Author's notes: First let me say that I'm not a doctor nor do I play one on TV, so the medical information is only what I've picked up from watching ER and Emergency (Ringers Lactate anyone?). Also, when it comes to the path that a certain bullet took, it did what I wanted, not what the law of physics claim should have happened. Angle smangle!
Yes, I do enjoy hurting Don, but it's always a case of hurting the ones we love!
Thanks for everyone who has been reviewing this. I enjoy your comments, so please keep those cards and letters coming.
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"Sorry, I need you to answer a few questions." A firm hand grabbed onto her arm. "I'm Mac Taylor and I need to know where Don has been." He followed her gaze to the ambulance. "I appreciate your concern for Don, but right now I need those answers."
Ash turned and looked at the man who had grabbed onto her. Weary steel gray-blue eyes looked at her expectantly. "I don't think I know much." She turned at looked again at the ambulance, doors now shut and pulling away from the curb; lights cutting through the gloomy afternoon.
She sighed deeply and followed him to a blue sedan parked further down the street. "We can talk in the car. It's warmer than standing outside." He opened the door and when she had settled herself inside; he shut the door and motioned for Stella to join them.
Stella slid into the backseat next to the young girl and quickly appraised her. Early 20's, slender, looked slightly shell-shocked. Reaching for the only thing she had to offer, Stella handed her a box of Kleenex tissues. The girl took it hesitantly from the older woman and then began to slowly wipe the blood from her hands.
Mac climbed into the driver's seat and turned to face the women. "This is Detective Bonasera. We both work with Detective Flack and need to know what has happened in the last 30 hours. Let's start with who you are and go from there."
In a quiet voice Ash proceeded to tell about meeting the raven-haired man that had told her to call him Danny. Occasionally she would stop, trying to keep the story in the correct order. This allowed the two detectives to clarify points of the story when the details became too vague. It was during the part where Ricci had forced them towards his vehicle that the questions became even more inquisitive. "You mentioned that you saw Ricci and began to run," Mac's voice had a trace of steel in it, "Why would you run? You couldn't have known that he was involved with Flack's disappearance."
She paused, weighing her choices. Lie and hope that everything would go away or tell the truth and try to make amends. "I thought Ricci was there for me, not Don. Because," she hesitated for only a moment, "because of Frankie Scalero."
Both Mac and Stella were momentarily stunned, they hadn't expected this turn of events. Mac found his voice first. "How does Frankie Scalero figure into this?"
"I heard something that he didn't want me to hear." Ash continued on with the explanation of her involvement with Little Frankie.
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Danny had climbed into the ambulance as they loaded his friend. Holding onto Don's hand he maintained eye contact and kept up a running conversation. Flack's grip on his hand was vise-like. "Easy there Flack, you're going break my hand. Of course maybe that's your plan. Keep me out of action on the court."
The paramedic laughed at Flack's muffled reply from beneath his oxygen mask. "Hey, take it easy. I don't need one more patient in this bus."
"Hear that Flack, he thinks that even in your condition you can take me. Why does the little guy never get any respect?" Danny jokingly whined.
The ambulance eased to a stop and the back doors opened quickly. Immediately the emergency room staff began assessing the wounded detective. Danny stood to the side, watching and listening, anxious to hear any information on his friend's condition.
"Sorry, you'll need to leave the room." Danny turned to see a nurse glaring at him.
"I'm with the police department."
"I don't care if the tooth fairy sent you, out."
Seeing that it was pointless to argue, he pointed at the other waiting area. "I'll be out there, but I want updated as soon as the doctor knows something."
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Both Stella and Mac had exited the car and were discussing the next move. There were still gaps in the story, such as how did Flack end up in the alley? However, armed with the knowledge that Frankie Scalero might be going down, Mac was sure that Ricci might break and fill in the blanks for them.
Stella looked at the sedan, seeing the lone figure in the backseat, "She seems to be really worried about Flack."
Reflecting briefly, Mac nodded. "I agree, it seems like he really made an impression on her." Looking at Stella again he could see the relief that was visible on her face. "Hey, how are you doing?"
"Better, it's just I'd like to know how Flack's doing."
"I'm going to give Flack's parents a call. Why don't you wrap it up here and go over to the hospital. I'll be there as soon as I can."
Stella nodded towards the car, "What about Ashley? She asked again about going to the hospital to see Flack."
Mac shook his head, "Currently she is still a person of interest, so I don't feel comfortable letting her loose. In light of her living on the street, it would be impossible to find her again."
