As always huge thank you to my beta anmodo for making this possible. Also thanks to everyone that has reviewed.
Disclaimers see chapter 1
Chapter 9
"Danny?" Viv said, as she wrapped her other hand around Danny's, "It's ok sweetie, your going to be alright. Just open those big brown eyes for me."
Viv watched and waited, as she saw Danny's eyes slowly begin to flutter open. His eyes finally opened but were sliding in and out of focus, as he tried to find something to focus on.
Slowly and gently, Viv placed her hand on Danny's cheek and turned his face towards hers—giving him something to focus on. "Hey there, Danny. It's Viv. You're in hospital, but everything is going to be ok."
Danny finally managed to open his eyes, but now felt as though he was on a boat in a storm, as the room span violently and refused to focus. He thought he could hear the same soothing, concerned voice talking to him, but his senses continued to fluctuate making it impossible to focus on anything. Feeling a soft, gentle hand turn his head, he saw something and managed to focus on it. "Viv?" He asked hoarsely.
"That's right sweetie", Viv smiled. Danny was going to be ok, she thought. "Sweetie, you're in hospital, but everything is going to ok."
Danny breathed a sigh of relief; at least those animals hadn't captured Viv as well. He was confused; he didn't know how he had gotten to the hospital. Maybe they had dumped him or maybe the team had rescued him. Oh god, he thought, Raphi was dead and they had planted evidence that would suggest he was the murderer. His thoughts plunged him into a whirlpool of emotions. How could he be so selfish when Viv could have been hurt? His brother was dead and—
Danny panicked as he remembered about the terrorist attack. Why the hell couldn't he stop screwing up? "V-viv, there's going to be a bio-terrorist attack on New York," he said as he closed his eyes, trying to block out the pain. Why was he so weak and pathetic, he continued to ask himself?
"I know. You told Jack and Sam when you were at the office," Viv said as she ran her hand through Danny's hair hoping she could reassure him. "You did good. You really did. Danny, you're a hero and you saved millions of innocent men, women and children throughout the world."
Danny looked at Viv in confusion. He was a hero? He didn't believe it. He had saved millions of people? He couldn't have. He had been in the office with Jack and Sam, and had told them about the terrorist attack? If he couldn't remember these events, what else couldn't he remember? What had he told Molotov or Dropshot? He wasn't worthy of Viv's pity or anyone else's sympathy for that matter. He would leave the hospital, so Viv and the rest of the team could get on with their lives and not have to deal with the screw up that he was. Danny struggled to sit up but found this simple action nearly caused him to pass out. He closed his eyes as the room started to spin violently again.
"Danny, you need to rest," Viv said as she ran her hand through Danny's hair. Seeing Danny so anxious like this, remembering how close they had come to losing him, imagining the hell he had been through, Viv had to hold back the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes.
"I didn't kill Raphi; I swear I didn't kill him," Danny said, almost begging Viv to believe him. He could cope that they thought he was worthless, pathetic and a screw up. But he couldn't cope with the fact that they believed he murdered his brother, his own flesh and blood.
"Oh Danny, you don't honestly think that we thought you did it," Viv said unable to know what to think. Should she be angry that Danny had so little faith, so little trust in them? Or should she agonize over the fact that Danny had been through such hell that he believed that they would think he had murdered his brother.
"But the evidence… they said, t-they said that it was concrete. A closed case," Danny said shaking. He felt so tired and the pain shooting through his body made him feel nauseous. But he needed to make sure that Viv knew he didn't kill Raphi. He needed to tell Viv he wasn't this 'hero' that she believed he was; that he was a pathetic screw-up.
Viv slightly tightened her grip around Danny's hand, as she watched the younger agent's torment. He didn't need this; he needed to rest, she rapidly tried to think of something to comfort him. "Danny, no one at the FBI believed you did it. Yes, the evidence was damning but Jack, myself, Sam, Martin, Rick Freedman and his team pushed the NYPD forensic unit everyday to recheck the evidence," Viv said pausing, she would tell Danny the short version of their battle to clear Danny's name, just to reassure him that his name had been cleared and that no one ever believed he was his brother's murderer. "Anyway to make a long story short, they finally found some evidence that suggested the 'evidence' had been planted. Danny, we know you were never there. We know you would never hurt let alone kill your brother. It's not in your character," Viv stopped as she watched Danny relax slightly, but he struggled to keep his eyes open. Placing her hand on his cheek, Viv rubbed her thumb across it. "Don't fight it Danny, you need to rest. I promise someone will be here for you when you wake up. I promise."
