Title: The Guardian
Chapter 44 – Darkness Falls


"You seem quieter than normal, what's wrong?" Jamie asks Danny as they share a bag of chips during Jamie's break. Where they were seated, the open window facing the street gives Wade perfect view of his two sons, his eyes narrowing as he watches them laugh and interact with each other in such a natural, loving way. Even when having a serious discussion he can tell their bond is close and that no one else matters as much to each of them as the other.

"Nah…nothin'," Danny shrugs, not wanting to alarm Jamie with the mention of a man…a stranger who's dark, haunted eyes reminded him of their father. Why worry him for no reason? "Just worried about exams and such. You?"

"Yeah same. But you'll do fine," Jamie tries to assure Danny, his kind words making Danny smile and his anxiety somewhat lessen.

"How's George?"

"He's great. I keep trying to get him to go to the shelter down the street but he won't go. Maybe when the weather gets colder," Jamie states with a small pout as Danny gives his brother a small smirk. "Hey guess what? There's another derby this weekend that Frank and Henry are taking me to. Wanna come? Or…do you have a date?"

"We're supposed to go to that new club," Danny answers in truth, remembering Jackie's invitation.

"Thought Linda didn't like clubs?"

"She didn't like the last one because…"

"That floozy Marianne was all over you?" Jamie retorts with a snicker as Danny's lips purse.

"She wasn't all over me," he groans as Jamie's head nods. "But yes that's part of the reason. Besides this club is supposed to be…better. Hey Jackie's the one that planned this whole damn thing not me, okay?"

"Okay," Jamie replies slowly as Danny playfully swats his arm. Once again Jamie's lips emit a soft laugh while several meters outside the window, watching from the dark, a set of angry eyes narrows in contempt.

"Enjoy your little play time now my boys," Wade hisses. When he found out that the bowling alley wasn't just a place to hang out but rather Jamie's place of employment, he wasn't happy for his son that he was able to find some gainful employment to help himself monetarily and not be a burden on society. The fact that Jamie was succeeding without him didn't make him proud. He's on the honor roll…or so he told me, Louis had told him after his few hours spent with Jamie. Who the hell cares!, was his lame comeback.

But it was Danny's choice of future employment that was forcing his anger to boil the most. Jamie even bragged that Danny's going to the police academy in the fall.

"A damn cop!" Wade's lips growl once more as his fingers tighten around the steering wheel. "You'll never be a damn cop! You'll be dead soon!"

The more he lets his mind dwell on Danny's choice of future employment the faster his hatred toward Frank Reagan starts to gain momentum. "My boy wanted to work in construction! You brainwashed him!" Wade's lips falsely accuse, thinking that it was Frank's idea for Danny to join the NYPD ranks in the fall. "He's my son! Not yours!" In that moment his mind affixes on an image of himself gunning down Frank while he takes back his family and his lips finally twist upward into an evil smile. "Mine…"

XXXXXXXX

"What's going on Francis?" Henry asks his son as he follows him out of Scott's office, letting the emotionally agitated electronics officer work in quiet.

"Thought my phone had gone off."

"I might be your boss but sometimes I need to remind you that I'm also your father. Talk to me," Henry urges.

"I'm just tired and worried about the boys. The more I hear about Wade…their…father," Frank pauses as he tries to get the words past his lips. "The more I want the boys…" Frank stops as he shakes his head. "When I heard their aunt was dead…pop at first I was relieved because it meant after all this she wouldn't be able to take them away from us."

"And you felt guilty?"

"Their father murdered their mother and their aunt…he beat them and I…"

"And you want to make it all go away," Henry adds in a softer tone as Frank looks at him and nods in agreement. "I want that to. And trust me if that aunt was alive I'd fight her tooth and nail to keep those boys with us. They're family now Francis. They belong with us."

"He can never find them," Frank hisses under his lips as he looks back at Scott's closed door. "Part of me wants to just open the damn files, find where Wade Allen is right now and go have him arrested."

"And what about McGuinness? Sounds like this bastard has a whole arsenal of other baddies ready to do his bidding."

"I want them all," Frank tells his father in a firm tone as he pulls the door open and reenters Scott's office area. "What else did you find?"

