Same disclaimers apply: only Danny belong to me. Err, I wish.
A/N:
Sorry for the one-day delay! I got sidetracked by the premiere... and lack of D/L!
Thanks as always to my Beta, Cyko1003! This story never would have been published if it weren't for her, lol.



Chapter 6
Danny: Nowhere

"Hey!"

Danny banged on the tinted Plexiglas divider panel between himself and the two agents. They had been driving for over an hour, and he wanted to know where this secret expedition was leading. He had watched the Manhattan skyline fade, and now he had a suspicion they were in New Jersey. He hated feeling so out of control.

"Where the hell am I?" he shouted again. It occurred to him then that the barrier was probably soundproof. He hadn't heard a word from either man during the entire trip. Though he knew his efforts were futile, he banged the panel one more time with fury. "Dammit!"

No one from up front responded to or even acknowledged his protests, but within another mile the vehicle made a sudden right turn into the parking lot of a hotel. It was a tan, two-story building with an arched entranceway. It appeared to be of middling quality - not a dive by any means, but not exactly luxury, either. For Danny, however, his lodgings were the least of his concerns. Suddenly, his door was opened for him, and Agent Hess waved him out.

"Welcome to Nowhere," he said brusquely. "Your Home Sweet Home for the next few days."

Danny climbed out, his legs stiff from the ride. The parking lot had few cars; a Monday in Fall didn't likely bring a lot of tourism to the area. Both Agents Hess and Warren then guided him not to the main entrance, but to a back door labeled 'Employees Only'. Warren inserted a key into the lock, clicked the door open, and ushered Danny inside. He was escorted by both men now a long blue-carpeted hallway which smelled of stale coffee and window cleaner.

They stopped at room 14A, where a man was sitting outside the door on a wooden chair. He stood as they approached.

"You must be Messer," he said, extending his hand. "Name's Joe."

Danny shook Joe's hand unenthusiastically. Agent Warren spoke. "Joe here will be your guard for the day shift. Ed will be along later, he'll cover nights."

Joe was of moderate height, probably late 50's, with silvery hair and gentle, twinkling blue eyes. Though he wasn't ready to admit it, Danny felt an instant connection to the man. He was glad that he would be his company for the days to come. It certainly could have been worse, he thought gruffly, glancing at the two ice-cold agents, who left without so much as a nod.

"Well, Joe said, as he pulled a key from his pocket, "let's get you inside and give you the grand tour." Danny noted the holster and standard-issue gun strapped to his belt.

The inside of the room was inky black, and Joe fumbled for the light switch. When he flicked it on, Danny grunted in distaste at the drab, windowless box that was to be his temporary residence.

"This was originally a storage room," Joe explained. "It was then furnished for the department - we needed a safe room with no windows and one door. We've used this location a few other times." He pointed to the edge of the double bed where a pile of folded gray jumpsuits lay. "Since you didn't have an opportunity to pack your own things, that will be your wardrobe for the week."

"I'll be living like a prisoner," Danny griped.

"At least you'll be living," Joe remarked, a note of sharpness in his voice. He continued a moment later, once again jovial. "You'll find all the other necessities you'll need in the bathroom. Out here's your plasma television, satellite with 200 channels."

Danny plopped down on the edge of the bed and buried his face in his hands. Sensing the despair, Joe tried cheering him up again. "Any special food requests?" he asked. "It's at the state's expense - whatever you'd like."

"A pint of whiskey," Danny grumbled, his voice coming out muffled from behind his hands.

Joe chuckled and shook his head. "Sorry, son, no alcohol. But what can I get you for dinner?"

"I'm not hungry," Danny said, then turned over and laid down. "I just want to be alone for a while."

---

Danny took a shower, hoping to relieve the tension that was causing his shoulders and back to ache. The bathroom was a pleasant surprise compared to the rest of the dull room - it was open, tiled bright white, and featured a large shower with a massaging showerhead. As the hot, pulsating water sluiced down over his body, Danny somehow wished it would wash away the gloom he felt. Afterwards, he changed into one of the stiff, starched jumpsuits and returned to the bed. He laid there, looking at the ceiling and feeling sorry for himself. He was so lonely - far away from his job, his friends, his family. Far away from Lindsay. God, that killed him. What would she be thinking of him? Would she be angry because he left without saying goodbye? Would she think he was too dangerous to be around anymore? Would she perhaps realize that her life was better off without him? The thoughts that plagued his mind caused Danny's stomach to twist into endless knots.

He jumped when heard a knock at the door. Joe peeked his head in. "You in the mood for some company?" he offered. "Ed will be here to take over in a little while."

Danny shrugged, rolling on his side to face the door. He found the man likeable despite the circumstances. "Sure," he replied. He studied Joe carefully as the older man took a seat by the door. "Can you call someone for me?" he asked.

Joe shook his head apologetically. "No, it's too risky. If their phone was bugged, it could be traced right back here. Your only contacts for the next several days will be myself and Ed."

Danny rolled back over on his back, arms crossed behind his head. "So I guess you'll want to hear my life story, huh?" he grunted.

"I know pretty much everything there is to know about you," Joe said simply. His manner was not threatening or ominous, just matter-of-fact. It was his job to know these things. "You're thirty-two years old, unmarried, a crime scene investigator. Your brother is in a coma as a result of a gang beating. You reside at 134 C, West 19th street. You're testifying against Sonny Sassone at his trial this week, hence your presence here."

Danny blinked in surprise. "Well, then," he said yearning for some sort of mundane conversation to distract him. "Tell me about you, Joe."

Joe nodded easily, leaning back in his seat and crossing his legs. "I'm originally from Oregon; I worked patrol out there, before moving to New York. I opted to switch from patrol to the protective custody unit. I've been married 31 years to my wife Martha, we have two sons, ages 25 and 18. I love traveling; I just got back from Nepal about a month ago." He held up his hands and grinned. "And that's about all there is to know about Joe."

"Why'd you leave patrol?" Danny asked curiously. "It must be so boring doing this, just sitting around all day."

Joe smiled awkwardly. "I have my reasons, they're complicated." The two men sat in silence for awhile, until Danny's eye began to slide shut. He wasn't that tired, but his body needed some sort of escape from his current situation.

As he drifted off, he hoped fervently that his dreams would take him to Lindsay.


wishing you all D/L dreams. Thanks. ;)