Title: Too Tough To Die
Chapter 36 – Welcome back…to my Parlor

"What? You mean…stay here…one more day?" Danny asked in shock as Frank's brow furrowed heavily. "Seriously? Is that what you're saying? I finally can leave this damn place and you…want me to stay one more day? Willingly?" Danny paused as his father nodded in confirmation. "I'm fine."

"You had a breakthrough yesterday and…" Frank paused this time as he looked down at his hands and then up at his son in concern. "I just don't want you to relapse. One more session…one more day."

Danny shook his head as he looked away and then back at his father. "Still afraid I'm gonna snap?"

"I…I don't know."

"I won't!" Danny insisted as his brow furrowed. "Look I just…I don't like this place. It's…have you talked to Linda?"

"Wanted to confirm with you first. If you agree…you can call her and tell her. I think she'll be relieved to hear the news from you directly."

"That I'm still emotionally broken?"

"No," Frank interjected in haste. "That you are starting to heal."

"Heal…I'm…" careful…Danny's brain warned, you are starting to heal and you know it. Your inner agitation has started to subside as soon as that last session ended. You cannot lie to your father. "Damn…hate to admit this," Danny huffed as Frank offered his son a small smile. "Does anyone get to say I told you so?" Danny asked with a small smirk of his own.

"You. When you tell Thomas Wilder on the stand that he'll spend the rest of his life in jail," Frank answered in truth. "Once he sees you calm and unnerved on that stand, he'll know he's failed."

"Still wanna go a few rounds with him," Danny lightly hissed as Frank's lips pursed. "I know I know…he'd probably just claim police brutality. Isn't there a room around here with a broken camera?"

"Danny…"

"Right…" he stopped as he leaned back in his chair and then looked at his father with a serious expression. "Only one more session?"

"How about you take the one more session and if you want to come back when you are home or at work or…whenever you can."

"Come back here…willingly?" Danny shot back as Frank offered him a dry expression in return. "You honestly think that'll happen?"

"It's not about a dare or a bet and…it's not up to me. If you want to come back on your own, no one else needs to know that."

You know you need one more session…you just don't want to admit it – but you can, to your father. This is the best way to help you. Besides…it's safe in here. "To see Dr. Day again?"

"Who else can offer you tough love?"

"You sure you really know this guy? Do you know anything personal about him?"

"I do now," Frank answered in truth. "Why not ask him yourself why he hates Thomas Wilder just as much as you."

"Right. And the case?"

"Call Jamie as soon as we're done here and get an update for yourself," Frank offered as Danny's mind took a bit more comfort in that. "You have total freedom Danny. You can leave. But I hope you'll stay one more day and then leave here with the knowledge that Wilder hasn't won anything."

"One more day?" Danny pondered as he rubbed his face and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He looked up with the same boyish expression his father had seen earlier and then slowly nodded. "One more day," he stated in confirmation.

"One more day," Frank agreed.

"What else could go wrong, right?" Danny fatefully uttered in sarcasm. One more day…and when I get out…I'm coming for you Blueridge and then…Wilder's going away for the rest of his miserable life!

XXXXXXXX

Jamie walked back into the main investigation room and paused as he looked at Danny's empty desk; his mind slightly racing. He'll be back soon and when he is – Blueridge and anyone else in Wilder's posse still left standing will be gone – for good. His mind took comfort in that thought as he slowly shuffled past, his eyes darting around for any sign of Cedric Blueridge.

"Blueridge around?"

"Starting to ask the same thing about you," Eddie replied with a small smirk as Jamie offered his partner a tense smile.

"Yeah…just working on a case for the brass. Did you see him leave?"

"Think so. Is he wrapped up in this?"

"Just wondering. Thanks. This will soon be over," he told her as he pulled away to go and meet Anthony. "Hopefully."

"Heard that."

Jamie hurried outside and then got into Anthony's car; slamming the door a few seconds before the District Attorney's investigator pulled away.

"Find our guy?"

"Yeah this face," Jamie started as he pulled out a somewhat grainy photo from the security footage from beside the mask shop and showed Anthony. "Clark was able to run a facial recognition match and we got a name – Gustav Barnes."

