Huge, huge thanks to anmodo for faithfully betaing this fic. Also thanks to everyone that has reviewed it really helps.
Chapter 4
Leaning back on the chair, Danny closed his eyes. For the first time, he tried to remember the crash that took his parent's lives. He tried to see it from a different angle. He felt as though he was back in the car with his parents arguing twenty-one years ago. He could hear his father yelling at his mother, he could hear his mother's terrified screams; he just wanted it to stop. It was as though he was looking through the eyes of him as an eleven year old. He remembered saying something to his father to make him stop. He did – but his father turned and started to yell at him. He was scared, but at least he wasn't yelling or hitting his mother. The flashbacks were becoming uncontrollable – he couldn't stop them. He could see the bridge and the river in brilliant colours; they were so bright he couldn't believe his father couldn't see it. He tried to yell a warning at his father but it just made his father hit him. He could hear the sickening sound of metal against metal, the shattering of glass and his mother's terrified screams. He felt a sharp pain in his shoulder before the car plunged into the icy cold depths of the river. He struggled with his seat belt, as he tried to keep his head above the rising water. He could see his mother's body slumped forward – somehow he knew she was already dead. The water was up to his chest now; he hacked the seat belt again. His fingers shaking with fear, he didn't feel the cold or the pain in his shoulder. The car gently rocked as it hit the bottom. His fingers felt uncoordinated as he tried to release the seat belt - it finally came free. He started to swim towards the door and was just about to try and open the door when he felt a strong, rough hand grab his shoulder. He felt white hot pain across his shoulder. The strong, rough hand forced his head under the mucky, freezing water. He couldn't breathe, black spots started to appear in his vision. He tried to struggle against the hand but it was too strong. He couldn't fight it, just like he couldn't fight the darkness.
Megan shook Danny's shoulder's her concern growing by the minute as she watched Danny's eyes flicker and how he unconsciously rubbed his shoulder.
"Danny, Danny…it's ok," Megan said as she tried to pull him away from the horrific flashbacks that he was experiencing. "You're not in that car, you're in the FBI building in New York – you're safe."
Danny heard someone's reassuring voicing and gentle hands on his shoulders. He slowly opened his eyes expecting to see the next image where he was surrounded by medics and cops, with a helicopter landing beside them. He expected that if he looked to one side, he would see his mother being zipped into a body bag. He opened his eyes to Megan not the images that plagued his nightmares.
"Shit," he swore covering his face with his hands. "I-I have nightmares and flashbacks of the crash, but I have never forced myself to relive them. I couldn't fucking control them. I-I, m-my father did try and kill me; he tried to drown me when I was in the car. You know they never found his body – of course you did, you've read the file."
"Yeah I did," Megan replied hesitantly. "I didn't mean to, but it popped up when I read his file. I-I've never read your file, I mean I had to have you checked, but that's standard procedure and you already knew that"
Danny moved his hand to her face and with his thumb he traced her cheek bone. "It's ok, baby. I never read your file but Jack did," Danny said as he watched Megan smirk. "He didn't trust you; he wanted to see what you had done."
Megan leaned back on the chair next to Danny. "He still doesn't trust or like me."
"He doesn't not trust you. He's-he's just a little protective over us right now, especially after the events of this year. He, well, he sees everyone as a threat until proven otherwise."
Megan smiled, relaxing for a moment, temporarily forgetting the reason she was there. Shoving her hands into her pockets, she felt the small plastic tape. "Danny, your father, as well as all of that cartel, was under DEA surveillance. The place where your brother was murdered was bugged by the DEA."
"What?" Danny asked, slightly apprehensively.
"It proves that your father was the murderer," Megan said softly.
"He's not my father. Jack is more of a father to me than that monster ever was," Danny said bitterly. "The-the, do-do you have the recordings from that room? Did Rafi say anything?"
Megan took a deep breath and dug her hand into her pocket and pulled out the tape. She hesitantly handed the tape over to Danny, gently pressing it into his hand. "U-mm yeah, Rafi does speak, but u-mm, Danny I really don't think you want to listen to it. It-it is Rafi's last words."
"Y-you listened to it?" Danny asked.
"Yeah I did," Megan admitted. "It is pretty horrific but Danny, Rafi was so proud of the person you have become."
"I suppose those were his last words," Danny said sarcastically, twirling the tape in his fingers.
