Sorry for the huge delay in posting this chapter, but I have been really busy and my computer also took ages to get fixed. Anyway as always huge thanks to my beta, amnodo and everyone who has reviewed.

Disclaimers see chapter 1

Chapter 8

Mount Sinai Hospital

Sam drew her knees up to chest as she continued to wait for news. Why was it taking so long, she thought, surely if Danny had died they would of told her by now. He couldn't be dead—after all this he couldn't die. In no way was she glad that Danny had been held and tortured by these animals, but she knew if had been herself she would have never survived or escaped. She didn't believe that she had that mental strength that Danny had used to stay alive and to escape.

Jack had phoned earlier to tell her that they believed that they had all but one vial of the virus and, out of the suspected terrorists they had in custody; Danny's torturer was one of them. It had taken all of her will power not to go down to where this 'Molotov' was being held and empty her gun out into him. But that would be too good for him; he didn't deserve a quick and relatively painless death. He deserved to believe hell would be like heaven compared to what she would put him through. Was it wrong to think about how she would inflict such pain on Molotov? Was it wrong to stoop down to his level? Yes it probably was wrong, Sam thought, but right now she didn't really care. She wouldn't kill him; no death was too good for him. Danny had nearly died. No—Danny had technically died a couple of times, so death was too good for Molotov.

"Are you here for Agent Taylor?"

Sam looked up to see a doctor standing in front of her. She tried to read his body language so she could prepare herself for the impending news. Sam heard herself answering, "Yes."

"Are you family?"

"No."

"Then I can't give you information on Agent Taylor's condition," the doctor said.

'Danny's condition', Sam thought that meant Danny was alive. "He doesn't have any family. I work with him." Sam felt tears rolling down her face. Was it too much to know if Danny was going to ok? Was it too much to ask to see him? "Please, I need to know, please….I love him."

Doctor Woodson felt his heart go out to Samantha. She was obviously more than a co-worker to his patient. If he survived his injuries, he was going to need people like that around him. "We managed to repair the collapsed lung, but it did cause huge complications."

Sam felt herself zone out as she heard various medical terms, such as collapsed lung, complications, massive blood loss and irregular heart beat. She was on the verge of tears again, but she had to stay strong for Danny. "Doctor, what are his chances?" Sam asked as she managed to look Doctor Woodson in the eyes. "Please tell me and don't sugar-coat it."

"Not good. I don't know if he will survive the morning."

"Can I see him?" Sam heard herself say, all though she had no idea how she had said it.

"I would prefer-"

"Please," Sam pleaded, "If what you say is true, then I don't want him to die alone. He's already been through enough; he shouldn't have to die alone. Please."

"Ok. But he's unconscious at the moment, and we don't when he will regain consciousness."

"Why?" Sam asked, as she felt slightly stronger. She needed to know the full facts, not that it would be much comfort.

"He has a lot of drugs in his system, and it's going to take a while before they stop affecting him," Doctor Woodson replied.

"I-I just need to make a phone call," Sam said, "To- to the rest of the team, they would want… they need to know that Danny has pulled through surgery." Pulled through surgery sounded positive, not like the reality she was facing…no that Danny was facing, Sam thought.

"I can do that if you would like," Doctor Woodson said.

"Thanks, but they need to hear it from me. I just don't know how I am going to tell them," Sam said as she pulled out her cell phone. Who was she going to tell? Who would ask her the least amount of questions? Normally Jack would ask the most questions, but he found Danny so he knew how bad it was. Due to this, he would probably ask the least amount and he was their boss. Hitting speed dial, she waited.

Jack cursed as his cell phone rang. Who was ringing in the middle of a national crisis? It better not be Maria, he thought. Picking up his phone, he looked at the caller ID and froze. It was Sam. That meant news about Danny. With trembling fingers, he connected the call. "Sam?"

"Jack, Danny's pulled through surgery, but…" Feeling her legs weakening, she quickly sat down. Telling someone else somehow made Danny's condition real—before it was like a day dream. Sam took a deep breath as she struggled to come up with words. The words that would tell Jack that although Danny had pulled through, he was still in a critical condition and they didn't think he would live to see the afternoon. "He's still in a critical condition. They-they don't think he will…live through the morning."

