Firstly a huge thanks to anmodo for betaing this fic – without her this fic wouldn't be possible. Thanks to everyone that has reviewed, it really helps.
Apologises for the delay in updating, I had to decide which 'version' I was going to write. In one version Danny lives and the other he dies – I have posted one of these versions below.
Part 2
"We have a pulse."
Jack jumped, feeling as though he had received an electric shock. Rushing forward, he knelt down next to his agents, blanching when he saw how pale Danny was.
"Danny," he whispered. He looked at the blood that surrounded Danny. How was it possible for someone to lose that much blood and still be alive? He frowned with concern as Danny remained unresponsive. As much as it pained him to think about it, there was nothing he could to do to help Danny.
"Sam," he said gently. His concern grew as she was unresponsive as well. "Sam," he tried again.
Sam continued to cradle Danny in her arms. She couldn't believe Danny would leave her. She didn't notice the medics that had started to work on Danny or Jack kneeling beside her.
"Sam," Jack tried again. "Sam, let them do their jobs."
Looking up, her tears blurred her vision but her arms never left Danny. "J-Jack," she tried.
"That's right," Jack replied, as he gently laid his hand on her shoulder. "Sam, how about we get you checked out and let them help Danny?"
"W-What?" Sam said in a confused tone, as she still cradled Danny.
Jack looked at Sam and realization hit him – Sam thought Danny was dead. "Sam, Danny's alive but we need to let the medics treat him," he explained in a gentle, soothing voice.
Sam hesitantly removed her hand from the wound. She didn't want to let go of Danny. Danny was alive, her Danny was alive. She slowly backed off and gently kissed his cheek. She found herself staring at Danny's limp form as the medics attached various monitors and tubes to him.
"Sam," Jack said soothingly as he walked behind her and gently pulled her to her feet. "Sam, are you hurt?"
Sam found herself breaking down as Jack mirrored Danny's words. She wanted to tell Jack that she was fine, that Danny was the one that he should be concerned about. She found herself crying into Jack's shoulder. She couldn't believe that she thought Danny was dead.
"Are you ok?" Jack asked again.
"I-I, u-mm, I'm fine," Sam managed to stutter. "Why are worrying about me when you should be worried about Danny!"
"I am worried about Danny, but as much as I hate to admit it, it's out of my control. Once we get to the hospital – you are going to be checked out," Jack replied as he tenderly rubbed her back. "Danny will be all right; this is Danny we are talking about."
"B-But what happens if he's not? I-I l-lov, Jack I-I need to, I-I," Sam stammered. Why was life so cruel? They had both finally plucked up enough courage to tell each other their feelings and then this happened. Why was life so cruel?
He took her hand and gently led her towards the chopper. He could have sworn that something had changed between Danny and Sam. He shook his head – how could he think of his relationship with Sam – when Danny was dying. He just wanted Sam to be happy and as much as it pained him to think about it, if she was happier with Danny than him, then he was just going to have to live with it.
As they got to the helicopter, they ducked their heads slightly and climbed in, as soon as they had the helicopter took off. Sam crawled across the helicopter – she needed to be as close to Danny as possible, she needed to see that he was still alive. She bent over him and gently brushed his hair off his forehead. "Hey baby, its okay you're safe now. But you have just got to hang in there – please Danny you have to, I can't bear to lose you."
He was in a dark place but he wasn't alone he could hear voices – they sounded concerned and frantic. He was scared and confused – what was happening to him? Why did his body feel so heavy? Why did was it so hard to breathe? He felt a soft hand being run through his hair. Maybe they could tell him what was happening to him. He tried to open his eyes but they felt so heavy. He slowly forced his eyes open a crack, see to an angel standing over him – was this what death felt like?
Sam stopped stroking Danny's head for a moment and felt her heart skip a beat. His soft brown eyes were open and looking at her. "Danny," she exclaimed. "Baby, it's okay, you're going to be alright."
"Sam," Danny tried weakly
"Yes, it's me. You've been shot, but you're going to fine. Jack got a helicopter for you, so you will be at the hospital in no time," Sam reassured.
Jack moved slowly and carefully across the helicopter – trying to stay out of the way of the paramedics who where trying to save Danny's life. He gently laid a hand on Danny's shoulder. "Hey kiddo, you just hang in there – okay," Jack said gently
"J-Jack you got a helicopter for me?" Danny asked weakly. He could feel his life slipping away from him. He didn't want to die. He loved his life – he didn't want to leave Sam behind. He knew that the team would look after her.
"That's right kiddo, I got this chopper sent especially for you," Jack replied with a small smile. He watched the paramedics' frantic actions – why the hell were they flying so slowly.
"Martin is going to be so jealous," Danny replied. Why is it so cold? Why was it getting so dark? He was dying – he felt a single tear roll down his cheek. "I'm so sorry," he stammered.
