'Lost in the Woods'
Author's Note: Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Without A Trace or its characters. I only own the characters that I created. There is one thing that I have to clarify. I've received several messages regarding Danny and Martin's relationship. I do not write Danny and Martin as a couple in any of my stories. Don't have anything against anyone who does, I just wouldn't begin to know how to write those kinds of fics. So, no, Danny and Martin are not a couple in any of my stories. They just have a best friends/brothers relationship. That's all.
Chapter 14
Jack had sworn to Carr that he was going to make him pay dearly for all the hell that he'd put his agents, his family, through. No one hurt his family the way Carr had and got away without suffering any consequences. Jack kept that promise. He'd made sure that Carr ended up in the same prison that Danny's brother, Rafi, was in—Rikers Island. Jack had been keeping tabs on Carr since his arrival at the prison and sneered evilly with immense pleasure when he found out that a month after he'd arrived, Carr had been in several fights and that he'd been beaten to a bloody pulp.
Rafi and the other convicts in his unit had it in for Carr ever since they found out who he was and what he'd done. All the inmates got along well with Rafi and although they disliked cops and feds, they respected Danny because he'd help them out countless times before whether it was getting them goods from the outside or getting their sentences reduced in exchange for information. Either way, when the inmates in Rafi's unit found out what Carr had done to Danny and Martin, they figured they owed a lot to Danny and decided to take justice into their own hands and make Carr pay for what he'd done to Danny and his partner.
MONDAY MORNING, 9:00 AM
RIKERS ISLAND…
"Are you sure that you want to do this, Fitzy? You don't have to go in. You can just wait out here and I'll go in there." Danny asked a bit concerned as they stood outside the gates of the prison.
"I'm fine, Danny. Really. Let's go." Martin said confidently and they entered the gates of the prison.
Although Martin could pretend that he was fine about being at the prison and that it didn't bother him one bit, Danny knew otherwise. He'd known Martin long enough to know when he was lying. Danny had seen the momentary fear and uncertainty in Martin's eyes when he'd told Martin that they needed to make a stop at Rikers Island before going to work. Of course, Martin had quickly replaced that fear and uncertainty with cool confidence but Danny couldn't be deceived.
Danny couldn't blame Martin, however, because he felt the same way. It wasn't easy knowing that somewhere behind those prison walls where they were going into, was the man that had caused him so much pain and had nearly killed him, his best friend and his family. Although he was behaving strong and fearless in front of Martin, he too was weary of going inside. He wasn't sure how he'd react if they came face to face with Bobby 'the snake' Carr.
After placing their service weapons in a secure locked box and being searched Danny and Martin were allowed to go inside. Once inside the prison although they were both weary Danny and Martin displayed a cool confidence as they made their way through the prison halls.
Danny and Martin were led to the warden's office after asking to see Rafi. There, they were informed that because of the fights between Rafi, Carr and the other inmates in the unit, Rafael Alvarez wasn't allowed any visitors whatsoever. Although it took a lot to convince him, the warden allowed Danny and Martin special permission to see Rafi but only for five minutes.
RAFI'S CELL, 9:30AM…
"Alvarez, you've got visitors. Let's go." The officer said seriously and led Rafi down the corridor but he was weary because he wasn't sure who to expect. Ever since his last fight with Carr, his visitors' privileges had been suspended and he wasn't allowed to see anyone on the outside.
As soon as he saw his visitors, Rafi immediately sighed heavily in relief and smiled as he ran up to Danny and embraced him carefully tight and then embraced Martin as well.
"Damn, I'm so glad to see you up and walking again, Hermanito (little brother). I never thought I'd live to see that. How are you feeling? Are you guys okay? Why did you come here? That damn animal is here." Rafi said a bit seriously but kindly; he didn't want his little brother to have any contact whatsoever with the murderer that had nearly taken his and Martin's life.
"I wanted to see you before we go to work today. We need to talk." Danny said kindly but wearily.
"What's wrong? Tell me." Rafi asked concerned as he grabbed a hold of Danny's hand in his own.
"I've been keeping tabs on you, Rafi. I know that you've gotten into trouble for fighting with Carr." Danny said somewhat sternly but then sighed heavily. "I want you to stay away from him and leave him alone." Danny said seriously but Rafi shook his head. "He's not worth it, Rafi. You've been doing well and you can be out in a year instead of two but that can't happen if you go after that asshole. Is that what you want? You want to do more time, away from your family, for getting revenge on Carr?" Danny said sternly.
