Disclaimer: I am not Anthony Zuiker, Ann Donahue or Carol Mendelsohn. All the characters of CSI: NY are not mine…I'm just borrowing them for a little bit. I promise that I will put them back, exactly the way I found them when I'm done….Oh, Cory Reid is mine and I will take credit for anything she does. :)

A/N: I still don't own Taylor Turner or Maddy….Again, thanks to Axellia for letting me borrow them! Okay…despite the chapter tile, this is not (I repeat, is NOT) the final chapter….I still have quite a few things planned for everyone. The chapter title is intentional since…well just read on and you will find out why:D As always, please, please, please R&R! My muse loves the attention!

Chapter 32.

Saying Goodbye

When Cory awoke she was confused. She tried to open her eyes but was blinded by the bright florescent lights above her. She tried to remember where she was when she heard the sounds of a hospital page. "How did I get to the hospital? Why am I in the hospital?"

Cory moved her head when she heard someone walk in. She tried to open her eyes again, preparing herself for the bright light. Slowly she eased her eyes open. When her eyes adjusted, she saw a doctor standing by her bed. "What happened?"

"Ah, Agent Reid. I see that you are awake. How are you feeling?"

"My head and shoulder hurt and I don't know how I got to the hospital. Other than that, I'm okay. How's Danny?"

"I'm not sure. I'm not involved in his case. You were very lucky though. The knife did not hit any major arteries. I do believe that you have some visitors." The doctor turned and walked out of the room. Mac, Stella, Lindsay, Flack, Hawkes and Taylor walked in.

Lindsay rushed up to the bed. "Cory, I'm so glad you are okay! I was so worried about you."

"Thank you. Where am I?"

Mac answered. "You are at St. Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie, New York."

"Okay. How did I get here?"

Flack was the one who answered this time. "In an ambulance."

Cory rolled her eyes and mimed throwing a punch at him. "Flack. I'm warning you, anymore of your lip and I'm gonna punch you!" She started laughing after she said this, unable to keep a straight face.

Flack raised his hands in mock surrender. "Oh, no! Danny told me about you…I'm eternally sorry for making a smart-ass comment. How can I ever make it up to you?"

"Tell me where Danny is."

"Danny's right here," said a voice from the doorway. Danny rolled into the room in a wheelchair. "Ciao, Bella. How are you doing?"

Cory began beaming as soon as Danny came into sight. "I'm better now. How 'bout you?"

"Been better, but my day's already looking up with Ortiz in bracelets."

"How's he doing?"

The rest of the team was watching this exchange like a tennis match at Wimbledon. Stella coughed discreetly to let the two know they were still in the room and Cory just turned bright red at the realization.

Lindsay realized how uncomfortable Cory felt and decided to change the subject. "How did Ortiz get you?"

Cory looked down sheepishly, "Um….I was at home cleaning because I was pissed off at Travis when my cell phone rang. It was Ortiz. He told me to meet him alone at the Martinez brother's warehouse if I wanted to see Danny alive. So I went."

"WHAT!" yelled Mac and Stella in unison.

Lindsay glared at Cory. "Are you insane?"

Cory returned her glare. "I knew that it was a trap. I'm not stupid, but I had a plan."

Mac looked at Cory in disbelief. "What plan? To get kidnapped so that no one would know where you were? Or to get to where Danny was effectively putting a time limit on how long we had to find him? What the hell were you thinking? You're smarter than that."

Mac's disappointment stung Cory. She felt tears well up in her eyes, but fought them down. "Look. I'm a FBI agent. I knew what I was doing. I knew that if I didn't show up then Danny was dead anyway. Besides, it worked out in the end. Danny and I are safe and Ortiz is going to jail."

Flack also glared at Cory with disappointment filling his eyes. "Didn't you learn anything from Michael and Armando's deaths? Look what happened to them when they didn't tell anyone what they were doing! Did you really want us to find your corpses?"

Cory felt her control snap and tears began to run down her face. "Ya know what Flack? Screw you! Get the hell out of my room!" After Cory yelled at him, she turned on her side so that her back was to the team and silent sobs racked her body.

