A/N: All right in honor of the fact that I have 50 people on my story alert list for this little saga. I added a little somethin' somethin' for all for the DL shippers. Happy Reading and don't forget to review.
A Bullet for Danny: You Can't Keep Good Messer Down part 2
Danny flopped his head against the armrest of the couch and started to pant hard. His little outing had taken more out of him, so much in fact felt he as if he could just drift off to sleep and never wake-up. "This here's a real nice place you have Montana" he said in attempt to stay coherent.
"You've seen it before" Lindsay smiled as she sank down on the couch beside him and started to pull the lapels of the leather jacket he was wearing away from his chest. And that's when she saw it; blood. The gauze bandage just above Danny's collarbone was spotted crimson.
"Danny, you're bleeding," Remembering what Hawkes had told her about having a possible "bleeder" Lindsay started to reach for her phone. She almost had it when Danny's hand shot out and grabbed hers pulling it back to his chest.
"Lindsay's it's no big deal. Every things going to be okay" he breathed out tiredly. "I just need to rest for a bit"
"Danny you need a doctor" Lindsay worked her hand free from his. "You have to go back to the hospital." She was angry that he would take such a risk with his life, Lindsay snapped up the phone and started to dial 9-1-1.
"All I need is to see my brother," he argued grabbing at her wrist. "I ain't goin' anywhere"
"You've got to be kidding me" Lindsay stared at him blankly. "Someone just tried to kill you. Plus, you're bleeding all over my couch and all you can think about is Louie?"
"Linds, he killed a guy for me," Danny pleaded showing both his emotional and physical pain. "He doesn't even know I'm alive does he?"
Rolling her eyes, Lindsay punched in Flack's number. "Flack its Lindsay. I found Danny," she stated adverting her gaze to the injured CSI. "Or he found me rather, but we've got a problem and I need a favor"
"Danny is delusional!" Mac thundered into his Samsung. "I don't give a crap what he wants call an ambulance now!" The former marine then snapped his cell phone shut, grumbling, "Never mind I'll do it myself…Adam, call dispatch and get an ambulance over to Lindsay's place now!"
"Right away" the meek lab tech nodded.
Mac closed his eyes and started to rub his left temple. "So help me Stella Danny is going to get himself killed!"
"Mac you need to calm down" Stella returned gently, "He's with Lindsay she won't let anything happen to him" Stella knew that Lindsay would take Danny to the hospital just as soon as she received word from Flack that he and Louie would meet them there.
"Lindsay?" Mac questioned peeling open one eye. "She's just as jaded as he is!" When this was over, Mac intended to give them both a formal reprimand for insubordination.
"Let's start processing the transfer and the bullet casings on this car" he grumbled changing the subject as two medics started to load Det. Angell into the back of an waiting ambulance. "Maybe It'll give us a clue to as to who is still after Danny"
"Already on it" Stella replied using a pair of tweezers to expel a stray bullet from the front seat.
New York Central Lock-Up
"Sign here, Detective," A portly woman with dark eyes and thinning hair handed Flack a clip board directing him to sign the document attached in all of the proper places. "Will you be transporting this prisoner, by yourself?"
Flack grinned and opened his navy colored blazer a little so that the woman could see that he was armed. "I've got Smith and Wesson to keep me company"
"Let's just hope that will be enough," The woman replied looking over the paper work, "This was one was just brought into today so it may take me while to hunt down his exact location. He's still in processing"
"Processing? Louie Messer was brought in hours ago" Flack repeated let his East coast accent show. "What's the hold up?" Time was running out. If he had to wait for Louie to finish processing before he was allowed to take him to the hospital, it might be too late."
"It's been a busy day," The woman shrugged tersely picking up the phone.
Flack did the same. Reaching into the pocket of his jacket, he fished out his black razor and hit redial. "Lindsay, its me. I got the clearance to take Louie to the hospital but it's going to take sometime"
"How much time?" Lindsay's voice echoed back.
"Probably more than what Danny can afford, you might want to consider taking him in and well meet you there" Flack returned.
Back at her place, Lindsay dipped her head, holding the cell phone to her chest.
