(Last chapter. Thanks for all the great reviews and feedback.)

Shady Tree Motel

Danny, Martin and Samantha arrived in record time at the motel. They went to the clerk to find out the room number. The clerk willingly gave them the key after Martin flashed his badge. Danny grabbed the key and ran to the room. Martin and Samantha both followed. Danny opened the door and entered the room.

"Annie. Annie," Danny called out. He didn't see her in the room.

He walked back towards the bathroom, and opened the closet door. He found her. She was tied up on the floor of the closet. Her hands and feet were bound with electrical cords, and there was tape on her mouth. Danny bent to see if she was alive. Her naked body seemed lifeless, but he found a pulse. "Call an ambulance. She's still alive," Danny called out to Martin and Samantha.

Danny took off his FBI jacket and covered her body. He then gently removed the tape from her mouth. As he removed the tape, Annie jumped and recoiled in fear. She thought that Allen was back. Danny talked to her in a soothing voice, "Annie, it's me. It's Danny. No one's going to hurt you." He stroked her hair, as tears ran down her face.

Danny then cut the cords on her hands and feet. They were bloody from the tightness of the cords. As soon as he got her hands free, Annie threw her arms around him. Danny held her tightly as she cried. "It's OK, baby. I'm here. It's OK."

Martin and Samantha left the motel room to give them some privacy. Then the ambulance arrived. Danny stayed with her in the ambulance, and held her hand. But, she didn't say a word to him. She was in shock.

At the hospital, she was taken into an examination room. She didn't want to let go of Danny's hand. "I'll be right outside. I'm not going anywhere," Danny said as he looked into her terrified eyes. She finally let go, and he walked out meeting Martin and Samantha.

Danny sat down in one of the chairs and exhaled. Samantha sat down beside him and put her hand on his back. "How is she doing?"

"I don't know. She didn't say anything. He had her tied up like an animal. What was he going to do? Keep her there forever."

Martin replied, "Jack called us from the office. Allen completely shut down after we left. Jack thinks he was going to wait until we pinned it on Escobar, and gave up the search. Then he would have killed her or . . ."

"Or kept her alive to play some sick game," Danny said.

"We found her. You got her back, Danny," Samantha said.

"Thank you. Thank you both for being so great through all of this."

"It is our job, you know," remarked Martin.

"Right," Danny smiled for the first time in two days.

They sat there in silence in the hallway until the doctor came out about a half hour later. "Are you here for Annie Riley?"

"Yes," Danny replied. "Is she OK?"

"Is her family here?"

"No. They are on their way. But they are coming from Chicago. Please tell me if she is OK," Danny asked with urgency.

"She's been through a great deal. She's been repeatedly beaten and sexually assaulted. We've given her a sedative to try and calm her down. She'll have a long road of recovery, but in time, she'll be OK."

"Can I see her?" asked Danny.

"She's sleeping."

"I know. I'll just sit with her."

"Of course."

Danny walked in the room and sat in the chair next to her bed. He took her hand, and watched her. He face and neck were badly bruised, as were her arms. Danny watched her for what seemed liked hours. He finally laid his head down on the bed and fell asleep while still holding her hand.

Annie woke up and looked over at Danny. He looked peaceful. When she saw him in the motel room, she knew everything would be OK. While she was trapped in the room, she had to stop herself from thinking of Danny. When she thought of him, all she could think of was how she'd never see him again. She felt safe with him by her side now, but part of her was still scared. How could she let all this happen to her? Why did she let Allen manipulate her? How could she face Danny now after all that has happened? She knew he was just here for her now out of some sense of obligation.

As Annie was mentally berating herself for poor decision-making, Danny woke up. Annie's heart raced as he looked at her with his dark, sympathetic, sleepy eyes.

"Hey. How are you feeling?" Danny asked as enveloped her hand in both of his hands.

"I'm OK."

"Allen's been arrested. So has Escobar."

"Good," Annie wasn't sure what to say. She felt like she was on the verge of falling a part.

"I didn't think I would ever see you again."

"How did you find me?"

"I didn't. The team I work with – they did most of the work. Allen followed you to my place a month ago. I guess that set him off. He planted the ID in your purse."

"What?" Annie asked surprised.

"He's obsessed with you, or something….he's sick."

"He was going to kill me. I begged him not to. I told him I'd do anything. So I let him…" Annie started crying.

"Don't. You don't have to talk about it now." Danny kissed her hand. "The important thing is that it is all over now."

"When he put the gun to my head all I could think of was not seeing you again," Annie said with hesitation. She wasn't sure why she said it.

Danny touched her face, and let his fingers linger in her hair. "I've been crazy the last two days…terrified I'd never see you again. I …I love you, Annie. I hate myself for not saying it a month ago, two years ago, six years ago. I should have said a long time ago. This -- all that has happened to you -- it's my fault, baby. If I just would have brought you to New York with me…"

"Danny, don't. We both made choices. I didn't have to stay undercover. I don't know what I was trying to prove. I let this happen…"

"Don't say that," Danny said as tears stung eyes.

The nurse came and interrupted, "She really needs to get her rest. It's the only way she will heal."

"Right," Danny said. He stood up, but Annie grabbed his hand.

"Your not leaving…are you?"

"No. Of course not. I'm never leaving you again," Danny smiled and kissed her forehead. "I'll just be outside for a few minutes, OK? You need to get some sleep."

"OK." Annie said as she closed her eyes.

Danny walked out of them room, and sat down. Jack saw Danny, and sat down by him.

"How's she doing?" asked Jack.

"I think she'll be OK. I'd like to take some time off to be here for her, if that's OK."

"Take as much time as you need."

"You know I've spent my whole life trying to convince myself I didn't need anyone. The only person I needed to depend on was myself. How self-centered is that?" asked Danny.

"We just do what we need to do to survive…to get through."

"It almost cost Annie her life. I couldn't completely be with her, but then I couldn't let her go either."

"Well now you have a second chance. You probably haven't had many of those in your life. Don't screw it up."

Danny smiled, "Thanks."

"I'll see you in couple of weeks," Jack said as he got up and walked away.

Danny walked back in the Annie's room, and took her hand again. He whispered, "I love you," to her as he laid his head down and fell asleep.