Title: The Guardian
Chapter 14 – Wrong Us–Shall we not Revenge?

'Who are you afraid of Danny?' 'You.'

Frank's mind mulls over and over those fateful words as he hurries to his SUV, Detective Rogers in tow.

"You let him get away? I thought you said he was a suspect Sir?" Rogers questions as he gets into the driver's seat. "What's so special about this kid anyways?"

"Just find them Rogers," Frank offers with a small huff as he looks out the window in anger. Who's threatening him like that? Which one of my men is doing this to those innocent boys?

XXXXXXXX

"Danny, what's going on?"

"Frank Regan tried to…arrest me!" Danny huffs as they race toward the back alley. But just as they do, a car comes to a screeching halt in front of them, forcing both boys to stop and stare at the driver in shock; Danny quickly pulling Jamie back. "Ah damn you scared the hell out of us!"

"Danny! What's going on?" Demarcus asks in haste.

"We can't…" Danny looks back, spotting the black SUV in the distance.

"Get in."

"Dem…."

"Just get in!" He demands as Danny nods to Jamie; Danny rushing for the front seat and Jamie into the back. Demarcus pulls away at Danny's direction heading for a nearby underground parking lot and out of Frank Reagan's and anyone else's view.

"Where'd he go Danny?" Jamie asks from the backseat.

"Probably to our old apartment," Danny gently gasps as Demarcus looks over in wonder. "What…are you doing here man?"

"I saw you tangle with the city's top cop. Danny you gotta come clean. What is going on?"

"Sonny Malvesky."

"Ah damn it," Demarcus curses as Danny nods and then looks back at Jamie. "What did I tell you?"

"You okay?" Danny asks Jamie.

"What'd he want Danny?" Jamie asks the same question as Demarcus, both faces looking at him in expectation.

"He wants to pin Trixie's murder on me."

"WHAT?" Jamie half shouts as he leans forward in haste. "Danny…"

"Look he knew stuff….damn he's…he did everything by the book," Danny resigns with a soft grumble.

"Man running from the cops only makes you look guilty."

"I know that okay! I damn well know that!" Danny snaps as Demarcus puts his hand up in resignation. "Sorry…I just…look I'm sorry. Sonny killed Trixie and I think Frank Regan knows about it and they want to pin it on me."

"Are you serious?"

"I am and I'm stuck. Henry Reagan is his son's boss! Who the hell can we trust?"

"Do you have proof Sonny killed Trixie?"

"No," Danny answers stonily, "and I know I can't just walk up to anyone without proof. Okay I know that."

"Why does he have reason to suspect you?"

"Trixie…ah damn she had something on Sonny; something enough for him to kill her. I talked to her at the club and then when I went back the next night…Saturday night she was dead. He beat her to death!"

"What?" Jamie asks in shock.

"Frank Reagan said it looked personal. Sonny killed her himself, I know it. I know it but I can't prove it."

"Can anyone else prove it?"

"Have they arrested anyone else!" Danny snaps sourly.

"So…what'd she have on him?"

"I don't know and now her place is under the tape and I can't go back. I went there looking for her and…a fight broke out, Sonny pulled a gun and I ran. But he said the same he's been saying all along! I can't go to the cops because they are on his side! So I'm stuck."

"A gun?" Jamie asks weakly as Danny nods.

"What do you need from me?" Demarcus asks in haste.

"A ride…a ride to the bus station and that's it."

"You're running away?"

"To save my life and Jamie's and anyone else's that Sonny thinks I told this to. Yes."

"You leave and…"

"And what? We live. That's all that really matters right?" Danny argues back.

"Come stay with us. Our…"

"No way," Danny interjects in haste. "Demarcus he murdered Trixie…he beat her to death. Get it? If he found what he needed I'd be…"

"Danny no," Jamie pipes up softly from the back.

"We have to leave. It's the only way to end this."

"Then Sonny wins."

"WHAT ELSE CAN I DO!" Danny shouts before he quickly recants. "Frank Reagan is the man who okayed Sonny coming into the academy despite the fact that he failed!"

"Go to Internal Affairs," Demarcus suggests.

"And tell them what? I have a hunch your boss is crooked? Think how far that'd get me? Into a private holding cell with Sonny as my roommate! No thanks."

"There has to be another way."

"Yeah we have to find out Sonny's secret. How the hell can we do that? Trixie was my only lead and the trail died with her…sorry."

"Damn! I hate this," Demarcus curses.

"I do to. I liked it here and Jamie and I finally had a place to stop running."

"You have no father right?"

