After the fall out with Director Dowel, Sally came to talk to me. I sat at a office cubical with Danny's file and all its contents spread out on the desk in front of me.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"I guess. I'm just extremely pissed, confused, and hurt.... I don't understand."

"I know it's difficult now, Jason, but it'll get better."

"I was closer to Danny than I was to our parents. Maybe he did tell me. Maybe I just ignored all the signs...."

I rested my head in my hands and gave a shuddery breath and damned myself silently to hell. I couldn't allow myself to break down. Sally sat down beside me. She took both of my hands in hers.

"Jason, look at me."

I kept my gaze fixed on the table.

"Jason, getting angry at yourself isn't going to solve the problem. It wasn't your fault."

"I let him die, Sally. He died in my arms and...."

My voice cracked and I felt tears roll down my face.

"I've gotta go." I said.
*****
I limped down the street and soon entered my apartment. I rented the apartment the day I found out I was back in the FBI. I sat my gun and badge down on the kitchen table and made my way into the living room. Danny sat on the sofa, his head in his hands. I didn't speak to him, nor did I hold his gaze when he looked up.

"Jase, I'm sorry, alright!" He said, pleading with me to forgive him.

"How in the hell am I supposed to forgive you, forgive myself! I let you die but you put yourself into that situation! Why? Why would you keep that from me? I could have helped you. I could have found the men responsible and ended all of this..."

In a fit of rage I punched the wall repeatedly, leaving several holes in the wall and finally collapsed against it, bursting into tears. A deep wail of anguish and sadness, that no one would understand, finally escaped me. My hand was bleeding. I felt Danny's eyes on me.

"Jase, I'm sorry. I couldn't let you get involved. He... He would of killed you."

"I would have stopped it, Danny. You would still be here and you'd be getting help. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

My crying continued until a knock on the door silenced me. Danny was gone. I brushed away the tears that rolled down my face before opening the door. Sally stood on the other side. She gave a shy smile.

"You left in a rush earlier. I just wanted to make sure that you were okay." She said.

I gave a shrug. "Why don't you come in. It's awfully cold out." I said.

She gave a warm smile and walked in.

"There's no need to check on me, Sally. I'm fine."

"Your hand is bleeding and there are several holes in the wall. Jason, you can't do this to yourself."

"Oh I've heard that damn line one to many times." I snarled, "Listen, if you really want to help me then leave. I need to be alone."

"That could be the worst thing anyone could do for you right now. You're a mess. Dr. Celia is one of my best friends and she told me about you. You need help, Jason."

"If you don't get out of my house in the next five seconds...."

"You won't do a damn thing." She cut me off, "You talk a good game but you're grief stricken. Jason, I'm here to help."

"I don't need help! I'm fine on my own! Besides I know once you realize how fucked up in the head I am, you'll leave too. My parents don't give a damn about me anymore and my brother is dead. What else do I have left?"

I felt completely venerable. Sally stood in front of me. Tears stood on the brim of her hazel eyes.

"I want to help because I know how you feel. I'm a war vet, too. I've be through the treatments, therapy, medication, and everything else. Yes, I lost some of my best friends. We were more like sisters than friends and..." She let her voice trail off.

"I'm sorry. I had no idea." I said.

"I want to help you prove Akram guilty of Danny's murder. He's taken many lives. He's injured people, tore their lives apart. Just like you and me."

"Thanks, Sally. I need a supporting shoulder to lean on right now."

"Don't mention it, Jason. I want revenge just as much as you do."

"I'm out of the case though."

Sally gave a smile.

"Who says we need Director Dowel's approval or Daniel Stratton's?"

"That could get us both into so much trouble. I can't afford any more trouble than I'm already in...Wait, Kasim said something about a drug operation, didn't he?"

"Yes, got any ideas?"

"Antonio."

"Who?"

"Antonio, I bought drugs from him once or twice and..."

"You think he has something to do with Kasim?"

"Yes."

I began to pace the room. Sally shifted weight on her feet and kept her eyes on the floor. I really liked Sally, even though I've only known her for about a month. She knew when you needed a supporting shoulder or when you needed to be left alone.

"Sally, have you ate anything today?" I asked.

"Nope, I'm normally too worked up to eat. Are you suggesting we go some where?" She said, a sly smile coming to her lips.

"Yeah. We could discuss over dinner. I haven't ate yet either.