"Another piece of the puzzle. We already found one relative on Clara Allen's side…now it's Wade's turn and you might not like it," Scott huffs as hands them the print out of the two somewhat fuzzy birth certificates side by side. "I guess family will do anything for family."

"McGuiness is his half-brother. Same father. Obviously all cut from the same damn no good cloth," Henry grumbles as he looks at Frank with a heavy frown.

"Oh damn…"

"I'm starting to hate hearing you say that…" Frank looks up at Scott. "Sorry. Continue."

"Okay…well this gets even more twisted. Amanda Forsythe's maiden name was…McGuiness."

"What?" Henry asks in shock as Scott nods.

"Her and Jack McGuiness were half brother and sister."

"What the hell," Henry grumbles as he peers at the paper in Frank's grasp and then looks up at his son in wonder. "So Clara and Amanda were blood sisters. Amanda and Jack were half brother and sister and Jack and Wade were half brothers."

"Only Clara and Wade weren't related by blood. Have you guys heard of anything like this before?" Scott inquires as he looks at Frank's grave expression; Frank slightly nodding. "You have?"

"You're thinking a cult or some kind of inter-breeders?" Henry wonders.

"I'm thinking there is one big terrible secret that binds these people together and has made them help either other for better or worse to keep something terrible hidden away from the rest of the world. I can't even guess a motive," Frank stammers in quiet shock. "That's also why Amanda hid the boys in the system with Paul. She knew her half brother would come looking and the day she decided to either bring the boys to her or out their family secret, her life was over. That's why these people have done anything to help each other for the better or worse."

"Francis…"

"I can't even begin to guess what all this is about pop I just know our boys are right in the middle of it and if either Wade or Jack ever finds them will not hesitate to kill them. Danny must have heard or knows something…something terrible he's repressed. Maybe he's never told Jamie and then…I don't know, now I'm guessing."

"Well we know where Jack is," Henry reminds him. "He's still walking around in uniform in the city of Cleveland!"

"I want Wade," Frank breathes in contempt. "We get Wade…we get Jack and this whole nightmare ends and our boys are safe," he utters fatefully.

XXXXXXXX

"Why do I have to end my shift early? I don't have a normal class tomorrow," Jamie lightly moans as he looks at the clock and starts to clean up his station.

"Because summer holidays haven't officially started," Danny reminds him as he looks up to see Ian heading toward them. "And the next goober is right on time for once," he offers in sarcasm as Jamie gently chuckles. "Come on, maybe there are some left overs we can pillage."

"Frank and Henry are working late. They've been doing that a lot lately."

"Must be a big case. I know Frank said they were hunting some crooked insider so that might be it."

"Another dirty cop?" Jamie inquires as he pulls on his jacket and waves bye to Ian.

"Yeah. So that must be it," Danny suggests with a shrug as they near the entrance. "Ask Frank after our exams are over and see what he says then."

"Ask him? But…" Jamie tries to protest but then stops and nods. "His House…his rules."

As soon as they exit the building, Danny's eyes start to glance around as they automatically do. This time he notices a lone figure parked in a car about a block down, facing them – silhouetted so only his outline is discernable. His danger senses instantly kick in and his hand instinctively reaches for Jamie's back, pushing him along a bit faster toward their car.

"Danny, what is it?" Jamie asks in haste as he looks up with arched brows.

"It's uh…I'm tired and hungry," Danny smirks. "Let's just go okay?"

"You've been acting odd all night. What's going on? Did something happen with Linda?"

"What? No…things are great I just…" his voice stammers as they both get into the car and he locks the door and looks at Jamie with a tense gaze. "I guess all the talk about father and…then you asking about family and…it just brought up some bad memories okay? So I've just been a bit on edge."

"Is there something you're not telling me? Do we have more family?"

"Jamie…no…no we don't. It was only father and mother…and us."

"Danny."

"THAT'S IT!" Danny shouts in anger as Jamie slightly recoils.

Ah that's my boy, Wade smiles as he watches Danny's temper flare and Jamie slightly shrink back in fear. You'll always be my boy. ALWAYS!

