"Two fractured wrists, a few broken fingers and a dislocated shoulder. His ribs are bruised pretty badly on the right side, and he won't be able to open his left eye for a while. Besides that, it all seems to be superficial – a lot of bruising and split lip."
"Is he alright to talk?"
"He's physically able. Whether or not he'll want to is a different story."
"Alright. Thanks doc." Danny Messer smiled politely at the doctor as he walked away. Taking a breath, Danny picked up his kit and walked into the room of the assault victim he was here to process. He'd been told what to expect, but it still shocked him when he looked at the man in front of him. Danny didn't understand how he could have ended up this way – the guy was at least 6 foot 4 and had hands like shovels. He should be more than capable of defending himself. Clearing his throat, Danny caught the attention of the bed's occupant.
"Mr. Flack?" Danny asked quietly, only continuing when he received a nod. "I'm Danny Messer, with the crime lab. I'm here to document your injuries. Do you feel up to that?" Again, Danny waited patiently until he received a nod from the man. When he got it, Danny slowly stepped closer to the bed.
"Mr. Flack, I'll need you to sit on the edge of the bed for me. Do you need help?"
"No," came the whispered reply, followed by. "Call me Don." Danny nodded his understanding and stepped back to give Don some room. The injured man was doing well, until it came to swinging his legs around, where he found himself in trouble. Danny stepped forward tentatively and, when Don didn't resist, he helped him to move around. Danny picked up his camera, hesitating as he looked for the first time at the injuries on Don's face.
"Do you… Can you tell me who did this to you?" Danny asked carefully, lifting his camera to take the first few photos as he asked his question.
"I don't know," Don whispered, flinching away from the flash of the camera. "It happened too fast for me to get a good look." Danny remained silent and continued to take pictures. He was used to hearing that excuse, and it was always hard to tell the difference between a lie and the truth at this stage. After a few more flashes, Danny lowered his camera.
"I need you to take off your top. Can you move enough?" Don nodded and started to remove his t-shirt, but stopped suddenly, wincing at the pain in his recently re-located shoulder.
"It's alright," Danny said quickly, stepping forward. "I'll help you." Don nodded reluctantly. Danny could tell it was hard for the man to feel this helpless. Slowly, Danny pulled one side of Don's t-shirt up his good arm before sliding it over his head and down the injured arm. Danny had to hold back a sigh at the state Don's chest was in. Whoever had done this must have been seriously pissed. Danny took the photos he needed before reaching a hand out to help Don stand. Don took Danny's arm and slowly turned so that the CSI could see the injuries to his back. Danny took his shots quickly and helped Don back into his bed.
"I'll come by tomorrow to talk to you," Danny said quietly. "You should get some rest now."
"You sound like my nurse," Don laughed lightly. Danny smiled in return before leaving the room, and the hospital, to get back to the lab.
~*~*~*~*~
Back at the crime lab, Danny was waiting nervously for the photos to develop. He wasn't sure what he'd find in them, but he knew he needed to find something. He couldn't go back to the hospital and tell Don that he wouldn't be able to help him. His silent worry was interrupted by Mac Taylor entering the room. Danny looked up at his boss, trying to hide his emotions from the older man. Like always, he failed, and Mac looked at him with concern.
"Everything alright?" He asked. Danny nodded twitchily.
"Just waiting for the pictures to develop on my assault victim."
"He tell you who did it?" Danny shook his head.
"Said he didn't get a good look."
"Do you believe him?"
"I'm not sure yet. Someone really did a number on this guy, Mac. It seems… personal, somehow."
"Alright, then you'll need to try and get the truth out of him. And in the mean time, do a background check – see if he's been involved with anyone of interest." Danny nodded as Mac smiled reassuringly at him. When he was sure Danny was in a calmer state of mind, Mac turned and left the room.
~*~*~*~*~
Danny sighed as he looked at the photos. The hospital had just sent over the x-rays too. Neither piece of evidence seemed to be helping. And there had been nothing to suggest any shady dealings in Flack's past. Danny put down the photo he was looking at; lifting his glasses to rub the bridge of his nose. He knew there was nothing more he could do right now – trace hadn't got back to him on the clothes Flack was wearing that night. The only thing left was to go back to the hospital and talk to Don. He just hoped the vic was in a chatty mood.
~*~*~*~*~
Danny stood silently in the doorway to Don's room. The battered man was deep in an uneasy sleep. Danny didn't want to disturb him, but when Don's head started to toss from side to side, in obvious distress, Danny rushed into the room. He hesitated before placing a hand gently on Don's good shoulder.
"Mr. Flack… Don, wake up." A soft but pained moan escaped Don's lips, and Danny started to panic.
"C'mon Don… It's just a dream… Wake up." Don stirred at Danny words, and soon his eyes were fluttering open to meet Danny's.
"Det.. Detective Messer?" Don whispered. Danny couldn't help smiling.
"Call me Danny." He whispered back. "I've come to talk to you… about what happened. Do you feel up to talking?" Don remained silent, searching Danny's eyes for a second, before nodding slowly.
"Could we…" Don cleared his throat. "There's a canteen here." Danny nodded, smiling reassuringly.
"Yeah, sure. Let's get outta here."
~*~*~*~*~
Danny looked over at Don patiently. The taller man was sipping slowly on a cup of coffee. After a moment he put his cup down and looked sheepishly at Danny.
"Have you remembered anything since yesterday?" Danny asked carefully.
"Just little fragments," Don said quietly. "Sounds… smells… nothing really solid."
"That could be all it takes," Danny smiled encouragingly. "You wouldn't believe the amount of cases that get solved from a familiar smell or something the victim heard." Don smiled timidly and nodded.
"The one thing I do remember is where I was," Don mumbled. Danny nodded, listening intently as Don continued.
"It was an alley. Outside of a club. The kind where the exit doesn't go out right onto the street, y'know? It was late, but the club was still open. I don't know why I was there – I don't think I was ever inside."
"Do you remember a name?" Danny pushed gently. Don thought for a second before shaking his head.
"No… but it had a blue neon sign."
"Good. This is good, Don. This'll really help." Danny smiled at Don, who smiled in return. "Is there anything else?"
"Yeah… whiskey. Whoever it was, I think they'd been drinking. I'm pretty sure it was just one guy, but I can't be positive… That's all I can remember right now."
"Thank you, Don. You've been really helpful. I should get back to the lab. I promise I'll let you know as soon as I find something." Don smiled and nodded as Danny stood up, hesitated for a second, and then left.
