Mahoney stared at the front desk, not sure what he was seeing. There were three men in black arguing with the desk Sergeant. "Which one of them claims he's Daredevil?" Mahoney asked. He glanced over at Jamison who appeared to be flummoxed.

"There was only one of them when I came by with the sandwich," Jamison said. He scratched his head. "I'm not sure which one it was, to be honest. They're all about the right height, weight and coloring."

"It's not any of them," Taylor said as she joined them. "Close, but no cigar."

"How can you tell?" Jamison asked. "It's not like anyone has ever seen Daredevil's face."

"Honey, it's not their faces I'm looking at," Taylor said with a smirk.

Mahoney winced, but had to agree. All three men were seriously deficient in certain portions of their anatomy, judging from the rear view that the three officers had. Not that Mahoney was going to mention that he'd noticed that fact as well.

"What are you talking about?" Jamison asked.

"Let's just say that those tight pants don't leave a lot to the imagination," Taylor replied. "You need to be more observant, Rookie."

Jamison's face flamed red as Taylor's meaning sunk in. He was saved from replying as two more men in black walked in and joined the group at the counter.

"Did someone organize a Daredevil convention and not tell us?" Cooper asked as he walked over with a nod to his fellow officers. "I think I have a black and red shirt at home. Think I could pass as Daredevil?"

"Not on your best day," Taylor said.

"Why are they doing this?" Jamison asked. "It's not like we even have a warrant for the real Daredevil. Nobody's been willing to press charges."

None of them offered an answer for that question.

"Gaffney looks like he could use some help," Cooper commented. Nobody moved towards the desk.

There had been a steady trickle of 'Daredevil' in various costumes entering the precinct while the officers talked. Some were bordering on the ridiculous. Mahoney had no idea what was behind the sudden influx of Daredevil wanna-bes, but he had a suspicion as to who was behind it.

"A pointed tail? Really?" Cooper complained. "Be a little difficult to beat someone up with that thing flapping around."

"I kind of like the pitchfork," Taylor said in amusement. "It really make a statement. Maybe the real Daredevil should consider carrying one. Something metal instead of that cheap plastic though."

"Do you think any of them actually are Daredevil?" Jamison asked. None of the so-called Daredevils wore a mask and Mahoney didn't see Murdock among the crowd.

"The only one that has anywhere near the right body type is blond," Taylor replied. She pointed with her chin. "That one has the right ass, but he looks like a body builder. Our Devil is well-build, but isn't that muscle-bound."

A couple of girls walked in, also wearing black and red. One had shiny red horns and a sequined red shirt on.

"Daredevil doesn't sparkle," Jamison said with an affronted frown.

"And that's the only problem with the five foot nothing female trying to pass herself off as our Devil," Taylor said, rolling her eyes.

Mahoney smothered a grin at Jamison's discomfited expression. He did wonder when the vigilante had become 'our Devil' though. Maybe not all the police department were as against the Devil as Mahoney had thought.

Marks, another rookie that had come up from the academy with Jamison, strode into the precinct but came to an abrupt halt when his path was blocked by the two dozen or so Daredevil's. He looked around and, seeing Mahoney and his group standing off to the side, walked over to them. "Have you guys been outside? There's like three times this many marching up and down the sidewalk carrying signs."

"Signs?" Cooper asked. "What kind of signs?"

"The most common one seems to be 'We Are Daredevil'," Marks replied. "There are some others that say 'Free Foggy' and 'The Defense for Nelson'. Anyone know who Foggy or Nelson are?"

"Foggy Nelson is Daredevil's attorney," Jamison replied. "Hanson has him in interrogation."

"Daredevil's attorney, huh?" Taylor commented. "Wonder if he knows who the vigilante really is?"

"You just want to know if he's single," Cooper said.

"My mother keeps asking when I'm going to settle down and get married," Taylor replied. "That would shut her up."

"I doubt Mr. Nelson knows who Daredevil really is," Jamison said. "Even with attorney-client privilege, it would be too dangerous."

"Probably meets with the mask still on," Cooper said. When the others gave him questioning looks, he shrugged. "It's what I would do if I were a vigilante."

Taylor gave him a speculative look.

"If I catch you staring at my ass, I'm tossing all that fancy coffee you like in the trash," Cooper said with a sidelong glance at Taylor, who quickly brought her eyes up and forward.

"I think I'll walk out and see what's going on outside," Mahoney said before he was forced to listen any more of the two partners' notorious bickering.

