"She's alive!" Danny exclaimed out of relief, putting her head on his lap. However her pulse was very weak and she didn't wake up.
"Kate you hear me? It's me Danny...Wake up Kate, oh please baby wake up" his voice broke as he was shaking her gently. The paramedics rushed towards Kate and asked Danny to let go of her but he couldn't bring himself to.
"Danny, come on, let 'em do their job..." Jack said, making him stand. His eyes wide open, Danny watched the doctors work on Kate, totally powerless, as the room started spinning violently. He had already lived the same situation a year ago and the images of that night resurfaced in his mind. Lay on a stretcher, Kate was got out of the room and taken to the ambulance. She had been put under oxygen but yet, she didn't manage to regain consciousness. Danny got in the ambulance with her, never letting go of her hand as Jack was following behind.
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The tension could be felt in the MPU bullpen. The rest of the team hadn't heard any news yet and they all were imagining the worst. When Martin's cell phone started ringing, everyone held their breath. He picked up the phone and very soon a smile came across his face.
"They found her alive" he told the two women in front of him.
"Oh thank God!" Sam exclaimed.
She threw herself in Martin's arms, crying and laughing nervously as everybody in the bullpen sighed in relief. Still holding Sam, Martin turned his blue eyes to Vivian.
"Viv, can you call Kate's parents and tell them the good news?"
"yeah sure"
She smiled but her hands were shaking due to the emotion.
"I have something to do..." Martin told Sam and went away. He got out of the bullpen and headed towards the room where Gilbert Morrison was detained. He opened the door and Kate's kidnapper looked at him, with a spiteful smile at the corner of his lips. Martin sat down and stared at him silently, trying not to hit his ugly face.
"Martin what a good surprise, I missed you...I can call you Martin, right?"
"No, it will be Agent Fitzgerald for you..."
"OK Agent Fitzgerald...What are you going to do? Kill me? Hit me? I could understand, you know. Your father's been killed, Kate must be dead now and this poor Danny is probably crying his eyes out..."
He tipped his chair back on his rear legs, bursting out laughing. Martin stood up softly and stepped towards him, his eyes still locked on his. He then kicked the legs of the chair, causing Gilbert to fall over, and put a knee on his throat, almost preventing him from breathing. Before he had time to say something, Victor appeared, a serious look upon his face.
"Martin!"
"...Huh...listen, I..."
But Victor pretended that he hadn't seen Gilbert Morrison stuck under his son's knee.
"I was told the good news, so Kate Buckley is still alive, huh?"
"Yeah, she was taken to the hospital but...she's alive"
"I'm glad this story has a happy ending. I can't imagine how Agent Taylor, I mean Danny, must feel right now, this nightmare is at last over" he smiled truthfully, then added, "...ehm...Martin, you have something under your knee."
"Yeah, I noticed"
"Don't get dirty"
"I'd be careful" Martin replied with a smile.
"What about having diner with your Mum and me this Saturday?"
"I'd be glad to" Martin smiled, "really"
"Great, see you on Saturday then..." Victor replied leaving the room. Martin watched him go away then turned his eyes on Gilbert, who didn't understand anything anymore.
"It was my father but I think you know him. He looks great, huh? Kate is fine as well and Danny will be ok so, basically, your plan cocked up. You will go to jail, and trust me you sick son of a bitch, time will seem VERY LONG to you. Then you'll die alone, as you deserve and you'll go to hell, meet your son and your monster of a mother"
Martin stood up and left the room, satisfied. All he hoped now was that Kate was fine.
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Danny was pacing up and down the waiting room, waiting anxiously for news about Kate's condition. She hadn't woken up in the ambulance and he was very worried.
"Danny! How is she?"
He turned around and saw Jack coming towards him.
"I-I don't know, I don't have any news...Oh Jack, we found her, she cannot..." Danny crossed his hands behind his head, unable to finish his sentence. Jack approached him and squeezed his shoulder, trying to reassure him. A short while later, a doctor came up to them.