"Nice guy," Anthony deadpanned as Jamie nodded in agreement. "Well that name happens to match the trace DNA the lab found on the mask we found at the first guy's place. Name…Gus Barnes. So he's our third man in that photograph. He's the one who has the other Wilder mask."

"So Wilder has Blueridge, our dead guy Keith Andersen and our missing guy Gus Barnes doing his dirty work. He has Gus take out Keith, plant evidence that would make us believe that Keith was the lookalike Danny saw and if you hadn't found the incriminating photograph…"

"Case closed and Gus walks away," Anthony deadpanned. "Did your computer wizard get an address?"

"He did. And hopefully this time we'll get there before Blueridge has taken him out. Our guy Gus was the first one Blueridge called after we talked; Gus didn't answer and now Blueridge is probably out looking either for him or to take him out before Gus takes out Blueridge."

"And we better find Gus before he takes out Blueridge so that we'll have a witness to turn on Wilder after all this," Anthony stated seriously.

"If he lives that long," Jamie uttered fatefully.

XXXXXXXX

"I'll leave here first so that no one sees and then you can leave when you're ready. Do you need anything from me right now?"

"I uh…no," Danny resigned in truth. "I have my clothes and the food here's…ah it's crap but it's one more day. Haven't felt like eating much since I've been here."

"Understandable, but you should get something to eat and hopefully tonight you'll be able to sleep knowing it's your choice and no one is keeping you here against your will."

"I'll call Linda and tell her what's up. One more day."

Frank stood up and gave his son one more hug before he pulled the door open and then peered into the hallway. When he finds it empty, he turned back to his son and nodded. "Come and see me when you're out."

"I will," Danny promised as he gave his father a nod and then watched him head for the back door where his NYPD escort was waiting and then both disappear from view. He leaned against the wall and rubbed his face, keeping his eyes closed for a few seconds before he pulled his phone and dialed his wife.

"Thank God you're okay," Linda offered in truth; Danny hearing the relief in her voice through the phone. "I'm glad you're staying for one more session."

"Yeah…seems everyone is," Danny huffed as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Will you admit to me that it's helped you even a little?"

"Well I told dad so might as well tell my wife," Danny countered in sarcasm as Linda lightly laughed. "Yeah…it helped, a little. Didn't think it would. Part of me didn't want it to work so I could say I told you so to someone…anyone, but now…now it just feels good to lose some of that inner tightness. How are the boys?"

"They're good. Missing you. Worried. I'll tell them one more night and they'll see you again. Glad you called. Miss you so much."

"Miss you too," Danny told her in truth as a warm feeling started to make him feel comforted inside. "Okay I gotta go. Gonna call Jamie and then see Dr. Wonderful."

"I'm gonna send that Dr. Wonderful a thank you card."

"Nice try," Danny deadpanned as Linda laughed once more. "I'll see you soon. Love you."

"Love you too."

Danny hung up with his wife and then slowly headed back toward the kitchen, his original mission where he wanted to get something to eat. He was just about to dial his brother when he paused in front of the picture of Wilson Wilder. "Bastard," Danny whispered as he heard some shuffling and looked up to see the familiar janitor at the end of the hallway. Danny nodded to the older man and then headed into the kitchen.

"Hey…any leftovers?"

"Please take a seat," one of the kitchen staff pointed to a small corner table. "I'll bring you a plate."

"'kay thanks," Danny replied as he called his brother. "Hey…any updates?"

"Hey. Yeah Anthony and I found the name and address of the third man – the lookalike we believe."

"The unnamed guy from the pictures you sent?"

"Yeah him. Gustav 'Gus' Barnes. Blueridge is also running scared. I went a bit Danny Reagan on his ass and he didn't like that," Jamie lightly snickered.

"Wish I could have seen that," Danny offered proudly.

"Well after I left, he got on the phone to Gus. Sounded pretty pissed off, especially when Gus didn't answer. Anthony and I will be at his place shortly. Hope he's there or we at least find the second missing mask. Something to tie him to Wilder."

"Wilder still throwing a hissy fit?"

"Far as I know but I haven't been down there in a several hours and neither has Eddie. I'll check on him when I get back. You okay?"

"Yeah fine. Let me know what you find."

