The Author:That would be me,I guess.I will neither confirm nor deny*grin*

I would love to hear what you thought.For those who've already written,thanks.

I really appreciate it. xenickz@hotmail.com

Julia slowly opened her eyes as she felt the car pull to a stop.She blinked several times,looking around her in confusion. "Where are we?"she asked in a voice thick with sleep.

Danni gave an indulgent grin.There was something about the golden-haired woman that was so child-like and innocent.Strangely enough,it stirred up protective feelings from deep within her.Feelings that she hadn't had since…

Go on,the little voice taunted.Since Lucas.

They even look alike,don't they?With their blonde hair and innocent angel eyes.

Only with Lucas,his eyes had been a hazel so light that it was bordering on amber.

Golden eyes,she remembered.

Eyes that had held only the utmost respect for her.That followed her around,looking at her as though she knew everything,could solve everything.Trusting eyes.

Lucas had trusted her.

And look where that had got him.

Julia had the same look in her own eyes,only hers were the gentle green of freshly cut grass.

This woman was trusting her with her life.

I wonder if she'd be so quick to trust you if she knew you were contracted to kill her,hmm?

Her blood ran cold,like ice water.She grabbed desperately at the last shreds of her discipline,wrapping it firmly around her as though it were an overcoat.

Remember who you are,the little voice hissed,who she is.

The barriers in her eyes fell back in place.

Whether it was to protect Julia or herself she couldn't tell.

"We're at a motel.I thought it would be safer,since you say they probably know where you live.We'll stay here for a couple of days,at least until we figure out what to do next,"she said remotely,as though they were discussing the weather.

Julia nodded thoughtfully,before stealing a confused glance at Danni.

Danni opened the car door and got out,striding to the entrance of the motel without bothering to wait for her.

Who bit her butt?Julia wondered to herself before scrambling out of the car to follow the older woman.

The woman at the reception was in her early fifties,looking every inch the grandmotherly type with her silver tinged hair and apple red cheeks.

Danni leaned on the counter and shot her a disarming smile.

Suddenly,the ice in her eyes melted away;her aloof demeanor dissapeared.In its place was an utterly charming young woman with sparkling blue eyes,looking hardly older than Julia herself.

Julia stared open-mouthed.

"Hello,"Danni glanced quickly at the small plaque containing her name "Mrs Adams.My name is Jamie.Jamie Morgan and this is my sister,"a wicked grin, "Alberta.We need a room for a few days,".

Julia caught sight of them in the mirror facing them and nearly burst into laughter at the thought of the two of them being sisters.Danni towered over her;taller,darker,mysterious.Then there was her,shorter,blonde,every bit as American as apple pie.

Mrs Adams was clearly won over,more than happy to help.She chattered away to glory,offering to show them to their rooms,to which Danni declined politely,giving another of those potent grins which had the effect of a speeding truck.

"Alberta?"Julia mumbled as they made their way to their room. "Best I could do under the circumstances,"came the reply. "Don't take this the wrong way but you have a really weird sense of humour,"Julia told her,surprised at the sudden playfulness exhibited by the older woman.

" I won't,"Danni assured with a wry grin,entering the room.

* * *

Danni walked into the room,a small grin still playing on her lips.She took a quick glance around the room. "Not bad,"she murmured to herself. "Not bad at all,".

Julia followed behind her,making a beeline for the bed and collapsing on it. "Oh wow,"she groaned,luxuriating in the feel of relaxing on a bed after what seemed like ages.Danni sprang into action.She locked the room door and closed the curtains encasing the room in semi-darkness,making sure that no one could look in.

Julia watched her silently,as though suddenly remembering the reason they were there.

"What now?"she asked.

Danni looked at her,somewhat startled,as though she had totally forgotten she was there.

She looked at her watch. Six thirty.

"All right.Here's what we do.There's a supermarket nearby.You go get us some stuff to eat and I'll speak to a few people,".

Julia sat up,a cold fire burning in her eyes.She did not look very happy,Danni noted,suddenly wary.

