Kelli used to be my neighbour seven years ago."

"I'm so sorry for hitting you. I hope that I didn't hurt you," Kelli whispered, looking at the handsome African American male, who unfolded an emergency blanket and covered Kelli's naked form.

"No worries," Hawkes looking at Kelli's face carefully noting how Kelli was sweating and shaking. "Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm feeling shaky, I need to test my glucose levels, my monitor is in my handbag somewhere around here."

"Are you diabetic?" Hawkes asked, also noticing the medic alert bracelet on Kelli's wrist.

"Yes I am," Kelli replied, as Mac looked around the room – seeing a red handbag lying on the floor inside the bathroom. He searched inside the large purse until he found the glucose monitor, bringing it over to where Kelli was sitting on the bed.

"You probably will want to check my hands first, I think that I might have scratched the guy when he first grabbed me," Kelli suggested, looking at Mac, who swabbed her hands and fingernails, finding possible DNA evidence under her nails.

Kelli tried to sterilize one of her fingers in preparation of the finger prick, but her hands were shaking too hard. "Can I help you? I am a doctor," Hawkes asked quietly, watching Kelli struggle. "Yes," Kelli nodding in agreement.

Hawkes expertly prepared the monitor and pricked Kelli's finger, squeezing a drop of blood onto the test strip, within several moments the monitor beeped and flashed a level of 2.9. "Mac, go and get some soda or fruit juice from the vending machine down the hall, Kelli's blood sugar is too low."

Mac quickly came back into the room carrying a can of orange soda. "Did you swab Kelli's mouth yet?" he asked, passing the can of soda to Hawkes.

"I did," replied Hawkes as he popped the can open and held it for Kelli to drink half of the can. Soon Kelli stopped sweating and now she was shivering from the sweat cooling on her body. Hawkes wrapped a second emergency blanket around her shoulders.

"Where is Alex? Is he okay?" Kelli started looking around the room.

"Who is Alex? Is he your boyfriend?" asked Mac.

"Alex? No he is just a really good friend visiting from Canada," answered Kelli.

"Hey Mac, the M.E.'s office is here," said Flack, stepping inside the room. "And the ambulance that you requested is downstairs, the EMTs are on their way up."

"Mac, where is Alex? Please tell me that he is okay?" begged Kelli. Mac didn't answer. "Oh God why? He was such a gentle soul."

"Come on, we need to get you to the hospital to be checked out."

"Will you stay with me Mac?" Kelli said, grabbing Mac's hand.

"Hey Mac, you called me?" said a woman with honey brown hair.

"Thank you for coming Lindsay. Will you help Hawkes finish processing the scene?"

"Of course, Mac."

Mac swung Kelli into his arms, carrying her out of the room – placing her on the waiting stretcher.

"Kelli, are you sure that you wouldn't prefer a female CSI to stay with you?"

"No, I trust you Mac," Kelli whispered fiercely.

"Mac, what's going on?" Flack asked looking puzzled.

"I have to recuse myself from the case," explained Mac. "Kelli Taylor is an old friend of mine."

"Is Kelli related to you?"

"No, you can let Hawkes and Lindsay know that I can be reached on the cell. I'm going with Kelli to the hospital.

"I'll meet you there to get Kelli's statement," replied Flack. "After I tie up loose ends here."

Inside the room Lindsay looked at Hawkes with a puzzled look. "What's the story with Mac and the victim?"

"Mac knows her, she used to be his neighbour," explained Hawkes as he continued processing evidence.

"The male vic isn't very tall," observed Lindsay, as she started taking pictures.

"Mr. Chambers is an achondroplasia dwarf or what most people refer to as a little person. He would have been overpowered very easily by the perp."

At the hospital, Mac requested that the doctor and nurses remove their surgical masks so that Kelli could lip read them when they spoke, before going outside in the hallway while the nurse did the rape kit, stepping back into the room with the camera.

"Kelli, are you sure that you wouldn't prefer one of my female CSIs to take the pictures?" Mac turned towards the door when he heard someone knocking and Flack stuck his head around the door. "Hey Mac, let me know when Kelli is ready to give her statement?" removing his head and shutting the door.

"Mac, maybe I would like to have a woman taking the pictures," Kelli whispered looking at Mac with a nervous look on her face. "I mean if that wouldn't be too much trouble for you."

