The Quiet Screaming

summary: Danny was found with his wrists slit on the bathroom floor after getting involved in an unofficial case that takes him from being a detective to being a victim. Can the team help him remember what happened?

genre: Angst & Friendship

rated: Mature

content warnings: adult content, torture, language

author note: I came up with this premise and new Danny was the perfect one to go through it. I didn't want it so much to be procedural like the show but in pieces, like the way Danny's memory is during it. It's got a huge focus on the friendship between Danny and Don because I wanted to explore that as well. The title is inspired by The Legion of Doom's mash up of Brand New and Dashboard Confessional. I highly recommend listening :)

disclaimer: All characters in this story belong to CBS and the dude with the amazing vision that created CSI: NY. The characters are not mine, as much as i would like to keep them...all though after I what I put them through in this fic I don't think they'll let me borrow them anymore lol


Chapter One - "The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows"

-eleven days ago-

Danny squinted through the microscope again before pulling away. He sighed, moving his glasses from where they were perched on top of his head, back over his eyes.

"Stupid, freakin,'" he muttered under his breath just as Adam walked into the lab.

"Hey Danny, having fun?" Adam grinned, grabbing a stool and wheeling it next to where Danny sat.

"Oh yeah, sure. Don't I look like it?" Danny scratched absently at his neck as Adam sat down beside him. "Ya wanna take over? I need some caffeine."

"Well that's nice to hear," Adam said genuinely. Seeing Danny's confused face, he elaborated. "Used to hearing you say you need a smoke."

"Yeah, well I quit about a month ago. Shit'll kill you," Danny stood up, arching his back as he worked out the kinks he got from being hunched over the microscope for so long. "Guess any withdrawal mood swings I had weren't too bad if no one noticed."

"Well, you're such a grump anyway," Adam smiled to himself, positioning himself in front of the microscope. "Who could tell, really?"

Danny slapped him upside the head as he left the lab.

He made his way down the halls of the crime lab. As he passed by Mac's office, he saw the man look up from behind the desk. He obviously spotted Danny, waving him to come in.

Danny entered and lowered himself onto the couch that sat against the wall to the left of the door, waiting for Mac to finish his phone call.

"Yeah, Thanks for the help," Mac spoke into the phone before hanging it up.

"Sup, boss?" Danny asked, seeing the slightly agitated expression on his superior's face.

"Danny, I know you're working on that homicide but I need you to pass it off to Sheldon," Mac said, coming around to the front of his desk, perching himself on the edge.

"Sure. Why, what's up?"

"A new case has fallen into our lap. A very unique case," Mac spoke, quieter than normal, peeking Danny's curiosity. "One that's going to require some unconventional investigating."

"Ya know, in my experience, the word unconventional is usually used when tryin' to describe somethin' that's gonna be a bit awkward and less than enjoyable," Danny joked, eliciting a slight laugh from the older man. Seconds later Mac slipped back into his serious demeanor.

"Danny, there's been a string of unusual suicides in the city in the past two months," Mac started.

"Times are rough right now," Danny responded, unsure of where Mac's was headed with this.

"I know, but there have been strange circumstances. I've been looking into the details of these suicides. In sixty-five percent of the suicides in the past two months, the events surrounding their deaths have all been very similar. People who have seemingly been doing well that recently suffered from a personal loss. It was either the death of a family member or friend, a recent divorce, losing their job, things like that. They drop completely off the grid for a few days, no one hearing from them. Friends, family, work, no one has heard or seen them for anywhere up to ten days. Then suddenly they turn up dead in their own bathroom, wrists slit. No evidence of foul play so its written off as a suicide."

"How many people fall into this pattern?" Danny asked.

"Twelve."

"Twelve? There's twelve almost identical deaths in two months?" Danny stared at his boss, surprise evident in his voice. "This had been going on and we're just thinking abut investigating it now?!"

"I've been thinking about it for a while. Sinclair and his team seem to think that it would be a waste of departmental resources," Mac sighed, rubbing a hand across his face. "They think I'm looking too deep into something that is a matter of coincidences. But I know in my gut this is something more."

"So you think we got a serial killer on our hands?" Danny asked, standing up from the couch. He strode over to stand in front of where Mac sat on the desk.

"I don't know Danny. But there is something going on and I want you to find out what."

"What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to investigate. Look into every detail and follow any bit of evidence you think means something." Mac reached behind him and grabbed a case folder. "Do anything they did. Go to places they'd been recently. Follow whatever lead you find. We have to figure out what the hell is going on."

"I'm assuming this is unofficial," Danny smirked.

"Too say the least. No one can know about this, Danny. If we find nothing and someone finds out, both our jobs are at risk," Mac held the folder out in front of him. "I completely understand if you don't believe me about this and don't want to take this on. I don't blame you."

Danny took a moment to size up Mac. Here was his boss, friend and mentor, asking him to trust in him and take on a risky challenge. Danny didn't have to think twice.

"I got it covered, boss," Danny smiled, accepting the file from Mac's hands.