So his name had been cleared, Danny thought as he felt relieved, not that he deserved to. He had deserved the treatment that Dropshot, Molotov and their crew had given him. He deserved it. He had to tell Viv this; he didn't want them to live a lie. The lie in which he was this glorious hero who had saved the innocent. No, he didn't want the people he loved to believe this. Maybe after he had told them why he was a screw up, they would leave him alone – not that he really wanted them to. He loved them; he loved the way that they cared about each other, the way in which a family should. But he didn't deserve it. His parents had told him that and the many foster and group homes had said the same. He needed to tell Viv this but he was just too exhausted. He would ring one of them tomorrow after he had discharged himself. Molotov was right…he was worthless, Danny thought, as he closed his eyes and gave into the battle.
Viv smiled as she watched Danny finally succumb to his battle against sleep. She never thought that this young, hot-headed agent would have such an affect on her. Danny was one of the most complex people she had ever met. There were so many layers to him. The more you got to know him and the more he trusted you, then he would peel off one more layer. But always holding back, as if to protect himself. Sam was right. Danny didn't deserve to be left alone, and he hadn't deserved any of what happened to him. She couldn't turn back time, but she could correct the present. She wouldn't leave him alone. Stepping away from Danny slightly, she pulled out her cell phone, and heard it ring a couple of times before it was answered.
"Malone," the voice responded
"Jack, its Viv."
"Is Danny alright?" Jack asked slightly panicking, as he knew Danny was still in a critical condition.
"Yes, he woke up."
"He woke up." Jack said repeating Viv's last words as he tried to make them sink in. Once they sunk in, he allowed himself the first genuine smile in weeks. In truth, it was the first genuine smile since Danny had gone missing three long weeks ago. "So he's going to be ok."
"I don't know. It's too early to tell. But I think, physically, he's going to fine, emotionally, I don't know." Viv paused, "We know what they did to Danny physically but we have no idea what they did to him mentally and that is going to be the hard part, getting Danny to open up."
Jack sighed. Words could not describe how relieved he was that Danny was going to be 'physically' ok, but he knew what Viv said was true. The hard part was going to get Danny to open up to them. "He will, Viv. It may just take some time." Just how much time, Jack thought?
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Sam sat staring at Jack, unconsciously twirling a pen in her fingers; Jack had just told them that Danny had woken up. The last three weeks had been hell for her, but the last 24 hours had been a blur. It had started with a phone call and seeing Danny in that state. It had been followed with endless hours of waiting either in the hospital or trying to sleep at her apartment. As she had found it impossible to sleep, she had come to work to find Martin followed by Jack pouring over mountains of paperwork. The tension was made worse by endlessly concerned people asking after Danny. Couldn't they just ask each other about Danny's condition, she thought? She knew she was being harsh but she, like the rest of the team, was having a hard time dealing with it. But now that Danny had woken up, Sam wouldn't care if those concerned people asked her about Danny. "So he's going to be ok?" Sam asked apprehensively.
"It's a bit to early to say, but all signs are looking good," Jack answered.
"Can I go and see him?" Sam asked
Jack looked at Sam. Even if he said 'no', she still would go. "Sure. Say hi from me and that I will see him later."
Sam was up and grabbing her things before Jack had finished. She needed to see Danny awake with her own two eyes. Then and only then, would she believe that things would be ok. "Ok. Sure. I will see you later," she said as she practically ran towards the elevator.
Sam had no idea how or how long it took her to get to the hospital. She was sure that she would have couple of speeding tickets. But right now, she didn't care; the only thing she cared about right now was in this hospital, she thought as she sprinted through the hospital corridors. She paused once she reached Danny's room and tried to collect herself. Slowly and quietly, Sam opened the door. "Hey Viv, I got here as soon as Jack told us. How is he?"
Viv smiled at the slightly out of breath Sam, and stroked Danny's forehead. "He's going to be fine. He's our Danny and he's a fighter. Aren't you, sweetie," Viv said directing her last comment to Danny.
"Yes he is," Sam said as she approached Viv and Danny.
"So you're taking over the 'Danny watch'?" Viv asked
"Yeah, if that's ok with you," Sam replied as she held Danny's hand.
"Sure as long as you look after him," Viv said as got up from the cold, uncomfortable chair. "Do you want me to get you anything?"
