Notes - Sorry for all the cliffhangers. This turned out to be much longer than I'd ever intended. I promise you'll learn Danny's fate soon. Thanks so much for review. I've never had this kind of a response on a fic before. Thanks to Mariel for being a great beta.

Manhattan YMCA, 79 Hours Earlier

Walking out of the gym after the FBI versus NYPD basketball game, Martin glanced at Danny. "You can't tell me that wasn't fun, man."

Danny flashed him a reluctant smile. "I don't know if fun is the right word. But it's always nice to feel needed, and you guys definitely needed me."

Slinging his bag over his shoulder, Martin stopped at the curb to hail a cab. "So what do you say? Are you up for getting a drink? We're celebrating at McHale's Pub in about a half hour."

Danny stopped. For a moment, it looked like he was going to say yes. "I, um, I can't. I have a…a thing later tonight."

"You sure? I'm betting you won't have to pay for one drink. Winning shots usually guarantee that."

Danny laughed as he shook his head. "Nah, man. I gotta get going."

"Next time, then," Martin said as he started to walk away.

Backing away to head to the subway, Danny called out, "Who says I'm doing this again?"

"You loved it, Danny. You'll never admit it, but you loved it."

"See you Monday. Don't drink too much," he replied before turning away and disappearing into the night.

"Viv says Hancock finished surgery and took off about a half hour ago," Jack said, jarring Martin from his thoughts.

Trying to refocus on the road ahead, Martin replied, "Where can we find him?"

"He has an apartment near the hospital, on 72nd," Jack replied.

"Did Viv say anything else? Have they found anything at the hospital?"

"Not yet. They're doing a floor-to-floor search as we speak."

Martin didn't respond. He just took a deep breath and continued to drive.

XXX

Two Month Earlier, Thanksgiving Day

Samantha stepped off the elevator onto a dead-silent floor that was usually bustling with activity on any other day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Shivering, she realized that they must turn the heat down over the holiday.

As she approached the bullpen, she was startled when she caught sight of Danny sitting at his desk.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, stopping next to his desk.

Danny looked up, also completely startled. "Um…Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Sam."

"Sorry. I just…I didn't expect—"

Danny smiled as he interrupted her. "I'm just catching up on some paper work."

"Paper work? On Thanksgiving?"

"Yeah. Why not? Definitely no distractions here today."

"I thought Viv said you were spending the day with the social worker," Samantha answered with a grin.

"Her name is Polly," Danny replied, shaking his head. "I thought about taking her up on it, but decided against it."

Nodding, Samantha pulled one of conference table chairs over to Danny's desk. "But Viv said that's why you turned her invitation down."

Throwing her a slightly annoyed glare, he asked, "Since when do you and Viv talk so much?"

Samantha shrugged. "Just came up in casual conversation."

Danny smirked. "Well then, what brings you here on Thanksgiving, Agent Spade? Isn't there a turkey dinner with your name on it in the land of the cheese heads?" he asked, voice dripping in sarcasm.

Samantha returned a half-smile, half-smirk. "That's actually why I'm here. I left my e-boarding pass here yesterday and didn't feel like waiting in line for three hours once I got to the airport to have them reissue it."

"You're leaving today?" he asked in a surprised tone.

"Tonight, actually. My plane leaves at seven."

Danny laughed. "It's the day of Thanksgiving, Sam."

"I know. I know. But tickets were much cheaper traveling today. And as a bonus, I won't have to deal with my mother's husband's family. The leftovers are always better the next day, anyway. Not that my mother is much of a cook."

Danny laughed again. "That's quite a strategy."

"Yes. I've perfected it. I should write a book: "The Art of Completely Avoiding Your Family At All Costs," she replied playfully, but then regretted it as soon as the words came out of her mouth. "I'm sorr-"

"It's okay. It's funny, actually. Let me guess – you booked a Saturday flight back to beat the holiday traffic?" he continued, letting the awkward moment pass.

Samantha giggled. "As I said, I've perfected it."

"Sounds like you have," he responded in a quiet tone.

Wanting to change the subject, Samantha leaned in closer. "So spill. Why didn't you go to Polly's?"

Rolling his eyes, Danny shook his head. "It's…it's complicated. Polly and I went out a couple of times last summer, and then we kind of lost touch until she asked for help on the William Hope case. I just think if I went to dinner with her and her family, then she might expect that we'd—"

"Get serious?"