"What are you sorry for Danny?" Jack asked
"Tell everyone I am sorry and that I loved them," Danny stammered as he felt more tears rolling down his face. "T-Tell Sam, t-tell her-"
"No Danny I am not going to tell them – you can. You are going to be fine!" Jack said firmly. "Danny!" he screamed, as he watched Danny's eyes roll back and heart monitor began to scream. "Don't do this to us Danny."
Sam felt as though she was frozen to the spot, as she watched Danny flat line. Why was he doing this to them… why was he doing this to her? Didn't he know how much she loved him? She felt tears streaming down her face as the paramedics shocked Danny's heart. She watched as though she was in a trance as Danny continued to flat line despite the paramedics' efforts and Jack pleas. She had to do something. She couldn't just sit here doing nothing. She pushed passed Jack, and took Danny's hand. "Please don't go – I love you," Sam said in-between tears. "Please don't go, please Danny - have always loved you." Leaning down, she gently kissed his cheek. This couldn't be the end – Danny couldn't die like this.
"We've got a pulse," one of the paramedics yelled.
"Thank you Danny, thank you," Sam whispered. "You're going to be all right and I am going to be there for you."
Jack couldn't help but sigh with relief when the helicopter landed at the hospital. He held Sam back slightly as Danny was rushed into the hospital. He took a breath gently helped out of the helicopter and into the hospital. There nothing he could do for Danny, he in the best possible hands – right now his main concern was Sam.
As she walked into the hospital she felt the events of the last hour catch up. She stumbled a little. Danny couldn't really be dying, could he? This had to be a terrible dream that she would wake from. That she would walk into the office and Danny would be there smiling, joking with the rest of the team. But she knew it wasn't a dream – it was reality. Danny had been shot, Danny was dying and Danny loved her. She felt her world tilt violently, she tried to grab hold of a wall for support but they were too far away. She tried to stop her rapid descent into the inky darkness but it was so hard and so welcoming. She closed her eyes and waited for the cold, hard floor to come up and meet her – but it didn't. Instead her felt a strong set of hands grab her and pull her away from the inky darkness.
Jack frowned slightly as held a hand to her head. He hovered beside her as stared straight ahead. He knew she wanted to deal with this by herself, but as she made a dive for the floor – he could no longer stand by and do nothing. He quickly stepped forward and caught her before she fell. Wrapping her arm his neck, he found a chair.
"Sam," Jack said, as he gently tapped her face. "Sam, come on sweetheart."
Slowly opening her eyes, she met Jack's concerned gaze. She looked around in a wild panic – where was she? Why was there blood on her hands? She took a sharp breath as realisation hit her – Danny had been shot. Her Danny, the love of her life was dying. Finally after years of knowing each other, after years of hiding her feelings for him, they had finally admitted their feelings for each other and now he might die.
"Where's Danny? How is he?" Sam demanded. She tried to stand up – but found a strong set of hands stopping her. "Jack leave me alone, I need to see Danny!"
"Sam," Jack said slightly firmer that before. "Sam you need to get yourself checked out – you were in a fire fight and just now, you nearly passed out!"
"I'm fine Jack, I just need to see Danny," Sam yelled as she tried to shake out of Jack hold.
Jack sighed he knew he was fighting a losing battle – all of his agents were stubborn. "Sam if you go and get yourself checked out I will find everything I can about Danny's condition," Jack reassured.
"No Jack, I am not getting treated until I know Danny is going to be alright," Sam replied sharply.
Jack racked his hands through his hair and took a breath. "Sam you will be no use to Danny if you put yourself in the hospital and Danny wouldn't want you to do this to yourself."
"How would you know?" Sam exclaimed. "You hardly knew Danny!"
Jack clenched his jaw, she was right as much as he hated to admit it he really didn't know his agents. "I don't know everyone as much as I would like but I do know that Danny is not the type of person that would ever want people to worry about him. He especially wouldn't like you to refuse treatment because of him," Jack explained.
"But Jack-"
"No buts Sam, I am personally going to march you down to the ER, once you are being checked out I will find out everything I can about Danny's condition," Jack said firmly. "And don't even thing about skipping out because I will get a full report."
Dropping her head, she knew what Jack was saying made sense but she couldn't shake her worry for Danny from her mind. She felt guilty that she had walked away unharmed when Danny was dying. "Ok," she said quietly.
Jack looked at Sam's downcast expression and softened. "Sam," he started gently. "I may not know my team as much as I would like, but I do care about all of you. It's bad enough that Danny's been badly hurt, but I don't know what I would do if you were hurt as well – especially if it was because of something I could avoid."
He took her hand and gently led her towards the elevators. Once in the ER, he found her a quiet spot, after reassuring her briefly he took off to find a doctor. He quickly cornered a doctor and almost dragged him towards Sam.
