Danny was just finishing up some paperwork when his cell rang. The number was unrecognizable and he almost didn't answer it, wanting to finish up and get home to a peaceful night with his family. But some unknown voice told him to pick up the phone and be polite. He sighed and answered. "Messer."
"Detective Messer?" It was a man's voice and Danny tensed. Where had he heard that voice before? "Yes, this is he."
"Hello, this is Martin Williams, from St. Xavier's. I'm afraid there's been a problem with your daughter."
"What?" Danny jumped out of his chair and grabbed his jacket, more than prepared to turn on the sirens to get over there if needed.
"Yes, I'm sorry to say that she and another student were caught fighting this afternoon after school. Now, it is school policy to suspend students who fight--"
"Wait, no, that's not necessary. My wife and I will be there shortly." Danny hung up the phone, to preoccupied to care about protocol. What in the hell was Meghan thinking? He sent Lindsay a quick text and locked up the office. A buzz at his hip told him that Lindsay was in the middle of something and could he please handle it? She would be home to talk to Meghan with him. Danny sighed and sent back, yes, he could. Without a word to anyone, he walked quickly out the front doors and onto the street.
---
"Jason. You may come in now." Principal Williams' voice floated out of his office and Jason grimaced at the nurse. "They're calling my number," he said heroically, making the twenty-something year old woman smile. Meghan rolled her eyes and continued her frantic pacing around the office. Jason eyed her warily as he stood. His chest was bare except for the bandage that covered the horrific bruise that spread from the middle of his stomach to the side of his abdomen. It stretched from under his pectorals to his right hip. Meghan couldn't believe that he could still breathe with that injury. His face was a medley of cuts and scrapes, not to mention the purple bruise on around his eye. He watched Meghan with his good left eye. "Meghan. Calm down. It'll be fine."
"How do you know? My dad is going to kill me! My dad is going to kill you! Your dad is going to kill you!" Her voice was shrill, accent thick, and Jason reflexively reached out for her. Meghan stopped him from embracing her, only grabbing his hands, twining her fingers with his. "Jase, you cannot tell anyone about Tanglewood. Not Williams, not your parents, certainly not my parents, not even Mike." Meghan bit her lip to hold back tears. "My dad would freak. I wouldn't be allowed anywhere near you, and--"
"Wait, why?" Jason's green eyes stared into Meghan's. "Why couldn't you see me?"
"Because you picked a fight with Tanglewood!" Meghan stepped away from him, hands on her head. "Oh, shit." Her eyes closed as she folded her hands in front of her face, pursing her lips against the place where her palms met. "I love that you fought for my honor and everything, but the fact that you fought with the guy whom your father can identify because of his Criminal Lineup Frequent Flier miles isn't working for me right now. My dad has worked his whole life trying to keep Tanglewood away from me and my mom, and you voluntarily bring them in. Hell, you gave 'em coffee and cake! You were Betty Crocker to those guys! Oh, my God…" Meghan let Jason guide her into a chair by the window. He stood in front of her, smiling a little. "Meghan," he said softly. "I have to leave you now. But I will be in there, and hopefully I'll be out by the time our parents get here." He smiled reassuringly. "And I won't mention Tanglewood."
Meghan nodded and turned to look out the window. She stared at the busy street that ran in front of the school, thinking about what her story for her father would be. Danny was going to be so angry, it scared her to think about it. Gently, she let her head fall against the cool glass, trying to relieve herself of the headache building in the front of her skull.
---
Danny was climbing the steps to his daughter's school when he heard his name yelled across the sounds of traffic. He turned to see Don Flack running up behind him, anger etched in the lines of his face. "What're you doin' here, man?"
"Jason did somethin' stupid." Don was never one to mince words and Danny smiled wryly. "Funny, so did Meghan."
The fathers stopped for a moment, looking at each other. As realization dawned on them, Danny pinched the bridge of his nose. "Great, just great."
The detectives marched into the school with the determination to punish on their minds.
---
"Ms. Messer? Your father is here."
Meghan stiffened. She hadn't thought Danny would get there so quickly. Jason wasn't out of Williams' office yet and she knew she would need backup for this. She heard her father's shoes on the shiny marble and her hands began to shake.
"Meghan? What's going on here?" Danny's voice was stern and cold and Meghan thought about pretending to pass out to kill time, but it would do her no good. Sadly, she turned away from the window, staring at the ground.
Time went in slow motion as Danny got a good look at his daughter's face. He heard Don's sharp intake of breath and Danny clenched his fists to keep from losing it.
The left side of Meghan's face was various shades of purple and blue, with a little red thrown in. Her eye was swollen shut with the heavy bruising and she had a split lip that was still bleeding. There were scrapes and cuts on her hands and knees where it looked like she had been pushed to the ground. Danny bit his lip, wincing as he tasted blood. He walked over to her, placed his hand on her chin and guided her eyes up to meet his. "Who the hell did this to you?"
Meghan shrugged, and leaned over to rest her head in her hands. A door opening to the right of the little group opened and Jason walked out, looking extremely sober. He caught one look of his father and godfather standing there and gulped. Don stared. There was a bruise on every visible part of his son's body. He realized he was shaking and he shoved his hands into his pockets to make himself stop. Jason held up his hands in a mock giving up gesture and grinned, a sad sight.
"Hey, you should see the other guy. Can you say 'FUBAR'?"
---
FUBAR stands for Fed Up Beyond All Recognition… thank you, Tango and Cash.