Title: New York Stories
Chapter 28 - Further Into Dispair


"You are awfully quiet," Lindsay notes as she looks at Danny in concern. They had just finished lunch and Lucy was now sitting between them busy coloring in the new book her grandmother had given her the day before; packing into a carrying bag along with a few other things that Lindsay brought along.

"It is Louie?" Lindsay tries again.

"Had the talk with him this morning," Danny replies with a heavy sigh.

"Oh and how did that go?" Lindsay asks as Danny looks away with a heavy frown.

"It was strained," Danny huffs as he looks back up; still on his side, propped up on his elbow.

Lindsay looks at Lucy and then pokes her in the side, causing the young girl to look up at her in wonder before her face breaks into a warm smile.

"Think it's time to tickle daddy and get him to smile again," Lindsay challenges as she looks at Danny who offers her only an 'I dare you stare,' in return.

But much to his surprise Lindsay quickly pushes him backward and Lucy pounces.

"H-hey," Danny starts to laugh as Lindsay holds his arms and Lucy's fingers start to dig into his sides.

"Daddy ...aughs," Lucy giggles as she tries to dodge Danny's hands grabbing at her.

"Not fair!" Danny protests as Lindsay recaptures his arms above his head and holds him in place.

Knowing he could easily pull himself free, he allows Lucy a few more minutes of his warm laughter before he yanks his arms free and then grabs at Lucy, tickling her sides and forcing the space in the small park around them to be filled with the young girls infectious laughter.

But just as Danny is about to continue, Lucy says something that makes both him and Lindsay stop and look at Lucy.

"Mommy helps me!" Lucy bellows as she tries to keep Danny's fingers away from her sensitive sides.

Danny's fingers immediately cease and he looks at Lindsay in shock; forcing Lindsay's face to flush instantly; but her nervous anxiety to skyrocket. Is he mad? Happy? Confused? Her brain races for answers.

"She um...well the Lady at the deli made a comment and...well Rikki was there and I kinda..." Lindsay starts only to have Danny's free hand gently wrap around the back of her head and bring her lips to his.

"Are you under the impression that I am angry?" Danny asks softly as he pulls back with a smile.

"I um...actually I don't know what to think about that."

"Are you sure?" Danny arches his brows.

Lindsay looks at Lucy who is still trying to pry herself from Danny's arms and smile. Lucy lifts her arms toward Lindsay and frowns.

"Mommy helps me!" She moans again, forcing Lindsay's eyes to lightly mist.

"Lindsay if you..."

"Mommy would love to help you Lucy doll," Lindsay states softly as she scoops Lucy into her arms and holds her close, her eyes locking with Danny's. "Because mommy loves you so much."

Danny gently eases Lindsay down on his chest, his fingers playing with her hair as she held Lucy on her belly.

"I love you more than anything Lindsay Monroe," Danny whispers in her ear, brushing her tender skin with his warm lips and forcing her smile to widen further. "Sorry about earlier."

"What to you mean?" Lindsay inquires as she picks up a nearby doll and hands it to Lucy to distract her from the 'adult' talk.

"Both Paul and Ryan are giving notice...what do you mean Rikki was there? Where? What happened?"

"At the deli and she just overheard the Lady call me Lucy's mother. Both of them gave notice? Gosh how did Louie take it?"

"You mean when he stopped shouting?" Danny's lips emit another heavy sigh.

"Sorry."

"Ah knew it would happen," Danny confesses. "Louie was pi...mad," he corrects himself, never wanting to use bad language in front of Lucy. "But he had only to be mad at himself for allowing this."

"Think he'll um...you know try to get even?"

"Nah he'll cool down and then put out an ad, get some more guys and a month from now we'll be swapping stories and he'll be telling me what I'm not doing to keep my business afloat," Danny finishes with a slight chuckle.

"That's a relief," Lindsay sighs as Lucy looks back down at her. "Well Lucy doll shall we let daddy get back to work?"

"No!" She shakes her head, prompting Danny's face to offer an amused smile.

