One Shot Chapter 2: The Birthday Pressent, a csi: new york fanfic

A/N: Chapter two has arrived, people! Don is back as Don Tuck and CSI:NY put around 8 MILE's context is just beginning. I actually want to make this fic fit into the movie. That's why I'm taking my time here. I don't want to just make a short-story, I want a real story. Maybe even a novelette. I dunno, I'll see what happens. In the mean time, enjoy this chapter . Reviews, BTW.

All rap verses used here are of original composition. Please do not take it without my approval, for if you take it, it's against my rights, and that's theft of intellectual property

Author: TanglewoodbabeViron (Viron Quintos)

Disclaimer: Things that I own: The story, the rap verses, and the whole fic.

Things that I DO NOT own: CSI:NY characters, 8 mile.

Chapter Two: The Birthday Present

Don watched as people started coming out of the venue.

Some were still cheering, as if coming out of a sports stadium. They were yelling about how "amazing" the show was.

Some were talking about Don's oh-so embarrassing walk out on stage. Those who walked by him whispered things to their companions and point at him. Then they'd laugh.

While waiting for his friends, Don sat out in the alley. Listening to Eminem's "Lose Yourself" over and over again, drowning out his frustrations. At the same time, it was his way of controlling his anger.

Once he saw Thumpy and the others approach him, he stood quickly, turning off his Discman.

"Let's go." He mumbled, not looking at them.

The others, taking the hint that Don obviously didn't want to talk about it, just got in Danny's beat up Ford Escort.

No one said a thing for about five minutes of the ride.

"Look, Don, I signed you up for the battle next week." Danny said, without looking at Don from behind the wheels.

Don, who was slouched all the way down and was looking out the window, looked sideways and gave Danny the death glare. "You did not just fu-",

But Hawkes cut him off, "You can't just give up on your dream like that, man."

Don sighed in frustration and went on looking out the window, but Hawkes chose to continue. "The first time I heard you rap was when you were 17, and you were good. That was in senior year. Sure, people made fun of you, they were all like 'What's a white boy doing rapping?', but you didn't let that get to you."

At this, Don stopped looking out the window, and Hawkes went on, "You took every bullet thrown at you like a man, and you threw back those bullets, with special ammunition." Don smiled at the comment. But, he didn't comment about being signed up for the battle.

Chad, getting into the moment, leaned forward from the backseat and said, "You can't just give up now, Flack."

"Look, if it'll make you better," Danny said, "There's a 12 grand waiting for anyone who'll win the battle next week. I mean, you and your mom could really use that."

Don started sitting up straight, considering this.

"Look, man, I can't"

Danny groaned in frustration. So did Chad & Hawkes.

"Not after what happened tonight." Don added.

"Well, your raps just need a little work, that's all." Chad advised.

After that, the rest of the ride was quite, except for the music from the radio and the sounds of New York City at night.

Then it was only Danny and Don who were left in the car.

Danny, still not giving up on convincing Don, said: "Just give it a try, okay, man?

But Don decided to drop it for a while. "Ever felt like you're leaving WAY down here, and you really think it's about time start living up here. You know, just stop the waiting?" Don looked at Danny, "That's how I want my life to be."

"And maybe part of it is not giving up dreams. No matter what." Danny said seriously.

Don sighed at this. He opened the door,

"See ya."

And Danny drove off.

When Don reached their apartment, he saw an orange eviction notice. He tore it off and went in, full of rage.

And only to find his mother lying drunk on the couch,

"Ma!" Don shouted impatiently.

Nothing. She was passed out.

Out of irritation, he stuck the notice on his mother's forehead. Don grinned foolishly to himself. "That'll get your attention in the morning", he mumbled to himself as he walked to his room, undressing.

In the shower, Don was thinking over all the things that happened that night. The water tickled all over his body. It was too damn cold, considering their bastard landlord hogged all the warm water.

All in all, he didn't care.

"How could I just blow something like that?" He thought to himself.

He kept repeating that to himself. As he ended his shower, as he dressed, and as he lay awake in his bed.

Then he hear what sounded like his mother walking to his room. He got up and went down the apartment's hallway.