Sally gave a laugh and headed out to her car. I followed, shutting and locking the door behind me.
*****
All that evening I felt safe. The recent conversation with Danny seem disappear. We made small talk as she drove us to a place called Malone's. We sat at a booth across from each other.

"When do you want to go after Antonio?"

"I don't know. I may be wrong about this whole thing."

"We will figure this out, Jason. I know you want revenge."

"I do. I do want revenge but.... Danny put himself into that situation. I don't understand why he didn't tell me."

"Do your parents know?"

"No, I can't tell them. Especially my Mother. It would break her heart."

The waiter came to take our drink and food orders. I went for my stress reliever drink, Tequila.

"Hitting the drinks hard already, huh?"

"Yeah, it's not the best but it's how I've been copping, besides drugs."

Sally shook her head.

"I know. I've been there and done that. My parents lost all respect for me after that. I only had my dog, Sammy. Now, all I have is the job."

"You and me both, Sally. Just the job

I couldn't help but notice how lovely Sally looked in the lowlight of the restaurant. She hazel eyes seemed to shine. Once we ate our meals we were on the road again. Sally kept her eyes fixed on the road ahead. We soon pulled into head quarters.

"Let's grab a few guns, bullet proof vests, and ear pieces, then let's hit the road and find this Antonio guy."

I gave a smirk.

"Let's do this shit."

We made our way past the main lobby, Daniel's office and into the storage room. We stocked up with guns and bullet proof vest and extra clips for the guns before we were out the door.
******
"So where do you want to look?" Sally asked.

"Hold on a second. I can't go looking like this. He'll recognize me and then all hells going to break loose."

A smile came across Sally's face.

"What?"

"One step ahead of you, Jason. My sister works for the CSI. She is a master makeup artist and she has several disguises that could and some have been used for undercover work!"

"Well damn, let's go then."

Sally called her sister to let her know the we were coming. It wasn't long before we pulled up outside a red brick house.

"Let's go." Sally said.

Then she stopped.

"Oh, well, that's just fan-fucking-tactic. My parents are here."

Sally slammed the car door and made her way to the door. I followed her. The house was warm and cozy and smelled of chocolate chip cookies, however there was an uneasy feeling looming in the air. Sally's sister met us at the door.

"Hey sis! How have you been?" She said, giving Sally a hug.

"I'm fine, Cassidy. Just stressed."

Cassidy's eyes met mine and she gave me a look of distrust.

"What's your name?"

"I'm Jason Donavan." I said, extending my hand.

"It's nice to meet you. Sally, I'll be in the kitchen. Why don't you two stay awhile. Mom and Dad are here and they can't wait to see you." Cassidy said.

With that said, Cassidy went back into the kitchen. Sally took off her shoes and hung her jacket on the coat rack by the door. She was visibly shaken up.

"You okay?" I whispered, lightly nudging her shoulder.

"Yeah, it's just that I haven't seen or spoken to my parents in almost a year so forgive me if there a full blown yelling match." She walked further into the house.

We made our way into the kitchen.

"Here we go." Sally mumbled.

"Well, look what the cat drug in."

"Nice to see you too, dad." Sally snarled.

I was appalled.

"Can we please not fight, guys!" Cassidy exclaimed.

"Sally, did you finally get yourself straightened out?" Her mother asked

Sally was fuming. I stood silently. And as Sally promised a full blown yelling match erupted.

"Alright that's enough, Sally!" Cassidy said, taking Sally by the arm and dragging her into another room.
Once in another room Sally unleashed on her sister.

"Cassidy, dammit! You know I don't get along with them.

"Sally, I think you need to let the past go. I know what mom and dad did wasn't right, but you have to let it go." Cassidy begged her, "You need to come and socialize with the family. Just try to let the past go. They love you. They want what's best for you. Believe it or not, but they want to help you-"

"So, shutting me out was the answer! I needed them and they weren't there!"

"Sally-" I began but she cut me off.

"Jason, stay out of it, please."

I gave a nod and stood quietly off to the side.

"Fine, we'll stay. If they start up again with the bitching then we'll leave." Sally said.

"You're the best sis." Cassidy said, wrapping Sally in a tight hug. Sally and I sat in total silence at the kitchen table.

"So how long have you two been together?" Sally's Mother said.

I nearly spit the tea I was drinking all over the table.

"It's not like that. We are work colleagues, nothing more." Sally said.

All the sudden a man walked in.

