Chapter 1 - 6 | Chapter 7 - 10 | Chapter 11 - 13 | Chapter 14 - 15
Chapter 14"Jack, I...I…I think we need to talk." Danny stammered as turned to face Jack, feeling beads of sweat running down his back.
Noticing the younger man's apprehensiveness, Jack nodded and walked towards his office indicating for Danny to follow him. The walked in and closed the door behind them. "Take a seat," Jack said as calmly as possible.
Feeling shaky, Danny slowly lowered himself into the chair in front of Jack's desk. He hated being on the wrong side of Jack Malone. He not only hated it – it terrified him. "U-mm Jack t-the logo, well u- mm, it's the cartels," Danny said nervously. He closed his eyes as he waited for an explosion – but there was none.
Jack stared at Danny, thinking his first instinct was to pull Danny from the field and have people watch over him. It wasn't because he didn't trust Danny; he would trust Danny with his life and the lives of his family. It was to protect him. If the cartel saw or even thought they saw Danny, his life would be in great danger. "Danny I'm-"
Reading Jack's thoughts, Danny interrupted, "No Jack, I'm of more use to you in the field. I know these guys inside out and back to front." He paused and looked down; he really didn't want to do this but if it could crack the case… if he could see Lucia again. "You could send me under. I will get all of the intel you need."
"No way! There's no way in hell I'm sending you undercover with the cartel. It's totally out of the question. No way – it's too risky. What happens if they recognise you?" Jack panicked.
Danny held his hands up in surrender. He had never seen his ice-cold boss look panicked. "Okay, Jack, not undercover. But I will still be more use to you in the field," he paused. "I know these how these guys work, I know their weapon systems… I know how they think."
Jack thought for a moment before he decided. "Fine, you can be in the field, but only on two conditions. First you are with me and you won't be out of my sight."
"Isn't that normal nowadays?" Danny replied sarcastically
"Danny!"
"Ok, ok that's fine, what's the second condition?" Danny asked slightly apprehensively.
"The second condition is you have to wear a vest," Jack finished.
"Jack! No, I don't want to and it's pointless anyway. These guys use large calibre rifles and only take headshots! I just- what about you?" Danny exclaimed.
"I will be fine," Jack replied calmly. "If you don't want to wear a vest, then you will work from the office."
"Oh, come on! That's pointless. I'll be fine," Danny said, but as he looked at Jack he knew he was arguing a losing battle. "Fine I'll wear the god damn vest."
Jack smiled knowing he'd won the argument and, most importantly, he was protecting Danny from unnecessary danger. Maybe Danny was right, maybe it was pointless – but at least it was something. He looked at Danny again and realized that he still had more to say. "What's the real reason you wanted to talk to me and don't tell me it was because you recognised the cartel's logo – you could've told the whole team that."
"There's no other reason!" Danny snapped, but then back- pedalled. "Sorry Jack, I didn't mean to, its just-"
"It brings back memories," Jack said finishing Danny's sentence. "Now calm down and tell me the real reason you wanted to talk to me."
"It's so screwed up and completely crazy," Danny said as he held his head in his hands. "When-when I was out there, I met this girl."
Jack raised an eyebrow. In all the years he had known Danny – which was going on for eight years – he had never seen this look on his face. He had always wanted three things from his team. He wanted them to do their job well, he wanted them to be safe and he wanted them to be happy. Danny fell in to those categories 98% of the time, or so he thought. He always thought Danny was happy with his various relationships and dates, but he obviously wasn't. He looked at Danny in concern as he continued the hard and obviously painful story.
"She's really amazing, Jack and she has a great little boy," Danny smiled at the thought of them. "But like all things in my life, there are issues. Her father is Carlos Vega – the leader of the cartel. I understand if you want me to fire me after you hear this.
"I will decide that after you have told me. Spill."
"Lucia," Danny started.
"She's the girl – right?" Jack asked.
"Yes – sorry – anyway," Danny paused as he tried to think of away to phrase the next part. "Well she works, sorry she is forced to work for her father. You have to understand what she is forced to do, what her own father forces her to do and she has a son. She only does it to protect her son. It's so screwed up, Jack. I just wanted to protect her and her son if something happened when I wasn't there anymore, so I bought her a gun."
Jack walked over and rested a hand on the panicked Danny's shoulder. "And you think that gun was found at Curtis's hotel room?"
"I don't think, I know Jack - It is the gun. It is the same type – it has the same serial number. You have to understand that if it was Lucia that fired the gun, she only did it-"
"She did it in self defence," Jack said finishing Danny's sentence.
"Yes," Danny said smiling slightly. "Look I understand if you want-"
Jack cut Danny off. "I'm not firing you. Anyway what's the problem? `Danny Taylor' didn't buy the gun. Alejandro Rios bought it."
"Thanks Jack," Danny replied. "I mean, really, thanks. I know we have to follow through on this as a legitimate lead, but after everything you have done for me – I don't know how to repay you."
"There's no debt to be paid. And anyway you more than repaid me twelve weeks ago when you took that bullet for me. Now you need to tell the team about the cartel's connection – as you are the team's, sorry the FBI's – probably the whole of the US intelligence communities—source for the cartel." Jack gave Danny a supportive tap on the shoulder. "Let's go – you don't have to tell them about Lucia if you don't want to."
Standing up, Danny took a deep breath. He didn't understand why he was so apprehensive – he was only talking to the team. But Viv and Sam didn't know what he had done for those ten months. He had only told Martin because of the hit on his father and he didn't have a choice when it came to Jack.
"I've got the forensic report on Curtis's hotel room and office. The blood in the hotel room was his, but it was mixed with pig's blood," Martin said as he handed Jack the report. "But with the estimated amount of Curtis's blood – even with immediate medical attention – he's gotta be dead."
Jack read through the report. "Not necessary, this guy here," Jack said as he tapped Danny on the head, "lost more blood than that and he's alive." He found himself picking at his nails as if he was still trying to remove Danny's blood from them.
"Okay," Martin managed to say as he looked at his friend in amazement. "Anyway if he's alive he's in a bad way. And since the office tested positive for cocaine, I'm thinking a drug deal gone bad. The coke was high grade-"
"Uncut from the west region of Colombia, from the Cali region," Danny said as he finished Martin's sentence. "Looking at the logo, it's from Carlos Vega's compound, specifically from the north-east part of the compound."
"And you know all of that because-" Sam asked.
"Because I spent ten months working for Carlos Vega's main security detail. Mainly I dealt with security for Carlos and his family, when he had clients over to the compound I would arrange the security for their stay," Danny paused. "From time to time, when there were big shipments I would be part of the security detail with the shipment. In other words, I know these guys."
