AN: Middle part of this was a smidge challenging. I hope it turned out okay. Thanks for the reviews last week. I'm hoping that the drop off in them was just because there was such a limited amount of Emily and Daniel and not that you're losing interest in the fic. Um yell if it starts to suck? Pretty please? Lol. Yell with something constructive, so I at least have clue where to start to fix it.
Emily was silent in bed for a few minutes after she listened to the hiss of pain Daniel let out while shifting. The room was once more dark and they were once more alone. Only this wasn't like the last 3 nights they had spent in this room together and it wasn't just due to their physical injuries that they were on opposite sides of the bed once more. "You don't get do-overs in life. We can't just go back and erase what we've done."
"We can do better though," he answered her quiet voice with his own.
"I buried Aiden a year ago." She took a breath, "My father's name was cleared, we were finally going to be able to start our lives together. I couldn't walk away and give him that life until it was done. Then he was just gone. He never got that life he wanted. It was just over before it even began. He had been happy and living a normal life without me, then he died because of me."
"Manda-"
"You just become this should have. He should have, he could have, he would have. It's just all of the potential that was there just stops. He would have been a great husband...father. You can be a good man without doing this Daniel. You're right. You can do better, but not if you're not here. You won't be a good father, you won't be a good brother. You're just going to be gone."
"What do you think is going to happen to you?"
"I can handle myself."
"Really. Didn't look like that when you were on the ground. Hell. I almost killed you."
"Dan-"
"Walk away and I have no choice, but to walk," Daniel reminded her.
"Not gonna-"
"Happen," he finished, "I know. Same for me. Seriously though. Stop acting like you're a god. You might manipulate people, but they still have free will. You're not a god. And I'm not going to die some hero's death like you keep imagining. I'm still a Grayson after all."
-o-o-o-
"What are you guys doing here?" Jack's eyes were wide as Emily, Daniel and Nolan walked into the station following their doctor's appointment.
"Babysitting the grumpy toddlers," Nolan answered him.
"Detective Parker asked us to come in," Emily clarified, "FBI wanted a conference call."
"He's out. You should go back to the house, I'll meet you there."
"What's going on?" Daniel asked.
"Emily," Ben said walking over, "I didn't know you were-"
"Parker told them to come in and didn't remember to cancel," Jack sighed.
"The FBI-" Emily prompted.
"Um," Jack sighed again.
"Did they figure out who hit us?" Emily asked.
"Why don't you talk to Daniel, while Emily and I go for a walk?" Ben suggested.
"Whatever it is, you can tell us together." Daniel quickly deflected that option.
"Sara's being brought in." Jack kept his voice low.
"Sara? My Sara?" Daniel's eyes went wide. "What the hell is wrong with you? Do you have any idea how much I already put her through?" He turned to Emily after seeing her non-reaction, "You knew about this?"
"They need to rule her out as a suspect," Emily calmly defended herself.
"She wouldn't-"
"She's already confessed," Jack quietly interjected.
"What?" Daniel's face fell.
"Roommate said she was dating someone from inland. She didn't seem like the type to use a dating site. You date other locals or people from the city around here. Unless she already knew someone inland. I pulled up Patrick's DMV records to see where he's living now, he drives a blue Camry."
"You're bringing her in for questioning because her brother drives a blue car? Patrick's gone after my car before you didn't think about bringing him in?"
"He's upstate, they switched vehicles because he was going camping," Ben explained.
"Detective Parker went over with the West Sayville PD. There was no answer at the door. Garage had windows they could see the damage to the car."
"No," Daniel head shook, "she's protecting-"
"I don't think so Daniel," Jack softly spoke. "Look we need to get out of here before she comes in. We can discuss all of this at the house."
"I think that's a good idea." Emily answered.
Daniel turned at Emily's coldness.
It wasn't a good idea. As they walked out, Detective Parker was leading Sara up the path.
Her eyes were bloodshot from days of crying, the look on her face was desperate as Daniel's was horrified.
