Original fic: SCU: Boston

[bedlamsbard]

See, at this point in time, I was planning on posting the next chapter of Omerta, but it isn't exactly finished yet, so...either later today or tomorrow, depending on how long I'm working in the barn (yard sale, yay). So instead, we get another look at those fantastic Boston detectives with the Issues. Like Chris, with the hearing/seeing voices thing, and Jimmy, of the dead partner.



"Jimmy," Chris says suddenly, and his partner looks up from the beer he's been nursing for the better part of the past hour.

"Yeah?"

Chris wants, desperately, to stop the words, but they spill out of his mouth like water from a roof. "D'you know an officer named Donald Mackay?"

It's the wrong thing to say because Jimmy's face goes dead white like he's never seen it before and his fist clenches so hard around his mug Chris swears he hears glass crack. "Jimmy?" he says. "Are you -" He can't say okay. Okay is for civilians, and Jimmy isn't okay.

"Yeah," Jimmy says, the nasal inflection of Charlestown brushed all over the words. "Yeah, I know - knew - Mac." It seems to take all his energy to say the words and his head drops back down, the lights driving blue glints out of his black hair.

Chris doesn't want to go on but he has to, because the wild thing's got him in its grip and it won't let go. "I saw him," he says, and Jimmy's head jerks up.

"No -"

"I saw him. He asked about you."

He sees, strangely calm, that Jimmy's blue eyes are wide and horrified. There are things he won't say: that Mackay's blues were bloodstained, that thee was a faint purple hickey on the lower left side of his jaw, that blood spatter patterned his badge crimson and silver. Mackay died by violence; Chris knows this. Jimmy needs to go on, the ghost had said. He needs - to get over me. I'm dead - he's alive. He needs to live. He's a cop; he doesn't have just himself to look after. He's got Boston too.

Chris turns his head away at a flash of something out of the corner of his eye. Sergeant Donald Mackay is materializing out of the smoke surrounding the bar, his patrolman's blues crisp except where bullet holes rip through his chest. There's a trickle of blood coming out the corner of his mouth. Chris wonders if he can feel it, if the dead can feel anything but the chill of the grave. Mackay slids into the booth next to him. His voice is soft a whisper at the corner of Chris's mind - let me.

Mackay scoots over another foot or so, into Chris, and it's cool but not as ice cold as he'd thought it might have been. When he speaks, his voice is deeper, broader, the accent less pronounced. "Jimmy."

Jimmy looks up and his eyes are very wide and very pale, strange and almost colorless, the iris swallowed up by the whites. "Mac?" he croaks.

"Are you okay?" Chris says in Mackay's voice, and the ghost shepherds him gently aside. "Are you happy, Jimmy?" he asks.

"I -" Jimmy says, then stops and swallows.

"It's okay to say yes, Jimmy," Mac says and a laugh rumbls its way out of Chris's throat.

"Yeah," Jimmy manages in a shaky whisper. "Yeah, I think I am. Gotta gold badge and a good team and a great partner - I - I think I am."

"That's good," Mac says, a grin stretching Chris's face. "That's good, Jimmy."

Jimmy reaches uncertainly for him. "Are you -"

"I'm good." Something like heat brushes at the corners of Chris's mind, heat and what's not so much a scent but an essence of cinnamon and myrrh. He touches Jimmy's wrist. "Tell Callahan - tell him -"

"He's got a beat in Dorchester," Jimmy says. He doesn't take his eyes off Mac. "And a rookie. Met his match, I think. Mac, I - I got -" He makes a furious gesture. "I got the guy. I had him on the ground and I = I coulda - it woulda been so easy and I had him, I was lookin' into his eyes with a gun at his head and Callahan wasn't gonna - he said it'd be self defense, he'd swear to in front of a jury if he had to but I didn't -" He's crying, tears streaking down his broad handsome face. "I had the guy, Mac."

