Disappearing Act

"Fake me own death?!" Ant exclaims, not believing the FBI agent's proposition. He shook his head in disbelief and looked out the car passenger window, watching people walk down the streets of New York, oblivious to the fact that Ant's life is being turned upside down inside that car.

"This is the only way we can keep you safe, Mr.McPartlin. You helped put away mob boss that will have men still operating outside of jail," Agent Carisi explained.

"Why can't I just move back to England? Why do I have to fake me death?"

"They'll come after you even if you move away. Faking your death guarantees your security." The FBI agent paused and looked at Ant. "Once you're 'dead', we'll relocate you to another city within the United States. We'll try to help you rebuild your life somewhere else. This won't be permanent. You'll only be in hiding until we take down this mob. Once we get them, you can leave the program."

"How long will that be?!" Ant says in spite. "And when you do take them down, it's not like I can just waltz back in to me old life and say, 'Surprise! I wasn't actually dead! The American Government faked me death, so that this mob boss won't actually kill me. Asides from that, me life has been fine. So, what's happened with the rest of youse?'"

"Look, Mr. McPartlin. I know this won't be easy, but this is for your own good." Agent Carisi says, trying to calm Ant down.

"What happens if I refuse to go into the program, huh? If I don't fake me death?" Ant asks frantically, not able to keep his voice even.

"Then you'll be risking your life and the lives of your love ones," Agent Carisi says bluntly.

That made Ant pause and think. "Decs..." Ant whispers under his breath. "Fine, I'll do it."

"Good." Agent Carisi pulls out a cellphone from his inside jacket pocket. "We'll contact you through this phone about the details on your 'death'. We'll have to execute it as soon as possible, so expect a call later."

Ant nodded and grabbed the phone and stowed it away in his trouser pocket. "Wait, I'll be able to take me partner with us, right?" Agent Carisi looked away from him, causing his stomach to drop. "Dec will be able to come with me, right?!" He demands the agent to answer him.

Agent Carisi sighs and looks back at Ant again. "I'm sorry, but we'll be unable to include your partner in the program since you two are not married."

"But they'll come after 'im...oh god, Decs..." Ant cradles his face with both hands as tears start to escape his eyes. "They'll kill 'im..."

Agent Carisi reached over and squeezed Ant's shoulder. "Ant," he calls him by his first name, forgetting all formalities. "We've seen how this mob boss operates. He won't touch your partner if he thinks your dead. He only goes after people's family if they are still alive to see their family die. He only goes after them to hurt the people who wronged him. Dec will be fine, I promise you. He'll be safer if the mob thinks you're dead."

"I just can't leave 'im though. I'm the reason we moved here to America. He left his family and his job in Newcastle all for me," Ant sobs into his hands. "It'll break his heart if I leave 'im alone here in America....he's gonna think I'm dead and I can't do anything to ease his pain..."

"I'm sorry, Ant. Just remember this is for his own good, too," Agent Carisi says.

Ant violently rubbed his face and composed his face. "I've got to go."

"Alright, I'm gonna drop you off a street away from your work, so that if someone is watching you, they won't see you talking to me." Agent Carisi starts the car and drives Ant back to his workplace.