"It will be no trouble at all, in fact I anticipated this and requested that Detective Stella Bonasera to meet me here. Let me see if she is here yet," Mac stepped out into the hallway, closing the door behind him and found Flack talking with Stella. "I'm glad that you are here Stella. Did Flack give you any details?"

"The victim is an old neighbour of yours."

"Also for your information, Kelli is deaf, so she needs to see your face in order to lip-read."

"We don't require an interpreter like we did with Gina Mitchum?"

"No Kelli's speech is good and she can hear some with her hearing aids."

"Okay, I'll try to make it as easy as I can," Stella slipped thru the doorway into the hospital room. Kelli looked up as a tall, slender woman with dark brown, curly hair approached her bed.

"Hi Kelli, I'm Detective Stella Bonasera," Stella spoke carefully, making sure that Kelli could see her face.

"Hi, I'm Kelli Taylor. Do you work with Mac?"

"Yes I do. Are you related to Mac?"

"No, we just happen to have the same last name."

"How do you know Mac?" Stella asked, preparing her camera.

"I used to be his neighbour seven years ago."

"Seven years ago, did you know his wife Claire?"

"I did. She was such a sweetheart. Mac and Claire kinda took me under their 'wing' once they found out about my hearing problems."

"I have to say that if Mac had not explained about your hearing, I would have never guessed that you have a hearing problem."

"Thank you, I owe a lot to my mom and my brother for teaching me how to adapt to the hearing world."

"Okay, I'm going to take a series of photos with a regular lens, then I'm going to switch to a U.V. filter," explained Stella.

"U.V. filter?"

The ultraviolet filter will show any bruises that haven't developed yet."

"Oh, well I guess I'm ready."

"Don't worry, I'll try to make it as painless as possible. And if it gets to be too overwhelming, let me know and we can take a break," reassured Stella with a gentle smile. Kelli nodded in agreement and Stella began snapping photos quietly and expertly, of Kelli's arms, legs, throat, and finally her torso. Kelli followed Stella's instructions, while crying silently.

Stella finally lowered the camera saying. "There all done, you can tie your johnny shirt back up, and the nurse gave me a robe for you to wear. Those johnny shirts can be a bit drafty." Stella helped Kelli by tying the ties in the back and eased the robe around her shoulders. Kelli wiping the tears from her face, said to Stella. "God that is so hateful."

"Do you want some time to yourself before Mac comes back in?"

"No, please send him in."

"Okay I will. Do you want me to stay with you while Detective Flack takes your statement?"

"I want Mac please."

"I'll send him in," said Stella before leaving the room with her camera and kit.

"Stella, how is Kelli doing?" asked Mac, getting up from the uncomfortable hospital chair.

"Not so good, she started crying while I was taking the photographs, but she didn't want to take a break," Stella said, pushing her hair back from her face. "This guy was so vicious; Kelli is a mass of bruises."

Mac frowned and Flack rubbed his face with his hand, saying. "God I hate rape cases."

"It's a miracle that Kelli survived the attack, it's no wonder she can barely talk by the looks of her throat," said Stella. "Mac, Kelli wants you to come in."

"Mac, find out if Kelli would prefer to give her statement to one of our female detectives."

Mac nodded as he quietly pushed the door open and walked into Kelli's room. Kelli was lying on her side facing the wall crying. Mac walked over to the bed and Kelli jumped when she sensed someone standing beside the bed. When she realized that it was her friend Mac, she sat up – flinging herself into his arms, sobbing. Mac sat on the edge of the bed, gathering Kelli into his comforting arms, rubbing her back. Kelli eventually cried herself to sleep and when Mac realized that she was asleep, he eased her back onto the bed, pulling the covers back up over her. Getting up from the bed, Mac pulled the visitor's chair next to the bed, sitting down – holding her hand.

Mac was deep in thought when the door opened and Flack came into Kelli's room. "Mac, how is she doing?" Flack whispered.

"Not good, she cried herself to sleep. Why don't I give you a call when she is ready to give her statement?"

"Sure, I'll go back to the lab and find out if Lindsay and Hawkes are back from processing the scene."

Mac agreed, as Flack left the room.

At the lab Stella checked on Lindsay and Hawkes who were processing the evidence from the hotel room. "Any trace or fingerprints?"

"Tons of fingerprints," moaned Lindsay. "I hate processing hotel rooms."