"How," she cried, "just tell me how I could have ever been so blind?"
"Sara," Daniel's voice was defeated as he looked at her.
"How did I believe you? Why couldn't I see who you were?"
"I'm-"
Jack blocked Daniel with his arm as he took a step towards Sara. "Don't," he ordered.
"Get them out of here Porter," the detective ordered him.
"Daniel," Emily spoke quietly.
He turned to her.
"Let them figure this out," her eyes softened for him.
He was about to nod his agreement when Sara spoke again, "You were never really going to let him go were you, the divorce-"
"You tried to kill us because I called your mother because you were sleeping with my husband?"
"Porter," Detective Parked barked.
"Let's go," Jack quickly placed his hand on Emily's arm and led her away as the detective moved Sara towards the station.
Daniel was left staring at a tree unable to look at either of the women.
"This was certainly unexpected," Nolan spoke from next to him.
Daniel turned his gaze towards Nolan.
"Why don't Jack and I take you home Daniel?" Ben suggested.
"Why don't you stay the hell out of this," Daniel's attitude was barely contained, "I've already gone through this with him," he nodded at Jack talking to Emily by Nolan's car. "I don't have the energy to go through it again with you." Daniel smirked, "Let me save you the trouble. She's like an iceberg. That's just the tip of her. You think you have some idea what's beneath the surface and the next thing you know your life is in shambles."
"I'd say he has a concussion, but he's actually just an ass," Nolan smiled at Ben.
-o-o-o-
"Should I stay?" Nolan asked as Daniel disappeared into the house as Emily remained in the foyer with him.
"No," she shook her head, "go try to..." Emily head shook. "I don't even know anymore."
Nolan gave her a weak smile, "Well plus side this means we have a little more time to figure out how to get to Malcolm Black."
Emily returned his faint smile.
"No one could have seen this coming Ems."
She gave him a small laugh, "Daniel, Charlotte, Sara..." Emily's head shook. "I keep almost being taken out by threats I never saw coming."
Nolan smirked, "Knew Charlotte had it in her, she's your sister after all."
Emily sighed.
"Plus side maybe this will finally get Daniel out of your hair."
"Maybe," Emily gave a quick shake of her head and another smile.
"Sure you don't want me to stay and deal with him?"
She gave a small smile, "Your presence doesn't exactly calm Daniel down."
"Guns are all locked up right?"
"Go," Emily rolled her eyes, "let me know if you come up with anything."
"Your wish is my command," he turned.
"Nolan."
He turned back.
"Thanks for all of this."
"Anytime." He started to walk again, then paused and turned back, "Though could we try not to make it anytime soon, I'm interviewing contractors to renovate the club."
"I'll do my best."
"All I can ask for with you."
-o-o-o-
"Not one word," one finger pointed out as Daniel held the glass of whiskey as he sat on the chair.
"It's your life," Emily gave a slight shrug as she walked into the room and headed to the bar retrieving a glass for herself.
"It is and I drove someone that loved me to try to kill me. I broke a sweet, innocent girl, not once, but twice."
"She was hardly that innocent Daniel," Emily said pouring her glass without emotion.
"Who are you?" His eyes narrowed, "What are you?"
"Am I supposed to feel sorry for the woman that purposefully ran us off the road? She could have killed us and probably meant to."
"Can you blame her?"
"I can understand why you would sympathize with her."
Daniel's mouth opened, then tightly closed. He brought the glass to his lips and took a sip. "You have no concept of what that feels like. To know that I did that to someone. I brought someone else that low. Someone that loved me and would have done anything for me."
"What do you want me to say Daniel?" Emily's stance shifted and she tilted her head looking at him.
"I don't know Em!" He flinched, "Amanda. I want you to feel something. Because she was a good person before she got dragged into all of this between us."
"You were engaged," she reminded him.
He let out a laugh, "You were sleeping with Aiden and planning to fake your death."
