Here's yet another chapter. Again I apologize that there so short but I'm trying to figure out how to end this with the big finish I'm sure those who've read this are anticipating. Thanks again for the reviews. Enjoy!

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

Chapter Twenty-Two

I'm going to be feeling that one in the morning, Danny inwardly grimaced.

Cradling his broken wrist he tried to ignore the pounding in his head and the throbbing of his jaw as he stood on shaky legs. Spitting out some blood from his split lip; and possibly a tooth; the New Yorker tried to figure out what to do next. Dodging and trying to bid his time while he prayed that Arianna would come back around had done nothing more then make him into Mandala's punching bag.

Watching as the man in question stood back; rolling his shoulders as if beating the crap out of him had been a warm up before the fight he still anticipated with Arianna. Chancing a glance in her direction he noticed she was no longer lying prone but sitting up. Alebiet she was hunched over it was still better then her looking as if she was dead. From here he could see that her face was still pale; eyes glazed due to pain and loss of blood.

Venturing his gaze back to the man who was coming at him again; not wanting to give away the fact that Arianna was up and moving around he made one last ditch attempt to take him down. Lunging forward he used all his body weight; which wasn't much because his opponent had at least a hundred pounds extra; to propel him backwards. Unfourtanetly he was too wrapped up in getting the upper hand that he forgot that the ballroom was littered with debri. Uncerimouniously he tripped over a fallen chair; possibly the same one he'd thrown at the drug lord before the man had broken his wrist.

Hand covering her stab wound Arianna pushed herself to her feet; the world spinning while she stood still. Shaking it as if it would clear her wavering vision along with the pounding in her head the young ranger looked over just in time see Danny tumble end over end; Mandala right in there with him as he tripped over a piece of furniture that had been scattered by the earlier blast.

Remebering her mothers words; remebering what needed to be done in order for this nightmare to be over; the young woman straightened completely. Stomach rolling; nausea ready to take over at any moment she pushed it all aside; canvasing the room with her gaze to locate her pack that contained the quick clot she would need to get her bleeding under control. And held the weapons that would ultimately give her the upper hand she desperately needed.

Once she spotted it the realization came to her that getting to it was going to be a whole other set of problems. By now Mandala was back on his feet; concentration still on Danny; oblivious to the fact that she was still alive. His men however were not as naive and came at her full force; not wanting to use guns on the off chance that in their rush to kill her they'd miss and hit their boss.

No longer able to hold her arm against her side to stop from losing what was no doubt what little blood she had left Arianna raised it instead to fend off yet another knife that came at her. Following through with a right hook she turned her attention from that man as he fell to the one that she could hear coming at her from behind. Grabbing the hand that was ready to latch itself onto her shoulder she bent over; using her back as a spring board to toss him over her body and onto a table over in the corner.

Hearing it splinter she continued on her way; determined to not faint as her legs became weaker. As it became harder to see or think straight. A bear of a man came at her next; rage in every movement he made. Lashing out with a side kick she followed through with a roudhouse to his jaw; effectively taking him out of commission and out of her hair for good.

Just as she was only a few feet away from where her things had been tossed; as the thought crossed her mind that there should've been more then three men here she was proven wrong. Pain lanced through the back of her already throbbing skull as a large hand grabbed the hair that had fallen from her bun and yanked like their life depended on it. Yelping in pain she tried to pry off the one hand with both of hers to no use as she was dragged across the floor. Trying to keep her body curled into a ball as she twisted and turned; doing anything she could to get out of the persons grasp; wasn't easy and the wound on her side stretched further and further. As broken glass and wood dug into her back; ripping the fabric along with her flesh.

Before she could process the pain; process the feeling of her flesh being pulled apart little by little her head was freed. Only for it to slam against the wall along with the rest of her body; the same hand that had her by the hair moments ago finding it's way to her neck.

"Well this is a pleasant surprise." Mandala's voice drifted across the now silent room. "I thought you'd left before the party had even begun."

Squeezing as he spoke Arianna could see the gleam of pure rage; of utter insanity in his eyes become brighter and brighter as his grip became tighter. The other hand using her ribs and abdomen as a punching bag; showing no mercy to her stab wound on her side. To the fact that she was already bruised and bloodied beyond what her body could and should be able to handle.

Again she tried to pry his fingers from her flesh to no avail; rasping as it became almost impossible to breath. Feet dangling in the air she couldn't do much more then claw at him like a wounded animal; lungs burning as they faught for oxygen. Body withering in pain of it's own accord as it tried to get out of the way.

Moving her head the inch or so that his grip was allowing she saw Danny; lying on the floor in a heap of dirt, ragged clothes and blood. From there she couldn't tell whether or not he was breathing and feared the worst. Vision starting to blacken again she was beginning to know what is was like to be blind; to live in a world of darkness.

And as tears unvoluntairly streamed down her face. As she felt her windpipe being crushed what seemed like one millimeter at a time she knew that soon she was going to find out. Only this wasn't going to be a world where she could breath; could still walk and talk; act like a normal human being. This was one where she was no longer the living. Where she would join her mother and ancestors like she had moments ago. But unlike then this would be permanent.

Without Danny there was nothing left to live for. Because once he was done with him Mandala would go after her family. Her father Cordell; her sisters Gabby and Vanessa. Alex; the woman who'd filled a void in their lives after their mother had been murdered. Trivette who was the complete opposite of her father; who balanced him out so well and had become like an uncle to her.

All of them dead just like Gage; their guts hanging out for everyone to see. And he'd somehow keep her alive to watch it unfold. Everything they'd been through; everything she'd promised him and her family about keeping them safe was for nothing. He was severely hurt if not dead; the Walker family next in line and it was all her fault.

You were wrong mother; there's nothing I can do to stop this. It is my time, Arianna thought.

With her last breath she turned to where Danny still lay; uttering what she knew were going to be her last words.

"I'm so sorry. I love you."

Then her world went black.