Here's another chapter. I'm trying to update quicker now but as I'm getting to the end I find that I'm fussing over it more to make sure that I give everyone the ending I'm sure their waiting for. Thanks again for all the reviews; they've really helped me out.

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

Enjoy!

Chapter Nineteen

"And as for Danny you can keep him. He means nothing to me anymore."

Arianna's words rang in his ear and though he knew it was all lies. That she had been bluffing for Mandala's benefit the hurt still cut like a dull knife through his already breaking heart.

As he'd come around from the drugs; noticing the video monitors and computers surrounding the tiny room; dread had pooled deep in his gut as realization dawned on him. Because of his actions. Because he'd been stupid enough to get caught Mandala now had a bargining chip that the young ranger wouldn't be able to let go.

Now everything he'd worked for; everything they'd worked so hard to acheive was pointless. He'd gotten Arianna to come so far in trusting him. That the relationship they'd formed was going to be able to withstand her lifestyle and all that came with it. What was happening now coutneracted everything he'd told her about being able to handle the danger that came with being in her life. About the past being in the past. Instead of heeding the young womans warnings he'd gone ahead and tried to play the hero. Now she was going to pay for it.

If she didn't make it out of this alive. If something happened tonight to turn the tables more against her then they already were and she lost her life he'd never forgive hisself.

Shifting his weight; legs cramping from sitting too long he tried to move his arms and realized for the first time that they were tied behind his back. And they hurt like a bitch; along with his jaw where one of the goons had punched him hard enough to whip his head back in order to silence him. Testing his bonds he felt the nylon rope dig into his skin and bit back a cuss word as the fabric burned his wrists. Moving his legs to see if they'd removed the knife from his pocket he wasn't surprised when he found nothing. Every part of this nightmare from beginning to end had been planned and thought out so meticuously that there was no room for error.

Squinting his eyes against the bright light and pounding headache that was forming he looked up to assess the situation around him. There were ten people total in the thirty by forty foot room; hisself and the man he assumed was Mandala included. Apparently the man was more afraid of Arianna then he led people to believe.

Good. I can't wait to see the look on your face when she wipes the floor with your ass, Danny thought.

It wasn't just the fact that he was the only one not dressed from head to toe in black but the auroa about him that told Danny the man in the white linen suit and black silk shirt was the Columbian drug lord. Black hair cropped close and spiked in the front he had a strong chisled jawline, high cheekbones, and a broad but slightly crooked nose which told him that he'd had it broken more then once. On the right side of his face was a scar that ran through his eyebrow. eye itself, and ended halfway through his cheek. Red and puckered he could tell that it had been a while since he sustained the injury but it had gone deep enough to leave a nasty look behind. Because of it one orb was brown; almost black and menacing . While the other was a milky white; which in turn made him look like the walking dead.

To most it probably instilled fear. For him it was a reminder that Arianna had beaten him once and could do it again. Made him suddenly not want to give up on trying to get out of here. Give Arianna the upper hand by being one less thing she had to worry about during her fight with Mandala.

"Ah; I see you've come back around." Mandala walked towards him. "I'm sorry about that. Enrique like's to use more force then necessary sometimes."

"I'm sure you are." Danny referred to his apology; no small measure of anger his voice.

Taking a hankercheif out of the inner pocket of his jacket Mandala proceeded to try to wipe the blood that had already crusted on his lip off. Moving his head away he resisted the urge to spit in the mans face. It would only provoke him and his wrath was the last thing the New Yorker wanted if he was going to try to escape from here on his own two feet.

"There's no need to be hostile." The smile plastered on his face reminded Danny of a snake. "I'm just trying to be a gracious host."

"Yeah because knocking your guests out and tying them up is in the guide book right next to offering them a cold beverage." He snarled.

Laugh sounding like a villian from a bad bad movie the other man rose to his feet; shaking a finger at him. "No wonder Ranger Walker loves you so much; you have quiet a sense of humor."

This was where his heart was going to break yet again because in order to go along with the cover Arianna had put in place he had to act as if he didn't give a damn.

"Didn't you hear her? She obviously doesn't love me if she's telling you to do whatever you please with me." Danny reminded. "And I can't say I'm all that upset about it. I mean who wants to date a woman who's more of a hardass then he is?"

Making a tsking sound the drug lord grabbed a chair and placing it in front of the young man folded his long limbed body into it. Leaning forward; elbows on his knees he gave him a knowing smile.

"The; how do you say; bullshit is getting very deep in here." Mandala stated. "You see I know Ranger Walker; as well as yourself; a lot better then you think I do. And both of you are lying through your perfect white teeth."

"Well I don't know about Arianna but I think I know myself well enough to tell when I'm lying and when I'm telling the truth." Danny countered.

"That may very well be but Ranger Walker is not the kind of person to be able to switch off her emotions when it comes to the people she cares about at the drop of a hat." Mandala was telling him stuff that he already knew but he kept quite; letting the other man have his moment. "I've been keeping tabs on you both since she first arrived in New York and know for a fact that she would lay down her life for you or anyone of the members of the team she's been working with."

"Because she's loyal to a fault; believes in people and the good they possess inside of them." Danny was sick of him talking about her. He didn't deserve to speak her name. "Doesn't believe in hurting those who are innocent."

"I'm sure she makes an exception every now and then." Mandala compromised.

