Yet again another chapter to add to the list. I know I've been promising that the end was near and it is. I'm not just blowing smoke. Lol. Things just had to be reworked a little because I didn't like the way it was originally going to play out.

Again thanks for the reviews and support. Enjoy!

I own nothing dealing with CSI NY or Walker Texas Ranger

Chapter Twenty Six

True to the doctors word she was released not three but two days later. Being the saving grace that he was her father had brought her one of her best suits; an Armani one she'd splurged on a couple of months ago. The cut and light blue color of it accented her eyes and body. It helped to look your best when you were getting ready to testify in a trial once she landed in Dallas. Captain Redfox had sent the ranger plane for her; wanting to get her back and the ball rolling as soon as possible.

During the time she'd been unconscious a lot of things had gone down. Once the NYPD had gotten Mandala's men to talk they'd given all the information to the Texas Rangers. Which in turn had led them to be able to take down three quarters of his operation. All of it would've been nice but they'd made a huge dent in organized crime and the fight against drugs. It was good enough for her.

Packing the last of her stuff she reached for her jacket; knowing she was fidgeting. She still hadn't talked to Danny about having to end their relationship. It was something she didn't want to do but as she'd told her dad; had to be done. Placing a hand over her chest she unconsciously started to rub it over her heart; feeling it break for what seemed the hundredth time.

Part of her wanted to just leave without saying anything; leave the ring she'd allowed him to place back on her finger. As much as she knew she shouldn't have the look of utter joy on his face when he'd known she was alive; when he'd been able to hold her in his arms was enough to stop her from saying anything.

Plus the fact that the young ranger had wanted to be with him. Had been scared to death that he was dead or worse once she'd found out Mandala had gotten him. Once his face had come into her view it was like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

Even thinking about the pain she had to go through when basically telling him to shove off. Never mind the pain Danny was going to go through made her sick to her stomach. And the fact that she had little to nothing in it was going to make it twice as bad if she ended up throwing up. Eyes welling up she willed them to stay back; not wanting to ruin the make up Stella had carefully helped her put on to cover up what was left on her bruises.

Dwelling on it was no longer an option as the door to her room opened revealing Danny in a suit for the first time since she'd met him. Black with a royal blue dress shirt underneath it made him look even sexier then she'd thought possible. A smile lit his face up from ear to ear and she felt all the nerve she'd built up for her speech sink all the way to her toes.

"You're dad's waiting outside for you." He told her. "I'd go with you to the airport but because my part of the testimony hasn't been given yet I have to stay here and sit in a stuffy court room all day."

"I'll be doing the same in Dallas so trust me you're not alone in your misery." Arianna reminded.

Up until the point when he'd touched Danny was oblivious to anything being wrong. But when he walked over to give her a kiss on the lips and felt her rigid beneath this touch warning bells started going off. Something told him in the back of his head that he'd known things weren't right for the last couple of days but refused to believe it. He'd just been so happy that Arianna was going to make it that nothing else mattered. Then again it could just be him over reacting to the fact that neither one knew how long it was going to be before they saw each other again.

Stepping back he caught her gaze; saw the hard edge to it. And the sadness that lurked beyond that. Something was defiantly going on and he had a strange feeling that another of his worst nightmares was about to come true.

"I have a feeling I'm not going to like what you have to say next." Danny finally spoke.

Letting her shoulders sag in defeat Arianna no longer had the energy to keep up the tough facade she'd been trying to perfect all morning. Everything about this man dropped her defenses. Even when she was going to be giving him the boot.

"We need to talk..." She started.

"About us." Danny interrupted; dread filling his stomach as the words left his mouth.

Unable to look him in the eye she slipped on her jacket as she walked to the window; looking out at the snow covered grounds and buildings beyond. "Yeah. Everything that happened last week drove the point home even further that I can't put you through all this. That it's best we end this and go our separate ways. You're life depends on it."

Her words hit him harder then any of Mandala's thugs ever had; putting what felt like hundreds of tiny shards of glass into his heart. The only thing that didn't make him give up complete hope was the fact that she couldn't look him in the eye. That her voice broke as she basically told him in a nice way to go get bent.

Walking over he put his hands on her shoulders. Feeling her tense under him Danny didn't back down. After everything they'd been through there was no way in hell he was backing down from this without a fight.

"Do I get any kind of say in this?" He wondered.

Whirling on her heel to face him he saw all trace of sadness gone from her blue orbs. In it's place was the look she'd had in her eyes when she'd gone against Zach Hunter and Mandala. Determination; steely and dark made her look like she was ready for a fight. Figured that was the best way to get him to go away. Well he'd be damned if he'd give her one. He'd kill her with kindness. If that didn't work he'd go back on his vow and fight tooth and nail.

