Disclaimer: I own very little, especially not CSI NY.

Author: Lily Moonlight

Notes: Thank you very much for reviews, please continue! They're a great help and I love knowing what you think. Thanks to Ballettmaus for her help. Thanks also to cmaddict and Brinchen86 for discussions, and special thanks to everyone who sent me a comment back about the extra scene :)

Seeing as the extra scene seemed popular last chapter, there's also one for this chapter's reviewers! It's inspired by a suggestion from DNAisunique :D

Chapter 22: Defiance

Hawkes:

Time seems to freeze after I have spoken and those two words hang in their starkness above us all. There is no question about it; Brigham Sinclair, owner of Hattanville's Hardware Store is lying dead in front of us, his life taken by the bullet that has penetrated his skull. The man stood no chance and there is nothing more I can do for him except close his eyelids and remain kneeling beside him, my head bowed, whilst all around me the silence echoes on and on. Daniel Messer, I am aware out of the corner of my eye, is half-collapsed in the arms of his fiancée and the sound of her soft sobs is all I can hear.

I am unable to think of a word more to say myself. How did this happen? How? We have lost a man in the most dreadful circumstances, and I could not help him. But there was nothing I could have done, taking on guilt will do no good, the last spark of life was gone from him before I even reached him. And now his blood is seeping into the snow, turning it pink and red around his cooling body, and I have the most sickening premonition that this will not be the last blood that is spilled today in town.

How wrong that is though; this is a peaceful town, and that we have been threatened and overtaken in this way... I can hardly begin to comprehend it. As I'm still on my knees, unable to do any more for the moment than look at this most brave and foolish of men, I feel a hand on my shoulder and realise Hammerback has moved over to me.

"Sheldon," he says. "Is... is there no possibility?"

I can only shake my head once more and he nods sadly in understanding, and then I am confronted by the sight of Sinclair's murderer, for it was nothing less than a cold-blooded murder that has taken place, looming over me, his weapon in hand as I look up at him.

"So you're the town Doctor, hey?" he says with a sneer twisting his face. As much as I want to leap up and give this man my fist in his face, to give him just an idea of the pain and misery he has inflicted, I know I cannot, that it would do more harm than good, and above all, I must live by my oath; I must do no harm. Enough harm has been done today. The death of a fellow man, even though he was a man, it now seems, who had betrayed us all, is one death too many. But I don't think Sinclair fully realised the consequences of his actions, and he did not deserve death, not in this way.

I give the man who brought that death upon him a curt nod and get to my feet, after I begin to feel the cold of the snow soaking through my breeches. I stand and face the twisted smile he's giving me, whilst his gaze swivels round like a snake's and his pistol twitches in his hand. I have a more than strong suspicion that were there to be the slightest possibly threatening movement from anyone around, his pistol would be discharged and another fatal shot delivered. Even if one of us were to succeed in taking him down, he has his unholy host of acolytes behind him who would exact their own vengeance. No, as much as it may pain us, for all our sakes, we are going to have to bide our time.

He's giving me a considering look now, almost as if he is weighing me in his judgment and it is a look that makes me deeply uncomfortable. But I know that I am more than able to stand up to any judgment this man can make; a man whose conscience must be filled with deeds I cannot bring myself to imagine.

Then he speaks to me again through the silence that still grips everyone.

"Guess that means you're pretty important to folks here, don't it? Bein' a Doctor and all. Guess your skills are likely useful to the good Sheriff, so he'd be pleased to keep you alive and safe, wouldn't he?" he asks, tipping his head to one side as his eyes slide down me. A grim feeling of what his words imply sinks through me and I wait silently to hear what he has to say.

