A/N: I know I'm mean leaving it like that! And I know I'm evil for bring Todd back into the picture but bear with me! The title of this chapter happens to be my on the top of my favorite Gary Sinise movies. So anyway, as always own nothing. Here goes!
Chapter 12: Ransom
Thanksgiving Day. Danny had been asked by Mac to march in the Macy's parade. Usually he was the designated CSI to go with the other officers, but this year he had made plans to have Thanksgiving dinner with Reid and Peyton. Over the years Mac had made an effort to get to know Reid. Danny agreed and he and the girls were standing out in the cold, snowy weather waiting for the parade to start.
"It's really cold this year," Lauren said. "May I get some hot chocolate?"
"Take Ryah with you," Lindsay said, handing Ryah some money. "Hurry back!"
Lauren took Ryah's gloved hand and pulled her away from her parents. There were so many people on the street that Ryah had to keep an extra tight grip on Lauren's hand to make sure she didn't lose her. Ryah remembered the one time she had lost Lauren at the zoo. It was such a frightening experience for both Lauren and Ryah. Lauren had been taught that if she ever got seperated she was to find a policeman or someone in uniform and wait with them until she was found.
Ryah bumped into a passerby and lost the feeling of Lauren's hand in hers. She stopped and looked back. She couldn't see Lauren anywhere. It wouldn't do her any good to scream her name. She began to search the faces of the people walking past. But none were the little girl she loved more than anyone. She knew better than to panic because when she did she lost perspective and would get blinded. She started to walk back the way they had came hoping that Lauren had just gone back to her parents. As she passed an alley, an arm grabbed her and pulled her in.
Ryah looked up at a man with dark brown hair and dark eyes. He had Lauren pressed against his left leg, holding her tight. Lauren was frozen in fear. Ryah signed soft words of comfort to Lauren. She looked at the man dead in the eye.
"Let her go," Ryah demanded. The man made no movement. "I said let her go!"
"I can't do that," he said. "Take out your phone and call your boss." Ryah just stared at him. "Now!"
Her hands shaking Ryah fumbled through her bag finding her phone. "Who are you?"
"An old friend," he said, patting Lauren's head. "A very old friend."
Ryah dialed Danny's number, hoping that the parade hadn't started yet. "Dad? Something's happened."
The man ripped the phone away from Ryah, stepping away from them. A few blocks away Danny answered his cell. His face grew tight with worry when Ryah said something had happened. Then he heard some shuffling and then a man's voice.
"Hello Danny," the calm, low voice said. "I think I may have two things that belong to you."
"Who is this?" Danny demanded. "Let me talk to Ryah."
"You know who this is Danny. It's been a long time. You once took something that was precious to me so now, I'm taking something that is precious to you."
Danny racked his brain trying to think of any of the criminals he had recently put away. It could be anyone on the other side.
"You don't get it do you Danny," the voice said again. "You have something I want and I have something you want. I'll make it simple for you Danny. I'll meet you at the Staten Island Motel Six in two hours."
Motel Six? Staten Island? It couldn't be? The lightbulb went off in Danny's head. "Brooks! You hurt one hair on my daughter's head I'll personally see to it that you never see the light of day again!"
"I hold all the cards again Danny," Todd said. "You just meet me at the motel, bring that darling wife of yours and everything will be fine. See you soon Danny."
Todd hung up the phone and handed it back to Ryah. "We're going to take a little walk. Let's go."
The three of them walked away from the crowds of people there for the parade. Ryah tried to act as normally as she could for Lauren's sake but she was still very afraid. She watched for landmarks so she could remember where they were and where they were going. Lauren signed to Ryah asking her where they were going.
"What's she doing?" Todd asked. "Why doesn't she talk?"
"Lauren's deaf," Ryah replied. "She can't talk."
"Most likely his fault," Todd muttered. "Can't do anything right."
"Lauren may be deaf but I'm not," Ryah snapped. "I don't know who you are or what you want but I will not have you talking about my family like that."
