As always a huge thanks to anmodo for betaing this chapter. Also thanks to everyone that has reviewed.

Chapter 5

Colombia

1 week since Danny's 'death'

Danny woke as the sun streamed through the window of his new apartment. It had been one week since his death. He had watched all the news…waiting for…dreading any reports on the murder of the Deputy Director of the FBI's son – but, thankfully, had seen none. He got up and tried to stretch his tense muscles. What he would give to be back in New York right now, sitting around the table debating theories with the team. But in order to keep them alive, he had to stay in his new life.

Every aspect of his new life was everything he had tried to escape from, and the reasons why he had abandoned Raphi. The only thing that was he was hanging on to… the only thing that was keeping him alive was that if he could see this op through, then he could go back to the life as Danny Taylor.

Trying to maintain some sense of normality, he threw on some sweats and sneakers and went for his daily five mile run. Whatever the cartel had planned for him…whatever the CIA had planned for him, he knew he had to be prepared, hence the reason he was increasing the distance he ran. When he ran, he could lose all of his fears, all of his… he could just think of his happy memories… his life as Danny Taylor. He felt his muscles burn as he pushed himself up a dusty hill. He was glad he could feel pain. He felt as though he was finally punishing himself for what he had done to the team… to his family. By the time he had gotten back to his apartment, he was breathing hard. He climbed into the shower and tried to scrub the guilt from his body. He paused. He knew there was no way; no matter how hard he scrubbed he couldn't wash the guilt from his soul.

Stepping out of the shower, he chucked on some clothes, walked the short distance to his pick-up, and drove it up to the main house. He knew it was only a mile, but he was running late and was bound to need the pick-up later. Danny skid the truck to a halt outside the house and slammed the door. He was slowly getting use to dust and the heat that constantly seemed to stick to his skin. He hesitantly walked into Carlos Vega's office – the leader of the drug cartel. Glancing around the room, he saw the usual people there at first. However his eyes stopped when they set on one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen. She was a shade under 6 foot and had a striking curved, tanned body. But it was her eyes and her smile that shone out at him. They were so captivating. Momentarily lapsing into 'Danny Taylor' mode, he shot her a small smile and was slightly surprised to see that she returned the gesture.

"AJ, this is my daughter, Lucia," Carlos said to Danny as he nodded to the stunning female beside him. "She has some family business to attend to. I would like you to drive her there."

"Of course, sir," Danny replied. "What car shall I take?"

"Take the X-5," Carlos said referring to the brand new BMW X-5 SUV.

Upon hearing the orders, Danny immediately walked out to find the keys. He smiled to himself. Although this was one of the worst weeks of his life, it had made a slightly upwards turn upon meeting Carlos's beautiful daughter. He was driving a brand new, flashy car with a beautiful woman by his side. He'd learned to appreciate the small good moments in his new life of misery. Finally finding the keys, he walked outside to the driveway to find Lucia waiting for him.

"Sorry it took so look ma'am. I had some difficulty in finding the keys," Danny said as he flashed another grin at Lucia.

Lucia glanced across at Danny and smiled. He seemed different to her than her father's other men. He radiated warmth and compassion, not to mention that he was incredibly good looking.

"No worries," Lucia replied smiling. "But please call me Lucia." As they started to walk towards the car, she looked at Danny as they hesitated by the car's door. "I usually like to ride in the front, if that's alright with you."

"Of course ma-am, sorry I mean Lucia," Danny replied as he rushed forward and opened the door for her.

"Thanks," she replied. She couldn't help but smile at her father's latest employee. He seemed very sweet, and she could already feel chemistry developing between them. But her mind told her to hold back… her mind told her that below the surface, he was like the rest of her father's employee's and client's. They were only after her body or her father's drugs and money.

Finding himself smiling again, Danny started the car's engine. She was beautiful, but sadly she was way out of his league. Besides he wouldn't want to screw her over. Even if he did have a chance with her, he would have to lie to her from the beginning, and he just wasn't that kind of person.

