Chapter Four
December
*Talk Dad into Pizza.* Sean texts and she smirks, watching as Danny narrows his eyes over the desk.
"Who is that?"
"No one." She answers easily, watching as he raises an eyebrow obviously not convinced.
"Uh huh." And she smiles over the desk at him. She sips on her coffee, her phone buzzing again.
*and breadsticks!* this time from Jack.
"It should worry me what they are trying to talk you into."
"Who into what?" She says back without looking at him.
*We might be late.*
"Don't encourage them."
"Encourage who?" She sets her phone back in it's holder and focuses on the reports in front of her. "Focus or we are never gonna get to leave."
"Why you'd let us get this far behind?"
"Me? You are the one that agreed to be on call for two weeks. I could shoot you."
"Need the money. Gifts are expensive."
"Could still shoot you, do your reports so we can go home."
"Pizza." She said as she pointed towards a street.
"I knew it." He said as he hit the steering wheel.
"I already ordered it."
"You are as bad as they are." Her smile just confirmed his feelings but he turns right, let's her go in to pick up the three pizza boxes and a couple of smaller boxes. The rest of the drive is easy and he opens the door to watch as the boys both light up when they see the boxes.
"You two play dirty." He says and they give him completely fake innocent looks as they take the boxes from Maria and head to the already set table. He can't helping smiling as he watches Maria and the boys spar as she unzip her boots and step out of her shoes. Just manages to snag her jacket before she wanders off. Shakes his head as he has to go get her gun and badge. Her hand already dishing out food and smiling as he shakes his head at all of them and their antics.
"Maria what are you doing for Christmas?" Jack asks softly and she shrugs not meeting his gaze.
"Working.' She says evenly and Danny raises an eyebrow, surprised at the answer
"Not spending it with your sis and her kids?"
"Nope…' she says evenly and he frowns,
"Okay… why?"
"They are heading to Paul's parents place in Florida, want to have a Christmas on the beach."
"Your Mom?"
"Not speaking with me."
"What time are you off?" Sean asks and she glances towards him,
"4 probably."
"You should join us for Mass," Sean offers softly and Maria gives a gentle smile, obviously touched but shakes her head.
"That's your guys times."
"No… he's right. Stop by after your shift. We will wait for you." Danny says, because he hates the thought that she will be alone for Christmas.
"Danny…' Jack is already picking up his phone, sending off a text.
"I told Grandpa to plan for another plate." She blows out a slow breath as she catches Sean's smug grin.
"You guys fight dirty."
"They know.' He says as he passes over another beer.
She had tried twice to get out of it. Texting him during her shift, right after 9 am. In the middle of gifts and then about 30 minutes later. The boys had taken his phone and said barring her being actually on shift, in a call, they expected to see her for Mass and dinner. He had gotten a simple 10-4 text next that did nothing for the pit of his stomach. It wasn't like her to cancel anything, especially something the boys had invited her too.
Danny can hear the front door, "Give me 15 minutes…' she calls as she heads immediately towards the bedroom, hair blocking the majority of her face.
"Hold up." She pauses, facing the door. "About face."
"Danny…' her voice is tired, 'just… 15 minutes." She pushes open the door and let's it close behind her. Jack and Sean both giving him a look and he sighs as he crosses to the door, knocking twice. She doesn't answer.
"I'm coming in." He pushes it open and sees her hanging up a garment bag over the bathroom door. Her back still towards him.
"It's nothing." She says evenly and he lets the door close behind him.
"About face.' She turns towards him slowly and he scowls, stepping towards her.
"What the fuck happened to your face?" His hand on her chin, lifting it up.
"It's nothing."
"What happened?" He repeated, tone testy
"Suspect caught me with an elbow, it looks worse than it is…."
"Twice?" Looking at the bruise over her chin and near her temple.
"I'll put makeup on, cover it up."
"The hell you will. Take a shower and relax. The Church isn't going anywhere. It doesn't start til 6 you got time. Who was your partner today?"
"Wasn't their fault Danny…" Which told him that it was exactly their fault,
"Fine I'll just look at the schedule."
"Davis…' The darkness that flickered across his face made her sigh. He wasn't fond of Davis to begin with.
"Take a shower."
She does and she frowns as she steps out. Not surprised by the expanse of bruises on her arms, ribs, upper stomach and down her leg. The shower helped relax tense muscles but also made everything just ache. It also made the bruises stand out stark against her skin and she sighed as she dried her hair as much as she could before blow drying it out.
She slides the leggings on and steps into her shoes before focusing on the dress. It zipped up the back and there was no way she was gonna be able to get it up with her arm and shoulder so sore and she did not want to set Danny off but knew that was gonna happen eventually.
"Danny." He's there a moment later, carefully opening the door.
"Jesus Christ…'
"Can you just….' she turns and she can't see her back but can feel the damage.
"Where the fuck was he?" He asked as he stepped forward. Maria frowning as he zipped it down completely and pushed the fabric wide across her shoulders. His fingers barely touching her.
Danny could feel the rage boiling at the span of bruises across her back, clear deep bruises that spoke of hard close combat. The bruise across her right shoulder that was edging down her arm.