"No, I am fine thanks."
"Right, see you later Sam," Viv said as she bent down and kissed Danny on the cheek. "See you later, sweetie."
Sam sat down next to Danny and watched Viv's retreating form, and then she turned her attention to Danny. "I guess your debts to me are wiped clean. Anyway, I am going to shut up now and not disturb you."
Still holding Danny's hand in hers, she took a book out and started to read. Sam didn't know how long she had been reading, or trying to read before she felt his hand move. She quickly turned to see an awake Danny. "Hey there."
Danny looked at Sam through sleep hazed eyes, "Sam?"
Sam smiled as she stroked Danny's forehead, "Yeah Danny it's me. How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine," Danny said quickly taking a breath as he tried to control the pain. He looked away from Sam, she so beautiful and intelligent why would she be here? Then he remembered she was under the false assumption that he was a hero. Because of his weakness, he hadn't told Viv that he wasn't a hero, that he has deserved the torture, because he basically killed his brother. He was dangerous to be around, anyone that came in contact with him died. He didn't want Sam to die as well; he had to push her away – for her own safety. He would tell her how he had caused his parents deaths, and then she would understand. He loved her, but like with Viv, he didn't want her to live a lie. "Sam you don't want to be around me. I deserved everything I got. It was my fault my brother died and it was my fault my parents died. I don't want you to die as well because of me!"
"Danny what are you talking about?" Sam said
"My parents died because of me. If I had just shut up and let them argue they would still be alive, so would Raphi. You don't want to be around me Sam. You're too good a person to hang around me. I love you Sam, but I don't want to put you in danger because of me." Danny said as he tried to persuade Sam to leave.
What Danny was saying shocked Sam to the core. How could he think that he killed his family? Even worse, how could he think he deserved everything he got? "Danny!" She said as sat on the bed and looked at him. "No one deserved what happened to you, least of all you. You didn't kill your parents or Raphi. And the whole time you were missing—well they were the worst three weeks of my life. I want to be with you, not because someone is forcing me, but because you're the best friend I have ever had. You have saved my life on countless occasions."
"Sam you don't understand. I killed my parents," Danny paused and tried to control the flashbacks he got when he thought of the crash. "My mother was killed instantly. But my father was alive for while. He blamed me. He told me that I killed everyone around me. His final words were, 'It's your fault Danny. You killed your mother. I hope you're proud."
Sam felt tears running down her face. She knew Danny's parents died when he was a kid. But this... How, she thought, how could you blame an 11 year child for the dead of his mother when you were driving? She thought of what Danny said how his father blamed him after the crash; did that mean he had been trapped in the car? "Danny it wasn't your fault. You were a kid. There was nothing you do."
"Then why did my father blame me, Sam. Why?"
"Because he was scared, Danny, he was scared. Were you trapped in the car?" Sam said in the gentlest voice possible.
"Yes, for about—" Danny took another deep breath and closed his eyes. Why couldn't he stop the flashbacks? He felt Sam's hand on his shoulder and tried to pull back. He didn't deserve her sympathy. He didn't deserve her concern. "I was trapped in there for about 5 hours. My father died after 4 hours."
"Oh Danny!" Sam said. She wanted to hug him and tell him everything was going to be ok, but once she tried to make physical contact to comfort him, he pulled back. She felt more tears fall down her face, as she thought of an 11 year old Danny Taylor trapped in a car with his parents bodies, after his father had blamed the death of his mother on him.
"Sam, don't cry for me. Shed your tears for something worth while, not for me." Danny said as he wiped Sam's tears away with his thumb.
"Danny you are the kindness, most considerate person I have ever met. If anyone is worthy of my compassion, it's you. You have always been there for me. Remember the time, when I first started at the FBI and my car broke down. It was four o' clock in the morning and pouring down rain and I called you. I didn't realise the time, but you drove out to the middle of nowhere and picked me up. You took me home, cooked me a hot meal and sorted out my car. Danny you're the best person I have ever met," Sam said in-between tears.
"I am sorry, Sam I am really am." Danny felt his eyes droop; damn, he thought, why was he so weak? Why couldn't he stay awake? But at least he told Sam why he was worthless. He felt so guilty that he had reduced Sam to tears, but it was better this way. She would leave him alone and be safe.
Sam watched and saw fatigue sweep over Danny; she knew she had to persuade him that he was great, that he didn't kill his family, that he hadn't deserved the torture. But she also knew that it would take more that a 5 minute conversation and Danny was tired he needed to rest. "Danny rest ok, just shut your eyes and rest."
