Disclaimer: I know I already said it, but I don't own CSI New York. Anyone who says otherwise is a lying sack of crap. Thank you and goodnight.

Ch. 2

A month and a half later

Calvin Messer was a connoisseur of the art of false appearances. Any more bodily relaxed and he would be melting into the pine green bench. He had his right arm stretched along the top, tapping out a soundless tune against the wood with the tips of his black-gloved fingers. His other hand was resting loosely on the ornate black handrail.

His posture was the antithesis of what he was actually feeling, but that was the point.

With the skies overcast into a solid ice-gray mass and the air uncomfortably biting, the day was perfect for what Cal intended.

Thank-goodness for extreme weather patterns.

The paths and sidewalks winding through Central Park were empty and had been for the past five minutes. That didn't stop him from glancing around out of instinctual caution, though for the most part he felt relatively safe.

Maybe he was pushing it, being paranoid, he couldn't be sure. Danny wasn't going to like this, but Calvin was doing it for Danny. Danny didn't just have the right to know, he needed to know.

Don't be too sure, Messer, don't be too sure. He goes for watchin' out for the other guy, remember?

Calvin wasn't sure of anything, not since Danny became the victim of a hit and run.

He's a freakin' cop! He's not supposed to be the victim of anything! Of course how many times had Calvin thought that, with kid instead of cop, before Danny went into that occupation. It had been an ironic path to take, but Calvin had never complained. In fact, Calvin had made the constant remark to his wife (rest her soul) that he was probably the only father in the world proud that his son hadn't followed in his footsteps.

It didn't mean Danny was off the hook. Becoming a cop – even if he was just a crime scene investigator – had caused him to be ostracized by most of Calvin's side of the family.

Calvin preferred it over Danny being black-marked. At least ostracized he would pretty much be left alone.

Still didn't get him off the hook. He was still Calvin's kid, and in light of recent events that wasn't a good thing to be.

Calvin took another look up the empty sidewalk that the bench flanked. A single figure in a tan coat strolled out of the small copse of trees surrounding the sidewalk, and Calvin straightened.

Doesn't look too bad. But he knew that was just false reassurance talking. True, Danny didn't look half as bad as he had been for the past month and a half, but to a father it was either one hundred percent or nothing. Danny's arm was cradled uselessly in a blue sling, his shoulders were hunched, and his face still retained some of that unnerving ghostly pallor. But what really made Calvin's heart sink was how thinner his son looked. It wasn't like Danny was emaciated or unhealthy in appearance. Neither was he weaker. The weight loss was more of a reminder of the hell Danny had to endure while recovering. First there had been the pain, then the sickness which produced more pain and a longer stay at the hospital. And every time one infection-born illness was surpassed, another one would slink in to take over.

Saying it hadn't been pretty was an understatement. Just watching it happen had been a nightmare in itself.

Forever cursed to watch my own kid suffer, Calvin thought caustically.

The worst part was that Calvin probably could have done something about it. Danny would disagree at first, only because he didn't know the current situation. But if Calvin was right in his assumptions, and what happened to Danny was related to the here and now, there might have been a way to stop it. Granted, Calvin had been ignorant to the situation then, but still...

Danny was staring at the sidewalk, but looked up when he neared the bench. The expression on Danny's face made Calvin involuntarily smile. It was pure Danny mingled with slight irritation to create the unspoken statement of 'you sure as hell better not be feeling sorry for me!' Calvin knew good and well that the look wasn't being directed at him personally. If anything it was more the product of being sore, tired, and sick of it.

Danny didn't need pity, didn't want pity, and the wise course would be not to express pity.

Too bad. Danny was his kid, and if Calvin wanted to show concern then no look Danny gave him would stop that. There was a lot to be concerned about. Danny needed to realize that.

Danny approached Calvin and stopped in front of him. The kid really did look tired with those shadows under his eyes - and irritable because of it. Danny just stared at his dad. His eyes flicked up and down, scrutinizing, assessing Calvin's motives at a glance. Danny wasn't stupid or naïve. There was only one reason Calvin would want to talk to him in an empty park instead of over the phone or at either of their homes. Not enough ears to overhear in a park.

" What's up, pop?" Danny asked, his tone casual but his gaze boring invisible holes into the older Messer.

Calvin looked down at his lap, sighing and shaking his head. There was no time to mince words.

" Sit down, Danny," Calvin said. " This might take a while."

Danny sat without taking his pinning gaze from his father. " This really necessary, meeting out here? I thought we never had to worry about doin' stuff like this?"