Jack unconsciously tightened his grip on his cell phone. He knew Danny was in a bad way, but this bad? He closed his eyes as he tried to get the image of few hours ago out of his head. "Sam, this is Danny we are talking about. They didn't think he would make to the hospital and he did. They didn't think he would make through surgery and he did. They have based that on an average person in Danny's condition and we all know Danny isn't average. He will pull through; he's too stubborn not to."

"I know Jack. I gotta go."

"Ok, where will you be?" Jack asked, already knowing the answer.

"With Danny," Sam replied.

"As soon as we have finished here…as soon as we can get away, we will be there."

"I know. Bye," Sam said ending the call and then turning back to the doctor. "Can I see him now?"

"Sure, if you follow me," Doctor Woodson said as he started to walk down the mass of corridors towards the ICU. Opening the door, he saw the young woman freeze.

Sam froze. She thought she was prepared for this, but in reality were you ever going to prepared to see someone you love hooked up to all of these machines? Someone you love looking so pale, so still. Danny didn't need weak people around him now; he needed strong people. Trying to gather her strength, she walked across the room towards Danny and sat down next to him. "Hey there Danny," Sam said as she held his hand. "You scared the hell out of me." Gathering more strength, she ran her hand through his hair. "You know, you still own me $5 from that stakeout we did but if you just wake up, I will wipe your debt." Sam paused, "It's ok if you don't wake up now, Danny. Wake up when you feel ready, and I promise someone will be here." Feeling the last three weeks catch up with her, Sam laid down her head next to Danny's and fell asleep.

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FBI HQ NY

"Anywhere in the world?" Molotov asked.

"That's right. A new name, a new face, a new life. Just tell us where Dropshot is, and the US government will set this up for you," Harrington said, watching Molotov as he tried to gauge a reaction.

"So if I tell you Dropshot's location, I get all of that and I will not be prosecuted? What about Malone?" Molotov asked.

"Only a few people will know your new identify, Malone will never know." Harrington paused, "This deal will only go ahead if Dropshot is at the location you have given" as he handed Molotov a piece of paper and a pen.

Molotov started to write on the piece of paper he had just been given and looked up, "Oh he will be there," as he handed it over to Harrington.

Harrington quickly glanced at the paper and pulled out his cell phone, issuing some commands. "As soon as we find Dropshot and if he is at the location you have given us, we will start to create your new identity."

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Mount Sinai Hospital

Martin walked down the corridors towards the ICU. Jack and Viv had to finish up a couple of bit and pieces so they were going to join him later. They had decided rather than fight the pencil pushing maggots, for once they would just agree with them, as none of them needed heat from the pencil pushing maggots from DC. Martin increased his pace as he realised Sam had been here all by herself for several hours--most of which was waiting for news on Danny.

Following the information from one of Danny's torturers, they had found the leader of this terrorist cell and according to his FBI file probably contributed to Danny's injuries. Humanity is the fine line that separates us from our fellow mammals, he thought. Martin had never believed that he would be close to crossing that line, but as he saw Alan 'Dropshot' Hough brought in, he wanted to cross it. Why the hell couldn't they release this Dropshot character Martin thought, so he could that he down a dark alley and beat the crap out of him? It could be instead of one of these mind numbing 'team building' seminars. No, Martin thought, he would send Dropshot to one of the hellhole of prisons under paedophile and traitor charges, and then once Danny was up to it they would all beat the hell out him. Martin stopped himself. His thoughts were scaring him. He realised that he was just a couple a steps away from Dropshot's and Molotov's mentally, or was he. These guys had drugged Danny, killed his brother, tortured him and prepared to kill millions of innocent people as part of a game. No, Martin thought, he wasn't stooping to their level. He just wanted to take revenge from their actions. Finding himself at the ICU, he tried to push malevolent thoughts out of his mind, but seeing Danny like that made it impossible. If anything, it made his thoughts darker.

"Hey."