Once outside, Mahoney sat on the stone rail that ran around the top of the precinct stairs and watched the 'demonstrators'. So far, it looked like they were following all the rules; none of the building entrances were blocked, sidewalk was at least half-clear, they were reasonable quiet and not harassing anyone. They seemed to be alternating between chanting 'We are Daredevil' and 'Free Foggy'. The signs that were being handed out as more of the citizens of Hell's Kitchen joined the crowd all seemed to reflect one or the other sentiment in some fashion.

And, of course, Bess Mahoney and Karen Page were at the center of it all, handing out signs and directing people on where to stand. Mahoney didn't know how his mother and Foggy's secretary even knew each other. It was kind of a scary thought what havoc those two might manage together.

Karen suddenly broke from her spot with the signs and jogged down the sidewalk. Mahoney had to admit, at least to himself, that she looked rather fetching in her black and red outfit (no sparkles). It took just a moment for Mahoney to realize that Murdock was walking rather slowly along the line of demonstrators, his white cane swinging gently from side to side as if trying to avoid hitting anyone. He looked perplexed as Karen reached him and gently started guiding him down the sidewalk while talking a mile a minute.

"Sergeant Mahoney," Karen called out with a smile as she and Murdock reached the bottom of the stairs. "Do you think you could help Matt? He's here as Foggy's legal counsel."

Well, that was a conflict of interest if Mahoney ever heard of one; Daredevil representing the man who could possibly identify him. If it got this crowd off the sidewalk before tensions built up though, Mahoney was all for it. "Sure, know just who to talk to."

He waited for Murdock to climb the steps and then pushed the door open. "Hell of a night, isn't it?" Mahoney commented as they walked inside.

Murdock still had that slightly confused look on his face. "Karen said they brought Foggy in for questioning. Any idea what about?"

The precinct was just as crowded as when Mahoney had walked outside. At least they had stopped sending more 'Daredevils' inside. Mahoney looked around for Hanson, but didn't see him. "I'll take you back to where Foggy is. He was having a snack last time I saw him."

Murdock seemed to relax a little. "He's okay, then?"

"Driving Detective Hanson up a wall with all his lawyer talk," Mahoney said. "He didn't seem to concerned about all this when I talked to him."

"Good, good," Murdock murmured, almost to himself and then frowned. "Shouldn't you still be on disability leave, Sergeant? It hasn't even been a week since you were shot, has it?"

"Apparently my mother is one of the ring-leaders of the 'Free Foggy' movement," Mahoney growled. "She dragged me here and told me, in no uncertain terms, to 'help Foggy'."

Murdock's lips twitched in an almost-smile. "Foggy will love that – the 'Free Foggy' movement," he said.

They reached the door to the interrogation room and Mahoney stopped. "Tell him not the ham it up too much when they let him out of here," he said. "A little humility never hurt anyone."

"This is Foggy we're talking about," Murdock replied as Mahoney opened the door. He cocked his head as he listened to the voices that came to a stumbling halt as those inside recognized the interruption. Mahoney recognized Hanson's and Jamison's voices. Hanson sounded stressed while Jamison, the rookie, appeared to be trying to keep the peace. Foggy was, well, he was just Foggy.

"Hey, Buddy," Foggy called out as Murdock walked in. "I hear the black and whites have been out looking for you. You been hiding out at with one of your ladies?"

Mahoney didn't stick around to listen to the rest of the conversation. As he strolled back towards the front desk, he could hear the Captain's strident voice before he could see him. He had apparently had enough of the pseudo-Daredevils and was telling them in no uncertain terms that they could either leave or spend the rest of the night in a jail cell. By the time Mahoney turned the corner and could see the front desk, the Daredevils were trickling back out the entrance. He suspected they'd be put to work on the demonstration line, but as long those outside remained peaceful, it wasn't his concern. He wasn't on duty and there was no way he'd dissuade his mother from her path of righteous indignation, so he planned to just sit back and enjoy the show.

"Mahoney, what are you doing here?" the Captain said as the room cleared enough for him to notice Mahoney, who was sitting in one of the rather uncomfortable benches in the waiting area. "Don't tell me that you're claiming to be Daredevil, too?"

"Not me, Captain," Mahoney said, raising his hands in a protest of innocence. "Just visiting when all this started."

The Captain snorted, but had more important things to worry about than an off-duty officer hanging around. "Where's Hanson? He's the reason all the idiots are here in the first place."

