“Coming out!” One of the guards shouted. 

Then Danny heard one of the most beautiful sounds he’d heard in a long time. The sound of the metal, mechanical fence, slowly drawing back as he stood there, in the clothes he got arrested in, in what felt like ages ago, as the fence fully opened all the way. He couldn’t help the smile on his face. He could see on the other side of the fence that was still slowly being opened, in the distance was Derrick’s car, and outside of it, his driver was standing there. While Danny was inside he didn’t exactly have a plan for how he’d get home, on the day of his release. Everyone knew he was coming home early though, that much was planned. 

Danny struggled inside prison to follow the rules. Some days were easier than others, and thanks to Catalina, his living conditions and the living conditions for his crew definitely improved, but still they would be tested from time to time, by both guards and inmates alike. Still, Danny stuck to the script. No fighting and no offenses to make himself appear as anything less than the model prisoner. After awhile, with assistance, he was even able to buy a statement in his favor from the warden. He’d help bring order to the prison, and calm things down, so it was the least the man could do anyway. 

Derrick was always unable to visit Danny, while he was away, and Danny never thought anything about it. Derrick was a thinker, he was the smart kind of criminal, rare in this line of work, and even rarer for their organization. He concerned himself with things like image over just doing what he wanted. While Danny didn’t fully understand it, he had respect for it and for the man. So to keep his distance and to help both their images, right now to the authorities there was very little to no connection between the men. Still Derrick would give the occasional phone call, but he wouldn’t talk business. Business updated came mostly from Catalina, and sometimes from others who had contacts on the outside. His mother and sister also came to see him frequently. 

Danny was pleased it wasn’t them who came to pick him up. Though he couldn’t wait to see them as well, the first thing he’d like to do when he got outside was get his bearings. The air was a lot fresher it felt, the sky was more beautiful, everything was a lot more pleasant when you were a free man, he was coming to find out. Finally, the fence made a very loud clunk when it was all the way open. The guard on the other side was now waving him through. He didn’t remember the man personally, though he was sure he’d seen him around at some time before. Danny nodded to the man, and walked through leisurely. He was in no hurry at all, for the first time in a long time, maybe even ever, he was just taking it all in.

Once he got through to the other side, he turned and seen them beginning to pull the fence closed. Danny shot one more look at the prison that held him for the last seven and a half years, and it still couldn’t wipe the smile he had on his face off. Danny had memories in there, he’d grown in there. He had grown up fast while he was young, he had to, but he felt like prison made him a man. He’d choose to remember it like that.

He then turned around, never looking back at the facility again. He wasn’t sure if he’d be back or not. He still didn’t fear it like most of the men around him, but he didn’t intend on being locked up in a cage again, and if he was, he wasn’t going to be as nice about things as he was this time around. Plan or no plan. He walked toward the car, and Derrick’s driver, a man named Erich. As he got closer, he could see the wide smile on the other man’s face.

Danny returned it, his still not leaving his face, since he stepped outside the prison. When the two men were within arms distance they looked at each other. Danny was remembering the man, while the other man was trying to take in the changes to Danny over the years. Both of them looked older since the last time they saw each other. Then Danny reached out and wrapped the man up in a tight hug which was returned, both happy to see each other. They slapped each other’s backs as hard as they could a few times before letting go, as was the way a lot of them greeted each other. The two weren’t the best of friends or anything, but given that Danny was around Derrick a lot, they’d seen quite a bit of each other. 

“Danny boy! Good to see you.” The older man exclaimed. “Last time I saw you, you were just a little scamp.” 

Danny took a step back and continued to smile. 

“And now what am I?” Danny asked. 

“A bigger scamp.” He replied with a laugh, which Danny shared with him. 

“Yeah yeah, and you’re still the fuckin’ driver. Still driving this piece of junk.” Danny responded. 

Erich turned to look at the car then back to Danny. 

“This old thing? The boss said you’d enjoy getting picked up in this. Said it’d have sentimental value.” Erich said. 

Danny looked it over and nodded stepping closer to it, and running his hand over the side of it feeling the paint. 

“Aye. This is the first car he let me fuck around with driving. I didn’t know what I was doing. Probably 14 at the time, but I didn’t crash the bitch, lemme tell ya.” Danny explained as he continued to look at the car fondly. 