"Hardly public knowledge."
"Everyone saw something was wrong. I was the last one to catch on."
"Didn't I pay enough already for that?"
"Too much and I have to live with that. Don't ask me to live with this also. She did this because of me."
Emily sighed, "What do you want me to do Daniel? I can't cover this up. She already confessed."
"I don't know." He drained his glass. "Her life is destroyed because she loved me," he pushed himself up with a groan as he stood to get the bottle, "I'm completely a Grayson now. Aren't I?" He asked as he filled his glass.
-o-o-o-
"Loretta," Emily called out as she stepped out of her car as Sara's mother walked away from the station.
"Emily," she paused, the embarrassment and pain evident on her face. "I don't even. There are no words-"
"She seemed fine when we saw her. I mean she was angry, but-" Emily's head shook and her face fell.
"Oh Sweetheart, if I had any idea what-"
"They said she called you before, before she..." Emily was the picture of vulnerability as her head tilted, looking lost over what had happened.
"She wanted to know if I had heard about you and Daniel." Loretta's head shook, "How could you go back to him?"
"Daniel and I weren't always those people you saw last summer. At one point we really did care about each other."
"He took a bullet for you."
"He was willing to die for me," Emily's voice was soft and full of love.
Loretta's head shook, "I told Sara as much. I guess I shouldn't have."
"I love Daniel," Emily's voice cracked, "when Sara showed up last summer I panicked. I lost my family when I was young and Daniel was all I had." Tears welled up in her eyes, "My lie pushed him further towards her." Emily wiped the tears away with the back of her hand. "I helped cause this because I couldn't stand the thought of losing him and I thought I was going to the other night."
"I am so sorry," Loretta placed a gentle hand on Emily's arm.
Emily covered the hand with her own, "We were just happy and having a good time and I didn't think about Sara and how she had to have felt seeing that."
"She says she didn't mean to. She was still in the parking lot when you left, then realized later she was behind you on the road. She wanted to get around you to to get away from-"
"Us," Emily voice was soft.
Loretta nodded, "She said she looked over and Daniel was looking at you and I know if she could just go back she would stop herself."
"I'm sure she would."
"She just wanted the prince to love her so badly," Loretta covered her mouth with her hand and shook her head, "and now she's thrown away her life. He almost kills her with a car, he got away scot-free. She's never going to come back from this."
"I've been her shoes, I've watched everything slipping away. I know what it's like to act in desperation and then have to live with it." Emily reached in her bag and pulled out a business card, "I want you to call this lawyer."
"We don't have the money-"
Emily shook her head and pressed the card into Loretta's hand, "I helped cause this, let me help fix it."
"I can't-"
"Daniel and I aren't going to make it if Sara loses her freedom over us. The lawyer will make sure she has a psychiatric evaluation and she'll get the help she needs."
"The prosecutor-"
"The lawyer will take care of it if Sara gets help."
"I don't know how to thank you," Loretta hugged Emily.
"You don't need to. Just take care of your family."
"And keep them away from yours?" Loretta pulled back with a knowing look.
Emily murmured and tilted her head, giving a small smile.
"You deserve better than him Sweetheart."
Emily let out a breath of a laugh.
"Emily," Ben called as he walked out of the police station.
Emily quickly turned towards him and then back to Loretta, "He's waiting for your call."
"Okay. You take care."
"You too," Emily smiled, then turned and waited for Ben to reach her.
"Was that just Sara Munello's mother?" Ben asked with a frown.
"Loretta," Emily nodded.
"You're friendly with your ex-husband's mistress' mother?" Ben viewed her with suspicion.
"Ex-mistress because of Loretta."
"Your husband cheated on you and instead of dumping him you broke up his relationship with his mistress?"
"It's complicated," Emily smiled at him.
"More like twisted."
"Been talking to Nolan?" Emily's head fell to the side as she smiled up at Ben.
"Daniel Grayson?"
"That sounded like a question."
