18

Chapter 18: Home Fyres still burning...

Chapter Text

"Damn, Danny. Are you sure about this?"

"Yeah," Danny sighed, zipping up his old leather jacket and stretching a few times to check the fit. "I am. I don't have a choice."

"Guess not." The woman he was talking to, some fifteen years his senior, walked around him and inspected him closely. "Still fits well. You kept in shape."

"I work in the docks, Beth," he replied with a small smile. "I might mostly sit behind a desk, but I still do a fair amount of physical labor, helping out where I can." Patting his stomach, he felt the armor plates incorporated into the leather. "But even so I'm still a bit surprised this fits as well as it ever did."

"Skinny genes," she snorted, grinning. "And not the ones Annette liked. Although, now I think about it…" She gave him a sultry look and winked, making him laugh. "She always liked someone in tight leather…"

He couldn't help laughing at her comment, because he had a lot of memories it brought back, mostly good, and a fair number very strange. Beth stepped closer and put her hands on his shoulders, looking into his eyes from a few inches lower than he stood. "Be careful, OK? You're not twenty any more."

"True, but I'm not dead either and I've kept my eye in," he responded quietly, meeting her concerned gaze without flinching. "And while I might not be as young as I was, I'm even more experienced. And probably sneakier."

She grinned widely. "And definitely more of a bastard. Kick 'em while they're down, eh?"

"Make sure they stay down, yeah," he agreed, also grinning in a rather dark manner. "Just like old times."

She slapped him on the back, almost knocking him sideways because while she was older and shorter she was still a very solidly built woman who had been a real brawler in her prime. And even now most people wouldn't enjoy it if she had reason to get physical. "I knew there was a reason Annette hooked up with you," she guffawed. "It wasn't for looks, that's for sure."

"Oh, thanks very much," he sighed as she laughed. "I have many good points, I'll have you know."

"I know you do, but my comment stands," she replied with a smirk. "But the main thing is she found you worthy of her attention, and you proved it more than a few times, so as far as I'm concerned it all worked out well. I wish she'd made it…"

They looked at each other, then at the floor for a moment, each lost in the memory of a woman they both missed intensely for different but related reasons. "Fuck, I miss her," he muttered.

Beth hugged him hard. "So do I, kid, so do I," she whispered into his ear. "She'd be proud of both of you, never doubt that."

"I don't," he replied almost silently, feeling both melancholy and pleased at the same time. Releasing him she stepped back.

"When you get Taylor back, bring her around, I want to see how she's grown," Beth instructed firmly. "I haven't seen the lass since she was… oh, about three or four, maybe?"

"Only because you were being hunted by three different law enforcement groups and lurking in strange places," he chuckled, getting a sigh and a thump on the arm in response.

"A case of mistaken identity, obviously. Just took a while to clear up."

"The statute of limitations finally ran out, you mean."

"Well…" She grinned again, making him snort and shake his head. "Let's say we came to an arrangement."

"Yeah, I read the news. Mysterious fire destroyed all the records."

"That happens."

"Twice."

"Still happens."

"In two different buildings in two different states."

"What can I say? Fire codes are there for a reason. You know that. Unfortunately not everyone is as strict as the Union is about that sort of thing." Her smirk was legendary, and he laughed quietly.

"You took way too many lessons from Erwin. The old bastard's a bad influence on people."

"As you'd be in a position to know, you hypocrite."

"Well…"

The two shared a look then laughed for a while. Eventually calming down, Beth turned to the workbench next to her, picking up a few items. Handing him the first one, she watched as he inspected his bat carefully. "Fixed the dents, polished it up, it's like new," she commented as he swung it experimentally, then spun it in his hand, flipped it to the left one, and swung it again backhanded, the heavy metal object whistling as it cut through the air. "I replaced the core, it was loose. Shouldn't shift the balance like it was doing."

"Thanks. We've been through a lot, this thing and me, it would be a shame not to let it join in again," he replied with a look of satisfaction, before slipping the bat over his shoulder into a pair of loops sewn to the back of his jacket for it. The handle stuck up over his left shoulder, easily in reach when needed. She gave him the next item, which he studied. Slipping the brass knuckles over his gloved fingers he made a fist, nodding appreciatively.

"Perfect fit," he said.

"I still had the measurements from the last one," she told him. "Try not to lose this set, will you?" Taking the thing off he put it in his pocket with a shrug and a small smile.

"I'll do what I can but you know how it is sometimes. You don't stop to go back unless the evidence is worth recovering. Sometimes running is a better idea."

"True enough. Still, if you could stop losing them that would be nice," she sighed. Holding out a belt with over a dozen loops on it, slim metal cylinders in each loop, she watched as he accepted it. "Smoke, incendiary, tear gas, vomiting agent. The usual stuff." Beth nodded at the bag on the bench. "Four more of each in there just in case. Remote detonator on the back of the belt on the right, backup on the left." Danny put it around his waist, buckled it up, and pulled his jacket down over it, before nodding approvingly.

"That should do the job."

"If it doesn't you're in over your head and you should be fucking off as fast as possible," she said wisely, making him smile.

"Always the backup plan."

"She taught you well, youngling."

"We taught each other. Oldling."

"Watch the mouth, or I'll show you I can still wash it out with soap," she warned, making him snicker.

