A/N: After watching "Trapped" a couple of weeks ago I developed a serious crush on the new coroner, and so he ended up with a little cameo here. Enjoy!

He was young looking and definitely handsome, a roguish smile on his lips as he spoke. "What's a beautiful woman like you doing in a place like this?"

Maddie giggled in spite of herself. "I'm looking for Sheldon Hawkes," she replied, leaning against the reception counter at the morgue. "Is he here?"

"Sheldon? Really? You're not Sarah, are you?"

She shook her head. "Nope—just a friend, not the girlfriend."

He came around the counter, his smile widening. "Would this friend like to have dinner with me Friday night?"

Sheldon laughed, catching the proposal as he emerged from the restricted parts of the office. "You're not gonna get anywhere with her, Marty," he called.

"I think the lady can speak for herself," he replied, waiving a hand dismissively at Sheldon.

"She can," Maddie grinned, "but her fiancé may not like the dinner thing."

Sheldon laughed again as his colleague's face fell. "I told you."

"Well, now that she's shot me down, can you introduce us?"

Sheldon laughed again as he made the introductions. "Dr. Marty Pino, meet Maddie Parrish."

Marty took her hand and squeezed it affectionately, flashing his brilliant smile again.

"Soon to be Messer," Maddie added for fun.

He clasped her hand to his chest, a pained expression on his face. "Messer? What? No!"

"Yes," she laughed, taking her hand back. "But I have a sister you should meet. You two are perfect for each other." Marty arched his eyebrows, intrigued, but Maddie didn't elaborate. Instead she turned to Sheldon. "Ready?"

He nodded. "All set." He threw one last grin at Marty and followed Maddie out the door. "You sure you want to do this?" he asked her quietly.

They climbed into the car and she nodded. "Yeah. I haven't seen him since the trial, and I couldn't talk to him then. This is something I gotta do."

"And Danny's okay with you doing it?"

She nodded. "He understands, I think, but it's too hard for him to come with me." She reached over and squeezed his shoulder. "But I'm glad you could."

"My pleasure," he smiled.

They rode along for the majority of the trip making comfortable conversation, but as they approached Fishkill Correctional Facility, Maddie became quiet. They parked in the lot the gate guards had directed them to and headed into the building.

"You ever been here before?" Sheldon asked as they signed in.

Maddie nodded. "In the short time I've been in New York I've had four kids sent up here, and I come up to visit them once in a while."

"But today is different," he replied.

She nodded again. "Today is different."

He took her hand in both of his, trying to impart strength through his touch. "I'll wait for you out here."

"Okay."

She squeezed back and tried to smile before allowing a guard to lead her into the visiting room. She found a seat and waited for him to come out, twisting her engagement ring nervously.

Finally he appeared.

"Luis," she said softly as he sat down opposite her.

He was surprised to see her. "Miss Parrish…what are you doing here?"

Her eyes swept over him as she spoke, taking in his still-boyish face, his dark brown eyes, and the tattoo newly etched into his forearm. "I wanted to see you," she told him. "I needed to talk to you before the wedding."

"Wedding?"

"Detective Messer and I are getting married in a couple of months," she smiled. "And I needed to tell you something before we do."

His face fell, knowing what he was about to hear would not be pleasant.

"I want to forgive you, Luis," Maddie whispered. She looked down at her hands, unable to make eye contact with the convict who had once been her student. "I…I'm trying to…and it's very hard…you almost killed Detective Messer, and I can't ever forget that…"

Her voice was becoming shaky, and tears formed in his eyes as he relived the fateful night in his mind. "I'm so sorry…" he returned hoarsely.

"I know you are," she nodded. "And I'm proud of you for taking responsibility for what you did. But I was angry with you, too, for the longest time…for hurting my family… I thought I had taught you better than that…"

A tear slid down his cheek. "You did," he assured her in a strong voice. "I made a mistake in that jewelry store—a big one—and I'm paying for it now. But," he lowered his voice and looked her squarely in the eye, "I swear to you Miss Parrish, I will never make a mistake like that again. I'm gonna try as hard as I can to be the man you always told me I could be."

Pride and affection mixed with the anger and hurt she had been feeling, and she smiled gently at him. "I always thought you were one of the special ones," she told him. "Now I know I was right."

They sat for a moment, just looking at each other, letting some of the tension bleed away before Luis spoke again. "Miss Parrish? I know…it won't…be easy…but… Do you think you might come visit me again sometime?"

"You're right, it won't be easy," she agreed. "But I'll make you a deal. As long as you stay on the straight and narrow, I'll come up and visit."

He smiled, his face taking on the pleased expression he used to have whenever he did well on an assignment. "You got it."

They talked for a few minutes more before a guard came out to lead Luis back to his cell. Maddie took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she rejoined Sheldon in the lobby.

"How'd it go?" he asked.

"He's growing up," she answered softly. "He's decided to make an honest man of himself." She paused and smiled wistfully. "Danny would be proud."

Danny paced the hallway in front of the courtroom, trying to reassure himself that he was doing the right thing as he waited his turn to testify.

"It's only the Grand Jury," he told himself.

A little voice in his head replied, But you're testifying in open court…then everyone will know…there's no going back…

"I have to keep Maddie and Shayla safe," he returned out loud.

"Talkin' to yourself, eh?" a voice called.

Danny turned around to find Mac half-smiling at him.

"Just don't start answering yourself," the elder detective winked. Then he became more serious. "Waiting to testify?"