He heard Sam's comforting words, he didn't deserve them but he was too tired to argue. He shut his eyes as slipped into a not so peaceful slumber.
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Danny sat up and listened; slowly he swung his legs over the side of the bed and listened again. When he was sure he couldn't hear anyone coming, he started to pull the IV line out of his hand. This was his chance to leave them; at least he had told Sam why he was worthless, why he was a danger to them. So once they found out he had discharged himself, they would understand and not worry.
Martin felt as though he was rooted to the spot as he watched the scene in front of him unfold. Forcing his body to move, he quickly crossed the room and grabbed Danny's hand. "Danny!" But Danny didn't look up, or give Martin any sign that he had heard. "Danny!" He repeated as he tried to get a reaction.
Danny slowly looked at whatever had stopped him from pulling out the IV line. "Martin, leave me alone."
At last, Martin thought, at last he had gotten a reaction. "Danny, leave it," he said looking at Danny, noticing that Danny quickly looked away. "Danny, are you alright?" But got no response, apart from Danny staring at the corner of the room, as if there was something of immense importance there. He looked at the corner and found nothing. It was then Martin realised he was gradually taking more and more of Danny's weight. "Hey, man just lean back ok."
Danny buried his face in the pillows. He felt so embarrassed. He had been caught trying to leave and then he had virtually collapsed. Was it possible to endure anymore humiliation? He mumbled an apology to the pillow.
"What for, man?" Martin replied.
"You know, for being a jerk, screwing up, everything," Danny said, still to the pillow as he was unable to face anyone these days. He couldn't look anyone in the eyes anymore, due to the fear that they would see the true 'Danny Taylor', a weak person who had given up and nearly let millions die.
Martin looked at Danny, sure he had been a bit of jerk when he first started, but in all honesty, if he had been in Danny's shoes he probably would have done the same. When people in the office had been discussing Danny's escape and how they could never have done it, Martin felt proud like the rest of the team to say 'yeah and he's my friend'. So he told Danny all of this.
"Martin can you not tell Jack or anyone else about this?"
"About what?" Martin replied
"You know, me trying to leave and everything."
"Sorry man. I have no idea what you're talking about; I have a really bad memory." Martin said
"Thanks"
Sensing that Danny probably didn't want to talk about anything about how he was or what happened, he changed the subject. "So anyway I picked up your car. It's beautiful. I feel inclined to sell my SUV, 'cause your car is a serious chick magnet."
"I told you so. Your car is practical but my car is fast, powerful, sexy… "
Danny stopped, "Hey Martin thanks for picking her up. I bet she's got a flat battery."
"No she doesn't I ran the engine everyday for a few minutes. Its not as good as a drive, but it keeps the battery turning over." Martin said as, he and Danny continued talking about cars.
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As Jack entered Danny's room, he paused. This was the moment he was dreading. The moment that he would have to tell his agent that his torturer had been freed and had been placed in the witness protection program. This was so unfair; Molotov should die for what he did to Danny. Jack ran his hand through his hair as he tried to think of how he was going to break this latest piece of information to Danny. He already had held it for long enough. He had chickened out a few times, but this had to end now. "Hey, Danny, the doctor said you could be released in a week and you will be back at work soon."
"Jack, you and the team would be better off without me. You guys are brilliant and strong, you don't need a screw up like me. All I will do is bring OPR investigations each time I screw up, which is most days."
Jack knew Molotov had come close to breaking Danny, but he was unsure how close. It had become apparent over the past week that it had been very close. "Danny what are you talking about? I need you on my team. Sure, you make mistakes, but I hate to break it to you, you're human. You will make mistakes. I screw up, so does Sam, Martin, Viv and every other human being on this planet! And the small mistakes you make are more than made up for by the rest of your work. Danny, I need you on my team!"
"But Jack, I am too weak."
Jack knew Danny was referring to his mental state, but chose to ignore it. "Well a collapsed lung and blood loss tends to do that to you," Jack paused. He had to tell Danny now. The longer he left it, the worse it would be. "Danny I have to tell you something. It's going to be hard."
Danny quickly glanced up at Jack. This is where he tells me that I have lost my job, he thought.
"It's about Molotov." He paused as he watched Danny reaction, but saw none so he continued. "The NSC deemed a person called Alan 'Dropshot' Hough to be a huge threat to international security, so in order to get to Dropshot, they had to… they had to give Molotov a deal. He's in the witness protection program." He waited for a reaction.