"Jimmy," Mac says. "It's okay." He reaches across the table and cups Jimmy's face, runs his thumb across the broad cheekbone. Jimmy arches into the touch, eyes half-closed. "Boston's your beat."

Jimmy turns uncertain eyes on him. "I dont' walk a beat anymore, Mac."

Mac smiles. "Yeah you do. Take care of your people, partner."

"Mac, no, wait -"

Thanks brushes ever so lightly at Chris's mind and Mac is gone. Jimmy sees it on Chris's face and drops his head down to the table, sobbing unashamedly.

"I'm sorry," Chris says, but the words are hollow as ashes.

Comments

[mentalhygiene.livejournal.com]

I love these guys oh, my christ I love them I love them. They--

They are so *intensely* real, and so-- dude. I want this to be a book that I can yaw open hear the spine crack down, split open and dog ear the pages and highlight the lines I like. I love this storyline.

You told me about this scene before, I recall, and it's played perfectly. Chris feeling the dead cop's voice, his laugh. And Jimmy's *sorrow* there, too.

Lines I especially liked: "He's got Boston, too", and "Boston's your beat", and "the ghost shepherds him gently aside".

[bedlamsbard.livejournal.com]

*preens* They may be crazy, and they may refuse to give me, you know, actual plot, but when they do give out, they're good.

They are so *intensely* real, and so-- dude. I want this to be a book that I can yaw open hear the spine crack down, split open and dog ear the pages and highlight the lines I like. I love this storyline.

Oh. Wow. *is honored* That's like...one of the best things anyone could ever be told. Now if they would only give me a plot...

See, I'd offer the rest of the Special Crimes Unit - there are four other detectives - up too, but they refuse to offer me anything even remotely interesting.

You told me about this scene before, I recall, and it's played perfectly. Chris feeling the dead cop's voice, his laugh. And Jimmy's *sorrow* there, too.

I'm sure Chris is royally freaked out at this point, because hey, he just got possessed by a dead cop. Not just any dead cop either: his partner's ex-partner, dead on the job. And Jimmy's never really got over Mac, like Mac says. Mac has almost ruined him for other social contact, which is why the department shuffled him off into SCU.

There's no great message Mac has to deliver to Jimmy, no "the world is ending and you're the only one that can stop it." He's just a guy, that happens to be dead, trying to tell his partner to move on. There was a snippet of conversation that's not in there where Mac asks how the Sox are playing, but it got cut, because it seemed...I don't know, not really out of place, just that I didn't have time to type it up. I mean, the biggest thing Mac is saying is, "You're a cop. You can't just let yourself go to pot, because other people are depending on you too. And now that you're a detective, it's not just your precinct, it's all of Boston, too."

[mentalhygiene.livejournal.com]

Oh. Wow. *is honored* That's like...one of the best things anyone could ever be told. Now if they would only give me a plot...
Your Boston stuff, I should note, makes me want to take my camera out into the wide world and take pictures of how I see the city so I can send them to you. In a good way. Like-- I dunno. It sounds weird when I say it.

And plot. Pfft. Silly plot. ;-) It'll come to you eventually.

I'm sure Chris is royally freaked out at this point, because hey, he just got possessed by a dead cop.
The aftermath of *that* should certainly be interesting...

Mac has almost ruined him for other social contact, which is why the department shuffled him off into SCU.
For some reason that cracks me up. It's so departmental politics. *amused*

There's no great message Mac has to deliver to Jimmy, no "the world is ending and you're the only one that can stop it." He's just a guy, that happens to be dead, trying to tell his partner to move on.
And I think that's what makes it... mm. What's the word. It *is* something of immense import, because it's-- it makes it seem like they are the only people, the two living and one dead, in the moment of the world. It's-- it's important to Jimmy. And it comes across. It's *human*.

There was a snippet of conversation that's not in there where Mac asks how the Sox are playing, but it got cut, because it seemed...I don't know, not really out of place, just that I didn't have time to type it up.
And suddenly I think: Oh no! Mac died before the Sox won the series.