"Yeah. I'm not really in a position to do that right now. So I didn't want to confuse her."

"That's a wise decision."

"Yeah."

"So you really are planning to spend all day here doing paper work?"

"Not all day. I have plans tonight."

Samantha nodded. "I see. Now I'm really glad you let Polly down easily."

Danny shrugged a little as he looked down at his hands.

"Since your plans aren't until tonight, and my plane doesn't leave for another five hours, what do you say we go to Hop Lee's for a little non-traditional Thanksgiving fare?"

Danny smiled. "You sure you have time?"

The moment Sam heard his response, she was glad she'd suggested it. She could tell he didn't really want to be at the office at all. "Yeah. I'll even let you escort me to the airport."

"Sounds like a plan," he said as he stood up from his desk.

From her desk, Samantha couldn't take her eyes off Danny's picture on the whiteboard. Jack had told Samantha to stay at the office in case Emily could offer more information. Sam had never felt more restless and useless in her life. She'd wanted to go with Jack to interrogate Hancock, but she understood why he'd needed her to stay. Needing to move around, she rose from her desk and walked back to the interview room.

Sam's restlessness was tested as she watched Emily through the two-way mirror. After her lawyer stepped out to make some phone calls, Sam watched as Emily laid her head on the table. Not thinking she deserved a moment of peace, Samantha walked into the interview room and 'accidentally' slammed the door shut.

Upon hearing the loud thud, Emily sat up straight. "Did you…did you find him?" she asked.

"No," Samantha answered as she remained standing in front of the door. "I just, um, I want to know something."

"I've told you everything."

"No. You haven't."

"What else do you want to know?"

"What happened the night you had the fight with him, the fight his neighbor heard? Was that the night he found out about the Congressman?"

"That has nothing to do with where he is now."

"Maybe it doesn't, but I still can't understand why he kept giving you more chances, after everything you put him through," Samantha stated in a confused tone.

"Because he understands me," Emily responded in a barely a whisper.

"You're a hard man to get a hold of, Agent Taylor," Emily said after he opened the door.

Danny didn't respond. He just looked at her with that deep frown of his that made him look like a wounded puppy.

"Bad day at work?" she asked, breezing past him into the apartment.

Closing the door, Danny responded with his back to her. "Just a bad day, period."

"Lucky for you, I'm here to make it all better." She walked toward him and started to lay her hands on his shoulders. But as soon as she made contact, he flinched and turned toward her.

The frown spread to his eyes, and now he looked angry, so angry that Emily's first instinct was fear.

"What…what's wrong?" she asked hesitantly.

"Everything about you…everything about you is wrong."

Upon hearing his words, Emily almost felt like he knocked the wind out of her. "What are you talking about?"

Crossing his arms, Danny answered. "I got a visit today from Congressman Thompson's chief of staff."

Eyes widening in surprise, Emily started to speak, but he cut her off.

"Shut up. I'm through with your explanations."

Reaching out, she tried to touch him as she responded, "You don't understand—"

Very quickly, he knocked her hand away and then roughly grabbed her upper arms as he looked down at her. "I don't understand? He threatened my family. He accused me of blackmailing a Congressman. I understand completely."

She tried to shrug out of his grasp, but he just tightened his hold on her. There was a rage in his eyes that terrified her. "You're hurting me. Please stop. Please," she cried.

Suddenly, he let go and turned away. "Get the hell out of here. I don't ever want to see you again."

"Don't do this, Danny. You don't understand—"she tried to respond in a loud voice so that he could really hear her.

"I understand perfectly," he replied, even louder. "I'm not an idiot. Get out!"

"No. No," she cried. "Just let me explain."

"I don't want to hear this," Danny yelled. "I don't care about your…issues, all right! Just get the hell out."

Falling to her knees, she cried. "Please don't do this. Please don't hate me. I didn't know what else to do. I'll do anything; just don't make leave, not like this," she pleaded.

Sighing heavily, Danny ran his hand over his mouth. "Why? If you're so determined to stay with Thompson, then why do you keep coming here? What do you want from me?"

Hearing the gentleness return to his tone, Emily was able to compose herself. Looking down at the floor, she responded, "I feel good when I'm with you."

"If you're not happy with your career and you're definitely not happy with the Congressman, then why do you keep going back? Why are you making yourself miserable?" he asked, as he sat down on the sofa.

"I can't fail, Danny. I can't."

