Been a while since I've updated this one. Sorry! Well, now that my sister is all moved into her new place, I can concentrate on updating for ya'll.
Danny was not one to let the world know what he was think or feeling. To most people, they would find that statement absurd since Danny voiced his opinion on everything. Only a few people could understand that while he told you everything, he really told you nothing. He had to be peeled back a layer at a time and when something like this happened, more layers were added. Danny was silent. He would have time to mourn later, he told himself. Right now he had to find Fuentes and whoever else was responsible for his brother's death. He now understood Steve's obsession with finding Hesse after the murder of his father. Danny locked all his emotions down. There would be time later when he could bring them out, but now was not that time. He was hunched over his desk, carefully reading through Fuentes' file that Catherine had forwarded them. They were all combing through all the intel they had on Fuentes, Matt, and the morgue robbers. So far, they had nothing. They had exhausted every resource and it told them nothing new. He sighed and rubbed his tired eyes. The letters had blurred in thick lines on the paper and he couldn't concentrate anymore. He must have read that file at least twenty times. He closed the manila folder and opened up his email to see if his friends in the FBI had anything new on Matt. His heart nearly stopped when he saw a new message from his brother. It was a video file. He opened the message and clicked play. Matt's disheveled and tired image came on the screen.
"Hey big brother." He said with a ghost of a smile. "I know I've screwed up these last few years, but I'm ready to make this right. I'm coming to Hawaii to turn myself in. I need your help though. They're not happy with me leaving and I need to find a way where I can come in safely to testify against them. These are bad guys, Danny. They've killed so many people. I'll accept whatever punishment but I want these men behind bars. I don't know how long it will take for this email to send. The area I'm in is all deep forest. I just hope it sends in time. I'll come by your place at five p.m. on Tuesday the twenty first. We can talk then. I'll tell you all I know about them. I'm sorry for all I've put you through. I'm trying to make this right." The message eneded, leaving Danny stunned. Steve knocked lightly on the window before entering Danny's office.
"How you holdin' up?" He asked. He not only meant physically, but he could see the mess of emotions Danny was feeling. Losing a brother like that…Steve couldn't imagine it. When Danny remained silent, Steve grew more concerned. "Danny, what's wrong?" Danny didn't speak. He just turned his monitor towards Steve and replayed the video. When it had ended, they both sat together in stunned silence for a moment before Danny spoke.
"He was trying. He was trying to do the right thing."
"I'm so sorry, Danny." Steve said, trying to convey as much empathy as possible. Danny was the closest thing he had to a brother and he couldn't imagine losing him like that. "We'll get these sons of bitches, don't you worry." Danny nodded, then turned to Steve as a thought struck him.
"Matty said he'd be going to my place…I haven't been home in days…"
"You're thinking that's where they grabbed him."
"Yeah. And I know it's a long shot, but what if there's, I don't know, some evidence there?"
"No, I think you're right. We should go check it out."
They pulled up outside of Danny's apartment. As soon as he got to the door, he knew something was wrong. The door was open a crack and Danny could see blood smears on the knob. Silently, they moved into the apartment. It was a mess. Things lie in pieces all over and blood was smeared on virtually every surface. Danny was never one to get squeamish at the sight of blood, but it had never been his own brother's blood decorating the walls.
"Oh God…" he breathed brokenly. His fragile control was slipping. Steve was equally shocked by the sheer amount of blood that splattered the room. He glanced at Danny. /his face had lost all color and he was visibly shaking. He placed a gentle hand on Danny's shoulder. He was about to ask if Danny was alright, but he bit his tongue. It was obvious to anyone that he was not alright.
"Why don't you go take a moment outside. I'll call CSU and look around." He steered Danny towards the door. Outside, Danny barely made it to the bench in the small courtyard before his legs gave out. This was not a simple shoot and go. It had been messy and Matt had most certainly suffered. So lost was Danny in his own thoughts that he did not notice the black van pull up, same make and model as the morgue robbers. All he felt was the sickening thud of a Glock smacking his temple and then darkness.
When Danny awoke, he was still in the van. He tried to move his limbs, but they were ziptied together. They drove for about ten more minutes, then came to a stop. He was yanked to his feet by brutal hands and dragged into an old house. They descended several flights of stairs into the cellar, with Danny tripping the way down. Without a word, he was roughly thrown into an empty stone room. Immediately, his nose was assaulted with the sickeningly sweet scent of decay. In the corner, he saw a body. It was Matt's. He crawled over to his little brother's mangled body. The bruises made him nearly unrecognizable. It was clear that he had been tortured. Teeth and fingernails were missing and burns and bruises covered his body. His jaw was slack and his cloudy eyes were open, staring at the ceiling. Tears spilled down Danny's cheeks as he gently closed Matt's eyes. Regardless of the overall grossness of his brother's body, Danny heaved his brother onto his lap and rocked him, all the while muttering brokenly.
"I'm so sorry Matty. I'm so sorry."
Short chapter, I know. But…I just got my sister hooked on the series and she wants me to explain a few things to her. I'll update soon. Tell me what ya think!
