Next chapter, I hope you like it :) Dray xx
"NO!" Flack roared. The whole office fell silent.
"Which son of a bitch was supposed to be watching this guy?" he raged. A plump cop stepped forward timidly.
"I... I was, sir."
"What happened?" Don gritted out.
"Well, sir. It was like this... I was due to finish my shift and Paulson was supposed to take over, but he never showed. So..." he swallowed nervously, "so I went to look for him."
"And left your post?" Don finished ominously.
The guard nodded slowly. "It was only five minutes..."
If Flack's eyes could have turned red, they would have been spitting fire. He took a deep, calming breath... And punched the guy's lights out.
"Jeez, that hurt." he cradled his bruised fist and looked up defiantly at the nearest person: a petite, tidy-looking cop who flinched a little under his angry gaze.
"Nice punch, sir." she whispered as he passed her.
"Thanks." he returned morosely. Damn moron guard... He was gonna have to ask his friends for help, and explain himself. Time to swallow his Manhattan pride and face the music.
Danny was the first to see Flack exit the lift. He wondered briefly why his friend was here already, before going to meet him. A glimpse of Flack's downcast baby blues and Danny instantly knew the detective was in trouble.
"Donny, what can we do for ya?" he spoke softly to the tall detective, and gave him his most reassuring smile. Flack was comforted by his friend's efforts and managed a weak smile back.
"I really screwed up this time, Danno." his voice was shaky and in it Danny could hear Flack's disappointment in himself.
"I'm here for you, Donny. Don't worry, we'll sort it out whatever it is."
"Thanks, man." Flack looked gratefully into the CSI's concerned eyes. They stopped outside Mac's office and Mac appeared in the doorway.
"Flack, Danny. Come in." He stood aside for them and Danny went in first with Flack traipsing in behind. Mac shut the door. Don ran a hand through his hair.
"I'm sorry Mac. I messed up again. I let you down, I let the force down, hell - I let the whole goddamn city down."
"Calm down, Donny. What happened?"
"It's Morgan. Some schmuck let... He escaped, Mac. Just after I came here, the guard screwed up and he got out. And now he's loose... He could be anywhere by now. And then I punched the guard, and... Aww hell..."
Danny fought back a smile. What he wouldn't give to have seen Flack's reaction when he found out. He had always admired his friend's passion and his fierce loyalty to justice.
Mac intervened before Flack could guilt trip himself into next week.
"Flack, don't be so harsh on yourself. We've got your back. I'll do everything in my power to help you find Morgan, alright?"
Flack looked up at the stoic marine. Hardened by years of service in the corps, Mac was calm and composed about nigh on every problem that he was faced with. The young detective sighed in relief.
"You would do that?"
"Of course, Don. We're all on the same side here. Far as I'm concerned, you're one of us."
"A lab rat?" Flack joked half-heartedly.
"Hey!" Danny's indignant exclamation made the older detective laugh.
"You know what I mean. You're family." Mac smiled. "Danny, go set up a trace on his credit card - if he had an accomplice they may have returned his personal effects to him. And get Adam and tell him we're gonna need his new toy. Flack, go make sure NYPD have all the hands they can spare looking for this guy. He's killed twice, and the victims were children - that makes him top priority for everyone."
Flack and Danny nodded at Mac and set off to complete their respective tasks. When they were outside the office, Danny gave Don's arm a quick squeeze.
"It'll be alright, you'll see." and then he disappeared into the labs. Don headed towards the lift with a task to occupy him, and a soothing voice lingering in his mind.
