Alternate

Chapter 14: Fear

A/N: Apparently I'm on a little bit of an updating roll. I don't want to beg for reviews because I have a core group of wonderful people who are consistently loyal and I love them. But I will say that I am very interested in hearing what all of you who have added this story to your favorites and alerts think. As well as all you anonymous readers out there. I hope you enjoy this chapter but even if you don't, feel free to drop me a line and let me know what you think I'm doing right or wrong.

Dedications: To my amazingly supportive group of reviewers Wolfhound159, megspazzy, DaisyDay and ChristyLoisGilmore17 who has reviewed the last three chapters within the last twenty four hours. Good luck on the last of your final projects.

Levi Wagner sat in the FBI interview room. He had known it was only a matter of time before Morris gave him up. But it didn't matter, he'd done what he needed to do and he was positive he had something he could offer for a sweetheart of a deal.

The door opened and Agent Kruger walked in "My apologies for keeping you waiting Mr. Wagner," he began curtly "There was an urgent matter that needed to be attended to."

"Whatever," Wagner responded nonchalantly "Can we get this over with? I'm late for my date with the cute red headed barista from the coffee shop across from my apartment."

Kruger affixed the other man with a stern glare that seemed to do nothing to phase Wagner. "You aren't going anywhere Mr. Wagner."

"Yeah I'm gonna walk right out that door," Wagner replied confidently "Or doesn't the FBI give a damn about the lives of its consultants?"

Kruger allowed himself a little smile. The smile seemed to accomplish what the glare could not as Wagner suddenly seemed unnerved. "I assure you Mr. Wagner the FBI takes the lives of its civilian consultants very seriously. That is why you were kept waiting as long as you were. Myself and several other agents were engaged in an operation to locate and rescue one such consultant. Later at the hospital, said consultant was able to pick your photo out of a lineup. Stand up please."

Unhappily, Wagner did as he was told, wondering how Rosenthal's scheme had gone so wrong.

"Levi Wagner," Kruger began as he slapped the cuffs on the other man "You are under arrest for the kidnapping and attempted murder of Dr. Daniel Pierce."

The doctors had examined and assessed Daniel. They had determined that he no longer needed the oxygen mask but wanted to monitor him overnight just to be sure he was stable. Kate hadn't left his side the entire time with the exception of two minutes during which she stepped away to take a phone call from Kruger.

When she returned she took a seat at his bedside "Wagner and Morris are telling the FBI everything," she informed Daniel as she took his hand "Seems that Rosenthal's been pulling strings from behind bars."

Daniel nodded meekly before retuning his attention to the ceiling. He had been instructed to rest but every time he closed his eyes he was back in that coffin. The air seemed stale when he breathed. Over and over again he told himself he was safe.

"But are you really?" Rosenthal had appeared at the foot of the bed provoking an agonized groan from Daniel.

"You okay?" Kate asked, squeezing his hand.

Daniel nodded then clearing his throat he asked "Could you get me some water?"

"Sure," Kate patted his arm as she stood up.

"Good job Daniel," Rosenthal mocked "You've bought yourself all of two more minutes to talk to yourself uninterrupted."

"Just go away," Daniel groaned.

"I don't think so," Rosenthal countered "You're stuck with me. Stuck deep, deep down below."

"What are you talking about?" Daniel demanded.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about," Rosenthal replied cryptically.

"You're trying to trick me," Daniel accused.

"Am I?" the question was accompanied by a momentary change in the appearance of the ceiling and walls. For a terrifying moment they appeared as if they were made of crumbling earth.

"No, no," Daniel murmured, climbing out of bed and blinking his eyes rapidly.

The hallucination passed but when it did Rosenthal was standing in front of him laughing. "You'd've been better off if I killed you five years ago," he mocked "And Kate would be better off too."

"Shut up," Daniel almost growled.

"Sure she would have mourned you for a little while," Rosenthal continued "But she'd have eventually moved on, gotten remarried to Donnie, a real man who could take care of her. Instead she's stuck here watching an invalid descend into madness."

"Shut up!" Daniel screamed.

"Or is she even here at all?" Rosenthal began laughing again as the walls and ceiling took on the look of crumbling earth again.

"No, it's not real," Daniel told himself shakily "It can't be... It can't be real," but no matter where he turned all he saw was soil slowly collapsing in on him. All he heard was Rosenthal's mocking laughter.

"Daniel," Kate's voice called, sounding far away and full of concern.

He tried to concentrate on that voice as his chest grew tight with fear. But Rosenthal's laughter was far more prominent. He began to cry "I'm sorry," he whispered tearfully as the crumbling earth rushed towards him. It writhed almost as though it were alive and hungry for him "I'm sorry," he whispered again.

"Daniel!" he heard her voice more clearly now.

The soil had almost swallowed him whole and breathing had become nearly impossible. He gasped for air and then he felt something cold and wet hit him in the face. The writhing earth around him faded as did Rosenthal's taunting laughter and Kate appeared in front of him, tears in her eyes as she held the now empty water cup. "Kate," he whispered through sobs as not only the fear of being swallowed whole by living earth but the realization of what was happening sunk him.

Kate wrapped him in a tight hug, stroking his hair and rubbing comforting circles into the tense muscles between his shoulder blades "it's okay," she murmured through her own tears "It's okay..."