"Why the hell would you ever go back to someone like him?"
"Daniel is trying-"
"He cheated on you and from what I've heard he's an ass."
"Both of those things are true," Emily leaned against her car.
"And you're with him..."
"I have no idea," Emily's head swayed.
"Good answer," Ben's tone was dry.
"There's a lot Daniel and I need to resolve. And there's a lot we need to get over and I don't know if we can. He wants to try and-"
"You're better than him."
"No I'm not," Emily pushed off her car, "but thanks for thinking I am. Don't forget, the pool on Saturday."
-o-o-o-
The following afternoon, the young ADA sat nervously across from Daniel and Emily in the sun room, the redheaded female had just told them of Sara's evaluation and was now nervously skating around what her boss had sent her to say.
"So she's not going to be charged?" Daniel inferred, glancing only with his eyes over at Emily.
"No...Uh. We could try, but based on the-"
"Daniel and I just want to put this behind us," Emily said taking his hand.
He smiled, "We both know Sara and know this-"
Emily finished when he paused, "We're glad she's getting the help she needed."
The young woman looked visibly relieved, "We'll set up a restraining order."
"If you think that's necessary," Emily smiled.
"Better safe than sorry. We'll talk to her doctors again once she completes the program."
-o-o-o-
"Thank you," Daniel said once they heard the ADA's car disappearing down the drive.
"You were right. She didn't deserve to suffer because of our lie."
"I'm sorry that you were hurt-"
"I lost a car, you were the one she almost killed," Emily blew off his apology.
"Amanda-"
"How would you have felt if I died the other night?" Emily abruptly asked.
"What kind of a question is that?" Daniel was instantly defensive.
"Your enemy went after you," she pointed out.
"I don't think she was just after me."
"It was because of you," Emily shrugged her shoulders.
"You're not doing this again," Daniel shook his head at her.
"Daniel, I'm going after Black even if you stay."
"Only place I'm going is to get some work done," he turned away from her and headed towards the stairs.
-o-o-o-
It was late that evening as Emily settled down in what had been Conrad's study with her laptop and the thumb drive containing Sara's admission interview at the center. The other computer had the security feeds running on it. The enlarged feed of Daniel sound asleep on the couch where he had been watching tv.
Anna had inquired after them twice today as she worked and had given them several worried looks. They weren't faking it as well as they had been because Daniel was continuing to be a stubborn ass and refused to leave. Emily wondered what it was going to take for him to understand his mortality.
He couldn't understand the life he was throwing away by staying. Emily would give anything for a second chance to leave with Aiden.
She put Daniel out of her mind. Keeping the feed of him up in case he awoke.
A few clicks later Sara's intake interview began to play.
"Just tell me in your own words what happened the other night," the therapist calmly spoke.
Sara let out a nervous laugh, "You mean when I ran my ex-boyfriend and his ex off the road?"
"Let's start when you first saw them," he prompted.
"I was running late so I was meeting my friends there."
Her silence prompted a question, "Did you see Daniel and Emily when you first arrived?"
"No," her head shook, "I went to go grab a beer, I was going back to my friends when I saw Danny."
"What were you thinking when you saw him?"
"That he looked happy. Huh. It was this odd moment. I wanted him to be happy, I was happy he had found someone, but I was angry...No, sad, that it wasn't me. That I listened to my ma instead of my heart. I didn't really see her at first, Danny was holding her close. I could just see her hair. Then when I could, I thought it was odd she looked like Emily. Like how could Danny ever love anyone that looked like that manipulative bitch. She was just tucked into his side like she didn't have a care in the world."
"Did something happen between you and Ms. Thorne in the past?"
"She's a lying, manipulative...just evil person. Danny was a really nice guy and she played him. She went after him because he was a Grayson and then when she realized he was still in love with me, she told him she was pregnant when she wasn't. He found out, but she wouldn't let him go. Then she called my mother. Ma," Sara shook her head, "Ma pretty much disowned me. She told me to go with her, I told her I was staying with Danny. Then she made me choose her or him. You should have seen the look on his face. That smug look on Emily's. Ma didn't forgive me, she still doesn't. Danny got his divorce, I wanted to see him, but Ma..." Sara sighed.