"Look,I don't know who you think you are,".Come to think of it,I hardly know who you are. "But my life is the one in danger,not yours.And I plan to do something about it.I'm not going to be your gopher,running around to get you a cup of coffee while you do everything.All right?"

Danni looked hard at her,trying not to let her surprise show in her eyes.So,the cat has claws after all. "All right,".

"So you can just…what?"Julia blinked several times.

Danni looked her in the eye. "I said all right,".

"Oh,"Julia said,suddenly at a loss.

Danni hid a grin. "Julia,I understand how you feel.I know you need to do something.But right now,until I get the whole story there's nothing we can do,right?So I'll make a few phone calls and see what I can uncover.In the meanwhile,would you get us some dinner?"Danni met her gaze and held it. "Please?"

There was a silence and then Julia nodded slowly.

"When you get back,I'll tell you what I've found out.Then we can decided exactly what to do.Together?"The sincerity in Danni's voice was obvious and Julia relaxed slightly,some of the earlier distrust dissipating.

Danni's forehead furrowed. "We also need some sort of code so I know it's you.Three short knocks,then two long ones,".She rapped it out on the bedside table.

"Three short then two long.Got it,"Julia nodded before turning to leave.

Danni watched her walk away and had the strangest feeling of unease.She didn't know why;she just didn't want them to part on uncertain terms.She waited until the younger woman was almost out the door before calling out her name. "Hey Julia,".

Questioning green eyes turned her way.

"Be careful,all right?"She flashed a hesitant grin.

Julia smiled back. "I will,".

* * *

Danni growled in frustration and hung up the phone.She'd known it wouldn't be easy to get information on Antonio Fabroni.People were notoriously tight-lipped when it came to him;few wanted to risk his wrath.He was an important man who knew a lot of people.

Still,this was ridiculous.

She heard footsteps along the corridor and was up in an instant.She pulled out her gun and stole stealthily towards the door.The person stopped right outside the door. She waited,her every muscle taut with anticipation.

Three knocks,then two.

Julia.

She tucked her gun away carefully before opening the door.Julia barreled in,laden with bags.

"Hi,"Julia exclaimed cheerfully,dumping them on the bed with a relieved sigh. "I didn't know exactly what you liked,"Julia said as she began unpacking the food. "So I basically went with stuff I like and…"

"What is all this?"Danni interrupted,somewhat take aback.

The younger woman gave her an exasperated look and spoke very slowly,as though she were explaining something to a child. "It's food,"She frowned. "You do eat,don't you?"

Danni's lips quirked. "Occasionally,yes.Exactly how many people were you planning on feeding?Because the last time I checked,it was just the two of us,".

Baleful green eyes stared at her. "I'm stressed,all right?I eat when I'm stressed,"Julia said succinctly. "I get it from my mother,".

Danni considered asking if she got that mouth from her mother too but decided that would just be plain suicide. "Uh huh,"she murmured,unconvinced but willing to let it rest.She sat herself down,watching the blonder woman sort out the mountainous pile of food.,while chattering all the while.It had been an incredibly long time since she'd been around someone for longer than a couple of hours.Some people might have considered her a recluse.It came with the job.

Still,she'd always chosen to work alone.She did things her way.Besides,she'd never needed a partner before.

Now suddenly she was saddled with a young chatty reporter,of all things.Life was funny that way.

Her stomach growled as delicious smells wafted through the air.Against her will,she found herself looking forward to the impromptu meal.She tried to remember the last time she'd eaten something.She frowned.Sometime around lunch yesterday.

Maybe.

Julia stuck a carton underneath her nose and she accepted it gratefully. "Chinese?"Danni asked,peering inside,almost sighing blissfully at the aroma.

Julia nodded. "There was a Chinese take-out place near the supermarket so I thought I'd pick some up,"Julia settled herself on the bed and took a carton for herself.She took out a pair of chopsticks and glared at them resentfully.She raised her eyes and meet Danni's amused ones.

"I suck at them,"she said,looking a little embarrassed at being caught.

Danni hid a grin.She could handle hers just fine.Julia noticed this and cast her a sour glance.

"Well?"Julia asked expectantly after a while.

