All the Gods,

all the heavens,

all the hells,

are within you.

(Movie quote: 13 hours, secret soldiers from Benghazi)


CHAPTER 3.:

The clouds above...


"Follow me!" Jason barked. When they turned behind the corner, black suv was parked there. No plates.

"I wanna talk to Catherine."

"Get inside!"

"I said I wann.."

"You wanna talk to her so get inside!" Jason yelled.

Steve's eyes were sharped and full of anger. Jason opened back door. Man with gun was sitting inside.

"Do it." He said more calmly.

Steve took a breath and sat next to him. Jason shut a door and get behind a wheel. He looked trough mirror on his partner and nodded.

"Hands." Man said coldly holding handcuffs.

"Is that necessary?" Steve turned to him. But nobody answered. He gave it up and let him put those on his hands. Than man pulled out a black sack and put it on Steve's head. Everything went dark and quiet. Only sound of engine was there when car moved.

You left him... Why?... What have you done? coward.. traitor.. Voices echoed in his head. All was mixed, but had one exact meaning. He felt so guilty. In a second, silence turned into unbearable havoc. How could he live with himself for all these years? But now, he is gonna pay for it. He was convinced about justice coming to him so he didn't even put up a fight.


(Danny's office, present time, Steve missing for 8 hours)

Danny was sitting in his chair and starred on letter laying on his table. Without a word, in quiet exruciating solitude. He didn't noticed when somebody appeared in front of him.

"Detective? Are you ok?" Denning asked.

Danny just raised his head with surprise.

"Oh.. um.. governor.. Is everything allright?" He answered with shaky voice.

"Actually...I was thinking... after your morning visit.. I realized.. maybe it's nothing but.."

"Try me!" Danny was fully focused.

"Commander came very early... around 5:40 a.m... When you want just trifle like this you can came at any time.. or just call.. " He started gently and quietly..

"And he was not in his shape.. he was pale and had very shaky voice.. and to close it, he told he doesn't know for how long he will be gone..." Denning breathed out with worry."It has to be serious.. I wasn't thinking about it until you ..."

"... doesn't know for how long.." Danny repeated sadly. Denning just nodded.

"Thank you governor.. but I have nothing.."

"I just tought you should know that... If you will need somethin.. let me know.."

"Thank you sir." Danny watched him left.

When governor left, Tani quickly opened a door on Danny's office and with asking eyes starred at Danny.

"He was thinking..." Danny rubbed his hands in anger. "He realized Steve was not in his skin.. "

"And?"

"And what?"

"Nothing helpful?"

"No... I'm just worried a little more.." Danny felt so vulnerble. He would gave anything to know what the hell is going on.

"Let's track his phone.." she suggested.

Danny nodded. It was last chance to find something.


"Hey look... it's Steve's car over there." Danny noticed and runned to place.

"It's opened. Why would he left his car on the street and unlocked when he was leaving?"

"His phone,.. it's there." Danny held Steve's mobile.

Then suddenly Danny's phone rang.

"Lou? What's up?"

"I ran a videorecording from this morning."

"And?"

"You should take a look, he is acting wierd, I'm sending it to you."

"Thanks man."

Danny opened a file and his office from this morning appeared on screen. Steve came in, put the letter on his table and starred on it with painful face. Then he whispered something, but there was no sound. When he looked on his watches, he looked scared, ran away from office and disappeared.

"It looks he was in hurry."

Danny realized it's maybe last time he saw him. Feelings were filling him to the very top and even overflowing making a river. He felt like he is gonna fall down in a second. And he would, if his misery woudln't be interrupted by calling from other side of the street.

"Detective Williams?" Danny turned and saw Steve's neighbor.

"Mrs Haluka."

"Are you looking for Steve?" She asked shyly.

"Yes, have you seen him this morning?"

She looked on the road, then crossed and stopped in front of them.

"I did. He left with one gentleman and haven't came back yet... is he ok?"

"Did you recognized that man?" Danny was curious, holding above his pain.

"No, I think his name was .. um... something on J... I'm sorry.." she was upset about forgetting.

"It's ok miss... what else can you tell us?"

"He was there a day before... in uniform.. Steve looked strange.. Than he came back today.. but Steve wasn't home.. he arrived few seconds later, jumped out of the car and yelled his name... and than they left.."

"Thank you miss Haluka.. if you remmebered something else, please call me.."

"Is he in trouble?"

"We don't know.. but we will find out.. I promise." Following silence filled only quiet steps of old lady walking back home.

