Author Note: Please review and please take the poll on my profile to help decide what DP fic to do next. Last chapter guys- Agent in Disguise is now completed!
~CWA

Chapter 16- Finale (Disobedient Part III):

Third Person:

The trio managed to scout every person in the gala. Using his watch, Danny was able to look up multiple people- seeing who they were and if they had a criminal record. Most importantly, by looking them up, he may be able to figure out why they were at Pariah's gala. As far as he could tell, Pariah had sent out invitations to every aristocratic influential person. Most had a minor criminal record dealing with corruption and bribes, but there were a few that seemed innocent… Or they never got caught. As for the children, they were children of a few of the people at the gala. After a quick search and looking over a copy of the invitation, Pariah had invited their families to come with them- which included children. As far as Danny could tell, it was a party to bribe new clients.

Sam and Tucker kept an eye on Vlad while Danny's eyes were on Pariah and Frank Knight (who never left Pariah's side). Danny kept a hand at his side, stealthily over the spot where his gun was hidden. His fingers twitched as Pariah's eyes landed on him. He made no facial expression of recognition, hatred, or anything- his face was just expressionless aside from the fake (and slightly eerie) smile on his face to keep up the appearance of a good host.

Pariah leaned in slightly and whispered something to Knight. Frank nodded and walked away towards a side door that was a bit secluded. Concerned slightly, Danny thought over what his next move should be. Follow Knight or keep tabs on Pariah? Knight may have been sent out to 'deal with' someone. Danny headed towards Tucker and Sam.

"Sam, keep your eyes on Pariah," he whispered.

Their faces were a few inches away from each and considering they were in the middle of a crowd, many turned to look at them (some looks were brief, others were staring). Danny inwardly winced. He had to make something up at that moment to create an excuse for their closeness. He smiled and kissed Sam on the cheek, causing her to turn pink. As his mouth was by her ear, he whispered,

"Be safe."

He pulled away, laughing slightly. Tucker started to make fake gagging noises into a napkin,

"Lovebirds," he coughed.

A few elder people nearby looked 'awed', while others looked repulsed. Either way, any suspicions were gone. Danny started to walk away, making a point to turn and wave,

"I'll be right back, dear," he said quietly so people nearby heard but it didn't draw any unwanted attention from people such as Pariah.

Catching on, Sam smiled and waved back though her face was still bright pink. Laughing slightly, and cursing that he was blushing as well, Danny headed out to follow Knight.

"You think Pariah wouldn't notice a Zone worm," Frank sneered, "Your skills are truly pathetic, useless dog."

Danny dodged another hit. He inwardly cursed as Knight's next punch hit Danny in the gut. He still continued to fight, however. His gun still was a bit away on the ground, right where Knight had kicked it to. With no firearms and Sam and Tucker still in the gala, Danny was on his own. I can do this. He wasn't sure how long he was in that alley fighting Knight, but it was apparently long enough that Sam and Tucker got worried. They all but burst through the back door, guns aimed high.

Sam gritted her teeth at the sight before her. Danny was clearly injured, but he was still fighting. Knight had minimal damage and therefore had the upper hand. His hand was gripped around Danny's throat as Danny gasped for air. Sam took aim and she fired, hitting Knight in the leg. The criminal let go of Danny and backed away, cursing. Sam and Tucker wasted no time running to their friend. Sam looked over Danny concerned,

"Phantom," she said before whispering, "Danny…. You okay?"

"Fine," Danny coughed, "I can take him."

"Uh clearly not. He was about to kill you," Tucker pointed out.

"And I will not fail a second time," Knight announced as he grabbed Danny's gun from the ground and took aim.

He let off a few precise rounds. Sam and Tucker grabbed Danny and they barely managed to duck behind a few bins in time. Sam and Tucker both fired their guns back at him. Knight was obviously upset as he cursed into the wind, still firing a few rounds near them. The door opened again and Tucker looked over their temporary safe spot.

