Huge thanks to anmodo for betaing this chapter and thanks to everyone that has reviewed.

Chapter 8

"I'll do it." Danny heard himself say as he stared at the two photos, which were rapidly being consumed by the flames. What choice did he have? One life to save the lives of at least twenty, Danny thought as he quickly calculated the number of people he had put at risk. Even if his target was a random person, he really didn't think he could do it. It made matters worse that he knew one of the targets. Sure Martin's dad was a jerk and didn't deserve to have a son. But Martin didn't deserve to become an orphan like him. He had given Martin a hard time at the beginning but… that was just to toughen him up. But as he got to know Martin, he began to see the parallels between them and they had become friends.

Danny glanced at Carlos to see he was talking again and tried to focus on the words, but he couldn't. He was too numb with fear and shock to make them out. He pinched himself as he tried to pull himself back into reality. "I'm sorry sir. Can you repeat that?" Danny asked, trying not to wince at the impending attack of words.

"Of course AJ. I was saying before you zoned out, that I appreciate you doing this job for the cartel. But you must not leave a trace, you must not miss… or the consequences could be fatal…for you."

"I understand sir," Danny replied as he continued to try and hide his emotions… try to hide the fear… the apprehensiveness. He vaguely heard Carlos, he vaguely heard himself thanking Carlos. The next thing he was conscious of was walking out of Carlos's office. He didn't stop or look around until he got to his apartment where for the second time that day he collapsed against the wall and held his head in his hands.

He remembered his meeting with Michael Clarke, and for the first time he saw this meeting as his glimmer of hope. The CIA had to pull the plug now. They couldn't let him go through with this. But before they pulled the plug, he would grab Lucia and Chris. He would try and smuggle them into the US… to safety. He drew his knees up to his chest and rested his head. He had never felt so alone… so scared. Not even after his parents had died.

But now he was in a foreign country, in the most hellish situation imaginable. The only people that may be able to help him thought he was dead and if he contacted them he would be sending them to their deaths. He couldn't tell Lucia because he didn't want to put her or Chris in danger. And for all he knew, she may approve of the assignment. If he injured or killed himself, the op would still be carried out anyway. Danny felt tears roll down his face as he exhausted every option in his head. He just wanted to call Jack, and ask for help but he couldn't and he didn't even know if Jack would help him now. After all what Jack had done for him… this was how he repaid him. Jack was the first person in his life that shown faith in him… that had trusted him.

Danny glanced down at his watch – which read 23:38 – he struggled to stand up and leaned against the wall. He was meant to meet Lucia five minutes ago and it would take at least twenty minutes to get there. But for the first time since he had met her, he didn't want to go; he doubted he would he good company anyway. Maybe the CIA would stop the assassination assignment. Maybe he would have enough time to grab Lucia and Chris and escape. But he doubted he could ever go back to his life as Danny Taylor. The assassination would still go ahead regardless of what the CIA decided to do. The Director of the DEA and Victor Fitzgerald didn't deserve to die. Martin didn't deserve to become an orphan. Danny sank to the ground again as he let his thoughts take over. He had never been so scared or so alone his life.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Danny walked down the dusty street towards Michael Clarke's car in a daze. He hadn't been able to pull himself back into reality since Carlos had told him about the assignment. He had lay in bed that night holding Lucia, like if he didn't his whole world would come crashing down around him. Then this morning Carlos had told him that the assignment was in a week and he would have to travel up with Diego on Thursday – five days away. Since then, he had felt numb.

Danny approached the unsuspicious car, which he knew was armour plated. He quickly glanced around before he slipped in. He glared at Michael Clarke. "I know what they are planning," Danny said looking straight ahead unable to look Michael Clarke in the eyes.

"Good, good," Michael said smiling. "Are you involved?"

"Yes, t-they want me to carry out the assignment," Danny replied trying hard not to show his fears.

"Good, good," Michael replied again. "So how do you feel about killing your friend's father?"

Danny looked at Michael in disbelief. "Y-you want me to carry out the assignment?"

"Yes," he replied matter-of-factly.

Danny shook his head. "Sorry. I don't think I heard you right. You want me to murder the director of the DEA and deputy director of the FBI?" Danny questioned still in disbelief.

"You heard me right. If you don't, you know who will die and you can add your girlfriend and her kid to the list," Michael replied icily.

"You want me to become a murderer—a traitor to my country—so I can save the lives of the people I love," Danny said shaking, as he was unable to contain his emotions any longer. "I was never going to go back to my life as Danny Taylor. Was I?"

