Robert Hookey

Rob. That was all Danny had to go on. And a bruise on Sheldon's arm, amidst a multitude of other, much newer bruises. And a clammed up Sheldon. He could always try, but Sheldon could be extraordinarily stubborn sometimes, and if this Rob really was Sheldon's boyfriend…well, Sheldon evidently had no intention of giving his lover over to the police. But…Danny stirred his coffee in the small café where he was musing everything over. But…Sheldon had told Danny that he had been raped, and yet gone back on it when he spoke to Don, that suggested at least a glimmer of wanting to be helped. Danny ran his hands through his hair, frustrated. He had had no idea Sheldon had a boyfriend, let alone a boyfriend who abused him, and Danny was furious with himself for not seeing the signs. But had there been any? Danny took a deep drink of scalding hot coffee and didn't even feel the burn. There were so many question, so many but whats. After a time nursing his burnt tongue Danny rose from his stool and left, knowing what he had to do, and worrying about those three hours when he had no idea what had happened to Sheldon.

Wandering into the Bronx at this time of night was really not a good idea, but Danny was in a hurry. He peered into the face of every black man who walked past, hoping to see that face that was familiar and yet totally unfamiliar at the same time. It got later and later, and Danny was beginning to doubt he'd ever find the man he was looking for. Just as he was about to give up he heard laughing down a dark back alley, and in a last ditch attempt, he foolhardly walked towards the flickering light. As soon as he reached the gang of men standing round a dustbin of fire he felt a gun stabbed in his back. He immediately raised his hands.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing down here white boy?" a voice growled in his ear. Danny saw the men round the fire turn, most of them had their hoods up, but one hoodie was recognisable.

"I'm looking for Michael, Michael Hawkes," there was a pause, and the gun prodded Danny's back harder. Danny tried again, "I'm his brother's friend, it's about what happened…" one guy started to move away from the fire and jerked his head. Danny felt the gun lose contact with his back and a man who was considerably smaller than Danny appeared from behind him, still showing the gun. The other man came very close to him, staring him straight in the eye.

"I'm Michael." He said.

The two of them went round the corner and huddled into a boarded up doorway. Michael lit a cigarette as Danny watched enviously. Michael blew a smoke ring then spoke, Danny marvelling all the time how much Michael looked and didn't look like Sheldon.

"White boy like you shouldn't be coming around here," his tongue piercing glinted in the street lights as he spoke. "Especially if they were to find out you's a cop." As he said this Michael looked around furtively. His voice was gravellier than Sheldon's, lower, more smokey, and the accent a little ghetto, but still, the same voice. Michael blew another smoke ring, and continued. "This about the bastard who raped my brother?"

"Yeah," Danny hesitated, "Listen, Michael, does Sheldon have a boyfriend?" there was a silence during which Danny could see Michael's brain whirring.

"You think Rob did this?"

"Do you think he could have done?" Danny answered quickly. Michael stared Danny out.

"Without a doubt."

A police siren went off in the distance.

"What makes you so sure Sheldon's boyfriend did this?"

"One," Michael slid down the wall to sit on the doorstep, "he's not a boyfriend he's an old man friend, two," he took a drag on his ciggie, "Sheldon was afraid of him and three...I don't like him."

"How was Sheldon afraid of him?" Danny crouched beside Michael.

"He never talked when Rob was around, he just smiled. He never said anything bad about him, even when you could tell he wanted to, it's like Rob made Sheldon shut down on us." Michael stubbed his cigarette out on the wall. "That man's a control freak, it's a miracle he lets Sheldon go to work, he'd much rather turn him into a fucking housewife."

"He was that bad huh?" Danny gazed over the dark street, thinking about Michael's counterpart lying in a hospital bed across town. "Where can I find him?"

"If you've any sense at all..." Michael remarked slowly, "you wouldn't leave his side for a minute..."

"Robert Hookey?" a man in his fifties turned around, still clenching Sheldon's wrist tightly. Danny could see the relief spread across Sheldon's face as he walked through the door. Danny jerked his head. "We need to talk." Rob slowly let go of Sheldon and came towards Danny. Michael pushed roughly past him and sat on the edge of Sheldon's bed, gently taking his brother's hand in his own. Danny closed the door and indicated to the waiting room. "Let's go in here."

"What's this all about?" Rob was tall, confident, and good looking for a man in his late fifties, Danny could see how Sheldon fell for him, the man was charming, all in all, from the way he dressed to the commanding gaze from the blue eyes under the grey hair. Danny mentally shook himself.

"You know what happened to Sheldon a few nights back?"

"Yeah, some asshole got his hands on him." he was too cocky, and as he ran his hand through his hair Danny caught sight of a bite mark.

"How'd'you get that bite mark?"

"Friend's dog." Rob shook the question off easily. Danny came close to him.

"I know you did this to Sheldon."

"You know nothing." he didn't blink. "You've been listening to Mickey too much." Danny grabbed Rob's wrist roughly.

"His name is Michael." he growled.

"Let go of me! What the hell do you think you're doing??" Rob finally twisted his arm free of Danny's grasp as another voice rang out.

"Danny!" Danny shut his eyes in frustration as Mac turned up. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing, we were just talking." Danny gave Rob a hard stare as he turned on his heel and left.

Stella walked through the lab, twining and untwining her fingers together irritably. As she brushed her hair aside she caught sight of Danny intently watching a computer screen flip through DNA profiles.

"Danny?" She leaned over his shoulder. What are you doing?"

"Trying to get a match to the rape kit."

"You found a suspect? I though Mac took you off the case?" As Danny gave her a raised eyebrow she sighed. "Danny...come on..."

"Seriously Stella I swear to god it was Sheldon's boyfriend who did this to him. If I can match the DNA from his skin to the DNA in the semen we found that will be enough of a match to get us a warrant for his apartment."

"Since when did we have Rob's skin DNA?" Stella asked pointedly. Danny rubbed his forehead.

"Since I scratched him at the hospital." Stella rolled her eyes.

"Danny if Mac finds out you did this you have no idea how much trouble you'll be in!! I mean...this evidence, if it's right, won't hold up in court seeing as how you aren't even supposed to be working his case."

"You wanna sign for it?" Danny gave her a pleading look. Stella groaned.

"What are you going on? Hmm? Gut instinct?"

"Is that so wrong?"

Stella paused before answering.

"No, but it could get you into trouble. And make things worse for Sheldon ."

Danny shook his head.

"It's not just me, you should hear what Michael has to say about him. Besides, something's making Sheldon clam up, he's lying."

"Danny..."

"Stop Danny-ing me..." Danny snapped. Stella groaned again just as the screen flashed up a match between both sets of DNA. Danny grinned "Boom."

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack! sorry I always take so long. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx love you all ;)