A/N: Well, here goes my first multi-chapter TMP fic! It's a little different but hopefully it stays true to character. Reviews and input are always appreciated, as I love hearing from you guys. Enjoy!
He stared at her.
To be more accurate, he was still staring at her. His gaze remained unfazed and unwavering as the seconds passed. He stayed silent, impassive, and stoic; awaiting any kind of reaction she had to offer him. Mindy tried to swallow the reality of the situation.
Earlier that day, she had agreed to pick him up from a dentist appointment, simply to make sure he returned home safely. Mindy couldn't help but chuckle at the lack of other friends he had to call at a time like this. It wasn't meant to be degrading – in fact, she cherished it. It might be selfish of her, but he didn't seem to mind having her as a best friend either. You know, apart from the occasional complaint. Imagining him loopy on nitrous oxide – laughing gas, as many people call it by – brought an even larger smile to her face.
Now, on the other hand, Mindy's brightened expression had abandoned her, leaving only shock and disbelief in her eyes.
She was in the waiting room at the dentist's office, as promised, as soon as his appointment ended. Once he was released from the room, she looped her arm around his waist and led him to the street to hail a cab. It was all very normal, despite his inebriated state. And then Danny began to speak.
"Oh boy…" He slurred. His head dipped from side to side as if he were a newborn who couldn't support the weight of his own head upon his neck.
Mindy choked back a fit of giggles that threatened to escape. Her normally grumpy and reserved friend was now lolling about the back of a cab like an adorable inebriate. Plus, she always found it adorable whenever he said that, and the slurring of his drugged-up voice made it all the more hilarious to her.
"How ya holding up, sport?" Mindy asked casually.
Danny's eyes lazily met her gaze. He smiled his usual cocky half-grin, but in his altered state it slowly lit up his face, all the way to his slightly glossy eyes.
"I am – you are, wow," He muttered while his hand slid up and down his face. Mindy was at a loss for words. His current state was fascinating opposed to his usual demeanour.
"Alright, let's get you upstairs and into bed," Mindy grunted after paying the cabbie and struggled to haul an impaired Danny onto the sidewalk.
"I know how to walk, Miiinnnn," Danny whined as they entered the elevator in his building.
As they stood quietly waiting for his floor, Mindy's mind began to wander. She found it refreshing to save him for once. Sure, she stood up for him at times and was a person he could rely on, but he always managed to save her from the worst of situations. He was constantly telling her to do what she needed in order to be happy, standing by her through all her reckless decisions, even getting her out of her apartment after her horrible breakup with Casey. Danny was her crutch, and for once, it was nice to have him lean on her for a change. Literally – a large majority of his weight was slouched against her right side. She also happened to be astounded by his vulnerable side. She seldom caught quick glimpses of it, but each time led her delving deeper into whom he really was – a past time Mindy was becoming attached to.
She was snapped out of her reverie by the ding of the elevator, indicating they had reached his floor. Uncharacteristically, Danny clutched her hand in his and led the way to his door. Mindy played along, not wanting to create any awkward moments. As curious as she was to see him in such a vulnerable state, she was also wary. He somehow managed to be impulsive at the most inconvenient times.
"You don't have to… this, you know," Danny muttered as he fumbled with his keys.
"Actually, Doctor Druggie," Mindy said while snatching the keys from his jittery hands and unlocking his door herself, "I in fact do not know what you are trying to say. Now get into bed, c'mon."
"I don't do drugs Mindy, don't say that." Danny grumbled as he sprawled out on his bed, his tone a mixture of goofy amusement and pouting.
"Alright, I'm out of here Castel-lame-o. You need anything before I go?" Mindy stood at the end of the bed, shifting her weight between feet anxiously. She didn't really want to delve into why she felt so on edge by his openness.
Danny awkwardly sat up on his bed and patted the space beside him. Mindy took a moment to get rid of her random fit of nerves before cautiously sitting down and facing him.
"What's up?"
"Min, you are so good for me," Danny slurred. Mindy chuckled uncomfortably.
"I think you mean I'm good to you, Dan."
Danny let out a genuine, heartwarming laugh that made Mindy unable to contain a smile herself. He laid back on the bed, his body sprawled out across it, and Mindy mirrored him, both staring up at the ceiling laying alongside each other.
"It means a lot, what you do for me. I couldn't have asked for a better you."
"Yeah well, you didn't really ask, remember?" Mindy half-heartedly replied, letting out an awkward huff of air.
"It's because I didn't want to be. Your friend, that is. And then I did… for a while," He replied, turning his head to face her.
"What does that mean?" She asked, still looking up at the ceiling and feeling his eyes watching her. "You don't want to be friends anymore?"
That's when she turned to him. And that's when he simply stared back in response.
Mindy's breath halted in her throat, her mind swimming with the possibilities of what he could be trying to say. Does he mean…? Or is he being literal? She began to panic internally.
After what seemed like years of pure silence, filled only by their shallow breathing, Danny began to shake his head. Dammit Mindy, you knew this was a bad idea! What if he says something horrible? Or something amazing… What if he doesn't even remember it?!
"Nope, haven't for a long time," Murmured Danny, his voice heavy with drowsiness from the medication. "You're just…" Danny yawned in between words.
Mindy prayed that the drugs were wearing off. Or that he would just pass out already. Anything to let her escape from the conversation she was hoping would never happen – at least not like this.
Danny looked at her with eyes full of wonder before continuing. "Flummoxing."
Mindy let out a much needed fit of laughter.
"You really do like that word, don't you?" She chuckled.
"You're also extraordinary." His eye bore an unmistakeable vulnerability.
"Thank you," was the only thing Mindy could choke out in response. Never before had Danny been so intimate and real with her. Not unless you count that night in the lounge when we almost…
"I – I'm gonna… go," Mindy stood up and exhaled a shaky breath, the room feeling smaller than it had when she had entered.
"Will I see you?" Danny groggily sighed while turning over and putting a pillow under his head.
"Yes. Call me tomorrow okay?" Mindy asked. She didn't even notice what she was saying, all she knew was that she needed air – and fast.
"Night Min," Danny breathed.
Danny was fast asleep before she had even reached the front door.
To be continued