Here's another chapter! I seriously swear it's almost coming to and end. And the suspense is killing you I know! Lol. Again thanks for the reviews and support. It's really helped me out. Enjoy!
I own nothing dealing with CSI NY or Walker Texas Ranger.
Chapter Twenty Five
Now Danny knew why people woke up with cricks in their necks after sleeping in a hospital chair all night.
It'd been six days since they'd been brought to the hospital. Five since Arianna had fallen into unconsciousness. She'd drifted in and out the night; actually morning; they'd first brought her in. The events of that day were still kind of a blur.
Seconds after they'd come in the young ranger had been rushed to the operating room while he was rushed to the ER. Injuries not serious enough to warrant any operations. When Mandala had stabbed her it had punctured her appendix; effectively letting the toxins that had been released into her system. Antibiotics had been administered immediately; even while they'd removed it. Her injuries read like a grocery list.
Cracked cheekbone that would heal with time. Multiple bruises on her face; lip and right eye swollen. Cut in her temple from the bullet that had grazed it; butterfly bandages holding it together. Despite all that her face was still extremely beautiful; though it would be a while before the bruises healed enough to be covered up with make up.
Gaze moving downward towards her neck that was visible above the hospital gown and sheet anger flared in him at the finger shaped contusions covering the tan skin. Quickly he squashed the urge; knowing that there was nothing to be done because the man who had caused them was now six feet under. Moving down farther her body looked like a lump under the white blanket; an iv giving her antibiotics in one arm while another gave her pain medication. A heart monitor was also hooked up. Because of her three broken ribs and several bruised ones they'd wanted to put her on oxygen; afraid it would inhibit her ability to breath easily.
Even though he wished she was awake and talking to him right now the doctors had assured him that the best thing for her right now was to get some sleep. It was her bodies way of trying to recuperate and rebuild itself after the beating she'd taken.
Lacing her fingers with his he gave it a squeeze; not knowing whether or not she could even feel it. Hoping that she did. Reaching into the pocket of his pants he pulled out the box that held her ring. They'd had to take it off when they'd taken her into the OR and he'd held onto it for dear life. Wanting to put it back on her when she woke up.
Hearing a click he looked up to see Cordell Walker come into the room. This was a man that commanded attention the moment he walked into a room. The intensity and determination in his gaze told Danny where she got her tenacity from. Where the urge to help those who couldn't help themselves; to bring justice to the world came from.
Once he'd been able to get to a phone he'd called Dallas to get a hold of Cordell; to let him know what was going on. He'd thanked him; said he'd be on the next flight out and after getting Danny's cell phone number hung up. Meeting the man had been one of the most nerve racking things he'd ever done despite the seriousness of the situation. Or maybe because of it.
Of course as with everything else since Arianna had walked into his life a twist had been in store.
Instead of giving him the once over; screaming and yelling at him for not doing anything to save his daughter. Even flat out punching him in the face the man had thanked him for keeping watch over her. For staying by her side through out it all. Then again given who she was and what she was capable of there really wasn't much he could've done to keep her safe. She had all the tools at her disposal to do a good job of that herself.
Watching as the man grabbed a chair from the other side of the room Danny was still slightly baffled at the easy way they'd bonded over the past week. Then again there was the slight problem that he still hadn't dropped the bombshell that he'd asked the mans daughter to marry him without getting permission first.
"How is she?" Cordell questioned.
"Still no change." Danny informed. "But the doctors say that her coma is good for her body. Gives it the extra energy it needs to heal. And the fact that she'd breathing on her own is a good sign."
Taking in the mans disheveled appearance and tried eyes the ranger came to the conclusion that he hadn't gotten very much sleep in the last six days. Or course it also helped that he'd been asking his team members about the young man; knowing he wouldn't get a straight answer from Danny on his own.
Mac had called his parents to have them bring over some clean clothes to change into. And to help with the effort to try to get the young man to take a shower and catch some sleep in the doctors lounge. Stella had told him that finally on the third day Don, Mac, and Hawkes had forced him into the shower; clothes and all. Told him they were going to stand guard outside until he was clean. Then they were going to do the same outside the doctors lounge until he got at least a solid day of sleep.
Even that however and the little food they'd been able to force down him hadn't been enough.
Arianna wasn't the only one to have gone through a lot over the last week and a half. Just the one to get the most severe beating.
With having to get Mandala's body secured and sent back to Dallas; coordinating the investigation with the NYPD and the Texas Rangers. Plus calling everyone back home to give them an update he hadn't had time to be scared to death for his daughter. Briefly the feeling had washed over him when the call had come from Danny telling him what had happened. Then he'd pushed it to the back of his mind because that's what Arianna would want him to do.
He had to say though despite the circumstances he liked the hard edged New Yorker from the get go. The way he'd taken charge of the situation despite the fact that his heart had to be breaking was commendable. Of course there was the little fact that he'd done a background check on the entire team before coming to the big apple. Wanting to know that none of them were involved in what had happened to his daughter. Though he knew her instincts were well above reproach it didn't help to double check everything.
