Disclaimer: Same as usual don't own it...

Author's Note: Sorry it's so short (I'm beginning to think I'm not capable of writing really long chapters...)



Chapter 8

Desperation



He could feel the panic rising up within him. Arresting his father was one thing, and even that was hard, but being placed in a position where he'd have to possibly exude force ... it was too much. Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined something like this happening to him.



"Don't do this. Just put them both down. Think of mom, think of your grandkids. Is this the way you want to go? To be remembered like this?" He was pleading, but he didn't care.



"At least I'll be remembered as someone who fought for their self respect. Someone who loves their family more than anything but is unwilling to let people walk all over them. You do what you have to do. I know I will. Do you job Donovan."



Nate was hurting and couldn't help himself from trying to retaliate emotionally. This was his son, who in his mind, had rejected him and had stopped just short of disowning him. Frank, for his part, hadn't missed that his father had called him 'Donovan' instead of son. He took this as a sign that his father was distancing himself. Meaning that anything could happen.



"Dad please, don't make me do this. I-"



"Do your job Donovan, after all it's what you're good at."



Frank shook his head and made to lower his gun. Nate wouldn't accept that.



"Either you do your job on your own or I'll make you do it. Your choice."



Frank Donovan continued to lower his gun, slowly so as not to startle his father. He was about to inform his father that he was under arrest, but didn't get the chance. Nate, knowing it was over, lunged at his son-the knife still directed at himself. As expected Frank didn't have time to think, he could only react.



As he pulled his gun up time seemed to slow and almost stop. He heard the shot and saw the shock on his father's face as he reeled back. The disk shattered and in response Nate clutched his hand to his chest as he toppled backwards to the floor. Donovan dropped his gun and ran to his father, gathering him in his arms and not bothering to stop the tears that spilled from his eyes. All he could do at that moment was hold him and repeatedly whisper how sorry he was.



The bullet had only hit the disk, completely destroying it. Some of the shards had lodged in Nate's hand-his right hand. The 'surprise' of the shot and expecting to be hit had caused him to topple backwards. When he discovered that he wasn't shot he just laid where he was, to hopeless to get up.



Frank had never intended to shoot his father. The goal had been to recover the disk before the encryption expired so that the information didn't fall into the wrong hands, and end the lives of 45 good agents. But it had not turned out the way he and his team had planned, and been instructed, the only thing the disk was good for now was as pieces in an art project. He knew the kind of trouble he'd be in for not bringing the disk in but couldn't work up the emotion needed to care about it. The FBI always had their information backed up, be it on disk or in written files. The main goal had been accomplished and lives had been saved.



"Why didn't you kill me?" Nate's voice was barely above a whisper and had Frank not been so close he would've missed the question.



"Believe what you will, but I do love you and could never do that to you. Plus Allison has a birthday in two months and I know she wants you there."



"I think we both know I wont be there."



"We'll see, we'll see." Donovan was formulating a plan.





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