"Danny," Sam said looking around before her eyes finally settled on Martin. "Oh. Sorry, Martin. I didn't mean it in that way. I was half asleep and thought Danny had woken up." Her eyes returned to look at the still unconscious Danny. He still looked pale, he still looked…

"Has there been any change?" Martin asked pulling Sam out of her disheartening thoughts.

"I don't know. I really don't," Sam said as she stroked Danny's hand, "Martin, he can't die. I don't know what I would do if he did."

"Sam, he won't. He's strong and he will pull through," Martin rested his hand on her shoulder. Since Danny's disappearance, they had grown closer again; the whole team had grown closer. "Sam, you should go home and get some rest."

"I can't leave him. What happens if he wakes up?"

"He won't be alone, if that's what you are worried about. One of us will be with him. Danny needs us awake and healthy, not running ourselves into the ground."

Sam sighed in defeat as she knew Martin was right. "Ok I will go home, but you have to promise me, he won't be alone for second. He doesn't deserve to be alone; he needs to know we are here for him."

Martin nodded he wasn't going to leave Danny, but Sam had been there since they had found him. "I promise. Do you want me to call you a cab?"

"No thanks. It should be pretty easy to catch one," Sam said as stood up, and ran her hand through Danny's hair and kissed his forehead. "See you later Danny. Thanks Martin, for you know… looking out for me," she said as she hugged him.

"No problem, Sam. It there is any change I will phone you."

"You better. See you later," Sam said, taking one last look at Danny before she left the room.

Martin waited until Sam left the room, before he sat down next to Danny. "Hey, man, you have to wake soon, or one of us will commit murder," Martin sighed, "Whenever you're ready Danny, we will be here for you. Sam and Jack have probably already told this but you did good man, you really did. Anyway," Martin said changing the subject "I picked up your car; it's in my apartment's garage. I hope you don't mind… anyway I bought her a cover as I didn't want her paintwork to be damaged."

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FBI HQ NY

Harrington cautiously approached Jack Malone's office, trying to psyche himself up to tell Jack and possibly the rest of his team that their team mate's torturer was given a deal and was going to walk free. Taking a quick glance about after knocking on Jack's door, he stepped inside. Harrington looked around Jack's office and was relatively glad to only see Jack and Vivian Johnson, although Jack was known for his fiery temper and protectiveness over his team, Vivian was the calm one.

Jack looked up. "You better be coming in here with good news. Such as Molotov and Dropshot are dead/ have terminal diseases or are going to Saudi Arabia on pedophile changes."

Harrington looked nervously at his feet and then around the room for an escape route because he would certainly need them once he had told them this information. "You know Alan 'Dropshot' Hough has been on the FBI's most wanted list for several years."

"Yes and your point is?" Viv said as she took a step towards Harrington.

"Well-well, for the purpose of national, sorry, international security, we needed this guy. I mean he's on the watch list for the CIA, NSA, MI6, MI5, FSB, and MOSSAD, you name it he's on their list. You have to understand. We are in time when we need our allies to fight terrorism," Harrington said still looking around.

"Harrington, where the hell are you going with this? Just cut to the chase," Jack said barely stopping himself from yelling at this protocol-following weasel.

Harrington continued to look at his feet. He was in the FBI building where there were still a lot of people around. Jack was mad, but he surely wasn't mad enough to attack him here. Harrington shuddered. He was safe now, but that didn't stop Jack or one of his team from beating the crap out him once he had left the office. It would just look like a random mugging. Also, he got the impression that Danny Taylor was very popular at the New York office so he doubted he would receive much help from them. But he thought it would be safer to tell Jack straight off rather than let Jack hear it from a second or third hand source. If things got too hairy, he could always blame it on Washington. "To get Dropshot, we had to give Molotov a deal."

"What?" Viv and Jack said together. Viv felt Jack rapidly approaching Harrington and pulled him back.

"Jack he's not worth it." But Jack continued to walk towards Harrington, "Jack, the team needs you…… Danny needs you. We don't want to be dealing with some pointless weasel. He's not worth it."

Jack listened to Viv. She was right. They needed to stick together, for their sakes and they needed to stick together for Danny. "What kind of deal, Harrington?"