"Well?" Danny croaked in the loudest pronounced voice that he could manage.
"Everything's all set, Flack is on his way with Louie" Lindsay lied putting on her best grin.
Danny studied her face for a moment taking in the width of her grin. Lindsay never smiled that much, ever. "You're lying Montana. I can tell"
"How?" Not that she really needed to know. Out of everyone of the team, Danny had always been able to read her like a book.
"Your face. You never smile that big" Danny told her painstakingly. "So what's the hold up"
Lindsay sank down onto the coffee table so that she was directly across from the injured CSI. I don't know, Flack said something about Louie still being in processing. It's going to take some time"
Feeling somewhat spry, Danny attempted to lace his hands behind his head and instantly regretted it. "then we'll wait" he coughed out hoarsely, "But I ain't movin' from this couch until I get to see my brother"
"Why are you so being so childish and stubborn?" Lindsay's first thought was to pick up one of the accent pillows and hold it over his face until he passed out but thought better of it.
"I'm stubborn and childish?" Danny repeated, "What about you? Little Miss dark secret from my past that I can't share with anybody"
"That's my business," Lindsay laminated sharply "But at least, I'm not so selfish that I sit around letting my friends watch me die!"
Danny attempted to sit up a little bit taller, "I already told you Montana, I ain't dyin'"
"Not even Danny Messer is immortal, "Lindsay chewed her bottom lip. Tears were threatening to form onto her lashes, "Danny can't you see what this is doing to me?" she asked suddenly.
Damn she was starting to cry. "I didn't think you cared"
"I said, I didn't want a relationship with you Danny but I never said I didn't care" Lindsay leaned forward so that she was just inches from his face. Tears were now slithering down her cheeks like snakes winding their way towards her chin, "Danny I don't want anything bad to happen to you. I love you"
Had she just said she loved him? Honestly, at the moment he couldn't process the thought. Their eyes were locked intensely and for once in his life Danny Messer was at a loss for words.
Doing anything she could, Lindsay grabbed the lapels of the leather jacket he was wearing and kissed him tightly. It was an awkward kiss not what she had intend. For some reason their mouths didn't seem to mold together as perfectly as she thought. She accidentally scrapped the enamel of his teeth with hers. Moving her hand towards his chest, Lindsay inadvertently brushed over the tender area near his collarbone, making Danny near jump out his skin.
"Argh!" Danny pulled out the kiss grimacing, eyes clamped tight. "Okay, you win, I'll go back, just don't kiss me like that ever again" If she did it would probably kill him literally.
Three hours later, Lindsay stood in the corridor outside of Danny's cubicle with her fists clenched. "C'mon, Flack, c'mon. We don't have much time, " Though doctors had Danny stable he was still bleeding internally and in need of surgery.
"Lindsay!" At the sound of Flack's voice Lindsay head snapped up. "Flack!" she called back to him elated to see the detective coming down the hall with a shackled and cuffed Louie.
Excited, Lindsay stuck her head inside of Danny's cubicle, "He's here, Louie's here!"
Flack stopped just short of Danny's cubicle and removed the shackles from Louie's ankles, allowing the former Tanglewood boy to get an up close look at his brother. "Jesus Christ, he's really alive?"
Rising to his feet Don looked at the man quizzically, "Now why would I drag you all the down here just to make that up? Go get your brother Louie"
Louie Messer wasted no time but shuffled into the room where Danny was propped up in the bed as pale as the sheet.
"Hey, D"
"Louie" Danny whispered picking up his hand as Louie moved closer.
Taking Danny's hand, Louie kissed in typical Italian style, "I can't believe you're alive. Your bosses told Mommy and Dad that you were dead"
"It was just a rouse" Danny swallowed ignoring the taste of blood that was trickling down his throat.
"That bastard, Julian still deserved it" Louie's voice choked with heart filled emotion, "Look what he did to you"
"Actually, Julian may not have been the one responsible" Lindsay piped from where stood next to Flack at the back of the room.
"What?" Louie retorted with his face all twisted, "are you sayin; I killed an innocent kid?"