Danny nodded and rubbed his hands together. "Yeah. Gonna air all the family laundry on Court TV," he frowned.

"No," Mac told him, "you're not. No one will know who you are."

Danny wrinkled his forehead. "What?"

"I called in a favor," Mac explained. "No cameras, no reporters, not even a sketch artist will be allowed in the courtroom while you're on the stand, and you'll only be referred to as John Doe in the transcripts."

Danny shrugged. "Thanks, Mac, but I'll have to testify at the trial, too. Someone's gonna find out sooner or later who I am and what I was, and then…well, there goes my job…"

Mac shook his head again. "Nope. The media blackout will be in effect at the trial, too. You're a good CSI Danny, and a good cop. I'd hate to lose you, to see your career ruined by some small-minded higher-up who can't see what you're trying to do here. And I'd hate for Maddie or Shayla to come to any harm because you're trying to correct a past mistake."

Danny looked at his superior, confusion written all over his face. "But what if it does come out? What if," he glanced around the hallway and lowered his voice, "what if someone finds out what I was a part of? Every bad guy I ever helped put away is gonna say I falsified reports, that I planted evidence, that I was somehow responsible for their conviction because of who I was…and the judges are gonna believe them…"

Mac frowned. "I don't have all the answers, Danny. All I know is that you're trying to right a wrong, to protect your family. There's honor in that. So anything I can do to help, I'll do. If or when your past ties come up, we'll find a way to deal with it."

"You're sure about this." It was more of a question than a statement, but Danny want to be absolutely certain he had heard correctly.

This time Mac nodded. "I'm sure. You do what you have to do."

Danny lowered his eyes and shuffled his feet. "Thanks, Mac. I won't let you down."

The courtroom door opened up and a bailiff poked his head out into the hallway. "Detective Messer?"

Danny looked up. "Yeah?"

"You're up."

He threw a glance at Mac, half grateful, half determined, as he made his way into the courtroom. Mac met his eyes and nodded faintly, watching him go.

"I know you won't."

Later that day, Danny found himself in yet another courtroom, this time at the other end of the building in the Juvenile Court wing. He sat beside Maddie near the back of the small room, holding her hand and trying to send supportive thoughts to Shayla, who was seated in front of them with her social worker.

"We are here today to re-visit the issue of the parental rights of LaQuanda Green in regards to the minor child Shayla Green," the judge began, glancing over the case file in front of her.

The prosecutor quickly outlined his case against Shayla's natural mother, detailing the lack of care of her daughter, her inability to hold a steady job, and her recent conviction on drug charges. The defense attorney also recapped his previous argument in favor of his client, trying desperately to convince the judge that she should be allowed to keep custody of Shayla.

"Who is the representative from DCFS?" the judge asked.

The social worker stood and explained Shayla's current situation with Maddie and Danny, giving a glowing review of the first-time foster parents and of Shayla's progress since she'd been with them.

The judge nodded. "Okay, before I make my decision, is there anything you'd like to say for yourself Ms. Green?"

Shayla's mother stood, facing the judge in her prison-issued uniform and handcuffs. "Your honor," she began slowly, "I have made a lot of mistakes in my life, but gettin' pregnant with Shayla was probably the biggest one." She glanced back at the girl, who had become three shades paler at her mother's words, then returned her cold stare to the judge. "My attorney keeps tellin' you why I should get to keep her, but if she's found herself a nice new family, they can have her."

The social worker put her arm around Shayla, wiping the tears that began to fall from her eyes. Danny and Maddie both reached out and squeezed her shoulders, fighting back the anger and contempt they felt for her mother.

The judge, too, struggled to remain civil. "Very well, then. I hereby terminate the parental rights of LaQuanda Green. Shayla will remain in the custody of her foster parents, Daniel Messer and Madeline Parrish, at this time."

The bailiff escorted Shayla's mother from the courtroom, and both lawyers quickly packed their briefcases and left. The social worker helped Shayla to her feet, allowing Maddie and Danny to take her in their arms and offer what comfort they could.

"She doesn't want me," the girl cried, burying her face in Maddie's shoulder. "She doesn't want me…"

Neither adult knew what to say, so they remained quiet, holding her gently until a new fear invaded her thoughts.

Shayla pulled back suddenly, her eyes wide with panic. "You two still want me…don't you?"

"Of course we do," Maddie answered quickly.

Danny nodded, rubbing her back. "We wouldn't know what to do without you," he assured her.

"Really?"

"Absolutely," he confirmed. Glancing at Maddie, he shared a thought with her and continued, "In fact, I wanted to ask you if you would do something special for me at the wedding. Can I ask you now, or should I wait 'til later, when you're feelin' up to it."

Shayla sniffled, her brown eyes trained on Danny. "Now is okay."

Danny sat down on the bench and took her hand, glancing again at Maddie before shifting his gaze back to his foster daughter. "See, the groom normally escorts his family to the front row of the church, and dances with his mother at the reception and all that."

She sniffled again, wondering where he was going. "Yeah…"

"Well, I was kinda hopin' you would do the honors for me…"

Her eyes widened with disbelief. She knew enough about weddings to realize the significance of what Danny was asking her. "You want me…?"

He nodded, noting Maddie's glowing smile as she stood with her arm around Shayla. "Yeah. Will you do it? You are family."

She smiled shyly, looking down at her small teenaged hand clasped in his strong, protective one, knowing what it was like to have the love of a parent. "Okay," she told him softly. "For my family."