Huge, huge thanks to anmodo for betaing this chapter and thanks to everyone that has reviewed so far.

Chapter 8

"W-Why is a FARC member a connection to my father?" Danny exclaimed, forcing himself to sit up despite the pain that flared across his ribs.

Jack and Megan looked at each other as they tried to come up with the words to tell Danny that his father was a terrorist. That his father was on the ATF's and, probably now, the FBI's most wanted list. And also that Interpol was investigating him.

Turning to face him, Megan started to rub his hand. "U-mm, because we have intelligence to suggest that he is becoming a high ranking member of the FARC," Megan started.

"What? M-My father's a terrorist!" Danny exclaimed, holding his head in his hand. "Who says this? How do you know this? Why?"

"The intel is good, baby. I was in a meeting with agents from the FBI, DEA etc. Anyway, they were discussing a possible future intel asset – a member of the FARC – your father," Megan said as she gently stroked his cheek. "But Danny that doesn't make you a different person. I don't know why your father chose that life, but he did and before you think about blaming yourself – it's not your fault."

"Your father made his choices and you made yours. He may be a psychopathic, cold-blooded killer, but you are a damn fine FBI agent. I said before and I will say it again, you are nothing like your father," Jack reassured as he squeezed Danny's shoulder.

Danny leaned into Megan's touch, closing his eyes as he let her comfort him. "Thanks," he said quietly he as felt fatigue sweep over him. "So what happens if this guy tells you where my father is? What are you going to do?"

"We'll track him. So when you make that decision, at least we know were he is – if you want to go down that route," Megan replied as she sat down next to him. How many different times can I break the Geneva Conference, Megan thought to herself. "But you don't have to make any decisions now – not today, not tomorrow, and not ever."

"Thanks," Danny said as he rested his head on her shoulder. He relaxed into her embrace, he let her stroke his hair and rub his back. He felt someone gently squeeze the back of his neck before he heard a set of footsteps leaving the room. His mind was racing with thoughts and images of the past. He wondered if he'd had this support back then– would his mother and Rafi still be alive? How would his life be different? "I'm sorry," he said suddenly. "I'm sorry for being so weak and pathetic."

Megan held Danny's shoulders and gently kissed him. She ran her hand through his thick, spiky hair. "It's okay, Danny. It's okay," Megan reassured as she felt him pull back. "First, you're not weak or pathetic – you're one of the strongest people I know. And second, you're allowed to let go of your emotions every now and again."

Danny found himself producing a small smile for Megan. He coughed violently and closed his eyes as tears stung them. "Megs, what am I going to do? If I was a true friend, a good brother, a good son, uncle, brother-in-law, I would want to seek revenge for what that bastard has done. But no I am sitting here crying into your shoulder, when I should be out there revenging Rafi's and Mom's deaths."

"That bastard beat the shit out of you, stabbed you and basically blew you up. Oh and your past that you tried so hard to forget rose from the dead. So I think you can be forgiven for not being Mr. Happy or Mr. Bauer."

Danny smirked at Megan's last comment. "So will you be Mr. Bauer's sidekick," Danny joked.

"Your backup? Yes. As for Mr. Bauer's sidekick? No, 'cos they usually end up dead." Megan said as she leaned down and kissed him. "Get some rest; none of us are going to abandon you. But right now, I've gotta go."

Danny stroked her cheek and returned the kiss. "Thank you, baby. Be careful. Okay? Please be really careful," Danny pleaded.

"I will be. And anyway, what are you worrying about? I will be with Mr. Jack 'overprotective' Malone. I will be fine," Megan reassured. "I won't be long, look after yourself."

"Okay," Danny whispered as he felt his battered body begin to give into the battle against sleep.

Taking one final glance at Danny, she turned and quietly walked out. She really didn't want to leave him in that state but she had work to do. Deep in thought, she walked down the hospital corridor feeling relieved that her Danny was going to be all right. So lost in her thoughts, she turned the corner and nearly ran head long into Vivian who was holding two cups of steaming coffee

"Shit," she swore gently. "I'm really sorry Viv. I was kinda…well…you know-"

"Worried about Danny?" Viv suggested. "He's going to be fine."

"I know, it's just," Megan said as she ran a hand through her hair. "It's just I'm worried about him. That's all."

"I know. Take this," Viv said as she handed a cup of steaming coffee to Megan. "Go with Jack. Interrogate the lead, and find out just who the hell did this to Danny. I will look after him."

"Right…u-mm…thanks," Megan said as her eyes lit up at the Starbucks cup. "How much do I owe you?"

"Nothing. Just find and deal with whoever did this to Danny," Viv replied seriously. "Oh, and control Jack. I don't want him to anything stupid that he may or may not regret later."