[bedlamsbard.livejournal.com]

And plot. Pfft. Silly plot. ;-) It'll come to you eventually.

Perhaps one of the other detectives will bring it. Like Beau, in his I'm-so-crazy-nanana-I'm-crazier-than-the-NY-cops, or Noah, in his happy little "Yeah, I'm in Witness Protection and I'm from Texas and...why is my sister standing outside the door, hyperventilating?"

Not so strangely, considering what fandom I come from, the women seem sane enough. One's an O'Carolan, though (Siobhan. Her older brother's an FBI agent, one of younger ones is a cop, another younger one will be an Olympian, and she's got like four or five other siblings so), so we all know how relative that is, and the other one's been trying to keep Beau sane for years, so she's probably been corrupted by now.

The aftermath of *that* should certainly be interesting...

I sense screaming. And crying. Not sure on whose part, though.

For some reason that cracks me up. It's so departmental politics. *amused*

He was too crazy even for Homicide, evidently. And his father (a decorated cop) is dead, so no arguments from that side.

And I think that's what makes it... mm. What's the word. It *is* something of immense import, because it's-- it makes it seem like they are the only people, the two living and one dead, in the moment of the world. It's-- it's important to Jimmy. And it comes across. It's *human*.

Right. It's important to Jimmy, and by extension to Mac and Chris. But it's not really something the higher-ups care about, or even the vigilantes over in Allston (long story. There are angels. And time-traveling), who tend to deal with all that magical stuff. It's just two guys, one of whom happens to be dead, talking. And Jimmy really needed to get it out about the kid who killed Mac. (also, I realized I wrote "Callahan" through this whole thing when the name should actually be "Cahill." I am a genius, and should not be allowed to post anything without looking at my notes.)

And suddenly I think: Oh no! Mac died before the Sox won the series.

Which is what Mac is thinking, I think. And Cahill/Callahan/whateverhisnameisanyway.

[mentalhygiene.livejournal.com]

Perhaps one of the other detectives will bring it. Like Beau, in his I'm-so-crazy-nanana-I'm-crazier-than-the-NY-cops, or Noah, in his happy little "Yeah, I'm in Witness Protection and I'm from Texas and...why is my sister standing outside the door, hyperventilating?"
Dude, your detectives are all total freaks. And I love them. I want to make you icons for them, except that I don't have pictures. Especially "I'm so crazy nanana".

Boston has always been crazier than New York. We do everything on a slightly smaller, significantly weirder scale than everyone else, apparently.

the vigilantes over in Allston (long story. There are angels. And time-traveling), who tend to deal with all that magical stuff.
Hee, vigilantes in Allston. Somehow I think you'll appreciate these shirts (http://www.brandwashed.com).

Which is what Mac is thinking, I think. And Cahill/Callahan/whateverhisnameisanyway.
If I was a Boston native, and I died before the Red Sox won the series, and came back and found out they had? I think I'd feel pretty gypped. ;-)

[bedlamsbard.livejournal.com]

Dude, your detectives are all total freaks.

Dude, they are. The NY and LA paranormal detectives are so much saner. (Although I suspect the DC PIs could give these guys a run for their money, in terms of pure weirdness. Vampire, werewolf, lawyer who apparently takes over the world in the future (she was one of the Allston vigilantes, but there was an "incident" and she left), Seer, god knows what else is there...)

Boston has always been crazier than New York. We do everything on a slightly smaller, significantly weirder scale than everyone else, apparently.

See, but that's what makes it fun. Seattle, see, Seattle is close to home so it has no paranormal detectives. Well, I mean, it probably does, they just haven't informed me of themselves yet.

Hee, vigilantes in Allston. Somehow I think you'll appreciate these shirts.

Dude. Those are awesome.

If I was a Boston native, and I died before the Red Sox won the series, and came back and found out they had? I think I'd feel pretty gypped.

I have the feeling that if Chris were to hang around Fenway Park for a while, he'd start hearing these very complaints from the sadly deceased. Eep.