Erich began moving toward the driver’s side. 

“Well get in, he’s waiting for ya. Told me to bring you to em soon as you got free.” Erich informed him. 

Danny hopped into the passenger side. He had half a mind to ask to drive, but it had been awhile since he last operated a vehicle, and he didn’t have a license. He didn’t want to make it too easy for the coppers, so he’d let Erich drive for now, and put that on his list to rectify. The two men made their way further away from the prison and began the journey back to Hell’s Kitchen. Danny enjoyed taking in the scenery more this time, now that he knew he wasn’t going to be locked up, than when he first saw it heading to the island. 

He could notice the changes to the outside since he’d been inside. Cars, looked different, and there were a lot more of them. Some of the buildings that could be seen in the distance in the city looked different or new. Thinking on some of the other things that could be different, he couldn’t help but ask. 

“So how’s things going? Shit was pretty bad from what I was hearing when I was inside.” Danny said. 

Erich kept his eyes on the road, and seemed to hesitate, trying to figure out what to say or how to respond. It had been more than eight more close to nine years, since Danny was in the boxing ring and analyzed an opponent off of body language, but he didn’t forget how to do it. Erich finally seemed to settle on an answer once he shrugged his shoulders.

“Eh, things are alright now. The mobs backed off us and we’re still operating in our neighborhood. Derrick was one of the ones to calm things down actually. And we’re still making a shit load of money thanks to that girl of yours. The Italians have completely flipped over to other ways of making money. Some even wanna outlaw drugs. Got some fancy big table group now they call themselves. The council or commission or some shit. Just a big fuckin’ circle jerk you ask me.” Erich replied with a chuckle at the end. 

Danny was pleased to hear that his people were still in business with Catalina, even though he figured as much, and knew she still came to New York. He hadn’t been able to see her as much in his last year of prison. Most of his time was occupied preparing things for his parole hearing. Meetings with the lawyers, and trying to put together a case, how best to present it. If it wasn’t that it was doing things for the warden and making sure things continued to run smoothly in the prison. They still called each other and talked frequently, but it had been almost a full year since he’d last seen her in person.

Something else that caught Danny’s attention was the fact that Derrick was the one who handled the business of making peace with the mob. Danny figured they’d want his head on a pike, for being the one to back him in the first place. 

“How the fuck did Derrick, make peace? Didn’t they blame him for all that shit that went down?” Danny asked. 

Again, Erich hesitated. He looked out the side window and was checking mirrors that didn’t need to be checked. This was enough to let Danny know that something had gone on. All of a sudden, Erich reached for the volume for the radio in the car turning it up. 

“You’re better off talking to Derrick about it. For now just relax and listen to how music changed since you been away.” Erich said. 

This caused Danny to crease his brows. He didn’t like how the question was avoided, but he didn’t press the issue either. He was fine getting the answers from Derrick in this instance. He shrugged his own shoulder, and relaxed in the seat, taking in both the music and the scenery. Thanks to traffic and the time of day, it took them about an hour to reach their destination. Once they had come into the old neighborhood, Danny was taken aback by how much some parts seem to flourish, and how other had completely fallen and been taken over and redone.  Still, the areas that were under their control seemed to remain mostly the same with a remodel done here and there. Erich pulled them up in front of Derrick’s bar, the place where he ran most of his business out of. It was a very familiar and welcoming sight, that Danny once again, began smiling when he saw it.

As soon as Erich put the car in park, Danny hopped out of the car and took in the sight of the building, he spent many of days at in his youth. 

“Head on in, boss is inside. I’ll be in there in a minute.” Erich instructed. 

He too was now outside the car, messing with one of the tires on the other side of it. Erich had a gift for cars, that’s why he was Derrick’s driver. Danny didn’t think much of it, so he shrugged and made for the front door of the bar. He pulled it open and stepped inside. It was there he was greeted with a sight that caused him to jump out of his skin. A packed bar full of people, all their eyes on him, and as soon as he got inside they all shouted at him. 

“Welcome home!” 

“Jesus fuckin’ Christ. Fuck me.” He said as he grabbed for his heart and tried to calm himself down. 