Hawkes smirked at Lindsay, then looked up at Stella. "That the rape kit?"

"Yeah, I'll get it to Adam in DNA; hopefully we will get a hit in CODIS. Then I'll develop the photographs."

"How is Kelli doing?" asked Hawkes, rubbing his sore jaw.

"As well as can be expected for a rape victim. Mac is with her now." Stella frowned at Hawkes. "What's wrong with your jaw? You keep rubbing it."

"We thought that Kellie was dead at first. Surprise! She woke up and started fighting back," Hawkes smiled ruefully.

"Didn't the first officer on the scene check for vitals?" Stella asked, her eyebrows arching in surprise.

"Apparently not, he saw the bruising on her throat and assumed that she was dead and the male victim Alexander Chambers, there was obviously no need to check."

"I'll speak with Flack, someone needs to speak with that officer about this serious lapse in protocol," stated Stella.

"Speak to me about what?" asked Flack, walking into the lab.

"Did you get Kelli's statement already?" Stella turned in surprise.

"Not yet, she wasn't up to it yet. She cried herself to sleep in Mac's arms," Don shaking his head. "Damn, I hate cases like this."

"We all do," replied Stella quietly.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about?"

"I'm on my way to autopsy to see what Sid has for me. Walk with me and I'll explain along the way." As Flack and Stella walked towards the elevator, Stella began explaining how the first officer on the scene failed to check for vital signs, and how Kelli had came too – hitting Hawkes on the jaw.

"Thanks Stella. I'm gonna be having a little discussion with that officer," promised Flack, his blue eyes snapping with anger and Flack exited the elevator – heading for the precinct, while Stella in the elevator descended to the basement where Sid Hammerback was waiting in the morgue.

"So Stella, you decided to grace my morgue with your beautiful presence," greeted Sid, as Stella walked in – pulling a pair of latex gloves from the box.

"So what's the story on Mr. Chambers," smiled Stella.

Sid snapped his glasses together, peering down at the body. "Alexander Chambers was extremely healthy for his age of 50 years. He was also an 'Achondroplasia Dwarf" he was only 4 feet tall."

"Achondroplasia dwarf?" Stella frowned.

"A type of dwarfism, which means that his torso and head were normal size, but his limbs were shorter then normal sized people, also his legs were slightly bowed," explained Sid.

"So COD?"

"His throat was slashed, left to right from behind."

"Nasty," frowned Stella. "And it wouldn't have taken much for an average size person to overpower him, especially if he was caught by surprise."

"Quite correct," Sid nodded. "I hear that there was a survivor?"

"There was, he tried to strangle the female victim, but he must have been interrupted."

"Raped?"

"Yeah," Stella sighed heavily. "It's gonna take the victim a while to get over this."

"I also heard that Mac knows her."

"Yeah, she was a neighbour of Mac's. He's at the hospital with her now," explained Stella. "So where are Mr. Chambers' clothes?"

"Right here waiting for you," Sid indicated the evidence bags on a table behind him. "Mr. Chambers was also wearing a travel pouch with his I.D., money and his Canadian passport."

"Thanks Sid, the passport will help us with tracking down any family members and we will tell them to contact the M.E.'s office," Stella gathered the paper evidence bags and left the morgue to go back to the lab on the 35th floor.

At the hospital Mac watched as Kelli continued sleeping, getting up walking over to the window, stretching the muscles in his back, which were aching from the uncomfortable chair. When he heard the rustle of bedclothes, whimpering sounds – he turned back towards the bed. Where Kelli was obviously dreaming, thrashing around – Mac saw that she was trying to push her invisible attacker away from her, while whispering. "No, no, please stop. Stop please."

Mac gently touched Kelli on the shoulder, trying to wake her from her nightmare. Kelli sat upright, trying to scream, but her tortured throat wouldn't permit it. She cringed away from Mac's touch – Mac got in her line of vision, touching her face gently. At his touch Kelli's eyes snapped in panic, until realized that it was Mac.

"Oh God," Kelli croaked and covered her face with her hands crying, Mac gathered her in his arms as she continued sobbing, drenching his shirt in the process. Eventually she started sniffling as the sobbing stopped, Mac used his handkerchief to wipe her tear stained cheeks – giving her some tissues so that she could blow her nose.

"Thanks," Kelli started to say, stopping when she realized that she had lost her voice. She gestured towards her throat helplessly.