"So Clint is gone back home?"

"He'll be back," Lindsay states as she puts Lucy aside and then helps to clean up the picnic remains.

"Got any leftovers in there?" Danny peeks into the large shopping bag just before it was sealed with the blanket.

"Yes why? Did you like everything?"

"Next time it's my turn," Danny promises.

"Danny today was a rare day off for me."

"Who said it had to be during the week? A picnic, Lucy and the park? How does that sound?" Danny asks warmly as he wraps his arms around her, holding her close.

"Perfect," Lindsay whispers in return as she wraps her arms around him, bringing his lips to hers. She feels Lucy's arms warp around her leg and hold on tightly; her heart swelling beyond words.

They head back to the truck, Danny carrying the picnic bag in one hand and holding Lindsay's in the other as her arm held Lucy close to her side. They talk more about Danny's shop and who he'll get to help with regular tasks.

"Can't afford too much," Danny states as they slowly head back to his shop.

"Well when the time comes, I'll help out in whatever way I can," Lindsay assures him.

"What are you doing for dinner?" Danny asks as Lindsay stops her truck in front of Louie's shop.

"Leftovers," she nods toward the bag with a smile.

"Need some company?"

"No," she replies.

"But..."

"But I would like some company," she retorts and he just shakes his head. "You going to be okay going back in there?"

"Yeah by now he'll be yelling at someone else," Danny retorts as he pokes his head through the open window and kisses him once more.

Lindsay watches him leave and then turns back to Lucy who is now asleep in the back seat of Lindsay's crew cab truck. She quickly calls Edith who assures Lindsay that if she wants to take Lucy home and wait with her until Danny gets there she'll pick up the seat and her granddaughter in the morning before they both head to work. But still as she prepares to leave she can't help but wonder if everything is going to go as smoothly as Danny hopes.

Lindsay turns back once more to Lucy once more and smiles. "I do love you Lucy, with all my heart."


"Stella?" Mac asks as his fingers brush her arm; breaking her from her light daydream.

"Sorry Mac, your uniform is very distracting to me," she whispers and his face warms.

"Next time I'll ch..." he starts only to have her quickly lean in and kiss him on the lips.

"Trust me Mac, it's not a bad thing. Okay then where were we? Oh you told Rick?"

"Stella, Frankie is not going to show up on the base. You sound like my mother," Mac frowns as he places his fork down on his place and looks at her with a frown.

"Can you blame her? We are both worried about you," Stella insists.

"Me?" Mac asks in surprise. "Stella, I don't have a history with him. I'm worried about you...if he...oh god if he ever laid even one finger on you again, I swear I would kill him."

"Mac, he's not going to hurt me," Stella tries to assure him, giving his hand a gentle squeeze and forcing his tormented gaze to look up and lock with hers.

"You are not with me all the time Stella."

"And I don't walk alone into darkened parking lots either Mac," she counters. "I park right outside, you don't."

"Stella..." Mac gently groans as his fingers wrap around hers. "And yes I told Rick, better for someone to have my back on the base right? Besides, I trust him."

"Well everyone knows about Frankie where I work so I think I have my bases covered. But answer me this, are you down playing your concern so that I won't needlessly worry?"

Mac looks at her with a deep frown but knows he cannot lie and so slowly nods his head in agreement.

"But why?" Stella urges. "And don't you dare hand me the, 'I'm a trained soldier line,' this is someone I know better than you."

"And that is why I am more concerned about him showing up and hurting you before he will me," Mac insists. "Besides if I were to walk around paranoid all the time..."

"I am not asking you to be paranoid, just be careful."

"I promise," Mac states as he leans in and kisses her on the cheek. "I won't lose you Stella."

"And what about me Mac? I don't want to lose you either. I love you."

"I know," he answers with a heavy frown. "I'm sorry if I come across with a cavalier attitude but in truth I can handle it."

"Mac..."

"It'll be okay," he insists.