"Sorry…Jamie…I'm sorry," Danny offers as Jamie nods and straightens back up in his seat as Danny pulls away from the front of the bowling alley. Wade's car slowly rolls past the mouth of the alley to follow the boys. However, unbeknownst to him, another set of eyes had been watching. Had seen all he had done and put it away for another time. And that time…would come soon and it could mean to precious lives.

"I didn't mean to make you angry."

"I shouldn't have gotten angry like that," Danny huffs as they slowly weave through traffic. "I just have no fond memories of them and before you came…life there sucked. Mom never talked about other family. I think I asked one time about grandparents or cousins but she never said anything so I just figured we never had any."

"Could you be repressing anything?" Jamie dares to inquire as Danny's eyes glance upward into the rear view mirror and then over at Jamie. "Okay now you're starting to make me nervous."

"Sorry kid I'm just…maybe I reasoned that if they were father's parents they'd be like him or…I don't know but mom never talked about anyone else being related to us but father. Maybe he was ashamed of his family, you know, ashamed of us, which is why he never brought them over or took me and mom or even you when you came along, to see them. I don't know," Danny reasons, not realizing the truthfulness in some of his words. His father was ashamed in part…but not of his wife and children, of his own flesh and blood. However, hatred toward his life blinded him from wanting to have a normal life, his upbringing had created a monster that only death itself could some peace of mind to. "But even when you were born it was just us. Always just us."

"Okay."

"Jamie…"

"No, it's not really a big deal, I was just wondering."

"Come on kid, talk to me. What's up?"

"Well I was thinking…if we had other family members would they want us to live with them instead? Amanda changed our names and stuff right? Maybe someone did try to look for us but couldn't find us."

"Do you not want to live with the Reagan's anymore?"

"No!" Jamie blurts out in haste as Danny's brows slightly arch. "No…I don't want to leave them. I was just wondering. I want to stay…forget I asked."

"Hey, it's okay to ask, right? I'd be curious to but we have it pretty good at the Reagan's right now I doubt we'd get better so why even chance it? I'm just a bit on edge because of all the talk of father and it…it brought up bad memories. In a few days I'll be gone and things will be back to normal," Danny states with a note of hope in his tone. Silently adding I hope in his mind so that Jamie wouldn't be further distressed. How could he remind him of their father and the horrors they faced at his vile hands? Jamie was finally starting to come out of his emotionally damaged shell and respond to the Reagans despite the ordeals he's had to endure. He in no way credits himself, as he knows it's the love and tender affection the Reagans have showered on them so willingly that has forced both of them to want to flourish and of course reciprocate in return.

Ah…but there was one night…one night you overheard something…something you've chosen to forget…chosen…to forget, his brain utters in silence.

"Danny?" Jamie asks as he notices Danny's fingers curl tightly around the steering wheel as they stop at the light.

"I want to forget him," Danny whispers in reply as his eyes dart to the rear view mirror and then back to the road ahead.

"Me too," Jamie softly adds as the traffic starts to move once more and the conversation changes to something else entirely.

XXXXXXXX

"Scott…you need to go home…the rest of this can wait one more day," Frank tries to tell his top IT officer as him and Henry stand in the middle of the quiet room.

"I almost feel like I'm abandoning my post in the middle of the war Sir. I don't mind staying. My wife…"

"Needs your time and attention also Scott," Frank reminds him in a friendly tone.

"Sirs…what we learned today…"

"Is messed up!" Henry retorts firmly; his heated words drawing an arched brow reaction from his son standing a few feet away. "What? It is. I wonder who found out the secret first?"

"Someone with enough pull to force them all into secrecy and someone deadly enough to kill to keep it secret. It has to be Wade and Danny…he might know that secret."

"So then why can't we put the boys into protective custody and then open the files and go get these guys?" Scott asks somewhat innocently.

"That's…complicated," Henry retorts with some sarcasm. "The boys don't know we are even looking…we uh…we gave our word we wouldn't."

"Ok-ay but after all this, I'm sure they'll understand."

"They'll understand betrayal by those they are supposed to trust most," Frank states gravely. "We also have to use discretion with this. We need to make them understand that we're doing this for their good…because we…care about them," Frank explains as Scott looks at him in wonder. "And…we can't let their father know where they are because then they'd think we led him to them."

