Thanks for the reviews! There's about two more chapters to go. I'll get them updated soon.

Opening the door Joss came to Clarisse's bent form. She lay a hand on her shoulder trying to keep herself together. "You hungry?" she asked gently.

Clarisse shook her head.

Joss sighed sitting down next to her. "Come on Clarisse. You've got to face it. Better now than later. Ignoring it and pushing Will away won't change the fact that he's alive and that you still care about him. I know what happened between you too. He left you to do an assignment for his job. And as far as you knew he died on that mission. Was there anybody else before Gary Marshall?"

"No. I couldn't even think about anyone else, but Will. It wasn't until I volunteered to work on the campaign that I met Gary. I got involved because it was around the time of the anniversary of Will's death. I was a wreck. I could barely concentrate on anything. When I was working on the campaign Gary noticed how down I was. He made conversation with most of the volunteers so I didn't think anything of it when he started talking to me. On occasion we talked about politics. Little things and we became friends. He tried to cheer me up. What started as simple exchanges turned into more."

"And so he swept you off your feet."

"Something like that. I was happy with him. He was such a committed person. So dedicated. I found myself able to laugh when I was with him. He made me smile and for a while I was able to forget about the pain of losing Will. Not to mention when he proposed I realized that there was a chance I could be happy again. But our relationship was kept quiet during that time so things were very different. The media didn't know about it. There was no paparazzi or prying eyes. I also am bothered by him leaving his wife after all those years. I guess I wonder if he'll one day leave me too. I know his family isn't thrilled we're together."

"But Will is back."

"Who cares?" she thrust out. "How could he do this to me? He let me think he was dead."

"Honey, he did what he did because he didn't want to disrupt your life. But you and I both know you've been having doubts. Look at me. Do you really love Gary Marshall enough to commit the rest of your life to him? To take him for all that he is?"

Clarisse didn't reply.

"Do you love Will?"

"I've always loved Will." Clarisse confessed.

Joss couldn't believe what she was about to say. "Then you should try and work things out. See him again. Talk to him. Don't get angry and rush off into this relationship when you're unsure. It will only leave you with regrets."

Amidst her tears Clarisse finally nodded. Suddenly she threw her arms around Carter. "Thank you Jocelyn. I don't know why you're doing this, but thank you."

"You're welcome honey. This kind of love is worth the fight," Jocelyn said blinking back tears.

…

Finch had all their lines opened and was listening carefully his eyes glued to his computer's screen. Shaw tried not to complain about the fancy uncomfortable dress she had to wear to the charity dinner, the senator was attending. Fusco lingered in the room while John remained close to Joss keeping an attentive eye on the Senator and Clarisse. John's eyes fell on Joss. She didn't seem herself. Hadn't since they had brought Will to see Clarisse. He wanted to know what was wrong, but hadn't had a good opportunity to ask her. She seemed so solemn and down. It was disarming for John who hated whenever she didn't have a smile on her face.

Clarisse mingled with the other guests sticking close to Marshall as John had advised her to. When the couple briefly separated her bodyguard took his place by her side. Or at most standing no more than a few feet away. She moved casually through the crowd an increasing distance happening between she and her bodyguard. But John didn't notice as his eyes once again rested on Joss.

He nudged her playfully drawing her attention, but instead of looking amused she remained somber. "What's wrong?" he asked with a smirk hoping to lighten her mood.

"Nothing," she mumbled.

"Did you and Clarisse talk about something you should let me in on?" He leaned a little closer. "Like maybe she still loves Will," he said confidently, but his attempt at being playful seemed to have the adverse effect as Carter's brow pinched. Her eyes lifted and she gasped.

"John where's Clarisse?" Immediately John began looking around the room. The woman was no where in sight. Abandoning Joss he moved through the room. "Finch, we lost her. Shaw and Fusco take the left and right halls down to the side exits. She can't be far."

…..

Clarisse tried to fight against the two men that dragged her. "Let me go," she mumbled against the hand that covered her mouth. "Please. Help!" She struggled, but her cries only resulted in her attackers treating her more roughly. The men almost had her to the door when suddenly John appeared taking one of them down. Letting go of his grip on Clarisse, he went after John. John held his hands up jerking back in time enough to miss the man's swing. He tried again, but John caught his fist in mid air and hit his arm no doubt breaking it. He kicked the man in the side forcing him to the ground. The other man was about to reach for his gun.

"NYPD!" Carter yelled moving towards them her gun drawn. "Hands up! I said hands up," she repeated through clenched teeth. Coming to his senses, he raised his hands. "You okay Clarisse?" she asked while cuffing the guy.

"Yeah, I'm good. But when is this going to end? Who are these people?"

"Don't worry." John assured. "We're going to settle this tonight."

