Meant to Be - PG-13
Pairing: Danny/Mary
Disclaimer: I don't own Las Vegas. Things would be a lot different if I did.
Chapter 25
"If you're lying again, Jack, it's not going to be pretty," Ed's voice was menacing as he, Danny and Jack Keller crouched behind a retaining wall overlooking the garden.
"I'm not lying, Ed. This place was built by an old Columbian drug cartel. There's a hatch underneath that far hedge that leads to the wine cellar. Behind the west wall in the cellar is another passageway that leads to the master suite. That's probably where they're keeping her."
"What do you think, kid?" Ed asked Danny as he stared intently at the armed guards posted on the roof of the house.
"It's getting dark so I think if I follow this wall I can make it all the way around the pool without being seen. I'll go in and find Mary. We'll never get out of here on foot so the two of you need to secure a vehicle that can get us to the rendezvous point."
"I'm not letting you go in there alone, Danny," Ed's voice was stern.
"Ed, we don't have a choice. We can't leave Keller on his own. He'll rat us out the first chance he gets."
"Hey, I'm right here, you know," Jack jumped in, sounding insulted, "Look, I'm sorry for what happened. I was trying to play both sides and I screwed up! I thought I could take Porter's money and still warn you about his plans, but I was wrong. It turns out he didn't trust me either."
"Big surprise, jackass," Danny mumbled under his breath.
They didn't have time to worry about Keller now. They needed to concentrate on Mary. Danny worked hard to tamp down his anger since it would only serve to distract him.
"I tell you what, Jack. You help us get Mary out of here safe and sound—no tricks--and we'll let her decide what we should do with you," Ed's proposition caused Danny to shoot a questioning look at his boss.
"She still as sweet as she used to be?" Jack asked tentatively.
"The girl's got a heart of gold," Ed assured him with a nod.
"You know, I would have helped you anyways, but it's nice to know that I might possibly come out of this thing alive," Jack grinned like a Cheshire cat.
Danny immediately grabbed him by the collar and looked him in the eye, "But let's get one thing straight, Keller. If anything happens to Mary—and I mean ANYTHING—I will not hesitate to put a bullet in your head. Are we clear?"
"Crystal," Jack responded with a nervous laugh.
The short distance to the hatch had proved difficult to traverse. Several times Danny had to take cover for fear of being spotted. He'd finally reached the low hedge and slipped inside undetected. Once in the cellar he had easily found his way to the other passage and into the master suite.
He quietly opened the door which led into the bedroom, wanting to make sure that no one was in the room with her. She was laid out on the bed, unconscious--from what he had no idea. He briefly considered his options if he could not wake her. Carrying her was not a problem, but the passage from the garden to the cellar was small and tight—not enough room for one person carrying another. He would have to drag her and he wasn't looking forward to that scenario.
He used the small camera Mike had equipped him with to slide under the door and view the outside hallway--only one man stood guard. Danny secured the interior lock on the door. He didn't expect it would keep anyone out for long, but a few extra seconds might make all the difference.
As he finally allowed himself to approach the bed he immediately noticed the dark bruises forming on Mary's neck. His heart beat fast in his chest as he imagined the hell she had already been through. He softly sank down next to her and smoothed her hair away from her face—leaning forward and peppering her skin with soft kisses.
"Wake up, sleeping beauty," he said quietly.
It only took half a second for Mary to react violently, catching Danny completely off guard. Her hand reached out and grabbed the first thing she could find—an iron candlestick that sat on the nightstand. She struck with such speed and force that Danny had little time to react. The blow sent him sprawling across her body and onto the bed. Danny struggled to clear his blurred vision as Mary scrambled out from under him and ran for the window, never looking back.
"Stay away from me, you son of a bitch," Mary said as she tried desperately to open the door to the balcony. She knew there were probably guards in the hallway, but if she could jump from the balcony, she might stand a chance at making a run for it. Tears sprung to her eyes as she realized the balcony door required a key—a key that she did not have. Mary momentarily thought about breaking the glass, but realized that would cause too much noise and might attract the attention of the men outside.
As she turned back around to scan the room for another means of escape her eyes landed on the bed. It took her a moment to realize that the man holding his head in pain and moaning was not Jake, but someone else. With the candlestick still firmly in her grasp, she took cautious steps towards the bed.
"Danny?" Her question came out more like a whimper as she finally realized who it was.
"That wasn't exactly the greeting I was expecting," Danny smiled as he was finally able to raise his battered head and meet her eyes.
Mary was immediately in his arms.
"I'm so sorry," she sobbed, "I thought it was him. I'm so sorry, Danny. I just couldn't stand him touching me again."
"Sshhhh. It's okay, baby. I'm okay," Danny assured her, but what she had said suddenly registered and his blood ran cold.
"Mary," he asked hesitantly, "did he hurt you? Did he…," Danny's voice broke as he tried to form the words.
Instantly realizing what he was asking, Mary took his face in her hands, "No! No, Danny. I swear he didn't. He just… I was just afraid…," Mary started sobbing again and Danny realized this wasn't the time or place for this discussion.
"Sshhh. We'll talk about it later. Let's just get out of here," he cooed as he held her close.
Suddenly the door to the bedroom burst open. Danny quickly moved Mary behind him as armed guards rushed into the room.
"That's the best idea you've had all year, McCoy," Jake's voice was smug as he entered the room, "unfortunately for you, Mary and I will be the ones leaving."
One of the guards leveled his gun at Danny's head as the other grabbed Mary by the arm and yanked her from his grasp--pulling her across the room and shoving her into Jake's arms.
"Mary, Mary, Mary," Jake's voice sounded as if he was talking to a small child, "what am I going to do with you? No matter how much I try you're just never going to love me as long as Danny is around, are you?"
"Jake, please don't hurt him. I'll do whatever you want just please don't hurt him," Mary begged, tears streaming down her face.
"Mary, no," Danny pleaded.
"Shut up, McCoy," Jake spat before turning to Mary, "So, you're willing now, but the next time I turn my back…."
"No, I promise," she interrupted, "just let Danny go and we can be together," Mary tried to sound convincing.
"Sorry. I think the only way we're going to be happy, Mary, is if Danny's out of the picture," Jake said as he gripped her upper arms tightly.
"Take care of him," Jake ordered his men as he dragged a struggling Mary from the room and towards the stairs.
"DANNY," Mary screamed just as the sound of machine gun fire echoed through the hallway.