Danny felt numb; he didn't know what to do. "Figured that, Molotov always seemed to be the second in command, while Dropshot always seemed to be the leader. The NSC was right, Molotov had some humanity, and Dropshot had none."
Jack looked at Danny in disbelief. He had no idea how Danny would react to the new but this wasn't one. He should be yelling it was unfair or crying or well having some form of reaction to the news. "You met Dropshot? Jack asked
"Yeah, a couple of times. He was a complete psycho, but hey what I am going to do about?"
Danny was taking the news so calmly it scared him. Molotov and Dropshot did more damage than Jack had thought.
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Danny heard a knock on the door and saw Rick Freedman entered. He knew the guy fairly well, but couldn't understand why he would visit him in hospital, unless like everyone else he felt obliged. "Hey Rick, is there anything I can help you with?"
Rick walked in and sat next to Danny. He didn't want to do this but the NSC monkeys wanted a full report. Well Rick thought he would give them a semi full report, Danny's part making it a 'semi full report'. Didn't they understand the hell Danny had been through. No, of course they didn't. Once Danny was ok then and only then would the NSC receive a full report. He also valued his life. "Hey, look I am really sorry Danny, but I have to ask you a couple of questions about what happened. Seriously if I had a choice in the matter this wouldn't be happening, but the bastards at the NSC want it."
"I understand Rick. Seriously, don't worry about it," Danny said as he tried to pull himself together to answer Rick's questions. "Can I ask why you are questioning me?"
Rick winced at Danny's question, questioning sounded too much like Danny was a suspect. "Van Doran took Jack and everyone off your case, and assigned it to my team."
"Oh right."
"If you feel tired, or don't feel you can answer some of the questions, please tell me. Please Danny or your team will kill me. Do you want to start; it will be only a couple of questions." Rick said looking at Danny in concern
"I'm fine" Danny said looking down.
Rick looked at Danny, you're anything but fine, he thought. But you will be if your team has anything to do with it. Rick thought his team was close but this was nothing compared to Jack's team. Danny's disappearance had, if possible, brought them closer together. He had seen all of them stand up to the top dogs of the FBI, CIA you name it, to protect Danny. Rick pulled himself out of his thoughts to start the questions. "Can you remember what time you left the FBI building on the 27th October?"
"I guess it was about 9-10 is. I left with Sam. Then we went to a Thai place," Danny answered, thinking hard as he tried to remember the last time he felt vaguely happy.
"Ok, what time did you and Sam separate?" Rick asked as he watched Danny carefully, he didn't want to anymore further damage.
"I don't know maybe 11. Then I got on the subway to my apartment. "Danny thought, "I do remember feeling tired once I got to my apartment. But not a normal tiredness, it was as if I had been drugged."
Rick raised an eyebrow, this is what they had suspected that Danny had been drugged, but it was interesting that Danny had felt the affects of the drug before the apartment. The question was where and how was he drugged. "Apart from the Thai place did you stop anywhere on the way back?"
"Not that I can remember. I'm sorry. I'm not been much help." Danny said
"No Danny you have been a great help. That's it for now, but if you think of anything, anything at all, call me." Rick said as he got up, "It's good to have you back."
Danny watched Rick begin to leave, he had to know. "Rick what was the number?"
Rick turned and looked at Danny in confusion. "What number?" He asked.
"My case number." Danny replied.
"7A NY 34739" Rick replied without hesitation, he was unlikely to forget that number in a hurry. He didn't ask why for he knew if it been him, he would of wanted to know. "Get some rest Danny, and I will see you later."
Danny watched Rick leave and unconsciously rubbed his arm where the tattoo had been. Five numbers he thought, five numbers that would mean nothing to one person, but were destroying him.
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An agent Martin knew by face but not by name approached him whilst he was getting a much needed coffee refill, and handed him a file.
"I think you will find this useful," the agent said, and walked away before Martin had a chance to respond.
Putting down his coffee mug, Martin opened the file. He quickly looked at the contents of the file. As the information slowly registered, he found himself headed for the bullpen at a near run, his coffee mug long since forgotten. As he approached the team, he tried to appear as calm as possible, so not to draw any unnecessary attention. "Guys, I think you should see this" Martin said softly indicating to the file, "but not here."