"I wouldn't sass me if I were you kid," Todd said. "I'm a dangerous man. Or haven't they told you about me?"
Ryah thought for a moment, trying to remember anything, anything at all. Then she remembered the afternoon she was looking through Lindsay's old college yearbooks she came across an old snapshot of her and a young guy. She asked who it was and Lindsay had reluctantly told her. Rayh was shocked and heartbroken to hear about all the things that Todd Brooks had done to her.
"Just promise me one thing Ryah," Lindsay had said, taking her hands in hers. "Promise me that if you ever find yourself in a relationship that is even hinting at becoming controlling or abusive you get out and get as far away from him as possible."
"I promise Lindsay," Ryah said. "I promise."
Ryah looked over at the man that had beaten and used her new mom so badly. She was terrified to be close to him. She clung to Lauren's hand, hoping she could figure out a way to get out of this. Todd loaded them into a cab and drove to Staten Island. Ryah sat in the middle with Todd on her right and Lauren on her left. She hoped that she could get Lauren out of the cab and save her from whatever evil Todd had in store for them.
She tapped Lauren on the shoulder and in very small signs she explained what she was going to do. Todd noticed her. "What are you telling her?" he demanded.
"Lauren is frightened and I'm telling her a story to calm her down," Ryah replied.
At the next light Ryah reached across Lauren and pushed open the door and Lauren jumped out. She ran from the cab and Ryah pulled the door closed. She took a big risk letting a six year old deaf child run off like that but she had to save her from Todd. She watched Lauren run back. Suddenly she felt a sharp pain on the side of her face.
"What the fuck did you do that for?!" Todd screamed. "You let her get away!"
"I would rather die than live to see you hurt that little girl to punish Danny in some way," Ryah retorted.
"I can arrange that," Todd snapped.
Outside on the sidewalk Lauren Renee Messer ran as fast as she could. She remembered clearly what Ryah had told her.
"When we stop at the next red light I am going to open this door and you are going to run away, far away," Ryah signed. "I want you to find the first police man and have him take you to the 122 station. From there have them contact Uncle Flack at the lab. Don't worry about me. I love you."
Lauren searched the cars along the sidewalk looking for the familiar signs of a police car. A few feet ahead she saw one. With a renewed sense of strength she ran for the car and tapped urgently on the window. The friendly face of the NYPD cop was a truly blessed sight for this little girl to see.
S she was two years old Danny and Lindsay bought Lauren a very pretty Medical Alert bracelet. It was sterling silver with a sapphire in the center, spacing between her first and last name. Under her name were the words "I'm Deaf". On the inside was her parents names and phone numbers. She began to sign feverishly trying to explain. The uniformed officer noticed the bracelet and caught Lauren's hands.
"Calm down honey," the lady officer said. "What is your name?" she asked, in sign.
Lauren did the shorthand sign for her name, forgetting that this was a stranger. She calmed down and finger spelled her name. The officer signed her name back. "My name is India. Where are your parents?"
India had taken a sign language class in high school to cover her language credit. She still knew enough that if she ran into a deaf person she could help them get their point across. Lauren began to tell her story but she was going so fast India could barely keep up. She was able to figure out that she was lost and was to go to the 122 station and call her uncle.
India led Lauren up the steps to the station. She signed in at the desk and went to a quiet office to make the call to Homicide Detective Don Flack. She punched in the numbers that Lauren had written down for her. It rang a few times and then a very tired, worried voice answered.
"Flack," he answered.
"Detective Flack my name is India Jacobs and I'm an officer at the 122 in Staten Island," she said. "I'm here with your neice."
"Neice? I don't have a neice," Flack said. "I think you have me confused with someone else."
"Wait sir," India said. "Please don't hang up. Her name is Lauren Messer. She has on a medical alert bracelet and she was told to call you."
"You have Lauren there?!" Flack exclaimed. "Is she alright? Is Ryah with her? Never mind, tell Lauren that Daddy and Uncle Mac are on their way."
