I Disclaim.

Finally Ch.5

*** Taleka, the first part of the story is for you, here's your boyfriend Patrick.

~~~

She looked beautiful when she slept, peaceful and almost angelic. Like she had never discovered the cruelty of the world at such an early age. " I wonder what you dream of." He moved and wisp of hair off her face. " When I was in the hospital I would have the best dreams." "They were of you, but you know that." " We were on this deserted island, and there wasn't a soul around for miles, but why would we care about that huh." " We'd spent the entire making love and fishing, we occasionally stop to spar because I know how you love to beat me up."

"But I also know that's not your idea of paradise, you 'd be paranoid envisioning natives trying to overthrow the government." " No, your idea of paradise is being back on your ranch, riding and doing something with the cows, I don't know what, I'm Irish catholic from Pennsylvania, what do know about farms or ranches." "Even when we were stationed there, I didn't hang outside, much but I saw you doing it." " You would ride to the top of the hill over looking the spread, and just stare out there." " I wonder what you were thinking." " Were you dreaming of the good ole days when your parents where still alive."

"I can imagine you as a little girl, in my minds eye."" You were always a tomboy, you fought your mother tooth and nail on Sunday's when she wanted you to wear a dress to church, and as soon as you got home, you were back in jeans." " You probably were a fast walker, I bet as soon as you learned how you where gone." " I can't imagine what your first word was, mommy and daddy seems to ordinary, maybe it was O'Neil." " I keep talking hoping that you tell me to shut up." "That you'll just open one eye, and glare or something."

"I find this really hard to accept, Mac." " You've been shot, stabbed, there was that time in Versailles where they poisoned you, umm, and they was the car bomb in Bismarck." "You remember you were…" he laughed at the memory." You were just finishing surveillance on that senator, when the mob tried to kill him, and you ducked behind the car they denoted, you were thrown like fifteen feet, and you just keep bitchin about how they ruined your favorite shirt." The laughter becomes sobs, as the red haired man let the fear and pain overcome him." You're um… you're Mac." " I find it unbelievable that a three ton car could do what dozens of people have tried to do for years." "So don't let it, don't you dare give up." The creaking of the door puts him on guard, and he leans over to kiss her pale cheek." I love you." He straighten his clothes and meets Chloe's eyes. " I leave you guys alone."

"Patrick you don't have to."

" No, you should be alone with her, she hates talking when theirs an audience." Kissing the women on the cheek he leaves her and heads straight for Shawn. " What's the word?"

"They have the driver." " It's Austin Reed, he was found drunk thirty miles out of town." " Not just that, but Lucas was here earlier, and DiMera's lawyer have implicated Mac for insider trading, and frozen all her assets." " I already got a call from our base in Europe, agents got word and quit, they're saying they won't work unless their paid upfront."

"Damn it." Patrick ran a hand through his hair and hit the wall with his fist." What the hell happened to loyalty."? " Please tell me that Lucas has lawyers on it."

'Yeah he does, he's with Austin right now at the station." Shawn steps back when the fury reached the other mans eyes." Chloe told them to go, she thought that Mac would like that."

"Them?"

"Philip, he was near by when the accident happened." " What do you want me to do?"

" See how many agents you can get to work pro bono." " Then have the first one available looking into the insider trader thing." "Shawn, just in case I forget later thank you."

" For what, I'm just doing my job."

" A job is what you get paid for, this is being a friend, and Mac would thank you, and I want to thank you." Patrick extended his hand and found himself in a hug.

" It's just something you do when you're part of the pack, right." Shawn released the older man, and started walking toward the door. " I call you when I have something."

" Patrick." John waited until he could get the agent alone, and took a moment to examine Patrick. He had always felt close to the man, ever since he threw him that gun and asked him to cover him, and he knew why the were very similar. Patrick had also been introduced to a world where he had to learn to new rules and survival techniques, and constantly watch as loved ones were harm for retribution. "How is she?"

"Mac's okay, it takes more then a car to put her down."

"Yeah, that's the truth, uh…." John let his hand rest on his neck as he searched for a way to tell his greatest fear.

"Just say it John."

" Freezing Mac's assets puts a definite road block for the Red Wolf Society, and considering the instigators were DiMera's' lawyers it makes me wonder if "

"If the phoenix was about rise again." He shook his head. " Nah, this isn't a DiMera, lawyers may be attacking, but it's not DiMera."

"How can you be so sure." " I fought Stefano a time or tow myself and hitting you when you're down is a definite DiMera move."

" Mac told me something, and now that I think of it, she's right." "She said he never calls ahead, he just arrives." " Having lawyers come after here, is like sending a warning, and he doesn't warn." "This isn't a DiMera thing, I'm sure of it."

~~

" Well, well Henry James Red Wolf the Second, we never actually made the acquaintances, it's a pleasure."

Mac watched in amazement, she hadn't seen since she was seven years old. He was just as she remember him tall, golden skinned, and wide shoulders, he had always looked like a supper hero to her, and he still did. " Papa?"

He turned to her, his face broke into a smile, and his gray eyes twinkled with happiness and tears. " Mackenzie." " You've grown into a beautiful woman, but then I knew you would." Hank moved closer getting trying to get a better look when he path was blocked.

"This is such a touching moment." Stefano said from in between the two. " I hate to interrupt, but I must." "You weren't invited Red Wolf, but why I'm surprised that you are continuing to mind someone else's business."

" You're forgetting that there are two side to this DiMera." " She has a choice, and must be given both sides, and you haven't even shown her one, you're trying to exact some revenge because she beat you." A hearty laughs escapes through his smile." She beat you real good."

" Could someone explain this to me." For the few minutes she thought she was in hell, but she knew her father would have never ended up there, now she just confused."

Hank gave a weak smile. "You're in a holding station, located somewhere between death and life, your body is currently in a hospital bed where it is comatose." " You're a very special person Mackenzie, you're being given a choice."

"What's the choice heaven or hell?"

" No, life or death.

~~~

Coming Soon:

Philip raises the stakes.