Calvin lifted his head to look at his son. Just as Calvin had suspected, meeting in the park was making Danny nervous. The question the kid had asked was a rhetorical one. Asked just for the asking, to start things off.

" It's just a precaution, Danny. Nothin' you'll get in trouble over. It's just..." Calvin lifted his hand, dropped it, then shook his head. His heart started beating a little faster. " I don't know how much I should tell you Danny. But I need to tell you."

Danny visibly tensed. " Tell me what? What now?"

Calvin flinched inwardly at the words, but Danny had every right to say them. This was Calvin's fault after all. If he had just said no...

Calvin took a deep breath and let it out sharply.

Just get it out, now.

" I"m under a little heat, Danny."

" The Feds?" Danny asked.

Calvin sighed. " Yeah, Danny, the Feds, and then some. I've been backed into a corner, and there's not a lot of escape routes to choose from right now. Not ones that're good to take."

" What happened pop?" Danny pressed.

Calvin glanced away, just for a moment to gather his thoughts. " Four days ago Micky came to me with a tape."

" Uncle Mike?" Danny asked. Micky wasn't really Danny's uncle, but Calvin's cousin. When it came to the family 'business', Micky was in deep, so deep that it was never good news when he decided to drop by, and he always arrived without warning. Mostly because he 'needed' something. Mike insisted Danny call him uncle since Danny didn't know what else to call him. Calvin saw it as a means for Micky to bond with Danny, then take him under his wing. Calvin had made pretty damn sure that Danny was scarce when Micky dropped by.

Calvin nodded. " Yeah, the same. He gave me this tape, right? Told me to hold it for him. Said it was real important. I didn't watch the tape but then I didn't have to. I'm pretty sure I know what it's for, and I think you do to."

" Blackmail? This a blackmail deal?"

Calvin nodded again. " Yeah, probably. Anyway, the Feds come knockin' the next day. They must not have had enough proof, just here-say, that I had something. Now, like I said, I didn't watch the tape. But – Danny – I think it might have something to do with the Quinns."

For a moment, it seemed Danny had stopped breathing. " Quinns?"

Calvin looked away, staring straight ahead at the empty patch of grass on the other side of the sidewalk where dog-walkers would normally roam.

" They're going for them, Danny. The Feds. They want me to testify, hand over what Micky gave me."

" How do they know it involves the Quinns?" Danny asked hoarsely.

" Because the Quinns know. Someone in their circle found out about the tape. I still don't know what's on it, but they sure seem to, and I think it's got 'em spooked. They came to me the day after the Feds dropped by. They wanted the tape."

" Did they hurt you?"

Calvin looked back at Danny. The kid looked mad - ready to kill mad. Calvin shook his head and swallowed tightly.

" No, Danny. They didn't touch me. They know better than that. It's the Quinns, Danny. They're thinkers, they plan. They know the Feds are on 'em hard, pushing to put them away for good. I'm not talkin' the whole clan, just Mel, his kid Jack, and Jack's buddies. Their goin' for the heart, Danny, not the lackeys. The Quinns know – hell I think they've known forever - that the Feds want me to talk since I was the one who did the most business with them. I'm not the only one being made to come forward, but there's this tape..." Calvin trailed off. " I was already on everyone's radar. The tape just sunk me."

Danny narrowed his eyes. " What's going on, dad?" he asked flatly.

Calvin looked at Danny, meeting his eyes. " Here's the deal, Danny. If I don't talk, I go to jail. They got some stuff on me they're willing to use to put me away. It wouldn't be for long. But length isn't the problem... It's where they'll send me."

Danny's gaze darkened as though a shadow had passed over his eyes. " They wouldn't...?"

Calvin didn't reply, just continued to hold Danny's gaze.

" What the hell!" Danny snapped, rising abruptly from his seat. " They'd send you into the lion's den, with Falonze?"

Calvin nodded. Falonze was a dangerous man, even behind bars, with a lot of influence and a lot of people under his thumb. And the only reason why he was in prison was because a Messer had put him there. Not Calvin, of course, but connections were connections, and family was the biggest connection of them all. For Calvin to go where Falonze was penned up was a practical death penalty.

" They can't do that!" Danny barked. " They can't send you away, to your death, just because of some stupid tape! That's blackmail, extortion. That's freakin' illegal!"

Calvin raised both his hands to calm his son. " They got the means, Danny. They've always had it, they just never needed to use it. It's my own fault, really."