"It was an interview with a suspect. Davis stepped outside to take a call and the guy flipped."
"He left you alone with a suspect?" Danny frowning as she turned on him, holding the dress up with one hand, her eyes tired.
"Can we not get into this right now? I'm tired. I'm sore and I promised the boys I would be here. So can we just not?"
"Sarge know about this?" He said as he gestured up and down her body.
"Yeah. He did the post stuff. Took pictures. Gonna take another set in a couple of days when everything darkens and looks ugly. Davis got his ass handed to him."
"The suspect?"
"I sent him through a window. He's at St. Victor's with a broken shoulder and arm." And gunshot wounds, she thought silently not ready to start him down that path.
"Good girl." She rolls her eyes at him, turning back around and feeling him zip the dress up. Hisses slightly as it rubs against tender skin. "Sorry."
"Do you have any Tylenol?"
"Yeah. I got something." He leaves her to finish getting ready and watches as she steps out, jacket already in place. She has put on makeup though it does nothing to really hide the bruises it evens it out some. Her hair hides the one near her temple but the one on her chin is stark against her skin.
"Here." He hands her the coffee and the pills, watching as she downs both of them before sipping on the coffee. "Boys!"
"Coming." They slide to a stop when they see her, eyes wide.
"Just bruises… nothing that won't heal." She says softly, "Come on. Let's go." They head out in front of her and Danny goes to touch her back but remembers the bruises and clenches his hand as he grips his keys.
She winces as she gets into the car and ignores the ticking in his jaw.
"You got your bags?" Danny asks the boys and sees two nods from the backseat.
"Yeah."
"Bags?"
"Staying with Grandpa after Church, he's taking us to Boston."
"Nice."
He can tell she's sore as hell, movements slow and careful. Danny holding out an elbow to her, watching as she loops her hand through it. "You working tomorrow?"
"What am I gonna do be sore and cranky at home when I could be earning OT."
"If you are sore…"
"Shut up Danny." He snorts, watching as she gives him a smile.
"Detective Baez."
"Commissioner."
"How are you feeling?"
"Nothing a couple of days won't heal. Thank you for letting me join you tonight."
"Of course. Did the hospital clear you for work?' She winced, watching as Danny turned on her both eyebrows raised.
"You went to the hospital?" Frank giving a small smile of sympathy. "Why didn't you call me?"
"It's Christmas." She said it like it was obvious, watching as the boys both raise an eyebrow, "I wasn't calling you away from your family."
"I don't care what day it is. You end up in the hospital. You call me." She rolls her eyes and Frank gives a small smile, "How did you find out?" Danny demanded from his father.
"I get notified of all officer involved shootings."
"Shooting?" Danny exploding again, turning back on Baez. Voice raised and this time obviously angry. Maria ignoring him as she leveled a look at Frank.
"You are not helping." Maria said evenly.
"Sorry.' Frank murmured with a small smile everyone watching as Danny points a finger in her face.
"You are telling me everything when this is over."
"Fine.' she mutters, 'will you calm down?" With an not so subtle look to the boys who are hovering nearby. His jaw clenches but he blows out a slow breath. He's not happy, and now he's edgy as well, his hand open on her arm. They are interrupted by Jamie and Eddie as they come up.
"Heya Maria!' She can't quite keep the soft sound of pain squashed as Jamie claps her shoulder in welcome, the jolt traveling all the way down her back. Danny pushing him none to gently on the shoulder in return.
"Watch it you big lug."
"Hey… what the hell…' Jamie rubs his shoulder as he glances to where Danny is fuming, his hands light on her shoulders. Before focusing on her, the half covered bruises 'Sorry. You okay?"
"Got into it with a suspect.' She said evenly,
"Alright. Let's get everyone inside." Frank says, hoping to derail another go round.
Danny hovers, holds up a hand in warning to Erin as she steps towards Maria, stalling her motion for a hug. "Come on… let's sit down." Danny says and Erin nods,
"What happened?"
"Suspect didn't take kindly to a question."
"Damn."
She sits between Danny and Erin. Mass is beautiful and she smiles as Danny helps her out of the pew before holding out an arm. "Dinner?" He asks and she nods,
"I'm starving."
Reagan dinner was exactly as she remembered it. Loud, full of laughs and lots of food. Danny to her right and Frank to her left. Childhood stories passing around before Danny catches a glance at the time and her relaxed face and decides they should probably head back to the house.
"Alright boys.' He raises, gives them each a hug, 'be good for your grandfather."
"We are always good for Grandpa." Jack says evenly, watching as Maria stands as well.
"Thank you for inviting me." She accepts both careful hugs and smiles as Danny holds up her jacket. She repeats the hugs with Erin and Eddie before Jamie gives a half wave from the couch.
"You guys heading out?"
"Gotta work."
"You been cleared?" Frank asked, watching as Maria gives a half smile,
"Cleared? What's that?" She asks as she steps out and he shakes his head. Danny following quickly.
"Bye Pop! Thanks."
"Bye!"
The ride back to the house is quite, Maria staring out the window with a small smile. "You good?"
"Thank you. It was better than being alone."
"Anytime Partner. Now… tell me what the fuck happened?"