The Past Always Comes Back by Nehebka

Corrected by Katknits00

chapter 13

"I-I'm sorry pal" replied Danny sincerely.

"Since that day my life changed like yours. You got a grant to study at the university but I remained in that damn neighborhood. I wanted to leave but I needed money so-" confessed Jackie.

"Why didn't you ask me? I'd have lent it to you"

Jackie smiled. "As if you had it in those years". He shook his head. "No, Danny I couldn't ask you for money, but when I almost lost all faith, your brother told me about an easy way to earn money".

"That's when you began to run with the Tanglewood," said the young CSI.

Jackie nodded sadly. "I've regreted all my life the day I accepted that job"

"Don't pity yourself! You still can do something! You can still leave today! It's not to late!"

"Don't fool yourself Danny. Nobody leaves Tanglewood alive. Nobody".

"If you testify against Sonny in the trial I swear on my mother's grave that I'll put you and your family into protective custody. They'd give you a new identity, in a new city and start a new life"

"You're crazy Messer!"

Danny sighed. He truly wanted to help his friend. "All right pal, I won't lie to you things will get worst if you don't cooperate"

"What do you mean?" he asked suspicious.

"How long do you thing the cops will need to realize you're behind my attack"

"Did you say something!"

"Nooo, of course not! But my boss is pretty good and sooner or later he will find out you were one of the attackers"

"Let's hope it's later than sooner"

With difficulty Danny stood up. His leg hurt a lot. "Jackie you must make up your mind".

OoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooO

Outside the house

Mac and Aiden arrived at the address given to them in CODIS. Once there, they met with Don Flack. Flack banged harshly on the door "Mister Fosco NYPD open up!". They didn't receive any answer so Flack backed up a bit then through his entire body weight at the door which gave way easily. The three of them went in.

"Bastard! You betrayed me!" he whispered in Danny's ear before he hit him and ran towards the door behind him.

Mac, Aiden and Flack took out their weapons and approached the room where the sound had come from cautiously.

Mac was the first one to appear in the doorway, his gun raised eye level. He stepped into it. "What the hell are you doing here!" yelled.

"Shit" mumbled Danny shaking his head.

Aiden put her gun down and approached to her friend to check if he was all right.

"I'm fine" said before she even had time to ask.

"Where is he?" asked Mac.

The young CSI pointed in the direction his friend had ran away. Mac nodded and called in the report on the run away suspect. "We'll talk later," he said angrily. "Aiden make sure he doesn't go anywhere".

OoooooooooooooooooooooooO

A few minutes later Mac appeared again. "Aiden please wait outside I need to speak to Danny alone".

Danny remained silent. Mac waited some time and finally broke the silence. "What's the matter with you!" asked an angry Mac.

Danny refused to look directly at Mac.

"You knew it was Jack Fosco who attack you, didn't you? Although he nearly did, you came on your own!"

"The thing is... I thought maybe I could talk Jackie out of it. I didn't want him to go back to jail. He and I used to be friends. I guess I pitied him or maybe me, I-I don't know. If I had never met you Mac I would probably be running with people like Sonny Sasonne. He's a good guy Mac, really but when you mix with people like Sonny you don't have choices-"

"There are always choices Danny"

"What's going to happen to him?" asked Danny.

"We'll get him to the station to ask him some questions…"

"Mac you have to let me see him" Danny interrupted him.

"I think now you've done enough. Now go to the hospital to get your leg checked". He saw Danny hesitated but before he said anything else he added. "And that's an order"

Danny stood up and left the room limping followed by Mac. Flack walked towards Mac.

"Is everything ok?" asked the detective.

"I don't know. Sometimes I wonder if I should have listened to the ones who encouraged me not to hire him"

"Danny grew up in an environment where asking for help showed weakness"

"That was a long time ago," Mac growled, stalking off towards their crime scene. "He's going to have to get over it if he wants to continue as a member of my team"