Stella looks at him and knows it's now pointless to argue. He had promised her that he would do what he could to keep himself on alert and safe and she had to trust him on that. It was just that inside, she felt danger brewing and knew that Frankie's anger was now shifted toward Mac. That is why he showed up at the pot luck. Damn Mac's stubbornness.

"Now when are we going to allow your mother to come?" Stella finally asks, saving her Frankie argument for another day.

Mac leans back in the booth and offers a heavy sigh but knows she's right but is glad she's changed the subject. In his mind he is worried about Frankie but refuses to allow the man to occupy his time when with Stella. He really didn't want to spend the rest of his lunch hour talking about Frankie Mala. Still he still can't help shake the feeling that even now Frankie is planning something vile toward him.

"Mac?"

"My mother right...those dates in November will work just fine. Just promise me you'll not go too insane for the thanksgiving day sales."

"You could always come with us," Stella teases as Mac motions for the waitress and the bill.

"I'd rather face a literal firing squad," Mac deadpans as he reaches for his wallet; never letting Stella pay when it was his idea to treat her in the first place.

"Well we could always go out to her place?"

"You mean both of us fly out to um...Chicago?"

"Well I have never been and since I played tour guide here would be kinda nice to have you as my handsome escort in your own home town."

"Escort," Mac smirks. "Makes me sound..."

"Mmmm like I could do just about anything to you and you'd let me?" Stella winks and his face warms further. "But it's up to your mother Mac, I would like it very much."

"Well she has been bugging me to bring you up to see her so...I think I would like that."

"Really?" Stella's turn to ask in surprise; forcing a small chuckle from Mac's lips. They both get up from the booth and head back outside, arm in arm.

"Yes really," Mac kisses her cheek. "I would love you to see Chicago. It has some great places."

"I hear they have an amazing chocolate factory," Stella gushes and Mac just shakes his head.

"Course," he smirks as she playfully pokes is side.

"Where would you take me?"

"House of Blues," Mac states without hesitation.

"That would be fantastic," Stella replies with a smile. "And since I would be in your city on Thanksgiving you'd take me shopping right?"

"At Victoria's Secret?" Mac asks without thinking; then looking at her in shock.

"What?" Stella laughs.

"Oh I meant...well I know that wouldnt be...it's just something that...help," Mac states weakly, prompting Stella to lean in and kiss him firmly on the lips. "I didn't mean to embarrass you."

"I'm not the one embarrassed," Stella reminds him.

"Right of course."

"But if that's where you want to go..."

"Stella..."

"But you know they don't have men's stuff there right? Nothing for you to model for me."

"Very funny."

"Oh so you wanted me to model for you?"

"Stella, it was a slip," Mac states in haste as she just shakes her head and laughs. "I just can't win can I?"

"Nope and now I can't wait."

"Well I'll call her as soon as I get home tonight but I know the answer will be yes."

"Then I will put in my holiday request. Think you'll be able to get time off?"

"Well if it's just one day and we are back on the Sunday night then I'm sure it'll be fine."

Mac wraps his arms around her, looking slightly down at her with a serious expression. "I love you Stella. Just promise me you'll be safe."

"Only if you do first."

"I promise," Mac states as he leans in closer, planting a brief, but warm kiss on her inviting lips and then pulls back with a smile.

"So do I. I'll see you after work. And thanks again for lunch."

"It was my pleasure, see you later."

Mac watches her enter her building and then turns and heads for his Jeep; his mind now anxious to call his mother and give her the good news, that Stella actually suggested going to Chicago with him. He heads back to the base with only happy thoughts to occupy his mind.

He enters his quiet building, one last class to teach his mind is now distracted with thoughts of Stella accompanying him to visit his mother; meeting her for the first time and then seeing where he used to live and grew up. He nears the teachers lounge when he notices a door open to a utility room and nears it.

"Can I help you?" Mac asks as he looks at a man with his back to him. Since the man has blond hair and he knows Frankie has black, Mac doesn't sense danger until he nears the man to see what is wrong. "I asked..." Mac starts only to have the man turn around with a gun in his hand.

