Title: Becoming Blue
Chapter 7 – Careful What you Wish For

A/N: I know the site has been acting up these past few weeks (was down for most of the day for me yesterday so am hoping it's working today!) Again a special THANK YOU Jackie, Crystal, Ruby, Cindy, lili, Tess, Rosie, Rachel, kika, Cody, c-c, Newbie, Lea and various guests! I cannot thank you all personally like I can the others but just want you all to know is that I so appreciate your time to read and review – means a lot!

"Hey Danny…what's going on?"

"Hey Anthony," Danny greeted as the two of them briefly shook hands and then stepped back.

"So…nice meeting place," Anthony commented as he gestured to the back room of a small store they were in; Sam outside in Danny's cruiser and on the lookout. "What's going on? You in some kind of trouble?"

"I need help with…okay so I need a recording device that I can wear on me that isn't easily detected or gets in the way of well…anything. Thought you might have something like that for undercover work."

"What's going on?" Detective Anthony Abetemarco pressed a bit more.

"Okay so here's the thing…there's this new cop in our House, a bit of a racist ass who…"

"Owen Dickson?" Anthony interjected as Danny's expression of surprise instantly sprung forth. "Yeah heard a few grumblings about him. Regular dirt bag. What's that got do to with you?"

"He…okay so I was attacked last night and I think it was him only…I couldn't see him. He's a bad seed but I need more than just his big mouth to get his ass tossed out," Danny huffed. "He's…he's a careful guy and damn smart. You know…for an idiot," he paused with a slight smirk before his expression clouded again. "Just something small that I can record over if nothing happens but…but in the event it does…I just need something."

"Danny…I can't just use department equipment for something not sanctioned for a case," Anthony explained as Danny's frown deepened.

"What about those friends in low places you bragged about when I worked with you guys? I'm desperate here," Danny gently begged as Anthony's lips slightly pursed. "Just tell me who to meet and their price or whatever but…but this needs to happen."

Anthony could see the desperation in Danny's gaze and heard the pleading in his tone and knew he wasn't going to stop here – if he didn't get what he wanted from a fellow professional, he would turn to his own means.

"Okay…lemme see what I can do," Anthony finally resigned.

"I'll owe you one."

"You're already broke," Anthony tossed back with a hearty chuckle. "But I don't mind…this kind of guy is bad for all kinds of business."

"Thanks man. Appreciate it."

After hearing the coast was all clear, Danny darted out the back and into the waiting cruiser that Sam casually pulled away from the back of the building and emerged back into traffic as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Anthony waited about ten minutes and then casually strolled out the front door and headed toward his dark unmarked sedan and headed in the opposite direction.

"Is he in?" Sam softly inquired.

"He is," Danny nodded in confirmation as his arm gently rubbed his aching ribs.

"Maybe you should get those looked at or wrapped or something?"

"Linda looked at them."

"Oh really?" Sam gently wagged his brows as Danny shook his head. "What? I mean…did she also give you a complete physical?" He snickered.

"Alright wise ass, keep your eyes on the road," Danny retorted dryly as Sam laughed.

"So did you really get another apartment?"

"Yeah," Danny replied in truth. "I did want Dickson to hear but Linda took care of it. I told her I didn't care as long as she was happy then I'd be happy."

"Aww…that's kinda…sweet."

"Shut up and drive," Danny shot back in a teasing tone as Sam snickered.

"Isn't…that a song?"

"Wow, you're really askin' for it today," Danny groaned as they continued on their patrol route.

XXXXXXXX

"Not sure if I like that look," Frank commented as he entered his father's office in the afternoon of that same day.

"Did you know we accepted Owen Dickson's transfer without any kind of reference check," Henry stated firmly.

"Really? Danny's Chief did that?"

"No…here's the odd thing…Chief Salis at 12 requested and somehow…he ended up at 21."

"Clerical error?" Frank inquired as he took the report from his father's hand.