"Will do Viv, will do," Megan said as she slowly walked away. Control Jack? She thought. How was she going to control Jack when she personally wanted to beat the information out of his guy? She sighed as she thought whoever this guy was, he was probably only a small time goon – she wouldn't waste her time and energy on him. She'd save that for Danny's father.

Viv smiled as she saw that Danny was finally sleeping peacefully. Setting the coffee mug down on the table, she stroked his forehead. She had asked Megan who the lead was, having asked the same question to Jack only to be met with a silent reply. She pulled the blanket up around Danny's shoulders and gently kissed his forehead. She knew whoever had done this to him would be dealt with – Megan and Jack wouldn't rest until they had.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

26 Federal Plaza – NY

"So you have no idea where Jorge Castaño is?" Jack asked, pacing the interrogation room like a caged animal.

"N-no, I told you before I don't know who you are talking about?" Carlos Rodriguez replied nervously as he looked between stocky man who was pacing and the women who had done nothing but coldly stare at him.

"Have you seen this man?" Jack yelled as he slammed a photo of Danny's father down on the table.

Carlos closed his eyes and looked away. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't tell them were Jorge was – it would get him killed. But more importantly Jorge was soon to become the leader of the FARC and he wanted to become part of Jorge's inner circle. "Are you stupid? I have told you I have no idea who this man is."

"You're lying to me, but do you know what pisses me off more than people lying to me? People trying to kill me." Jack roared answering his own question. "But do you know what pisses me off more than that?"

"No," Carlos said glaring at Jack, his confidence rising with each passing second.

"People that go after my team," Jack yelled as he slammed Carlos against a wall.

Megan leaned back on her chair and rolled her eyes. "Jack, don't do that."

"That's it, Jack. Listen to the woman, for once a woman knows what she is talking about." Carlos sneered.

"You think I was talking about your wellbeing," Megan said forcing herself to stay calm as Jack slammed Carlos back down in the chair. "No. I was thinking about the mess we would have to clear up and paperwork we would have do."

"But you're a woman. That's you're job," Carlos mocked.

"Oh that's so sweet," Megan toyed, her glaze flicking between Carlos and Jack. "Have you heard of the Geneva Convention?" She watched Carlos nod. "Well as you were arrested on terrorism charges and the US is fighting a war against terrorism, I guess in a funny screwed up way, it's related. Which means I'm supposed to treat you humanely," Megan sighed.

"Y-Yeah, you are," Carlos stammered. "And there is a CCTV camera up there," he said pointing up to the camera.

"Yeah I know," Megan said. "It's pretty, isn't it? Pity it doesn't work. Also, it's a pity that no one knows you are here."

"So what? Are you going to kill me?" Carlos shouted.

"Well I won't deny that has entered my mind, but no I just want the information."

"Look I have told you before, you stupid bitch, that I have no idea who this Marco Alvarez is?" Carlos growled.

"I never said we were looking for a 'Marco Alvarez'," Megan smirked. "So you obviously know Mr. Alvarez or Mr Castaño or whatever you choose to call him."

"I-I mean, s-sorry I thought you were talking about someone else," Carlos panicked but the damage had already been done.

"Shut up and listen to me, see that guy over there," Megan said coldly pointing to the stony figure of Jack Malone. "Even he does not know how far I'm prepared to go to get the information. So I will ask again--where is Jorge Castaño?"

"U-mm," Carlos stammered as he looked between the cold but determined eyes of the woman, to the bad-tempered FBI agent who had started to approach him. He really didn't know what these people would do to him. He'd rather take his chances with the FARC as a rat than these people. So he began to tell them everything he knew about Jorge Castaño and the FARC.

An hour later, Megan walked out and stretched the kinks out her back. Leaning against the wall, she nodded to Jack as Agent Christopher Nelson head of the FBI's New York counter terrorism approached them.

"Nice work in there," Agent Nelson stated as he nodded towards Carlos who was busily writing all the names of FARC members he knew. "Were you really going to damage him?" he asked questionably.

"Well I wasn't," Jack said with a smile as he folded his arms and leaned against the wall.

"You thought I was?" Megan said. "The guy's a small fry. Taking him down would be like taking some junkie dealer in a crack house – aka pointless. But if I may suggest something?"

"Sure but the FBI is taking credit for this bust," Agent Nelson said quickly.

"The guy has contacts and has obviously gained trust of Jorge Castaño who you and I both know is going to be the next man in charge. Turn him, I think he would make a good double agent," Megan suggested.

"And you know this because-"

"Because I have run double agents before, after a while you can tell pretty accurately who will fold and who won't," Megan replied. "Anyway it's you're choice and we were never here," she said over her shoulder as she started walking away.

Jack took a couple of long strides before he caught up with her. "You all right?" he asked genuinely concerned.

"I'm fine," Megan said with a smile. "I will be more than fine when Danny is."