"What the" Mac starts only to hear the door slam shut behind him and quickly turns around to face another man with a gun. His mind races as to where he's seen them before. Then it hits him before they do; they were the two men with Frankie who visited the base a few weeks back.

"We have a message for you Lieutenant Taylor," the man behind him starts as he raises his weapon to strike. "From a friend."


Jessica finishes her class and then heads for the teacher lounge; pulling out her phone and then offering a soft curse as she reads 'dead battery' on the LCD display; never getting Flack's frantic calls.

For the better part of the morning her mind had raced with thoughts of anxiety that she'll bump into James and be forced into another awkward situation as she was this morning. But she was also happy that she told Don everything she found and then talk to Tori about what she suspected.

But she enters the teachers lounge and breathes a heavy sigh of relief when she sees that only a few other friendly faces dot the landscape before her; James Caulfield not one of them.

"Jessica!" Tori calls out in a panicked voice as she hurries up to her with a piece of paper in her hands. "Did Don get a hold of you?"

"No. Why? My phone died."

"Sounded pretty urgent," Tori hands her the note.

"Thanks," Jessica replies as she heads for the nearest phone.

"Jessica are you okay?"

"Don what is going on? Where are you?"

"Sully and I are about five minutes away. Where is James?"

"Don, I told you that I am fine and that he..."

"Where is he?" Flack asks in a huff. "Sorry, Jessica we learned that James Caulfield is a serial abuser and murderer."

"What?" Jessica practically yells into the phone, catching herself just in time; but Tori watching with an anxious expression on her face. "What did you find out?"

"Where is he?" Flack persists.

"Hold on," Jessica tells him as she heads over to another math teacher. "Hey Gary, did you see James this morning?"

"Actually I had to sub for him for an hour before we got another sub in. Said he wasn't feeling well and was going home sick."

"Okay thanks," she answers and then heads back to the phone. "Don, he's gone."

"Damn it!" Flack curses. "We are outside right now. But we'll go..."

"I'm coming with you."

"Jessica..."

"Don't you dare argue with me Don, this is my life also. Be outside in one minute," she hangs up and then looks at Tori with a pleading expression.

"I'll cover for you, just tell me how bad it is."

"He was responsible for Amy's death."

"Oh my god," Tori whispers in horror. "Just go and stick close to Don."

"See you later."

Jessica quickly drops her books and heads for the door; forgetting about the rest of her personal things in her locker at the other end of the teachers lounge. She heads for the front entrance to the school where Flack was pacing while Sully waited in the police cruiser.

"Jessica!" Don exclaims as he rushes up to her and gives her a discreet hug before pulling back and studying her face; finally seeing some fear in her warm brown eyes. "Are you okay?"

"I have to go with you Don, I have to know what this is all about."

"Jessica you can't come into his house with us. If he is there we are going to arrest him on some minor charges at first; identity fraud and a few others relating to his cheating the system. But I don't want you as a distraction."

"I can handle myself," Jessica replies crossly.

"I meant no offense," Flack puts his hands up quickly in mock defense. "I meant a distraction for him. I am going to arrest his murdering ass and there is nothing that will distract me from that."

"Don...I might even be able to help."

Flack looks at the pleading expression on her beautiful face and feels himself reluctantly giving in. "I mean no offense Jess, but I hope I don't come to regret this."

"You won't, I promise."

Both of them head back to the car only to be stopped by Sully's large frame.

"She can't come and you know it," Sully states firmly. "She'll be more of a liability than anything."

"I just want to help," Jessica insists.

"You can help us by going back to your class or whatever and waiting where it's safe and where he won't be distracted from doing his job. If it impedes the arrest this bastard would walk. I know neither of you want that."

Jessica looks at the firm expression on Sully's face and knows he won't back down and he's not man to argue or give in like Don might have and what he says is true.

"Sorry Jess."

"I understand. Just let me know as soon as you can."