Daniel's psychiatrist Dr. Ashbury had come to the hospital and after speaking with both Daniel and Kate at length had reached the decision to admit Daniel to the psychiatric ward. However the transfer would have to wait until the morning. She did prescribe sedatives and anti-psychotics which he started on immediately.

Daniel had seemed to retreat into himself after Dr. Ashbury had left. Whether it was a side effect of the meds or something else, Kate wasn't sure. She did know one thing though: until he was moved to the psych ward, where visiting hours were far more strictly enforced, she would remain with him. She sat at his bedside, holding his hand in both of hers even though he hadn't said a word to her or spared her so much as a glance in the ninety minutes since Dr. Ashbury had departed.

Daniel knew that what he'd been afraid of had happened. He was slipping into the gaping maw of insanity and because of her devotion to him, Kate was being dragged along for the ride just as Rosenthal had said. It broke his heart. Even with her kind words and assurances of two nights before the reality of the situation was brutally devastating. If only they could've had a week or two of happiness before this happened...

As she lovingly held his hand tears pricked Daniel's eyes. He knew what he had to do. He had to push her away to save her. He didn't want to but there was no other choice. Either break her heart now or witness the slow death of her soul. It was an enormous effort for him just to bring himself to look at her. He took a deep breath and wrenched his hand from her grasp.

"Leave," he said simply, his voice coming out in a strangled whisper.

"No," she replied firmly, instantly seeing through what he was trying to do.

"I don't want you here," his voice was muffled as he turned away from her, burying his face in his pillow in an attempt to stop the unruly tears.

"Do you know you're a terrible liar?" She asked in a soft voice as she reached out and rubbed his shoulder "Daniel, wild horses couldn't drag me from this spot."

Daniel felt his entire body shake as he sobbed. Once again he lacked the strength to do what needed to be done. He took several deep breaths as he attempted to summon the courage to be angry at her. Try as he might the only emotions he could conjure up were love and sadness. He was weak and he hated himself for it. Hate, his self loathing, was there some way he could redirect that towards Kate? But no, all his anger towards himself led only to more frustrated tears and anguished sobs. He almost wished he'd died in that coffin.

Kate was leaning over him now, tenderly touching his cheek "Daniel, look at me," she whispered. Slowly he brought his gaze to meet hers. She smiled softly at him before kissing him tenderly "If you really truly want me to leave I will but no matter what you say, no matter what you do, you will never get me to stop loving you."

Fresh tears sprang to his eyes as he looked away again "You're too good for me Kate Moretti."

"That's not true," Kate replied, taking his hand again as she sat back down "And you know it. You deserve to be loved unconditionally as much as anyone"

Another hour or so of silence followed during which the sedatives caused Daniel to drift into a light and uneasy sleep. He awoke from his fitful respite when he heard Kate yawn involuntarily.

"You should get some sleep," his voice this time was not choked back with the tears of self loathing and fear but laden with concern for her.

She offered his hand a reassuring squeeze "I'm fine Daniel," she told him "Go back to sleep."

"How did you-"

"Your fingers relaxed a little," she smiled softly.

Daniel hadn't even been aware until this moment that as she had been holding his hand, he had been clinging to hers. He released his grasp immediately "I didn't hurt you, did I?" he asked a bit fearfully.

"Nah," Kate promised "Not at all. Now try to sleep.

"I'd feel better if I knew you were getting some rest too," he told her.

"I'll rest later," she replied stubbornly.

"You are without a doubt the most bullheaded woman I've ever been involved with," Daniel sighed.

"I'll take that as a compliment," Kate chuckled.

"As it was intended," Daniel quipped.

"Now cram the sweet talk and get some rest," she out and out laughed.

Daniel allowed himself to drift off again. Though he was far from at ease and far from assured that Kate would survive this experience unscathed. His mind was still filled with fears and doubts of all kinds none the least of which was that Rosenthal was not done with him. The hallucination version or the real one. It was this fear that caused him to awaken in a cold sweat less than two hours later whimpering. He trembled as Kate soothed him, sitting beside him on the bed and holding him in her arms.

When she suggested calling the nurse he almost silenced his objections. If it hadn't been for the sudden stiffening of his body she would have pressed the call button without a second thought. Instead she dropped the device, letting it hang off the bed rail.

"You don't want them to give you more drugs," she said intuitively.

Daniel nodded "Not yet at least," he admitted. "Can you just sit with me for a little while?" he asked sheepishly.

"I can do that," she offered him a gentle, understanding smile.

They sat side by side on the bed, holding hands. Sometimes chatting about this and that but mostly in comfortable silence as they watched the sun rise over the city outside the room's large window. Before either of them knew it Dr. Ashbury had returned to let Daniel know that a bed had opened up in the psychiatric ward.

Reluctantly Kate bid Daniel farewell "I'll be back to see you this afternoon," she promised.

"Promise me you'll get some rest between now and then?" Daniel requested as he hugged her.

"Promise," she kissed him on the lips.

Kate and Daniel parted ways in the hall. Daniel walked with Dr. Ashbury and an orderly in the direction of the psych ward while Kate, realizing she had arrived at the hospital with Daniel in the ambulance pulled out her cell phone to see if she could find someone to give her a lift.