Here's another chapter. Thanks again for all the reviews. I'm sorry it's taking me so long. I just want to get his done so bad that I think I'm getting a serious case of writers block again. For all those who are waiting to find out what happens I promise it won't be too much longer once I can get past this freaking wall that seems to be stopping me from updating. Enjoy!

I own nothing dealing with CSI NY or Walker, Texas Ranger. All other characters are mine.

Chapter Twenty

Okay; now I feel like I'm going to vomit. That's so not good, Arianna thought.

Having made her way back to the front of the hotel; seeing the front door as the only viable point of entry; she was in the first stages of a serious panic attack. Everything that had happened up to this moment hadn't fazed her one bit. Actually she should retract that previous statement. All those people who'd been hurt; been killed because of the vendetta of one man. Danny getting captured and waiting to see if he lived or died had torn a serious hole in her heart. One that she wasn't sure would heal. But none of that had made her feel as if a thousand pound bull were sitting on her with no intention of getting up anytime soon.

None of it had made her want to run screaming the other way. Make her feel like a coward because of those thoughts. Why was it now; after all these years and the second time around; that Mandala was reducing her to nothing more then a blubbering idiot. Because as she made her way down the hall towards what had now become their makeshift fight ring a small part of her knew that this time she might not make it out alive.

Hearing footsteps crunching over the debris that had yet to be picked up Arianna pulled out her gun; ready for whatever was waiting. Rounding the corner she heard the noise again and found herself pointing the barrel of her gun at Danny's face. A man behind him with an AK-47 slung over his shoulder.

Not caring who saw or what Mandala would think she wrapped her arms around her fiancée; needing to feel him in her arms. To know that he was still alive and not just a figment of her very tired and overworked imagination. Feeling him wince underneath her embrace she pulled back; studying him as she did so.

Hair dishelved; glasses gone and a nice shiner below his left eye he looked like he'd been hit by a bus. Blood was splattered on the front of his dirt covered dress shirt; a cut on his lip likely the cause. From the way he flinched at her contact she could guess that he had a couple of bruised ribs and hoped that what she saw was the worst of his injuries.

"Danny; baby I'm so sorry. What did they do to you?" Arianna was close to tears.

"Nothing I haven't dealt with before." He answered; running hands up and down her arms; needing to know that for the most part she was safe.

"This is all my fault; you aren't suppose to be here." Arianna cursed.

Putting his hands on either side of her face he planted a kiss on her lips to quite her. Pulling back he gave her as big a smile as he could muster with part of his lip split open.

"Don't even go there." He reprimanded gently. "You had no idea this was going to happen like this. There's nothing to be sorry for."

"Enough of this touchy feely stuff." The man with the semi-automatic cut roughly between them.

"Mr. Mandala wants me to check you for weapons." he told Arianna.

Stepping back she spread her arms and legs wide; keeping eye contact with Danny all the while. The look on the New Yorker's face could've killed as the bear of a man searched her; taking his sweet time. Begging him with her eyes to not do anything stupid she almost sagged with relief when she saw his body visibly relax. That however didn't mean that she couldn't give him a warning of her own.

"Your hands go anywhere there not suppose to and I'll personally break everyone of your fingers; got it." She snarled; not surprised when he used a zip tie to bind her hands behind her back.

Even though he smirked at her she could tell as he stepped back; unwilling to tempt fate; that he was scared. Placing her guns in his pocket and pack over his shoulder he shoved his gun into her back as he led them both the short distance that was left to the ballroom. Shoving her in the center of the great expanse he was replaced by an equally as big and ugly looking guard. Watching as he previous warden ushered Danny none to gently over to the side of the room; tying his hands together once again Arianna knew this was it. The moment of truth.

And as if one cue the man in question emerged from the shadows. Fear cold and calculated clenched her heart as she watched him walk towards her. The one man in her entire career that could make her so scared she turned to stone; paralyzed and unable to move. By the look on his face; the smirk that was best left to a snake or the spawn of satan gracing his face telling her knew exactly the effect her was having on her.