Lindsay turned and looked at Flack in disbelief at his cruel words. She walked up to him and punched him in the arm. "You and me. On the roof. Right now!" As she walked by him, she grabbed his arm and dragged him down the hallway after her.

Danny looked at the rest of the team and with a nod of his head they left the room.

"Bella? Tesoro? It's okay. Bella, look at me? Per favore?" Danny carefully rolled himself to the bed, facing Cory. "Bella, Flack was just being an ass. Sometimes his mouth opens without his brain being engaged in the thought process. I'm sure he didn't mean it. He just thinks about you like his sister and you scared him. Hell, you scared the shit outta me!"

Cory sniffed, her tears slowing. "I know. I'm sorry, but Danny…I couldn't lose you. Not to Ortiz. Not again. If he had killed you…" The tears started flowing harder.

"Bella." Danny was at a loss for words. He just picked up her hand and held it in his while she cried herself to sleep.

(Rooftop)

"Lindsay? What are you doing?" Flack demanded as soon as they got to the roof.

Lindsay looked at him, stunned at his ignorance. "Just what did you think you were…oh, wait. You weren't thinking! You insensitive jerk!" Lindsay turned around and walked away from him, trying to pace off her anger.

Flack looked at Lindsay. He realized that he had done something wrong, but was not sure what. "What did I do wrong?"

Lindsay turned back to him and saw the confusion in his eyes. "You really don't realize what you said, do you?" At Flack's nod she tried to elaborate for him. "You basically reminded her of what Ortiz had done to James and hinted that Danny would be killed. Come on Flack. She has really strong feelings for Danny and you put her right back into the hell that she had clawed herself out of."

Flack looked distraught as the realization of what he had said. "Ah, hell. Open mouth, insert foot, chew vigorously. How can I ever make this up to her?"

Lindsay signed in relief as Flack understood what he'd done. "Apologize. Once Danny gets her calmed down. That's the only thing that you can do." Lindsay walked over to him and put her arms around him.

Flack looked down into her chocolate eyes. "I know. I just…she's just like my sister."

Lindsay looked back into his eyes. "I know sweetie, I forgive you. You just have to get Cory to forgive you. Just explain to her the way that you feel and you'll do okay."

Flack smiled to her gratefully and bent his head down to kiss her softly.

(Cory's Room)

Danny watched Cory as she slept. He was content to hold her hand and give her some of the peace that she'd given him.

Cory stirred, unable to sleep long due to being unconscious. "Mon cherie. Thanks for staying here. God, I was such a fool. Both Mac and Flack are right. I wasn't thinking clearly. That may get me killed one of these days. I hate admitting when I'm wrong. But I was wrong and I apologize for putting myself in danger. I was just trying to save you."

Danny got a gleam in his eyes. "Trust me, Cory. I understand the feeling. I would sacrifice myself in a heartbeat to save you."

Cory was interrupted in her blushing by a knock on the door. She looked up and saw Taylor standing there. "Hey, Cory. How are you feeling?"

"I'll be okay. What brings you here?"

Taylor looked at Danny a little skeptically. "I had a couple of visitors that wanted me to give you a message."

Cory shivered as the temperature in the dropped. She looked at the spot next to Taylor where James and Michael appeared.

James looked at Taylor. "Thank you for saving her."

Taylor looked at both ghosts and realized that they were dressed in matching white suits. "You're welcome." She turned to Maddy who had just appeared. "I don't understand something. If both of them had already crossed over, why did Michael still have the bullet holes?"

Maddy laughed. "It was so you could tell them apart."

"Okay. That makes sense."

Meanwhile, Cory was just staring at the two ghosts. "James? Michael? I can't believe you're here."

Danny looked on in confusion since they ghosts were not visible to him.

Michael turned to Taylor and looked at her. "Will you give Cory a message for me?"

"Sure, but if she can see you why can't you give her the message?"

Maddy looked at Taylor. "It's not her place to be able to hear ghosts. She can only see them. You'll have to pass the messages."

Taylor looked at Cory who looked at little bereft. "Cory? Michael wants to give you a message. It's my job to translate for you."

Cory nodded her head.