Yes, no…we don't know yet" As soon as the words had left her lips Lindsay knew she wrong but unfortunately, she had no way to take them back. The evidence had gotten the best of her and inadvertently it had just slipped out.
"Is that true?" Louie motioned setting his eyes on Flack.
Flack felt his cheeks flush red, "There is another unsub that the team is investigating" he said keeping his voice calm and even.
"Jesus Christ" Louie sank into the chair next to Danny's bed and buried his head.
"No…not your fault Louie," Danny let out a ill sounding rasp. Louie popped his head back up and looked into Danny's sick yellowing eyes.
"Yeah it is bro, but you know what? That little punk Julian deserved it" he paused for moment, flicked his eyes towards Flack. "Julian was still the courier right?"
"That's what we believe," Flack said continuing to watch the brotherly scene unfold. Tears were now flowing steadily down Danny's face.
"I'm so sorry, Louie…I never-"
Standing Louie grabbed the railing of the bed. "You got nothing to be sorry for D. You and me are brothers and no matter what happens we still got each other. Forming a fist Louie held it forward waiting for Danny to do the same.
Danny's fingers curled slowly until he felt the knock of Louie's fist against his.
Louie then inhaled deeply taking a moment to compose himself, "I'll see you when you get outta here and no more road trips you got that?"
"Yeah, I got that," Danny swallowed.
Tears rolled down Lindsay's cheeks as Louie started from the room and into the hallway where Flack replaced the ankle shackles. Lowering her head she watched the detective escort Louie from sight until she heard muffle sobs coming from the bed.
"Louie…Louie no don't go!" Tears were springing from Danny's eyes making impossible for him to see clearly. "LOUIE!"
Fifteen hours later, Danny awoke to find his wrists in restraints. "What da' hell is this?" he grumbled tugging at the mesh that was tying his wrists down to the bed.
"Protective custody," Mac said in a commanding tone.
Mac, get me these things off me!" Danny jerked his fiery gaze to the back of the room where Mac and Stella were standing.
"He's just kidding" Stella walked purposely towards the bed and untied Danny's wrists. "You were thrashing around after the anesthesia wore off and the doctors didn't want you to hurt yourself"
"Thanks" Danny murmured as Stella reached for his glasses that were sitting on a shelf near the bed and placed them carefully on his face.
"Is that better?"
"Much" Danny touched the bridge of his nose pushing his glasses upward so that they sat comfortable on his face. "Now if I could just get outta here"
"You're not going anywhere for awhile" Mac said crossing towards the center of the room, "But you should be happy to know that your no longer a target. We caught the person who hired the hit man"
"Really? Who?" Danny needed to know.
"You're not going to believe this" Stella snorted doing her famous eye roll. "Remember Linda Cortez"
Danny shook his head, "The name sounds familiar but things are a little fuzzy right now"
"Try Jerry and Linda from the panic room" Stella clarified watching Danny's eye pop out his head. Linda Cortez and her boyfriend, Jerry Gordon had killed an eccentric millionaire who resided in a specially designed panic room. A room, which Danny had become trapped in while investigating the murder.
"Nah…no way!" Danny shouted a little loud than he meant too. His face then twisted in pain at the feel of still sensitive throat muscles.
"Believe it" Mac quipped, "She said that you permanently disfigured Jerry when you hit him with the chemicals you used to process the body"
"Jerry was the one driving the car that hit Det. Angell" Mac replied.
"And the one hundred thousand she was going to pay Meyer for your hit came from what inherited from her employer she help to kill, Hunter Hudson" Stella added opening the blinds of the room to let the morning sun stream inside.
"Only in the great state of New York," Danny shook his head letting his thoughts drift for moment while Mac and Stella exchanged glances.
"In case you're wondering, I sent Flack and Lindsay to courthouse, "Louie's being arraigned this morning" Mac finally put in breaking the detectives moment of silent thoughts.
"I heard the DA is going to ask for murder two" Stella let her hand fall to Danny's shoulder, "If they decide to plea, Louie could do hardly anytime at all"
"Murder two it might as well be the death penalty" Danny repeated lowly staring out at the morning sun through the white blinds.