"Happy Birthday, Donnie!" His mother greeted him. At least she looked less drunk.

"My birthday was last week." Don answered, a-matter-of-factly.

"Well, I just thought I'd give you a belated birthday present." She raised a key, and tossed it to Don, who catched it.

"The key to that beat up car you have?" Don scowled, "That car sucks."

His mom raised a chin at him, "Take it. Use it to get to work."

Don raised his eyebrow at her, "This is New York City. I could just take the subway."

His mother had a hurt look in her face, "But I'll take it." He smiled forcefully. "I'll use it for WORK." He added, emphasizing on the word 'work'.

Mrs. Flack turned around and gave him a cold stare. "As if your job would be enough to pay our rent and stop the eviction notices from coming." She raised the notice to make him see. "Do you really think that you're doing everything to help this family?" She gave him a disgusted look. "I don't think so."

"Mommy? What's going on?" Don's sister, Hallie, asked in a sleepy voice.

Don picked her up, and brought her back to sleep. "I'm sorry, sweetie. Did we wake you up?"

"You and mom were fighting again, weren't you?" She asked him.

Don didn't answer. He laid her down on her bed, and sung to her.

"And then comes the time you go to bed, to cast away all the problems in your head. Kiss you…" he kissed her in the head "and then go…" she stuck out his tongue at her and making a funny noise. She giggled, "You're funny, Donnie!" He smiled down at her, "Alright, get to sleep. Tomorrow's the big day. The first day of school."

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Don woke up early the next day. He made sure his mother was still fast asleep.

He went to kiss his little sister goodbye, and went out to try, for the first time, his "new" car.

He got in, put on his seat belt, and turned on the ignition to start the car.

Thing was, the car won't even start.

He tried again.

Nothing.

"Damn it!" He cursed as he put his hands angrily on the steering wheel.

He had no choice but to take the train.

While in it, he was listening to some good old rap.

What he had on was a classic Tupac Shakur. Ah, 2 OF AMERIKAZ MOST WANTED.

He took out a pencil and a notepad from his pocket, and started jotting down the places that may be useful for his rhymes.

"Up in the Bronx is where it all went down/Graffiti works to express one's self/We rappers make our life without any of y'all's help."

Don sighed as he stood in front of where he worked.

"Here goes another 9-5." He whispered to himself.

Francis Burn, Aiden's brother, just passed by him, and said: "Oh look, it's rap shit!" he laughed at himself, but Don just ignored him.

Shit. He still can't believe that Aiden's related to that big dope.

At the end of the day, he was so relieved to finally get out and pick up his sister from school.

His boss, Mac Taylor, however, wanted to see him in his office.

Don knows he owes this guy 950 Dollars, and it's been 3 weeks since he last promised he'll pay his debt.

"Where the hell is my money, Flack!" Mac demanded as Don entered his dingy office.

"Look, Mac, I haven't been able to come up with the money. I haven't been able to pay my rent yet. Just give a week or so." Don pleaded.

"You expect me to believe THAT?"

Then Don thought, "How WILL I pay him, in weeks time, his 950 dollars?"

Then Mac said to him sympathetically: "I'll give you till next week. Or else you're off this job."

Without event thinking, Don said, "Look, I'll get in the rap battle next week. Champion wins 12 grand, and I can pay you my debt. If I win."

Mac, however, just smirked at him.

"IF you win. As far as I'm concerned, you're one hell of a rapper that sucks. Actually, so I've heard. Rumor has it you were scared the shit out of a rap battle last night."

Don winced at this, noticing this, Mac prodded, "Well, you just make sure you win. Now, get out!" Mac jerked his head to the door.

Don looked defeated. "Alright."

Walking along, Don just realized what he'd done.

He just told Mac that he's joining a rap battle he just thought about NOT joining.

Now, it was like Mac was expecting him to win.

"Oh, shit! What the hell have I just done?" Don thought.

Don kept on moaning till he reached got on a subway. There he saw a couple of teenage boys who were doing a freestyle. He got up and asked them, "Mind if I join you?"

The two kids gave him a long look, but shrugged. "No prob," One of them said.

