TITLE: How Time Has Past.

SUMMARY: Danny Messer had a past… that could decide the fate of his future.

SPOILERS: Not any that I can think of.

DISCLAIMER: CBS characters belong to CBS… however, we are working with FICTION, and so a lot of this came from my tortured imagination.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is, in so many words, my story of what happened in Danny's past, concerning Tanglewood and Louie, and Sonny… and some other fictional characters that generally just make life interesting. Also, gives a new look on Danny and Lindsay's relationship. Post Love Run Cold…ish.

RATING: It will be M, so hang on to your hats.

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Summer of '91

The gunshots rang out, one right after the other. Somewhere, a woman cried out in the night for redemption. Huddled amongst the mass confusion, two teenagers clung to each other in fear: fear for their families, fear for their lives, and fear for each other. It seemed that all the world was, was fear. Softly, he smoothed the hair back from her forehead, trying to read the message in her hazel eyes. "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too, Danny," came the soft reply.

:One year previously:

"Swing, batta batta, swing!" The hot August air beat down on the baseball game taking place in the abandoned lot somewhere in New York City. Danny Messer wiped the sweat from his brow, ignoring the looks of pure venom coming from the opposing team. He had an excellent record of bringing up the unexpected, and that was exactly what he planned to do. Bottom of the ninth, two runners on base, scores tied, Danny knew exactly what was at stake. And it was grinning out at him from the sidelines, judging his every move.

"This one's for you, Lou," Danny whispered to no one in particular, feeling his brother's eyes on his back.

The ball came fast and furious, impossible for anyone except for a high school baseball star to take a swing at. Danny could feel his muscles strain as wood and leather connected, and he grunted with pride as the ball flew away from him, heading for the high fence on the far side of the lot. He calmly dropped the bat, smirking cockily at the catcher's dumbfounded expression. "And that, Vinnie, is how you hit a fastball." Danny took off in a fast run, drinking in the sounds of his brother's praise.

"Attaboy, Dan, show 'em what it means to be a Messer!" Louie pounded his friend and comrade, Mikey O'Brien, soundly on the back, pointing as his little brother rounded the bases and came in smoothly for a home run. "Ha, didja see that? The other team never even tried!" He beamed as Danny walked to where he was, the young man breathing heavily at the combined effects of heat and adrenaline. "Good job, Danny! Way to go!"

Mikey watched the brothers high- five, with a mirthful eye. "Great job, Danny. I wish Allie coulda seen that," he teased, noticing how red the younger man's face got. Louie chuckled at Mikey's remark. "Aw, Mike, leave him alone. He's got enough problems with women on his plate without your sister being a distraction. Right, Danny?" Louie ruffled his younger brother's hair affectionately, ignoring the grumbles of protest. "Besides," Louie began walking out of the lot, smiling and nodding as he went, "Danny's gotta go back to school. He's gonna be a famous ball player, get a scholarship and everything."

Danny nodded, feeling calm enough to join in on the conversation. "Yeah, Mike. I'm planning on working until baseball season, and then just blowing them out of their seats. Who knows, they may sign me to the majors before the end of senior year." He broke out grinning as Louie and Mikey stared at him. "What? You think I'm serious? C'mon."

The three boys broke into laughter at the same time, all talking at once: about the game, about school, about life in general. The sun shone down and Danny was starting to get hopeful until a freckled-faced kid with dark hair ran up to Louie and handed him a piece of paper with one word on it: Pelham.

All three stared at the word with intensity, as though afraid it would jump off the scrap of paper and bite them. Slowly, Louie took a deep breath, avoiding Danny's eyes. "Mike, take Danny to Costello's for a drink. I'll meet up with youse guys lata."

"Shit, Louie, don't go again. Let Sonny handle his own messes." Mikey shook his head in a warning. Don't leave your own brother hangin' over a fight.

"Shut up, I'll be back soon. Hey, good job, kid." Louie punched Danny lightly in the shoulder and walked away quickly, not once looking back. Danny stared as his brother walked away, flinching as Mikey gently took the bat from his hands. "Hey, let's go. You know Louie: Save Tanglewood, save the family. Let's go get that drink," Mikey's voice was reassuring, but Danny read the look of worry in his eyes. The nod of consent wasn't completely freely given, Mike noticed, as he and the younger Messer made their way through the streets of the neighborhood they had roamed since diapers. Mikey did his best to make Danny feel better, but he never missed the anger and sadness, even when Danny was laughing at the greeting they received coming into the bar. Mikey waved over a waitress, put in an order, and pulled Danny over to a corner table.

"Seriously, Dan, that was a terrific game. Baseball really is your thing, you know?" Mikey tried to engage a conversation, but Danny wouldn't give in. He turned and fixed Mikey with clear blue eyes, a gaze made even more severe by the glasses Danny wore.

"I don't fuckin' get it, Mike. You're in Tanglewood, and you never leave Allie hangin'. I've never known her to have to make last minute plans because you were out doing 'business'," Danny's anger was made apparent by his sarcasm. He smiled politely at the waitress as she set down their drinks, but his face stayed stern, "and I know that you don't leave family suddenly for Tanglewood affairs. Where the hell does he get off doing somethin' like that? It seems like every time we're getting close, Louie just pushes me away. It's like I'm not good enough, or somethin'. Pisses me off," Danny muttered into his drink.

"Hey, it's nothin' like that. I promise. I don't just leave suddenly because I'm not that important. Louie is tryin' to get on Sonny's good side, so he can get out. It's temporary, I swear. And you think Allie doesn't hate it as much as you? Come on, Danny; use that brain of yours she's always braggin' about. Allie can't wait until I get out." He motioned Danny nearer, lowering his voice as though telling a huge secret. "You know, I think she hates your brother for getting' me in with the Tanglewood Boys. I love him for it, I feel like I belong." Mikey shrugged, taking another swig of his beer. "But then again, I'm not nearly as pretty or popular as my sister."

Danny laughed, but quickly sobered. "That's all I want: to belong. Maybe if I—"

"No." The sudden interruption caused Danny to look up in alarm. Mikey's eyes were sparking, and his hands were clenched into fists. "You're not joinin'. Louie won't let you, first off, and Allie would kill me if I didn't talk you out of it. It's out of the question." He took a deep breath. "You wouldn't make it in Tanglewood, Dan. You're meant for more than women, drugs, and violence. Put that good arm and mind to work, eh kid?" Mikey winked jovially at the younger man and buried his nose in his beer. Danny could tell the conversation was over, and he didn't press the matter.

The friends finished their drinks, and Mikey paid as they left an hour earlier than usual. When Danny objected, Mikey fixed him with a stern eye, reminding him, "You got school startin' tomorrow. Gotta get at least five hours of sleep, man."

It wasn't until he heard his brother come in that Danny realized Louie had never meant to show up at all. He was out doing something that he obviously didn't want Danny to see. This thought made the younger Messer roll over in frustration. I'm almost eighteen, Louie. What could you possibly be doin' that I can't handle?

A knock on his window made Danny sit up with a start. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes once and stared in uncertainty at the sight outside. Confusion gave way to happiness when he saw who it was. Danny climbed out of bed, not bothering to put on his shirt. He knew she wouldn't mind. He kicked some various articles of clothing under his bed, opening the window as he did so.

"Hey," he whispered, anxious not to awaken his parents, "What are you doin' here?"

"I heard about Louie and I thought you could use a friend."