Chapter Text
Danny woke from a heavy, groggy and pained haze, body numb. He was confused for more than a moment, unsure where he was, how he'd gotten there, wherever 'there' was. He was sprawled, face down, on a hard, thin mattress, itchy blanket irritating his arms, the pillow thinning and reeking of a musty smelling. He groaned and tried to shift, the effort protested by the rest of his body. Instead he lay still, forcing an eye open, the room was dark so he couldn't see much, he forced his hand to press on the mattress and managed to shift onto his side. Opening his mouth he tried to speak but the only sound that came out was a groan, low, mournful, pitying himself. His mouth felt fuzzy, like he'd just had a heavy drinking session, followed by a ten round bout of boxing.
Grunting he closed his eyes again and tried to get his mind in gear. 'Okay Danno, think, what do you last remember?'. Though he could ask himself the question and he was at least relieved he could remember his own name and make coherent thoughts even if he couldn't make coherent speech, the answers were blank. The harder he tried to think the less his mind wanted to play along, instead his brain was telling him he was in pain, but a dull, aching kind of pain not related to broken bones. Another thought of relief. Perhaps he had had too much to drink, passed out in some sleazy motel because he couldn't make it home. Yeah, that had to be the reason, so settling himself with that thought and deciding sleep was the best option to relieve himself of his current condition, he let sleep take him over like a wave.
~
The next time he woke his body still ached, only it was more intense, causing him to groan before he even opened his eyes. This time it was bright, day evidently and he turned his head, burying his face into the thin, barely evident pillow which filled his nostrils with a heavy stench. He grunted at the pillow, forcing his face up, forcing his whole body up - aches, pains, like his whole body was in a hangover state.
What the hell had he drank that made him this hungover? Because he was never drinking it ever again. Once his head stopped swimming and his body stopped aching a smidgen he opened his eyes, blinked a few times and looked around.
The room was bare, save for the bed, a jerky, metal frame of a bed and a screen the size of a small TV, embedded on the opposite wall. Frowning, Danny looked up the other wall, noting there wasn't a window, looking right up he cursed and squinted, looking down again. The high ceiling was where the light was coming from, demanding, harsh, light bulbs like spotlights shining down. He forced himself to stand, headed for the door, stumbling like he couldn't lift his legs properly, tripping over his own feet. He fell heavy against the door and it took a moment to focus on the handle, fingers grasping pathetically at it before he wrapped them round the small round handle. He gave it a twist and pulled but the door didn't budge. He tried again, and still it didn't move.
"C'mon Williams," he gritted out through his teeth.
Taking in a deep breath he gave the handle a hard twist and yanked, body pulling from the door but the door didn't move. It was after this third try a thought struck, muted and heavy in his brain that he was locked in. He shook his head, shook the door before his strength gave up on him and his knee gave way beneath him. He sunk to the floor, grabbing his knee, groaning and beating the door weakly with his other fist.
What the hell was going on?
~
He must have passed out not shortly after because when he next opened his eyes it was dark again, he was half propped up by the door and his leg had gone into a tight, painful cramp. Gritting his teeth and grunting he stretched his legs out before him, trying to ignore the pain. He didn't feel as achy anymore, his mind not as heavy though he remembered little. He remembered being unable to open the door and his brows knitted together in confusion. Ignoring the pain in his knee he forced himself to stand again and tried the door, this time getting a better grip, beating against it with his free hand.
"Hey," he tried yelling only it came out as a croaky grunt. Clearing his throat he tried again, shaking the handle with one hand, banging against the solid bulk with the other. "Hey!"
He ducked his head as the lights above came on, the brightness assaulting his eyes and he squeezed them tight shut. Putting a hand up to shade them he opened them carefully, shading them against the glare.
"Good, you're awake."
A voice emanated from the screen in the wall and Danny frowned again. What the hell?
"How do you feel Detective? I'm afraid the dose you were given was a large one, considering the distance we had to cover it was to ensure you could be transported safely before you awoke."
"What the - who is this? And where am I?" Danny tripped forward towards the screen, it was still blank.
"You were asked you how you felt," the voice answered. "Tell me how you feel detective?"
"Like a fucking prisoner," Danny spat out, seeing his reflection in the dark screen, hazy though it was, he looked like shit and it was a little scary to see.
"Now you will sleep," the voice informed him.
"I'm not tired," Danny replied, going for sarcastic.
The lights went out before he'd even finished speaking.
"Hey! Where the fuck am I?" He slammed his hand against the screen but it did little but cause a pain in his palm. "Hey, I'm talking to you."
Still no answer and no matter how much he shouted, questioned, yelled, pounded at the screen, at the door, he received no reply. The lights stayed out and his knee started to throb. He got a headache, his voice hurt from the shouting and eventually he threw himself down on the bed, despite his own protests that he shouldn't be doing what they wanted him too.