…..

Crying uncontrollably Clarisse allowed Marshall to hold her close. Continuously she tried to compose herself, but every time she tried her mind became once again filled with the 'what ifs'. What if she had been taken? What if they planned to kill her? What if she never got married? What if she never saw Will again? That particular thought made her feel guilty, but she had thought it all the same.

She loved Gary. Then why was she having all the doubts? Why did she have this nagging feeling that she had fallen in love with an illusion? Finally she pulled herself together and sat up in her seat. Swiping angrily at her eyes.

"I don't get it!" she spit out angrily. "Why is this happening? Who is doing this?" Enraged her eyes landed on Marshall. "Gary! What is this? Is it your family? Are they upset? What?"

"John stretched his arms on the back of the chair he was standing behind. "Tell her," he said darkly. "Tell her the truth. Everything. Even the stuff we don't know. She has a right to know exactly the kind of man she's marrying."

With confused eyes Clarisse looked from John to her fiancé. "Gary. What is going on?" she demanded and this time Gary knew she wanted the truth.

Gary swallowed before looking into Clarisse's young eyes. "It's me. This all has been happening because of me." He held up his hand when Clarisse made to speak. "No. Let me finish. I have used my political power in the past to…aid certain sectors of organized crime."

Clarisse's eyes widened.

"It has been the foundation of my political career. But I have gone straight."

"Why?" Clarisse said boldly. Suspiciously. "Why now? After you've met me? Are you telling me you didn't go straight for your wife or your kids, but with me you are? Why?"

"Because when I met you, you were so pure, you had a vision of me that I wanted so desperately to be true. You were not blinded by who had been. I had a fresh start with you. You're someone I knew who would be unable to bring up my past. To remind of my failures."

Slowly Clarisse shook her head. "You lied to me. You did leave your wife for me." Clarisse said through clenched teeth, tears falling down her red eyes.

"Not entirely. I didn't pursue you romantically until the divorce was final."

"And the shootings, the attempted kidnapping…"

"The men I once associated with have put a price on your head, to get me to do what they want. To use my power to benefit them as I have done before."

Clarisse swallowed finally breaking contact. Her fear and sadness was replaced by anger. "None of this was real."

"Clarisse please," he tried to reach for her, but Clarisse jumped from the seat and glared at him.

"No. Don't touch me. I don't even know who you are. You didn't give me a chance to know who you really are." With a groan she stomped out of the room.

John sneered down at Marshall. "There's no time to wallow in self-pity."

"That's right," Joss jumped in. "Clarisse still has a price on her head."

"Now if you want that woman to live, it's up to you to save her."

"Me?" He screeched turning his frustration on them. "You're the ones who said you could protect her!" Gary Marshall accused.

"A little difficult to do our job when your boys from the hood keep poppin' up everywhere," Joss retorted growing highly annoyed with the man. If he wasn't a senator she might have punched him by now. Just to get in one good hit for all of the stupid things he had done.

"These men worked for you," John went on. "And I'll say they have connections everywhere. Even your so-called allies. Which will explain why your bodyguards always tend to disappear when trouble is around."

"So, what would you have me do?" Marshall finally asked.

"There's only one way to put an end to this," John said his tone serious booking no room for argument. "You end your campaign. Give up your political career."
Marshall scoffed. "Are you insane? After all the years I have put into building my political career. I can't just drop out of a race. I have given countless times to my community."

"While looking the other way and letting crime run loose on the streets." Joss reminded.

"Up until now your political career has been crooked and your running campaign a platform of deception. You might want to go straight, but because of the years you wasted being crooked you won't get the chance to know what it's like to be an honest politician." John rested his hands on the table leaning in. The action had a great affect on cornering the man, making him feel trapped.

"If you don't do this, Clarisse's life will remain in danger. And she might end up dead. The boys who worked for you aren't going to give up. Even if you break things off with her they'll probably still pursue her. Because they'll know she's your Achilles' heel. And even if they don't go after Clarisse then they'll go after your daughter or your son. But if you don't run, I think they'll cave. They'll have nothing to gain. If they come after anyone it'll just be you."
"But-"

"You know what, Senator I already have no respect for you. You can at least try and redeem yourself in this. Prove how much you love Clarisse and give up the campaign."

Looking defeated Marshall looked to Carter as his last hope. She shrugged. "Sorry Mr. Marshall. I'm afraid it's the only way. It's your battle. Clarisse has been brought in on it and she had no knowledge of your past. The least you could do is spare her further drama. As long as you're in power, they're going to want you to be their ally. Their pawn. But if you're not in power, you'll be nothing to them."

After a moment Marshall's shoulders fell. He sighed. "I guess, it's time I do something right."