Danny, panting and fidgeting as he always did when in a rage, began pacing. " So give them the freakin' tape, and a testimony." He then stopped and looked at Calvin. " Except for the Quinns, am I right? They threaten you, is that it?"

Calvin, once again, had to look away. The more he told, the harder it became to keep going.

Haven't even gotten to the good part yet, he bitterly thought. " Danny, do you really think I'd be worried about my own skin if I testified? I talk, the Quinns get put away, and I'm a safe man. They mess with me before I talk, then Micky, Fred, and Miles'll mark 'em, and you know what I mean by that. You really think the Quinns don't know all this?"

Danny didn't reply. Calvin looked up at him, and saw his stunned look of realization.

Calvin inclined his head in a single nod. " That's right, kid. Why threaten me when they got you?" Calvin clenched his fists, taking in a shuddering breath. The hardest part of all of this was finally out, and it was still only getting harder. " I come forward... and you die, before I even get the chance to talk."

Danny went stiff as a statue, and his already pale face drained of color. There was nothing to be said, or could be said. Again, Calvin had to look away, not because of the look on Danny's face, but so Danny didn't have to see Calvin's face; the terror, despair, and sickness Calvin was feeling and had been feeling since the threat had been made.

" The agent on the case offered witness protection," Calvin said matter-of-factly. He then let out a single, derisive laugh.

When it came to the Quinns, there was no protection. Calvin knew this well enough, and through him Danny knew this. It wasn't a proven fact, but it was known enough that whoever messed with the Quinns didn't survive, even with witness protection. Witness protection only bought time, and it was a short time at best. Rumor had it that the Quinns had good connections thanks to their own deep pockets and reputation for being slightly sociopathic in their actions. The Feds had been hard on their case for years, and pounced on whatever evidence they could that would help put Mel Quinn and his son Jack away. Building the case had lasted for years, but apparently had hit its peak the past two months or the Feds wouldn't have started knocking on doors and forcing testimonies.

Calvin looked back to his son who looked ready to topple, and it scared him. Danny wasn't weak, but he was still recovering. He was still vulnerable whether he liked it or not. Calvin reached out and grabbed Danny's unbound wrist. " Come on, sit before you drop."

Danny unblinkingly complied, dropping back down on the bench. His white face was taking on a slightly green tint, a good indication that Danny was absorbing all this and sick because of it. Calvin understood all too well, since he felt ready to vomit himself.

" Do you think," Danny began, pausing to swallow, " that the – um – my accident, had anything to do...?"

Calvin shrugged. " I don't know. It happened way before I got the tape, but the Quinns are always up to speed. They probably knew the Feds were about to come down hard, knew who they would go to for testimonies, and decided to initiate early warnings before things even got under way. But that's just me talkin', Danny. It might've just been an accident, a drunk driver."

Danny shuddered. Calvin cleared his constricted throat.

There was still one more item to tell, one more bit of bad news that would send both their worlds crashing down around their ears. But there wasn't much of a choice in the matter except to just say it.

" Listen Danny..." Calvin's throat constricted again and he coughed to clear it. " There's nothin' to be done about any of it. I already made a decision, and I'm not backing down. The trial doesn't start for two weeks, but I already made up my mind. I'm not goin' on the stand."

Danny clenched his fist and squeezed his eyes shut. " Stupid move, dad, stupid move..." he breathed. Calvin draped his arm around his son's neck.

" I know, kid. But it's my move. They're not touchin' you."

" What about Ricky, why won't he help out, huh?"

" You know how Ricky feels about you. The rest of 'em too. I know since I already tried. They're willing to help me out, though. Get me a good lawyer, try to fight whatever charges the Feds bring up against me, or get me into another prison. I mean, it's no guarantee... But the guy they use, he's good Danny. Real good. It should be enough..."

" No, it's not," Danny growled.

" Come on, Danny. Think logically. These are the Quinns we're talkin' about. You know how they work. Hell, I bet half your unsolved cases were caused by them. Like I said, I might not even go to prison, or at least the prison Falonze is at. I didn't mean to scare you kid, I just wanted you to hear the facts, to be ready for what's gonna come. Because it will come whether you like it or not. I'm not gonna just stand in the wings and let them butcher you, I can't. You understand me? It ain't gonna happen!"

Danny ran his hand jerkily through his hair. " Gotta be another way." He shook his head. " There's always another way. I could ask my boss for help. I mean, he knows people..."