"When was the last time you had something to eat?" Cordell wondered.
Shrugging Danny shifted on his chair to get a better position; soon finding that there wasn't one. "This morning. I had a cup of coffee and bagel I think."
"You think?" Cordell smirked.
"Yeah." Danny grinned back. "The days have kind of blurred into one another lately."
Cordell knew all too well how that could be. It was hard to forget the number of times he'd sat at one beside or another. Waiting to see if that person was going to wake up. How bad their injuries were going to be; if they'd be able to return to work. More times then he cared to remember one of his daughters or Trivette was the one lying prone on the white sheets as was the case now. Some times he swore his daughters were born with nine lives.
"In that case why don't you go down to the doctors lounge and grab some food." The older man told him. "Sheldon brought a ton of pizza for everyone."
"They've kind of taken that room hostage since we've been here." Danny explained.
"Because they care about you. And Arianna." Cordell reminded. " They just want to make sure you're not running yourself ragged."
"I don't want to leave in case anything happens." Danny confessed.
"I'll stay with her. The rooms right down the hall. If anything happens you'll be the first to know." Cordell assured.
Fidgeting with the hem of his dress shirt he glanced between the ranger and the hospital bed. The steady beeping of the heart monitor assuring him that all was well. Eyes settling back on Arianna's father Danny had the strange feeling that if he didn't obey what Cordell had meant as a direct order he'd regret it. Standing up he placed his jacket on the chair behind him before heading towards the door.
"Would you like anything sir?" The young man asked him.
Standing up he walked over; placing a hand on the New Yorkers shoulder as he gave him a smile. "Son if you're going to be marrying my daughter I think you should stop calling me sir and start calling me Cordell."
He knew he was standing there looking like a fish out of water but he couldn't help his self. Either the man was as perceptive as Arianna claimed him to be or someone had let the information slip. Pretty sure it wasn't the latter he had to say he was scared out of his skull about becoming this mans son in law. It'd be hard as hell to keep what you got him for Christmas a secret.
"How...how did you know?" Danny had to ask.
"I can see it in your eyes." Cordell informed. "The way you look at her. As if you'd do anything for her. Lay down your life in exchange for hers. Gage had the same look in his eyes a month before he proposed to her. Not to mention you left the ring box on the table."
Seeing the black box on the stand next to the chair he'd been occupying Danny couldn't help but grin. His head had been so jumbled these days that he was surprised he could put his clothes on the right way.
"Yes sir; I mean Cordell." Danny grinned.
Antiseptic assaulted her nose; making her have the urge to gag. Eyelids feeling as if they were weighted down it took a minute for them to open. Revealing a window with bright blue curtains and white wash walls. Sunlight streamed in through the glass; warming and blinding her at the same time. Slowly she moved her body; feeling like every single muscle and tendon was battered. When she tried to sit up pain seared through her side and she sat back; confused as all get out. Reaching under the blanket she felt the bandage beneath her gown. That was when she remembered she'd been stabbed by Mandala in the fight for their lives. One where she'd won and he'd lost.
Moving her head to the right she saw Danny sitting in one of the chairs; head resting on his hand; breathing slow and even. That was when she realized she'd never won. In fact she may have lost more then the drug lord had. Because when she'd killed him it was done and over with. His life ended for good.
She on the other hand was going to have to live her life knowing there was no way she could be with the man she loved. Just because Mandala was now gone didn't mean there wasn't going to be some other, bigger bad out there ready and willing to come after her. More people would come out of the woodwork; wanting to take up the mantle of their old boss. Come to finish the job he started not once but twice over the past five years.
Reaching out she took the hand that laid on her bed and gave it a squeeze. Slowly he started to stir; eyes finally opening after a few moments. Taking in the area around him his blue orbs landed on her face and she could feel the tears swimming in her eyes. Suddenly very wary despite the fact that she'd just woken up Arianna put her head back against the pillow. Not even able to remotely think about what she was going to have to do in order to get Danny away from her; let alone act it out.
"Hey you." She whispered; voice hoarse despite her efforts to keep it other wise.
"You're awake?" Danny was momentarily confused. Then a light came on in his eyes and a smile spread across his face. "Oh my god you're awake! Don't ..don't go any where I'll be right back."
If it wasn't for the fact that her heart was bleeding at the moment and she hurt like hell Arianna would've been laughing her ass off at his comical run to the door. Having left it open she could hear voices and shouts coming from the hall and soon her room was swapped. Everyone from Danny's team; her father as well as the doctors came in.
They all started talking at once and her head began to throb along with the rest of her body. Luckily her dad stepped in; her saving grace in this time of chaos. Some how he convinced everyone to leave and let the doctors check her out. Thankfully that was done as quickly as possible so she could get back to resting. Even though she was pretty sure that after being in coma for a week she didn't really need anymore sleep.
"Has it really been that long?" Arianna asked her father.