"Tell me she's fine..." Danny told him desperately.
"Yeah, she is, don't worry. She's suffering from exhaustion and she's dehydrated. She also has some slight carbon dioxide poisoning due to her confinement. She'll be okay, at least physically...Emotionally it's another story. She'll need you" the doc said to Danny.
"I'll be there, I will never leave her alone again..."
"Just one more thing, Mr. Taylor, you told the paramedics that she might be pregnant. We ran some tests and they turned out to be positive. Besides it's really surprising that she didn't miscarry considering what she has just been through"
"So, so...w-we...we're gonna have a baby?" Danny stammered.
"Yeah, congratulations!" the doctor smiled.
Danny started laughing out of joy as a tear was rolling down his cheek.
"Can I see her?"
"Sure, she's room 316 but she's sleeping right now. She really needs to rest so don't wake her up. I know you must be dying to talk to her but later..."
Danny nodded smiling but as he headed towards the room, his head started to swim and he staggered. Jack rushed towards him and helped him to sit. Kneeling down in front of him, the doctor took Danny's blood pressure, which was very low.
"When was the last time you slept?" he asked him.
"I can't remember..."
"The last time you ate something?"
Danny shrugged.
"You're in a bad state, you need to sleep and..."
"No, no, I need to see Kate"
"Listen to me, you're exhausted, you need some rest. I'm gonna give you some medicine to raise your blood pressure but if you don't sleep or eat, I can't do nothing for you...Stay here, I'm coming back."
Danny watched the doctor go away, then turned his eyes towards Jack. Suddenly he started shaking and some tears streamed down his face. Soon his tired and tense body was shaken by nervous sobs and Jack wrapped an arm around his trembling shoulders.
"Shhhh...It's over Danny, she's alright...It's okay son, it's okay..."
Danny thought he would be unable to stop crying but after a while, he managed to calm down and wiped his tears away with his sleeve. The doctor stepped towards him and gave him a pill and a soda to put some sugar in his blood. Danny thanked him then stood up very slowly, trying to prevent the dizzy spells.
"Jack, I owe you everything...If you and the team hadn't been there, Kate would...well, thank you" he looked at his boss with grateful eyes.
"Stop talking and go and see her" Jack replied smiling.
Danny smiled back at him and walked towards the room. Before entering, he removed his watch, looked at it with disgut and threw it in the garbage can. He then opened the opened the door and saw Kate, sleeping peacefully. He felt like crying again but he held his tears back. He stepped towards her and stroked her face softly, running his fingertips over her cheek, her lips and her jawline, not realizing yet that he had found her unharmed. Leaning over her, he kissed her forehead as a tear escaped from the corner of his eye. He then sat down on the chair next to her, took her hand for fear of losing her again and only allowed himself to sleep. Ten minutes later, the Buckleys entered silently their daughter's room.
1:23 a.m.
Danny struggled in his sleep, screaming.
"Kate, you can't die...Kate!"
He felt a hand shaking him and he returned to reality. He opened his eyes and she was the first thing he saw. She was sat on the bed, smiling.
"You know, I don't intend to die..."
Danny didn't reply but kept staring at her, unable to take his eyes off her beautiful face.
"Hey, I'm waiting for the part where you kiss me" she exclaimed, still smiling.
Danny laughed, cupped her face and kissed her deeply and passionately, running his hand through her hair.
"How do you feel?" he asked after breaking the kiss.
"I'm fine, don't worry..." she tried to sound convincing.
"You don't need to be strong for me, baby, I know what you've been through..."
"I got the scare of my life..." her voice trailed off as she started breaking down.
"It's over baby...we arrested him, he will never hurt you again...shhh" Danny took her in his arms and held her close whispering soothing words to her ear. The hatred he felt towards Gilbert Morrison was far from diminishing.
"It's my fault..." Danny said when she finally calmed down
She gently pulled away from him and looked deeply into his eyes.
"What do you mean?"
"If I hadn't arrested his son, none of this would have happened. My job put you in danger, you almost died and..."