"Yes, they were actually," Megan replied softly.
"Oh," Danny stammered, genuinely shocked that Rafi had been proud of him. He didn't want to hear Rafi's last words; he didn't want to hear Rafi being murdered. But he felt he owed it to Rafi, he owed to Rafi's family. "I've-I've gotta to listen to it Megs, I owe it to Rafi, I owe it to Rafi's family," Danny said vocalizing his thoughts. He stood up and lightly kissed Megan. "Thank you so much for telling me this, but I've gotta to get back to work now- I've got a ton of paperwork to get through."
Megan watched Danny as he flashed a fake smile and nodded. She knew that Danny felt that he had to keep working as a form of survival. "No problem," Megan replied in a neutral tone. "I've gotta get to work as well. There's a stack of files awaiting me."
"Ok," Danny said, looking around nervously. He wondered how he could compose himself when he went to sit with the team. They would undoubtedly ask him what it was about and when he came up with a piss poor excuse, they would stare at him until they went home.
"D-do we have any milk in the fridge?" Danny asked, mentally slapping himself as soon as the words had come out of his mouth. It just showed how un-together and how much this whole situation was screwing with him.
"Milk?" Megan said raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, baby, we have milk. It's half-fat – so if you want to get a different type by all means," Megan finished frowning in concern. She wasn't concerned that Danny was uncollected – that was expected after what she had just told him. But she was concerned by how he was trying and failing to hide it. If she wasn't in the FBI building, if he wasn't just about to go back to do paperwork with the team – she would have been staying at his heels like an annoying terrier.
"I'll see you tonight then," Danny said, blinking, as he tried to clear his vision. Leaning forward, he gave her a quick peck on the cheek before he turned and walked towards the bullpen.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Nervously, Danny sat in the car fingering the small plastic tape with trembling fingers. He opened the tape player and put the tape in. Pausing briefly to draw a deep breath, Danny pressed the play button and closed his eyes. He inhaled sharply when he heard his father's voice for the first time in twenty-one years. Even after all of these years, that voice still brought the sickening feeling of fear. He felt cold sweat run down his back and clenched the tape player as he heard Rafi's voice. He heard Rafi defend him, he heard Rafi tell his father that he hadn't seen him since they were kids. He couldn't believe that Rafi - even when he was staring death in the face – was defending him. He didn't deserve Rafi's brave defence and denial of him. Rafi had protected him from his father when he was a kid and was protecting him now. But what had he done for Rafi? Nothing – he had done nothing. When Rafi had needed him, he had been so stuck up his own ass that he had abandoned Rafi. He had left Rafi alone to deal, to die alone with that monster that called itself their father.
He felt a single tear roll down his face and angrily wiped it away, when he heard Rafi proclaim how proud he was of him. He didn't deserve Rafi's pride; Rafi had taken the brunt of that monster's abuse, that monster's drunken anger. After a few drunken decisions, Rafi had been thrust into a new world – where he was now responsible for him. He knew he was already into drugs at his point, he understood why Rafi took drugs – to escape their father's abuse.
They lived in abject poverty always looking, always hunting for their next meal, their next bed. During this time, Rafi's addiction grew. Now Rafi was looking for his next hit, leaving Danny to hunt for food by himself. He remembered feeling weak from lack of food. When Rafi wasn't high, he always gave all the food he found to him, affectionately ruffling his hair telling him that he didn't want his baby brother to stop growing. Then their lives changed – Rafi became a dealer. They had food; he had a house to sleep in not a doorway. For the first time in years, Danny felt happy. But like Rafi, he was forced to grow up quickly and because of that the two brothers started to grow apart until he abandoned Rafi – not wanting anything to do with him.
Danny barely heard the click as the tape ended. He barely felt the tears that rolled freely down his face. He laid his head on the steering wheel and raked his hands through his untamed hair not knowing what to do. He barely heard the annoying shrill of his cell phone that snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Taylor," he answered.
"Hey Danny its Sam," Sam said concern evident in her voice. "I was just wondering if you are all right."