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New York

1 month since Danny's 'death'

Martin paced back and forth outside Jack's office fingering the envelope that would change his future. This was his only choice… his only option. Martin stopped--his only choice… his only option--he thought grimly. No these weren't his choices or options, they were his father's. His father had set up a job in DC for him and he was too racked with guilt to react otherwise. But to be brutally honest, he didn't want Jack to accept his letter of resignation. But at the same time, he didn't know how much longer he could go looking at Danny's now empty desk without cracking. Every time the team sat around the table debating theories and generally trying to move on, he had to turn his back to Danny's desk. How could he continue to face his friends when he had caused Danny's death? He was so wrapped up in his own depressing thoughts that he hadn't noticed Jack come up behind him and tap him on the shoulder.

Jack put down the phone after a long tedious conversion with Maria's lawyer. He was supposed to have a meeting with them. But something had come up so he had missed the meeting, and due to the circumstances, he had forgotten to call. He ended up flipping out on the lawyer telling him in less than polite words, that the day of the meeting two of his people had been taken hostage. That the same people had injured one of his people and… he drew a shaky breath…and had executed the other. It was then he realised that he had never told Maria or the girls. They all loved Danny and didn't know how he could tell them, when he still could not face the fact that Danny was gone. He glanced out of his office and saw the other agent that haunted his thoughts; it wasn't Danny, but Martin. Martin was taking Danny's death the hardest and to be honest, he was extremely concerned about him. Martin was pale and drawn. His agent, who was always eating, barely ate now. Viv had resorted to cooking meals for him and putting them in his freezer. He crossed the office and tapped his agent on the shoulder, flinching as Martin jumped.

"Martin, what's the matter?" he asked.

"J-Jack," Martin stuttered, "umm… I need to talk to you."

Jack looked Martin up and down… at his skinny form… at his pale drawn face… at the dark circles under his eyes… at the envelope in his hand. He put a gentle hand on Martin's back and guided him into his office and onto the couch.

"J-Jack, umm…," Martin paused, "umm… this letter will explain things better." Martin quickly rose to leave, but found himself soon forced back into the couch by Jack's firm grip on his shoulder.

"Martin sit!" Jack said as he gently pushed Martin back down onto the couch and took the letter from him. He sat down and opened the letter. As he read the letter, he realised he was expecting it… but he wouldn't accept it. "Martin I am not accepting this," Jack said as he tore up the letter.

"Jack, accept it or I'm… quitting. I've got a job waiting for me in DC," Martin said emotionlessly, looking down at the floor.

"What crap has your father sold to you?" Jack asked barely containing his urge to yell.

"It's the only way," Martin said sadly. "If I leave, then you guys can move on." He tried to blink away the tears that had begun to sting his eyes.

Jack, seeing the tears forming in Martin's eyes, dropped his head. "Martin, we have already lost Danny to those bastards. I am not going to lose you as well," Jack said. "Now when was the last time you ate?" Pausing, he looked at Martin. "And contrary to popular belief, coffee isn't a food group."

"Umm," Martin replied, as he tried to remember when he had his last decent meal.

"That's it," Jack said, pulling Martin up. "You need fatting up." Jack made a mental note to himself to contact the 'wonderful' Deputy Director of the FBI Victor Fitzgerald.

The next day Jack stormed into the office of Special Agent in Charge of the New York branch, were Victor Fitzgerald was residing.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" Jack yelled at Victor Fitzgerald.

"Excuse me? " Victor said, rising from his chair. "Agent Malone, do not take that tone with me."

"Why shouldn't I…after the way you have treated your son!" Jack yelled at Victor slamming his fist on the desk for added affect.

"He needs to get away from there," Victor replied barely containing his temper as Jack continued to degrade him.

"He needs to be here," Jack countered. "At least here, someone will keep an eye on him."

"He will get over it, Malone. Anyway Martin and Agent Taylor were so different that they couldn't have been that close," Victor said.

Jack glared at Victor. "That just proves to me how little you know about your son. Martin and Danny were very similar. They were both stubborn, hot headed, charismatic, compassionate, intelligence, brave and …" Jack paused, "and both their fathers did not deserve them."