" Danny, do not bring anyone else into this. Do not tell anyone else about this. It's too dangerous. I shouldn't even have told you but you needed to be warned. I mean if the rumors about the Quinns are true..."

" You mean the torture," Danny snapped vehemently.

Calvin fell silent. Another trait of a supposed Quinn victim – mutilation, abuse, stuff that would make a serial killer jealous. Not only did Calvin's throat tighten, but his chest as well.

Sometimes the bad stuff began long before death was decided, mostly as a warning.

" Mr. Messer."

Calvin winced, then forced himself to look up and to the left. A man about Danny's years wearing a dark overcoat strolled casually up to the bench. The man had reddish-blond hair – slightly stringy – and a round face with blue eyes hidden behind round sun-glasses. Calvin straightened, removing his arm from Danny's shoulder since public displays of affection always made Danny uncomfortable. Danny looked up at the new-comer with unconfined irritation.

" Agent Stevenson," Calvin greeted flatly. Stevenson stopped in front of the bench, looking from Calvin to Danny.

" This your son?" he asked, jerking his head at Danny. He then held out his hand. " Agent Stevenson."

Danny took it in a brief shake, looking none too pleased about it. " Detective Danny Messer," he replied.

Stevenson cocked an eyebrow. " Detective?"

Calvin glared at him. Stevenson already knew Danny was a detective. Stevenson knew a lot. It was his job to, after all. He was just screwing with Calvin. The man was a cold-hearted SOB that way, the kind of guy that liked to wave the power his authority held in everyone's face. Strangely enough, he was actually being polite today.

" So," Stevenson went on. " What brings you two out here on a cold day like this, huh?"

Calvin stretched his arm back across the seat in another show of being totally at ease. " I could ask you the same thing, agent Stevenson."

Stevenson shrugged. " Just checking up on you. You know, what with the trial being two weeks away, don't want anything to happen to one of our witnesses."

Calvin narrowed his eyes dangerously. " You know, it'd be nice if you showed the same kind of concern for my son here. I mean I did tell you about the threat made against his life and all."

" I offered witness protection."

" That ain't enough," Calvin growled. " You know the Quinns just as much as I do. You know what they can do."

Again, Stevenson's head moved from Calvin to Danny. He pointed at Danny's arm resting in the sling. " What happened, if you don't mind my asking?"

" Car accident," Danny said, and that was all he said on the matter. Stevenson just nodded. He knew good and well about Danny's accident. It had been the topic he had started off with when he first visited Calvin.

Stevenson looked back at Calvin. " You know, you probably shouldn't have talked to your son. I mean, he is a detective. Might not be good for his career if he became involved."

Calvin gripped the armrest of the bench until it bit into his palm. " Didn't give me much of a choice here, Stevenson. I told you no dice, and you wouldn't back off. I'm just giving my boy, here, the heads up in case he needs to defend himself. You know, from the Quinns, or your boys? I mean his life is on the line just as much as mine. Don't you think he has the right to know?"

Stevenson grinned, and it made anger prickle heatedly along Calvin's skin. It was the kind of smirk he wanted to desperately wipe from the man's face.

" Maybe you're right," Stevenson said, then continued on up the sidewalk to vanish around the turn into the trees. Calvin did not take his eyes from the agent until he had gone. He moved his arm to drape across Danny's shoulders, and felt his kid shaking.

" It'll be all right, Danny. I swear," he said, glancing around nervously. If Stevenson had been hanging around, it was only logical to guess that they still might not be alone. He then looked back at Danny, who was shaking his head, tensing his jaw tight so that the muscles twitched.

" Like hell it is."

CSINY

A/N: Mwhahahahahah! The evil never ends! For those of you who would have liked to have seen Danny's suffering during his recovery... too bad. I didn't want to go that route. I have something much better in mind. Something far more... um... twisted, in store. However, do not think this a full-on Danny thrashing story. That's not what I had totally in mind. Danny will be doing some mighty fine butt-kicking of his own. I'm in a fightin' mood, dang-it! Danny needs to kick butt. I just know he would be awesome at it. Gr!

Oh, also, this is not an FBI bashing tale. Stevenson is the creep and only Stevenson. I just want everyone to keep that in mind. As for what the Messer family 'business' is, that's one of the items I'm being vague on. Probably isn't too bad or Calvin would have been arrested long ago. I don't know, just use your imagination. What the Quinns are into will be revealed later.

Falonze is spelled the way I want it. Correct me and I'll sic Danny on you:)