He remembers Frank Reagan after the death of his only beloved son Joe and how he was sure Frank would never open his heart in such a way again, especially to two strange boys with no blood ties to him in any way. But here he was…acting and talking like these two, Danny and Jamie were born with the last name Reagan and it was his sworn fatherly duty to protect his own at any cost.

"And we need to find this Wade bastard before anything more happens!" Henry adds in anger. "I think he killed his parents or something and…we need to stop him…Francis he can't hurt them. He can't."

Scott hears the pleading desperation in Henry's tone and feels his own heart sink a bit further. He had never met the two boys in question, only had seen pictures and the ones he saw literally turned his stomach. And he's not sure how long they have been in care of the Reagan's but these two had somehow managed to make such a big impact and insert themselves so naturally into the Reagan household that they almost sounded like family.

"What do you want me to do?" Scott asks Frank in a low but firm tone. "I don't mind getting more background information on these guys."

"No, I want you to start your traces on Wade, Louis and confirm which precinct Jack McGuinness is based out of. We have to bring them down all at the same time. If we tip our hand to one, we could lose the others. Just make sure you get copies of everything and save what you can."

"We need Wade Allen no matter what," Henry reminds Scott who looks back with determination and nods.

"I'll get star…"

"Tomorrow Scott."

"But Sir…" Scott tries to protest.

"Tomorrow will come Scott," Frank utters almost fatefully. "Go home and get some rest," Frank reminds him kindly before he gives him a firm pat on the back and the he and his father finally take their leave for the night.

"At least with Sonny it was for the most part political. He used it to further his career. These…these monsters did what they did for the sheer joy of hurting," Henry muses with a soft grumble as they head toward the elevator. "This…this twisted family stuff…it angers me."

"How are we going to tell the boys?" Frank asks as the steel door slowly closes with a slight hiss and the elevator starts to ascend.

"They've been lied to most of their lives. We just tell them truth in a few short facts."

"Pop…"

"There isn't going to be an easy way to soften this blow, you know that," Henry reminds him. "We need to make them understand that we care about them that we had to know where the monster was that hurt them, find him and stop him for good. We want them to be a part of our family going forward and…"

"Families have no secrets," Frank whispers with a heavy sigh as the elevator doors open and they both get out and head toward the exit doors.

"Okay but…"

"Chief Reagan!"

Frank turns to see a uniformed officer rushing toward them with an excited expression on his flushed face.

"Officer Graham, what's going on?"

"Sir, there's been a shooting. Officer Ying…he uh…well he might not make it."

"I'll see you at home later."

"I should…"

"Go and check on the boys. I'll take care of this. If it's fatal I'll call you to come and talk to the family and…the men," Frank assures his father before he turns and follows after the uniformed NYPD Officer. Henry watches for a few moments before he pushes through the back door and hurries for the waiting SUV; his driver a bit tardy and Henry not wanting to wait.

"To hell with protocol," Henry grumbles as he closes the door and heads for the parking lot exit; his driver rushing outside and cursing the waiting darkness. On the drive home, Henry's mind ponders a few scenarios that would work in their favor; his heart, however, knowing there would not be an easy way to soften the emotional blow. The fallout from betrayal was waiting to descend upon them all.

Henry rounds the corner of their street, not realizing that in a few hours – worlds would collide and futures would be forever altered.

XXXXXXXX

"With the money that we saved, is possible we can buy ourselves each a respectable suitcase?" Jamie asks just as they near home, arriving an hour ahead of Henry.

"Don't want to travel with your ratty old duffle bag anymore?" Danny tosses back with a small snicker as Jamie's head shakes in confirmation. "What about buddy?" Danny retorts. But he can only chuckle when he earns himself a playful swat from Jamie's hand just as he pulls into the garage; their father's darkened sedan rounding the corner to the Reagan street and pulling into place a few houses down.

Waiting.

"Isn't Erin home tonight?" Jamie wonders as they enter the quiet home.

"I think her and Jack went to the late night drive in."

"How come she can stay up late during the week?" Jamie groans as Danny offers him an amused grin.

"Okay so just go and put your stuff away and come back and we'll watch a movie. Anything you want."