Harrington backed up towards the door and took a deep breath. "Full immunity and a new identity."

"What!" Viv exclaimed, "This is the same guy who not only was part of a terrorist cell planning a bio attack on New York but also tortured an FBI agent."

"You better start praying that Danny survives, because if he doesn't pull through. I will avenge his death," Jack added

"Look I am not happy about it, but I got a call from Washington. There was nothing I could do," Harrington paused, "I like Martin Taylor. He's a good kid."

"No, you don't--you Washington ass-kissing weasel--because if you did, you would know his name is DANNY Taylor. And even though he's one of the best agents I have ever had the honour of working with, his name won't gain you places in DC." Jack said as he continued to threaten and intimidate Harrington.

Viv approached Harrington and in her calmness and coldest voice she spoke to him. "Everyone has a dark side. It's just some people are more in touch with their dark side than others. If Danny dies, this team will develop a very close relationship with their dark side."

Harrington backed out of the door, "Jack I really hope Danny is ok. I didn't want to make the deal, but I had to. I have to go."

Jack watched with vague amusement as Harrington shot of his office and towards the elevator. He turned to Viv, "The little-" words failed him. The team needed to stick together and that included him not losing his cool. "Do you think I scared him?"

Viv smiled. At least Jack got to vent some of his anger. "I don't think you scared him enough."

"Viv I'm headed off to the hospital. Do you want a lift?"

"No thanks," Viv responded, "I will take the next shift. When he comes around, he probably wouldn't want to be crowded."

"Ok then, I will see you in a couple of hours."

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Mount Sinai Hospital

Jack sat in the darken ICU room, reading various intelligence documents about Alan 'Dropshot' Hough. About how many people who had become victims of his work and had died, but Danny wasn't going to become one of those statistics. Danny was a fighter. He had proved that on several previous occasions, and he had more than proved that last night. Putting down the report, Jack turned towards Danny, squeezing his hand he began to talk.

"Danny I know you are tired and in pain, but you have to fight ok, you have to dig deep. You can't let those animals win. Danny you're a hero, you saved millions of lives. That's why you can't give up; if you do I don't know what it will do to the team." Jack's voice softened to a near whisper, "I don't know what it will do to me."

"You know it's not your fault," a voice called out from behind him.

"Then why does it feel like it is?" Jack said turning towards the voice to see Viv. "I should have protected him; at the very least I should have found him sooner."

"Jack!" Viv exclaimed, "You can't protect them from everything. They know the risks of the job. We followed every lead. Even now, we know where and who held Danny. It was difficult to connect the dots."

"Viv, don't make excuses for me. I should have pushed Van Doran more to keep on the case. I should have still kept on investigating after we were pulled off the case."

"Jack it's not your fault. You did everything you could," Viv said, but she knew it was falling on deaf ears, as she was feeling the same and no one could convince her to feel otherwise.

Jack had turned to face Danny again when he started talking again. "You know on paper he wasn't on top of my list."

Viv looked puzzled. She had no idea where this conversion was going, but managed to respond. "No, I didn't."

Jack started again. "There were other people with multiple degrees, years of experience etc, but something told me to give this kid a chance that he was the right one. I remember how hard he worked during the trial period, how many times I found him asleep at his desk. I remember when I told him, he got the job," Jack smiled.

"I remember that." Viv said "He was so terrified, but when he came out of your office I thought he was going to pass out. Once he got over the initial shock, he was so happy."

Jack felt himself smile again, he had known Danny was 'the one' from the early stages of his trial period but what had sold it was Hannah and Kate's reactions to Danny; it was a small but effective acid test.

5 years ago

Jack looked up from his paperwork and gasped, it was 10:00pm. He hadn't realised the time, especially when Hannah and Kate were at the office. He quickly packed up his paperwork and walked at of his office. He wasn't surprised to see Danny Taylor still working at this hour. But the two figures surrounding Danny brought a smile to his face. Kate was fast asleep on Danny's lap with her head resting on his shoulder. While Hannah was asleep on the floor with Danny's coat wrapped around her. Jack slowly walked towards them and tapped Danny on the shoulder. Danny nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Jack, I'm sorry she just crawled on to my lap and fell asleep. I tried to move her, but she wrapped her arms around my neck and wouldn't let go. I am really sorry Jack."