"Dem…"

"It's okay, I kinda figured it out a while ago. I swear I told nobody," he assures him in haste.

"I'm all he has and this…Demarcus this is my mess. I thought I could fix it but I see I was wrong."

"There must be something more we can do to help…you can't let Sonny win."

"I agree it sucks but I don't see any other way around this! I have no proof and a gut feeling isn't hard evidence! Sonny knows that. Even if he beat Trixie…I'm sure he'll have someone on the inside confirming a phony alibi. Jamie and I don't have those kinds of friends and we certainly don't have enough resources to even offer something to counter Sonny's corruption. We are stuck."

"Man this sucks."

"I know. I just…I'm sorry. I thought we could last the week but we can't. Please just go home and…it was great being…your friend. I mean it man, you're the best, but it ends tonight."

"This is depressing," Demarcus interjects as Danny's face gently smirks.

"Tell Jackie. We gotta go. Jamie…come on."

"But…"

"Now," Danny states firmly as he slaps Demarcus on the back and then quickly gets out of his friends car. He takes Jamie by the arm and without looking back, hurries toward the exit to the parkade.

"Danny…"

"This is the only way Jamie. We've lost. Frank Reagan owns this town and Sonny's his man. We can't fight that okay?" Danny stops and looks at Jamie in concern. "We can't. I made you a promise that night…you remember?" Danny asks as Jamie nods. "I promised I'd always look after you."

"I left buddy at school."

"What?"

"I can't leave without him. Please Danny…don't make me."

Danny looks at the pleading in his brother's eyes and knows he can't break his heart like that; that silly little bear was all Jamie had left of his mother, the one positive keepsake that kept him grounded in reality. "Okay," Danny whispers as he gives Jamie a small hug. "We'll wait until it's dark and then go back to the school and get it okay?"

"We're just gonna up and leave?"

"Death is the only other alternative," Danny whispers morbidly. He reaches the last alley that would take them to their apartment, sure enough his call on Frank Reagan going to their other apartment was right on the money.

"And when did you see them last Mr. Peters?" Frank asks their former landlord.

"A few days ago. Shifty bunch if you ask me."

"Why's that?" Frank inquires.

"They just…you know got nothin' and were always lookin' lost and pathetic."

"Is being poor a crime?" Frank asks with some anger in his tone.

"No but uh…"

"Did they leave a forwarding address?"

"Nothin'. Just paid up and left…guess sooner than expected since they said the end of the month. Shifty bunch."

"Did you ever see their father?"

"No, but I'm guessin' he's just as much a lowlife as them."

"Did they ever steal anything?"

"No, but…"

"Thank you for your time," Frank growls as he takes his leave; Rogers in tow.

"What now Sir? Why no APB? What's going on?"

"I can't tell you yet Rogers, I need to play this close to the hip."

"Sir you know you can trust me."

"Right now…I'm not sure who I can really trust. Let's go."

"Where do we look now? I mean this kid Danny…you go to talk to him and he freaks out. His alibi made sense but…running like that isn't good. Why aren't you running this kid down?"

"Because this is bigger than a few unanswered phone calls," Frank replies in truth. "He's scared and on the run for good reason."

"Yeah? What's the reason?"

"That I need to find out. Here's what I want from you…"

XXXXXXXX

Danny watches Jamie as he angrily shoves his clothes into his travelling duffle bag and then growls. "Hey…I have no other choice."

"What did Frank Reagan really want?"

"To know why I called Trixie the night she died. He said it's a crime to talk to someone who ends up dead the next day," Danny huffs; slightly twisting Frank's words. "The only other alternative is me taking out Sonny but unless…unless I kill him we'll never be safe."

"Danny…"

"I'm not thinkin' that," Danny offers in haste. "We'll pack up, have dinner and then head to the school okay? Come back here and then head for the bus station."

Jamie gives Danny a silent nod but goes back to packing his things, his mind wondering about calling Henry Reagan. But then he remembers how Henry was digging into Mitch's story and that might be even worse if he was to be separated from Danny. Danny was right…either way they were stuck with no one to trust.

Their modest dinner is spent mostly in silence, a few words, mostly by Jamie on the pop exam he aced in class earlier that day. Finally…it was time to go.

"We'll be okay. Just keep our wits about us okay?" Danny reminds Jamie.

"There's a game in the gym tonight so some kids will be outside smoking, we can get in that way."

"Good plan. Okay let's go."

The two of them head into the stairwell and are deposited into the quiet dark alley, keeping to the darkened sides of the buildings as they head for the main street. But unlike during the day, this time they stick to the alleys; the darkness always being their silent guardian when they were on the run.

