Lindsay Monroe sat patiently at a table for two in the old neighborhood type pizza parlor in downtown Brooklyn. Absently twirling the engagement ring on her finger, she was trying to settle her nerves. She was able to take care of herself but just something about today didn't seem right, or was it just being HERE today?
It was in late afternoon, and she was waiting for Danny to get off shift. They had been here a few times before, she liked the pizza and she was having cravings earlier, so they agreed to meet here.
"How ya doin'?" came a thick Staten Island accent.
Startled, Lindsay gasped as she swung her head around to the voice. Her stomach turned at the sight. His face was scruffy; his hair was slicked back in a long black ponytail, a wife beater, a velvet green jogging suit. He smelled of cheap cologne.
"I … ugghhh…" she started.
"What's a good looking girl like you, doing in a dive like this?" he asked.
"I'm waiting for someone," she sputters out.
"You don't have to wait anymore doll, I'm right here," he replied sneering. Her stomached turned again, this time it almost came up.
"Hey Vinnie, the lady said she was waitin' for someone," Danny says, stepping in the front door.
Lindsay snapped her head around to the voice that comforted her when she needed it, told her he loved her, that teased her. Oh, thank God!
Danny knew Vinnie Giordano from the old neighborhood. He was Tanglewood. He never wanted Lindsay to have to deal with any of them again. Walking in, seeing him hittin' on her, cornering her, made his blood boil. His jaw clenched, his face reddened a bit, his breathing became harder, and his body became ridged ready to attack if needed.
The tension and change from Danny's normal body posture didn't go unnoticed by Lindsay. She knew this had to go deeper than just her. Uh-oh.
"What the hell do you care Messer? Go back to doing what you do best. Hidin'. Behind your brother, behind a glove, behind that badge and microscope. By the way how is Louie?" Vinnie smirked.
At the mention of Louie's name Lindsay gasped as Danny stood there stone faced.
"I ain't hidin Vinnie. I'm right here," for emphasis he held out his arms.
Oh shit!!
Lindsay stood up and went over to Danny; she had to get him out of here before something worse happened. "Come on Danny, Let's go." She started pushing into his chest, backing him out the door.
"Where do ya think your going'?" Vinnie asked grabbing her by the arm.
"Get the FUCK off her," Danny yells.
Lindsay shakes him off of her, glares at him, "Unless you want assault on an officer, assault on a female, and to have the shit kicked out of you by a severely hormonal pregnant woman, I suggest you BACK OFF."
To her surprise Vinnie put his hands up and backed away. WUSSY!
She finishes pushing Danny out the door. He's still furious.
"Danny, look at me," She instructs, grabbing his face so he has to look at her.
"It's over, ok," he nods his head in agreement. She grabs his hands and lays them on his child, "WE are ok."
He closes his eyes and pulls her to him. She's ok!! He didn't hurt her.
"I just… I never wanted you to have to deal with this again." He whispers into her ear.
"It's a lot smaller world than we realize sometimes, we just deal with it as it comes. Together." He nods his head in agreement.
"Next time, let's just order a pie for pickup."