“Somebody has to!” Someone in the crowd shouted in response. Which caused most of the room to break out in laughter. 

Danny was thinking of a witty comeback, but he wouldn’t get to use it, as he was mobbed by people wanting to welcome him home. The place was packed with people, from regular civilians that just lived in the neighborhood. To people who were fans of his boxing career still. That shocked him, he figured he’d lose all credibility the day he was accused of killing a man, but plenty of people still claimed to support him and hope that he may make a comeback. He promptly let them know, that part of his life was over, but still some of them held out hope.

Along with those people, were a lot of people from the organization. Some who he knew, and some who were new and introducing themselves to him. Others were higher ups in the organization coming to welcome home a soldier of theirs who did time for them, and received thanks, and respect for doing so. Danny had spent a good 15-20 minutes just giving hugs and handshakes, a few autographs here and there, taking pictures, and just meeting and talking to people before he was finally able to work his way to Derrick who was sitting at a table in the back just like usual. Danny knew exactly where to go, and he was trying to work his way there first. 

Derrick was just waiting there for him with a smile. He probably watched the whole thing, Danny wouldn’t be surprised if he found out, Derrick had set it up to go like that. When Danny approached the table Derrick got up and embraced the now young man who was like a son to him. Once they finished Derrick poured them a couple of drinks into shot glasses. They clinked them together in a toast before downing them quickly, and then both men took their seats. 

“Glad you’re back Danny boy, and you did good on the inside I hear. Put our guys in a good position in there, survived it, and stayed outta trouble. I know that must’ve been hard for you.” Derrick said. 

Danny poured himself and his boss another drink into the glasses. He then drank it down before he responded. 

“You got no idea. In there everyone wants a piece of everyone damn near. But I learned some shit, and kept my head. I’m sure it was nothing compared to what was goin’ on out here. I tried to ask Erich about it on the ride over. He said things cooled down, and you reached out. How the fuck did you swing that?” Danny asked.

This time is was Derrick downing the shot before responding. 

“Let’s not worry about business today. There’s a lot to catch you up on, including the future and yourself, but today is all about you. You’re home now. You should go see your mother and sister tonight. I had Erich bring you over here first to celebrate, but don’t get too drunk. They’ll be looking forward to seeing you. And speaking of which.” Derrick cut himself short. 

He reached inside his suit jacket pocket, and pulled out an envelope. He slid it across the table to Danny. Danny picked it up and looked inside it, his eyes widening once he saw the contents, or just how much was inside. 

“That’s their monthly take, plus a little extra in there for yourself. That deal you worked out while in the can really helped push things along for us. Of course your lady friend, also asked us to help take care of your family. She’s been talking about moving them out, but your mother won’t budge. Your sister has a house herself though, but she goes to visit your mother everyday.” Derrick informed him. 

Danny looked inside the envelope once more, before tucking it away in his pocket. He processed everything he was told and was happy to hear it. He knew when Catalina first mentioned about wanting to move them someplace safer and better, that his mother wouldn’t go for it. The thing about her was, she was old school and loved to be around her people. She was loyal to where she was from, her home was her home no matter what. Elena however, didn’t have that same mindset. Danny was undecided on exactly what he would do himself, but he was excited to see his family. Most of all he was hoping that Catalina would be available as well. He made sure to let her know when he was getting out, but he hadn’t had the freedom to go and see her yet, but he planned to rectify that soon. 

“Does Cat have a drop coming up soon with you guys? I think I’ll go see her tonight if she’s free.” Danny said. 

Derrick responded with a grin as he looked to the front door of the bar and then looked back to Danny. 

“As usual, you’re just a little too late. If it’s not a fight you’re not the sharpest at it are ya?” Derrick teased and jerked his chin toward the door. 

Danny turned to look in the direction he indicated. His eyes widened once more as he saw Erich walk through the door with the woman he was just talking about. There in all her beauty was Catalina. 

“I told her to come late. I had a feeling that if she was here when you got here, none of us would’ve had a chance to see you. I do think your family will be fine if they don’t get paid for one more day boyo. Usually I’d get you a drink, then hand you an envelope and send you off to one of our brothels to get taken care of. But the Cocaine princess there would have yours and my head if that were to happen, so I’d think of something else to spend that money on.” Derrick joked. 