"Kinda' quiet, ain't you?" he says with a twirl of his gun. "Still, that ain't a problem. Don't like it when folks get to chattin' too much or answerin' back..." he breaks off to laugh shortly, and send a mocking glance over to Stella whose face is already reddening where the brute struck her. But she is refusing to give in to any intimidation and though she don't say anything, her look is eloquent enough and I know that if she gets even the slightest chance to break loose she will not hold back to let this man know with as much force as she can what she thinks of him. I take a quick look at Taylor also and the look of hatred, sheer hatred on his face is terrible to see. He's a man who remains calm and steady even in the most unnerving of situations, but the hand this man laid on the woman he adores and strives above all else to protect has brought to the surface some of his darkest and deepest-hidden emotions. I am afraid that he will be seeking his own vengeance for what happened to Stella, now and in the gunpowder works, and justice for what has happened to the other citizens that he, as Sheriff, vows to protect...

"But you're gonna be important to me, so stay right where you are, Doctor."

The barrel of the man's gun jabbed into my chest as he sneers his words out knocks me out of my moment of thought and makes me take a step backward. But I refuse to be intimidated by him. I refuse. I have faced bullies and cowards before in my life, and I will not allow this one to beat me down either, as I know all the folks in Hattanville will not. We are strong together, and we stand or fall together; even if one of us betrayed us.

The man is talking again though, doesn't seem able to stop, seems he is arrogant as well as brutal, forcing us to endure his taunts. But then those who speak most, give most away about themselves, and it may well be that the Sheriff is able to hear some useful clues in what he tells us.

He turns to Danny next who is being helped to the ground by Miss Monroe. "You were lucky, boy," he cackles. "Better thank your lucky stars someone was foolish enough to jump in front of one of my bullets." Neither of them reply, I do not think they are able to; Miss Monroe simply stares at him for a moment and then turns her attention back to Danny.

Then he raises his voice and scans the crowd, turning in a slow circle with his pistol held in the air. "So you've all seen what happens when someone tries arguin' with me. Let what just happened here be a lesson to all of you. No one messes with Billy Baines and gets away with it!"

So now we have a name for this murderer, not that it will do us much good...

"Guess I'll be tellin' you shortly what I'm plannin' on doin, seein' as it concerns all you folks," he smiles cruelly, and a chill seizes hold of me again to think just what those plans might be, bearing in mind what he has already inflicted upon us.

His smile twists across his face and shows a mouthful of yellowed and broken teeth. He pauses again, letting us hang in a grotesque parody of showmanship that turns my stomach, and I catch the eye of Kelly, to see her expression is similar to mine. But at least the glance we share and the almost imperceptible smile she gives me is something I can gain solace from.

"Hope you're listenin' and all, Doctor!"

I'm jolted to attention by the barrel of Baines's gun poked in my ribs again.

"How could I fail to hear your voice, seeing as you're so fond of using it!" I snap before I've even realised the words are out of my mouth. A horrified silence drops and I can hear the flap of Baines's coat in the breeze as he stares at me.

The gun jabs further into my ribs, making me take another involuntary step backwards. I hold my breath waiting for at the very least a blow from his hand or his pistol.

It doesn't come though.

Instead, he regards me with a baleful eye, scrutinising me with his head slightly to the side and one eye at a squint. "Better be watchin' your tongue, Doctor. Be a shame I reckon for anythin' to happen to you sooner than intended," he says, letting the words drip out of his mouth, poison in every one of them. "I ain't averse to usin' up a few more bullets, got plenty more where the last one came from, in fact..." he raises his voice and looks around again, "I got more than enough for each and every last one of you folks, if needs be!"

Frightened and angry murmurings arise, but no one speaks, and Baines smiles again. I hold my tongue, not wanting to encourage him, but I hold his gaze steadfastly as it returns to me. I will not let this man intimidate me. As anxious as I am, and, I confess, afraid as I am of what our fate will be, I am certain that if he sees our fear then his victory is halfway gained.

He seems satisfied for the moment though and decides he has had enough of my company as he turns away, allowing me to release the breath I have been holding.

Stepping callously over the body of Sinclair, his foot kicking back against him as he does so, Baines strides back to the front of the crowd, towards Taylor, Stella, Flack and the two other captives. A few yards from them though he stops, swings round to face us and a monstrous smile is bestowed on us all.