"Okay I see the school…no police cars. Let's go," Danny whispers as he directs Jamie toward the back of the school. But unbeknownst to them…someone was watching.

"Their here."

"Good. Let them get inside."

"So far so good," Danny whispers once more as he urges Jamie to run a bit faster across the darkened playing field, hurrying toward the noise in the distance. They near the back door and slow their pace to something more casual, Jamie being right. They nod to the students and then slip inside, Jamie directing them toward the quiet, darkened hallway where his locker stood waiting.

Danny's eyes nervously dart around as he follows behind Jamie's rushed footsteps, nearing the locker bank and then stopping. "Hey you got a view here," Danny snickers as Jamie looks at him in misery. "Sorry," he huffs as he pulls out a small flashlight. "Just hurry up. Buddy…"

"I can't leave him behind Danny," Jamie sighs as he starts to work on his combination. But as soon as he makes the last number connect both of them hear a sound and look up to see a large figure walking toward them at the opposite end of the hallway. Henry Reagan.

"Forget buddy!" Danny growls as he grabs Jamie by the arm and both turn. Jamie lingers for a few seconds, grabbing his beloved stuffed bear before turning to run. However, just as they do, Frank Reagan steps into view and Jamie utters a surprised yelp just as they both stop.

"He's going to kill us!" Danny shouts as he turns, Jamie's arm still in his grasp and race for the other entrance; another male figure coming into view – Detective Rogers.

"Danny, wait!" Frank calls out as Henry also appears.

Danny stops, pushing Jamie behind him as the three males stop. With his heart racing so fast, he was hoping that he'd just die from a heart attack instead of what he thinks Frank Reagan has in mind.

"You can kill us both but just know that you did it without honor!" Danny spits as Jamie peers past his shoulder with wide, scared eyes. "Cowards! All of you! Ganging up on kids in the dark!"

"We went to your home but you moved," Henry replies calmly as all three of them remain in place.

"Danny, we need to talk about what you know," Frank tries as Rogers takes a step forward.

"Danny! He's going to beat us!" Jamie shouts as Rogers looks at Frank in surprise and Frank's eyes widen.

"What?" Henry asks in shock. "No one is going to hurt you Jamie."

"Yes you are! You're going to take Danny away and beat him."

"No, we…"

"Look we know nothing. I called Trixie and she didn't answer. That's it, I swear. Look you can um…you can just turn your backs and we'll…"

"Why did you come back here tonight Danny?" Frank asks directly. "You're lives are on the line, why'd you chance to come back here?"

"We came back for Buddy. Couldn't leave without him," Jamie replies in such a sad tone that Henry's eyes instantly water; his hand holding up the small tattered toy. "This is my fault. Please don't hurt Danny."

"Why do you think we're going to hurt you?" Henry asks in haste.

"You're going to pin Trixie's murder on me aren't you? Isn't that what Son…"

"Danny!" Jamie snaps.

"Sonny Malvesky?" Frank interjects as Danny's frame seizes.

"We know nothing. Really…"

"Danny," Frank starts.

"NOTHING!" Danny shouts. "Now if you're going to kill us just get it over with already. I just hope someone honest exposes you all for what you REALLY ARE!"

Frank looks at Danny and frowns but motions for Rogers to stand down; taking the boys by force wasn't what he wanted. "What can I say or do to make you believe that I'm here because I want to help. I need to know what you…"

"I know nothing okay? Sonny is an ass. There can you arrest him on that reason?" Danny snaps.

"What did he threaten you with?" Henry pipes up.

"He said you'd kill us," Jamie offers. "All cops are crooked!"

"Jamie!" Danny hisses in anger as Henry and Frank exchange glances.

"Danny, if I wanted you both dead, you'd both be dead by now," Frank reminds him in a kind but firm tone as Danny's jaw hardens. "I don't want that. I'm here…the three of us are here because we want to help."

"Not all cops are crooked," Henry adds as he looks at Jamie's scared expression.

"It's time to stop running Danny," Frank warmly entreats. "I'm here begging for your help. If I was the crooked cop you think me, would I even care about asking? I could just make it seem like you did murder Trixie and have you both dealt with."

"Danny," Jamie whispers as his free hand grips Danny's forearm.

"That won't happen Jamie. We're here because we want to put Sonny away," Henry states calmly, wanting to ease the younger man's fright.

"What do you know?"

Danny looks at Frank's expression and finally the words register. He's right…if he was bad, Frank Reagan could have already had them taken care of and the story would be over. But he was here…begging for help…it was time to confess.

"Why is he after you both? What do you know?"