Flack hung up the phone and looked over to where Danny and Lindsay had been standing. Danny was already gone and Stella was comforting Lindsay. Flack ran after Danny and Mac, barely catching them in the garage. The three men sped off into the city to collect their beloved Lauren.
It was a tomb of silence in the Motel Six room. Ryah sat on the end of the bed, her hands tied tightly behind her back. Once again, things were not going according to his original plan. He never intended to have to restrain Lindsay's child but this girl was just like her. Sprited, resistant and mouthy. He hated to have to hurt Lindsay's child but she needed to be taught a lesson.
"What do you want from me?" Ryah demanded. "I don't even know you!"
"But your mother does and she'd do anything to get you back, even leave that worthless man she married," Todd shot back.
"How do you know Marcia Gregory?" Ryah asked.
"Who the hell is Marcia Gregory?" Todd questioned. "I'm talking about Lindsay Monroe, the woman you consider your mother! Stupid girl."
"Whatever happened between you, Lindsay and Danny has nothing to do with me. Please just let me go."
"I can't do that. See I have to make Danny suffer. Like he's made me suffer for the last five years. I would like nothing more than to see Danny Messer lose everything he holds dear. Starting with you," Todd said, in a sinister voice.
Back at the 122, Danny ran in searching for his precious baby girl. She was sitting at a desk with an officer. She looked up and saw Danny. She ran to him and he scooped her into his arms. He held her close, thanking God that she was safe. Lauren clung to her father, relieved that she was safe with him again. Danny set her down.
"Where's Ryah?" Danny asked.
"The man took her," Lauren answered. "Ryah got me away from him but he kept her."
"What man Lauren? What did he look like?" Danny urged.
"He was tall, like you Daddy. He had dark hair and dark eyes. He was really scary Daddy," Lauren said. "I want Ryah home!"
"I do too baby," Danny sighed. "I do too."
Danny looked down at his watch. It had been an hour since Todd had called and kidnapped the girls. He still had an hour to get a plan together and get Ryah away from the clutches of Todd Brooks. He knew what he wanted and he knew what he would do to get it. He wouldn't let Lindsay confront Todd on her own. He came way too close to losing her to him once. He wouldn't do it again.
"Danny, I know you want to take this guy down but he has a hostage," Mac said. "We'll talk him into giving up Ryah and then you can shoot him. Flack take Lauren back to the lab. We're going after Brooks."
Danny and Mac left the station and took a couple dozen uniforms with them. The pulled up in front of the motel and surrounded it. Mac went in and spoke to the manager, discovering that Todd had Ryah in room 204. Mac decided that Danny should go up first and try to talk to Todd. If that went bad then all Danny would have to do was shout "Lindsay wouldn't want this," and the cops would be all over him.
Danny walked up the steps to the motel room. "Brooks! I'm here you coward! Let Ryah go and we can just have a little chat," Danny called out. "She's done nothing to you. It's me you want!"
The curtain moved in the room where Todd and Ryah were. He heard shuffling and arguing in the room. Next thing Danny saw was Todd pressing Ryah against the window. It took all the strength and will power he had to not kick in the door, shoot Todd and get Ryah to safety. Danny continued to walk towards the window. He signed to Ryah that everything would be fine and not to be scared.
"Where's Lindsay?" Todd demanded. "I told you to bring her with you!"
"We both know this has nothing to do with Lindsay. It stopped being about Lindsay when you kidnapped our daughter," Danny said calmly."You want to hurt me because I took Lindsay from you. But this young woman hasn't done a thing to you. She doesn't even know who you are. Ryah is innocent in all this. Just let her go."
"She still loves me," Todd yelled through the door. "She wrote to me while I was in prison. She told me that she forgave me of everything that had happened. She said that if things were truly different in my life that she would want me to be a part of her life again. She even sent me pictures of Lauren."
Danny stifled a laugh. Did the man forget that Danny could tell when someone was straight faced lying. After Todd had kidnapped her and tried to kill her that last time she vowed to never speak to him again. There was no way that Lindsay Messer was writing to Todd while he was in jail.
