Once Sonny settled in the passenger seat with his eyes close and his head resting back against the seat, Davis turned to her best friend with worry in her eyes. "Hey, you okay? Really okay? Not any of that tough-guy garbage, where you say you are okay and we realize two hours later you have been shot".
Sonny's eyes opened with a start, and threw his hands up in mock-defense. "That was one time. Davis," he said. "One time. And I was fine."
"And to answer your question. I feel like crap. I will never again take breathing for granted. I had no idea how much it sucks to actually have to think about breathing. Breathing is exhausting."
Wanting to say a thousand things a once, Davis wasn't sure where to start. Davis reached for Sonny's hand, giving it a quick squeeze, as he closed his eyes and rested his head back on the seat.
Turning the key over to start the car, Davis glanced at Sonny, and said, "Where to? Need anything before we go home". Sonny squeezed Davis' hand, and drawled, "I just want to get some beer, get some food, take a real shower, sleep in a comfortable bed...". Sonny paused, before adding, "and hang out with you."
Davis chuckled to herself and shook her head. Sonny could be a smooth talker when he wanted to be. Glancing at her half-asleep best friend, Davis couldn't help but wonder what she had gotten herself into.
Pulling up to her apartment complex, Davis turned off her Jeep, and gave Sonny a gentle nudge with her elbow. "Hey, we're here. Get up, I'm not carrying you up those stairs."
Groaning from the passenger seat, Sonny opened the door and stretched his sore muscles. Sonny waited while Davis grabbed her bag from the backseat and was surprised when she handed a second bag to him. Recognizing the bag as his own, Sonny asked "What's this? You get the guys to break into my place?"
Davis responded with a laugh, "You wish. I've had a go-bag for you for months. You were a disaster after the last deployment. I got used to saving your butt every other week, and just keep the bag for when you, or one of the other guys, need it."
Walking into Davis' place, Sonny couldn't help but flash to the last time he was here. He had some very good memories, and one that he would rather forget, that took place in this apartment.
Sonny tossed his bag in the guest room, then walked back to the living to crash on the couch while Davis flipped through her junk mail. Sonny flopped on the couch and put his foot on the coffee table and watched Davis slowly unwind and become Lisa. She tossed her bag on a chair in the kitchen, untucked her uniform shirt. She reached up to take down her pony tail, slipping the hair tie on her wrist as she turned to Sonny, and said, "Hey, I'm gonna take a quick shower. You want a beer?"
Sonny was startled from his daze of watching Davis, and barely registered what she had said. He tilted his had and looked up as Davis, smiled, and said, "What, you're gonna make me drink alone?"
Grabbing two beers from the fridge, Davis opened both, handed one to Sonny and took a quick sip from the other. "Not for long," she responded. "Give me five minutes and I'll join you."
In the five minutes that Davis was gone, Sonny had fallen into a loose sleep. Slumped on the armrest, with his head resting on his fist, he didn't look particularly comfortable, but Davis didn't want to wake him none-the-less. Davis sat on the opposite end of the couch, with her legs up facing Sonny. She didn't watch him for long before he stirred awake, with a sigh and a low "hey, Davis. You gonna keep starring at me like that forever".
Realizing she has been caught, Davis shifted on the couch, hooked her arm in his, rested her head on his shoulder, and said "You wish," before getting up to hand Sonny the stack of take out menus.
"You mentioned food, anything you in the mood for?"
"I'm good with whatever. That good pizza place near here still deliver?" Sonny asked.
"Oh, yeah. You want all meat, or should I throw some veggies on there too."
"Whatever, you want. Except anchovies, that's just wrong."
With the food ordered, Sonny and Davis fell into an awkward silence, with Sonny on the couch and Davis wandering around the kitchen looking for something to clean or put away. Neither knew what to say, but both knew it needed to be said.
Finally, Sonny looked back at Davis, catching her eye. He sighed, and said, "Come here. We need to talk."
Davis knew Sonny was right, but she wasn't sure she was ready to hear what he had to say. This conversation could go in several different directions, and Davis wasn't sure she wanted to face the reality of a few of those directions.
With a little hesitation, Davis sat down on the couch and looked at Sonny. He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. They both wished they could just stay there, forever, but reality would eventually find them, and they needed to hash out their issues. Davis settled into Sonny, leaning on his chest with his arm wrapped around her, and her head on his shoulder. Davis faced away from Sonny as he started talking, not sure if she could look him in the eye, just yet.
"Lisa, listen. I had a lot of time with my thoughts on that submarine. And, it gave me time to figure out what I want, and what is important to me. I'm sorry for walking out on you. And, I hope you can forgive me for being a jackass. If OCS is important to you, then I'm in. I'll support you any way I can. I'll help you train, or help you study that damn manual. I want to be there for you, if you let me."
Lisa leaned back and looked up at Sonny, "Thank you. I'm sorry, too. I should have told you, but I knew you weren't going to be happy about it. I know you hate "cake-eaters", and I know why. I just hope I can be the type of office you and the rest of the guys can respect."
"Darlin'," Sonny sleepily drawled, "you won my respect, and the respect of all the guys a long time ago. I wasn't mad you were becoming an officer, I was upset that you were leaving, just as I finally figured out what was in front of my face for the last ten years."
"Yeah?" Davis questioned. "And what was that?"
"You're really gonna make me say it, aren't you, Davis?" Sonny sighed. "You. My best friend. As soon as you kissed me, I knew I wanted to keep kissing you. At the time, I thought you might want to keep kissing me, but..."
Sonny paused, unsure how to say what wanted to say.
"I know your career is extremely important to you. And I don't want to screw that up for you. I don't want us to screw that up for you. I want this. I want us. I want to keep kissing you. But I respect you, and I'm willing to take whatever you are willing to give me. If you want to go back to being just friends, I'm all in. If you want more, I'm all in. You are my best friend. You make me a better person. And, I want you in my life, however you see you fit best."
Sonny stopped to let his words sink in and take a much-needed deep breath.
Davis turned to face Sonny, cupped his face with her hands and firmly kissed him on the lips.
"Sonny," Davis started shakily, "I don't want to define anything tonight"
Seeing the split-second hurt flash across Sonny's face, Davis quickly added, "If we don't define it, the Navy can't define it, and if they can't define it..."
"Maybe we can make this work."
With Davis' last sentence, Sonny wrapped Davis in a bear-hug, pulling her on his lap, and kissing her deeply. Pulling away to catch his breath, Sonny looked at Davis with a smirk, and said, "Damn Davis. I think I just went through rejection twice. Next time, lead with the good news".
Lisa shoved Sonny's hat down on his head, and laughed, just as the doorbell rang.
"HA," Sonny laughed, "Saved by the pizza. That was way too many feels for one night."
