The Past Always Comes Back by Nehebka

Corrected by Katknits00

Chapter 11

"What do you have?" asked Stella as she walked into the lab where Mac apparently deep in thought was processing the wood found in Central Park. He dusted for prints and found one. He ran the print through AFIS and got a hit: Danny.

'Danny took this wood to defend himself, but from who.' He thought as he took a blood sample.

"Hey" said as he noticed her appearance. He didn't say anything else, he couldn't stop thinking that the was something it didn't make sense.

"A penny for your thoughts." said Stella.

"Well I've been thinking why Danny would lie to us when we asked him if he saw who attacked him.

"And?" She asked curiously.

"I believe that Danny took this wood as a weapon to defend himself from the attacker. The blood that I found on it belongs to Jack Fosco"

"What else?" asked Stella intrigued. She knew there was more.

"Jack Fosco is linked to Tanglewood." replied Mac. "It's pretty clear that he knew at least one of them. They lived in the same neighborhood… I think Danny didn't tell us anything not because he was scared but as a way to protect him"

"Protect him?" asked Stella with an incredulous look on her face. "Why would he do such a thing?"

"Let's try to see the events from Danny's point of view. Jack Fosco and him grew up together. I found out that they already met when they were young; they played on the same baseball team. The friends you have when you're a kid last forever. Bonds remain strong even when you don't see him for a long time. Who can tell what Danny thought when he saw Fosco as a hired killer of Sonny?"

OoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooO

Danny looked at his hand, he could see where the IV line had been. He was in pain and felt dizzy but he couldn't just go back to the hospital. There was something he kept thinking over and over again. Although he lied to Mac, he knew he'd find out who attacked him. He should do something. He couldn't let Jack get arrested. Through Jack's life, he could see what his life could have become if he had never joined CSI. He grew up with Jackie; they were supposed to share the same fate.

-Flashback-

A young Danny ran over from the dugout carrying a bat. His best friend, Jackie Fosco, followed him to the home plate. They were in the middle of the field. It was a baseball game. In the stands there were the Tanglewood's gang. They came to encourage their boys.

"Come on Danny-boy! Show them how to play!" yelled one of them.

"Hush," said Sonny "he needs to concentrate. You see that guy," said pointing at a man who was writing in a pad. The other boy nodded. "He's a head-hunter. He came to look for the next star of baseball"

Another boy smiled "Well Danny's the one he's looking for"

"Yeah…" whispered Sonny. "And he's going to make me rich, I'll be his manager". He stood up and sat next to the man.

In the field, Danny and his friend were unaware that a head-hunter had come.

"Look he's getting everybody out up high. Do NOT swing at that pitch," advised Jackie.

"I like that pitch" smiled Danny broadly.

"YOU'll miss that-"

Danny shook his head. "No, I'll kill that pitch" interrupted him.

Jackie shook his head and left the field towards the bench. Danny stepped in. He chased a high fastball and missed swinging late.

"Ok be calm" mumbled to himself, he was ready for the next ball. He was sure he was not going to miss that one. And he didn't. He smashed the ball up the valley, Nobody was able to catch it. Two runners scored and the celebration ensued on the field. Danny walked off the field accepting congratulations. He stopped in front of his friend.

"I told you I'd kill that pitch"

Meanwhile in the stands, the head-hunter stood up unbelieving what he had seen. Sonny stood up too.

"He's good, isn't he?" said Sonny talking about Danny.

"Yeah" mumbled the head-hunter. "This boy-"

"His name is Danny. I'm his manager"

"This Danny… is he always playing like this?"

Sonny nodded. "I think we'll have to negotiate, this kid will be the next baseball star! And New York team must have him"

Sonny and the man shook hands. "Come on I'll introduce to him" said Sonny as they both walked towards Danny and Jackie.

"Hey" said Sonny to Danny. "You were great!"

"Yes" said the head-hunter."How'd you like to go to New York playing some baseball?"

"I'm already in New York sir" was replied sarcastically.

"Professional baseball" the head-hunter clarified.

Both kids looked at each other. "Wow" they exclaimed.

"We're going to played professional baseball!" said Jackie.

"Wait a minute kid" said Sonny. "This conversation has nothing to do with you. It's about Danny"

"But-" mumbled Jackie.

"Come on, he's a great pitcher! He just didn't pitch today because he pitched the last game" Danny said in defense of his friend.

"I'm sorry kid but I don't want him. I want YOU. You're the one who hit that ball. I know the goods when I see them, and I know you're one of them"

"I'm sorry sir but I'm not interested in" replied Danny as he turned around and started walking followed by Jackie.

"Are you crazy?" Jackie whispered to his friend.

Danny shook his head. "We're a team. If you don't go, I don't go".

Danny left Sonny flabbergasted. "Wait a minute" said Sasone to the head-hunter as he ran towards Danny. He grabbed his arm. "Who the hell do you think you are! What's you're problem! He had offered you a great opportunity and what's your answer, 'no'!"

"Ouch" Danny moaned.

"Stop!" yelled Jackie. "You're hurting him."

"All right" said the head-hunter. "You won kid. You're both in" Sonny stopped holding his arm. "But you'll have to show how good you are as a pitcher" said looking at Jackie.

"You won't regret it!" answered Jackie happily.

-end of flashback-

Danny felt responsible for the fate of his friend. It was because of him he ended up running with Tanglewood. He should do something. He should help his friend avoid ending up in prison like Sonny.

I'M SURE YOU NOTICE THAT THIS CHAPTER IS GRAMATICALLY SPEAKING MUCH BETTER THAN THE OTHER ONES. THIS IS THANKS TO KATKNITS00!