"Really? Awesome! I'll make some popcorn!" Jamie exclaims as he hurries down the hallway toward his room, Danny taking off his jacket and about to head into the kitchen. But just before he does, a soft knock…or what he thinks is a soft knock is heard at the door and he turns and heads toward it. He looks out through the peep hole and then pulls the side panel curtains and looks out.

Nothing.

"What the…" Danny whispers as he slowly opens the door and looks down at the small piece of white paper folded in half, "hell." His heart rate starts to slowly climb as he bends down to pick it up; Jamie coming into the living room behind him and watching in wonder. Danny's eyes quickly look around into the darkened suburban landscape in hopes of finding whoever's playing tricks on them. But it's not until he opens the paper that his heart rate explodes.

'Hello Daniel'

"Oh god…no…" Danny whispers in horror as he freezes in place, his mind racing back in time as his voice replaces the use of his full name by his father…the only person – still alive – who called him that.

"Danny? What is it?" Jamie dares to ask as Danny turns around to face him with all the color drained from his face. "What's wrong? You look as though you've seen…a ghost," Jamie mentions softly as Danny tries to swallow but is unable.

"Worse," he manages as Jamie nears. "The devil…"

"What is goni…." Jamie starts as Danny holds up the paper for him to see. "But that…"

"He's the only one that ever called me that."

"No…" Jamie shakes his head in fear, not wanting to believe it. "It's a joke…someone is…Danny…he found…us? How?" Jamie's tone barely manages.

"We have to go."

"What?"

"Leave."

"But…"

"NOW!" Danny shouts as he races away from Jamie, heading toward Henry's study and to the exact place the spare gun is kept locked away. "No…no no no…" Danny's lips mutter as Jamie follows after him in wonder.

"Danny he couldn't have found us."

"Those eyes…in the diner…"

"What?"

"It was HIM! Don't you see it was him! Tonight….damn it, it was him!" Danny turns and yells at Jamie as his eyes slightly widen. "Damn it Jamie go get your jacket and wallet. Leave everything else. We're leaving right now!"

"But…oh what are you…" Jamie manages as Danny pulls out the unloaded weapon and then reaches for the bullets. "You can't take Henry's gun."

"It's his spare and…he's not going to hurt us again Jamie. I gave you my word. We're leaving right now!"

"Call Frank."

"He can't hurt us," Danny mumbles almost incoherently.

"Danny, please call Frank!"

"I won't let him…hurt us."

"Danny…"

"Go and get your damn jacket!" Danny shouts as his shaky fingers try to load the bullet clip into the belly of the police issue weapon. "Jamie…go, get it. We have to leave right now."

"But Frank and Henry are cops. They can help us."

"No they can't! I think…damn just go. We have to leave now. GO!"

However, the two of them have been so caught up in their own heated discussion they failed to realize that everything was about to come crashing down around them. Just as Danny slams the clip into the gun and cocks it, he hears a noise, instinctively pulls Jamie behind him and raises weapon.

"Don't shoot!" Henry offers in haste as Jamie looks out from behind Danny in surprise.

"We're…leaving, right now," Danny states in haste as Henry's face morphs into utter shock.

"Danny what happened? What's going on?" Henry asks in haste.

"We…have to go. He can't fine u…we're leaving."

"Your father contacted you?"

"How do you know about him?" Danny demands gruffly.

"Danny, please put down the gun," Henry tries to talk calmly, his mind remembering the time Jamie was stabbed and Danny wore the same look of abject fear on his face – someone was coming to hurt them. "Did he contact you?"

"How'd he know where we were?" Danny asks in anger as Henry's expression droops.

"He did contact you," Henry replies.

"You…you know about him? How?" Jamie finally asks.

"You opened our files right?"

"Danny, just tell me what happened," Henry begs.

"HOW'D HE FIND US!" Danny shouts as he keeps Jamie behind him.

"Danny…"

"Shut up!" He barks as Jamie, whose lips instantly purse in shock. "Jamie…"

"Danny, I can't imagine what you're thinking right now but you need to let me explain."

"Did you open our files?" Jamie asks in dread.

"Not…technically."

Silence.