"So, you all wantin' to hear what's planned then?" he shouts and a sullen muttering greets his words. The arrogance of the man is repulsive; why he does not go right ahead and tell us I do not know. Then his smile fades, and he fires up into the air. "Well wantin' to or not, you're gonna hear me!" he yells and I begin to fear his erratic nature as his arm lowers slowly and the pistol is held out in front of him, moving and pointing at first one person then the next, unpredictable and as fast as a viper's tongue. "As you can see, we got ourselves a real nice bunch of hostages here, includin' your precious Sheriff and his lady friend..." he sends a leering smile towards Stella, who, despite the red mark now smarting on her cheek, returns him a glare that would freeze the hearts of most men in fear.

Baines is unmoved. He is no man though; he is a coward of the lowest order, and as he gestures for the two men holding Taylor and Stella to bring them forward, my hatred for him only increases.

The crowd shuffles back, moved by the sight of pistols bristling in the hands of our enemies as Taylor and Stella are pushed forward into the cleared space. Flack is left standing where he is, struggling against the bonds he's tied with and his face is a study in impotent rage at being unable to defend his friends. I can't see Miss Jessica from where I'm standing, but the shout from her earlier told me clearly that she will be furious at the treatment of her beau.

Taylor stumbles as he's given a rough shove forwards and I catch the desperate glance Stella gives him as she's straining once again to free herself. Uselessly though as Baines looks them both up and down before turning to the rest of us.

"So, two more people, just like your Doctor, I expect all you folks'd be real sorry to see dead, hey?" he asks rhetorically with a grin on his face casting a quick glance at me which I ignore, and as anger rises again from the crowd in the form of mutterings and shifting about, he fires another round into the sky. "Shut your faces!" he roars through the echoes of the discharge ringing round and round in the still, cold air and everyone falls silent. I can feel now the snow starting to numb my feet, even in my boots, and taking a quick glance to the side, I can see Messer looking in real distress. The man's only got a pair of socks on as far as I can see, and frostbite's going to be taking its toll on him. He's sitting in the snow now with his knees drawn up to his chest, his head hanging down, and with Miss Monroe crouched over him, her hands wrapped round his neck, and her face pressed against his. Standing near me, I hear one of our very young folk speaking to her Mama, asking why Mr Sinclair's sleeping in the snow and not getting up. It near enough breaks my heart, but it only angers Baines.

"Best quit all that noise over there, otherwise if any of you ain't gonna be listenin' or cooperatin', then your precious Doctor," he gestures towards me again, "is gonna be gettin' a bullet right between the eyes, then I'll be firin' a few bullets towards all of you!"

Silence prevails. As it does, Baines smiles and nods slowly, wiping his mouth as he stares at me. I do not react though; despite his threats, he is an empty vessel of a man. I will not give in to fear. The deathly hush is only broken by a muffled sob from Martha Hammerback who is clasped to her husband's chest.

"Yeah, you heard right," Baines grins. "Don't put much value on lives, unless they're useful to me. Right now, your Sheriff and his lady are more use to me alive than dead, but soon as that changes, I ain't gonna be averse to finishin' them off and all. Or finishin' any of you off, you hear me?" his voice rises and frightened glances are exchanged amongst the crowd, but I stand firm. As long as we're still alive, we have a chance to defeat this brute. Taylor and Stella are standing erect, but I can see that the situation has also affected them both; both have fear in their eyes, even if it is masked partially by defiance, and the trials they have been through in the last few days is shown clearly by the exhaustion they cannot conceal, not from me anyhow.

"None of you folks are important to me," Baines continues. "It's this here town that's important, and the only reason you and these folks I got captive are still alive is 'cause you're gonna help me get it. See, I can get money for this town, and money's real important to me. Done my thinkin' about this and maybe what you don't realise is that it's in a real prime position, kinda' place that railroad companies and other companies are gonna be real interested in. So if I'm owner of this here place, which is what I intend to be, then I can be sellin' it and makin' a princely sum..."