"Now I know you're lying Todd," Danny said. "Lindsay has never even spoken to you since that day you kidnapped her six years ago. The only way you would have ever even seen our child is if you had been watching us for sometime. What do you want from me Todd?"
"I want you to hurt as badly as I have!" Todd shouted.
Before Danny knew what had happened the shots had been fired. Todd took off running and Ryah rushed to Danny's side. The first shot hit his left shoulder and the second into his lower right side. Mac and the others rushed up to them. Ryah pointed to where Todd had fled refusing to leave Danny's side. Mac called for a bus and they were off to the closet hospital. Mac called Lindsay and had them meet them at the hospital.
They all feared the worst. The second bullet hit his kidney and it had to be removed. Lindsay paced the waiting room looking over at the door every time someone walked through. In the back of her mind she wondered how she would survive if Danny died. She knew she wouldn't marry again. It would just be her, Lauren and Ryah.
She cursed Todd Brooks for hurting her again. She beat her hands on the wall wondering who the hell let him out. She laid her head on the wall, doing something she hadn't done in a long time. She began to pray.
"God, I know we haven't spoke in awhile. I think the last time was when Lauren was in the hospital," Lindsay began. "I don't even know how to do this anymore. But someone once told me that if I speak you, you'll listen. Please you have to save Danny. He's all Lauren and I have in this world and she, I would die without him. Please God, please?"
Just then the door opened and a doctor came into the waiting room. "Mrs. Messer?" he calls.
Lindsay pulls away from the wall and joined the others. She leaned into the sturdiest thing beside her, Flack. He wrapped his arm around his best friend's wife, hoping that he would be able to hold her up if the worst had happened.
"My name is Dr. Bradley. I was the surgeon on your husband's case. He was very lucky. There was only soft tissue damage done to his shoulder and we got the kidney out and put him on the list for a transplant. He should be back in full working order in a few weeks."
Lindsay let out the breath she was holding. She felt Flack's arms go around her tighter. "Can I see him? Is he awake?"
"Yes, you may Mrs. Messer. I'll walk you."
Lindsay and Dr. Bradley walked to room 318. Lindsay stood in the doorway. She couldn't handle seeing Danny hooked up to so many different tubes. For the first time in their relationship, it was Lindsay looking in on Danny's hurt and pain. In all of the time they had been together it was her pain and her demons they had been fighting. Now it was her turn to help him. She went to the side of his bed, slipped her hand into his squeezing it lightly.
"Danny?" she said softly. "Danny, honey please open your eyes. It's me Montana. Danny, I'm here. Please baby, I need to see those blue eyes. Danny?"
She stopped talking and stroked his face. "I love you more than anything in the world, Daniel Nicholas Messer," Lindsay signed. "I love you."
Two faces appeared in the window of Danny's room. Ryah and Lauren looked in, tears running down Lauren's face. She had never seen anyone in the hospital before. Add to the fact that it was her father lying there made it even harder for her to understand. Lindsay smiled at the girls and waved at them, signing that it was all right for them to come in. It killed Lindsay knowing that Lauren wasn't able to talk to Danny like she and Ryah could.
The three of them sat in Danny's room all night. Lindsay and Lauren in one chair and Ryah in another. Mac kept a watchful eye on the family from the hallway. The rest of the team made their appearances. Hawkes spoke with Danny's doctors about his recovery, Flack made coffee runs and Stella kept watch with Mac. It was a long night for everyone. Lindsay barely slept. Just when she thought she was asleep she thought she heard Danny call to her and she would bolt awake again.
Danny woke the next morning with a yawn. He forgot where he was for a moment. He looked over to his left and saw his three girls asleep in the most uncomfortable chairs imaginable. Lauren draped peacefully in her mother's arms, her left thumb in her mouth. Grimacing as he sat up he reached for Lauren's hand to pull out her thumb. She stirred and blinked a few times to wake up. Her face lit up when she saw Danny awake.
"Daddy!" she signed happily.