"Sonny and I got into a street fight a few months back. I kicked his ass and since then he's been looking for revenge. Sir, most of this is personal and doesn't mean anything!"

"Please Danny, continue," Frank urges.

"It started out as nothing and then…he got a job at the school campus and he…he was always in my face you know," Danny tries to explain, not wanting to include the part about Sonny's real motive of uncovering their secret – the truth they had tried so hard to keep hidden; they had no legal parent living with them and Danny shouldn't be Jamie's guardian. "He attacked Jamie one day at school and then…that was it…I knew I had to get something on him. He…"

"He what Danny?"

"It was nothing…a gut feeling."

"A good cop trusts his instincts."

"There was something off about him right from the start. Why couldn't he just let it go and I…it's a stupid myth."

"What is?" Henry presses.

"The blue templar…look it was nothing," Danny huffs as Frank exchanges looks with Henry. "What's…going on?"

"The blue templar is not a myth Danny. It's a secret society that works to undermine the integrity of the NYPD from within. At one time they were a small group that was dedicated to preserving it's loyalty by flushing out those who were corrupt and removing them. But money is a powerful ally and soon the tables were turned. A small group of loyal officers infiltrated the group and finally removed them. We thought for good."

"How do you know that Sir?"

"Because I used to be one of them," Henry confesses as Danny looks at him in shock.

"It's you?"

"No. I give you my word that I have nothing to do with whatever Sonny Malvesky has going on."

"Who told you about him Danny?"

"No way. You can do what you want to me but I'm not betraying my source," Danny states in haste, knowing he wasn't going to give up Demarcus. "Never!"

"While I do admire that conviction, this person…"

"Is loyal to me! They only mentioned when I started snooping around. Look I got Trixie's name from a girl at school, someone who dated Sonny's best friend."

"Sounds sordid," Henry grimaces as Frank's brow furrows.

"I went to the club and she…okay I talked to her and she had something on Sonny."

"She said that?"

"No but she…look I just know okay? But just as she was going to tell me…Jamie was stabbed and I had to leave. Family comes first," Danny echoes the same time as Frank. "I didn't kill her Sir…but it's my fault she's dead. If I didn't ask…"

"If you didn't ask, we have no reason to suspect Sonny Malvesky of anything other than grade tampering. So yes it's tragic that she lost her life but you're not to blame," Henry interjects.

"I went to the club Saturday night but she wasn't there. A girl there said she saw Trixie talking to Sonny and the two of them leave and then Sonny come back – alone. I called Trixie but she never answered. You told me she's dead. Okay that's it."

"Danny…"

"Look she died before she could tell me what it was but I'm guessing it's something pretty big for Sonny to kill her to cover it up. But I have no proof…only conjecture and I know that means nothing."

"It means something to me," Frank replies in a mild tone; his tone actually helping to deescalate Danny's tense mood.

"But you can't arrest him on that right?"

"Not on a hunch, no, I'm sorry."

"Right. Can we go now?"

"You can't run away Danny. It won't help us solve this."

"I'm done helping. I tried to help and I got my brother stabbed and some girl killed. You think I sleep well at night!" Danny growls. "Can we go now?"

"Let me put you both someplace safe."

"Where, jail?"

"What else did Sonny say?"

"Not all hatred of cops comes from that jagoff," Danny huffs.

"And yet you want to become one?" Frank counters.

"Stupid right?"

"Not really. You see a system that you consider broken or flawed and want to help fix it. Admirable."

Danny looks at Frank and frowns. "Can we go now?"

"Let me help you Danny. If Sonny is bent on revenge he'll find you."

"Should we call your father?" Henry dares to ask. As soon as Jamie's eyes nervously dart up to Danny's, Henry knows the man he met at the school wasn't their father; merely a sympathetic actor playing a role. "Is he really your father?"

"I got this okay? We just need to go home," Danny insists.

"And if Sonny's outside? Son, let me help you," Frank asks tenderly as Danny's stomach tightens. "Danny I know you want to protect Jamie and I have no doubt you are a good street fighter. And I'd say that if it was just a one on one fight, you'd probably win. But given the character of Sonny Malvesky, I don't think he'd let you get that chance. I'm offering help."

"Danny," Jamie whispers as Danny's head gently glances down at Jamie and then back up.

"We're okay. So we're all done now right?"

"I'm not going to force you Danny…"

"Boss…" Rogers finally pipes up. "He'll kill them."

"I know that Spencer, but this is Danny's choice. He thinks he knows what's best and we have to respect that."

"Danny?" Jamie whispers once more.