"Like hell..."

He stops suddenly, his gaze falling back on Taylor who's standing with an increasing look of disgust in his face. "Got somethin' else you wanna say, Sheriff? Ain't learned your lesson yet about keepin' quiet?" he hisses.

I'm worried now that Taylor's going to let his emotions get the better of him and do or say something rash. But all I can do is hope he can keep a hold of himself...

He gives a quick glance to Stella before he continues. "Yeah," he spits, his face all crushed up with scorn and looking at Baines as if he's just crawled out of a pit. "I got somethin' I wanna say, somethin' you might be interested to hear. This town ain't the kinda' place any railroad company's gonna be interested in, they ain't gonna want a small town way out in the middle of nowhere. Took 'em long enough to build a station outside..."

Baines interrupts him with a laugh, a real brittle laugh that breaks over us all. "Ha! Reckon you got your thinkin' wrong there, Sheriff, reckon you've misjudged me in fact. 'Cause I'm pretty smart, see, and I know you're tryin' to bluff me with all that, tellin' me no one's gonna be interested in your little town. Well, I ain't buyin' that, 'cause accordin' to our dead friend, Brigham, you know the value of this place. Why else would you go sendin' that letter off to the non existin' railroad company in such a hurry, hey?" he studies Taylor, and another smile creeps over his face as the Sheriff stays silent, breathing hard. My heart's sinking fast, seeing this play out, realising that we're fast running out of options. "Anyhow, even if a railroad company ain't interested in purchasin' this here town, there's gonna be plenty of other companies, development sorta' companies who'd be happy to have this piece of land for their own purposes, land without no people livin' on it neither!" Baines laughs as Taylor presses his lips together after receiving another look from Stella. I can see the anger in his eyes though, knowing he's failed in his attempt. Then the look on Baines's face becomes sly as he hefts his pistol in his hand and adds. "Yeah, and just between you and me, Sheriff, maybe I've heard rumours of somethin' else in this town, somethin' even you ain't aware of, somethin' of value."

That makes my eyes widen in surprise. Something of value? But what does a man like him mean by value? Everyone pricks up their ears at that and glances are being exchanged around the crowd, however, there's no time to even begin to think about what he means and no more explanation before he swings his pistol round again and faces the crowd, his black coat flapping in the breeze and the leather creaking with every moment he makes.

"So no more debatin'! Small or not, this town's gonna be mine and the sooner that happens the better. Now I see that you got a real nice big Saloon here..." he grins again, the skin on his face stretching over his cheekbones. "Reckon it's even big enough to fit every last one of you in there." The grin widens and I can see Stella now almost choking with fury, and this time it's Taylor sending her a look. Baines don't seem to see this though as he gestures toward the other captives. "Bring over the rest of our friends," he yells and his men don't hesitate for a second to obey him. Seems he holds sway over them with fear too.

"Don't be worryin'," he smirks as Flack and the two other men are brought over. "We ain't forgotten about you."

If I've ever seen rage on the face of Hattanville's Deputy, it's now. He's livid, a bright spot of colour burning in each cheek and his eyes sparking blue fire.

The other two men though, the two responsible for the kidnapping of Danny and Miss Monroe, now them, I'm not able to read them so easily. Only know that the smaller of them's Danny's brother, other than that, I'm not sure where they fit into all this.

Baines is regarding them with a nasty sort of interest, much as a predator studies its helpless prey. Whatever sins they might have committed, I'm feeling real sorry for them. Louie Messer is looking down at his feet trembling all over worse than an aspen leaf: man looks frightened to death, but his companion's looking round at the crowd and there don't seem to be the same level of fear in his face, just a kind of curiosity. I'm curious myself...