Danny hung up with Jamie just as the female kitchen staff member brought him a plate of food and set it on the table. He offered her a simple thank you and then started to eat the modest offering. It wasn't near as good as homemade but it was better than regular food and since he hadn't felt like eating much in the past few days, it might as well have been labelled gourmet.

Staying here…willingly…one more day…one more session…his mind swirled around as he headed back toward the elevator and then waited for the steel box to carry him up one floor. He neared the wooden office door and gave it a somewhat hesitant knock. "Hey Doc…"

"Come in Danny," Dr. Michael Day greeted with a friendly smile as he gestured for Danny to enter.

"Take it you're aware I'm staying?"

"I do now," Michael replied as he studied Danny's taut jaw. "Are you okay with it?"

"I don't want to be."

"Ah, tough guy til the end huh."

"Yeah yeah…" Danny slightly nodded as his arms folded across his chest. "Wanted to believe you didn't really want to help."

"And you believe me now?"

"My father is kinda persuasive," Danny smirked as Michael had to nod in agreement. "But…I did feel better after that last session."

"I'm glad to hear that. You look…rested."

"So I keep hearing. Told you so?"

"Nah…not really my style," Michael shrugged. "I'd be saying it all the time."

"Course," Danny couldn't help but chuckle.

"Nice to see a smile Danny. Don't think I've seen you smile since you arrived," Michael offered in truth. "Why not get some rest. We don't have to have another session today. If you want, we can have it first thing in the morning and then…if you want to go home you can."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Okay. Think…that's a plan."

"And then I hope you'll come back when you feel…agitated or…just need a neutral ear to let it all out," Michael suggested. "Or if you box…go one on one."

"Box?"

"Kick box," Michael countered as Danny's lips pursed. "But hope you come to believe on your own that I wanted to help you; without the Commissioners persuasion."

Danny merely nodded before he turned and left the doctor's office and then slowly wandered down the hallway, his heart rate slightly elevated but his mind in control enough to know he wasn't drugged or having a panic attack. And that was also something Dr. Day knew – if he let Danny feel like he was in control from now on, his inner agitation would start to ease and his strength would fully return.

By using the word 'you' as much as possible and making Danny feel like he was the one agreeing to the plan and making up his mind when he wanted to, Michael hoped that the rest of his day would be just as positive and he'd be well on his way to a full recovery.

However, fate was about to throw them all a vicious curveball.

Danny reentered the common area and spied Baez still at the same table working on a new puzzle. "Bored yet?"

"Just saw one of the patients eat a puzzle piece," Baez deadpanned in sarcasm. "That's better than any reality shows I watch," she concluded dryly. "Where were you? That was a long lunch."

"Yeah they made it special. Talked to Jamie. They found the third man; some clown name Gus. On their way to his house right. Blueridge is running scared and Wilder is still throwing a tantrum."

"Hope I get to see the next one," Danny stated firmly. "Can't wait to see him and tell him he's lost. Everything."

"Well let's hope Jamie finds something and all this ends. Today."

XXXXXXXX

"GUSTAV BARNES! NYPD! OPEN UP!" Anthony's voice is heard as his thick fist pounded on the door to the small home. "NYPD!"

"No one's home," Jamie shrugged as Anthony kicked the door open and both of them entered the quiet abode. "Gus? Anyone home?"

"Don't tell me we're too late again."

"Hope not," Jamie stated as he shoved his gun back into his holster and then started to look around. "But…I don't think he was expecting us to find his home…yet. So we…might be earlly," he muttered as he neared a small table and then picked up a picture of Gus and Wilder. "Look at this."

"Bastards," Anthony cursed as he moved a few pictures and then found one of Gus and Blueridge. "Can't claim they don't know each other."

"Alright. Maybe he left the mask here. Let's bag whatever we can. Starting with the laptop. Maybe there will be some transaction details in there that'll nail Wilder's coffin shut for good."

Anthony pulled a large evidence bag and then pulled his phone and called Erin as Jamie looked up. "Think I could keep it from her for very long?" Anthony sighed as Jamie smirked. "'sides…don't think she'll mind getting us a warrant for this."

As Anthony asked Erin for the warrant for Gus's home, Jamie headed into the heart of the home in search for something more that would incriminate Thomas Wilder and emotionally free his brother once and for all.

