A year later… 5:38 pm EST

Danielle walked through her office, looking over the latest reports to come off the firm's stocks. In three months', time, she'd raised their revenue by another seven percent. Their prediction for a year was the stocks would be worth more than three hundred dollars apiece. October looked to be good to her and if all went well, she'd have the corner office "gifted" to her by Christmas. Turning the corner, she could hear her assistant arguing with whoever was on the phone.

"Yes sir, I realize you've called before, Ms. Xanatos is very busy."

*Sigh*

"No sir, I'm not trashing your messages. I realize your call is very important." Their eyes met and Tina rolled her eyes dismissively. "No, Mr. Hudson, there is no way you could be fit into her schedule today. I'm very sorry."

'Hudson!' Danielle reached forward, plucking the receiver from her hand. "Hudson?"

She could hear the old gargoyle sigh. "Aye lass, I've been tryin' to reach ya for nights now."

Danielle sore to herself, she had been ignoring personal messages because Travis had been reaching out again. She'd even resulted to leaving her cell phone on her desk during much of her day to avoid him. "I'm sorry Hudon, it's my fault. Hang on the line for just a minute, I'll pick you back up in my office."

He sighed. "Alright lass, I'll be here."

Reaching forward again, her finger tapped the hold button before returning the receiver to Tina, who shot her with a curious and confused glance. Danielle looked at the clock, six-fifty, they clan would have been awake more than an hour ago.

She turned her attention back to Tina. "I'll take it in my office. Why don't you get ready and call it a night?"

Tina laughed and started to gather her things as Danielle moved towards her office doors. "I thought the old man was crazy. He's been calling two times a night since Tuesday."

That stopped Danielle in her tracks. 'Tuesday?' This was Thursday night, that meant she'd missed at least five calls to the office, half a dozen more to her cell. With Travis calling so often, he'd managed to fill her mail box. David and Fox were out of town for business and she hadn't bothered to return the two calls from Elisa this week. "Shit!"

Knowing something had to be going on, she rushed into her office and slammed the door closed. The receiver was in her hand in seconds. "Hudson?!"

She could hear him shift on the other side. "Aye lass, there be no need to yell."

She sighed. "I'm sorry, it's just that I realized how many calls I've missed. I'm so sorry."

He sighed and coughed a bit, he wasn't too well now a days. "You got a busy life Daniella, I can't fault ya for not getting back. The clan, we just aren't on the front of your mind anymore."

A tear rolled down her left check. He was right to feel that way. In the year she'd been gone, Angela had laid their first egg, Alex had turned three, and Demona had been welcomed in to rejoice as Angela and Broadway's first born hatched just last month. She had gotten back once, and not for any of that. "I'm sorry, I haven't..."

Hudson coughed again, and she could hear Bronx whine at his feet. "Don't beat yourself up lass. When ya left Xanatos told us to expect this, we all knew how broke up ya were."

She sat down, somehow, she'd seemingly forgotten to do so in all the rush. "How's everyone?"

He laughed. "Angela and Broadway are constantly chasin' after Amara, but the wee thing is sweet as she can be. Goliath and Elisa are just fine, been takin' small trips here and there. Lexington always has somethin' ta work on ta keep the lad happy. Alex is becomin' a fine lad, and his skills are really startin' to shine through. Xanatos an' Fox are very proud." She could hear a yep at his feet and smiled. "Oh, and Bronx said to tell ye he's just the same."

She realized that he'd left out one of their own. "And Brooklyn?"

Hudson sighed. "The lad's actually the reason why I'd been calling. Goliath has tried but…"

When he paused, she suddenly became nervous, and her heart raced. "What is it?"

She could hear the stress in his voice. "Goliath took command from him, lass, Brooklyn left him with no choice." He coughed. "The lad's been drinkin', goin' out on patrol and never failing lately to get into more trouble than he bout can't get out of."

Danielle sighed, rubbing her eyes. "Who did Goliath give command too?"

"He hasn't. The hope was that would shake the lad back to his senses but that would have been nearly ago and it's done no good." He hesitated and then sighed. "Ah was hoping a call from you would do something."

The thought caused her to panic and without thinking she stood. "Hudson, I'd do anything for you but this...we didn't part on good terms, l..."

She could hear the leather stretch on the chair as he pulled himself up. "Where ya be off too, lad?"

Brooklyn's voice came through the line. "I'm out, gonna get some more."

Hudson sighed. "Do ya think that ta be a good idea?"

Brooklyn cursed. "Shit yeah! Hell, I don't have ta worry about seeing over the clan anymore so why shouldn't I get wasted?"

"Ya ain't been replace yet, but if ya don't get this under control…"

"I don't want command! All I want is to drink myself into the ground!"

Danielle could hear something get smashed and then a door slam as Hudson sighed and retook his chair. "Are ya still with me, lass?"

Tears poured from her eyes, the way Brooklyn was acting, she just couldn't believe it. Knowing a simple call wouldn't get through she opened her schedule and took in the long list of appointments, and obligations she'd already been assigned to. "Daniella?"

'Damn it all.' With strong determination, she closed the planner and reached for her purse. "I'm here Hudson. Don't tell anyone, I'll be home by dawn."

She could tell he was weighing the odds for himself before answering. "Do ya think that best?"

Another tear slipped from her eye. "Yes, a phone call isn't going to reach him. I'll see you soon."

He sighed. "Aye lass, we'll be here."

The call disconnected, and she slammed the receiver down, trying to catch up with her own emotions. 'How in the hell did we end up like this?'

A knock drew her attention to the door, Tina poked her head in. "Are you alright?"

Danielle shook her head and committed to the decision she knew would cost her. "No, I'm not. Please, stay awhile longer and move everything on my schedule two days back."

Tina was noticeably surprised. "Most of that can't be done until tomorrow! I may not be able to get two days from now."

Danielle knew she was right but didn't really care at this point, she met Tina at the door. "Do whatever you can then, but I have to deal with a family emergency. I'm taking two full days."

Without waiting for Tina to voice her objections again, Danielle moved past her and out towards the parking deck. She'd go back to her apartment, grab a few things and be on the next flight to New York. 'Maybe, just maybe, I can save him.'