"No. I've made up my mind and there's nothing you can say or do that's going to change my mind." She spoke. "Danger is a constant companion in my life. A constant weight on my shoulders that will never go away as long as I' am who I' am. And I'm sorry but I refuse to give up my job; my life for anyone."

"I never asked you to do any of that." Danny argued; temper wanting to rear it's ugly head.

"I realize that but that's not the point." Arianna interrupted. "Bottom line is you're not equipped to deal with the complications that come with my life. You never asked for this and I'm not about to lay it on you. Because believe me the shit would get pretty damn deep."

"What do you mean I'm not equipped to deal with your life?" To hell with being nice; the insults were making this get way out of hand. "I'm a cop for crying out frigging loud. Deal with danger just like you do. A bad guy is a bad guy no matter whether he comes from New York or Dallas."

"But the baddies I deal with are ten times as worse." Arianna yelled. "Another Mandala could pop up and instead of getting a good beating you could die."

It was then that her voice cracked for the second time before she could stop it and Danny felt the ray of hope come back that had gone away when she'd started to throw barbs at him.

"We'll deal with it when and if it comes to that." Danny assured.

Brushing past him she picked up her duffle; swinging it carefully over her shoulder. As far as she was concerned this conversation was over; done. It had to be or she'd take one more look in his blue orbs and throw everything she'd just told him out the window at the same time she threw herself into his waiting arms.

"There is no we or if. There's only me and when." Arianna growled; mean clearly back into place. "The minute I step out of this door were done; through. A clean break; no contact not nothing. It's better that way in case some of Mandala's associates take up the mantle of his business and try to start making connections."

Rushing to her he grabbed her arm just as she placed a hand on the door knob; serious as a heart attack. Arguing had done no good; being nice had gotten him no where. Begging was the only thing left and at this point he wasn't above it.

"Arianna let's sit down; talk about this..." Danny pleaded.

"We've already talked about it." Arianna was unable to meet his gaze; instead looking out the small glass window of her room where her father stood down the hall; talking with Mac and the rest of the team as he waited for her. "Besides my dad's waiting for me. I have to get back to Dallas."

"So everything we've been through. The memories we shared both good and bad. Our feelings; the fact that we love each other more than anything in this world means nothing to you?" Danny's own voice shook and he didn't bother to control it.

Pulling the ring of her left hand she took his hand in hers palm up. Gently she set it down and closed his fingers over it. Leaning forward she gave a gentle kiss on his smooth cheek; tears sliding down her face all the while.

"It means more to me then you'll ever know." Arianna whispered. "I love you more then I've ever loved anyone. If you were taken from me because of my life; because of what I do I'd never be able to forgive myself. I'd die right along with you. Letting you go now is the lesser of two very hard choices; two evils."

"I love you; isn't that enough to over ride all that?" Danny had to know.

Giving a watery smile she laid a gentle hand on the cheek she'd kissed moments ago. "More then enough. And I love you too. Which is why as the old saying goes I'm letting you go. Letting you have a chance at a normal life. Something I'm not sure I'll ever have."

Not being able to resist the urge and having nothing to say; his voice somehow gone; Danny pulled her to him. Being gentle despite the hurricane of pain rolling around inside him he crushed his lips over hers. All his emotions spilled into the kiss as she gave into the urge and dropped her duffle; wrapping her arms around his neck even as she slid her tongue farther into his mouth.

Having her lips warring with his; tongue shoved down his throat was the last thing Arianna should've been doing. But as soon as she'd felt his body against hers all coherent thought went out the window. As the need for air made her brain start to function again she knew she had to break away and get out of the hospital as fast as her legs would carry her before she said to hell with it took back everything she'd said. For his sake that couldn't happen.

Ripping herself from him the young ranger scooped up her bag and wrenching open the door headed down the hall at a little more then a sprint. It was obvious that everyone waiting to say their good byes had seen; and possibly heard everything from the looks of shock and disbelief on their faces. Giving curt but as polite as possible goodbye hugs and wishes to those who were staying here Arianna barked to her father and the two other rangers with him that she was ready to leave.

At the end of the hall Danny sunk to his knees in the doorway of his fiancée's hospital room.

Ex- fiancée, he grimaced as tears streamed down his face.

Nothing registered to him after he watched her retreating back for the last time as it walked through the outer doors of the hospital into the winter day. Not Stella and Adien coming to him; sitting on the ground with their arms wrapped around him as he sob uncontrollably. As his heart lay bleeding and bare on the floor for his friends to try to pick the pieces back up. Because as far as he was concerned without Arianna in his life he had no heart; he was dead.