"What's their usually choice of weapon?" Viv asked.
"Usually high calibre rifles – they like the feeling of power the sniper rifle gives them. The feeling that they can take someone out and they would never have seen them. With hand guns, they like the overstated guns – such as the Desert Eagle."
"Lucky for us, we have an ace up our sleeve," Martin said.
"Why's that?" Sam asked.
"Because we have the cartels best sniper," Martin said as he clapped Danny's back.
"Seriously?" Viv and Sam said together.
"He was also offered a job at Quantico as a sharpshooter instructor." Jack said proudly.
"The difference is—I hate the power a sniper rifle gives me. I hate the fact that I could set up two miles away and kill someone," Danny said defensively.
"The other difference is that you would never kill in cold blood. You would only ever use it to save the life of an innocent person," Viv said as she reassured Danny.
Jack glanced at Danny to see he had relaxed before he continued. "So we know Curtis does not have the normal association: Wall Street with cocaine. With young Wall Street bankers cocaine is part of the scene – but having an association with a major cocaine dealer, is one major step up.- why?"
"Money" Danny suggested.
"Danny these guys are earning well into the seven figure bracket – I doubt its money," Martin counted.
"These cartel guys – a new house with swimming pool is small change. These guys have empires, which they rule by fear. Maybe Curtis got a taste of it and liked what he saw," Danny argued.
"Right," Viv started. "We know Curtis had an association with the cartel, but we don't the motive. But from what you have said, a .22 calibre gun is the not the weapon of choice for the cartel." Viv said directing her last comment to Danny.
Danny ran his hands through his hair. "When I was out there, I met Lucia Vega – Carlos Vega's daughter, who is the boss of the cartel. She is forced to work for the cartel."
"Doing what?" Sam asked. She looked at Danny's expression and knew. "Oh God, that's sick. Her own father makes her do that?"
"She has a five year old kid and with the way the cartel works," Danny paused looking at their confused expressions, "the only way out is from a visit from the grim reaper. Carlos all ready killed her mother and the father of her child. Understandably she was scared, so… so I brought her a gun for protection and before you ask— it was the gun found in the apartment."
"From what you have said it sounds like self defence, so why did she run?" Sam asked.
"First, when you are with the cartel you trust no one. Second, she blew the op, so she may have not had a choice," Danny paused and ran his hand through his hair again. "And third, this was obviously a big deal for the cartel, so they would have taken out insurance. Jack, I think we could be looking at a possible kidnapping."
"You think they have her kid?" Jack asked
"I don't think – I know – it's how they work. Carlos rules by fear. They have Chris. Right now both their lives are in danger – that's if they are still alive." Danny said sadly.
Jack sighed, "Okay, this case is now very delicate. We need to tread very carefully. Danny, where do think the cartel could be?"
"I think a big shipment is coming in, so the port or the airport," Danny thought for a second. "It will come in with a legit shipment, as the cartel also grows coffee – that's what will be on the shipping list."
"Right – Sam, Viv, Martin I want you to check the airports. Be careful. If you get the slightest feeling that something is not right, get the hell out there," Jack said. "Danny, you and I are going to pay a visit to the port."
As Jack and Danny walked down to the car, Jack handed Danny a bulletproof vest. "I don't care if you wear it under or over your shirt but you are wearing it. If you don't, you're going back upstairs to go though Curtis's financial records."
"Fine," Danny said as he snatched the vest from Jack and went to bathroom. He remerged a few moments later.
Jack looked Danny up and down as he patted Danny on the chest checking he was wearing the vest. "I see you went with the vest under the shirt," Jack said as he walked towards the car.
"I have an image to preserve," Danny replied in an irritated tone.
Jack spun around and slammed Danny against the car. "And that image will be a lot better preserved if you are alive." Jack said as he watched realisation hit Danny. "So if you have a problem with that, you can go back upstairs."
"S-sorry," Danny shuddered. "It's just, damn it Jack, I promised I would go back for her and now she may have murdered someone."
"It's not your fault, and I don't think Lucia killed anyone in cold blood. She may have killed someone but it was in self defence."
"Than may have been the case, but I still should have gone back to Colombia as soon as possible. I left her there; I left her kid there. I am as bad as her father"
"No, you're not. First, until a couple of weeks ago you couldn't go back there. You weren't even allowed to fly. Second, you cared and still care about Lucia and her kid. You protected her when you were out there, you bought and showed her how to use a gun, so when you weren't around she could defend herself," Jack said as he tried not to yell at Danny.
"I love her, Jack. Chris and her were the closest I ever came to having a family to call my own. I love them and I blew it," he said as his voice cracked with emotion.
Jack stepped back, temporarily at a loss for words. He was shocked by the honest of Danny confession. "You didn't blow it, but how about we get down to the port and try and make things right. Let's get you that second chance."
Danny nodded and slid into the car. He hoped that Jack was right. He hoped that if Lucia fired that gun they could prove it was in self- defence. He hoped that Lucia and Chris were still alive. He hoped that he would get that second chance that Jack was talking about. He hoped that Lucia and Chris would join him in his life in New York.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Martin approached the private jet sector at JFK. He was disturbed by the silence that had ridden with them during the ride out to the airport. But that did not disturb him as much as Danny`s connection to the case. Sure he knew Danny worked for the cartel. He knew Danny had been ordered to kill his father, but this latest developed disturbed him. It was not as if he didn't think that Danny should have dated Lucia when he was out there – hell with it he was happy when Danny had told them – at least Danny had someone when he was out there. But what disturbed him was that this girl may have murdered their missing person and he was siding with the suspect. He pulled into the parking lot and shut down the engine. He moved his shoulders but felt restricted against the bulkiness of the bulletproof vest that Jack had ordered them to wear. Jack still hadn't let down his protective guard with him. In a way, he pitied Danny because Martin couldn't begin to imagine how overprotective Jack must be right now.
"Are you ready?" Martin said as turned to face Sam and Viv.
"Yeah," Sam replied. "From what Danny told us, we're looking for a Gulfstream 500 jet, identification number CL-452345-XF. According to tower control, it arrived four days ago and it's still at the airport."
"Do you know where it is?" Martin asked
"It's right in front of you," Viv said pointing to the gleaming white jet.
"Oh," Martin replied wondering how he had missed the 97ft plane. It looked far superior to the FBI's.
As they approached the plane, they noticed that the door was open. Drawing their guns, they continued to approach the jet but with added caution, now knowing the threats that lay within the plane.
Martin saw a shadow move within the plane. "FBI," he yelled identifying himself. "Don't move." He watched as the shadow continued to move. "I said don't move," Martin yelled again as he moved his finger on to the trigger.