"What's going on Tuck," Danny hissed in pain.

"More of Pariah's goons. Too many for us to take on in this condition. We have to get out of here."

More gunshots went off, causing them to hiss in from how loud all of it sounded- it echoed down the alley like a roar. Sam looked around desperately for any way they could escape. The goons were getting closer- their footsteps, curses, and gunshots made that obvious. She spotted a nearby open back door attached to another building.

"There," she whispered, "We need to get there."

Sam and Tucker grabbed Danny and supported him. Tucker looked towards the goons and counted before he finally announced,

"Now!"

They made a run for it. It was difficult, but they were still being shot at. They barely managed to get inside and shut the door, securing it. Sam took a few deep breaths as she hit the side of her gun,

"I'm out. You?"

"Same," Tucker said, "Any more rounds?"

"Nope."

"Looks like we're screwed," Danny chimed in, coughing, "Unless we make it to the roof."

"The roof?"

"Listen."

They stopped to listen and heard the loud sounds of a helicopter landing on the roof. They could also hear the gunfire from outside, all of it being at the steel door.

"We can hitch a ride," Danny said with a devilish grin, "A few guys on a copter are easier to take then the guys out there."

On pure chance, they were able to make it to the roof. Their luck seemed to be getting better as Danny's arm hung over Sam and Tucker's shoulders for balance.

"Wait," Danny coughed, "It's one of the agency' copters…"

Sure enough, the copter was colored in black and white- mostly being white with a small logo on in black on the side. It wasn't the only copter. There were many other copters and jets that were letting loose possibly over a hundred agents down to the mansion and the nearby buildings. Looks like the Director decided to help us after all, Danny thought solemnly.

Sam handed Danny off to Tucker and looked up towards the copter that was now in the air, but not too far. They could still make it if they hurried and grabbed the ladder that was hanging down. She started to head forward, waving down the copter. Tucker looked over one of the edges of the building, noticing that the goons, who were attacking them earlier, were now being taken away in cuffs but there was no sign of Knight. Danny, however, was focused on the other side of the building where he noticed two hands reaching onto the edge of the building. Soon, Knight's face was visible as he released the edge with one hand and brought it back up holding a gun. He took aim at Sam… and he fired.

"SAM!"

Danny let go of Tucker and ran as fast as he could. He pushed Sam out of the way, causing her to scream. He didn't care. What mattered was that Sam was safe and he realized that she was going to be as soon as the bullet hit his side. Blood started to pour out from the wound. Sam and Tucker both ran to Danny's side, panicking. An agent on a nearby building top fired at Knight, causing the criminal to loose his grip. If the fall didn't kill him, the bullet from the agent did.

"Danny," Sam sobbed, "Danny!"

"Sam," Danny coughed, "You okay?"

"No you idiot, you're hurt," Sam snapped as she continued to sob.

Tucker was doing any medical procedure he was capable of which meant applying pressure with his jacket to Danny's wound in an effort to stop, or at least slow down, the blood flow. Danny put his hand over Sam's,

"…I'm not gonna live, am I," he coughed, a bit of blood coming out.

Sam didn't have the heart to answer him. If the agents weren't so concerned with taking down the criminals and Pariah, they would have came over to help, or if Sam and Tucker had their watches then they could call for help, but she knew in her heart that no matter how quickly help came, Danny was not going to make it. Danny wiped away one of her tears and brought her down. Pressing his lips against hers, neither of them cared about the blood on their mouths.

"Just… Be a good Mom to Dani," Danny said weakly, his strength draining.

He always imagined a peaceful death- him dying in his sleep when he was old and already married with kids and grandkids. He imagined living a full life. He never imagined dying in the field as his chest felt inflamed. He never imagined all the pain death could cause. He looked at them, the blood loss taking its toll. He knew death was soon, but he managed to smile weakly,

"….I guess a hero can die…."