[mentalhygiene.livejournal.com]

Dude. Those are awesome.
Aren't they? I keep meaning to get one, but I can never decide. I think they should have an "Invade Yankee Stadium" one to go along with "Defend Fenway".

I have the feeling that if Chris were to hang around Fenway Park for a while, he'd start hearing these very complaints from the sadly deceased. Eep.
...oh, christ. Yes. In fact, Chris? Should be banned from Lansdowne Street and Yawkey Way. (And now I'm stuck thinking of all the places he's likely to find ghosts jabbering, and there's abundantly too many.) Jimmy's got quite a case on his hands.

[bedlamsbard.livejournal.com]

...oh, christ. Yes. In fact, Chris? Should be banned from Lansdowne Street and Yawkey Way. (And now I'm stuck thinking of all the places he's likely to find ghosts jabbering, and there's abundantly too many.) Jimmy's got quite a case on his hands.

I'm just curious to how he's going to start reacting at crime scenes, seeing as SCU mainly handles homicides. Oh, great, at some point he has to go to the morgue too. That should be fun.

[mentalhygiene.livejournal.com]

Poor traumatized detective. *pats* Jimmy, get a leash. A good one.

...and, oh, he might want to avoid the Big Dig. The open parts, anyway. I hear they found some bodies. Old ones.

[bedlamsbard.livejournal.com]

You know, Chris would probably function better if it he could figure out when he's seeing real people and when he's seeing ghosts. Which he can't. Plus, it's wavering between "on" and "off" right now. *pats* Poor bastard.

Right, this should make all his co-workers think he's real sane.

[mentalhygiene.livejournal.com]

If this was a book or a movie, I would slash it like *whoa*.

Er...

Plus, it's wavering between "on" and "off" right now. *pats* Poor bastard.
McMahon is suddenly *extremely* grateful that it actually stays on for him. And that the other cops actually know what he's talking about.

[bedlamsbard.livejournal.com]

If this was a book or a movie, I would slash it like *whoa*.

Er. I had best get cracking, then.

McMahon is suddenly *extremely* grateful that it actually stays on for him. And that the other cops actually know what he's talking about.

Your cops are lucky. Mine don't tend to associate magic with them. Magic is for civilians and perps, not for cops.

[mentalhygiene.livejournal.com]

Er. I had best get cracking, then.
...well, that and the slash is kinda already canon. Um. At least, when you write it, it will be. subtlety isn't my strong suit, is it.

Your cops are lucky. Mine don't tend to associate magic with them. Magic is for civilians and perps, not for cops.
They are lucky. They have each other. On the other hand, this does tend to drive a big wedge between them and the civilians sometimes.

[bedlamsbard.livejournal.com]

subtlety isn't my strong suit, is it.

*projects Flack*

They are lucky. They have each other. On the other hand, this does tend to drive a big wedge between them and the civilians sometimes.

Bah, civilians. *waves hand* Try taking what CSU gets, and then multiply it by like forty to get how the other cops feel about SCU. They like to pretend the "s" stands for "spooky."

[mentalhygiene.livejournal.com]

Bah, civilians. *waves hand*
*snicker* Picture: Cooper has injured himself. He is tied hand, foot, and elbows to the bed. He bites the doctor.

Try taking what CSU gets, and then multiply it by like forty to get how the other cops feel about SCU. They like to pretend the "s" stands for "spooky."
You know... these guys, they're just Boston-city, right? 'Cause man, if Cambridge has one, do I *ever* feel sorry for the kinda crazy they must put up with.

[bedlamsbard.livejournal.com]

Picture: Cooper has injured himself. He is tied hand, foot, and elbows to the bed. He bites the doctor.

*facepalm* He would, wouldn't he.

You know... these guys, they're just Boston-city, right? 'Cause man, if Cambridge has one, do I *ever* feel sorry for the kinda crazy they must put up with.

