An hour later, Mac was driving to the hospital. He pulled into a space and hurried down the sidewalk.
He didn't expect to see Danny standing outside. Flack had been calling him every half hour with updates. Mac knew it was bad, very bad. But he was still not prepared to see Danny looking so deflated. It was like all the strength was just draining out of him and it was all he could do to keep it together. It was so unlike the teasing young man that would make bets on teammates eating roasted bugs, challenged the local fire boys to hoops or street hockey, who sometimes got himself in trouble when his burning desire for justice for the forgotten made him too stubborn to back down when he should.
"Hey." He said softly as he approached.
"Hey." Danny said with a sigh.
Up close he looked worse. Without his glasses on, it was easier to see the bloodshot eyes, the circles.
"How's your brother?"
Danny didn't say anything. He just shook his head. He leaned back against the wall like it was the only thing holding him up.
"Lindsay told me you listened to the tape. We did everything we could forensically but in the end, it was Louie that saved you."
Danny looked at him. The face wasn't unlike after the shooting in the subway, hearing the words making the truth sink in like a knife. Only this time, there were tears welling up in Danny's eyes. He nodded, trying to speak but the words caught in his throat.
"You okay?"
"They beat my brother pretty bad. They --" Danny started sobbing, forgetting all the rules about Bronx Boys being tough and never letting anything out. It was like a dam breaking. "They beat him really bad, Mac."
Mac reached out and pulled Danny to him. He could think of no words to say in that moment. He just held Danny. One hand gently on his neck, the other on his back. He stood there, not giving a damn what was going on around them while Danny sobbed in his arms.
After several minutes, he could feel the sobbing slow. Danny pushed away softly, wiping his eyes with his hand. Neither of them said a word. They just stood, leaning against the wall, in silence. Staring at the stars.
The silence was broken by a clatter of footsteps walking towards them.
"Danny."
"Mommy." Danny greeted the woman, who enveloped him in a hug. Danny's mother was a petite woman -- Danny had to lean down a bit to hug her -- of noticeably Italian stock and quite the beauty. And it was clear from seeing the two of them side by side where Danny got the handsome looks that made all the women in the lab check him out the first time they saw him.
"Mr Messer."
"We came as fast as we could." Danny's father pulled him to one side. "How is Louie?"
"I haven't seen him, but I understand that he's in very bad shape."
"Thank you for taking care of Danny." Mrs Messer kept one arm around Danny as she spoke to him.
"Of course." Mac nodded. "I'd like to stay for a little while. If that's alright."
Danny's parents looked to him to an answer. He nodded at Mac.
"Then, why don't you take your parents to see Louie and I'll get us some coffee. And maybe some sandwiches?"
"Sure. Thanks Mac." Something in his voice told Mac it wasn't about the food.
"Anytime, Danny. Anytime."