"You're right Mac." Stella sighed and returned to the car to let Ash know that she was not headed to the hospital.
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Danny had found a place to sit that afforded him a view of the treatment room where Flack was currently being assessed. No stranger to emergency rooms, Danny knew that Flack's condition was serious, but not life threatening. The door opened and nurses, technicians and doctors began streaming out of the room. Flack lying on a gurney led the parade.
Jumping up, Danny hurried over to the man and gave a quick word of encouragement. Turning and seeing the nurse who had kicked him out of the treatment room, he cornered her for an update.
"He's heading to surgery up on 5th floor. There's a waiting room up just off the blue elevator, the surgeon will be out to talk to family when he's done." The nurse began to turn back towards the procession.
"Come on. Don't give me the official line. Did the bullet hit anything vital?"
"It's all vital when it happens to you." The nurse spoke sternly.
"You know what I mean. What are they thinking was damaged?" Danny's patience had worn thin.
"It looks like a through and through, but on the way through it hit a rib and nicked the lung. They will know more once they get inside him. They also ran a CT scan and it shows that he has some moderate swelling that would probably explain the memory loss he was experiencing. Now I need to do my job."
Danny could see there was no more information forthcoming, so he turned back to the waiting area. He would make a quick call to Mac before heading up to the surgical area.
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Mac had escorted Ash into one of the empty interrogation rooms. "I'm sorry I don't have any place nicer for you to wait. Can I get you something to drink? Are you hungry?"
Laying her head in her arms on the table top Ash was resigned to her plight. "No, I'm fine. How long do you think I'll be here?"
"A couple hours maybe." Seeing the dejected young lady in front of him made Mac feel like a real worm. But it had to be done and sometimes police work was like that, you had to make unpopular decisions. "I really think with the information you've given us we might finally have the chance to put Frankie away for good." He turned to leave the room, hesitating, "As soon as there is any word on Don's condition I'll let you know."
She raised her head and gave him a faint smile; "I'm having a hard time thinking of him as Don after calling him Danny."
The smile Mac gave her was genuine, "As close as those Danny and Don are it doesn't surprise me that he could confuse that. He was lucky he found you out there. I hate to think what might have happened." He trailed off, gave Ash a nod of goodbye and left the room.
Mac entered into the next interrogation room where Detective Mitchell was already questioning Ricci. Ricci's lawyer hadn't showed up yet and Ricci had been decidedly closed mouth so far.
"Maurice," Mac began and laid a folder on the table. "I've got proof here that ties you to the murder of Paul Walker and the adduction of Don Flack. Add in the concealed weapon, two counts of attempted kidnapping, and if you give me time I'll find a few more things. It all ends the same way, you are going to jail for the rest of your life."
Ricci was doing his best not to let his tension show, but it was a losing battle. "Screw you. I won't be doing any time. I've got a good lawyer."
Mac made a show of glancing around the room. "Sorry Maurice, but I don't see a whole lot of support and love coming your way right now. In fact, with the likelihood of Frankie Scalero going down on a murder rap, I'm guessing that he's trying to think of a way to pin everything on one of the stupid fucks that work for him. Namely you Maurice."
He shifted in his seat and stared at the door, "Frankie and me are tight. Besides you cops have been trying to stick things on him before but you ain't ever going to trip him up."
Leaning across the table, Mac smiled evilly. "I love a challenge."
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Stepping off the elevator Stella saw Danny sitting in one of the chairs facing a large aquarium. His gaze never wavered from watching the fish swimming back and forth. She laid a hand on his shoulder and he jumped slightly.
"Shit Stella, you'll give me a heart attack sneaking up on me like that."
"Sorry, I didn't realize you were such a fan of fish." Stella dropped into the chair next to him. "What is it about hospital furniture? It looks so comfortable but really feels like cement."
"Nah, I've sat on worse. Anyway, I guess I was just thinking about this whole think with Flack disappearing. The nurse said it looked like he had a concussion and that's what kept him from remembering."
"I don't know if Ashley told you that he thought his name was Danny.' Stella waited for the information to sink in. Scary, huh? Two Danny's around here." She smiled at him. "So what else do you know about how he's doing."
The elevator opened again, this time a man and woman stepped out and moved to the couple. The woman spoke first. "Danny! Mac called and told us Donny had been found. I knew you would bring my boy back to me."
Danny jumped up from his seat, "I got lucky Mrs. Flack. We all did."