"Aight. Give me some beats."

One of them started to do a beat box, and Don spat his verse:

"I can't see why I can't do a decent rap

Being skeptical about my friends, who keep on making my life a crap

I can't get a girl I just met

I guess I'm just too bad when it comes to the deed in bed

I'm white, that succumbs me back

No one gave a damn about my rap

My mother still thinks she's got what it takes to raise my sister

Hey, ma, let's see who between us wittier

I work a job that doesn't pay up

I've been down as a rapper coz they think being a white rapper is fucked up

I'm not here to rap about guns and sex

I'm just here to tell you what goes on in my head

Just give me another shot

And don't ever dare to tell me that I can not

I've got the skills/ That can kill

Don Tuck, I'm done

I think I've said enough about what I'm really about. "

Both kids looked at him, bewildered.

"Whoa, you could rap, hommie." The guy who did the beat box said.

Don grinned. "Thanks."

And he went back to where he sat, still grinning.

But something about rapping with these two teenage kids made him think.

"If I could rap in front of a couple of kids, why can't I rap in front of the people who I want to listen to me. The ones I want to give a damn about me and my rap. Those people that HAD to hear me out."

But one question still stuck to his brain.

WAS he gonna do it?

He continued jotting down more raps, still thinking this whole rap battle thing over.

And remembering words from LOSE YOURSELF.

"You better lose yourself in the music

The moment

You own it

YOU BETTER NEVER LET IT GO

YOU ONLY GET ONE SHOT

DO NOT MISS YOUR CHANCE TO BLOW

This opportunity comes once in a lifetime."

He then remembered that feeling about his friends.

He was becoming skeptical with who he hangs out with.

It was like , Danny's always at his throat, nagging about the rap battle. He's becoming too patronizing

He just wanted to show these people what his level of skill is like.

But he just can't do it.

It's about time he took matters in his own hands.

And with his ma, it's time to make his own footsteps, not following hers, to get out from "waiting" down here in Bronx.

Thinking about how he wants so bad to help his sister have a good future.

But he just does his best to do what's best.

But sure he has to get out there, and show these people that he could it.

That even if he doesn't LOOK like a rapper, but he could ACT like a rapper. And that he could BE a rapper.

It's all in his credibility.

He's starting to get sick of food stamps, hand me downs, and being poor. He was getting sick of the so-called "lifestyle" he has.

And one thing he doesn't want is pity from people.

Again, with his friends, he feels like they're pulling him in each one of his limbs.

And an unsure confidence was building in his gut. He should be as free as a bird.

It's about time who stood up for himself…. And maybe rap could help him.

Though, he still feels like quitting the mic. Stage fright pisses the shit out of him here.

Like his manhood is being stripped.

He'll make a plan to succeed.

"It's hard enough to deal with real life." Don thought.

"I just can't do it." Another part of him thought.

And he walks on, the weight of the world in his shoulder.

Man, it felt to him like he had to regain his dignity in rap.

"Why am I even running from something I want so bad?" Another voice in him bothered him again. Though, it WAS true.

"Next week, I'll get my second to blow.

I may not like where I'm going, but I need it."

"Maybe I just need a new outlet. I'm starting to doubt this shit.

Or maybe I'm just another crap in the rap bucket."

God, many thoughts were bothering him.

And it's like they're just starting.

"It's time for me to U-Turn. Man, I've got the urge."

Yep, thoughts were piling up.

"That's it! I'll do it."

"As long as Thumpy won't strangle me more. He's starting to pressure me."

And at that thought, the more he became doubtful with himself.

Come to think of it, Thumpy's probably the reason he's so messed up with this battle.

If only Thumpy could stop breathing down his neck when it came to this rap battle.

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A/N: Okay, that was end of Chapter Two.

I'm still thinking over the movie. Just to get ideas.

As always, I'm open to reviews.

I appreciate all those who took the time to read this fic.

Chapter Three will come soon enough. I'm actually starting to write it, but, I'm still thinking of a good event to that.

Again, Thank You for reading this.

Chapter Three Hints:

- Love begins

- More angst between Don and Danny.