A/N- Here it is folks- Part 17. I apologize profusely for taking so long, as well as for the plot holes you can fit the state of Texas through, but with a couple of deaths in the family, writer's block, dealing with bullshit from work and all the regular stresses of life I just couldn't write for awhile. I promise to you that if you ask for a sequel, it won't take nearly as long for me to finish.

As for the rest of the story- The ending itself is done, all it needs is a little editing. The ending was originally supposed to be part 18, but when I redid this part (my original version was something so shitty and terrible that only the writers of the last season of Profiler [and Steven Kronish] would have liked,) it was only at the end that I realized that I had started it from Bailey's P.O.V, had Dana's in the middle and the end as Bailey's once more. So I'm splitting that up into parts 17-19, and part 20 (Sam's P.O.V…she began it, and so it's only fair she finished it,) is the end. If I get enough reviews, I'll be sure to post quicker! J

The Fragile pt. 17

(Bailey's P.O.V)

"Bailey," A voice echoed from the darkness…"Wake up. C'mon, old man..."

"What the hell…?" Opening my eyes, all I saw was a blur. "What happened?"

"What do you remember?"

"Coming out of the lab with enough evidence to send Fiona away for awhile, then…nothing."

"It appears we were ambushed just like your profiler and your agent were," Dana muttered. I started to rise, but felt a hand firmly hold me down. "Don't try to get up. We got injected with some kind of muscle relaxant that's affected our legs. Plus with the shit they used to knock us out with…you'll feel like shit if you do, trust me. Wait for your vision to clear first."

"I take it you didn't?"

"…No comment."

I grinned faintly before replying. "Fiona?"

"She's here," Dana said flatly, "Wherever the fuck here is."

"What about Jack?"

"…Haven't seen him but I have a feeling that's going to change here shortly," she commented, her blurry shape becoming less distinct as she moved away from me. "I've heard…what your boy does to his victims. I'm not going to let him kill me, Bailey."

"Is there a way you can prevent him from killing me too?" I reply dryly, and she snorted.

"Which way would you prefer?"

"Personally, I'd prefer the way where we both get out alive, rescue Sam and make Jack pay."

"Don't forget our mutual friend Fiona."

"Her too." Fiona had a lot to answer for.

"I'd prefer that way too Bailey, but that wasn't what I was talking about and you know it."

"…I know."

We lapsed into an uncomfortable silence before Dana spoke again.

"So have you given it any thought?"

"You're a morbid one, aren't you?" Good, my vision's beginning to clear.

"Can't help it…sorry."

"…Broken neck."

"…That's how you want to go, huh?"

"Well I can think of a couple better ways but none of them are open to me at this point in time."

"Well, if it comes to that, I'll see if I can't…arrange it for you." Her voice had a chillingly sincere tone to it, and I knew she was being serious.

Figuring I'd change the subject, I asked her about her pain tolerance.

"Probably more tolerant than yourself," She yawned.

"You wound me."

"Sorry, but it's true, Bailey. You served in 'Nam, right?" Seeing me nod, she continued. "Do you know of any P.O.W'S that were repeatedly tortured and raped/sodomized with blunt objects?"

"…I can't think of any who survived torture like that, no."

"When they found me, I had lost so much blood that they gave me a ten percent chance of survival," Dana said softly. "My family, believing that I was going to die, had a priest give me last rites against my partner's wishes. He was the only one that believed I would live." Smiling faintly, she continued. "At the time, I wasn't too far away from becoming an atheist. I'm still not, really, because for every miracle that's performed, far too many atrocities take place."

"You don't have a very optimistic view on life."

"I used to have one, but not any more."

Hours passed in silence, and from the light snoring I heard over in the corner I could tell Dana was asleep. How she managed to do so, I'll never know, but whatever she was dreaming about, it wasn't pretty, with her muttering curses and calling out for her partner.

Dana woke herself up fifteen minutes later, and yawned.

"We can't stand on our own."

"Probably won't be able to either, at least for a little while longer," Dana admitted, sliding herself over to the door. She tried to pull herself up, but her legs were uncooperative. Finally she gave up and sighed.

"This sucks."

I managed to bark out a laugh. "That about sums it up."

"You're God-damned-" Dana halted suddenly at the sound of voices in the hallway. One of them belonged to Fiona.

"Hey Fiona, come over here for a second!" Footsteps came closer, and I could see Dana smile faintly.

"What do you want?"

"Just wanted to let you know that when I get out of here, I'm putting your ugly ass in a full body cast…and I'll enjoy it immensely."

"Not if I put you in one first."

"We'll see, Fiona, we'll see. Hey, tell your buddy Jack I'm really disappointed with the accommodations. Are the other cells all filled up too, because if there's one with a good view and an actual toilet, I can think of two people that actually wouldn't mind being moved!"

"You have a smart mouth on you, Agent Green," Fiona replied coldly, her dark eyes glaring at the young agent with malice, "one that's going to get you into a world of hurt very soon."

"Promises, promises, Fiona," Dana laughed. "Why do you keep on making them when you can't keep them worth a shit? You've done that before, and you almost got Dell killed. I'm not giving you a second chance."

"I won't need one…I'll be back soon to come get you both. Jack wants to see you." She walked off, and Dana just shook her head, a forced smile on her face.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Dana said, beginning to bang her head repetitively against the wall. I nodded.

"They're not planning on keeping us around for very much longer-or at least Fiona isn't."

"Knowing her, she probably killed the lab techs and confiscated the tape leading to her involvement," Dana muttered again. "She'll cook up some bullshit story either saying we went off on our own to try to find your boy and we got caught and killed, or she'll somehow try to make herself look like the hero, 'find' this place and send in the troops, only it'll be too late for them to do anything…shit." She stared off into space, lost in thought. "I wonder if we'll see your profiler at Jack's little soirée?"