XXXXX
Lucia couldn't stop shaking; she'd had a bad feeling about that meeting. She knew she shouldn't have put that gun in the drawer, but she didn't feel she had a choice. If only AJ had been there, none of this would have happened. She knew the mission he had been sent on had failed; she prayed that he was alive. She clutched her ribs; her jaw still throbbed from where he had hit her. She had blown the op and the cartel had blown Curtis away. Her father had beaten her with the nearest thing available – his baseball bat – and now he had Chris. She had no escape, the FBI had her cornered; her life was over as was Chris's. The FBI would arrest her because she couldn't prove that she didn't murder an American citizen. She would go to jail and Chris would remain with the cartel. Feeling tears sting her eyes, she thought she was as good as dead but maybe if she gave herself up then maybe Chris would have a chance. The FBI couldn't be as inhumane as her father said – they wouldn't hurt a five-year-old kid. She backed against the wall and closed her eyes as the armed federal agents stormed into the plane. This was it. Her life was over, Lucia thought as she sank down against the wall.
XXXX
Martin looked over to the far side of the cabin to see a terrified woman backed against the wall. He turned and motioned Viv and Sam to take the lead – believing that this terrified woman would probably feel more comfortable with Sam and Viv than him.
Sam approached the woman who was now cowering against the cabin wall. It didn't surprise her – she had probably had it drilled into her head since the word go that FBI could not be trusted.
"Please don't shot. I will go with you. I will cooperate with you fully," Lucia stammered as she held her arms in front of her face in a defensive stance. "Please don't kill me."
Sam lowered her gun but motioned to Martin to clear the rest of the plane. She bent down next to Lucia. "We're not here to hurt you, we're here to help," Sam said hoping that they really would be helping her. "I'm Special Agent Samantha Spade, this is Special Agent Vivian Johnson and that's Special Agent Martin Fitzgerald." Sam pulled out her ID to show the terrified woman. She looked up to see Martin signalling that the plane was clear.
Lucia relaxed slightly as she took the ID from the person identifying herself as Samantha Spade. She checked the ID, it didn't appear to be a fake and if it was it was a damn good fake, Lucia thought. Something told her that she could trust these people, something told to go against her father's teachings. As she slid into the car, she thought about AJ. She didn't know why these people made her think about him – they had no connection to him.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
As Danny and Jack approached the port they noticed several FBI cars. Danny looked across to see one FBI agent in particular. "Hey Jack, your favourite friend is here," Danny said sarcastically
Jack glared at Danny before he turned his glare to Special Agent John Carmon-Sommers. Agent Carmon-Sommers was an arrogant son of a bitch, who worked narcotics. He and Jack had locked horns several times throughout their careers, but Carmon-Sommers cared more about his career than his agents or the victims that got caught up in any of their cases. Jack didn't doubt that Carmon-Sommers was also a complete bastard to his team; hence none of them had stayed more than a year.
"Funny Taylor, real funny," Jack said as he got out of the car and walked towards Agent Carmon-Sommers.
Agent Carmon-Sommers stopped his talking with his team and glanced over at the approaching agents – at Jack Malone. "What do you want?" Agent Carmon-Sommers sneered.
"Nothing. We are just following up a lead on our case," Jack said. He really wasn't in the mood to argue with this maggot.
"Well, Agent Malone, this is a narcotics case," Agent Carmon-Sommers said as he continued to sneer arrogantly at Jack. "It's too dangerous for you. The Cali drug cartel are armed with SV-Dragoons, like the one in my hands."
Danny took one look at the weapon and smirked. "Actually Agent Carmon-Sommers that is a SV-98," he looked at the gun again and frowned. "Were you drunk or something were you put the gun together?"
"Excuse me, who the hell are you?" Agent Carmon-Sommers yelled.
Jack stepped forward and laid a hand on Danny's shoulder. "This is Special Agent Danny Taylor, he's on my team."
"Well, Taylor, I do not like your tone and if you think you're so clever – you put the gun together," Agent Carmon-Sommers said as he threw the gun at Danny. "Anyway—save the name—there is no difference between the guns."
Danny's fingers danced over the gun, but his eyes never left Carmon- Sommers. "Actually there's tons of differences, they are totally different weapons. Same manufacturer and the fact they are sniper rifles but that's were the similarities end," Danny said as he handed the gun back to Agent Carmon-Sommers. "Now are you sure can handle it?"
"Now I'm going to repo-" Agent Carmon-Sommers said but his words were cut short as a shot rang out. Everyone dropped to the ground, but Agent Carmon-Sommers remained standing. Danny kicked him at the back of the knees causing him to fall. As Agent Carmon-Sommers fell, Danny grabbed the back of Carmon-Sommers suit and pulled him behind the wall. In the same action, he grabbed the SV-98 from Carmon-Sommers.
"Your trying to get yourself killed," Danny yelled. Another shot rang out. Danny loaded the gun and looked down the scope looking for the target, he glanced across at Jack. "Did you see were the shot came from?"
"The crane over there," Jack said as he pointed in the direction of the crane. "He's halfway up. Take him out, Danny."
Danny moved the gun towards the crane and lined up his target. He had never done this before, the only live target he had shot at, and he missed. Sure he had shot in self-defence – why was different, why was it so hard to take the shot. Another shot rang out. He took a deep breath and took one final glance down the scope before he squeezed the trigger. The shooting stopped, he had made his first kill. Suddenly gunfire erupted around them.
"Look what you have done now," Agent Carmon-Sommers yelled
"Gunfire is at ground level, its automatic," Danny yelled back at Carmon-Sommers. "I took out the main danger. These guys shot to kill. I advise you to do the same." Danny said as he slung the SV-98 across his back and pulled out his Sig.
Jack moved positions. Twisting, turning, dropping, shooting and reloading, as it if the bullets firing at them were his invisible dance partners. He didn't know how many bullets or how long he had been shooting before he felt like he had been kicked in the chest. He saw Danny dive in front of him shooting at the target, before everything went black.
Danny saw Jack as he closed his eyes briefly before his survival instincts kicked. Unlike most people, Danny's survival instincts extended to the people he cared about. He dove towards Jack shooting at the target as he moved. He moved behind the wall pulling Jack with him, he tapped Jack face there was no response, this couldn't be happening. He was the target not Jack. Danny fired the last round off, before he bent down and grabbed Jack's gun. He started shooting, eliminating targets, trying to kill the person that had harmed his family; the same people that hurt and terrified Lucia and Chris. As the gunfire appeared to stop, he looked around for other possible threats. He was surprised at how calm he was, he wasn't even shaking. He looked around at his fellow agents. They looked shaken up but unharmed.
Danny looked down and tapped Jack's face. "Damn-it Jack don't do this to me, please Jack. What I'm I going to tell the team? What I'm going to tell Hannah and Kate." Danny said as he bite back the tears that stung his eyes.