Danny only half listened, still unable to keep his eyes off of Catalina. This was one of the best things about his newfound freedom. They didn’t have anything to limit how much time they spent with each other anymore. Well maybe they did, but Danny didn’t want to think about that right now, and he damn sure wouldn’t. He just wanted to go be with her. It was taking all of his willpower to not go over to her. Apparently, Derrick could tell, if his laughter was anything to go by. 

“Well, what the fuck are you waiting for boyo? Go on over there and get your lady. Just be sure to check in tomorrow.” Derrick instructed. 

Danny heard him. He was dismissed and had to check in tomorrow. He wasn’t even paying that anything but a passing thought. Soon as he was told to go get her he was halfway out his seat. She was a good little distance away, but that didn’t matter. He didn’t really see the space in between them, he didn’t really care about the people clapping him on his shoulder or patting him on his back as he walked by. He was determined to get to where he was going, and he wouldn’t be deterred. A thousand thoughts raced through his head on his approach. What would he say, what would he do, what would she say, what did she think about him now?

He had talked to her the night before, but he still felt as nervous as the first time he saw her. A part of him knew he should have more control over this, that he shouldn’t be freaking out so much. He just got out of prison, but it wasn’t lust or desire just taking over. He was genuinely happy to see her. Before he knew it he was standing in front of her just looking her over. He wasn’t sure if she was saying anything. He couldn’t hear it over the sound of his heart beating loudly in his ears. He wasn’t sure how long he had been standing there, he lost all point of telling time, he damn near didn’t notice anyone else in this building. Just her, only her. Instincts had taken him this far, he decided to just let it continue to do it’s thing and let whatever happens happen. Before he knew it, his arms wrapped around her waist pulling her close to him, and his lips were upon her own, kissing her deeply. He only stopped when he needed a breath. 

He took a minute to catch his breath, his eyes never leaving her own. Continuing to just go with whatever popped into his mind, he ignored whoever else may be around and what they said or hollered, and spoke. 

“I’m home baby.”

Catalina was a bundle of nerves. She’d spent the entire day this way, stressing and fussing and worrying on the flight over that the day of Danny’s release would be postponed. She’d been speaking to Danny almost nonstop on the telephone, but she hadn’t physically seen him in many months. Paranoia set in, and she began calling the warden- rumors be damned. She needed reassurances that her man would be free. When it became clear that her concerns were ungrounded, her mind leapt to the next thing. 

And it was a rather large one. 

Her brother Marco had made the New York trip months ago, as planned. He’d been here ever since. The second in line to the small Rey drug empire had liked America so much that he had stayed. Derrick had liked the boy instantly, and had given him an honorary position within the crew. Marco, a Rey in every way, excelled in his assigned jobs, and Derrick was now letting him oversee the distribution of all of the cocaine that Catalina had resumed bringing over from Madrid.

Catalina took no issue with this, and was proud that her brother had proven himself so quickly with the Irish. He was holding 25% of the family business back home now, and supplementing it nicely with the work he did for Derrick. Since she wasn’t able to see Danny on these trips, she never stayed in town long enough to notice what was also going on. Catalina wasn’t the only Rey in love with a Fitzgerald- Marco had fallen head over heels for Elena.

It wasn’t until Catalina had arrived in town for Danny’s release that she keened to it all. Marco had met her at the airport, and when he flipped open his wallet to pay the porter for putting her suitcase into his car, she saw it- Elena’s photograph. Choosing to stay silent until she could fathom all of the repercussions of this development, she let Marco drive her to her hotel, where she placed the kilos she’d brought into a dry-cleaning bag, and watched from her window as he drove away with it. A look at her watch told her Danny should be coming through the gates of Rikers any minute, and she needed to hurry if she was to be ready in time for the get-together at the bar downtown.

The bar was packed, of course. Danny was loved by many in both the boxing community, and the community at large. By the time Catalina arrived, he had been inundated with both celebratory slaps on the back, and drinks. When Catalina pushed through the crowd and spotted him, though, he was already heading in her direction. She stood completely still, glued to the spot, watching as he approached. No prison uniform. No handcuffs. No look of defeated acceptance on his face anymore. He looked like an entirely different man. 

