Chapter Two

October 19

She's not certain he will actually call until he does, almost three weeks later, it's late. Nearly 12 pm. It had been a hard day. The victim had been killed by her brother. Blonde, two boys, nurse. Everything about it was the makings for a bad night. "You busy?"

"No.' She answers, knows her voice is thick with sleep. 'What's up?"

"I got a pizza and a beer with your name on it."

"I'll be there in 20."

She doesn't bother getting dressed, the cotton pants were decent enough but she did go through the hassle of putting her bra back on. Tugging the tank top back in place and stuffing her feet back into her shoes. Grabbing her bag, gun and badge on the way to the car.

The living room lights are on and she uses her key to get into the house. Toes out of her shoes immediately and finds him coming out of the kitchen with a plate and three pieces of supreme and a beer. She takes both and pads over to the couch barefoot,

"Boys?"

"Asleep."

"Hrm." She settles, let's him turn the television on. The pizza is good, the company better and the beer a godsend after the day. She kicks out her feet, doesn't make him talk about it and settles with her partner for the evening.

The game is okay, their team wins and she's drifting by the end of it. She wakes in the morning to Sean mumbling a hello as he hands her coffee.

"Dad okay?"

"Yeah." She answers as she takes it, Danny was nowhere to be seen but a blanket had been placed over her.

"There is a guest bed." Sean says as he points to another door in the corner. "For next time."

"Thanks." She says, for the information and for the coffee. "How are you?" She asks softly, watches as he shrugs and nods to the couch beside her.

"How's school?"

Next time is the following week, "Pizza?" It's quickly becoming a code.

"Let me grab my bag." She rides with him because they work in the morning and she's not running home at 6 am to get dressed. Jack gives her a hug, Sean a nod from the table.

She kicks off her heels and they split a pizza, she accepts the beer and heads towards the couch. The boys both join them and she listens to the stories from school until 10 when they both head off to bed. She dozes off before the end of the game, wakes to Danny's hand on her arm. "Bed."

She hums but doesn't move and he chuckles, hand closing around her wrist. "Come on."

She wakes late, showers and finds Danny dressed as well. The coffee and sandwich handed across to her. "You're driving.' She mutters and he chuckles, nodding twice as they head out the door.

She finds herself pressed between him and a beat cop who had a mouth, two hands pressed against his chest, using her body weight and presence to keep him from beating the man senseless. Though he deserves it. It wasn't worth the paperwork or the lecture they would have to listen to.

"Come on. Danny… don't do this...' He's got one hand stretched over her shoulder the other against her side, fisted in her jacket.

He's pressing himself into her, both still mouthing off and she pushes a bit harder, getting him to step back a half step. "Look at me… Danny. Look at me.' He does and his body relaxes. Still angry but registering that she is there and in his way and he would have to hurt her to get to the asshole. 'Walk away." She says firmly and his face tightens but he does. His whole body swinging away from her and stomping back to the car.

The whole vehicle rocks with the force he uses to close the door. But at least he's not swinging at other's heads. The cops partner is forcing him into the car, shutting him up as well.

They share a knowing look, both too used to dealing with tempers, she takes a slow deep breathe before shaking her head and heading to the car. Danny's hands clenched around the steering wheel.

"I'm okay." He says evenly and she raises an eyebrow as she looks at him.

"You sure about that?"

"I'm sure…' he muttered before taking an even breathe, 'and thank you."

Sundays are taken up by dinner at his Pop's house and she spends the day catching up on chores and laundry and other things she let's slide through the week.

She's surprised to get a text from him around 7. "Call me."

He answers immediately. "You missed it."

"I did?"

"And so did everyone else."

"What did I miss?"

"Jamie announced his engagement."

"WHAT? Who the hell has he been dating?"

"Janko." That made a lot of sense actually, "Apparently they decided that this morning."

"Damn."

"I know."

"What's your father going to do about it?"

"Stay out of it." He says with a half laugh and she hums. "You eaten? There are plenty of leftovers?"

"I could eat."

She drags her suit over, finds the plate in the microwave and sets it to heat. "Where are the boys?"

"Headed to the movies. Will be back later.' She settles beside him with the plate, listens to the retell over the events of dinner.

'"Holy shit. They really want to stay together on the job?"

"That's what they say… honestly I don't think they trust anyone else to watch each other's back."

"Can sorta understand that. She did just save his ass." He hums, "Good for them, will be interesting to see how it turns out."