Danni took a bite and chewed slowly before answering. "This is what I know so far.The men who were after you work for Antonio Fabroni,".

Julia inhaled sharply.

"I take it you've heard of him,"Danni remarked dryly.

Julia smiled faintly. "I guess you could say that.Go on,".

Danni eyes her cautiously before continuing.The last thing she needed was a hysterical woman on her hands. "I don't know what you've heard about him so I'll just tell you what I know.He's an intelligent man,Antonio.Intelligent,resourceful,dangerous.He's got money and he's got connections.That's a deadly combination.He has several factories in Mexico.Legit stuff-which he ships here.The thing is,he also smuggles in enough drugs to keep a lot of pushers happy.The DEA's been on his ass for months now but they can't prove anything.He's bought off a couple of the inside men.Like I said,he's a smart man.They tip him off as to when the shipments are going to be checked.So even though the DEA has their suspicions and they've set up surveillance to do random checks on some of his shipments,they can't get anything to stick,".Danni paused and took a deep breath. "The man they knifed was a pusher.He obviously had some news they didn't like so they offed him.Now the problem is you.Antonio can't afford to be connected to a drug-related murder.The shit would really hit the ceiling then.That's why he needs you out of the picture.He can't take the risk that you wouldn't speak to the cops or even worse run the story,".

Silence fell and Danni wondered if she had been a little too point blank.

Julia picked nervously at a piece of shrimp with her chopsticks.

The next thing Danni knew the shrimp was speeding toward her and plopped down neatly on her lap.

Julia stared at her as though unsure what to do.

Under the circumstances,Danni did the only thing she could.She picked up the shrimp and popped it into her mouth.

Julia stared at her,mute with shock.

Danni stared right back,still calmly chewing on the runaway shrimp.

Julia burst into helpless laughter.Somehow the sight of Danni staring seriously at her made it all the more funnier.She fell backwards onto the bed,giggling almost hysterically.

Danni's lips curved into a half grin.Then she threw her head back and laughed,deep rich laughter.

Danni doubled over,holding her stomach and laughing in a way she hadn't in years.There was just so much tension in the air, so many emotions wearing her out.Laughing seemed to be the only way to release some of it.

Julia was holding her stomach and laughing so hard that she was crying.She clamped a hand over her mouth and laughed so hard her body shook.

No,Danni suddenly realised.Julia was crying.

Danni's laughter faded away as Julia let out an anguished wail.

She watched stricken,half sitting,half standing.She had never seen someone cry like that,with such…enthusiasm.This is not good.This is not good at all,she thought to herself,wondering what she was supposed to do.She'd never felt so utterly helpless.

Frantic sobs filled the air as Julia sobbed relentlessly.

"Don't cry,"Danni said inanely,cringing even as she said it.Don't cry?Don't cry?Hello,Einstein.

The innocent little comment made Julia cry even harder.

"No wait!Forget I said that!"Danni said,trying not to panic.

Julia did not seem to be paying any attention to her.

Danni ran a hand through her hair nervously.Ohhh shit.Shit,shit,shit…

Her life had been so much easier before Julia had come into it.The only other time someone had burst into tears in her presence,she'd killed the man.It had not been one of her better days.

She cast her eyes upwards.Why me?

She did the only thing she could think of.She crawled onto the bed and gingerly wrapped her arms around the sobbing woman,simply holding her.She didn't say a word,didn't try coaxing her to stop-that had already proved fatal.She just held her and let her cry it out.Eventually the sobs died down and Julia stopped trembling.Danni ran gentle fingers through her hair,as though she were comforting a child.

Julia turned grateful eyes toward her. "Thank you,"she whispered,blushing scarlet as she remembered the way she had cried.Danni winked in response.

Julia closed her eyes drowsily.For unknown reasons,she felt extremely safe and protected around the older woman.All her insecurities,her fear,her anxieties disappeared.

Her breathing slowed and before she knew it,she was asleep.

Danni watched her sleep for a while,before disentangling herself.She climbed off the bed and positioned the chair near the door before sitting down.