He put a hand on her shoulder and gently squeezed it. "I know, I have known Danny for seven years now – he's going to be just fine," Jack reassured. "Shall we head back to the hospital?" He watched as Megan slowly nodded her head. "Look, I have to talk to Danny about a couple of things."

"What things?" Megan asked, suddenly defensive and overprotective of Danny, her eyes shooting daggers at Jack.

"Nothing major," Jack said quickly feeling intimidated under Megan's glare. "Just about what happened, I have a report to write. I promise its not going to be much – we have most of the information."

"Sure, I'm sorry," Megan said, feeling embarrassed. "Look I'm hungry, I don't know if Danny will be up to eating any thing yet – but there is a pizza place just across from the hospital. If you like, I can smuggle that in while you and Danny have your chat."

"That's sounds like a great plan," Jack said with a smile. "But how are you smuggle the pizza up?" he joked.

"Well between Danny and I, I think we have it tied up," Megan joked, raising an eyebrow laughing as Jack chuckled.

About half an hour later, Jack finally arrived at the hospital. It had been an interesting drive to say the least; he swore that they must have missed cars by mere fractions of inches. He rubbed his face and forced himself to smile despite today's events. It could've been worse – Danny could've died. Jack sighed they had been lucky – the team had walked away with relative minor injuries. He found a genuine smile when he saw Danny sitting up talking to Viv.

"Hey," he said as he walked in.

"Hey Jack," Danny smiled but he knew he had to talk to Jack about the thing that was plaguing him. He knew Jack would want him to resign after his actions nearly got Sam killed.

Viv looked between the two men and got the hint. "Well I've gotta get back to Reggie. See you both tomorrow," Viv said as she leaned forward and gently kissed Danny's forehead.

"Night Viv," Danny said

"See you tomorrow," Jack called out. "So how are you feeling?" he asked

"Better, a lot better. Thanks," Danny replied and then hesitated before continuing. "U-mm Jack I need to talk to you, u-mm h-how did the interrogation go?" Danny blurted out.

"Whoa Danny. Calm down. The interrogation went well. We got the information we needed – remind me not to piss your girlfriend off," Jack said smiling as he saw Danny had found a small smile and appeared to have relaxed a little. "Anyway what do you want to talk about?"

"Nothing, u-mm well," Danny stammered. "Look Jack if you want my resignation after what happened today, I totally understand."

"What?" Jack exclaimed. "Why would I want your resignation?"

"Because my actions could've got Sam killed, i-it"

"Listen to me," Jack said cutting Danny off. "You didn't follow FBI protocol, but I don't think the FBI has protocol for this kind of thing. Your actions didn't get Sam killed. They saved her life. I don't blame you, the only person I blame is your father – understand?"

"Yeah," Danny said slowly nodding.

"So you can write and give me your letter of resignation, but I am only going to put it in the shredder," Jack said. "I dunno if you are feeling up to it but Megan is getting a pizza." He smiled as he watched Danny face light up. "She doesn't like this healthy shit on her pizza, does she?"

"Oh yes, the full works – no cheese, no carbs organic tomato sauce, low carbs pizza base and tonnes of green stuff," Danny joked but in a serious tone. Forcing himself to hide the smirk that was trying to form on his face.

"Damn and I was beginning to like her," Jack joked. "How can you do that to a pizza?"

"I know. It's terrible," Danny said gritting his teeth as he bit back a laugh. "Along with egg white omelettes and fat free everything."

"Hey."

Both men's head shot up with the sound of a voice and the smell of freshly cooked pizza. Danny winked at Megan as she walked in, balancing the pizza and three drinks. Jack quickly took the drinks from her.

"So which ones which?" Jack asked indicating to the drinks.

"That one is mine," Megan said as she started play along with Danny. "Those two are for you boys."

"What's yours," Jack asked inquisitively.

"Oh it's this great heath drink. It's made up from-"

"It's okay. I don't need to hear it," Jack said screwing his face up in disgust

"How are you baby?" Megan said as she leaned forward and kissed Danny. "I dunno if you want some pizza but it's here if you want it."

"I would love some," Danny said as he returned the kissed.

"You lied to me," Jack exclaimed as grabbed the pizza off Megan. He looked up at Megan and Danny and chuckled as he was them laughing. After everything that Danny had been through today Megan could still make Danny laugh. "Kids!" Jack said shaking his head. Sensing it was his time to leave Jack took several slices. "Well you two I'm going to head home, thanks for this," he said holding up the slices of pizzas.

"Night Jack," Megan said smiling.

"See you tomorrow Jack," Danny called out to the retreating figure.

"You really okay?" Megan asked, searching Danny's eyes. She stroked his stubbled cheek and kissed him again.

"I'm more than okay now," Danny said as he pushed a lock of hair off her face. Leaning forward, he winced as he kissed her passionately.