"You know there are easier and safer ways to suck up to the boss," Jack said as he painfully sat up. "Are you sure it wasn't the Secret Service you worked for with all this diving in front of bullets you are doing."
"You're ok," Danny said smiling.
"Yeah but I'll need a new bulletproof vest," Jack said as he looked down at were the vest had stopped the bullet. "I'll have a pretty good bruise tomorrow but I'll live to fight another day."
Danny slowly stood up picking up the AK-47 next to them. He cautiously moved over to the truck scanning for possible threats. He looked into the trunk. "I think we can close this case."
Jack stood up painful and walked towards Danny. He looked into the truck and closed his eyes.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Lucia paced up and down; they had cleared her from shooting the gun. She could understand why she was she still there? Where was Chris? When she wasn't at the jet waiting for her father – there would be hell to pay. He had killed her mother, he had killed Chris's father, for all she knew he had killed AJ and Chris. She glanced across at a group of people stepping off the elevator – two of which started walking towards her. The smaller, stockier of the two looked like he was issuing instructions to the taller one. She watched as the shorter one, in obvious pain, walked in a different direction. Something made her return her glaze to the taller man. He looked familiar. She looked at his tall, lean, muscular body, at the rifle slung over his back, at the rumpled shirt, at the strong, stubbled jaw, at untamed hair, at the brown eyes… it was AJ. She watched him turn and walk down the passage away from her. She wanted to run after him – but something was stopping her. AJ worked for the cartel – then why was he in the FBI building in New York? Summoning up the courage, she ran after him. "AJ, AJ"
Danny stopped dead in his tracks. No one called him AJ, apart from cartel members. No woman called him AJ, apart from… Lucia. Spinning around, he saw Lucia standing in front of him. Feeling heart rate increase and his lungs constrict, when he saw… she was alive. "Lucia," he managed to say.
It was him, it was her AJ, but why was he here with an FBI ID on him? "What are you doing here?" She asked apprehensively.
"I-I work here."
Lucia felt as thought the building had dropped several degrees in temperature. She felt as thought she could hear a pin drop. "Y-you work here?" summoning up the courage she continued. "Then what the hell were you doing in Colombia?"
"I-I was working," Danny said knowing that he was going to lose her now. Now he was going to tell her that the whole time he had spent with her was based on lies.
"You mean you were fucking spying on us? What the hell was that about? AJ isn't even your real name is it?" Lucia yelled
"No," Danny said dropping his head.
"I trusted you, I trusted you with Chris and I don't even know your real name," Lucia said as she angrily wiped away the tears that fell. "They have Chris and I don't know if he's alive – and now I don't know who the hell the man was who I trusted with my child and my…my…heart."
"They have Chris?" Danny said in concern.
"Yes, but why should you care? Chris and I were just a way for you to get closer to my father. You used us, you son of bitch. I don't know you," Lucia said in between her tears. "What the hell is it – what the fuck is your real name? Actually, I don't want to know it," Lucia finished as she stormed off.
Danny felt himself sink down against the wall. It was his fault – all of this, if he had just stayed in Colombia none of this would have happened. "It's Danny Taylor," he whispered at Lucia's retreating form.
Chapter 15
Sinking down the wall, Danny drew his knees up to his chest and rested his head on his knees. The girl he loved, the girl he wanted to spend the rest of his life with – hated him. But he had expected this reaction because their relationship was based on lies. Did he really expect the reaction that happened in his dreams? Quickly looking around, hoping no one had seen his breakdown, he used the wall for support as he stood up. He and Lucia may not be together but he wasn't going to let those bastards separate Lucia and Chris. He would help them if it was the last thing he did. Now with a clear goal, he turned and started to walk towards the parking lot.
Sensing it was a private moment, Martin hung back and watched his friend break down against the wall. He hated to see his friend look so dejected, but he knew Danny wouldn't want anyone see him like this. He would see it as a weakness. But he couldn't hold back when he saw Danny stand up and start to determinedly walk towards the parking lot. In Danny's present state of mind, there was no telling what he would do. Martin didn't want Danny to throw away his life needlessly.
"Danny," Martin called after the retreating figure. "Hey man, wait up."
Hearing Martin, Danny carried on walking. He had already involved Martin in this before, and he didn't want to involve Martin again. He didn't want to involve the team and endanger them again. This was something he had to do – alone. He carried on walking ignoring Martin hoping he would go away and leave him to deal with this alone.
Grabbing his arm, Martin caught up with Danny and spun him around. "Hey didn't you hear me calling?" Martin asked but as he saw the lost look in Danny's eyes, he knew that he had to be there more than ever before as Danny's backup. "Where are you going?"
"No where," Danny replied sharply.
Martin ignored Danny's sharp comment, knowing it was probably due to fear more than anything else. "That's why you are damn near running out of here?"
"Maybe its because I need to get away from you," Danny yelled but at the same time he winced. He didn't mean to be so harsh, but he needed Martin to leave him alone. What he was about to do was incredibly dangerous and he didn't want to involve the team. He didn't want them to lose their lives because he wanted to make things right with his girlfriend.
"I don't want you do anything stupid. I don't want you to throw your life away," Martin replied trying to remain calm.
"You think trying to save a 5 year old kid's life is stupid?" Danny yelled. "If saving Chris results in my death, then so be it." He started to walk away from Martin again.
Martin grabbed Danny's arm and spun him around again. "Dying for that kid would be brave and honourable. But going in there without back up would be stupid and throwing away your life and endangering Chris's," Martin stopped for moment and looked at Danny. He noticed how lost Danny looked. He knew Danny wasn't thinking logically. "Look, man, we are friends, we are partners, we started this shit together over a year ago and we are going to end it together. In other words, there is no way in hell I'm going to let you go without backup."
Sinking to the ground again, Danny responded, "It's so screwed up, why is my life one big mess? T-that night, god, that night, man I can't stop thinking about it. When I was with Lucia, I didn't think about it, but now every time I close my eyes I see the gunfire… I hear the gunfire," Danny said as he raked his hands through his spiky hair.
Martin sat down next to Danny. "You think I don't see that gunfire... you don't think I don't hear that gunfire. Every time I close my eyes, I see you being executed in front of me. I still find myself scrubbing my hands as I try to remove your blood from them. Dr. Harris, Jack, Viv and Sam try to help… they try to understand – but I don't think they do."
"I understand," Danny said softly.
"I know and I understand what you're going through," Martin said. He was saddened but at the same time he felt slightly relieved that Danny was going through the same emotions that he was going through. Standing up, he pulled Danny up with him. "So how about we go and get Chris and end this hell?"
