TITLE: Running to the Edge
AUTHOR: LaneIA
SUMMARY: Flack always gets the runners
SPOILERS: General
PAIRING: None, although friendship abounds
RATING: T. Please note I used some naughty words but not a lot.
DISCLAIMER: Will it come to anyone's surprise that I don't own CSI:NY or anything else for that matter. I'm doing this for fun and if you want to sue me, have at it.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I've written them, but never published anything before. So please, be gentle with me. I don't profess to be an expert on anything but I am enthusiastic! I started thinking about how Flack always seems to get the suspect that runs when I reviewed a great story by Axellia. What would happen if Flack picked the wrong day to chase a bad guy? Find out! This first chapter might be a little short, just trying my "feathers" for the first time.
It never failed; if a suspect was going to run it would be Flack's suspect. He couldn't understand it. Did they think he wouldn't chase them down just because he had a suit and tie on? It wasn't like he was a pot-belly, donut munching uniform cop. Maybe it was because the suit did so much to hide his lean, muscular frame. For whatever reason, it seemed that he had more than his fair share of foot pursuits. Today was going to be no different.
November 18, 11:30 A.M.
Along with Stella, they had gone in search of a suspect in a brutal rape case. Flack wanted to question him and Stella was going to process his apartment on a search warrant. The last known address was in a very run-down apartment building near a large warehouse district. The entire area varied between simply run-down and deserted. The type of place an alleged criminal would call home.
"Figures the elevator doesn't work and we need to go to the top floor." Flack jabbed the up button for the fifth time showing his impatience.
Stella glanced around and gestured towards the stairs. "Afraid of a little exercise Flack?"
He glanced at her feet as they mounted the stairs. "Me? I'm worried about you. With those heels you'll be lucky if you can keep up with me."
"Don't worry about me. I can run circles around you in these shoes."
"That is such a comfort to me." Flack's voice was laden with his normal brand of sarcasm. "You can chase our guy if he decides to play rabbit and run."
Stella flashed him a tight smile and continued up the stairs. Flack smiled at her stubbornness and kicking a piece of trash off the stairs he followed behind. The stairs were littered with empty bottles, take-out bags and containers and even several empty condom packages. He snorted, "Someone's been busy," and indicated towards the foil wrappers. Stella rolled her eyes and continued upward.
Upon reaching the 5th floor apartment of one Paul Walker, unemployed and processing a prior list as long as his arm, Flack pounded against the scarred wood of the door. "Paul Walker, open up. This is the Police and we've got a few questions for you!"
A crash sounded from inside the apartment. Stella raised an eyebrow towards Flack. He nodded and drew his gun. A well-placed blow to the door caused it to explode inward. Flack crouched and went in low. Stella remained in the hallway covering Flack while he quickly scanned the room. Unexpectedly a door halfway down the exterior hall flew open and their suspect bolted into the dingy corridor.
Stella yelled to the fleeing man to halt as he ran towards the stairs. "Flack, out here", Stella then took off after Walker. As they ran down the steps, Walker had the advantage of the head start and his desire to avoid arrest. She could hear Flack's footsteps thundering down a flight behind her. The bottom of the stairs was in sight, Walker still leading and heading towards the door. Suddenly Stella felt her foot shoot out from under her, sending her off balance. Falling backwards, she reached out to break her fall only to be rewarded with a hard landing on the edge of the step, sliding downward, twisting her ankle in the process. Flack was beside her in an instant, his eyes darkening in concern. Stella waved him off. "I'm fine. Get that asshole."
Assured that Stella was fine, Flack sprinted to the door. Reaching the all but deserted sidewalk, the fleeing man was easy to spot. Flack's long legs soon narrowed the distance as Paul Walker veered off down an alley between two warehouses.
'Damn,' thought Flack as he continued to chase the suspect. 'Not only do I get the runner, I get the freaking marathoner.' Just ahead of him Walker spun and pulled a stack of old pallets over and then made another sharp turn between two buildings. Flack maneuvered around the obstruction and rounded the corner in time to see Walker squeezing between gaps in a broken warehouse door. Flack, closing in on his query, didn't hesitate to follow.
Ducking through the opening, Flack snagged his jacket on a nail, ripping audibly as he pulled free. 'Shit! Now I'm really pissed.' The light coming in from the broken and grime covered panes of those windows not boarded up gave the large garbage strewn room a mottled appearance. Cast off machinery and packing crates created dark shadows in the gloom.
Flack halted his steps, listening past his own thudding heart pounding in his ears to the footfalls echoing ahead of him. He made his way deeper into the gloom. A crashing noise to his left prompted him to turn with his weapon drawn. "Walker! Give it up."
A flurry of movement behind him caused Flack to wheel around in time to see Paul Walker swinging a sturdy looking 2x4 at his head. Instinctually Flack threw up his arm to block the blow. Grunting in pain, the gun fell from his hand hitting the floor. Flack bent and scanned quickly for the fallen weapon. Walker didn't hesitate as he swung the board again, the wood hitting Flack's shoulder and back of his neck in a glancing blow. Flack shook his head, trying to clear the stars that had suddenly crowded his vision. Walker seized the advantage and brought the 2x4 to bear low across the back of the stunned detective. The force caused Flack to be driven to his knees. The board splintered and broke leaving Walker with a much smaller length.
Walker grinned, "Looks like this ain't your day pig." He swung again and the connected with the back of Flack's head, a thump that propelled Flack into unconsciousness. Walker, breathing heavily after the exertion dropped his weapon and aimed a kick at Flack's unprotected midsection. He smiled at the sound of his foot connecting to flesh and pulled back to deliver another and another.