"Hey guys sorry I'm late. Got stuck in traffic." He said.

"It's alright Eddie. Sit down and eat." Cassidy said.

Eddie gave Sally a hug.

"How have you been sis?"

"I'm fine, Eddie. Just a little over worked."

"I could only imagine. I heard about the case someone's brother was intentionally murdered during war or something...."

I cut him off.

"How do you know so much? You're obviously an outsider." I said.

Eddie's gaze shifted toward me. I met his eyes.

"Shit. You're the-"

"Yeah, now what do you know?" I asked.

I never made a move to stand but I did flash the butt of my gun.

"You think I'm involved?" Eddie askedz

"Never said you were. Know a man named Antonio Maverick?"

"Yeah, we used to be co-workers before he got mixed in with drugs and shit."

I gave a look at Sally. She shook her head.

"Jason, he has nothing to do with it." She said, calmly.

"Never said he did. He knows our guy though. Maybe instead of tracking him down, Eddie can bring him to us."

"Call him up, Eddie. Please." Sally said.

Eddie gave a nod, never taking his eyes off me. After a short conversation, Antonino was on his way.

"He'll be here in fifteen minutes." Eddie said.

"What's your plan of action, Jason." Sally asked.

"To bound him to one of these chairs and beat him senseless until he talks."

"There's a better alternative than that, Jason. What happened to just a simple taking to?"

"I'm the type who acts before he thinks and so far it has worked out."

"We don't know if he's involved, Donavan! He may be innocent!"

"Well we'll just find out."

Eddie spoke up.

"I think that you should let my sisters handle this Jason. I don't think you can..."

"I'll be fine.... I was sent to Iraq to help the civilians, but when I lost my brother it became much more personal."

A truck pulled up outside. Eddie and Antonio were talking and laughing. Eddie lead Antonio right into his worst nightmare. Antonino gave a polite smile to Sally's parents and to Sally and Cassidy. He sat down and introduced himself.

"We all know who you are." Sally snarled.

"Excuse me?" Antonino asked.

"I'm Detective Sally McGee and this Detective Jason Donavan." Sally said.

Antonino gave a smirk.

"I see you finally made something of yourself, Donavan." He sneered.

"It looks like I have." I snarled.

Eddie's glance bounced between us.

"You two know each other?"

"Yes." I said.

"Now you sick twisted son of a bitch, tell me what you know about my brother!" I snapped.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." He said calmly, almost defiantly.

"You said and I quote, You can't take care of yourself. How did you expect to take care of your dying brother.'"

He gave a slow shake of his head and looked at me with innocent eyes. I was fixing to lose it.

"Jason, maybe he's not-"

"Don't play dumb with me asshole! I know you know something!"

I was over to the table in three huge strides. I took a fist full of Antonino's hair and slammed his head on the table. The impact bloodied his nose. Antonio gave a sly laugh.

"Even if I did know something I wouldn't tell you. You're grief stricken and have no sense in this line of work."

I didn't respond. I slammed his head down on the table again before pulling him up out of the chair and slamming him against the wall.

"You fucking asshole!"

I unleashed, letting this son of a bitch know that I wanted answers. After I was through wailing on him, he was a bloodied heap on the floor. He pulled himself up in to a sitting position and looked me in the eyes.

"Yes, alright I was involved. I didn't kill him as you're aware of, but I helped stage the mishap with the drug operation...."

"Who's you're supplier?"

"Akram was but he's dead. I'm guessing someone else will take over...."

I fell silent, deep in thought. Danny knew that he would be killed, but why didn't he stop them? I gave a glance at Sally. She, as well as everyone else was lost for words.

"Why? Why would Danny accepted his fate?" I asked, not really talking to anyone but myself.

"Jason, let's take him back to HQ and we'll talk to Stratton about this."

I gave a nod and pulled Antonio to his feet. I lead him out the door and to Sally's car. Sally back to Head Quarters. Sally's phone rang. She put the phone on speaker.

"Hey, Eddie. Everything is fine."

"I wanna hear from Jason too. I know he was pretty shaken up."

I gave a sigh.

"I'm fine Eddie, honest. I'm still grieving and I just don't understand why Danny didn't tell me...." I let my voice trail off.

Sally said her good byes and hung up the phone. She snatched a glance at me.

"Are you sure you're okay."

"Yeah, Sally I'm fine."

If I would of known what was waiting at Head Quarters I would have stayed with Sally's family.