"Are you serious?" Danny asked.
"Yes," Martin replied.
Giving Martin an appreciative smile, Danny said, "Hey—when all of this is over—you and I should probably talk."
"Yeah, we probably should," Martin agreed. "But first let's get you, Lucia and Chris reunited. Right-" Martin said as he looked Danny up and down. "Ok I don't think we are going to have a problem with firepower."
"What? Oh," Danny said as he remembered the rifle that was slung across his back. "Let's go."
Viv watched as Danny and Martin talked. Glad the boys were talking, they needed to rest the demons of the past, which still scarred both of them. But she frowned as they stood and checked their guns before heading towards the parking lot. "Danny…Martin," Viv called after them.
Hearing Viv calling them, they turned around, knowing they were busted. If it was any other woman apart from Viv and Sam, they could have charmed their way out of it. But this was Viv and she wouldn't be fooled by their smiles that made so many women weak at the knees. "We are going after Chris."
"There is no way in hell, that Jack… that I… that Sam… that any of us are going to let you two out hunting down the people, that you," Viv said patting Danny's shoulder, "were just in a fire-fight with."
"Viv-" Danny started.
"Don't Viv me, you two," Viv said as she put her arms around the boys' shoulders and pushed them towards Jack's office. "I found these two going out to take on the Cali drug cartel."
"What!" Jack exclaimed, but his voice softened when he saw the lost look in Danny's eyes. "We'll get him back Danny," Jack said as they walked over to the whiteboard, which Sam had wiped clean since Curtis's case was closed. "Do you have a picture of him?"
Danny dug his hand into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. He took out the slightly worned photo and handed it to Jack. "I know it's not a very good one, but it's all I have – Lucia probably has a better one."
"This will do, but if we can get a better one…Danny do want to ask Lucia if she has a better photo?" Jack asked.
"I can't. She knows… she knows I am not the person she thought I was. She knows I lied to her," Danny said looking down. "I really don't think I would be the right person."
Sam stepped forward and squeezed Danny's shoulder. "I will do it," Sam turned and walked over to the room where Lucia was sitting. "Lucia I was wondering if you had a clear photograph of your son," Sam said as she sat down next to Lucia.
"I think so. Why?" Lucia asked s she began to look through her bag. She closed her eyes and bit back a tear that threatened to fall as she saw the photograph of Chris in AJ's arms; she quickly put the photograph at the bottom of her bag. She didn't know that man that held her son in his arms. She didn't even know his name. She pushed these thoughts to the back of her mind and concentrated on the task in hand. "This is the clearest photograph I have of him," Lucia said as she handed Sam one of the photographs.
"Chris is officially missing, and it's our job to find him," Sam replied answering Lucia's question. "We will get him back."
Lucia produced a weak smile, "Thanks but don't make promises that you can't keep," Lucia said sadly. She had lost the man she loved and probably her son in the same day. She took a deep breath and tried to hold back the tears that stung her eyes. She wouldn't cry. She wouldn't let them see her weakness.
Sam nodded and walked towards the door knowing there was nothing she could say that would comfort Lucia. There was nothing she wouldn't do to help Danny, but now wasn't the time to put her plan into action. Deep in thought, she approached the whiteboard and handed Jack the new photograph.
"Christopher Vega, age 5. Grandfather is Carlos Vega, who is head of the Cali drug cartel. His mother, Lucia, last saw him two days ago when they left the plane, but she has had phone contact," Jack said as she started to brief the team. "Danny, can you think of anywhere the cartel would hold Chris?"
Danny sat down and continued to rake his hands through his now wildly untamed hair. "I don't know Jack, I don't know. I don't know what they are doing to him. He's 5 years old for Christ's sake."
"It's alright, Danny. We will get him back," Viv reassured as she rubbed his back soothingly. Anyone could see how much Lucia and Chris meant to Danny. Out of all of them, she knew Danny really deserved to be happy, after everything he had been through… could life just once deal Danny what he deserved… happiness.
"These guys won't use credit cards and they probably came in on fake passports. So I think the best place to start is to find out any bank that has had large withdrawals of cash," Martin said. But he paused briefly as he considered his thoughts. "That is if Danny thinks the first part of my theory is right."
Danny looked up at Martin. "Yeah, you're right. They will have fake passports, ID's, names etc. They won't use credit cards and when they withdraw cash they won't request any type of denominations," Danny said raking his thoughts for more information that could help them save Chris. "They would have to have an ID to pick up the money. Jack, those files I gave you… they have the cartels bank details – if we can trace the money, it's a start," Danny said excitedly.
Jack stood up and walked to his office, coming out a few moments later with a file in his hand.
"Danny, I thought it was a CIA op – so why does Jack have a copy of the file?" Viv asked.
"I never trusted the CIA so made copies of everything – anyway that file isn't a copy; it's the original," Danny said. Jack flicked through the file until he came to the relevant page. "Ok they have one bank account and it's in the name of Maria Vega – who is Carlos's late wife. Is with the Bank of Colombia, the account name is 678920854, the sort code is 01-87-42. Martin do think you can get a trace on any of their recent transactions?"
Before Jack had finished his sentence Martin had swung around and was now furiously typing away. "Got it. $500,000 was transferred to the Bank of America on 29th street 5 days ago. It was picked up 2 days ago."
"Sam, you're with me. Danny, Martin, Viv I want you to go through that file, go through Carlo's FBI file if he has one. We need to know exactly who this guy is," Jack said as he turned to walk towards the elevator.
Danny slammed his fist on the table in frustration. "Why is he like this? Why the hell can't he let me out in to the field?"
Viv gave the frustrated agent's shoulder a squeeze. "Do you know long it was before Jack let me out into the field again? Do you know long it was before he let Martin out in the field again?" Viv asked the frustrated looking Danny. "It was weeks after we had been given medical clearance. We thought you were dead, then when you come back you get shot and damn near die. But the main reason Jack wants you here is because someone has to translate your writing and shorthand," Viv said smiling hoping it would defuse the situation.
Danny looked up and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry," he said and started to read through the file that he had started to write all those months ago.
Martin picked up one of the sheets of paper and frowned, he held it up side down and it still didn't make any sense. "What the hell is this?" Martin said shaking the piece of paper in front of his friend, "mean… is it some weird ass code or what?"
"Yes it's a code. The cartel was breathing down my neck, so I couldn't risk writing it normally in any language," Danny sighed. "Anyway its observations of Carlos's political views bearing in mind this was written one month into the op. So it is fairly superficial," Danny said as he went on to explain the report.
An hour later, Jack and Sam arrived back from the bank. They scattered a couple of the CCTV footage photos on the table. "He goes by the name of David Pringle. He picked up the money on Wednesday, it was in fairly small denotations," Sam said as she relayed the information to the rest of the team.
