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And that was that. In the blink of an eye the situation between the two of them had been deescalated, taking all the wind out of Taylor's sails. He'd been ready to let loose and now was sitting in a dimly lit waiting room beside her, silently hoping like hell a kitten she'd found five minutes ago wasn't so sick or malnourished that it couldn't be nursed back to health. He sat for a long while, elbows resting on his legs, staring down at the floor in front of him. Even with the feline distraction his mind couldn't help but drift back to the emotions that ran high whenever he was near Ellie. She never failed to elicit an extreme response, be it good or bad. Finally he spoke, breaking the silence between them with a simple, quietly uttered statement that came with a soft chuckle.
"You hit me with your shoe."
Taylor McCarthy
I gave you the last word, and that's the last thing you'll take from me
It almost felt as though Taylor hardly knew this young woman who was so concerned with a life other than her own. He'd never seen her act this way, which was almost startling given how just mere moments before she had been hurling her show at him. It made sense, though, that she would find herself more worried about a stray kitten than another person. He'd just add it to the long list of quirks he'd discovered.
"This way." He said, pointing to the left of the alley. His hand came out to instinctively touch her shoulder, leading her in the right direction. In a way he could understand her concern for the animal, though he wasn't optimistic about its chances. How often did newborn kittens spend God knows how long in a dumpster and survive? Still, even he couldn't resist the small smile that surfaced when a pair of big, blue eyes peeked out of the sweater and looked up to him. "Five minutes." He assured Ellie with a nod.
Taylor McCarthy
I gave you the last word, and that's the last thing you'll take from me
By the time Ellie started climbing into the dumpster Taylor had given up his angry tirade. He didn't bother asking what the hell she was doing, rather he followed along, instantly more concerned about what she'd seen now than saying his piece. Yes, he was well aware of her power and how it could flare up from time to time and yes, he also didn't put it passed her to try and use that to further manipulate him. But the moment she began scaling the side of the dumpster Taylor realized something more was going on.
He stepped forward, using his much taller form to help Ellie climb out while still clutching the small thing to her chest. Taylor's eyes narrowed, studying whatever it was for a moment until he could see what it was. "Well, shit." He muttered quietly under his breath. Part of him wanted to stay pissed off, wanted to unleash everything she made him feel, throwing it all back in her face. But something always seemed to come up, didn't it? "There's an emergency vet a couple blocks down the way there." He said, waving a hand in the direction. "Animal control goes there during off hours."
Taylor McCarthy
I gave you the last word, and that's the last thing you'll take from me
Oh, no. Taylor was not falling for this shit. Undeterred by the sudden shock Ellie seemed to have gotten Taylor continued moving forward just as enraged as ever. It was just like her to try and throw him off with some bullshit and here she was talking about excuses. He should've known trying to even talk to her was a lost cause and not worth the headache.
"Are you fucking kidding me right now?" He nearly spat the words, his accent coming out clearly. "Are you seriously throwing that at me?" It didn't matter that she wasn't looking at him anymore or seemed to care that he was there. Taylor was pissed and he'd be damned if he wasn't going to say what he'd been holding in this entire time. "You never even asked what was going on or even acted like you gave a shit and now you're going to act like this is my fault?"
But there was no response. Ellie was distracted by something even though Taylor was going off. It was disconcerting and served to confuse more than irritate. Taylor stood there, staring at her, his features softening from rage to something more akin to exasperated curiosity. He exhaled and brought a hand up to press against his forehead. Why did he put himself through this shit again and again? "What- What are you doing?" He asked finally as Ellie turned her attention fully to the dumpster beside her.
Taylor McCarthy
I gave you the last word, and that's the last thing you'll take from me
"OW" Came the howl as the hurled shoe smacked Taylor flush in the back of the head. The combination of the show and Ellie's words surprised more than hurt, causing the rookie cop to wheel around, hands balled into fists. He didn't move, not at first, rather he stood, seething with anger as he glared across the alley. Now she was going to respond with more than simply dismissing him? Now when he had just set his mind to walking away for good? Now when he'd finally resigned himself to letting all the immature bullshit he'd clung to while an ocean away go?
