A.N.: So this is it, the final chapter of the story. I hope you enjoyed it and I'm thankful for all your reviews. Just so you know, there is a sequel to this story titled "Desperate Measures" and if you would like to read it, too – please let me know. Now have fun with the final chapter!

Chapter 49:

It was the fourth day after the disastrous trial that had set the Chileans free and Danny's first day back at work since the panic attack being caused by the finding of Elizabeth's corpse. It was a routine, normal, busy working day like every other and still it seemed like everything had changed.

This was all wrong – the whole situation hadn't been supposed to end up like this. They had hoped for some justice at least, something positive about all the horrific things that had happened around them in the past few months. Some light in the darkness after all. But there hadn't been – the Chileans were free of any crime...

When Jack had gotten to work this morning, he had found Samantha standing in his office, having a thoughtful look into the main room. She didn't even seem to be aware of his arrival and he didn't wanna scare her. But he was very much convinced that she had a good reason for being here, that there was something she wanted to talk to him about.

„Are you alright, Sam?"

She stayed silent, like she hadn't after all heard his question. She was still standing there beside him – arms crossed before her chest, looking outside to the wide room in front of her, observing the busy people in their working. She didn't turn to him when she silently told him what she had come here for, what she wanted to talk about.

„We lost him – at some point, somewhere along the way we have lost him."

He was taken aback by her statement. It were simple words that mirrored the truth in a way that it was almost physically painful to listen to them. She was just completely right and the tone in her voice told him, that she felt as desperate about it as he did. He knew nothing more to say, but an answer as simple as her words.

„I know."

„Don't you miss it?"

She turned to him now – the feelings she had clearly showing on her face and the urgent wish to talk to someone about it being written in her eyes. Like she needed his confirmation to believe that all of this was true and had actually happened. As much as he wished, he couldn't make it go away. Still her question left him partly puzzled, causing him to ask back in return.

„What?"

„The person he used to be – the one smiling and joking and getting on your nerves? Don't you miss having him around?"

It was a heartbraking thought, but she was perfectly right. The person they were working with today, was no longer the same he had been just three months ago. He had changed, had lost himself in this three days of his disappearance and he most definitely would never find himself again, wouldn't get back what he had lost. His assailants had done good work – they had taken this away from him for good.

„Yes, I do."

He really did, he wanted Danny back the way he had been before the assault, but he knew he wouldn't get that. It wasn't up to him to take care of it. It was the younger agent's very own recovery process and there was nothing Jack could do about it. Danny needed to find a way through all the fear and pain his memories caused...

The situation hadn't much improved – Beth's death and the Chileans getting free had rather aggravated the fragility of his mental state even more. If that was possible. He still wasn't good – apart from the way he acted around his colleagues, his restrained, closed in, even unfriendly behavior was just the beginning. He was still having these terrible nightmares, memories haunting him and causing him to feel nothing else but sheer panic.

They had gotten the body back – his injuries had been healing nicely, leaving no permanent effect, apart from the scars. But they were nothing in comparison to the ones his soul had been provided with and it was even harder to do anything about these. The mind – the character, the part of his soul which had held the last piece of innocence and naivity – had been ripped out, thrown to the ground and had shattered into a million pieces, a puzzle to complex to ever reset it.

There was the saying that time was able to heal all wounds, but Jack wasn't too sure about that. And even if it was true – the amount of time needed to heal all the horrible events, Danny had gone through... It would take a lifetime at least.

It was the most unfair thing after all. The Chileans had managed to get away from this with no further aftereffect, even Elizabeth had managed to. Where ever she was right now, she wouldn't have to suffer any more. Danny however – although it had only been three days – had been injured in a way that would last and would affect him for the rest of his life. There was no justice in this.

„Do you think he will ever find a way back?"

He knew it was cruel to be honest on this one, but she hadn't come here for his support, she wanted him to be honest with her, she wanted to know. Although that didn't really make it easier to answer her question. At least not while looking at her. He took his eyes of her face – the demanding look in her eyes – and watched the main room outside his private office, having a look at the man they were talking about – or at least what had remained from him, had been able to find or rather fight his way back to every day life...

„No."