"Actually now that you mention she has." Danny smirked.

"Really?" Mandala acted as if he had no idea.

Grinning even wider he leaned forward; more then willing to give this particular information.

"Yeah. Tonight when she kills your ass. That's when she'll make an exception."

Apparently Mandala had taken her threat to heart because on the way back down to the ballroom there'd been no one there to stop her. No one to try to kick her ass. Then again he could want her in one piece to make sure he finished her slowly and painfully all on his own. Making her way across the large expanse; keeping as close to the wall as possible so both her back and front were covered she chanced a glance out of the cathredral window. People were covering the manicured lawn; watching the hotel as if something was going to leap out at them. As it was part of the place had just blown up and fallen down on them. No wonder they all looked so scared. She could also see what looked like the last of the body bags being loaded into the ambulance.

Bile rose in her throat at the scene before her and she pushed it back. All these people were in this state right now. All those lives had been lost because of her. Because of her past and one man who couldn't let it all go. Going out there was going to be a risk; leaving her in the wide open but at this point it didn't really matter. She's called Manadala out to finish this once and for all. Roaming free and in the open should be the last of her worries.

Going out the side entrance where the least amount of people were standing she looked around for any sign of the rest of the team. Something told her they were still here; that they'd refuse to leave until they knew that she and Danny were okay. Cops were still swarming around the place like it was a bee's nest. Another reason why she needed to find Don. To tell him to send them all home. Now it was down to her and the Columbian drug lord. It was and always had been her fight and no one elses.

Despite still sweating from her fight earlier the single digit tempatures and five feet of snow on the ground were starting to work it's way into her bones. Luckily it only took her a couple of minutes to find them and to her relief they were all very well bundled up in heavy duty winter jackets. Ignoring the looks people gave her at the tears in her clothes and the bruises she knew were on her face she headed towards them. The minute Stella and Adien laid their eyes on her they came rushing up; wrapping their arms around her in a bear hug. Without thinking or trying to stop it she flinched when pressure was put on her broken ribs.

"Arianna what happened?" Adien questioned.

"Nothing. I'm fine; just some bruises." She waved them off; turning to Don. "I need you to get all these people out of here. The cops especially."

"Ari; we can't find Danny." Don ignored her order.

Pushing past the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat Arianna prayed that her tears would stay at bay. "Mandala has him. I'm going to end this once and for all. That's why I want everyone including you guys out of here."

"We're not going to leave you here to deal with this on your own." Mac argued.

Thanking Sheldon for the jacket he draped around her shoulders she took the group in. Standing there ready to fight for her and Danny. The man who was like a brother and a son to them. The man she'd put in danger because of her past. She didn't deserve this. Their loyalty; their unwavering trust that she'd be able to make everything right. Didn't deserve Danny's love. But in the end here it was; staring her in the face with no signs of going away anytime soon. Which was exactly why she had to push it away as fast and as hard as she could.

Still reeling from the fact that his best freind had been captured and he hadn't even known about it Don watched as Arianna shurgged off the jacket the ME had given her; letting it fall to the ground without a second glance. Steel had replaced her usually blue eyes and the look on her face was like that of someone who knew they were walking to their death.

"I want all of you out of here in the next five minutes or I'll kick your ass' out myself." The young ranger growled before walking away.

Ignoring the warning in her voice Don went after her; knowing that if she tried to fight him he'd be able to take her. He might not be able to succeded but he could at least get her to slow down and talk to him.

"Arianna wait." He grabbed onto her arm.

Whirling on him she hauled off and punched him in the face. He was so taken aback by it that he hadn't had a chance to block it. When she turned to leave he grabbed for her once again; this time ready to block the arm that came at him. Twirling her around her wrapped his arms around her; holding on until she stopped struggling. Then something he hadn't expeted happened.

She started to cry.

Not just small tears but huge sobs that rocked both her body and his. Fighting back his own wave of emotion he held on for what seemed an eternity while she let it all out. In the short time since she'd arrived in the city she'd taken a small place in the hearts of everyone on the team. Though she was like a sister to him he hoped to one day meet a woman like Arianna. Felt that Danny was one of the luckiest men in the world; that he should hold on tight to the Texas woman and never let go. Now all of that was being threatened because the man in question was being held hostage by a man that wouldn't think twice about killing him. And the woman who had now quited in his arms felt that it was all her fault. That because of her past Danny was just waiting for the bullet that would end his life.

"Arianna please." Don whispered. "Let us help you. Or at least let me help you. I know you probably won't believe me but I'm a little more qualified then you might think."

Straigheting she broke his hold; bringing her hands up to wipe the tears that had streamed down her face. When she finally turned to look at him the sorrow was gone. In it's place was the same steel he'd seen earlier. The same void of emotions as before. This was the look of a woman who was willing to die so that Danny and the rest of them could live. A woman that knew what was in store for her and even though she had to be scared out of her mind was willing to face it head on.

"I don't give a damn if you've got the whole U.S. military backing you up." Arianna spat. "No one and nothing had better get in my way. Now get everyone out of here before things really go south."

"What are you going to do?" Don was afraid to ask.

A grin that had so much malice and down right evil in it crossed her face that he resisted the urge to cringe.

"Kill Mandala like I should've done two years ago. To send him to hell with a bullet in his head."