"Of course I am," Danny said trying desperately to detach himself from his emotions. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"I don't know. You seemed a little distracted at work, that was all," Sam replied. She, like the rest of the team, was worried about Danny. First his brother that been brutally murdered. After Megan had turned up today, Danny appeared to be confused, scared – basically he had looked completely lost. When asked about what he and Megan had discussed, he had absently waved his hand and mentioned something about a development in Rafi's case. Sam had been so concerned, she phoned Megan who told her the same thing - that there had been a development in the case. When pushed, she had told her to ask Danny but also to keep a close eye on him. Now she phoned Danny and she was scared how small his voice sounded. This was Danny she was talking to – Danny was never weak, Danny never got scared. At that moment, she wished that Megan had told her what the development had been, but at the same time she was glad Megan hadn't. Danny needed, Danny deserved to have good people in his life that wouldn't screw him around. She believed Megan was one, knowing how much Danny trusted her. Sam hoped that Danny considered her as one of his most trusted friends – she knew she did.
"I'm fine, Sam. I promise you," Danny replied. Knowing Sam wouldn't be convinced, he added, "Life's been a bit mad recently. The development in the case, well it made me think of Rafi when we were kids. That was all."
"I'm so sorry Danny. Is there anything I can do?" Sam asked. "I mean if there is anything, you know you can just ring me day or night?"
"Thanks Sam, I promise you I'm fine," Danny said forcing himself to sound normal. "Hey I've gotta go, I will see you at work tomorrow."
"Ok," Sam responded, still concerned about her friend. "See you tomorrow then, but just remember I am a phone call away if you need anything."
Danny ended the call and found a small smile. Never in his life had he had such good friends. Friends that he was willing to die for, if he had to. Sure he had friends before he joined the team, but not like this. Before, as soon as the going got tough they ran, but with these friends as soon as the going got tough they surround each other, always looking out for each other. He glanced at his watch and quickly started the car. He hadn't realised the time, it was late; he couldn't believe he had been sitting in his car for over an hour.
Eventually, Danny arrived home. Although he couldn't remember how he did. He slowly climbed the stairs and gently rested his head on the door frame preparing himself before he faced Megan. Megan would understand and no doubt see through this façade, but he had to try and pretend to be the guy she met on the beach four months ago.
"Hey, sorry I'm late. I didn't realise the time, then I stopped to get milk," Danny said as he entered her small apartment.
"No worries," Megan said as she crossed the room and gently kissed him. She stood back and looked him up and down. "So you left the milk in the car?"
"U-mm, yeah, I guess I did. U-mm I will just go and get it," Danny stammered realising the floor in his excuse.
"It's cold enough outside, baby. The milk will be fine until tomorrow," Megan said playing along, hoping Danny wouldn't feel uncomfortable. "Have you eaten?"
"U-mm, I think-"
"I will take that as a no, then," Megan said as she walked into the kitchen area.
Danny followed her into the kitchen area and from behind he wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his head on her shoulder. "Thanks baby, thanks for everything. I don't know how you do it."
"Do what?" Megan said, swinging around, falling into Danny's arms.
"Understanding me. I-I don't understand how you do it."
Megan wrapped her arms around Danny's neck and pulled him towards her. "Because you and I are similar species and if there is one thing I have learned from life, it is that when something good pops up in your live you hang on it as if you're live depended on it. If you hadn't guessed already, you are that good thing in my life, Danny Taylor."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A shadowy figure sat in the darkened warehouse, the only light coming from the laptop screen. He had been cursing; maybe he should have kept that piece of scum that was his eldest son alive for longer. The laptop beeped and an image appeared on the screen. He slowly put down the bottle of whiskey and started to read through the computer's search results. He smiled as he saw an image of his youngest son appear on the screen. His youngest son may have changed his name, but he couldn't escape him. He took a long swig from the whiskey bottle.
"Well 'Special Agent Danny Taylor', I am going to do what I failed to do twenty-one years ago… I hope you enjoy your last night alive."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Danny walked into the office the next day feeling almost totally refreshed. Having spent the majority of his life alone, he really didn't know what do when people wanted to help. The team… Megan, were all asking what they could do for him but he didn't know how to react. Luckily, they seemed to understand and give him his space to try and sort things out in his head. As he turned into the bullpen, he looked up at the whiteboard to see the smiling face of their latest missing person. He quickly sat down next to Martin and Sam.
"Hey, sorry I'm late but traffic was a bitch. Is Jack mad?" he quickly asked.
"He's spitting and yelling at random people, so when he sees you god knows what he is going to do," Martin said trying to hide his smile. "Seriously man, Jack's in a pretty good mood and both Sam and Jack have just gotten in."