"You're not responsible, Danny. This evil man kidnapped me, he's the only one to blame. You found me...I was sure you would come to save me" she smiled gently.
"If I had lost you, I..." his voice was nothing but a whisper.
Kate stroked his face and rested her forehead against his.
"I am here..."
He smiled and kissed her again as the Buckleys, who had left to grab some coffee, entered the room, glad to see their daughter awake. The reunion was filled with emotion, Kate's mother letting some tears out from time to time. She was very kind with Danny, thanking him again and again for bringing her beloved daughter back. Danny decided to leave Kate alone with her parents and stepped out of the room. Jack was still in the hallway, sat on a plastic chair.
"Hey Jack, you look like hell, you should sleep..." Danny smiled.
"I'm alright, how is she?"
"She woke up. Physically, she seems fine but for the rest, I don't know...She went through hell, Jack..."
"She'll need time, you both will need time."
Danny looked down.
"I'm gonna quit..."
"What? Danny, it wasn't your fault!"
"It's not only that. I would have killed him, really, I wanted to do it. I had never felt so much hatred and I don't wanna feel this again. I can't stop thinking about the people I killed, the people I hurt...Maybe he's right, I'm not a good person."
"Danny, stop this, will ya?! What you felt was normal considering the circumstances. You were exhausted, under a lot of pressure and he did everything to break you. Don't let him win. You're a good person, you hear me? You're a devoted friend and one of the best agents I've ever known." Jack said, a hand rested on Danny's soulder, "Look, you're still under the shock, take all the time you need to recover and take care of Kate. When the both of you are better and if you still want to quit, I'll accept your resignation. It'll break my heart but I'll accept it" he added with a gentle smile.
"All right..." Danny replied, smiling back at him.
Jack handed him a card. "Look, I know you're not a big fan of shrinks but he's a really good one. He's used to dealing with post-traumatic stress."
Danny took the card, murmuring a thank you. The next few weeks were gonna be hard and any help would be welcome. Jach then hugged him friendly, they had overcome the wall between them.
Kate smiled when she saw Danny coming back into the room and her parents slipped away to give them some privacy. Danny sat down on the bed and intertwined his fingers with hers.
"I...ehm...I heard about the baby" Danny said.
Kate's face changed expression, she didn't know how Danny was going to react.
"Are you...happy?"
"If I'm happy? Oh yes I am honey, it's...woow...I'm gonna be a Daddy! It's great news...What about you? You..."
"Yes I am happy Danny"
They both started grinning, almost forgetting the hard two days they had gone through.
"You know, being a gentleman, I should marry you..."
"Is that a proposal?" Kate smiled.
"I always wanted to do my proposal in an original way. So, here I am, unshaven, uncombed and I don't even have a ring. Will you marry me?"
"Are you serious?"
"I've never been so serious in my entire life. I love you more than anything Kate and I want you to be my wife.
She threw herself in his arms and Danny took it for a 'yes'. He then kissed her softly and tenderly, a feeling of felicity coming over the both of them.
"Bring me back home" Kate whispered, burying her head in his neck.
Two days later...
Danny kissed Kate's tummy, circling his tongue around her navel causing her to giggle.
"Hey I felt it move!" Danny exclaimed as Kate laughed.
"Danny, it's too early, you can't feel the baby move yet..."
"I swear, I felt it!"
"All you felt was halting breathing because you're turning me on" Kate bit her bottom lip.
"Am I?" he asked with a sexy voice, lifting up his head to meet her eager lips.
"A lot..." she whispered into his mouth as they deepened the kiss, their tongues tangling as he lay on top of her, his forearms supporting his weight. After a long while, they eventually broke the kiss and Danny rolled off her, lying by her side, a huge grin on his lips. Two days ago, he was living a nightmare and now he was engaged, with a baby on the way. He knew now the value of time and he was gonna enjoy every second with the woman he loved.
FIN.
yeah, well, this is the end. I'd like to thank the ones who left me a review. That encouraged me a lot throughout this story, so THANK YOU guys