"Danny, Danny relax. Kate trusts you, she only does that to people who she really trusts. So far, that group includes my wife and me, and now you." Jack said smiling at the startled Danny Taylor, "Did Hannah nick your coat as well?"

"No, she was tired and about to fall asleep and I didn't want her to get cold." Danny replied.

"Danny will you do me a favour and carry Kate down to my car"

"No problem" Danny said, as he carefully stood up. Picking his jacket up Danny draped it around Kate's small frame and started to walk towards the elevator. As he stepped out of the elevator into the parking lot he felt the icily cold wind whip around him, Danny felt relieved that he had draped his jacket around Kate. "Which one is your car?" Danny asked Jack looking around, not that there were many cars left.

"This one here" Jack said approaching a blue ford sedan. After strapping Hannah in, Jack took Kate from Danny and strapped her in. "Thanks, Danny. So are you heading home now?" He asked.

"I thought I would head back and finish off a bit of paper work, try and make some headway." Danny replied.

"Nice try." Jack said, as he handed Danny's coat and jacket back to him, "I have called a cab for you. And don't even try to come back before 9 o' clock tomorrow morning, I have told the security guards not to let you in. Go home and get some sleep, you need it."

"Jack! I'm fine; I will do some paper work then drive home." Danny argued.

"Danny, I don't want a phone call in a couple hours telling me that you have been in a car crash. So quit arguing, get in that cab and I will see you tomorrow."

Danny sighed in defeat, it was pointless arguing with Jack and he was tried, maybe a few hours sleep would make the paper work disappear. In my dreams, Danny thought. "Goodnight." Danny said as he walked towards the cab.

Jack watched as cab disappeared into the night. He would talk to Van Doran tomorrow and try to persuade her that he didn't want the trial period that he had already made his decision; he wanted Danny Taylor on his team.

Back to present

Jack smiled at his memory. But his expression turned glum as he was drawn back to reality. "Viv, how I am going to tell him about Molotov when I don't know how I am going to tell Sam and Martin?" He paused, "DC as usual gets want they want, and we are left to pick up the pieces."

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Viv looked at Danny and sighed there had been no change in his condition, the doctors still didn't hold much hope that Danny would pull through. But what did they know; they had already been wrong three times. They had thought he wouldn't make to the hospital, and then they had thought he wouldn't make through surgery and he had. Now it been over 24 hours since Danny had been brought in and he was still fighting. Jack was right. How were they going to tell Danny about Molotov's deal? It wasn't fair that Danny had escaped and had prevented a terrorist attack and he was fighting for his life, while Molotov had planned a terrorist attack and tortured Danny, yet he was getting a new life.

It was true that this event had pulled the team closer together and they were understandably concerned about Danny, but she had been slightly surprised by other peoples concern. It had taken her nearly half an hour to leave the office as she had been stopped by nearly everyone in the office, who had been asking after Danny. She felt herself slightly smile as she thought of the rest of the New York office finding out about Molotov's deal.

In the darkness, Danny heard a voice, a female voice talking him. This confused him; he didn't remember any women where he was being held and why was she addressing him by his name. Maybe she was his mother, no it couldn't his mother, as she would of beaten him by now if he hadn't woken up. He lay there thinking. His mother was dead so maybe he was dead. Danny felt slightly relived, so Molotov had gone to far this time. But as he continued to listen to the voice, it was familiar but it wasn't his mother's. It was soothing and concerned. It was telling him not to worry and everyone was there for him. Danny struggled to remember where he had heard that voice, and then he remembered it was Viv. Viv was nice; Viv wouldn't play tricks on him. A horrifying thought hit him, maybe Molotov and his crew had taken her as well in which case he had to wake up and protect her from these animals. He struggled to open his eyes, but they felt so heavy. He felt Viv holding his hand, he squeezed it back.

Viv felt him squeeze her hand, "Danny?"

TBC