A/N: My most sincere apologies for not getting this up earlier. RL and the petition have been taking up my time. That and I currently have a nasty cold that has pretty much taken all my energy. Anyways, this is the last chapter. The next one will be an epilogue. Enjoy!

I felt my back slam hard into the side of the truck, causing pain to shoot through my body. Two masked men stood over me, prodding me with their guns. One of them turned their gaze to my right side, and I followed it with a heavy heart.

A clearly terrified Adam was huddled beside me, shaking violently and face covered in open cuts. I swiftly scanned his form. His clothing was torn and dotted with blood, and his eyes were wide with horror.

Both captors wandered off to the side, leaving me with Adam. My younger counterpart was still shivering, and my eyes ventured to his outstretched hands. Circular abrasions were burned into his palm, and I questioned him with a wary voice.

"Adam, what did they do to you?"

He banged his head against the side, spittle flying from his mouth as he did. "They…they made me give everything away, Danny. The passwords, codes…all of it. They pressed cigarette butts into my palm and forced me to speak."

I gritted my teeth in anger. I had to do something, had to contact someone to make them aware of the situation. Very carefully taking out my Blackberry, I started dialing in Flack's number, constantly checking over my shoulder to see if I had been noticed.

I was nearly done when one of the men turned and spotted me. With a harsh yell, both ran over, one kicking me in the spine and causing me to cry out in agony. His companion stomped down hard on my left hand. Pain such as I had never known jolted me like furious lightning, and I instinctively pulled my limb inwards.

"What do you want?" I demanded, struggling to ignore the throbbing pains. "The drugs are gone!"

The bigger one spoke in a thick Irish accent. "Shut up! You sit there an' don't move, you understand? No more funny games now."

Without another word, he crumbled my Blackberry as easily as a crisp leaf breaks apart in autumn.

---

I stood at the edge of the shore, peering out at the seemingly endless ocean. Above me, countless white orbs dotted the sky, enveloping me in a polka-dot blanket of safety.

After a few moments the water parted to make a path for someone who was walking towards me. As they grew closer, I could feel a sense of comfort and familiarity sweep through me like a gentle breeze. I finally saw their face, and my breath hitched in my throat.

Aiden.

Her fiery eyes piercing mine, she called out in an loud accusing voice. "Why do you sleep, Messer? Your friend is in danger!"

She jabbed me in the chest, causing me to stumble back. More surprised than sore, I stared quizzically at her.

"Aiden, it's me, Danny! Why are you attacking me?"

"A true warrior does not slumber whilst others are in need!" She poked me again, and before I could retaliate she stepped back into the waters, her strong tone slicing through the air like a giant knife.

"Awake!"

---

My eyes snapped open and I sat up, quickly realizing that I had drifted off to sleep. How long I wasn't sure, but I cursed myself for wasting precious time. I knew Aiden was right: Adam was in trouble.

Before I could do anything, however, I had to wrap my severely broken hand before any more damage was done. Quickly but quietly ripping off a section of my shirt, I dug into my jean pocket and grabbed my badge cover, biting down on it with my teeth. Adam watched in silence as I began the gruesome process of straightening my fingers.

My teeth dug into the material as I held back the first yelp, but the pain was too much and I spat out the holder. As I began wrapping my injured hand, I inquired Adam as to what he had in his kit. He listed off several items, and one caught my attention.

"You gotta get your kit, buddy."

Adam shook his head. "Danny, they'll kill us both. I can't."

"Yes you can," I urged him. He was still reeling from the trauma; choked sobs broke his voice. "Listen to me Adam. I know you're scared, but so am I. You are going to get that kit."

He started to mutter something but I tore off, leaping down onto the ground. "Hey scumbags!" I called out to our captors. With a smirk on my face, I led them away from the truck, allowing Adam to freely grab his kit.

Their backs to Adam, one man struck me in the face with the butt of his gun. I spat out a tooth and glared up at him.

"Jus' gettin' some fresh air, that's all."

They laughed evilly and continued to beat me down, kicking and punching my already battered body. Eventually they halted, but I was not willing to give up. I snarled at my two tormentors and gritted out insults, knowing I had to keep them busy whilst Adam retrieved the acid needed for my plan.

The bigger male lifted me up by my hair and held a phone to my ear, whispering in a cruel voice. "You're going to make a little phone call, mate."

---

I had had enough. As one of the men prodded my hunched-over figure with his gun, I threw my uninjured hand up, tossing the acid into his face. He stumbled back, clawing madly at his eyes and screaming as the liquid burned his vision. Staggering onto my feet, I grabbed his shirt and pushed back, slamming him in the side and punching him several times. I crumbled with his body and, with my last vestige of strength, managed to take out his companion, who had appeared after hearing the commotion.

Blackness threatened to engulf me again, and I dimly heard Flack barge into the warehouse, aiming his shouts at the men situated outside the truck. Adam's voice suddenly echoed through the building.

"Don't shoot! They're cops!"

I remained in the truck, struggling to get onto my feet. In those few moments I thanked the heavens that it was me and not her.

"Danny!"

Lindsay. My gaze met hers as she ran to the back of the vehicle, nervously placing her gun back in its holder.

A groan escaped my throat. "Lindsay…" Save me.

"Come on, easy now." She whispered some encouraging words as I instinctively wrapped my arm around her shoulders. She did the same, assisting with planting my feet on firm ground. Flack approached us, but Lindsay gently chided him away with her promise to take me to the hospital.

As we limped out of the building, my mind strayed back to the day Lindsay went undercover, and I storming in after she had been made. She was in need of rescuing, and I had been there to save her, to pick her up when she had fallen.

Now it was I who was stumbling, and just like I had done many months before, Lindsay was there to catch me.

---

Days shifted into weeks, and my injuries slowly began to heal. Granted I was still useless in the lab, but I managed to get around without any assistance. Lindsay was there through it all, never once complaining about the sleepless nights she spent nursing me back to health.

In the time since my ordeal I had thought greatly about my relationship with Lindsay and just how much she had changed my life. I was no longer the hot-headed kid I used to be. That Danny was gone, wisped away like a soft breeze over a golden meadow. I was now a mature young man who had been taught patience and love by someone who, ironically, needed it in return. Lindsay was my light, my pillar of strength and courage, and I was hers.

We had been through a lot in our lives, and somehow our paths managed to cross at just the right time. I can still see that sweet innocent smile she flashed me when we first met at the zoo, but behind those chestnut eyes laid a feisty spirit. She had learned to heal and trust, and in turn she showed me that hope is the greatest thing one can hold onto. She taught me to forgive those who were close to me, and that family is something you should never let go of.

Someone once said that love would find me, that its wondrous feeling would someday fill my heart with glory and happiness. I didn't believe them for a second. That all changed when I met the simple country girl who immediately stole my spirit.

My country girl.

My Montana.