"Forget it, Danny. He's going to get what he deserves for the hell that he put you and Martin through. He's also going to pay for what he did to the other victims he killed." Rafi said calmly but angrily.
"Danny's right, Rafi. I know that you're furious for what he did. We are too, okay, but Danny's right, brother. Carr's not worth staying away from your family. What do you prefer, staying here making Carr pay for what he did to us or do you want to hold your wife, son and baby daughter in your arms? Are you really going to let Carr keep them from you? You're really going to give him that much power over you?" Martin said sternly but compassionately as he put his arm on Rafi's shoulder.
"I understand what you're both saying, I really do. But I can't forget or forgive all the pain that he caused. I almost lost my baby brother because of that sadistic son of a bitch." Rafi said calmly but furiously as he struggled to keep his composure. "How do you think I felt seeing Danny in that damn hospital bed connected to all those wires and tubes? No. I love my family and I miss them so much but Carr has to pay. He has to suffer worse than what he made you suffer." Rafi said through gritted teeth, causing Danny to suddenly embrace him tightly and hold the back of Rafi's head.
"I'm not dead, Rafi. I'm here. I'm right here with you. I didn't give up. Even when I was fighting for my life in that hospital and in so much pain I knew that I couldn't give up and let Carr win. I had to fight to stay alive for my family; for my team, for you. More importantly, I had to come back so that I could make sure that Carr didn't get away with murder again and hurt anyone else. Ya el esta pagando por todo el daño que causo. (He's already paying for all the harm that he caused.) Please leave Carr alone and don't mess with him again. I'm here with you now and that's what's important. That's all that matters, Rafi." Danny said with conviction as he swallowed hard and continued holding on to Rafi, causing Rafi to groan angrily as he embraced Danny carefully tight.
"So, what's it going to be, Rafi? Are you going to listen to your brother who loves you and wants to help you or are you going to keep going after Carr while your family suffers on the outside?" Martin said seriously and Rafi suddenly grabbed a tight hold of his hand in a brotherhood grip as he continued holding on to Danny.
"You're both assholes." Rafi said crossly as the tears he'd been holding back escaped his eyes; his words causing Danny and Martin to softly chuckle amused.
"So, are you going to do what I'm asking, Rafi? Are you going to stay away from Carr so that you can get out of here soon and go home with your family? I know that it's hard but can you please do what I'm asking you, for me, for your family, especially that beautiful baby girl waiting for you on the outside?" Danny said caringly and Rafi nodded with a very heavy sigh. "Thank you." He said relieved as his voice broke and he kissed his brother's head.
"Danny, I'll leave Carr alone but I can't guarantee that the other inmates won't make him pay." Rafi said seriously as he sniffled and tried to regain his composure.
"Rafi…" Danny tried but Martin cut him off.
"Rafi's right, brother. He can only control how he alone behaves. He can't control the other inmates' behaviors. What they decide to do and how to behave while they're in here is their own business." Martin said somewhat seriously but also pleased and Danny gave him a concerned look but then sighed defeated and nodded.
"All right. Fine. As long as Rafi doesn't do anything else, I'll be fine with that." Danny said wearily as he continued holding on to Rafi.
Danny and Martin continued talking to Rafi but they hadn't realized that their old enemy Carr had been watching their exchange. Now was the moment that he'd been waiting for. He'd get his revenge and make the two pigs pay for the hell that he'd been through since he'd arrived at this miserable prison. Ever since his arrival seven months earlier, he'd been subjected to continuous beatings and threats. Worse, because of the injuries that he'd sustained at the hands of the other inmates, he was now forced to permanently walk with a cane. Those damn pigs were going to pay for his misfortune with their lives and he was going to enjoy his final act of revenge.
Carr began making his way toward Danny, Martin and Rafi. He put his hand in his pocket and slipped out the one thing that would bring death to the two men who had caused his pain, his misery. The one thing that would bring him immense pleasure, he thought with a sneer.
"Shank!" One prisoner yelled loudly as Carr removed a shank from his pocket and aimed it towards Danny's heart.
A/N: Stay tuned for the final chapter of 'Lost in the Woods'.