Flack gives her a nod and watches as she heads back inside; seeing Tori waiting for her at the door and feeling some small semblance of comfort settle upon his heart.

"You know the rules Don," Sully gently warns, prompting his younger partner to turn and look at him with an anguished expression. "Let's go get this bastard."

"What happened?" Tori asks Jessica as she greets her with a frown.

"I can't go and that's okay. I don't want to do anything that might cause James Caulfield to walk away like nothing happened. Can you still take my class? I just don't feel like teaching today."

"Lisa is going to do that; she's a better sub. The kids acutally do work for her," Tori tease, her face quickly turning serious. "I'll stay with you."

"You are a good friend," Jessica gives her a reassuring smile.

"Come on let's get a cup of coffee and then wait for the news."

XXXXXXXX

Flack keeps his eyes fixed out the window, his mind boiling and his heart racing.

"Don you know..."

"I know," Flack cuts him off in haste. "Just um...well never faced a threat this real or this personal before. Those images...damn it Sully I kept seeing Jessica's face looking up at me; covered in blood and..."

"If she stays with people, she will be safe," Sully reminds him. "Now are you going to be objective when you see him?"

"Come again?"

"I have no reservations about locking you in the damn trunk if you are going to go in there and get some flimsy police brutality charge laid against him."

"I promise," Flack huffs as he turns and looks back out the window with a heavy frown. They finally near the residence of James Caulfield and Flack feels his nervous anxiety starting to build; his stomach tight and on fire. He feels his fists automatically tighten as Sully brings the car to a halt and then swallows hard; his fingers instantly reaching for his piece and ensuring that it's ready within a moments notice.

"Let's get this over with," Sully states with some anxiety in his own voice as he pushes himself out of the car and heads for the front door, Flack in tow.

"NYPD!" Sully's heavy fist pounds on the front door to the small house owned by James Caulfield. "Mr. Caulfield are you home?"

Flack's fingers automatically retrieve his piece, his actions mirroring that of his partner as Sully prepares to kick the door open. Sully tries once more but a second time they are greeted with silence. Sully kicks the door open and both of them rush into the open entrance area.

Flack's eyes quickly survey the surrounding area; nothing seeming out of place or out of the ordinary, certainly nothing to suggest a hardened serial killer lives here.

"Damn it, almost seems normal," Flack comments as they slowly head for the living room.

"Normal," Sully snorts. "Yeah well Jeffrey Dahmer was described as the boy next door."

"Right," Flack frowns as they enter the quiet living room. "Nothing. Where the hell did he go?" Flack asks as they head toward the small hallway.

"Mr. Caulfield?" Sully continues to call out loudly, both of them with their guns poised. "Seems he left in a hurry," Sully sighs as both he and Flack gaze upon his bedroom with various items that were strewn all over the place. "He probably knew we'd be coming."

"Probably left right after Jessica turned down his advance," Flack sighs as he lowers his gun; but not putting it away, keeping it ready in case needed without hesitation.

"Check the rest of the place, I'll call it in," Sully directs.

Flack gives him a nod and then heads toward the back of the house, his mind in a constant state of alert; his nerves on edge and his stomach sick with worry. He passes by a small bathroom and notices it in the same condition as the bedroom and so continues on.

He reaches the small kitchen and is about to dismiss when he takes a step forward and notices a small door behind the fridge; a fresh smattering of blood near the door handle. He raises his gun, his heart rate racing at top speed. Flack very carefully opens the door and then stops to listen.

Silence.

He feels around the wall before him, his fingers finally landing on a light switch and then turning it on. His eyes quickly blink away some dust and mildew, his lungs constricting as he enters the small, dark tomb like room. But just as he rounds a corner he stops short and lets out a small gasp.

"SULLY!" His voice bellows.

Within seconds heavy footsteps are heard as Sully's large frame enters the small space. "What is ! Oh my god..."


A/N: Well hope you are all liking the story so far and we will get back to some fluffy moments for FA but gotta finish up this story arch first and hope that's okay. Thanks again!