"So all of this is about getting some surgical fellowship? That's sick, Em. You're losing yourself, you're using me, and you're blackmailing him…all for what?"

"To be the best."

Shaking his head, Danny sighed heavily. "I need more explanation than that. I understand ambition. I really do. But this is ridiculous."

"No one expects me to do well. Everyone at the hospital looks at me like I don't belong there. My parents – all through high school and med school – they kept expecting me to fail. I was never good enough. I never made the right choices. They've never believed in me."

"Why not?"

"I…I don't know."

"That's still no excuse—"

"Don't you think I know that?" she asked as she looked up at him. "I know. But I can't stop. I can't…" she said, breaking down in tears.

As she continued to cry, Danny held his hand out to her. Taking it, she let him pull her up on the sofa. He just put his arms around her and held her until she fell asleep.

"I woke up the next morning on his sofa. He told me that we couldn't be together anymore. But I still tried…. He stood his ground, though. He tried to put distance between us, but he was still willing to talk when I needed to talk. That's what I told him I needed that night. I told him that I needed to talk."

Frowning deeply, Samantha shook her head. "Then I really don't understand. Why didn't you tell the truth right away? He was your friend. I'm guessing the only true friend you have."

"If I could take it back, I would. I was just so afraid of losing everything."

"It's very possible that Danny has lost his life because of you," Samantha said, trying to remain composed.

"I know," Emily replied, tears falling from her eyes.

XXX

Dr. Hancock's Apartment Building, 2:30 am, 79.5 hours missing

Entering the lobby of the building, Martin flashed his badge at the attendant.

"FBI. We're here to see Dr. Hancock," Martin said as he and Jack continued to walk toward the elevator.

"He's not up there," the attendant called out.

Stopping abruptly, Jack turned. "Where the hell is he?"

"You just missed him. He went down to the parking level about five minutes ago. Looked like he was taking a trip."

"Can we get there using these stairs?" Martin asked, opening the door.

The attendant nodded as Jack and Martin started to quickly descend the stairs.

Just as the door opened the door to the parking level, they saw a black jaguar pull out of a parking space near the elevator. Pulling his gun, Martin took off in a full sprint to cut the car off.

Approaching the back of the car, Jack also pulled his gun and watched as Martin caught up to the car, turned and raised his gun.

"FBI! Keep your hands where I can see them!" Martin shouted, standing in the car's path.

Hancock appeared to put the car in reverse, but then stopped when he caught sight of Jack in his rearview mirror. After putting his car in park, he sighed heavily as he put his hands on the steering wheel.

Jack covered Hancock while Martin opened the door. Very roughly, Martin pulled the doctor out and shoved him against the car. As he searched him, he asked, "Where's Danny?"

"I don't—"

"Don't lie to me, again," Jack said as he kept his gun trained on the doctor and Martin turned him around so he could face Jack. "We have you on tape – wheeling Danny's body out of the hospital."

"And we have a one-way ticket to South America," Martin said as he showed Jack the envelope that he'd just pulled out of Hancock's pocket. "Did you get spooked when Emily didn't come back to the hospital? You knew she'd turn on you, didn't you?"

"You really believe that whore? She's lying. Everything she's telling you is a damn lie."

"The tape isn't a lie," Jack said.

"I don't know what—"

"Shut up! Shut up!" Jack shouted. "Listen to me. If you don't tell us where Danny is, then we will make you disappear. Just like you made Danny disappear. Open the trunk, Martin."

Martin didn't hesitate. He reached over and pulled the trunk release and then pulled Hancock over to the trunk.

"Where is he?" Jack asked again.

"You guys won't do this. You won't—"

"Don't test me. I'll put a bullet in your head right now," Jack said.

"There are security cameras all over the place," Hancock cried.

"Tapes get erased all the time," Martin said. "You should have thought about that. But I don't think you should shoot him in the head, Jack."

"Exactly!" Hancock cried. "Think about what you're doing—"

Martin cut him off. "Shoot him in the stomach. Let him bleed to death slowly."

"No! No!"

"Where is he?" Jack commanded.

"I want a lawyer. I want my lawyer."

"No lawyers. You're telling us what you did with him or I shoot you!" Jack insisted.

Hancock looked from Martin back to Jack again. He closed his eyes. "Everything got out of control after I got involved with Emily. My wife left me. And then Emily ended it. I just wanted to teach Emily a lesson…"