"The doctor said that you would probably lose your voice temporarily due to all the abuse," Mac explained.

Kelli looked at Mac and began signing. "How am I going to communicate with you?"

Mac chuckled. "Kelli, you know that I don't know ASL (American Sign Language). One of the nurses left a writing pad and a couple of pens for you."

Kelli gestured for the pad and pen, writing. "What time is it?"

"10 am why?"

"I need to test my sugar levels again and maybe take some insulin and then eat."

"I'll ring for the nurse," said Mac, picking up the intercom – buzzing the nurse's station. Within a few minutes a nurse came into Kelli's room. "Yes, do you need something Miss Taylor?"

Kelli held out her notepad, which she had written. "I need to test my glucose levels, take insulin depending on levels and eat some breakfast. Haven't eaten since 8 pm last night."

"I'm surprised that you are not experiencing low blood sugar right now," commented the nurse – whose nametag read 'Marcia'.

"Her blood sugar was low this morning when we found her earlier this morning," reported Mac.

"What was her level and what time was this?" asked Marcia.

"This was 6:30 this morning and her blood sugar was 2.9," replied Mac.

"That is low. Did you take any insulin last night?"

"Yes," Kelli nodded.

"What time and how many units?"

"It was almost 10:00 and I took 36 units," Kelli wrote.

"And how many units do you take in the morning?"

"24 units in the morning."

"Do you take insulin any other time of the day?"

Kelli shook her head. "No."

"Okay, I'm going to write this in your file and I'll come back with the monitor and everything else," said Marcia before leaving the room. Kelli was soon eating a snack after her glucose levels were tested and having received an insulin shot.

"So Kelli, what's with the red hair?" chuckled Mac. "When I saw you last, you had brown hair."

"Yeah, brown hair with lots of gray. I became a red head four years ago," Kelli scribbled on her notepad.

"Why?"

"I didn't mind the gray, but I felt so blah and my 40th birthday was coming up, so I decided to go red. I got my brother Guy to color my hair," Kelli smiling at the memory."Your brother is a hair stylist?" Mac recalled. Kelli nodded. "Yes."

"Is Guy still in Canada?"

Kelli got a sad expression on her face as she wrote. "No, Guy died six months ago; he was diagnosed with a liver disease a year ago. Guy had a liver transplant, but he didn't wake up after the surgery."

"I'm so sorry for your loss," said Mac, hugging Kelli in sympathy.

"Thank you," signed Kelli, then writing. "Do you know when I will be allowed to go home?" Mac started to reply, stopping when the doctor came into Kelli's room.

"Well Miss Taylor, how are you feeling?"

"Fine, except for my voice," wrote Kelli.

"We expected that where your throat suffered so much trauma. But your voice should come back within a couple of days."

"Is there anything that Kelli could be doing to speed up the process?" asked Mac.

"No trying to talk at all for at least two days, drink plenty of liquids and a soft diet for the rest of the week. Has the nurse given you antibiotics and the pill to prevent conception?"

Kelli nodded, as Mac asked. "When will Kelli be permitted to go home?"

"You can leave now, but I recommend that you go to your doctor to get your throat checked in a couple of days."

"But I have no clothes to wear," wrote Kelli.

"We'll give you some scrubs to wear," replied the doctor. "I'll send the nurse in."

Kelli nodded, as the doctor left her room. Kelli looked at Mac – writing. "I don't have my keys, I can't go home."

"Your belongings are at the lab," Mac answered. "I'll take you back to the lab and I'll call Stella and get her to go your apartment to pick up a change of clothes for you. You can use the locker room to change, before giving your statement to Detective Flack at the precinct."

"Mac, when you call Stella about my clothes, ask her to pick up my laptop. I can use that for communicating," wrote Kelli.

"No need, I'll contact Officer Marty Santucci to meet us at the precinct. Officer Santucci knows ASL, which will make it easier to take your statement," Mac paused, then continued. "Kelli, Detective Flack wanted me to ask you if you would prefer a female detective to take your statement."

"Can you stay with me?"

"I can if you want me to."

"Do you trust Detective Flack?"

"With my life."

"Then that's who I want working on my case the whole way."

They both looked up as the nurse came into Kelli's room with scrub pants and top.

"I'll step outside and call Stella while you get dressed," Mac stood up.