"This is Special Agent Samantha Spade, she was a fire fight about an hour ago – I want you to check her out," Jack instructed. He glared at the doctor, as his concern grew for his two agents. He needed to know they were going to be alright, he needed to know this nightmare would have a good outcome – but how could it? Danny had lost a lot of blood – too much blood. He didn't know what he was going to if one his agents died. He gave Sam a small reassuring smile before he headed out to find out what was happening to Danny.
Leaning against the wall, he closed his eyes. The doctors had told him nothing. He shook his head slightly as he tried to find away to draw some comfort from this hellish situation. Danny was alive, Sam was unharmed and-. He stopped himself. He may not have to tell Danny's family but he was going to have to tell Viv and Martin. He looked down at his phone and frowned – he had seven missed calls. How was he going to tell the team that Danny had been shot and was in a critical condition?
With slightly trembling fingers, he listened to his messages. Three were from Viv, there were three from Martin and one was from Maria asking him why the hell hadn't phoned her. He took a breath as he listened to Viv's and Martin's messages. It was at the moment he decided that he wasn't going to phone them until he had some information on Danny's condition and even then, he was going to tell them in person – not over the phone.
He took a breath and walked back into the hospital. As much as it scared him, he needed to find out what Danny's condition was and he needed to support Sam. He slowly walked through the corridors until he found Sam.
"Hey," Jack said as he quietly approached her.
"What's happening with Danny?" Sam asked sharply
"I don't know, the doctors won't tell me anything," Jack replied gently.
"Why the hell not?" Sam exclaimed. "Did you ask the right questions? Did you flash your badge?"
"Yes, but all they told me was that they stabilizing him for surgery," Jack replied. "I am sure as soon as they have any information they will tell us," he added in attempt to calm her.
"Do you even care about Danny?" Sam yelled as she began to pace.
"Yes I fucking do! Now sit down before you fall down and I will find a doctor to tell us just what the hell is going on!" Jack yelled back – instantly regretting it. "I'm sorry Sam; it's just- well some bastard shot at my agents and now one of them is in critical condition. But please don't say I don't care."
Sam was just about replied when a tried looking doctor approached them. "Are you here for Agent Taylor?" he asked.
"Yes," Jack replied, as he stood up.
"We managed to stabilize him enough for surgery," the doctor started. "I would like to say that I am optimistic about the outcome – but to be honest I don't know how he is still alive-"
"Because he's Danny – that's why he is still alive," Jack said cutting the doctor off. "So what exactly is his condition?"
"He's critical. The bullet hit an artery and collapsed a lung, but with his history with complications with anaesthetic and with the amount of blood he has lost," the doctor trailed off.
"Doc I respect your medical opinion but you're not treating an average person," Jack started
"I know that sir – an average person would've never made it to the hospital," the doctor replied.
Sam sat quietly as she listened to Jack's and the doctor's exchange. She paled as she listened to possible complications and blood loss. Danny was tough – right? Danny would be fine. But how could he be will the foreboding news the doctors was giving them.
"Sam, Sam."
Sam blinked several times when she heard a voice calling her name. "U-mm Jack – I'm fine," she blurted out.
"No you're not," Jack said gently. "But I don't expect you to be – I'm not."
Sam found a small smile for Jack. "He can't leave us," she said in a small voice.
"This is Danny we are talking about – of course he won't leave us," Jack reassured. "Look I have to tell Viv and Martin – are you going to all right if I leave you here?"
"I-I will be fine," Sam replied. She produced a small smile and hoped her voice didn't portray her feelings.
"Okay," Jack said slowly as he tried assess the situation. "I won't be long and if you need anything you just phone me." He watched as Sam slowly nodded. He didn't want to leave her like this, but what other choice did he have? He had to tell Viv and Martin. He walked briskly towards the exit – only stopping briefly to ask a nurse to keep an eye on Sam.
He wasn't really sure how he made it to office, he was vaguely aware of the cab ride. He walked through the lobby and tried to collect his thoughts before he told Viv and Martin.
"Jack!"
Spinning around, he met the voice. "Viv, u-mm can you get Martin and then meet in my office," he managed to blurt out.
"Sure," Viv replied slowly. She looked her boss and friend up and down - not liking what she saw.
A few minutes later Viv and Martin were standing nervously in Jack's office – waiting, dreading for what their dishevelled boss was about to tell them.
"U-mm," Jack started. "U-mm, well."
"Jack what's the matter?" Viv asked gently
"U-mm, when Sam and Danny where following a lead up in the Catskills they were involved in a shootout," Jack started quietly.
"What?" Martin exclaimed. "Are they okay? Where are they?"