Jack glanced at the file and then at Martin's determined face. "My office, now," Jack said summoning his team to his office. As he walked towards his office he tried to think what file would have got Martin so excited yet nervous at the same time. He had an idea, but quickly dismissed it. No he thought that idea would be a dream come true. When they got into the office, it was Sam who spoke first.
"Martin, what's the matter? What's in that file?" She asked indicating to the file that Martin held tightly in his hand.
"Well I was getting coffee and-"
"The short version, please." Viv said
"It's Molotov's new identity, location, well everything really." Martin said excitedly. He had wanted two things to happen this month. Firstly to find Danny alive, which had barely happened and secondly to find the people that had tortured his friend. With this information, the second thing could now happen. The question was, once they had found Molotov – now James Clayton – what would they do to him?
Jack smiled, so his dream was coming true. Because no one, just no one would get away with what they did to Danny. "Not that I care, but how did you get this information?"
"Well as I was saying, I was getting coffee and this agent who I have seen around but for the life of me can't remember his name. Anyway he came up to me and handed over this file, telling me that I may find it useful. Before I could question him, he was gone." Martin said quickly.
"I guess the question is now, what do we do with this information?"
Everyone in that room looked down, they all knew what they wanted to do but was it the right thing? They all knew they wanted tear Molotov limb from limb, but was it the right thing for Danny? They all wanted Molotov to die in the most painful way possible but was it the right thing for Danny?
Martin spoke up, "I guess the only person, who has the right to decide is Danny. It was his hell, his torment; he should be the one who should decide how to end it."
"You're right." Jack said, thinking what they were all thinking. That Danny wasn't dealing with it now, this could be the issue that would either break him or start to heal him. "I'll go talk to him now." Jack picked up his coat and quickly left the office.
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Jack walked towards Danny's room pausing before he entered. If it was possible Danny looked worse than before; he looked thinner, paler, he had large dark circles under his eyes. He knew Danny wasn't sleeping or eating. He barely drank. They needed to get through to him, to get Danny to believe that he didn't deserve the torture, that it wasn't his fault before it destroyed him. "Morning," Jack said as he entered the room.
Danny looked up and saw Jack. "Morning," he responded and he tried to give Jack a small smile. He knew the team and everyone was making a conscious effort to see him, but he didn't understand why. He had deserved every bad thing that happened in his life, especially the torture he had endured.
"How are you feeling?" Jack said almost filching at the sight of Danny's haunted eyes. Gone was the man with a twinkle in his eyes and warm easy smile. The two characters were so different it was as if they had taken Danny Taylor and replaced him with the person sitting in front of him. He wanted to yell at Danny, tell him that he wasn't 'fine', that it was ok to ask for help, but that would push Danny farther into his shell.
"I'm fine" Danny said unenthusiastically, quickly looking away from Jack's eyes. He couldn't look into Jack's eyes or anyone else's for that matter. They say the eyes are the window into a person's soul, if anyone looked into his eyes, they would see the weakness, and they would see the cracks.
"Danny it's not your fault," Jack said as he sat on the bed facing Danny. He knew he had he get through to him, knowing that he'd snap sooner or later. The question was when? The longer Danny kept his emotions bottled up, the worse the break down would be. "It's not your fault." Jack watched as Danny tried to look away, as he tried to keep his armour intact. "You didn't deserve it Danny."
What was Jack trying to do, Danny thought, as he fought to try and keep it together? But he slowly felt himself cracking, as if his emotions were held behind a dam which was slowly disintegrating. He heard Jack repeating that it wasn't his fault and that he hadn't deserved the torture. He didn't know how much longer he could keep it together, as he felt a lone tear streak down his face. He felt Jack put his hand on his shoulder and heard him continue to repeat that it wasn't his fault and that he hadn't deserved it. Danny felt the dam break; he lost what he believed was his last grasp of dignity. He felt tears freely fall down his face as he let the events of the last month catch up. He felt Jack pulling him closer. He felt his body shake as he rested his head on Jack's shoulder.
Jack watched as he saw Danny's armour finally cracking, as the long over due tears fell. Jack expected to feel resistances as he pulled Danny closer but was surprised to find none. "It's ok Danny, its ok" Jack said as he felt Danny's head rest against his shoulder, "That's right, Danny, let it all out."
TBC?
This fanfic was originally going to be about five chapters and about 7000 words, its now nine chapters and about 25000 words. Anyway this maybe the last chapter, I am still debating whether or not I should write another final chapter. Please review and say.