"I will have your job!" Victor yelled, finally losing it with Jack.

"And what are you going to fire me for… doing your job?" Jack asled as he continued to glare at the Deputy Director.

"I do an exceptional job as the Deputy Director of the FBI. The President of the United States even says so," Victor said smiling.

"No, you arrogant fuck—your job as a father! Because if you had been doing that job, you would have noticed how much Martin is suffering. I am not accepting his letter of resignation. He is still on my team," Jack paused and looked down. "At least this way, I can keep an eye on him."

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Colombia

6 weeks since Danny's 'death'

"I want out," Danny said as he sat in Michael Clarke's car.

"Sorry but we need you in there. The information you are collecting is valuable to our work," Michael replied.

Danny sighed as he leaned back on the car's hot plastic seat, feeling his back stick to it. He was sick of this. He just wanted to go home…back to his 'previous life'. "How much longer?" he asked

"I don't know maybe a few more weeks, maybe a couple of years."

"What?" Danny exclaimed, "You know I can just walk away from this and disappear."

"I advise you not do that," Michael said, as he removed a package from his coat pocket and handed it to Danny, "open it."

Danny picked it up and slowly opened it, letting the contents spill out on to his lap. Looking down at the contents, he saw six photographs. There was one of Raphi leaving his apartment, one of Sam and Martin standing outside the office, one of Viv picking up Reggie from school, one of Nicky at a baseball game, one of Silvia walking down a street pushing a baby carriage and one of Jack in the park with Hannah and Kate. Danny turned to look at Michael.

"One of my snipers took those photographs, one phone call from me..." Michael said as he twirled his cell phone in his hand, "and BANG! One of those people will die."

"You sick son of a bitch," Danny said nearly yelling.

"We also believe that you will get more information if you integrate with the group more. Sit down in the evening with them and sample their fine selection of narcotics. Get close to them."

"No way!" Danny yelled, "No fucking way, am I going to take drugs."

Michael picked up the photograph of Jack and his girls and using his fingers to mimic a gun, he placed it on Kate's forehead. "BANG or maybe you would prefer if a 3 week old baby dead, your god-daughter. That's right they still named you as Danielle's honourable god-father." Michael smiled as he watched Danny. "So you will integrate with the group in the way we have discussed."

Danny found himself staring at Michael in horror unable to respond. He felt as though someone had sucked out all of the air from his lungs. He hated drugs. He'd hated them since the day his brother started to use him as his drug mule. But given the choice between the people he loved and cared for being murdered and taking drugs, he would take the latter.

Michael looked at Danny and smiled again. "Good. I am glad we agree. I have scheduled our next meeting in two weeks, same time, same place."

"Fine," Danny heard himself say as he bolted out of the car. Soon, he found himself walking briskly down the dusty streets. Not stopping or turning to look back, just trying to put as much distance between himself and that car. He turned a corner and collapsed against a wall and threw up. He felt his legs collapse under him as he slowly slid down the wall. He drew his knees up to his chest and shook. Somehow he needed to pull himself together and stay alive, so the people he loved didn't die. He rested his head on his knees, ignoring the disapproving looks from passer-bys. He didn't understand his life at the moment. He felt that he hated his new life, especially now after what Michael Clarke had ordered him to do. Parts of this new life were everything he had spend his life running from and now he had to take drugs as well, he feared that he would screw up again. He felt as though he was standing on the edge of a cliff about to jump. As he knew as soon as he started taking those drugs, it would be as though he had stepped off that cliff. That he was freefalling to his unpleasant demise.

But at the same time, he had found some small pocket of happiness… not that he understood it. Lucia was beautiful and intelligent, yet she was the daughter of the head of the drug cartel. She seemed to smile and relax when they were together, unlike when she was with other people. Lucia was his release in his new life. His release from all the weapons and combat training he was under going. Even though it was only small talk and simple flirtatious gestures, those moments warmed his soul.

TBC