Now this was a fun game, the players had finally arrived. Mac Taylor and a female detective had just arrived at the alley and after what appeared to be an argument with an officer Taylor had taken his kit down the alley and begun taking photos. He hoped he found his clue; he wanted worthy opponents it was no fun if they didn't play too.

Mac sighed setting his camera down after taking overall shots of the alley. It was clear where the attack had taken place; there were two small pools of blood next to a fire escape.

"Mac," Sheldon Hawkes voice broke Mac's trance, "what's going on? How's Lindsay?"

"Lindsay's doing good Stella just rang she's got to stay in overnight to be monitored as for what's going on I'm not sure."

"Random attack?" asked Hawkes.

"I'd like to think so but he didn't take any money or by Lindsay's account try to take any just went for her," said Mac as Angell joined them.

"Any news on Lindsay?" she asked looking at Mac.

"Arm was a clean break," he replied as Angell let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding, "how did Danny take it?"

"Nuclear bomb," replied Hawkes. Mac sighed looking around at what little evidence they had.

"Hawkes Lindsay's clothes are in my car, take them back to the lab tell Adam its priority," said Mac tossing Hawkes his keys.

"Got it," replied Hawkes leaving.

He was enjoying this, watching them scurry around like rats. Detective Bonasera had arrived looking decidedly pissed off as she flung the crime scene tape around and headed towards Mac Taylor.

"How's she doing?" asked Mac as he heard the sound of Stella dropping her kit rather forcefully on the floor.

"She's doing good, going to have to stay in over night still," said Stella bending down so she was crouched next to Mac, "Danny's pissed though," she added quietly so the surrounding officers didn't hear.

"I'll talk to him when were done here," sighed Mac, "he is still there," he asked suddenly realising there was a chance Danny had gone of half cocked to find whoever attacked Lindsay.

"Yeah, Flack managed to calm him down. So what are the chances this has nothing to do with Lindsay been a CSI?" asked Stella finally looking down at the blood pool Mac was meditating over.

"So far that's the only motive I can see."

Hawkes arm felt like it weighed a tone as he entered the lab, the bag containing Lindsay's clothes was weighing down his wrist despite that fact it hardly weighed anything.

"Hawkes," Adam stuck his head out the lab as he saw Hawkes, "we heard the officer down call, what's going on?" he asked as a solemn looking Hawkes entered his lab surprised to find Sid in there.

"Adam needed my help with some evidence," said Sid who was excitedly holding two fingers in his hand like a child with a new toy.

"Lindsay was attacked," said Hawkes monotone.

"Badly?" asked Sid.

"She'll be ok, Stella's going to send you some photo's," said Hawkes who had yet to see Lindsay.

"I'm on it," replied Sid leaving. Adam had been silent since Hawkes had spoke he simply turned to his desk pushed everything on it to one side and said four simple words that meant more than anything, "Where do I start?"

Hawkes gave Adam a half smile and began emptying that bag out, "Lindsay's clothes," said Hawkes as Adam gloved up. Hawkes began laying them out on the table, he tan tee shirt was stained with blood drops and patches where it had dripped from her head.

"I thought you said it wasn't bad," said Adam as he laid out her brown trousers, which were covered in dirt and blood at the knees.

"Head wounds bleed a lot," said Hawkes reassuring Adam.

"Top or bottom?" asked Hawkes.

"Top," replied Adam as the pair set to work.

Lindsay had been moved up to a ward to stay overnight and been made a lot more comfy by the new painkillers she was getting. Danny was still at her side her good hand in his telling her tails of what him and Flack had got up to while processing a sex toy factory, possibly too much information. The bruising on her head and jaw was coming out more as the day dragged into night and more obvious signs where her knees had impacted the concrete had been covered up with dressing and a blanket.

"Linds," Danny's voice was barely above a whisper as he stroked her hair. He got no response she leant in and gently kissed her forehead before grabbing his jacket and leaving.

Mac was the last of his team to leave the lab, Hawkes and Adam had took samples for Lindsay's clothes and after watching the pair hover over the evidence as machine worked in it Mac insisted they go home finally as eleven thirty. Stella had left ten minutes after she dropped the photos she had taken of Lindsay's injures in the morgue, Sid was out on a run and she refused to hand them to anyone but him and eventually gave in giving them to a tech under the implicit instructions that if they didn't go straight in Sid's hands they would be occupying a draw. Mac was just leaving his office when he heard a voice he'd been expecting for a while.

"Danny," said Mac turning, "how's Lindsay?"

"She's asleep, why the hell didn't you tell me straight away," said Danny raising his voice as Mac unlocked his office door again and the pair went in.

"I believe Flack and Stella have already explained that," said Mac trying to keep Danny calm.

"Yeah ok you thought you were doing the best thing," said Danny pacing, "so where are we on catching this scum bag?"

"Were processing the evidence," said Mac knowing exactly what Danny wanted.

"Processing what, what are we going on?" asked Danny repeatedly running his hand over his chin.

"We're working on blood and fibre's from the alley and Lindsay's clothes and Sid's taking a look at her injuries.

"Flack said they didn't rob her," said Danny turning to face Mac, "she was targeted for a reason wasn't she?"

"So far we haven't got anything to say otherwise,"

"Cut the crap and just tell me," shouted Danny, "show me where the man who did that to Lindsay is." His hands were clenched into fists now.

"Danny,"

"Let me on the case Mac," said Danny a pleading look in his eyes, "I'm s good CSI."

"I don't' dispute that but you can't work the case defence will call into question any evidence you handle."

Danny was still angry Mac could see him trying to work out a logical reason for how he could get on the case.

"Danny you'll be in the loop the second we get anything you'll know," said Mac placing a hand on his shoulder.

"It's Lindsay," said Danny his anger crumbling into fighting back tears.

"I know now go and look after her. She needs you to be there with her now not here, you trust me?" asked Mac as Danny finally broke.

"Of course," he replied wiping a stray tear with his sleeve.

He loved this part of the game watching as everything began to unfold, he's watched as Messer left the hospital and followed him to the crime lab no doubt asking to be let on the case but Detective Taylor was to by the book to let him and less than twenty minutes later he left again shortly followed by Taylor. They hadn't found his clue yet but he was sure they would that little message that he was going to take away everything from them like they had done him, he was going to get revenge for him.

TBC………….

Not sure if I'll get another update in before Christmas due to work and uni assignments been in but be sure I haven't forgotten this fic and will update sometime…until the reviews and welcomed with cookies and milk.