"Do it for Jamie's sake," Henry tries to plead. "He's scared and rightly so."

"Kid, you gotta listen here," Rogers starts. "We only want to help. I got boys of my own…your age and if someone wanted to hurt them, I'd be worried sick. Your father wants what's best for you."

"No he doesn't," Jamie whispers.

"Jamie!" Danny hisses as Henry's brow furrows.

"Is Ron Smith really your father?"

"Look we have to go."

"Danny…"

"Okay you're scared of your old man, fine, but we just want to help," Rogers states with some irritation. Frank looks at his Detective, understanding his frustration but knowing that things were that simple for the two scared young men before them. Dealing with whoever Ron Smith really was, was the least of their worries right now. Sonny Malvesky was out for blood and Danny was next – of that he was sure.

"Let me put you some place safe tonight Danny," Frank tries one last time. "Please Danny you have to trust me. You have to trust that I only want what's best for you and Jamie and that I want to get whosever responsible for this. Just the two of you. You can then call Ron or do whatever you need to but there's too much heat on the street right now for you two to be walking around in the open."

"Where will you take us? Jail?" Danny asks sourly.

"You can come home with us," Henry suggests as Frank looks at his father in surprise. "Or we could…take them to a hotel."

"A hotel?" Jamie asks in wonder, never having been to a hotel before.

"It's your choice Danny," Frank tells him truth. "Please…trust me."

Danny feels Jamie's fingers give his arm and squeeze and knows whatever he does now, will be for Jamie first and foremost.

"A um…there's a shelter close by. St. George's on 86th."

"Danny…" Henry interrupts with a small huff.

"We go there or we don't go at all."

"St. George's it is," Frank states firmly; his tone telling the other two men with him not to question his order, even his father. "Rogers, get someone to watch overnight."

"On it," Rogers gives them a nod and then looks at Danny. "We'll get him kid," Rogers states before he turns and heads back down the darkened hallway and disappears.

"Just tonight right?"

"I'm assuming that since your current apartment is empty that you've moved and that was good thinking. But Sonny knows where you both go to school and it won't be long before he makes a real move."

"Sir I have nothing that…"

"Did he stab Jamie?" Henry asks.

"Yes," Jamie replies with a heavy sigh.

"Will you testify to that in writing?"

"No…he will not," Danny answers for Jamie as Jamie purses his lips and Henry frowns.

"It'll get him off the street," Henry implores.

"His word against Jamie's and then he brings even more trouble when he's out twenty-four hours later. An attempted murder charge or assault will never stick. He has friends on the inside and like you said Sir, he knows where Jamie goes to school. Forget it."

"I can place a man on the inside of this school," Frank suggests as they head outside the school and start walking toward Frank's dark SUV; the driver waiting by the car as requested.

However, as Frank had suspected, Sonny was watching. His teeth grit and his fist hits the dashboard in anger as he watches Danny and Jamie emerge flanked by Frank and Henry on either side; Rogers already at work on getting a few plainclothes bodyguards.

"So that's how you want it…eh Danny boy? Well I'll just have to show you the error of your ways," Sonny's voice hisses as he slowly backs his car into the shadows and heads away from the school; his mind racing that his threat of what Trixie had told Danny was growing into what he thinks Danny has told Chief Reagan.

"I'll teach you to mess with me. I'll teach you to try to DOUBLE CROSS ME!" Sonny shouts in angry hatred. "YOU WILL PAY IN BLOOD!"

Sonny stops his car on the quiet street and gets out, his fist ready for action and his eyes seeing only red. He slips into the shadowy alcove behind the diner and waits.

In silence.

Ready to strike.

"Hey Linda…take this out to the recycling and then we can go!" Sal calls out.

"Sure thing!" Linda calls back as she picks up the box of bottles and heads for the back door, not having an idea of what was lurking.

The door closes.

Sonny strikes.

A brave scream is lost in the night.

A/N: *ducks for cover* okay so hopefully a few little surprises in here Demarcus was the one who mentioned the blue templar angle to Danny so I wanted him in here a bit more. how was that? and don't worry Danny and Jamie will get to the Reagan's (just not yet!) and I really do appreciate those who are liking me taking my time to develop their trust b/c it wouldn't be overnight right? at least I don't think so. and Sonny struck again…will Danny's trust in Frank be tested once again? will he blame Frank for what happened to Linda (dont worry she's not dead!)? And will Danny now react without thinking falling into Sonny's trap and see revenge? And if that happens what happens to Jamie? And don't worry the other sub-plots are slowly building also – Sonny's very demanding haha Please do read and review and thanks so much!