Here's another chapter. Thanks to all those who've read and reviewed. Sorry it's been so long I've been having some major writers block when it comes to this story for some reason. Enjoy!

I own nothing dealing with CSI NY or Walker Texas Ranger.

Chapter Fourteen

He was halfway through wearing a hole in the floor of the corner of the ballroom that the group had occupied. Taking a breather from helping with the relief effort; knowing that there was nothing more they could do to keep themselves from thinking about what was going on above them; about the woman who was now laying her life on the line to stop even more people from getting hurt and killed. For what seemed an eternity but had only really been about an hour Danny had been telling hisself that everything was okay. That she was strong enough to make it through this and alive in one piece. That was until he heard the gunshots.

Despite the fact that the ballroom was bustling; that it had to be quite loud in there the shoots echoed through his head like the ringing of church bells. Dread; cold and calculating clenched in his gut; making it hard to breath. As much as he didn't want to think the worst right now he couldn't help it. Throughout this whole experience he had never once been worried about his safety; about his life. It had always been about hers; which seemed crazy now that he thought about it. She was the one who was use to this; use to the kind of wrath that a man like Mandala could bring down on top of someone. Granted he was also a cop on top of being a CSI; but she was a full blown law enforcement officer through and through. From what he had been able to gather since she had come here being a Texas Ranger on a good day; with no one like Mandala in the background; wasn't an easy thing to do.

Still no matter how much he told hisself that him going crazy with worry wouldn't help her any it was easier said then done. Right now he just wanted this to all be over. For her to come walking through the door he had sent her away in what seemed like a life time ago; as untouched and alive as when she'd left. Actually there was a bigger part of him that wanted to grab a gun from one of the uniformed officers and go after her; to try to help in anyway he could. Deep down however he knew that he would be more in the way then anything. Like he'd been reminded time again since she'd turned up in the crime lab she was not someone to be messed with. Arianna was well known and good at what she did for a reason.

Honestly if it wasn't for the fact that the situation was so serious he'd laugh at the fact that his fiancee could whoop his ass anyday of the week if he pissed her off. In the same sense he also knew that she would never do that. Even though she was considered one of the top three martial artist in the country; her sisters occupying the other two spots; the young woman would never use that advantage to hurt people if it wasn't necessary. Time and again she had told him that violence was always the last resort. What she was capable of doing was suppose to be used as self defense and nothing more.

Hearing footsteps behind him he turned to see Flack coming towards him; concern in the other mans ice blue eyes.

"How you holdin' up?" The black haired detective questioned.

"I'd be a hell of a lot better if I knew whether or not any of those gunshots I just heard caused Arianna serious damage." Danny confessed.

"You and me both." Don agreed. Knowing his words wouldn't really do a damn bit of good he wasn't sure what else to do. "Look; you know me man. Know by background and the fact that I've been in her situation more times then I care to remember in places a hell of a lot worse then this. Trust me when I say that it might seem likes it the end of the world to you. And maybe even to her. But I've served with some of the best men out there. Arianna tops them all hands down. Before you know it she'll be walking back in here; maybe it a little worse for the wear; bitching about how she'd ready to get out of the snow and head home to Dallas."

Danny couldn't help but laugh at the truth of the other mans statement. Since she'd come here the weather was the one thing she couldn't stand. "I hope so man; I really do. "

"You're gonna have a heck of time adjusting to the weather in Dallas though. I hear it's warm there all year around; there's never any snow; and as soon as the sun sets the temperature starts to drop and you have to pull out the long underwear." Don joked.

He was about to tell the other man that Arianna had already explained how the weather can be fickle in her home state depending on where you lived when an elderly voice called his name.

"Detective Danny Messer?"

Turning he saw a couple that was old enough to be his parents hurrying towards them. Clutching their bags to them like there was the remote possability that the fabric bags that held their clothes and other belongings would protect them. The look in their eyes told him that whatever they had to say wasn't going to be good.

"Yes?" He tired to keep his voice as steady as possible.

"A woman by the name of Arianna sent us down here. Said to tell you that she was a little bruised but okay and to send a team up to sweep the first floor. That it should be okay but she wanted to be doubly sure." The man spoke.

Don was in motion; headed towards the cheif of police as Danny faught to absorb what he'd just been told. So far so good; he could put his fear and doubt to rest. For now. It would've been nice to hear it coming from her but at this point he'd take what he could get.

"Did she say anything else?" Danny asked.

"That she loved you. To tell you don't even think about going with that team to sweep the floor." He supplied. "And that you better be making up a list of things that need to be done before you move. Whatever that means."

Leave it to his fiancee to know his exact thoughts upon learning that she was done on the first floor and headed up. And to remind him of something that inane just to make him laugh. As much he wanted to do what she asked of him he couldn't. If there was a chance that he could more information out of anyone that might possibly be left alive as to what kind of fate awaited Arianna then he was going to go up there with them.

"Thanks." Danny stated. "Are you guys injuried at all? Do you need any medical attention?"

"No." The woman finally spoke. "Thanks to that young lady were alive and well."

Deciding that it would be a good idea to get them something to drink and a place to sit down Danny led them over to a table that had been left over. "It's what she does best."

"She said she was a Texas Ranger." The woman remembered.

"Yeah; here on assignment to the NYPD." Danny elaborated. "But I have to go join the team that's heading up so I'm gonna have a freind of mine come and look you over just to make sure."

Once everything was set with Hawkes and the couple he headed towards Don who was talking with the man in charge of that task force that had seemed to have assembled in a matter of minutes. Stopping he spoke to one of the officers breifly; telling him that he was a detective with the NYPD and he was planning on going with them. Just as he was handed a bullet proofvest to slap on a large hand came down on his shoulder. Not wanting to turn around because he knew who it was the other man continued to strap his vest on; thanking the same man who had gotten it for him as he handed him a handgun and extra clip which he slipped into his pants pocket.

"You're not going with us Danny." Don finally spoke.

"Yes I'am." He countered; fully prepared to fight as he faced the taller man.

"I made I promise to Arianna to keep you safe. And that's a promise I don't plan on breaking." Don informed him.

"Well I hate to break it to you but your gonna have to. Because there's no way I'm going to stand here and let you go up there without me." Danny argued.

"You know I can stop you if I have to." Don reminded; voice firm yet full of sympathy.

There was a time when he would've backed down at the hard look in the Italian mans eyes that was a contradiction to the softness of his voice. Knowing full well that the other man was just as dangerous if not more so then Arianna. But as always with life things had a away of changing; especially when the woman you loved most in the world was risking her life to save a bunch of people who would never know exactly what had happened tonight. So though he knew it wouldn't do a damn but of good; hoping that he would appeal to the heart that he knew that other man possesed; Danny stood with shoulders squared; ready to take him on if he had to.

"Do what you feel you need to do. But one way or another I'm going with them whether you like it or not." He stated.

Breaking promises was not something he liked to do; wasn't part of his code of ethics if you wanted to put it in that sense. And despite that fact that he knew he could easily take his best freind down for the count he wouldn't and in the end couldn't do so. So far he'd been able to hold hisself back but there was no telling how long that was going to last. At least this way if he decided to go half cocked and try to get information out of anyone who still happened to be breathing when they made it to the first floor it was better that Don was with him to make sure he didn't do anything too stupid.

"Fine." The other detective agreed. "But you better make sure you don't get yourself killed. Because if you Arianna's gonna whoop my ass."

Checking and re-checking his gun as they made their way to the door that would lead them to where they needed to go Danny didn't say a word. In his heart he wanted to believe that she would be alive to ream him a new ass. His gut however was telling that that prayer was going to be a very short lived one.