"I'll get the car to garage.." Junior looked sad, disappointed, afraid. Man he is living with is missing and he didn't even noticed.

"Navy uniform... I don't like this.. I don't..." Dany was mad and scared. His partner could be somewhere out there in a war and he could do nothing about it.

"Steve where the hell are you?!" This was a question which everybody wants to answer.


Darkness. Silence. Leaving everything behind. His life changed a lot in past eight years. When he came back home and met Danny and everybody... They humanized him. For such a long time he was in black hole of fight. Fight for strenght, for his family, for home, for country, for his own life, for surviving. And he survived. But for what price? He lost everything. Mother, sister, father, Freddie... Now he found a new family. But he caused them so much pain and fear... Their lifes would be better without knowing him. He is leaving them now and it was right. His destiny is not to be happy. He can't be happy. He doesn't deserve it after all that happened.

Seconds? Or hours? It doesn't metter. Engine became quiet and hands were dragging him out. Steps to nowhere were driving him crazy. Cold air touched his skin when they entered. Corridor seemed neverending and with each step was air getting colder. Than they stopped. Chair, heavy leather restrains enclosed his wrists and ankles. He jerked, when that day when WoFat took him, flashed in his mind.

Steps were all around him, only sound he could hear. Than, in a second, the darkness disappeared. He found himself in cold wet room. Same chair as he was sitting in, was right in front of him, with same restrains and same worn out lacquer. Empty. Jason sat in it, leaned to his knees, crossed his fingers and finnaly looked at Steve with empty and serious face.

"To hold my word.. you wanted to see your girl.." Jason nodded to one of men standing behind.

Door opened and guard walked inside with Catherine. Her face was sad, pale and worried. Her eyes stucked on Steve's.

"Cath... are you okey?" he said with more broken voice than he meant to.

"Yes" she smiled sadly "You?"

"I'm good." Steve's eyes were swimming in hers too.

"You shouln't come here Steve..." Jason nodded again and she disappeared as quickly as she turned out.

"Hey! Wait!" Steve found himself shouting and fighting with restrains.

Jason stood up and leaned closer to his prisoner.

"Calm down Steven. She will be okey as long as you cooperate...so don't make me do things both of us could regret.."

Steve breathed deeply.

"So what's next?" He gasped.

Hard punch landed on his face and rill of blood runned from his mouth.

"Do you think,... that you can get trough this quickly?... forgetting it as soon as you walk trough that door?... Acting like a hero in front of your girl?.. Do you think that people will read in newspaper about your bravery?" Fire was burning inside him. "You will suffer right in front of her until you feel the complete despair as that little girl is feeling everyday without her father... as Kelly fights with, everyday waking up in an empty bed... and you will... " He stabbed him with cold eyes. " I promise."


(missing for 11 hours)

Danny felt so empty. There was nothing.. only that black deep hole what left behind. ... noting changed. Only much more anger and fear was above him with every passing minute. He was reading letter Steve left him again and again. Thousands times. But he couldn't find anything, only sadness in it.

Lou enterd his office with fresh coffee.

"Thanx..." Danny grabbed a cup. "... we should put a tracking in his damn neck when he comes back.." continued with quiet voice.

"Yes.. I absolutely agree man.." Lou took a small sip.

"What have I ever done that I must live this nightmare over again?" He starred to nowhere.

"Hey... he always came back... don't forget about it.."

Danny didn't answer.

"We should call Mary.." He finnaly broke the silence.

"I don't know if it's good idea... Telling her that Steve disappeared no one knows where, left only that damn letter and we have nothing to figure out what the hell is going on... man.. give him his time.."

".. maybe you are right..." Danny took a sip. "But this out of knowing stuff is driving me crazy... " His eyes started glowing with madness.

They saw somebody enter the office. It was Grace with Will.

"Hey Danno"

"Hay dad "

"What are you two doing here?"

"You weren't pickng up... I wanted to ask you if we could go to movies tonight?"

Danny just starred at them.

"You allright Danno?"

"Who let you in?" Lou observed his son with asking face.

"Sergeant Lukela... What is going on?" Will noticed their sadness too.

"Danno? ..." Grace had scared face, she somehow understood..."... where is uncle Steve?"


TBC

Thank you for your time! Have a nice day and if you want, please let me know what you think bout story so far! Next chapter coming in the end of the week.


Thank you all for your wonderfull reviews! I love you so much. To answer your questions: no, I'm not gonna continue the old story (Crossroads). This is the story... just little upgraded. :) Stay tuned, see ya in next chapter! :*