"Well, well, well," Baines drawls as he strolls around the pair of them, ignoring Flack for the moment. A smile curls his lips as he tilts his head on one side and looks over the two men. "We meet again, hey? Ain't reunions sweet, men?" he shoots a look at his cohorts and they all laugh on cue. He flicks his pistol towards Louie Messer and continues, ignoring the laughter which dies away as soon as his men realise it is no longer required. "Bet you didn't expect to see me again, did you? Likely you thought you'd gotten away from us. Trouble is though, I'm real unwillin' to let friends go, and now you're back with us, guess I'm gonna be keepin' hold of you..." the smile widens and shows his yellowed teeth, and the look in his eyes is nothing but death. "Till I'm done with you anyhow."

Louie gives a sort of whimper and trembles even more in the grasp of his captor, but his companion don't show any change in expression, instead he seems to take more interest in the crowd. Intriguingly, Baines don't take any notice of him.

As he continues his taunting of Louie, I glance behind me at Danny, who's staring now at his brother with dead eyes, seemingly unable to take anything in. Miss Monroe's hovering over him, tears in her eyes, but failing to get any kind of response from him. Seems shock's taken over, and I vow that as soon as I can, I'm going to take a look at him. At the very least, he's going to need his feet treated for frostbite.

Finally, Baines appears to tire of baiting Louie, who's now looking a broken man, and turns to speak to us again. I can see more than one person shivering now and many of the faces around me are blue and pinched with cold. We've been out here a long time, kept hanging on strings like a host of puppets by this most diabolical of puppet masters.

"Listen up!" he shouts. "Get yourselves lookin' lively, 'cause I ain't gonna have no messin' about with this. You're all gonna get yourselves into the Saloon, and there you're all gonna stay till I tell you otherwise. Your captive friends here are gonna be accompanyin' you, and whether they survive or not's down to you and them..."

His men, I now see, have been gradually moving round, unseen as we've been listening, and they have with dreadful skill surrounded us, meaning there is no escape. At strategic points, they are there waiting, pistols aimed and I realise that we have no choice but to comply. My only comfort is that at least inside the Saloon, we will have warmth and a chance for our most vulnerable citizens to recover from this prolonged exposure to the cold. As I look round I'm deeply concerned about the older folks of the town, many of whom are clinging to husbands and wives and shivering fearfully. Children too, there are the few babes in arms and the little ones hiding behind their Mamas' skirts or their Papas' sturdy frames. If we can get them inside, I will be much relieved. Once inside of course, it is up to those of us who can to devise some kind of plan for escape from this mess...

Baines continues though. "But I got a few last things to say before we head indoors," he smirks and my loathing increases at the cruelty of the man, keeping us out here to listen to him draw out his demands. "Seein' as I want the town, you're gonna have to give me somethin' I need..." my eyebrows raise at this as he continues with a gesture at his captives. "But don't go thinkin' that gives you any kinda' power over me, 'cause I still got your friends captive. Somewhere in this town are the deeds to it. Yeah," he nods with that smirk still on his lips. "Know all about them deeds, thanks to your store owner..." He throws a careless glance towards the body of Sinclair, still lying where he fell in the snow.

"Shame you ain't gonna get them," Taylor snarls, and I wince, wishing to myself that he would stay silent for his sake and Stella's sake. But then I get to thinking what I'd do in his situation, and I know I can't judge him for speaking out. However, even though my heart's started hammering and the crowd are holding their breath, Baines ignores him and continues. "And 'cause I'm needin' them, you're gonna give me them. Reckon you know where they are, you just ain't sayin'..."

"We ain't got no idea where they are!" Stella says furiously. "So you're askin' the impossible!"

Once again, I'm holding my breath. Fear flares up in Taylor's face as Baines takes a step towards her, but this time, he simply laughs at her. "You know, you're startin' to amuse me, all that fire you got inside of you." Then he casts another sly look at Taylor. "Reckon your Sheriff's real fond of that and all," and he laughs again, leaving Stella struggling against her captor, almost incandescent with rage. Taylor... well, all I can say about him is that Baines is lucky that looks aren't fatal, because the look the Sheriff's giving him now ought to have him stretched out stiffer than a board.