"Really?" Danny said rising an eyebrow causing Martin to chuckle slightly.
Over hearing the boy's conversation, Sam walked over and playfully slapped Danny's arm. "Boys," Sam said rolling her eyes. "How old are you?"
Before either of them had a chance to respond, Jack came storming in with a large, tattered file in his hands. He slapped the file down causing everyone to jump slightly.
"Jack," Martin asked nervously.
"Miguel Bain, 34, he appears to be a typical businessman but the DEA have other ideas," Jack said as he collapsed into one of the chairs that surrounded the table. "I have just got off the phone from the DEA and Marshals office it appears the Mr. Bain is heavily tied into the New York branch of a South American drug cartel. But his wife and friends think otherwise."
"So are we going to do what the DEA and Marshals say or are we going to tell them where to shove it and investigate this case?" Danny asked.
Jack produced a small smile realising how lucky he was to have this group of people as members of his team. "Well of course I told them we wouldn't investigate. But with my old age, my memory is poor. I am sure I told them we were investigating and they said that wasn't a problem."
Viv approached the team and smiled as she watched the small exchange. "I really think that Miguel Bain is innocent," Viv said as she flicked through some sheets of paper. She handed Jack the paper, he nodded before he issued his commands.
"Viv I want you to stay on the paper trail. Danny, Sam I want you to go down warehouse he owns. Martin, you're with me," Jack said watching as his faithful troops started to follow his commands.
Danny held the elevator for Sam as she ran to catch up. "Slowing up, are we?" Danny joked.
Sam playfully hit him. "We're not all 6 foot plus," Sam countered. She leaned back on the elevator wall and started to briefly flick through Miguel Bain's file. "I really hope that Miguel has stayed on the right side of the tracks. He's an orphan, has been through the system but despite everything against him, he's achieved a ton of stuff. Started his very successful company from scratch yet still helps out at the community centre in his old neighbourhood."
"It's too good to be true, I mean that stuff is impossible," Danny said looking down as he walked towards the car.
Sam leaned on the car and looked across at him. "No it isn't Danny. Do you know why?" she asked as watched Danny look down again and busy himself with unlocking the car. "I will tell you why. Because I am looking at the evidence right now, Danny Taylor. You are that evidence."
Danny slipped into the car. "Me? Why? I haven't achieved much."
"Really?" Sam said as she slipped into the car next to Danny. "I think most people would call; gradating high school, college, law school and the FBI academy on the first try is an achievement. And you did that despite everything going against you."
"Thanks, that's really sweet, but-" Danny trailed off as he pulled the car out of the parking lot and started towards the warehouse in the Bronx. "So what's this warehouse being used for?"
Sam looked at Danny her heart when out to him. He was such an amazing person; he was so sweet and protective. He was so intelligent. In her eyes, he was almost prefect yet he didn't see this. She sighed slightly as she quickly scanned the file. "From what I can see, he's converting it into a design workshop kind of thing; where kids can come and put the grounding down to start their own business."
"Those kids need something. They needed some hope in a neighbourhood like that," Danny said with a far off look in his eyes
Sam looked at Danny as he appeared lost in his thoughts. She chose to say nothing because she had a feeling this case would affect Danny – as he and the missing person had many similarities.
They eventually arrived outside the abandoned warehouse. They approached the warehouse with guns drawn - not knowing what dangers lay within. Signalling into each other, Danny went to clear the left of the building while Sam took the right.
Cautiously and quietly, Danny started to clear the building. He hated leaving any of his team mates alone in a secure building – especially Sam and Viv – but he had no choice. Just as he cleared the last part of his side, he heard a small scream followed by a clatter of metal against a concrete floor.
"Sam," he shouted. When he got no response he ran in the direction of the disturbance. "Sam, are you all right?"
He swung around the corner, gun drawn. But none of his FBI training could prepare himself for what lay around the corner. He felt his vision blur briefly as his heart skipped a beat. He saw Sam with a knife to her throat. As the figure stepped out from the darkness, he felt sick and felt himself stumble slightly.
"FBI! Drop the weapon!" Danny yelled trying to hide his fear.
"And what are you going to do about it, Danny 'Taylor?" the figure taunted. "Run away and hide with your hands over your ears."
"FBI! Drop it!" Danny yelled, barely able to hide his fear as he saw the knife being pressed into Sam's flesh. "Drop it, or I will shoot, and I will not miss."