Dressed in a suit that cost more then her entire wardrobe as always she knew that underneath the suave and classy exterior was a ruthless son of a bitch who would kill his own mother if she knew anything about his organization in order to keep his self safe. There had been numerous undercover agents; both male and female; sent into his compound before she'd been assigned to the case. All of them fooled by his seemingly flawless charm and good looks.

It had killed him that she'd been the one to resist it all. To fight against him to the bitter end to make sure he was put behind bars. That combined with the fact that she'd been the one person to kick his ass; marring his perfect features the last time they'd met had made her his number one most wanted cop.

"It's been a long time Ranger Walker." Mandala spoke. "You're still looking as beautiful as ever."

"And you're still a scum sucking sadistic drug dealing bastard." Arianna spat. "Now that we've covered that can you untie me so we can get down to the business at hand."

Gritting his teeth together to stop his self from laughing; or even grinning for that matter; Danny watched as the sadistic bastard in question approached her. The look in his eye that of an animal who was finally done stalking his prey and was ready to devour it. An uneasy feeling settled in the pit of his stomach; making the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Something wasn't right. Well something bedsides the obvious wasn't right.

"There's no need to be harsh Arianna." Mandala shook a finger at her. "Here I' am giving you a compliment and all you can do is be rude."

Hanging her head she started to laugh; oblivious to the looks of curiosity she was getting from the hired guns as well as his self. What the hell was there about this goatfuck that seemed to be so funny? Because Danny would sure as hell like to know.

"This coming from the man who just blew up a hotel filled with innocent people. All in an attempt to get to me; and I'm the one that's rude." She raised her head. "I'd say killing people trump's me being snide to you any day of the week."

"But I have you now." Mandala reminded. "So it was well worth all those lives."

It was then that something about her demeanor changed. Gone was the woman who had been able to keep her face neutral; to laugh about and make light of the situation they were currently in; while still being the warrior Danny knew she was. Instead it was as if her whole body was made of stone; the light in her eyes going from pissed off to evil. There was no other way to describe it. Standing before the man who had made her life a living hell; twice; she was just as sadistic looking as she claimed him to be. The look was completed when she turned her eyes that had suddenly become dark and flinty in Mandala's direction; a snarl that made Danny visibly flinch crossing her lips.

"Which is why I'm going to enjoy watching the light fade from your eyes even more as I twist the knife into your flesh." The voice that escaped her lips was deeper; as if she was possessed by some sort of demon.

Anything else could've come out of her mouth then. She could've insulted his country, his friends, even the guys mother; and the young New Yorker had the feeling that it wouldn't have evoked the kind of response that threatening his life had.

After that everything seemed to go in slow motion. Arianna still looked like she wanted to kill him with her bare hands; torturing him before doing so. Mandala however wasn't about to let that happen. Reaching into his jacket he withdrew something; stepping closer to the young ranger in the process. By the time he knew what was happening. Before he'd even gotten a chance to make a run towards his fiancée the glint of the knife was just a mere memory as it plunged through the air towards her.

"Arianna look out!" Danny yelled.

The warning had come too late. She'd been so wrapped up in loathing for him she'd seen the weapon coming at her too late. Even as she twisted to the side; making a dive for the table behind her to avoid being stabbed the tip of the knife sliced through her abdomen. Pain; like a something she'd never felt before plowed through her body as she felt the sharp object twist inside her. As she watched the man who had been waiting so long to kill her withdraw the dagger from her flesh irony hit her. Just seconds ago she'd been threatening to do to him the very same thing he'd done to her.

Hitting the table with a thud she tried not to become light headed as blood gushed from her middle. With her hands behind her back and no weapons in sight she was way beyond being SOL. Laying there in a prone position was not the smartest thing to do considering Mandala would more then likely come at her with the knife again any second.

Picking up her head seemed to be the hardest thing she'd ever done; it felt as if it weighed a thousand pounds. In fact every limb felt that way. Her vision was starting to blur and she knew that in a moment or two she was going to loose consciousness. Not something that was going to be a good idea. If that happened both she and Danny were dead. It was fine with her if it was her time to go but she knew it wasn't Danny's and she'd be damned if the grim reaper was going to get a last Christmas present.