After a few minutes Danny finally swallows and Jamie's head slowly shakes.

"But…you promised you wouldn't," Jamie utters in such a tone that Henry's eyes instantly water.

"He found us because of you!"

"No…that's not tru…"

"He found us…because of you!"

"Please Danny, just lower the gun and tell me what he said."

"There is only one person on this planet that would ever dare to call me by my full name. That's how I know! He left me this a few minutes ago!"

"What?" Henry counters as his eyes widen.

"We're leaving. I knew you were just using for…for whatever!"

"Danny, please don't do anything rash," Henry begs. "You and Jamie are safe here."

"No we're not! He just proved that! Jamie…go and get your damn jacket already!"

Once again fate can only smile evilly as the three of them are so caught up in their heated discussion, that much like earlier, they fail to notice someone else enter the house. Only this time, it's not Frank.

"Jamie…" Henry tries as Jamie pulls away from Danny; his eyes a conflict of pain and fear.

"Jamie, get your jacket and wallet. We're leaving right now. GO!" Danny shouts. "If he finds us…he'll kill us. Go now!"

Jamie finally pulls away and rushes past Henry, casting a remorseful gaze at the older man just before he disappears into the belly of the dimly lit home.

"Danny, there has to be something I can say to make you believe that we never alerted him. I think he had a tail on you guys…"

"We're done here. I knew it was too good to be true! Jamie's stupid dream of someday being adopted by you guys and having the last name…forget it!" Danny barks in anger as Henry's heart sinks; his soul wanting so much for both boys to have wanted to take their last name if the opportunity ever arose. Would it now?

"You have a life here Danny. You have Linda and your future as a cop…"

"If we stay, we have no future! He's coming to kill us!"

"Let us protect you!"

"You failed tonight! Forget it! Jamie!"

"Danny you can't just take that gun and…"

"Jamie!" Danny calls out as Henry's mind races with further words to tell them, hoping to stall them long enough for Frank to get home and help diffuse the tension. But at the same time, if Wade Allen was in New York and already contacted them, he was closer than they think…watching and perhaps waiting to strike? He'd be right on all counts.

"Think about this Danny. He wants you to run. That's what you've done all your life. He's counting on that!"

"We're used to that!"

"Danny…"

"We ran once before and we had hid from him for over ten years! Now all of a sudden he shows up! What's changed? You! Jamie!"

"Now it's time to stay and fight. Let us fight with you! you have another alternative to running," Henry tries once more.

"Why'd you have to open the damn file!" Danny hisses. "Jamie!" He tries again as Henry glances behind him into the stillness of the House and then back at Danny in fear. "Move your ass kid!"

"Danny…" Henry pauses as both of them hear what sounds like a small scuffle.

"Jamie! Why isn't he…" Danny pauses as he looks at Henry in dread.

"He's in the damn House! Your father is here!" Henry looks at Danny as Danny literally freezes in place.

As soon as Danny's words had registered that their father was indeed there to kill them, Jamie's mind finally snapped to attention and he knew as much as he hated to leave the Reagan home, it was for the best. They had been used to running and now it seems they were going to do it again. Without flipping on the light, Jamie races for his bed and pulls on his jacket and then grabs his wallet.

"Buddy," he whispers as he reaches for his beloved bear. But just as he does he notices something out of place and looks up in haste. Just as he does he catches a reflection in the mirror that stops his heart cold.

"Hello Jamison."

He knows he should run…call out…breathe. But in that instant, he's so shocked that even with Danny calling his name he stands fixed in place, as his heart rate nears critical.

"No," Jamie whispers as his head starts to shake no, praying for the image before him to disappear. It doesn't.

"Come to daddy," Wade grins as his pulls a small syringe. Within seconds one hand has covered his son's mouth and the other has plunged the needle into his neck. Jamie's mind tries to get his lips to call out but its moot and within seconds, his body crumples into his father's waiting grasp.

Wade then leaves Jamie's unconscious frame on the floor and goes in search of his other son – determined to take down whoever stands between him and his revenge mission. He'd come too far to stop now. He was going to take his family back no questions asked. No matter what.

