It's Done

"Why are you protecting him? Why the fuck are you protecting him Kiki? After what he's done to you?"

"Michael-" Danny put a hand on Michael's shoulder but he shrugged it off furiously.

"You don't get it-" he spun back to Sheldon. "-he's been this stupid before, why the fuck haven't you learnt-"

"Michael please!" Sheldon buried his head in his hands as he sat on the edge of the hospital bed, waiting to be discharged.

"Michael go outside for a sec ok?"

"What the fuck?? I'm his fucking brother-!"

"Michael! Seriously!" Danny and Michael stared each other out for a minute before the latter finally turned on his heel and stormed out. Danny let out a breath and sat down next to his friend. After a pause he spoke. "Listen buddy, we've got the evidence now. He's going to the clink whether you want it or not. But if we want to make sure that he leaves you alone for good, you're going to have to testify-"

"I'm not going to court Danny, I won't." Sheldon raised his head, he was firm. "If Rob's going to jail anyway, where's the point?" Danny shook his head incredulously as he paced the room.

"How can you still love this guy?? I don't get it! You're smart Sheldon-"

"You sound just like Michael." Sheldon stood up too. "But I have insecurities too. And for a while Rob made me feel like I was something more than a trophy." Sheldon never lost eye contact with Danny. "I couldn't help falling for him. You'll never understand unless you go through it yourself."

"I want to understand-"

"You can't!" Sheldon put his hand over his eyes. "Danny, I appreciate everything you've done for me, but please, I want to forget about this now." He moved away. "It's done."

Danny straightened his tie as he prepared to re-enter the courtroom with the others. He looked around quickly when he heard a door behind him, just another lawyer. Danny hung his head, hands in pockets.

"You think he'll come?" he asked.

"We can't force him." Mac gave him a look which quite clearly told Danny to leave it. Danny laughed humourlessly, and paced the room.

"This is stupid Mac, if Sheldon doesn't testify-"

"He said he wouldn't, we can't force him." Mac repeated sternly. Danny shook his head as they were called back into session, and with one final glance back at the door followed Mac into the courtroom.

It took all Danny's self control not to leap out of his seat and punch that arrogant smirk off Robert Hookey's face. Every time that man answered a question he was so self-assured, so confident that he was in the right and had done nothing wrong it infuriated Danny, just as Mac knew it would. He often had to place a hand on Danny's arm firmly when he could see Danny's fists clenching. As Hookey finally stepped down after spending most of his time in the stand calmly remarking that he and Sheldon had had consensual sex, Mac whispered in Danny's ear;

"He wants you to lose control, don't let him have that satisfaction." Hookey sat down and his lawyer finished his spiel. Sheldon's lawyer stood up, she was his elder sister, normally a bouncy chatty girl but now, very serious and professional. She walked towards the judge.

"Your honour I would like to call one more witness to the stand." The judge was surprised.

"I was under the impression Stephens, that there were no witnesses."

"A very important part of the puzzle has just been found." She replied steadily. She turned to the back of the courtroom. "Your honour, the victim, Sheldon Hawkes." There was a gasp from the crowd, including the CSIs, as everyone swivelled in their seats to see Sheldon walking down the aisle with his eyes downcast. As he passed Danny's row Danny felt an urge to say something, then caught sight of Mac's expression.

The next 15 minutes or so were excruciatingly painful for everyone in that courtroom, with the exception of Hookey. Sheldon replied to his sister's questions as neutrally as possible but his emotions were brimming beneath the surface. What had happened to him during those lost hours in the park was horrific, beatings, forced oral sex, repeated raping, along with what had led up to it, the tying to a hot radiator, the insults, the iron burns. Danny could barely listen to it, especially when he turned around and saw Sheldon's parents crying at the back of the room. Eventually the ordeal was over, and Sheldon was ushered out of the courtroom first. During the jury's discussion the CSIs sat in silence, unable to bring themselves to say anything. Danny couldn't stand the tension in the room any longer and went outside for fresh air, where he saw Mac standing on the steps outside the courthouse, just gazing across New York City traffic.

"Mac?"

"You ok?" Danny shrugged, not sure how to answer Mac's question.

"Geez, I dunno. I dunno Mac, I wish I'd…god…" they stood quietly together for a while until Danny collected his thoughts. "You knew he was coming didn't you?"

"I hoped he would."

"What did you say to make him change his mind?"

"I didn't," Mac smiled ruefully, "I almost wish I'd persuaded him to stay out of it now." There was a pause. "No," Mac spoke again "he was already changing his mind when I saw him. He's a brave man."

"you're telling me" Danny muttered. Mac watched Danny sadly.

"It was you." Danny looked up. Mac smiled. "He changed his mind because of you." Danny didn't know what to think of that. A bell rang. "Jury's in," Mac put his hand on Danny's shoulder. "Come on."

Guilty. How could Hookey have been anything else? He was jailed for 15 years and when released wouldn't be allowed within 50 feet of Sheldon. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief after the trail was over, but Sheldon didn't return to the lab until two weeks after, during which Danny and Lindsey had agreed to work it out for the sake of Lucy and the divorce was sidelined. Stella remarked on this fact as she and Danny were running trace on a new case.

"It's so nice to see you two back together." She tossed her hair back as she peered down the microscope.

"Yeah."

"yeah?" Stella looked up frowning. "You don't sound too excited to be back with the woman you love." Danny shrugged.

"I dunno Stell, things aren't the same."

"Of course they're not, you nearly got divorced!" she laughed at him. Danny pretended to laugh with her as Don walked in.

"Hey guys, there's good news waiting in Mac's office."

"Really?" Danny was very suspicious, "there's never good news in Mac's office for me." Don grinned.

"Nah, this is good!"

"Sheldon!!!" It was like a family reunion with hugs all around. Mac even broke his stoic-ness and didn't just hug Sheldon but the others as well. Danny held onto Sheldon for as long as possible. He'd lost weight and he looked like he hadn't been sleeping well, but he was happy and glad to be working again. As he and Danny walked down to Adam's cubby hole he talked openly as Danny queried about his health and absence.

"I went to a counsellor..."

"Poor you," Danny quipped. Sheldon smiled that warm smile.

"Yeah well, I didn't go for long, in the end I spent most of those two weeks hanging out with my family."

"Lucky."

"I am lucky," Sheldon was still smiling but he sounded more serious. "I've been thinking," he stopped walking and Danny faced him. "I owe you a lot Danny, as if I didn't already what with you saving my life a while back…"

"It'll always be a life worth saving, Doc. Always." There was a pause, then Danny wrapped his arms around Sheldon and Sheldon returned the hug.

"Thank you." He whispered.

"Anytime" Danny replied. "oh and Sheldon?"

"Yeah?"

Danny looked his friend straight in the eye. "You're so much more than a trophy, and you always will be."