"Or done intentionally."

"We can question the clerk that entered the request information. See if there was ever a history of keying errors," Frank suggested as he eased himself down before his father's desk. "You think someone in this organization wanted Dickson here?"

"Starting to look that way. And after what Darryl said…maybe this guy Dickson is brought in to clean up a mess and then just quietly go away and let that House deal with it," Henry pondered.

"If that's the case…then who's the real target? Darryl said the deaths of the two officers seemed random except they were both black and had altercations with him. The person Darryl told to start an inner investigation is another story however," Frank explained.

"Random…wonder if that's the truth," Henry looked at Frank in question.

"Darryl said the first officer's child came forward staying he heard his father talking with someone that threatened if he told."

"Told his southern superiors about racial tension? I understand but even in today's world, there is higher board they can go to or simply transfer out," Henry mused.

"Maybe it was blackmail of something else," Frank also started to muse. "Wonder if the first officer stumbled across something he wasn't supposed to see. Drugs, illegal weapons…money laundering…told the second and then both pay for it with their lives."

"Being a traitor and possibly selling arms or laundering money to the bad guys? Things worth killing to keep secret," Henry concluded with a heavy frown. "He'd have done the same if the guy was white."

"Think the race thing is a cover?"

"Easier to take the rap for being a racist than a traitor!" Henry hissed. "Hate them both!"

"If that's the case then maybe someone here want's part of that illegal action," Frank suggested as Henry's lips pursed. "Lot more port opportunity's for overseas deals in New York than down south."

"Very…possible. Trouble is…how do we find out without tipping the wrong hand and ending up with a bunch of dead officers?" Henry gently growled.

"We tread very carefully," Frank suggested with a small huff. "I think Danny's got himself mixed in with a real scary guy and if he's not careful…"

"He'll be the one to take the fall. Permanently."

XXXXXXXX

Danny watched Dickson enter the precinct later the same day and felt his blood start to boil and his fists instantly curl at his sides. He so wanted to march up to him and just pound him one or better yet goad him into trying to pound him in return. Trouble was he didn't have the recording device on him and so it would be a wasted effort; one he didn't want to waste.

Dickson however didn't care and marched past Danny purposely bumping him in the shoulder which made him nearly spill his mug of freshly brewed hot coffee.

"Anyone smell that?" Danny started in a terse tone as Dickson turned to face him with a daring expression.

"Something to say to me?" Dickson directly challenged.

"Need the report from your latest collar on my desk in 15 Reagan."

"Sure thing Sarge," Danny answered Renzulli back as Dickson turned and slightly narrowed his gaze at the stoic Staff Sargent. Renzulli, however, new exactly what kind of man Owen Dickson was and wasn't going to stand for any type of foul play on his watch.

"Saved by the Taco Bell," Dickson sneered as he cast some shade on Renzulli before he ambled past.

Renzulli watched Danny's entire frame tense but quickly stepped toward him to intervene before any real damage could be done. "I've been called worse," Renzulli whispered as Danny gritted his teeth. "A few words aren't worth another write-up."

"Depends," Danny whispered back as Dickson rounded the corner and out of view. He turned and looked at his friend and former TO and shook his head. "That was uncalled for."

"I know. But I'm a bigger man than he. It's not worth it."

"I'll get that report done,"; Danny agreed begrudgingly.

"Give him a wide birth when you see him. Let's just hope the powers that be can work something out so that he'll be out of here soon."

"Hope so," Danny agreed as he headed toward an empty desk to write up his report. He looked up at Sam as he talked with a few other officers, one black and one Asian and then over at Dickson's new partner and felt himself curse as John Harley's face held a look of utter disdain. Damn I want BOTH of these guys gone! There had only been rumblings about Harley's racial bias but it wasn't until Dickson came in that it really started to flourish – in the worst way possible.