XXXXXXXX

"Baker?" Frank answered his phone as the black SUV neared the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel. "We're going into the tunnel. Heading to a meeting with the mayor. What's going on?"

"…oved…omas…ilder…pstate…"

"Baker, I can't hear you. Who's been moved?"

"…omas…ilder…"

"Bad connection," Frank groaned as he looked at the bars on his phone slide down to almost nothing. "I'll call you on the other side."

Frank hung up and stared into the darkened landscape that now surrounded the black SUV as his brain tried to process what his assistant told him. Who was being moved? Almost sounded like Thomas Wilder but that wouldn't be possible as he told himself that the NYPD psychiatrist would have consulted with him first.

But as he scrolled through his phone he looked at one missed call from the office in question; the call being made just as he started to talk to Dr. Day and then his son. No message. So after Baker he told himself he'd call they NYPD's medical office to get the latest on Thomas Wilder.

XXXXXXXX

"Oh…my…G…Anthony!" Jamie called out as he hurried into the main room just as Anthony's face appeared in the doorway.

"What did you find? The other mask?"

"I think I found out where the guy and the mask are," Jamie huffed as he held up a familiar looking badge.

"Son of a…bitch," Anthony cursed as he looked at the badge that belonged to the Wellness center where Danny was being treated. "He's going after Danny."

"How the hell did he know…" Jamie started and then stopped as he called his partner. "Eddie…is Blueridge back?"

"Not sure but Danny will be happy to know Thomas Wilder is gone."

"What? Where did Wilder go?" Jamie asked in shock as he turned and looked at Anthony with a wide-eyed look of horror.

"Some wellness center where his doctor is."

"WHAT?" Jamie practically shouted as he hung up and dialed his brother's number as his partner frantically asked what was going on. "Pick up Danny…PICK UP!"

"They're both there?" Anthony asked as the color drained from Jamie's face.

XXXXXXXX

Danny had left his phone on the small table beside his bed as he headed for his small bathroom, wanting to have a hot shower to help his body fully relax before he lay down to get what he hoped would be the first night of at least eight hours of solid rest.

He dried his warm body, put on a pair of black sweatpants and a fresh white tee-shirt and reentered his small room. Danny turned his phone to vibrate and then slumped down onto the small bed. Tonight it didn't seem so horrible or uncomfortable and he told himself that it wasn't just the fact he finally had something to eat but also the fact that he wasn't a prisoner – he was free to go whenever he wanted.

One more session…his mind pondered as he pulled the small blanket over his weary frame and then reached for the light. Parker had wrapped up his part of the case and Baez would also be leaving in the morning, a few hours before him so it wouldn't all seem so suspicious.

Tonight he told himself that he would just rest. He had talked to his father, his brother and his beloved wife. Wilder was still behind bars and Jamie was closing in on his henchmen. Not long now you bastard…Danny's mind inwardly delighted. Or so he thought.

He turned off the light and then rolled onto his side. Danny finally drifted into the darkness when he heard his phone buzz and reached for it. "Ah damn," he cursed as he accidentally knocked it to the floor. But in the darkness he didn't see the room start to spin as his fingers reached for the phone. Since he left Dr. Day's office in trust, he had no reason to think the glass of water on the side table in his room when he returned had any other substance in it but H2O; he'd be wrong.

"Damn…headache," he cursed as he reached for the light and pulled it on; his eyes instantly squeezing shut as he finally noticed the room slightly spin. "What…the…" he groaned as he tried to sit up; his body instantly rebelling. But just before he attempted to push himself to a seated position, he heard shuffling at the doorway and turned to see who was there.

His eyes instantly widened in horror and his heart rate started to explode with horror.

"Not…possible…" his lips managed as he stared in horror at the smug expression of Thomas Wilder – or who he thought was Thomas Wilder.

"Hello Danny boy. Welcome back to my parlor." Is all Danny heard before he sank back into the darkness; a chorus of evil laughter left to hang in the air as another figure entered the room.

"Perfect."

A/N: uh oh…hopefully your nails have grown back! Haha eeks! So…Frank asked Danny. Danny agreed and made some progress but so has Jamie and so…has Wilder! Yikes! Is Danny dreaming? Who's he really seeing? Was it just another panic attack or is the final showdown about to loom and he's in real trouble? Please do review before you go and thanks so much!