Gaffney shrugged. "He was here a little while ago. Hard to keep track of people in all that madness though."

"He's in interrogation three with Nelson and Murdock," Mahoney said casually. "Murdock is here as Nelson's legal counsel."

"Just what we need," the Captain growled. "If we get sued over this shit, Hanson is going to be walking the beat in a uniform before the ink is dry on the papers."

Mahoney refrained from comment as the Captain sent an officer to get Hanson. A few minutes later, the Captain and Hanson disappeared into the Captain's office. The slamming office door showed just how irritated the Captain was.

Gaffney and Mahoney exchanged raised eyebrows, but didn't comment. Mahoney decided to see how the demonstration was going. He doubted that it would get out-of-hand with his mother in charge, but better safe than sorry.

As he suspected, the former Daredevil claimants were mingled into the line of demonstrators, who were now on both sides of the street. They seemed to have expanded their chanting litany to at least half a dozen phrases. One side of the street would call out one and the other side would answer. It was almost like a high school football game.

Mahoney recognized quite a few people that he and Foggy went to school with. He had no doubt that while there were some who had no idea who Foggy Nelson was, the majority had at least a passing knowledge of the gregarious attorney. He wondered if the support was more for Foggy or the vigilante who'd had such an impact on Hell's Kitchen's citizens.

Mahoney was still mulling over the rather amazing show of support (in the middle of the night, no less) when the precinct doors opened and Foggy walked out with Murdock in tow. The crowd immediately started cheering.

Foggy appeared flummoxed by the crowd that was gathered in his honor. For once he appeared to be speechless. Mahoney wished he had a cell phone out so he could get a picture of that historic moment, but he wasn't that quick.

Foggy's surprise didn't last long though. He grinned brightly and stepped into the crowd to start thanking everyone who'd shown up.

Mahoney found himself alone with Murdock at the top of the stairs. "Don't feel like braving the crowd, Murdock?"

Murdock cocked an ear in Mahoney's direction. "Let Foggy have his moment," he said. He hesitated a moment as if uncertain if he wanted to say more. "Thanks for taking care of him in there," he finally said.

Foggy seemed determined to thank every single person that had shown up to support him and Daredevil. They might be here a while.

"He's not so bad, for a defense attorney," Mahoney said grudgingly. He gave Murdock a thoughtful look. "You know, they're here just as much for Daredevil as for Foggy."

Murdock frowned slightly. "I wouldn't think they'd care what happens to someone who regularly beats people up and leaves them laying in alleys half-conscious."

"They know he's doing it to protect them," Mahoney said.

"Don't tell me that you're a Daredevil fan," Murdock said with a hint of a smirk.

"Don't get me wrong, don't agree with his methods, but…" Mahoney paused as he mulled over his words, "I don't think there's a cop alive who hasn't wanted to do the same at some time or other. We can't cross that line though."

"But he can do what you can't," Murdock said quietly.

Mahoney shrugged though he realized belatedly that Murdock couldn't see it. "He's walking a thin line though. One day. he's going to step over and we aren't going to be able to ignore it."

"Perhaps knowing that there are good cops out there who won't hesitate to do to right thing will keep him from crossing that line," Murdock said.

Mahoney rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe you can give me a few boxing pointers, just in case. Would hate to have my ass handed to me again."

"You know where to find me, Sergeant. Stop by any time," Murdock said with a small smile.

Maybe it didn't matter if Mahoney knew beyond a shadow of doubt who Daredevil was. Maybe it was better if he didn't. What he couldn't prove, he didn't have to report.

But he couldn't quite let it go.

Murdock had started down the stairs when Mahoney called out after him. "Hey, Murdock. You're a lawyer. You know what plausible deniability means, right?"

Murdock stopped and half-turned towards Mahoney, his mouth quirked fully in that familiar Daredevil smirk. "I know exactly what it means, Sergeant." His tone indicated that he understood what Mahoney wasn't saying.

"Good. Glad we understand each other," Mahoney said.

"That we do," Murdock said. He started to turn back but then paused. "Text me when you want those pointers, Sergeant. If the Devil steps over that line, someone has to be able to bring him in."

Mahoney wondered if Fate had some twisted sense of justice that would lead him to learn how to fight from the Devil himself. Maybe it was just the universe trying to maintain balance.

Whatever it was, Murdock was right. If the Devil ever stepped over that line, Mahoney would be there to do the right thing.