Handing her a cup of water to coat what he could tell was a parched throat by the sound of her voice Cordell took the cup back before sitting down on the bed next to her.
"The doctors said it was your bodies way of healing." He explained. "You took a pretty good beating."
"My body reminds me of that every time I move." Arianna grimaced.
Watching as she closed her eyes; moving slightly to try to get comfortable; Cordell could tell there was something wrong. Though his daughters would never tell him when there was something going on or bothering them he'd always been able to tell. Maybe it was having to raise three girls during the hardest years of their lives; puberty; that gave him that extra perspective.
"Well if it makes you feel any better the doctor said you're making a tremendous recovery and can be out of here in the next three days." Cordell informed.
"Good." Arianna agreed. "The sooner I'm out of here and back in Dallas the better."
There was a hard edge to her voice; one he knew was masking the hurt she was feeling inside. She'd acted the same way when Gage had fallen in love with her; when he'd asked her to marry him all those years ago. First came the pain; then the anger. And finally she was going to go into this whole big reason why Danny couldn't be a part of her life without even giving the young man a chance to put in his two cents.
"So I heard Danny put in for a transfer to the lab in Dallas." Cordell decided it was best to get this over and done with as soon as possible.
"Well he's in for a rude awakening because he'd not coming back with me. Ever." Arianna growled.
"That doesn't make much sense if you guys are suppose to be getting married." Cordell pointed out.
"Unless you're going to do that whole bi-costal marriage thing. Personally it sounds like..."
"How'd you know?" Arianna interrupted him.
"I'm a father; I know these things." Cordell tapped the side of his head. "Besides we had a talk about it earlier today. He asked for my advice about what to do when you become pig headed and stubborn."
"Just like my old man." Arianna grinned ruthfully.
"Yes but unlike you I didn't push my second chance at happiness away when things got too rough." Cordell reminded.
"But you took forever to marry Alex." Arianna quipped.
"That's completely different. Like apples and oranges." Cordell waved a hand at her. "My point is that in the sense of giving ourselves a second chance you and I are nothing alike. I embraced mine and you're pushing it away."
"You didn't have a mad man put the life of the person you love in jeopardy from minute one!" Arianna yelled at him.
Knowing that she was only lashing out at him because it was easier then dealing with her own pain he brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. "Are you forgetting about the number of times Alex has been kidnapped? Or when she and Trivette were stuck in that cell with the water rising? She almost died. Then there was Luvakite and The Chairman. Let's see; what else..."
"Okay; okay." Arianna held up her hands; anger having subsided. "I get it. But that doesn't mean I'm going to change my mind. I would rather let him go and lose him that way then have him die like Gage did."
"Shouldn't that be Danny's choice?" Cordell argued gently.
When she'd opened her mouth on the subject she should've known her father wasn't going to make things any easier. As with her when he set his mind to something there was no changing it. Bringing up the topic of the one he loved never being in danger had been a bad move on her part. A low blow that he thankfully hadn't taken seriously. It was just that she didn't know what else to do. This was the way it had to be. End of story. No compromising; no giving in.
"At first I thought so; yeah." Arianna confessed. "Then I saw what Mandala and his men had done to him and changed my mind. He'd not equipped to deal with that kind of danger. Doesn't have the means to defend his self like I do."
"Then teach him." Cordell offered. "He's a quick learner and smart as they come. He wouldn't be a CSI if that wasn't the case."
"Just because I take the time to do so doesn't mean he actually use what he's been given." Arianna argued still. "And what if he just gets sick and tired of having to fend for his life. What if after a while he can't take it anymore and just walks out? I couldn't handle it if he did. So the only solution is to get rid of him now before his life is taken or he says to hell with me and leaves."
Finality rang in her voice; but the tears that swam unshed in her eyes belied her conviction. This was the last damn thing she wanted to do but in her head and heart it had to be done. To her it was the only option left. Defeat filled his heart; making it swell so much he thought it was going to burst. He could sit here and argue until he was blue in the face but it wouldn't change her mind. There was one last thing he had to say though.
"In the end is it going to be easier to deal with not having him in your life at all because you pushed him away; something that was within your control; or because he loses his life. Something that is out of your control." He posed the hardest question ever.
Keeping the tears at bay was taking more energy then she had at the moment so she let them fall. Normally she'd fight her father when he tried to hold her as she cried. When she'd been young it'd been great. But as time had gone on and she'd become older; accustomed to the world around her and the real dangers that lurked; she'd tried not to lean on him so much. Her job made her realize that he wouldn't be around forever.
Right now she didn't care. Didn't give a damn who saw a woman who felt like a little girl at the moment crying in her fathers arms. And her body was too tired to fight. Once his arms tightened around her it became ten times worse. It was as if she was looking through someone else's eyes yet feeling every time her body was wracked by sobs. Feeling the anguish of having to let the man she loved more then anything in this world go.
"Eith...either wa...way it do...doesn't ma...matter." Arianna spat out between sobs. "I'm going to lose him and I'll never be whole again."