"Anyhow," Baines continues, turning back to the crowd. "Reckon I can find a way to persuade you to remember where them deeds are, 'cause I'm real good at persuadin' people." There's a pause as he hefts his pistol in his hand again. "Maybe a few more bullets in the right kinda' places will loosen your tongue, huh, Sheriff?" And his gaze slides most abominably to Stella leaving no doubt in anyone's mind what he's meaning.

"You'll never..." Taylor hisses, and Baines only laughs more.

"Guess you ain't wantin' to test me though, are you? So here's the deal. Seein' as I'm in a generous kinda' mood, knowin' that I'm gonna be enjoyin' some free alcohol in a few short minutes, courtesy of your Saloon, I'm gonna give you four hours to make your mind up. Four hours to tell me where your deeds are, and then I start usin' up more of my bullets. Reckon we can all cosy up in the Saloon and while we're waitin' real patiently for your answer, me and my boys'll be enjoyin' some liquor."

At that, a wave of protest arises, but Baines is hearing none of it, and there's nothing I or anyone can do for the moment as we're all herded towards the Saloon. A few of his men are sent to make sure no one's left in any of the houses, although as far as I can tell, the whole town is out here already. Danny, I note, is helped to his feet by his fiancée and the Angells have Miss Jessica with them, her face white and strained as she stares over her shoulder at Flack. I see his gaze meet hers as she is taken forcibly away by her parents, all the while with them casting fearful looks at the men aiming their weapons at them. I stand my ground though and when one of the men approaches me, pistol held out, I tell him firmly that I'm not leaving the body of Sinclair out here, that he deserves that small measure of respect.

The man beckons Baines over whose only response is to laugh and tell me I can do what I like with his body, take it or leave it. The callousness of the man and the amusement he is finding in this situation sickens me all over again. Under the watching eye of one of his henchmen, however, Hammerback, after leaving Martha accompanied by Mrs Wildman, assists me to carry Sinclair over to the funeral parlour. There we lay him with as much dignity as we can on a trestle and cover him with a rough sheet, before we are marched at gunpoint back over to the Saloon.

Inside, a dismal sight meets us. The Saloon is packed with the town's citizens, unified in despondency and fear, crammed in there with no consideration to comfort or dignity. Baines, with Stella held by her arm, is holding forth to the crowd making further threats whilst he stands in the centre of the room. Taylor, next to him, is seated on a chair placed in front of the bar. Flack, Louie Messer and his companion are seated on the floor either side of Taylor, and they all have their hands still bound. There is a small circle of bare floor around them, whilst everyone else is pushed in any old how, squeezed against the walls, squashed up on the floor, pressed into every corner. Hammerback and I find ourselves forced into a space a few feet away from Taylor, whilst the man who accompanied us to the funeral parlour remains to stand over us. I look around and am relieved to see Kelly safe a few feet away from me. Once again we exchange a quick smile, to reassure ourselves we are all right.

Then Baines, a wide, skull-like smile on his face, announces. "Four hours, that's all you get, then if those deeds ain't in my hands, I'm gonna take real pleasure in persuadin' your Sheriff to do as I want!"

His eyes are full of nothing but sadism and I am sick with fear at what further wickedness may be coming this way as he pushes Stella, her face still dark and furious, roughly down beside Flack. He steadies her with his elbow so she doesn't lose her balance and she gives him a quick look of thanks. Then as Baines steps over the huddled townsfolk towards the other side of the bar to grab a bottle of liquor off the shelves, she looks up at Taylor and I am able to make out what she says to him in an undertone.

"If he thinks he's firin' any bullets my way, then he's sorely mistaken, 'cause the only bullets fired in here are gonna be headin' right into his black heart!" Her face sets in determination as she continues. "Whatever it takes, Mac, we're gettin' outta this mess."

From the look in her eyes as her and Taylor's gazes stay locked, I have no doubt that she means what she says.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I'd love to know what you thought :) Please review and let me know, and I'll send the extra scene. I'll update again in a week, and will also upate my new story, 'Finding the Future'. Thanks, Lily x