"What the fuck?" Taylor stood there, staring. He could scarcely believe what he was seeing or hearing. Was she actually blaming all his on him? When he'd told her he had to leave she just dismissed him, waved a hand and sent him on his way without a second thought. "Did it ever occur to you that I had to leave?" He growled in response, slowly starting to move forward to close the gap between them.
Taylor McCarthy
I gave you the last word, and that's the last thing you'll take from me
Taylor was done. He was truly done. All this going back and forth wore on him years ago before he'd gone home and he wasn't in the mindset to go over it all again. The two of them had walls that took months of collective head smashing to bring down even a little bit and for it to seem as though they'd gone backwards was more than he could handle. He didn't know what he'd expected. Ellie had always been aloof and infuriatingly stubborn. He didn't know what he'd done while away to make her suddenly hate him again but he was damned if he was going to put up with it.
"Yeah, that's it." Taylor shot back with more malice lacing his words than intended. He didn't stop or turn around. He wasn't calling her bluff. She'd said her piece and made her thoughts on the matter startlingly clear. "What'd you expect? You've been pretty fucking clear about all this, so... yeah." He had nothing left to say. An arm went up, dismissing the entire situation with a wave. "Bye."
Taylor McCarthy
I gave you the last word, and that's the last thing you'll take from me
Another exhale accompanied the every growing frustration that was most commonly associated with attempting to open a door by bashing one's head repeatedly against it. In many ways talking with Ellie mirrored this analogy and, quite frankly, Taylor was beginning to tire of it already. They had played this game endlessly and it was obvious little had changed over the years. Taylor's head shook, hands coming to rest upon his hips as he glanced down to take in every word she spoke.
"Fine." The abrupt answer came after a long pause. Taylor shrugged and threw his arms up dismissively. He wasn't going to do this. Not here, not now and not again. "You've made your point." And with that he turned on his heel and started for the entrance to the alley.
Taylor McCarthy
I gave you the last word, and that's the last thing you'll take from me
Taylor stopped when Ellie turned to face him, his brows furrowing in confusion. He was used to her escalating the situation far beyond reason but this was unlike even her. She was putting words in his mouth and alleging intentions he didn't have, let alone had voiced. Usually it took very little for Ellie to go off on him, but in the passed she at least needed a reason.
"What are you talking about?" He countered, eyes dropping to follow the bag as it landed upon the ground only be to hastily scooped up. "I never asked you to drop anything, I only wanted meet. You're acting like I did something to make you hate me." The frustration was returning, though it remained tempered by a newfound calm that felt strange coming from Taylor. "After everything I didn't think talking would be such a big goddamn deal."
Taylor McCarthy
I gave you the last word, and that's the last thing you'll take from me
Another frustrated sigh escaped at Ellie's reply. They were both insufferably stubborn and it was apparent neither of them wanted to give in to the other. This would be no exception. Taylor persisted, now moving up alongside Ellie as she walked. His hands went to tuck into the pocket of the dark blue hoodie he wore and he exhaled slowly, regaining his composure after the initial rush that came with seeing her again.
"Look." He said, his voice calm. "I know it's been a long time. I don't expect anything, I just want to talk, catch up, see how you've been." Taylor's gaze shifted sideways, casting a glance in her direction. His features were softened, less frustrated and intense as was common when the two of them were together. "Is that really too much to ask?"
Taylor McCarthy
I gave you the last word, and that's the last thing you'll take from me
"Why?" Taylor presented the question stubbornly. He left, yes, but it wasn't as if he had done so under dubious circumstances. He was honest and straightforward with her. The two of them hadn't ended on bad terms despite the ambiguity carried by their relationship from the very beginning. Even now he couldn't help but wonder what would have happened should circumstances had been different.
"What is so wrong about talking?" He asked defiantly, still keeping pace with her.
Taylor McCarthy
I gave you the last word, and that's the last thing you'll take from me
Taylor expected her to turn and walk away. It wasn't the first time she'd reacted this way and he'd be surprised if it was to be the last. Naturally he was undeterred. He was nothing if not stubborn and more than a little foolhardy. Ellie, for some reason, tended to bring out the worst in those two qualities even after all this time.
"Ellie, wait." He called, quickening his pace a bit to catch up. No matter how their initial meeting after he'd returned to the States had gone he felt she at least owed him five minutes to explain himself. "I just want to talk."
