Title: The Devil You Know
Synopsis: Spoilers for 'Tanglewood'. To show Detective Mac Taylor that they mean business… the Tanglewood boys kidnap Danny Messer.
Pairing: Danny Messer/Mac Taylor (later), Sonny Sassone/Danny Messer (non-con)
Rating: NC-17 (for language, mentions of rape, and sex)
Author: Princess Tepes
Authors Notes: This is dedicated to Jilly and inspired by the song 'Numb' by Holly McNarland. This is not for people who like Stella… seriously.
III.
Mac waited with a frustrated sigh as AFIS ran all of the prints. He drummed his fingers on the tabletop impatiently, as the computer beeped negative after negative. He decided that this part was an exercise in futility—in fact, it was probably going slower because he was watching. His mother did always say that a watch pot never boiled. Aiden, Don, and Stella were out interviewing people in Danny's building, wondering if they had heard anything odd or out of the ordinary. Mac decided he was going to go look at the contents of the vacuum bags.
He sliced the first one open and dumped the contents on to his lab table. He knew right away it was going to be a bust. There was barely dust in the bags, but methodically, he split open every single one to see if there was anything, one shred of evidence that could get him a warrant. He sifted through the minimal dust for hours, back aching as he sat poised with his back hunched, going over each section of the dust with a magnifying glass.
He was irritated when Paula Davies came in and interrupted him. She looked a little happier than Jane had. He tried to ignore her for a few minutes, but she sat down across from him, waving a sheet of paper.
"I got a hit off of those prints Aiden lifted." She said. "Most of them came back compliance… most of them were Danny's prints. But the others…" She set the sheet down. "The others matched a guy named Joe Spengal; his known associates are the Tanglewood boys." She finished. She looked a little taken aback as Mac sprang out of his seat and ran off to find someone or something, leaving his evidence sitting unprocessed.
Danny hadn't touched the food that Joe had left on the floor for him and the collar around his neck itched like a thousand pinpricks were stabbing him around his neck. The collar was too tight to get his fingers underneath though and the itch was burning so bad it hurt. Tears were forming in his eyes as he fought to keep his control. He didn't want to show this weakness in front of the men that had taken him prisoner. He wasn't starving yet, so he ignored the food and closed his eyes, wondering if he could sleep. He had started to drift off, his body numbing itself to the pain when the door opened again. It was Sonny… he was alone this time though. He shut the door behind him and locked it.
"So…" He started his eyes glinting mischievously. He didn't speak anymore after that and Danny knew that Sonny was waiting for him to take the bait. But his throat burned with his unshed tears and so did his eyes. And suddenly, he felt weaker than he ever had and he just wanted to break down and cry… he just wanted to let it all out. But he wouldn't. He looked up at Sonny, eyes defiant, and he spit, hitting Sonny's shoes. That really pissed him off, or it must have, because he sharply slapped Danny across the face.
"You need to be taught a lesson, Messer." Sonny said roughly, moving behind Danny. In one fluid motion, he reached around and undid Danny's pants, slipping the cloth down his legs and to the floor. Because of the way Danny was, it effectively pinned him so he couldn't move at all. His mind screamed at Sonny, but he couldn't force the words out. He couldn't speak at all, which he supposed was an okay thing because if he could he would be begging Sonny not to do this… he would be begging Sonny not to violate him so. He would be showing a weakness. He heard Sonny undoing his own pants behind him and he felt a few tears slip out. He immediately tried to regain his control. However… he lost all of that when Sonny shoved in to him. White and yellow stars of pain exploded before his eyes and he cried out as it felt like he was being broken in two.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Stella?" Aiden almost screamed at her older and more experienced counter part. The younger CSI shook with barely checked rage. "Why would you do something like that? WHY?" She asked, tears threatening to spill as she feared for the life of her dear friend. Stella looked at her, eyes cold.
"Because, I don't think this should even be an investigation. You know how Danny can get… he'll be back in a few days, I'm sure." Stella explained in a calm voice. Mac had been walking by when he heard Aiden in mid-confrontation. He had slipped into the room and as soon as he heard Danny's name, his curiosity kicked in.
"What happened?" He asked, directing the question at Aiden. Aiden turned to look at Mac, tears evident in her eyes. Mac watched her for a second, her lower lip was quivering as she fought to control her tears and give Mac a straight answer. She took a deep breath in to steady herself.
"Well…" She started, shooting a dark look at Stella. "Judge Andreas, the man who was considering your warrant based on the finger prints I found, he called to tell me that our request for a warrant has been denied and I quote 'because Detective Bonasera informs me that he has connections with the man in question and it's very possible he was over there as company, and therefore it is probable cause and basis for the warrant to not be granted.'" Aiden said. Her voice got angrier with every word she said. Mac whirled on Stella.
"Is… is she telling the truth?" Mac asked, not showing any of his normal masked emotions. He was wearing his heart on his sleeve. Stella nodded showing an air of calmness she normally didn't exhibit. "Why?" He asked his voice a desperate and pleading whimper.
"I don't think there is anything to worry about. Danny is a big boy; he can take care of himself. But I think that his recent exposure as a Tanglewood boy upset him and he just went away for a couple of days to cool off and think everything through so that he could be prepared when he got questioned by you. I don't think anything bad has happened or anything like that. I think that you're just overreacting because of your insatiable urge to protect people." She explained calmly. "I think that if you just lay off for a couple of days he'll come back and everything would be fine. And, I've put that recommendation in with the sheriff and he agrees with me. Sorry guys… but for now… the case is no longer open." With that said, Stella turned and walked away… leaving Aiden and Mac hurt and angry.
Danny lay whimpering on the floor still when Sonny and the other boys came to check on him a few hours later. Sonny watched him and laughed a wicked laugh that Danny had believed only to be possible by cartoon villains and the bad guys in movies. Danny shivered from the cold and from his own terror.
"Look at him, boys." Sonny said, gesturing to him like he was some prize to be put on display. "He thinks he's so cool, thinks he was invulnerable with that badge attached to his hip. But look at him now. He's no better than the people we ice." Sonny said his voice cruel and mocking. Sonny walked over to Danny and kicked him in the ribs again, which caused Danny to gasp for breath and cough again. Danny fought tears again as the pain shot through him. "No better than a dog." Sonny said a smug smile gracing his face. He kicked Danny again for good measure. Danny tried to tell Sonny to stop but he couldn't, his mouth wouldn't co-operate with him. His body screamed with silent pain as Sonny kicked him over and over again. By the time Sonny had blown a significant amount of rage, Danny was coughing up blood again. Sonny and his two associates laughed and then left, this time flicking the lights out on him.
Inside, terror screamed. There were no windows and now no light. Everything was pitch darkness and he couldn't adjust, he couldn't see. He scratched at the floor, but his efforts were weak and pitiable. Aside from moving his arms, he could move barely anything else. His entire body shook as he once again, began to cry. Surely, this wasn't how he was supposed to die… afraid and alone. There were so many things he had wanted to do.
He wished he had told Mac about how he felt. Wished he had done and said so much. He just wished that he could have said goodbye. With all of his restraint gone now, the silent tears turned into wracking sobs and for the first time ever in his life… he wished he was dead.
End Chapter 3