She leaned her head back against the wall and shut her eyes.

She had a lot to think about.

* * *

She took in the flurry of movement around her with the awe-struck eyes of a child.The bell shrieked shrilly in the background,prompting people to run around frantically,gathering their coats and hard hats.Suddenly she was awash with excitement,her stomach fluttering with anticipation;she'd never seen anything quite like this.

She heard the heavy tread of footsteps behind her before she felt the large warm hand on her shoulder. "Hi daddy,"she grinned,looking into brilliant blue eyes,not unlike her own.

He tugged on her hair affectionately. "Hi princess,".

The lines around his eyes crinkled as he smiled back at her.Both of them turned back to the scene before them.They stood utterly still,a direct contrast from the people running around them.It was as though for a moment,they had been forgotten,the world carrying on without them,leaving them alone together.

She turned back to drink in the black hair,the sparkling azure eyes,the straight nose,the well-shaped lips,the chiseled jawline.Many people said she was the splitting image of him.This pleased her immensely.

He was already wearing his jacket,she realised. "Do you have to go now?"she asked.He nodded with a hint of a smile,waiting for the explosion.She dropped her gaze to the floor so that he wouldn't see the calculative gleam in her eyes or the determined set of her jaw. "Okay,daddy,"she whispered,eyes downcast,suddenly sounding as though her heart were breaking but she was doing her best to cover it up.

Her father rolled his eyes.

"I'll just wait here.After all,it's only my birthday,"she heaved a long drawn-out sigh,gauging the moment perfectly before raising mournful blue eyes.He shook his head fondly and tried to suppress a grin. "Do you want to come with me?".

Surprise written all over her face-she'd practised several times-she let out a joyous shout. "Really?Oh,thank you daddy!".

He strode ahead,chuckling to himself.She allowed herself one quick triumphant grin before plastering on her most innocent expression and trailing after him.He held out his hand and she encased hers in his,grinning proudly as he plopped his hard hat onto her head and lead her to the gleaming red fire-engine.He opened the door and she clambered in,making sure she was seated next to the driver's seat.He climbed in next to her and started the engine.She barely noticed the other people around them;in her six-year old eyes,he was a hero.

He put one hand on her neck as he drove,scratching it gently,almost absently,the way one would a kitten.She pulled closer,snuggling up to him,feeling safe and protected in his embrace,inhaling the smell of his aftershave and the woodsy scent that always seemed to cling to his skin.

Daddy smells.

They exchanged grins and he pressed a soft kiss on her forehead. "I love you,daddy,"she said softly. "I love you too,Princess,".

As they reached the scene of the fire,he came to a stop and switched off the engine.

He lifted her chin gently,so that she met his gaze. "Danni,I want you to stay here,all right?Don't get in anyone's way,".

She nodded,her eyes wide and incredibly trusting. "Whatever you say,daddy,".Behind her back,she crossed her fingers. "Good girl,"he smiled,before retrieving his hat and leaving the fire engine.

In the space of seconds,she watched him change from a doting father to a confident leader.His men respected him immensely;she could see it in the way they paid careful attention to whatever he said and the way they stood up straight when he looked at them.Pride filled her heart.

He strode towards the building.Flames devoured it as though it were a twelve course dinner.Smoked poured upwards,out of the window.

Wow.

She opened the door and climbed out,her gaze fixed on her father.He and another fireman were climbing up the ladder towards the balcony of the apartment that was on fire.They disappeared into the apartment,into the holocaust of flames. Then he was gone.

The other fireman returned a moment later,cradling a child in his arms as he made his way down the ladder.She watched the balcony eagerly,her heart pounding with anticipation as she waited to catch a glimpse of her father.

It happened so fast that she could barely understand.Suddenly,everything was exploding;a mass of heat,noise and confusion.Everywhere she looked there was fire,smoke and the burning reflection of the flames.In a matter of seconds,the building was an inferno;the orange flames bigger than ever, shooting out of the window,towards the sky.

Ash was raining down in little bits.Her nose and eyes stung,her throat was burning.

Still she watched,waiting.