"Danny, who is this guy?" Jack asked.
Danny glanced at the photograph, but he didn't have to – he knew who it was. He close his eyes briefly as he remembered his time undercover, the time were he was one of them. "This is Miguel Rodriguez. He's Carlos's right hand man. He carries a .50 Desert Eagle and is not afraid to use it. He doesn't care who he kills and causing pain is his passion. It's what drives him… it's what keeps him alive."
"So basically he's one of the most sadist guys in the world. Well apart from the lovely Michael Clarke," Martin said sarcastically.
"Michael Clarke?" Sam asked she found three sets of eyes staring at her. "Colombia right? And you aren't/cannot say."
"I've been reading though this report and there is one thing that stands out each time and I think that's were we might find him," Viv suggested. She looked up to find four pairs of eyes staring at her. "Oh sorry, I think he's at the docks."
"Viv we already checked that out and he wasn't there," Jack replied.
"No you were at Manhattan docks; I think he will be at the abandoned docks in New Jersey," Viv stopped and started to explain her theory.
Jack nodded agreeing. "Sam, Viv continue to background check, interview Lucia again. Danny, Martin you're with me," Jack said as he stood up grimacing as he did.
"Jack are you sure you are alright?" Sam asked in concern.
"I'm fine," Jack said brushing off Sam's concern, as he clutched his hand against his ribs. "Danny we need to get some more ammunition," Jack said as he walked towards the elevator.
Danny and Martin got up and followed Jack to the elevator, glancing back to see Sam and Viv's worried expressions.
"We'll look after him," Danny said.
"I know you will Danny, but that's not what I was going to say," Viv replied as she looked at Danny's slightly confused expression. "We want all of you to come back alive and unharmed, so look after each other."
"Of course we will," Martin said as he stood next to Danny. He glanced back to an irritable Jack who was kicking the elevator button. "Hey we better go."
Viv and Sam watched as the boys hurried towards Jack, they both felt apprehensive but at the same time they felt happy – it was great to see the boys working together again.
"They will be alright," Viv said answering Sam's thoughts.
"I hope so Viv, I really do."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Martin concentrated on the road as he drove out to the abandoned New Jersey docks. The tension in the car was unbearable. It wasn't tension between each other but the tension as they each dealt with their own personal hell. He looked in the rear view mirror and saw Danny leaning against the window looking lost. He couldn't imagine the hell that Danny was going through – the hell that he had been through in the last year. He looked across at Jack who was still clutching his ribs. He silently wondered if Jack was up to it. But if this op could let Danny move on then no one could stop him from doing it. He pulled into the dock; he took a deep breath and leant his head on the headrest. He could feel the tension rising in the car.
Danny checked his guns before he grabbed the door handle but found it was locked. He glared at the front of the car, to see Jack remove his hand from the lock. "Jack what the hell are you doing? There's a 5 year old kid in the hands of psychos," Danny yelled.
Jack spun around to face the hotheaded agent, "I did that so we can have a minute to think things through," Jack replied as he tried to slightly calm the younger agent. "Danny I know you are personally involved and you want to get that kid out as soon as possible and that's understandable. But if we think about it for a minute, we will have a better chance of this to have a successful outcome."
"Fine," Danny said quickly. "Can we go now?"
Jack reluctantly unlocked the door. He watched as Danny jumped out of the car and dropped down behind it, methodically scanning the buildings around him. Before he joined Danny, he quickly spoke to Martin.
"Danny's not thinking logically at the moment. The whole protection plan doesn't include himself so we are going to have to do that for him. Look after him Martin and make sure he doesn't get himself killed."
Danny heard Martin and Jack drop down beside him and he started to relay off the information. "So far I have seen five hostiles no visible weapons, I haven't located Chris yet," Danny took a breath. "I think our best route, is through the window on the west side of the building. It is the least exposed and I haven't seen any of the hostiles in that area of the building," Danny explained.
"Ok," Jack said as he digested the information.
"You two go first and I will cover you, once you're at the building I will follow," Danny said slightly taking charge.
"Hey, Danny I'm the boss, I make the decisions."
"Sorry," Danny replied now slightly subdued.
"It's alright. I think your plan is a good one but I am going to add to it," Jack said as crouched down trying to ignore the pain in his ribs. "Once we get to the building we will cover you, and that part is non negotiable."
"Fine," Danny replied slightly reluctantly. It wasn't that he wanted to die – he loved his life – but he didn't want the team to be distracted while looking out for him. But they were, they were helping out so he could try and make it up to Lucia, they were risking their lives because of him. Now that Chris was their case officially and Jack was taking command, he knew he had very little choice in the matter. He pulled out the rifle and looked down the scope checking for any possible threat to them. Once he was sure there was no immediately danger, he nodded. He watched apprehensively as Jack and Martin crossed the short distance from the car to the building and relative safety. He watched as Martin and Jack gave him the all clear, he quickly scanned the area again, not that he didn't the trust team - it was purely instinct. Slinging the rifle across his back he quickly moved towards, fear drove him. But it wasn't fear for his own safety he knew the team would protect him – he feared for Chris's safety.
Jack eyed the window with suspicion; he knew it would give away his age. Danny and Martin were young and agile and would climb up the wall and through the window without a blink of an eye. But as Danny said, it was the least exposed and therefore the best entrance – he would just have grin and bare it. "Are you two going to stand there all day or are we get on with it."
Danny and Martin looked at each other; they both knew what each other was thinking as they glanced up at the window. As in some form of telepathic connection, Danny quickly scaled the wall, knowing that Martin would cover Jack as he climbed through the window.
Jack found himself struggling through the window, on the other said he was met by a grinning Taylor. "What are you grinning at?" Jack said in mock anger.
"Nothing, Jack nothing," Danny said as he eyed the window waiting for Martin to appear. Only when all of this was over then and only then would be relax. As Martin appeared beside them, Danny started to move through the room. He felt the adrenaline surge through his body as he started to clear the building, with every step moving him closer to Chris… to what he hoped to be his new life. They moved together knowing it would take longer, but they were always conscious of the dangers that lay within.
Jack watched as his young team moved through the building. They moved so fluidly while Jack found himself so feeling so stiff with tension that he felt that he wasn't moving as fluidly as the boys. He felt himself tense up as he heard movement on the floor above. He watched and followed as Danny started to move up the stairs. Since Danny had come back from Colombia, Jack had noticed several changes in Danny, especially how Danny moved through a building, clearing it. He moved as though he was floating on air, his reactions where ten times faster than they were previously. He heard a couple shots before two shots in close succession, he quickly moved so he was at Danny's side. He saw the younger agent did not falter, but checked the shooter before moving on. He quickly caught up with his agent and tapped him on the shoulder. "Danny, are you alright?" Jack asked in concern.
