1What We've All Been Waiting For

Chapter 23. They've found Danny, but will they get him out in time? And when they do, what happens next? Shoutouts to those of you who have reviewed. R&R.

"Danny..." Arielle breathed his name out loud and with undeniable relief as she swept to his side. "Oh my... God, what the hell happened to you?"

"What are you talking about? I... I've never looked better..." he tried to joke.

"I-"

"Arielle!" Aiden called, and she turned around to see a stocky, sweaty man behind the door. Without a word, he struck her, and she fell back into the wall. He turned to Arielle, who dashed towards him and pinned him to the door, but after a second she stumbled back in obvious pain- the man had hit her in the gut.

"Arielle!" Danny called weakly from his position on the bed. He grimaced as his wrists were chafed and cut even more by the chains. He used his remaining strength to think, Come on, Arielle, get up. Get out of here...

Arielle stood, bracing herself, as the man jerked Aiden up by her hair. He had no time to hit her again, because Arielle threw herself at him, throwing him backward and making him lose his grip on her. Aiden rushed to Danny's side and, with some work, got his hands free, then his legs. She helped him up and said, "Arielle, let's go! Backup's coming!"

Arielle ran to help, as the man lay more or less unconscious on the ground. Together, they helped Danny out of the house and into the car, where Arielle got into the front seat and drove away, with a squeal of tires.

It was a while before Aiden said shakily, "Stop speeding, Arielle."

"I'm not speeding." Arielle floored the accelerator.

"You're speeding, slow down-"

"I'm not slowing down, Aiden."

Suddenly, a white car came out of nowhere, doing the same speed as Arielle. She looked to her side to see the car careening back and forth, swinging around and smacking them in the side with full force.

Arielle screamed as the car lost control and spun into the park. The grass sloped down, and it was a wonder the car didn't turn over, but nonetheless they were thrown around as it slowed down and hit one of the trees, denting in the side door. Arielle let go of the steering wheel, quaking, slowly brushing her hair away from her face. There was an angry red mark on her cheek about to bruise, and her arm throbbed. Aiden had a gash on her arm, and Danny was silent. "Danny?" Arielle whispered, her lips trembling with the words. "Is he okay?"

"Danny." Aiden slowly opened the door and got out, looking into the back. "Oh my God... Danny!"

He was unconscious, bleeding and bruised. Aiden pried open the car door to get to him, and Arielle bounded out of the car onto the other side. "Oh my God, it's all my fault," she gasped at the sight of Danny there. "Aiden, I killed him, it's my fault..."

"Don't be stupid, you didn't kill him," Aiden said fiercely as she bent over him. "He'll be okay... don't just stand there, do something!"

Arielle saw three men get out of the other car and head towards them. Slowly she said, "Aiden..."

"Arielle, there's no time-"

A shot echoed, bouncing off the rear door, and they both ducked. Arielle pulled out her gun and shouted, "NYPD! Put the gun down!"

They came closer, still poised to fire. "Stop!" she screamed, and pulled the trigger.

Click.

"Oh no..." She pulled again. Nothing. Not a bullet. Just a click. "Dammit! Aiden-"

"I got nothing!" Aiden said. "And Danny's empty!"

Another shot rang out, striking Aiden on the arm. "Aiden!" Arielle screamed. Then someone grabbed her from behind, throwing her against the side of the car. The man was huge, dark and strong, and he grabbed her arms forcefully, numbing her with the grip his hands had.

"You're going down," he whispered. One of his hands found their way to her throat, and she gasped for air as he choked her. "Too long I put my life into this, too long I worked to have you screw it up, you worthless bitch..."

Arielle tried to fight him off, but she got weaker by the second. White spots appeared at the corners of her eyes. He held tighter, poised to choke the life out of her...

Then he had let go of her. She fell to the ground, coughing, sucking down the blessed oxygen flowing into her lungs. Looking up, she saw Danny over the man, a gun in hand, apparently having hit him over the head with it.

He helped her up, and leaned against the car, coughing. "Are... are you all right?" he managed to say.

"I'm fine. What about you?"

"I've seen better days, I know." He slumped, and she helped him stand straight, looking over his injuries.

"We've got to get you out of here, you need the hospital-"

"I'm fine." He straightened, and a sharp pain made him bend over again, grunting. She grabbed him.

"You're not fine-"

"Aiden-"

"I'm here. I'm good," she called, holding her arm. "It only grazed the skin."

"Thank God he's such a lousy shot-"

A bat came down onto Danny's back, making him fall, yelling in pain and surprise. Two Tanglewood Boys stood, one grabbing him and jerking him straight, the other holding the bat to hit him again. Arielle darted to the man and punched him in the nose and gut, making him drop the bat. She bent over him to get the cuffs on as Aiden went to help, but the man who had grabbed her before went at her again, yanking her away and almost dislocating her arm. He held a hand to her mouth to prevent her screaming, and dragged her off, all set for what he was going to do next.

She bit down, hard. He took his hand off, howling in pain, and she elbowed him in the gut. He still held tight. Sirens sounded, and lights flashed nearby. It was Mac, with the additional backup. She screamed, "Mac, down here! We got Danny, he's down here!"

He dashed out of the car and ran towards them, gun drawn. The Tanglewood Boys were furious. The one who hit Danny, still reeling from when Arielle punched him, pulled out a gun and aimed it at Danny's head.

"NO!" Arielle screamed.

He bared his teeth and pulled the trigger.

A/N: There will be a character death, as you very well see now, just so you're prepared. It's scary, and sad, and I hate to do it, but it's got to be done sometimes.