"Sam's fine, Danny, D-Danny was shot," Jack stammered
"How bad is it?" Viv demanded
"Bad – the bullet damaged an artery and collapsed a lung. He lost a hell of a lot of blood and, and-" Jack stopped, he couldn't continue. But his silence spoke louder that his words.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
She pulled her knees up to her chest and closed her eyes. Why was this happening to them? She wasn't naive enough to think that she would go through her FBI career without knowing someone that had been shot; she had even thought that to could be her. But why did they have to shoot Danny, especially now. What had Danny ever done to deserve it? She felt a couple of tears roll down her face as she thought of the first time she met Danny.
Flashback
She took a breath and walked nervously through the long corridors. It was her first day at a new job and she was terrified. She had wanted to work in the violent crimes unit, since before she joined the FBI – then a vacancy had come up in New York and she had jumped at the chance. She had applied on a whim – she hadn't really thought that she would get the job. She was twenty-five and the missing persons unit was hand picked. Surely they would want a more experienced agent. She was so surprised when Jack had phoned telling her that she had the job – which led to why she was here.
Sam took a deep breath as she stared across the bullpen. She quickly found Jack briefing his team. Plucking up the courage she walked towards them. She found a small nervous smile for Jack as he nodded in direction.
"As you know, we have a new team member joining us today, so let's give her the frosty welcome that all rookies deserve," Jack said. He moved his hand in a sweeping gesture – indicating for her to step forward. "Everyone meet Samantha Spade. Samantha meet – Vivian Johnson, Philip Glanville and Danny Taylor," Jack finished gesturing to each of his agents in turn.
She found a small shy smile for each of her new team mates. She found herself relaxing slightly when she looked Danny. It wasn't that the rest of new team mates looked judgemental, it was just there was something about him. Maybe it was his warm smile or maybe it was the fact that he was roughly the same age. She blinked quickly as pulled herself out her deepest thoughts.
"Viv, Phil I want you on the boyfriend. Danny stay on the paper trail, Samantha you're with me," Jack said as he issued his commands. He looked down as his phone began to ring. "Samantha, I gotta take this. Maybe Danny can explain the timeline to you."
"Hey Samantha," Danny said.
"It's Sam," Sam said, with a small smile.
Danny grinned back. "Okay, Jack said to tell you about the timeline," Danny started. He shot her another warm smile; he knew how nerve racking it was to walk into a new job – especially this job.
"Sure. U-mm, is there any where I can dump this?" Sam said as she held up her bag.
"Oh sorry. I guess they haven't got you a desk yet. But you can share mine until they do and I can clear a drawer, If you would like," Danny replied.
"You really don't have to," Sam said.
"I know, but I want to," Danny said smiling. He walked his desk and started to clear out a drawer.
Sam cocked her head to one side, as she watched Danny clearing out a drawer. She found herself smiling when she saw him empty out colouring pencils and books.
"Their not mine," Danny said, as though he was reading her thoughts. He watched Sam raise her eyebrows. "Okay, they are mine, but I have them for when Viv's, Phil's and Jack's kids come to the office. You know, it's really boring for them when they're here. Just did it to help out a little."
"I think it's really sweet," Sam said smiling. "So how long have you been on the team?"
"Six months, but don't worry people come less judgemental," Danny replied.
"What? How did you know?" Sam exclaimed
"I was right where you are six months ago. All you need to know is that Jack obviously thought you were up for the job. I know you think everyone else looks at you and thinks 'how the hell did she get that job. Did she even go to Quantico?'"
"Do you think that?" Sam asked quietly
"No – as I said, Jack obviously thinks you are up for the job. That's good enough for me," Danny reassured with a charming smile that lingered on his lips.
Sam looked down as she could feel the building chemistry between them. "S-So the timeline?" she stammered.
"The timeline," Danny said in slight confusion. He looked away – unable to hold their glaze anymore. "Yes, the timeline. Every time we get a piece of information, we write it down in the order it happened. So we can hopefully why they went missing and where they might be."
"Right," Sam said slowly
"Don't worry. You will pick it up quickly," Danny reassured.
"I hope so, Danny," Sam said. "But there is so much to pick up."
"I think I learned more in my first two weeks with Jack than my whole time at Quantico and the FBI put together," Danny replied. "You're going to be just fine."
"Sorry about that Samantha," Jack said as he walked into the bullpen. "We can go now."
"U-mm, what?" Sam stammered. "Sorry, sure." Sam quickly broke eye contact with Danny. She tried to pull her thoughts together and quickly followed Jack towards the elevators. "See you later Danny," she called back.
"See you later Sam," Danny called back, grinning.
End flashback
Sam held her head in hands and let the tears fall freely down her face. Why was this happening? Why hadn't see acted on her feeling towards Danny earlier? She just wanted to wake from this nightmare. She just wanted Danny to be all right. But her dark thoughts told her that Danny was already dead.