"I'm fine."
Jack frowned at Danny's choice of words; he wondered how many times he had heard them in his life, especially in the last year. But the way Danny said those words, and way he looked as he said them he knew that Danny was telling the truth. He was just about to open the next door when he heard Danny yell something at him and watched as Danny and Martin dove behind a wall. The next thing he knew he had hit the ground hard. He turned his head painfully to see Danny in a shooting position. "You know you can quit saving my life, there are easier ways to stay out of the dog house," Jack joked.
"I would if you quit standing in front of hails of bullets," Danny replied. "Jack-"
"I know, kill or be killed," Jack said. He just hoped that Martin would do the same. He hoped that they would all walk out of this alive. He hoped that they would find Chris, not just because their missing person was an innocent 5-year-old kid. But also for Danny's sake – he didn't know what his hotheaded agent would do if anything happened to that kid. When second hail of gunfire was fired over their heads he was ready and by the way his team moved they were also ready.
Danny moved quickly through the solely focusing on finding Chris. He didn't really notice the bullets that were being fired around him, as he danced around them. He kicked down the door that lead out of the room, but what he found none of his training would prepare himself for what lay within that room. Carlos had his arm wrapped around Chris's neck while he in the other hand he held a gun to Chris's head. He knew Carlos's psychological make up; he knew he wouldn't think twice about killing Chris or himself. Pausing briefly to take aim, he fired two shots at Carlos's head. He knew from the moment he had squeezed the trigger that the bullets had hit their mark. He quickly crossed the room, kicking up the gun as he went. Slowly and carefully, he bent down and looked into Chris's eyes – he was relived to see that the kid was unharmed.
"Chris," Danny said as he gently laid his hands on his small shoulders. He tried to ignore the sound of gunfire around them, but it was impossible – he need to get Chris to safety. "Hey there little man, see that cupboard over there," Danny said pointing to an old but substantial cupboard in the far corner of the room. He felt his heart break as he watched the terrified kid bravely nod before he began he scurry off towards the cupboard. "Hey I will come back from you I promise, don't come out of the cupboard unless my friends Jack Malone or Martin Fitzgerald or myself say so, understand?" Danny said as gently and as calmly as he could so not to frighten Chris any more than he already was.
"AJ, I'm scared," Chris whimpered.
Danny winced as Chris used the name that he was known by in Colombia, the name that associated him as a hit man. He drew breath and tried to ignore that fact he was associated as cold-blooded killer. "I know buddy, I know. But I will make sure no one hurts you I promise," Danny said as he gently carried Chris to the cupboard. "Now stay here and don't move until-"
"You or your friends, Martin and Jack say it's safe," Chris replied with a small smile.
Despite the situation, Danny couldn't help but smile back at Chris. "That's right buddy." Danny gentle hugged Chris as he reluctantly closed the cupboard. He leaned back and briefly closed his eyes as psyched himself up. He quickly crossed the room and patted Carlos down, taking the extras that Carlos was armed with. Not just for more protection but also so the cartel couldn't use them against them. He swung around the door calculating the highest risks as he moved. After what felt like an hour-long gunfight- although it was probably only a few minutes. Danny stood up and looking around, he knew that Jack and Martin where still alive, he had known where there during the whole gunfight, but he didn't know if they were unharmed.
"Jack, Martin are you alright?" Danny called out into the silence building. Waiting, hoping that he would hear the signal that they were ok.
"I'm good Danny, so is Jack," Martin called out as he emerged from the busted up crate. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Danny said as he ran next door, hoping that no harm had come to that sweet, innocent child. He didn't deserve this, just because he had been born into a drug-ridden culture. Danny knew what it was like; he knew what a hard life it was yet how difficult it was escape that culture. But at least Chris had a beautiful, strong, independent woman as his mother. If Chris could escape that culture he would have a chance and with his mother he wouldn't end up like him. He wouldn't have the destroyed childhood that he had; he wouldn't get into the wrong crowd as he did.
"Chris, Chris… are you ok," Danny called out trying to sound as gentle as possible. "Chris it's ok, it's safe now, you can come out now. I promise that no one is going to hurt you now."
Chris slowly and apprehensive opened the door, when he was AJ crouched down outside, he knew that he was going to be ok. He knew he was safe, he knew that AJ wouldn't let anyone hurt him or his mother. He jumped out of the cupboard into AJ's arms.
Danny didn't know if Chris was unharmed but he did know one thing, he had to get Chris out of here. He didn't want Chris to have the horrific images that lay within the building burned into his memories. He didn't want Chris to live with nightmares that plagued him. He didn't want Chris to end up like him. "Hey buddy how about we get you out of here," Danny said as scooped Chris up in his arms and started to walk out of the building. He felt Jack's hand on his shoulder stopping him.
"Danny, wait up a second. We need to check if this area is secure," Jack said as he made Danny wait in the building while he and Martin secured the area.
Danny watched as Jack and Martin moved out into the open, clearing the area. He felt useless that he wasn't out there helping them, but right now he had a far more important task – he had to protect Chris. He saw Martin give the area the all clear and moved quickly to the safety of the car. It was over – it was over for Chris and Lucia, they could now live the lives that they dreamed of – unfortunately that life wouldn't involve him.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Lucia sat in the Federal building nervously wrapping her hands around the coffee that had long since gone cold. But it was something to do, it was a distraction from the waiting, from the news that these agents might bring. Her father had been wrong about the FBI, they weren't cold and heartless. The two female agents, Viv and Sam, had sat with her and talked. They had tried to put her at ease. They seemed to know and understand that she wouldn't be at ease until Chris walked through that door unharmed.
Viv was a mother so should understand. But they both seemed to understand what she was going through. Viv had told her that they had nearly lost someone that they loved twice, how the waiting had been unbearable – but seeing that person again, there weren't an enough words to explain how she felt were she knew that person was going to be ok. She wondered what it was like to care about someone that wasn't your family, so much. But she knew or thought she knew. AJ or whoever he was had been person. AJ had always cared about her, but how could she know him when their relationship had been based on lies.
She was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn't notice Sam enter until she was in front of her.
"Hey Lucia," Sam said
"Sam," Lucia said startled, trying to read her body language.
Sam sat down next to her. "We have Chris he's fine, my colleagues are bring in as we speak."
"T-thank you, t-thank you," Lucia repeated, allowing the tears to finally fall. "Not that I really care, but what about my father."
Sam paused briefly as she thought of away to break the news that her father was dead. "When our agents entered the building where they believed Chris was they were fired upon. Your father posed a direct threat to your son-"
"So one of your agents shot him," Lucia finished.