Taylor looked at Michael. "He says to tell you that he's sorry he didn't trust you. He should have known that you would have found a way to protect him and Armando. He feels guilty about Armando death and subsequent judgment."

"What do you mean subsequent judgment?"

Maddy cut in at this point. "He did some things while in the gang that were not good. He is paying the price for those choices now."

Taylor relayed that to Cory and she closed her eyes in pain. "Damn."

Danny was watching the exchange in confusion. "Um, Cory? Taylor? I'm really confused. I'm not very sure I believe in ghosts but…"

Taylor looked at Danny in sympathy. "I understand, Danny. I'll explain it all later. Cory? Michael's not done. He wants you to sing 'Breathe' at his funeral."

Cory laughed even thought tears were running down her face. "I think I can manage that."

Corywatched as Michael disappeared. She looked at James. "James? I love you so much. When you were killed I was lost."

Danny felt his heart break in two at her softly spoken words. "How can I compete with a dead man? I know she's the one, but…"

Taylor looked at Cory, with sympathy in her eyes. "James said that he knows. That's why he refused to cross over until you were out of your depression. Every time that you felt like he was with you, he was. Hesays that he loves you so much, too. But he wants you to know that you don't have to feel guilty about your feelings for Danny. It's not wrong. You have the right to be happy. He's giving you and Danny his blessing. He said that you guys are good together and deserve happiness."

Cory looked like she had been hit in the head with a board. She looked at James in shock. "Are you sure? I don't want to betray you."

Taylor laughed. "He said that the only way you can betray him is if you close yourself off from emotion. He's ready to cross back over."

Cory bit her lip. "James. Thank you. I will always love you. Take care of yourself."

Taylor looked at Danny. "Danny? James has a message for you. He said that you're welcome for the gun. He knows that you will always protect Cory and he wanted to help you in your time of need."

It was Danny's turn to look shocked. He hadn't told anyone about what happened with the gun. He decided just to accept it. "Thanks."

Cory was watching as James mouthed the words, I love you, as he disappeared.

In a quiet voice, Cory just said, "Goodbye, my love."

Taylor looked and saw that Maddy was still there. "Maddy? Why are you still here."

Maddy looked at Taylor. "I also have a message for Cory."

When Cory looked back up she gasped as she saw another ghost. "Taylor? Who's that?" She pointed to Maddy.

"You can see Maddy? I don't understand. Maddy, what's going on?"

Maddy ignored Taylor. "Cory, I have a message for you from the Powers That Be."

Taylor went to translate but Cory stopped her. "I can hear her Taylor. What's the message?"

"The Powers That Be want you to know that there is a reason you can see spirits. You can't hear them now because you are not meant to. When the time is right all will be clear. Also, you are very special and that's why James and Michael were allowed to cross back over."

After delivering that bombshell, Maddy disappeared.

Cory got her voice first. "What the hell just happened?"

Taylor looked at her. "I have no clue, but I'll make sure I grill Maddy next time I see her. Maybe I can coax some information out of her. Listen. I'll just leave you two alone."

When Cory turned to Danny, he saw the love shining from them. "Bella. Ti amo. I'm so jealous right now. Of a dead man."

Cory smiled. "I feel like I'm in shell shock. You don't have to be. Danny. I will always love James but it's a different love than what I feel for you. I love him in a way I'll never love you and I love you in a way that I never loved him."

Danny felt relief course through his body. He leaned down and gently took her lips in his.

A/N:

to the anoyomous reviewer (axellia, maybe?)- Flack ina helicopter? Did you mean Mac? If so I can totally see him all Marine in a helicopter! Glad you like the ghosts kicking some butt and yeah, 7 years was a long time to brush up on her fighting skills. I'm glad you like the exchange between Flack and Danny about her fighting.

the little corinthian- I'm sorry your roommate thinks that you are crazy! I'm glad that you liked it. The fight scene was so much fun to write! Ever since I started writing the story I alway envisioned Cory defeating Ortiz in a fight. It's just in her nature. :)

chili-peppers- Glad you liked! Yup, Flack definately does not want to mess with her!

pnkrckprncss- You're welcome! There is no way that they were being critically injured. It's just not in the plan. Hope you liked this chapter!