I didn't reply, but in my heart I was hoping to see her there, if anything else just to know she was still alive and okay.

As promised, about a half hour later Fiona returned with four men, none of whom Dana or I recognized, and with a gesture from the tall redhead they unceremoniously grabbed us by our arms and dragged us out of the cell. Five minutes later we were in a large room, surrounded by people we did recognize, if only by seeing the faces on wanted posters. Sam was nowhere in sight, and I felt my heart sink.

"This really isn't good," Dana muttered out of the side of her mouth. "Feel like I'm being turned into lion feed, know what I'm sayin'?" Unfortunately I did, because I felt the same way.

"Let us have him, Fiona," a man with a gravelly voice spoke up from the crowd. "You and Jack have what you want in your possession; give us what we want."

"That decision's up to Jack."

"Fucking Section Chief hanging with the felons," Dana shook her head at the betrayal. "Wonder how long she's been doing this?"

"Quite awhile, from everyone I've seen," I replied, studying our surroundings. Dana simply grunted, seemingly furious with how deep Fiona's betrayal ran.

A door opened from the left side, and in walked Jack, a grin of triumph on his face. His blue eyes revealed his scorn for us, and both Dana and I glared up at him angrily. He walked past us, and Dana frowned.

"I've seen him somewhere before," She whispered, frowning.

"Jack? When?"

"I don't know, it's seems fairly recent…but for some reason I can't remember."

When Jack stood in front of us again, still wearing that self righteous look on his face, he began to speak. "Welcome to my little hideout," he said with a smile. "Unfortunately for you both, neither of you will be leaving it." He stood in front of me, looking down at me like I was a pile of trash. "What Malone, no words of wisdom? No angry shouts of useless meaningless defiance?"

"The ass kicking you're going to be getting from me can't be put into words," I replied flatly.

"Is that so?" Jack said with a grin, coming closer to me step by step, suddenly lashing out at me with one steel-tipped boot. Doubling over, I could see Dana struggling to stand to face our tormentor, but failing. "Well how exactly do either of you intend on kicking my ass when you can't stand on your own two feet yet, hmm?" He laughed, sending chills down my spine.

"And you, Agent Green…you're just a sucker for punishment, aren't you?" Dana didn't reply. "You're silence wounds me, Dana…I was expecting a smart ass comment from you more than I was from Malone here."

"What can I say? I'm just full of surprises."

"Indeed. But you're not the only one who's full of surprises, Dana," he grinned. "For instance, I see that you don't remember me. That's a shame, it truly is."

"Sorry," Dana replied, "but you're the type of person who seems easily forgettable."

"Is that right? Well, let me refresh your memory…November 15th of last year. Ring any bells?"

Dana's face paled, but she said nothing.

"It does, doesn't it? I can see it written all over your face, Agent Green."

"You were there with him…there were two of you."

"Very good! Yes, I took a little break from my duties down here and went up to Maine to do some…tutoring of sorts. Didn't turn out all that well for Jacob though did it?"

"I think I feel sick," Dana muttered, her face pale. Jack only laughed and knelt by her side.

"You're going to feel even sicker by the time I'm finished telling the story," He whispered into her ear with a smirk.

"I don't think this is wise," Fiona interrupted. "Let's just get on with it."

"Be silent, Fiona," Jack stood up and snapped, giving her one of his infamous ice-cold glares. "I'm in charge now and I'll make the decisions as to what's wise and what isn't."

Turning his attention back to Dana, he continued.

"The funniest thing about it is, all those women that died by Jacob's hand…they were just guinea pigs. You were the only target after all. Fiona here was in on it from the beginning, as she was the one who gave you the case in the first place."

"What are you doing Jack? You swore to me that my involvement would remain a secret!" Fiona shouted, striding towards him.

"For the last time Fiona…SHUT UP." The Section Chief stopped dead in her tracks, shocked at being spoken to like that.

"We're going to get Dr. Waters out of here, you know," Dana spoke, breaking the uneasy silence. "And after that, I'm going to kill you both." Her voice was steady and calm, and Jack studied her thoughtfully for a moment before replying.

"Not if you get killed first. Fiona-" She looked at him, a questioning glance on her face. "She's all yours." Fiona's face brightened instantly, and Dana warily watched her approach.

"Someone's story is going to end here, Dana," Fiona laughed as two men came forward and lifted Dana up. Her legs wobbled, still unable to hold her weight. "But it won't be mine."

"I wouldn't be so sure of yourself," Dana replied flatly. The two female agents eyed each other for a moment, mutual dislike shining in both pairs. Looking at Jack, Fiona smiled.

"Can I have some quality time with Bailey later on, Jack?"

"Maybe later, Fiona. For now, he's mine." Taking that as a yes, Fiona nodded and led Dana and her guards back the way we'd came.

"What's the connection between Dana and Sam, Jack?" I asked as soon as the door closed behind them.

"Why would you even think there was one?"

"The only people you've ever gone after ever since Sam tied you to all those cross country murders have been people Sam's known or been connected to in some way, so how's Dana connected?"

"All the people I've KILLED have been connected to Sam."

"We'll you've played games with my agents in the past, Jack," I replied coldly, "But you didn't kill them."

"True enough," Jack nodded, walking around me, studying me as if I was a lab rat. "Well Malone, this time you're correct. There is a connection between Dana and Sam, other than the fact that they're both profilers. But you'll have to find out that connection on your own."

"Another game, Jack? Isn't it a little too late for that?"

"You should know me better than that by now, Malone…It's never too late for someone to play a game with the 'Jack of all trades'…