He fell asleep almost as soon as he'd closed his eyes.
~
He woke with a shock, music suddenly blaring around him. A heady, 'thump thump thump', a dance track with no real point, just a relentless, adrenaline driving beat. The lights were on and he sat up, put hands to his ears, yelled out that' whoever the fuck it was who had him here to turn it down'. He felt better after his sleep, his knee gave him a little trouble but aside from that he'd slept rather fitfully. Not that the wakeup call was doing him any favors, his temples began to throb with a 'beat beat beat' from the music.
He got up, tried the door again, put his hands to his ears again. The music was pounding, constant and he moved to the wall where the screen was, trying to be heard over the din. It took him a moment to realise the music had stopped and he dropped his hands.
"What the fu-" he started but the voice interrupted him.
"Did you sleep well detective?" the voice asked.
"Yeah, I guess," Danny replied with a shrug.
"You will go to the bathroom," the voice told him.
As the voice spoke the door handle started turning and Danny looked sharply at it as the voice gave him a warning.
"Don't try anything stupid detective."
Danny ignored it, staring at the door, hopefully there wouldn't be more than one or two, people. He could take them, he just needed to ready himself, take them by surprise. The door opened, one guy stepped inside, then another. They were big guys but nothing Danny couldn't handle, or so he told himself as he rushed the first guy. A heavy bulky figure that could be knocked off balance if taken unawares, only Danny wasn't quick enough or so he told himself. The guy got himself into a stance, caught Danny like Danny was running into his arms and not trying to rush him and take him out. Danny felt himself hugged close by the heavy bulk, solid arms causing his breath to leave him as they squeezed him tight.
Before he could offer up a defeated groan he felt something press against his side and the guy let him go before a sharp jolt jarred his senses. He dropped to his knees with a yell of pain, muscles spasming in his side and back. Instinctively he curled up, trying to get himself back under control.
"Leave him." The voice seemed distant and he opened his eyes to see the first guy stepping over him, the door closing firmly shut.
Before he could unfurl the music started up again.
~
Danny was beginning to feel exhausted, he didn't know how much time had passed, he'd paced, yelled, pounded on the door. He'd tried to bury his head under the covers, his arms had grown tired from holding his hands over his ears. The music was repetead over and over, the pounding in his ears, behind his eyes falling into the same monotonous rhythm. He'd ended up on the bed, in a corner, eyes closed, waiting, hoping it would come to an end. He didn't know how long it had been, how long it would continue, he'd no sense of time but he knew if it went on any longer he'd probably go mad.
When the music stopped his head throbbed and his ears roared like they didn't know how to handle silence. The music had made his brain fuzzy, like he'd stood on his head for a few minutes and gotten a blood rush.
"Are you ready to comply detective?" the voice asked.
Danny sluggishly moved to to the edge of the bed, cradling his head as the movement made him dizzy.
"Yeah," he said tiredly, because he needed to take a piss and he wasn't going to be stubborn enough to prevent his getting a bathroom break.
The door opened again and the same two guys who had come the first time entered the room. One held up a belt, with cuffs attached, the kind that were put on prisioners as they were moved from one location to another but without the leg restraints. Danny nearly balked at the idea but he had no choice, it was either be chained up and taken to a bathroom, or take a leak in the corner and live with the smell of piss in the room.
He didn't put up a fight as the guy who'd body crushed him drew near, even lifted his arms to accomodate the putting on of the belt. The cuffs were tight round his wrists and he gave a little tug to test, the guy stepped back and pushed him on the shoulder towards the door.
"These really needed fellas?" Danny tried making light of the situation though deep down he was starting to worry.
They walked down a hall, lit much like his room, wide, bright, plain, no distinguishable markings. They came to another door, opening it to reveal the bathroom. Again, plain, a simple toilet, tiny sink, no mirror, no bath or shower. It was barely the size of a small closet.
"So, what? Am I supposed to do a houdini?" Danny asked sarcastically.
His left hand was uncuffed and he was pushed inside and it was a tight squeeze just to get the door closed. He thought, for a moment, about locking himself in but tossed aside the idea just as quickly. What would be the point, it wasn't even a proper room, there was no other exit but the way in. He fumbled a little, took a leak and fumbled again to zip back up one handed. Running the tap, cold water against his hand he felt the urge to put his face under the water and clear his head, only the room was that small and compact leaning down wasn't optional. About to splash some water on his face the door was unlatched, springing half open and he grumbled in disdain.
"Can't a fella get a little privacy around here?" he complained as he eased himself out of the room.
He was handcuffed again, led back to his room and he turned so they could take the belt off only the guy smirked and pulled the door closed.
"Yeah, thanks, I'll just wait here then," he scowled at the door.
Sitting down heavily on the bed he frowned, closed his eyes. His mind was clearing and he tried to think on how he'd ended up where he was. What was the last thing he remembered?