*raises eyebrows* Well, they're technically just Boston, but they tend to deal with everything in the surrounding area too, since the State Police doesn't have a special crimes unit and most police departments don't, either.

This reminds me of something I've been meaning to ask...what exactly is considered "Boston"? I mean, the neighborhoods and such. Large cities confuse me.

[mentalhygiene.livejournal.com]

*facepalm* He would, wouldn't he.
*straightfaced* Of course. They took his gun and tied him to the bed. He didn't want to bite them. If they'd left one arm untied, he could've just hit them instead.

;-)

*raises eyebrows* Well, they're technically just Boston, but they tend to deal with everything in the surrounding area too, since the State Police doesn't have a special crimes unit and most police departments don't, either.
Poor stateys. Cambridge is... well, it's referred to as "The People's Republic of Cambridge" and tends to be known as liberal, eccentric, urban, and a colorful mix of cultures. It, and Somerville, are kind of artsy as far as I know, though Somerville's a little more of the blue-collar.

This reminds me of something I've been meaning to ask...what exactly is considered "Boston"? I mean, the neighborhoods and such. Large cities confuse me.
Boston is a city of... crud, I can't remember, but a lot. Lots of people. And a number of neighborhoods all stuck together, sort of the equivalent of Harlem, Upper East Side, Upper West Side (etc.) in NY. Depending on context, "Boston" can refer to Boston as well as urban surrounding areas (parts of Brookline, Cambridge, etc). Then some of the neighborhoods are almost like seperate towns themselves (and can be addressed on letters as such), like Allston-Brighton or Charlestown or Roxbury/West Roxbury. This (https://ssl.opendoor.com/RoommateCo/newforms/bostonhoods.gif) is a good map. The smaller parts-- Chinatown, Downtown, etc.-- are hiding in the larger chunks. This (http://www.ci.boston.ma.us/police/district.asp) is a map of police districts, something like precincts.

It's all a pile o'crazy. Oh, and the MBTA? Buses, trolleys, trains, and commuter rail, it covers over seventy towns and extends into more than 3 counties.

[bedlamsbard.livejournal.com]

*straightfaced* Of course. They took his gun and tied him to the bed. He didn't want to bite them. If they'd left one arm untied, he could've just hit them instead.

How absolutely horrible of the doctors. I mean, unthinkably horrible. How could they be stupid enough to get within reach of his mouth?

Poor stateys.

Well, you can't really blame them, although SCU is a nice way to get rid of all the batshit crazy detectives you can't fire. It costs money (because they need their own lab and morgue and medical examiner) and it's hard to explain to the huddled masses.

Boston is a city of... crud, I can't remember, but a lot. Lots of people.

Uh, yeah. Thanks. Why can't I write what I know like normal people?

[mentalhygiene.livejournal.com]

How could they be stupid enough to get within reach of his mouth?
*snicker* Cooper's a wily bastard. Everyone prefers he not be injured.

Well, you can't really blame them, although SCU is a nice way to get rid of all the batshit crazy detectives you can't fire.
The state police-- when explaining incidents, usually traffic since they patrol the major highways among other things-- always strike me as kind of an *entity*, in a moreso way than any other police department. Like, Boston Police being a brotherhood, versus the stateys being an amorphous, flesh-eating amoeba.

It costs money (because they need their own lab and morgue and medical examiner) and it's hard to explain to the huddled masses.
Governor: *shoves pile of funding* "Here. Now make the boogeymen go away, okay?"

Uh, yeah. Thanks. Why can't I write what I know like normal people?
I can't say as I know Boston, at least as much as other people, either, because I don't *live* there. My internal map of Boston is usually gauged through transit and landmark instead of neighborhood.

[bedlamsbard.livejournal.com]

Cooper's a wily bastard. Everyone prefers he not be injured.

Uh, yeah. I can see why.

Governor: *shoves pile of funding* "Here. Now make the boogeymen go away, okay?"

More or less, yeah. Those vampires, ya' know - they can really do a number on the tourists.