Danny didn't know in that moment what his father and grandfather had found out or had now postulated about Dickson's 'transfer' into precinct 21 but he would have instantly fingered Harley as the one Dickson had come to make the deals with. But was it true? Was Harley the insider? Or merely a silent bully with a strong sidekick bringing out the worst in him? Either way…Danny wanted both gone – and fast!

"Hey watch it China doll!" Harley grumbled as the Asian officer broke away from Sam and headed for the breakroom and 'accidentally' bumped into him. Harley turned to make something more of it but when he looked up and saw Renzulli and a few others looking at him with a look that said 'we dare you' he backed down and walked away in a cloud of disdain.

"Think we need a review of the Respectful Workplace thingy," Danny piped up as a few snickered and Harley's blood boiled in his veins.

"Need a few things around here," another pipped up.

"Yeah change of scenery. More from the north than the south," added another.

And this is where Dickson would see that being in New York wasn't as easy a walk in the park as it had been in the south; New York was about diversity and here it was celebrated in all the ranks – starting with the top down. That would only fuel his anger and hatred. And that…would be dangerous for them all.

"Alright Sarge…only one minute to spare," Danny declared about ten minutes later as he neared Renzulli's desk and handed him the completed report.

"More like one minute over," Renzulli deadpanned as Danny gently smirked.

"About earlier…"

"Just keep yourself in check. You work at a good House and we're not going to stand for that kind of blatant racism."

"That's what worries me Sarge…what if they retaliate but in private or off the job?"

"All we can do is keep our wits about us and report any kind of bad behavior immediately. No lone Wolf's okay?"

"You know…the Wolf gets a bad rap for wanting to take matters into his own hands…whatever."

"See you tomorrow Reagan," Renzulli chipped as Danny smirked and turned to leave.

"So…about that double date…Katie says yes. So…get the girls to arrange it?"

"Heck yes. If I tried and did it wrong, Linda would never let me live it down," Danny smiled. "Besides…they have the most difficult schedules. We just need to show up with our wallets."

"Now that…I can do," Sam grinned as they both headed for the locker room to get ready to go. "So…plans for tonight?"

"Sleep," Danny retorted in haste as Sam chuckled and then frowned. "Nah it's okay. I didn't get much last night. You?"

"Gotta help my d…" he started and then stopped and shook his head. "Wow…I just can't…"

"Hey…it's okay."

"After he died I uh…well the deck, we just left it. Was the last thing we worked on together. But hoping to get a bit of that fixed tonight."

"Need some help?"

"Thanks but uh…but I was gonna ask mom. Figured…yeah I don't know."

"Think it's a great idea," Danny praised as he closed his locker and the two of them headed for the back door exit to leave. "Does Katie know about your sen…" Danny stopped when both he and Sam heard someone screaming for help.

"What the…" Danny started as he looked at Sam and both ran in the direction of a man all in black bent over another on the ground and a person standing a few meters away screaming for help. "HEY!" Danny shouted as the man in black pulled away and started to race toward the shadows. "HEY STOP! NYPD! STOP!"

"I'VE GOT HIM!" Sam shouted as Danny looked at the woman.

"What did you see?"

"I…I just got here and…a few seconds only…he was hitting him…with the bat…oh god…is he…dead?"

"Go inside and call for help!" Danny directed as he dropped to his knees and looked at the person on the other end of the beating. "Oh God…no," he whispered as he gently cradled Officer Andy Chen's head in his hands; the young Asian officer that Sam had been talking to earlier. "Andy…hey can you hear me? Hey…Andy!"

The badly beaten eyelids gently fluttered and a few letters escaped his bloody lips before he slipped into darkness. "Di..k…sn.."

"Andy…stay with me…ANDY!" Danny shouted as Owen Dickson watched from the shadows with glee. "SOMEONE HELP ME! HELP ME!"

A/N: Okay so I know they butt heads on the show but I love Danny and Anthony and want them to have a civil relationship in this story!