"Cheer up AJ, we will give you a new identity," Michael said patting Danny on the shoulder. "Anyway these guys are terrorists and drug dealers, and a threat to national security. What are two lives in the war on terror?"

"They're not the threat to national security…I am. Because of you, I am the threat!" Danny yelled.

"Chill AJ. We did give you a choice," Michael sneered.

"What choice?" Danny yelled as he quickly got out of the car and slammed the door.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Danny laid awake stroking Lucia's hair as she slept with her head resting against his chest. She was so beautiful and so intelligent—he didn't deserve her. He loved her, and all he wanted was to spend the rest of his life with her. But he couldn't. He had to go away. He had to leave her, like he had left his family… like he had left the team who he considered part of his family. He didn't think he could start his life again. Just how many times would the CIA or other events force him to start his life over? Was it too much to ask to be happy? Was it too much to ask to be loved? He held back the tears that stung his eyes. He felt Lucia stir beneath so he tried to comfort her before she woke up. He didn't want her to see him like this. He didn't want to say goodbye; he didn't know how.

Lucia blinked her eyes open and looked at AJ. He had seemed so tense and zoned out today. The last time he was like this was when he was concerned about taking drugs. But this was far worse. She knew that her father had some big assignment planned, and she hoped she hadn't put two and two together and got four. She hoped AJ wasn't tied up in this assignment, but she knew from personal experience that once her father assigned you to a job you had very little choice in the matter. She leaned up and looked into his soft brown eyes. Eyes she seemed to melt into every time she saw them. Eyes that belonged to AJ, who protected her, made her laugh, made her feel safe.

"What's the matter?" Lucia asked in concern as she stroked his stubbled cheek.

"Nothing, baby," Danny said trying to sound playful.

"That's crap. Why are you still awake?" she asked in a sceptical but gentle tone.

"I'm just thinking. That's all," he said as he looked into Lucia's beautiful eyes. It pained him to think that this could, probably would, be one of the last nights he would spend with her.

"You know you can talk to me. If we share our problems, we can get through things together," Lucia pleaded. She hated seeing AJ anxious like this.

Danny looked at Lucia and knew he could trust her. Even if she approved of the assignment, she would just think that he was apprehensive. "Your father" Danny started, wincing when Lucia flinched at the mentioning of her father. "Has given me this assignment, to assassinate the director of the DEA and the deputy director of the FBI. I'm just a little freaked out, that's all." Danny finished as he continued to stroke her hair. He hadn't told her the full story; then again he had also continued to lie to her.

Lucia shuddered when AJ told her that he had been given the assignment, which he obviously didn't want to do, but had little choice. But in Lucia's observation there was a little more that pre-op nerves going on. "There's more. Isn't there?" Lucia asked.

Danny took a deep breath and tried to control his nerves. "Luc, I don't want to do this… but its part of the op." He paused and tried to look her in the eyes. "After the op, I'm going to have to disappear for a while… I-I," Danny blinked back tears. "I-I just don't know how long. But as soon as I can come back, I will come back!"

Lucia threw her arms around Danny's neck and tried not to sob relentlessly into his shoulder. But she knew was fighting a losing battle. "I know you will," Lucia replied as she raised her tear-stained face to meet Danny's. She gave him a light kiss on the lips before continuing. "Do you think when you come back, we could get away from all this… away from my father… away from the cartel?"

Danny looked at Lucia, this was undoubtedly one of the hardest things he had ever done. He ran his hand through her hair and kissed her nose. Then he rested his forehead against her's. "Yeah, we will take that holiday you are dreaming about. We will go to New York."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

New York

Jack sat at his desk staring at the dozens of files that littered his desk. The dozens of applicants that wanted to replace Danny… that wanted to take Danny's place on his team. Van Doran had rung him yesterday summoning him to her office to tell him it had been ten months since Danny's death. Which he had to correct her because it had been nine months, three weeks, four days and twenty-two hours since Danny's murder, and why the hell was she reminding him of this? He knew how much time had passed since Danny's murder… given a bit of time, he could tell her the minutes and seconds, since Danny's murder. After ranting and raving for a while, Van Doran finally told him the reason why he was in her office. She wanted him to find Danny's replacement. She told him there were dozens of highly qualified agents, who wanted a place on his team. She told him that there were many more qualified agents than his present team members that wanted a place on his team. Jack hadn't known how to react, so he had just turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him. He must of slammed it harder than he thought, because the next time he walked pass Van Doran's office he saw the door being replaced, and a huge crack across the old one.