"Danny, give me the gun," Henry hurries toward Danny. However, Danny backs up with the gun still raised, shaking his head as he tries to sidestep Henry's advance. "Danny, please. You need…"

"No! Jamie is my responsibility! Jamie!"

"Danny…wait! Don't go…" Henry tries to stop Danny.

But it's too late.

Danny darts past Henry and races toward the opening to the living room, the entranceway dark and concealing a monster waiting to strike.

And he does.

Just as Danny tries to hurry past to get to Jamie's room, Wade's hands reach out and grab his son, wrapping around his neck and forcing Danny to cry out and stumble. With size on his side, Wade is able to pull Danny back, making him stumble and the gun clatter to the floor a few feet from Henry's frame.

"Hello Daniel," Wade whispers as he pulls his own gun and aims it at Henry; a gun with a silencer on the end.

"Father…" Danny whispers in horror.

"You let him go you sick son of a bitch!" Henry demands in anger as Wade's dark eyes narrow.

"The last person that dared challenged me died."

"My son is the Chief of police and he's on his way here right now!" Henry states, hoping it was true.

"Good then he can die with you! You have no right to Daniel and Jamison! They aren't your boys, they're MINE!"

"You never deserved them! Now let them go!"

"They're coming with me so we can all be together again! We're blood! And no matter what they'll always be Allen boys…NOT REAGANS!"

"Where's…Jamie?" Danny asks weakly.

"He's waiting for us. Now that I'm here, we can be a family again."

"You won't get far," Henry warns as Wade sneers in return.

"I got this far. Now down on your knees old man and prepare to die with a bit of honor."

"No…Henry…father…don't do this!" Danny begs as he squirms in vain.

"On your knees!" Wade shouts.

"Go to hell."

"You first," Wade replies simply.

But Wade doesn't care and Danny learns the folly of his ways of not giving the gun to Henry earlier, as Wade's finger eases back on the trigger and one shot is fired.

*bang*

"NO!" Danny tries to shout as he looks down in horror, his eyes instantly watering as Henry's lips utter a painful gasp before crumpling to the floor a few meters away. "Henry…oh god no…NO!"

"Time to go home," Wade hisses as he pulls another small syringe and within seconds Danny goes limp in his grasp. He looks down at Henry's still frame before spitting on his back, his eyes delighting in the small pool of crimson seeping from his chest cavity. "No one takes my boys from me and lives to brag about it. NO ONE!" He yells down at Henry's unmoving frame.

But he knows time is flying by, so he carries Danny out to the back and secures his hands behind his back with duct tape and gags him and then returns to the Reagan home for Jamie, looking down the darkened hallway at the silhouetted frame near the entranceway; a man gunned down trying to defend his family.

Wade closes the door, drops Jamie's body into the trunk beside Danny's and races away under the cover of night.

XXXXXXXX

"Frank? Are you still here?"

"I'm just on my way home, Scott. I thought I gave you an order to do the same?" Frank replies lightly. But at the same time a small feeling of uneasy tension starts to develop if Scott was still there and now calling with a panicked tone. Something's wrong.

"Yes Sir, but this can't wait. I started a trace yesterday on the name Wade Allen and then cross referenced any credit card activity with the social security number we have on file for Wade Allen."

"You found something?"

"He bought a plane ticket. He's here…Wade Allen is in New York. He arrived from LAX via JFK last night. He's here!"

"WHAT?"

The gnawing feeling of doom in the pit of Frank's stomach instantly seizes as he quickly hangs up with Scott and then dials home.

No answer.

He calls his father's cell number.

No answer.

He calls Danny's cell number.

No answer.

He calls Jamie's cell number.

No…answer.

"What have we done…" Frank whispers as his mind hears a gunshot ring out and the boys screaming before silence takes over and darkness finally falls.


A/N: *runs and hides* so this turned out a bit different than I expected but this first showdown was angsty and tense! Ah you knew it was coming right? Wade has finally struck and you knew some hurt would be left in his wake (pssst Henry won't die!). BUT the boys feel betrayed and now are in their evil father's clutches. How soon will Frank find them? Will Wade set a trap for Frank? What will they all have to endure before this nightmare is over? And what fallout will they have to deal with after its all over? Would love your thoughts on this as always so please do review before you go and thanks so much!