"Yes, but you have to understand-" Sam started again.
"Sam," Lucia said finally allowing herself to smile. "I can now live my life without fear, b-but I d-don't t-think I can go back to Colombia. You see the cartels run the government, I would probably be shot on the airport tarmac."
"Its ok, we can arrange for a new identity," Sam said as she looked up and saw Jack knock on the glass carrying Chris on his hip, she nodded for Jack to enter.
Lucia looked up as soon as she heard the door open. Before she knew it she had crossed the room and had taken Chris from agent Malone. Viv was right; there were not enough words that could describe how she was feeling right now. "Thank you, thank you," Lucia said as she found herself repeating herself again.
Jack and Sam backed out of the room to give Lucia and Chris their space. Sam looked around, "Where's Danny?"
"He's gone home," Jack replied. "It's been a tough day for him and he didn't feel that Lucia would want to see him."
"Sam, agent Malone," a voice called out from behind them.
Sam and Jack turned to see, Lucia standing behind them with Chris on her hip. "How can we help," Jack asked.
"U-mm, I don't know if you can help, but u-mm there's guy I think he's a FBI agent. Well anyway I saw him talking to you early," Lucia said to Jack. "Well he spent sometime in Colombia where he went by the name of Alejandro Rios. I-It's just I've made a huge mistake and –"
"Is this `Alejandro Rios' about 6'2", Cuban with a wild, untamed hair?" Sam asked smiling.
"Yes, do you know him?" Lucia asked apprehensively.
"His name is Danny Taylor," Jack replied. "You know the only reason he went to Colombia was to protect us and the only reason he left was to protect you and us. If he could have gone to Colombia before he would've but he couldn't."
"Danny Taylor," Lucia repeated. "H-he was the person that was like your brother that you lost twice, why twice?"
"Because of me," Jack said as he stepped forward. "Someone shot at us and he took a bullet for me, he saved my life."
"Oh," Lucia said, suddenly feeling incredibility guilty for the way she had treated Danny. He was the guy that protected her in Colombia. He went to Colombia to protect his co-workers, he left Colombia to protect her and Chris and his co-workers, he saved his boss's life and he probably saved Chris's life. "Look I have made a huge mistake and I-I just want to apologise to him. do you know were he is?"
Sam stepped forward knowing this was her chance to beginning to repay the debt that she felt she owe Danny. "He's gone home, but I can give you his address if you want," Sam said as she scribbled down Danny's address on a scrap of paper.
Lucia took the paper and scanned quickly before repeating thanking the agents for everything that they had done before she found herself sprinting towards the elevator. She hoped that she wasn't too late to right the biggest mistake in her life.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Lucia mentally urged the cab forward, why was it going so slowly? She hoped she wasn't too late to correct her mistakes. Why had she been so judgemental? Danny was the first in her life to give a damn about her and Chris. The first person to protect them, he was the first that could make her feel safe, make her laugh and she had thrown it back in his face. He had risked his life for them. He had risked his life for his team. He was a good person and she didn't deserve him. Throughout her life she had convinced herself that she didn't need anyone, but she did. She needed Danny, she loved Danny, she hoped that Danny would forgive her.
Danny paced up and down his apartment. He didn't believe he would ever need a drink as much as he did now, but he felt his world was crashing down around him. He had never understood love before; he had never understood the pain that love brought. But as he stood in his apartment, he had never felt so alone again. He couldn't stop himself as he grabbed his wallet and keys and started to walk towards the door. He couldn't face a bar, he had pride now, he didn't want people see him crying over his drink. He didn't want people to take pity on him.
Lucia quickly paid for the cab and scooped Chris up into her arms as she ran towards the apartment building. In frustration, she hit the elevator button but it wasn't coming fast enough, so she took to the stairs taking two at time – not feeling Chris's weight. When she reached Danny's apartment, she took a breath and tried to collect herself. She nervously knocked on the door hoping that he would forgive her, not knowing what she would do if he didn't.
Danny frowned as he heard someone knocking on his door. Curiously he walked over and opened the door, wondering who wanted to visit him; maybe they could stop him from drinking. He doubted it; right now one of the only people that would stop him hated him. He opened the door and felt his heart skip a beat, he couldn't believe, it couldn't true. He was too shocked to say or do anything, but stand and stare open mouthed.
"Danny?" Lucia asked nervously
"Y-yeah," Danny stammered as he tried to put a sentence together. "Sorry please come in."
"Danny, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Lucia said as she tried to gain control of her emotions. "I'm sorry the way I treated you especially after everything you have done for me."
"Hey," Danny said as he nervously ran is fingers through her hair. "Hey Lucia, I understand. I never wanted to hurt you. When I was with you out there I was being myself."
"I know, just the way your co-workers described you, the reasons that you did the op in the first place, the fact that you saved your boss's life that you saved Chris's life, I don't think I will ever be able to repay you," Lucia said stumbling over her words.
"Lucia there is something I need to tell, it going to hard I have to tell you," Danny apprehensively. Lucia may well walk out on him again, but he had to tell her the truth about her father's death. He had to tell her that he killed her father. "Your father was holding a gun to Chris's head, t-there was nothing I could do, so I-I."
"So you saved Chris's life and brought us our freedom," Lucia said as she leant front and kissed Danny's cheek. It was then, when she felt her lips brush his stubbled cheek and felt his strong, protective arms around her hips, she realised how much she missed him. "I love you, Danny Taylor."
Danny pulled Lucia closer. "Babes you don't know how much I miss you," Danny looked to one side and saw Chris looking through his car magazines. "How much I have missed both you. You don't how bad I felt when I couldn't come and get you as I promised."
"It's not your fault I know if you had a chance you would've come and got us," Lucia said as she bit her lip. "Danny I nothing but Chris and the clothes we stand up in, I don't know what to do."
"Well you can stay with me tonight, or as long as you want," Danny said as he gently kissed her head. Please stay with me for the rest of my life, Danny thought.
"Are sure?" Lucia asked trying to hide her smile.
"Yes I'm sure, I-I love you Lucia," Danny stuttered.
Lucia felt tears brimming in her eyes, but they were not tears of fear or sadness they were tears of joy. She would have to live a life of fear anymore. Her dreams had come true. As she sank into Danny's chest, she had never felt so safe or at home in her life. This was the end of her nightmare.
Danny wrapped his arms around Lucia tightly. He never thought this moment would happen. He never thought his childhood dream would come true – but it had. It was the end of coming home to an empty apartment; it was the end of feeling lonely. It was end of the string of meanness relationships. His nightmare was finally over, Danny thought as he gently kissed Lucia's head again. It was over.
END