Danny didn’t say anything at first, and it was too loud in the bar anyway. Instead, they looked at each other for a long minute, and then he placed his hands on her, drew her close, and kissed her. It was not their first kiss, but it was the first one that overstepped all the boundaries of chasteness. The hoots and whistles fell on deaf ears, and that kiss went on for what felt like years. Only when they were out of breath did it end. 

“I’m home baby.” 

Catalina couldn’t speak. Tears threatened to fall as she hugged him closer, burying her face in his neck. She was lifted off the floor as more yells and comments came at them. When Danny finally put her down again, several drinks appeared and were shoved into both of their hands. A look passed between the two of them- they would stay just as long as social niceties demanded, but then they would go. It had been 7 ½ years, and they needed to be alone.

Danny could pick up on the signs Catalina was giving him. The whole time after they saw each other, they couldn’t keep their eyes off each other. Pretty much the same could be said about their hands as well. The two didn’t leave each other’s sight for the rest of the night. They both were on the same page. They wanted to get through the night as quickly as possible at this point, in order to catch up on lost time with each other. Danny had taken care of the most important things to do here anyway, so this was something he agreed with. He couldn’t check in with Derrick until tomorrow anyway. Idly, from time to time, he wondered how exactly that would go. 

He also wondered how his mother and sister were doing, something else he wouldn’t know until the next day. In the meantime, Danny spent time talking with some of the others who wanted to get reacquainted with him. Danny introduced Catalina to them all, or all of them that he knew. When asked about what they were, Danny introduced her as his. He knew the kind of world his business was, and some of them already had seen Catalina around, and knew what she was capable of. While others were getting to know her for just the first time, Danny wanted to make sure the message was clear. 

The people they ended up running into, gave them all kinds of alcohol. Drinks were downed one after another, especially once Catalina told Danny that neither of them were to be driving tonight. He briefly wondered if he should be drinking so much, given all that he had to do on the next day. He was also hesitant to turn out like his father, but he chalked it up to it being a celebration, and let himself cut loose. Danny continued to talk to everyone that night with a drink in his hand, sometimes with a drink in both. 

After what had felt like a few hours had passed, Danny and Catalina both decided, they’d had enough for the night. They had been moving, and drinking so fast but in reality it had only been about half an hour. Regardless, the two were ready two were ready to head out. They said their goodbyes to those that needed to be told, and the rest of the people got the message, when they saw the two of them preparing to leave together. Catalina led the more drunk Danny toward her own car where there was a driver already sitting in the car waiting to drive them to their destination. When they got in the vehicle, the driver didn’t say a word. He must’ve already known where to go. This was good, because Danny himself didn’t know where to go. 

He guessed he could’ve went back to his mother’s house, and he guessed Catalina knew where that was, but he never said any of that out loud. So maybe Catalina was taking him back to where she stayed. That probably was it. It was a good thing she was the thinking type, because he was struggling to think in his inebriated state. She had been drinking, but she drank a lot less than he did. He rolled the window down, hoping the air and the bottle of water he snagged on his way out of the bar, would help him to sober up a bit. It did, and he was able to recognize the grand looking hotel, they had stopped in front of. So this was where she stayed when she came here on business. It was a fancy sort of hotel. The kind he felt like he’d never be able to afford. 

He spent a moment marveling the outside. The driver went to open Catalina’s door first, she then followed him around and helped Danny out the car, once her driver opened the door. She had at some point had  bottle of champagne in her hand. It would seem, he wasn’t the only one to snag something on the way out the bar. Or maybe someone had given it to them? He couldn’t remember, and it didn’t matter. They both swayed and fumbled their way to Catalina’s room, with her doing more helping him get there. When they did, they both seemed to realize what was going on, and suddenly the alcohol they both consumed didn’t make their minds as hazy any longer.

Once Catalina got the door open, realization hit them both in full, along with a lot of other emotions. Danny wasted no time closing the door behind them once they both stepped inside. They both fully understood the next time they left this room, neither of them would be the same again, and they both were fine with that. It had been a long time coming. Seven and a half years coming to be exact.