A few other useful things went into his pockets, including an expanding baton as a backup, two knives as a backup backup, and a pistol with three magazines and a suppressor as a serious backup. "I checked all your stuff over and replaced a few parts that were getting long in the tooth," she told him, watching as he stowed everything away, the motions sure and practiced even after all this time. "New ammo, just in case. The good stuff. New baffles in the suppressor." Tossing him a small first aid pouch, she added as he caught it, "Should be everything you might need in an emergency in that. Try not to need it."

"I'll do what I can," he promised as he opened it and checked out the contents, nodded, and zipped it up again. It also disappeared into his coat.

"You always said that, but I seem to recall a few more stitches than ideal," she replied dryly.

"Annie had more," he said with a small laugh.

"She didn't duck fast enough sometimes," Beth sighed. "Mind you, neither did the other guy most of the time. Gave out a lot more damage than she took."

"Yeah. She was impressive that way," he agreed with a fond smile. "Taylor takes after her."

"Good. Every kid needs a role model."

Danny nodded. "True enough, and I wish I'd been a better one these last couple of years." Beth put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed gently.

"Grief fucks people up, we all know that, Danny. We've all been there in our own way. Don't beat yourself up about what can't be changed. You pulled through, both of you, and we're all proud of you. Shit happens, all you can do is deal with it, yeah?"

"Yeah." He took a breath, then nodded, as she released him.

Moving back to the bench, Beth looked at the final items on it, then at him. "You sure you want to take these?" He also studied the things there, then slowly nodded.

"I think so," he finally replied after some thought. "I don't know if I'll need them, but sooner or later they're probably going to get used."

"Hopefully not before Taylor can watch," Beth growled, collecting the items and stacking them back in the bag he'd brought over the night before. "She deserves to see."

"I know," he said in much the same tone of voice. "One day. Payment will be had in kind."

They shared a look of mutual understanding, both glancing at a photo on the wall for a moment, then turning away. "But not today. Probably."

Finishing filling the bag, she zipped it closed and handed it to him. "Good luck, kid. Don't get killed."

"Not planning on it, old woman."

She slapped him on the back of the head, making him squawk and grin. "Shut it, you, or I'll show you I haven't let myself go either…"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm terrified," he snarked, ducking as she whapped him again, although both of them were smiling.

"You should be," the woman griped, shaking her head in despair. "A lot of people were. The smart ones."

"Ah, memories," he sighed, mock-smiling. "How they take you back. Screaming, smoke, gunshots, people running in terror…"

"Fun for the whole family, right?" Beth grinned widely.

"I'd hoped that was behind us, and I still do, but better to be prepared," he nodded.

"By the sound of it Taylor's still holding up the family name, though."

"Well… in a sense, yes," he agreed. "Not quite the career path I had in mind for her, but she does seem to have the knack."

"So it would seem," Beth smiled. "A daughter of the bay, if ever I've seen one. We do tend to be…"

"Insane?"

"I was going to say determined, but whatever works," she chortled. "And you're one to speak. I know your family history, boy. Don't pretend you don't too."

He responded with a long-suffering look, making her laugh anew. "I've known you since you were younger than Taylor, Danny, don't think that look works on me," she advised him cheerfully. "Have fun. Keep those kids from doing something stupid, right? Be the adult in the room. I know you can do it if you try."

"Jesus, you in a good mood is worse than you in a bad one," he grumbled.

Slapping him on the back, Beth smiled softly. "I wish you didn't have to do this, but I understand why you do."

"I wish I didn't too, but…" He shrugged. "It's Taylor. I can't do anything else. And with any luck it'll all work out. Even so, I have to assume the worst might happen and plan accordingly. Hence…" Danny tapped his chest meaningfully. "It's been a long time, but I still remember."

"Other people will too," she warned.

"Yeah. With any luck that will keep them from doing something particularly stupid," he muttered.

Their eyes met then he sighed heavily. "Yeah. Fuck."

Hefting the bag in his hand, which gave off a metallic clink, he nodded to Beth. "See you around. And thanks again."

"My pleasure. Let me know how it goes." She thought for a moment then smirked. "Assuming I don't see it on the news."

Throwing her a dark little grin, he extracted a baseball cap from his pocket, put it on, pulled it low over his eyes, and left with a wave over his shoulder. Beth watched him go, then locked the door and turned the lights off, before heading out the rear in search of a pint of the good stuff at the Captain's Table. The whole time she was fondly remembering past times in the company of her friends and companions, and resolved to raise a glass to those who had gone on ahead.

While hoping she wouldn't have to do the same for Danny Hebert any time soon.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Knocking on the door, Lisa waited, glancing back at Brian who was in the car waiting. Hearing the lock operate, she turned back in time to see it open. Danny stood there, nodding when he saw her. She looked him up and down, her eyes widening, then blinked several times as a lot of data points finally fell into place. "Oh, fuck me," she whispered. "That explains a lot."

He grinned at her, the family relationship to her best friend showing very strongly in the expression, then came out onto the porch and closed the door behind him. "I did say I remembered how, didn't I?" he commented as he followed her down the steps towards the car, his gym bag in his left hand and his bat in his right.

Lisa shook her head in a mix of wonder and worry, her power also feeling slightly blindsided. Neither of them had quite expected what they'd just realized.

A few seconds later the car drove off, for a meeting that hopefully would result in something useful.

Or possibly explosions.

Which could sometimes also be useful, of course, this being Brockton Bay.