But now he was trawling through the stacks of files trying to find a match… trying to find the missing jigsaw puzzle piece. But he knew he wouldn't. He knew they had lost that piece in that warehouse nine months, three weeks, five days, nineteen hours, forty-five minutes and about twenty-six seconds ago. He had lost that piece, and he didn't think he would ever be able to complete the puzzle again not unless the ashes that they had scattered on the rocky outcrop over-looking the Atlantic miraculously reassembled themselves back into the form of Danny Taylor.

"Any luck?" a voice asked sadly.

Jack looked up at the voice that had pulled him out of his thoughts. "Not yet Viv, they're – they're just not-"

"They're not Danny," Viv finished softly.

"No they're not Danny," Jack repeated as he ran his hand through his hair. "How do I replace a guy like Danny?"

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Somewhere in Mexico

Danny felt his grip on the steering wheel slip from the sweat on his hands. He didn't know whether it was from the heat or fear. His last night with Lucia had been passionate to say the least. He didn't want to stop holding her, kissing her and touching her. But it had ended, like his life after his parents died had ended, like his life as Danny Taylor had ended. Now he was driving an old truck down a dusty road to his destination—a destination in which he would become a traitor and a cold-blooded killer. Maybe if it all went to hell, Diego would get caught in the crossfire. Then maybe Lucia would be safe at least from him. No she wouldn't, Danny thought sadly, he would have failed the op, and she along with everyone else he loved would be killed. He was so tempted to reach across the truck and grab Diego's cell-phone and ring the team asking for help… but he couldn't. Maybe his father had been right all those years ago… he was destined to a life of solitude. He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he hadn't realised that Diego had woken, until he felt the cold steel of Diego's gun against his head.

"Drive faster!" Diego growled.

Danny sighed. "You really don't have two brain cells to rub together, do you?"

"What?" Diego asked stupidly.

Danny sighed again. "We are driving with a sniper rifle to the location of where the director of the DEA and the deputy director of the FBI are going to be. Maybe, just maybe, it wouldn't be a good idea to be stopped," Danny replied sarcastically.

"Oh," Diego replied as he tried to process Danny's words. "Oh right."

Danny shook his head; he hated the creep that was sitting next to him. He treated women like dirt; he abused kids. If he was Danny Taylor, he would've of slammed the guy against one of the walls in one of the interrogation rooms, but not in this life. In this life, he was associated with him. In this life, he was his co-worker. Danny had to stop thinking about it. He couldn't associate this piece of scum sitting next to him with Jack, Sam, Viv or Martin. Danny glanced around and realised that they had arrived at their destination, at the end of his life. In silence, Danny stopped the truck and walked around to the trunk. Among the general car junk of oilcans and trash, he pulled out a non-descript black duffel bag, which contained the gun, which would end his life. He slowly swung the bag over his shoulder and walked towards the building, all the time feeling sweat running down his back. Danny quickly picked the lock, trying not to leave a trace. Despite the heat, he was wearing gloves and a hat as he tried not to leave any DNA evidence. But Diego wasn't as smart. Which was a good thing and a bad thing, Danny thought. The good thing would be that it would be easier to pin the whole operation on Diego. The bad thing was and, more importantly, once they caught up with Diego, he would tell them everything in order to cut a deal. That's where the problem was. As much as he didn't want to, he had to protect Diego in order in protect himself. He turned around to see Diego wandering. "Hurry the hell up," Danny growled as he felt the tension of the op getting to him.

Danny slowly climbed the stairs, moving against the walls so he wouldn't be seen from the windows. Although his targets were half a mile away, he wasn't taking any chances. Once he reached the top floor, he bent low and quickly moved across the room. He leaned against the wall and quickly assembled the gun, shivering as he felt the cold metal against his skin. Maybe he could shoot to maim, not to kill. Danny let a nervous laugh escape, at this range, with this gun, it really couldn't just maim. The SV-98 had a killing range of about two and half miles and he was only half a mile away. Even if he aimed for an arm, his target probably would still die. He vaguely heard Diego telling him to get on with it. He felt as though he was on autopilot as he lay down and adjusted the rifle's scope. He lined Victor Fitzgerald – his friend's father- up in the crosshairs. He looked down at his shaking hands as thought of what he was about to do. He moved his finger onto trigger and took one final glance down the scope. He took one final breath of free air and pulled the trigger.