Hands reached for her,trying to pull her away from the spot she stood rooted to,first gentle then more insistent as she resisted.

She retaliated by kicking,and punching and screaming hysterically until they finally gave up.

He'll come back,she told herself.She just had to wait.It was like that time in school when he had been late to pick her up and all the other kids had gone home and it had become really dark.She'd sat in the hallway and waited and waited,counting the bricks on the wall to keep the fear away,refusing to believe that he'd forgotten her or that he wouldn't come back.

Just when the doubts began creeping up on her,he had arrived and swept her up into his arms,apologising profusely.

She turned hopeful eyes back to the building,noting with a degree of pleasure that the fire had been put out.All that was left of the voracious blaze of flames was a charred structure that might have passed for a building once.

Good,she thought.Now he can come back.Now that the fire's gone,he can come back.

She looked around her,suddenly noticing that they weren't very many people around;that the skies above were overcast and grey.A chill ran down her spine and she wrapped her arms around herself,her only protection against the harsh biting wind.

It didn't matter,she told herself.Just wait for daddy to come back.

She remained at the same place for what might have been hours or just minutes.She didn't know,she couldn't tell.She stayed optimistic,refusing to give in to the despair that was gnawing at the edges of her consciousness,that was whispering to give up,that was telling her he would never come b… "No,"she said,out loud,trying to convince herself but the conviction was missing from her voice.

She felt a drop of rain on her upturned cheek and then another and another,then it was pouring,as though the heavens were mourning her loss alongside her.

Both heart and bone weary,she sat down on the ground in the middle of the pavement and let the tears she had tried so hard to hold back form.

She cried.The muffled whimpers soon give way to loud,heart-breaking sobs that shook her entire body.She cried until there were no more tears,as though she had used up her supply.Her nose was blocked,her eyes felt swollen and she felt very cold,only this time,the coldness was inside of her.

She stood up usteadily,letting the raindrops wash her tear-stained face,casting one last glance at the building before turning around to go home.

Julia awoke disturbed.She squinted at her watch.Three thirty.She frowned,wondering,what had woken her.Usually she was a sound sleeper.To wake up in the middle of the night was definitely unusual for her.She closed her eyes again,trying to dispel the uneasiness she felt.Still,she couldn't shake the feeling that something…

There.

It was that sound that had woken her…there it was again.It sounded like someone whimpering;so soft that she had to strain her ears to hear it.Soft,but unmistakable.

The room was dark.She sat up on the bed,realising that she was alone,that Danni was gone.

It took her a little longer to make the connection.

She scrambled off the bed and nearly walked into Danni who'd made a makeshift bed consisting of a bed sheet and a pillow on the floor.

Danni let out another whimper.

"Danni?"Julia whispered softly.She crouched down beside the older woman and peered at her.

She was still asleep,in the throes of a nightmare.Even in the dark Julia could see her forehead was furrowed and drenched in sweat.Her cheeks were wet with tears.

What ghosts do you have that haunt you so?

Danni let out a cry.It was soft but so angst-filled,so heart-breaking that Julia couldn't bear it.

Julia began to wipe the tears and perspiration of her face,brushing her fringe off her forehead.

Danni let out a soft sigh and settled down,the tension leaving her body.

Julia gently lifted her Danni,until her head was on her lap.

Danni's skin seemed unusually pale.Her long black lashes and wild,dark hair made it seem even more so.

That afternoon she'd seemed withdrawn,brooding.There was no trace of coldness in her features now.Her face looked gentle in sleep;young,innocent,vulnerable.Like a child.

Julia smiled to herself and in a soft voice began to sing something her mother always had.

Danni stirred slightly,and opened her eyes slowly. "Julia?"she murmured,half asleep.

"What?"Julia whispered back.

"Has anyone ever told you,"Danni stifled a yawn. "That you can't sing to save your life?"

Julia bit back a laugh. "No,"she said,bemused. "You're the first,".

But Danni was already asleep.

Continued …

Well,that pretty much wraps up Part 5.If you liked the story,write to me and tell me.

If you didn't write to me anyway and lie.*grin* xenickz@hotmail.com