Taylor McCarthy
I gave you the last word, and that's the last thing you'll take from me
Rookie hazing aside Taylor did have to admit there was something about the level of camaraderie he found within the military that seemed to be present in law enforcement. He found it comforting in a strange way, despite how much shit everyone tended to give each other. It reminded him of the relationship many siblings had where they may have been at each other's throats 24/7 no one else was allowed to start anything with them. So as expected, Taylor took his lumps for his recent traffic stop misstep and promptly accepted an invitation to go out with some of the guys.
Of course he wasn't going to be allowed a night away without something going awry.
"Son of a bitch." Taylor muttered the moment his attention was drawn to a familiar face in the crowd. He hesitated, eyes flicking back to the group of cops he was with before exhaling. He shouldn't bother. It wasn't as if he and Ellie had been anything in the first place and it'd been years since they'd seen each other. He wasn't the same person and he assumed she wasn't either. The smart course of action would be to cut his losses and move on. Live and learn.
Which was exactly why he broke away from his group and started toward the brunette woman.
Taylor McCarthy
I gave you the last word, and that's the last thing you'll take from me
Taylor had already started back toward the police cruiser when Ellie had started addressing his training officer. Eyes closed and Taylor let out a low sigh as he reached for the door to the car. "Indeed it is, ma'am." Came the terse response followed by a glare directed at the rookie cop. "I apologize for the lack of professionalism." And that was that. Both officers returned to the car, the senior obviously annoyed. There was going to be hell to pay the moment the doors to the cruiser closed and they were outside of earshot of the public.
Taylor quickly attempted to explain the situation before he could be read the riot act which did, at least, save his skin from being written up. What it didn't do, however, was prevent the short yet scathing talk of allowing personal lives to bleed into work and most assuredly set up what was going to be a long, embarrassing hazing session directed at Taylor's feeble attempt to get back together with his ex.
In many ways it was as if things hadn't changed in the years he'd been gone. It was a feeling he was all too familiar with that left him wondering if all this was even worth it.
Taylor McCarthy
I gave you the last word, and that's the last thing you'll take from me
This was not how Taylor wanted to meet Ellie again after being away for so long. After so much time he wasn't even sure she would want to see him again, though this certainly wasn't going to do anything to clear up what was already a muddied situation. It didn't help that he was being scrutinized by his ball-busting field training officer all the while stumbling through what should have been a routine traffic stop.
"Uh, right." Taylor's brow furrowed as he glanced down at the license in his hand. There was no need to run anything. He knew Ellie was clean but the general rule of thumb while in training was everything buy the book. "You didn't signal at the intersection and you've got a tail light out." Taylor spoke with a certain strength and confidence returning to his voice and demeanor. This was his job, after all, and he was still learning how important it was to put his own emotions aside. "Alright. So just sit tight."
And with that Taylor stood straight and started back toward his cruiser, hand coming up to the mic clipped to his chest to call in the driver's license and plate number. It took just a few short minutes for everything to come back just as Taylor suspected; no warrants, everything current, vehicle not reported stolen. Taylor used the time to undoubtedly make Ellie's day just a bit worse by writing out the ticket. Once the dispatcher finished relaying the information, Taylor moved back to the driver's side and handed back Ellie's license and registration. "Try and remember to signal." He said curtly, "Especially on rainy days. I'm giving you thirty days to get your light fixed, go ahead and keep this with you-" he handed over the small slip of paper that was Ellie's 'fix it' ticket "-in case you get pulled over again."
What Taylor hadn't let his training officer see was the sticky note attached to the back of the ticket with the name of a small, hole in the wall coffee shop near downtown with the time '6pm' scrawled beneath it.
Taylor McCarthy
I gave you the last word, and that's the last thing you'll take from me
Taylor issued a low grunt as he heard his brother's voice through the low hum of the bar. Brows furrowed and eyes slid over to regard Jack with a look of contempt that could only come from an older brother. There was, obviously, more to the question than simple curiosity. Jack never asked anything about Taylor's personal or professional life without their being some sort of motive behind it, especially when it came to the elder McCarthy's brief stint within the Irish Army.
"Oh, fuck." Taylor grumbled with a shake of his head. He turned now, beer bottle in hand, to face his younger brother. "What did you do now?"