"Let's get back to that night."
"When he saw me he looked caught. Like he never did when Emily would see us together. I left. I didn't know what else to do."
"Then," the therapist once more prompted.
"He came after me. He was holding their sweaters together, they were white and gray. It was just so domestic. I thought it was some type of a scam. The Grayson money was gone, Emily was still rich, but those sweaters. Just how he'd been holding her. I wanted him to tell me it was a scam," Sara's expression fell.
"But he didn't."
"No," her head shook slightly. "He apologized for involving me in their issues." Sara's eyes closed and she took a breath, "like everything we had been together had just been a reaction to her." She paused, "He apologized for involving me. That I was exactly what my mom had told me. That he was using me to get back at her. She hurt him so he hurt her. That I was just what he used to make that happen. He had loved me though," Sara added.
"How did you end up back at the dinner?"
"I couldn't let him win, let her win. If I was nothing then they were nothing. I saw her waiting to the side for him. Always keeping track of him. I turned back after I reached my friends, expecting-"
"What were you expecting?"
"Her to be angry or grill him...That cold calculating face of hers. Instead he just had her enveloped in this hug."
"Keep going," the therapist encouraged when Sara once more stopped.
"I kept trying to have a good time. They just...They wouldn't stop. He just seemed to adore her. I kept waiting to see a smirk from her or a knowing look that she had won and I had lost."
"She didn't?"
"They were just so involved with each other, it's like I wasn't even there. Like I'd never been there."
"How did that make you feel?"
"Annoyed. That wasn't true. Danny had loved me and she had hated me because of it. Then I wanted them to know that they didn't matter to me, so I went over and then...Then their friend started going on and on about how they were Romeo and Juliet and how Danny..." Sara's head shook slowly and her eyes closed, "how he wanted to die with her than live without her." Sara wiped away her tears before opening her eyes again. "He didn't even call me after he got divorced. He had told me how much he loved me and how much he regretted ever letting me go and then he never even called or fought for me. I kept telling myself it was because of my family and that he let me go because he loved me. He hated her."
"What else happened?"
"That cold bitch finally crept out, I walked away. Danny stormed off. She went chasing after him. Then they were fighting and it was like my world finally turned rightside up. I left during the fireworks. I looked up the shooting on my phone. It had been in everything. I don't get the paper, probably haven't read one since I left Ma's. Stopped watching the news after everything happened with Daniel's family because I wanted to call and check in every time I heard about it. Called my mom from my car. I got an extended I told you so. She won't forgive me for it. I'm just this dumb whore who got taken in by a rich guy. I never belonged in his world." She paused. "I was trying to figure out what to do when everyone was coming out. I wanted my ma, but.." she shook her head. "My friends knew nothing about him. I didn't want to be alone. I was trying to figure out if I should meet up with them. Then I saw them again. He was still attached to her. His arm around her shoulders. There was no one around to see it, but it was like he was claiming her. Like his friend had said that he couldn't bear to let her go. I sat in my car for awhile trying to understand it, but..." Her head shook once more. "When I realized I was behind his car, I couldn't stay behind them. I don't know what happened."
"Just tell me what you remember."
"I wanted to get away."
"That all?"
"I wanted him to see me maybe," Sara admitted.
"What did you want him to see?"
"That I didn't care. That he didn't matter to me."
"Are you sure?" The therapist questioned.
"I wanted to understand."
"What?"
"Exactly. What, why, how? That he would look at me and then something."
"What did happen as you went to pass them?"
Sara was quiet for a moment, "He was looking at her."
"And then-"
"People like that don't get happy endings. You don't get to do everything wrong and then end up happy. You don't get to use people and hurt them-"
Emily slammed her laptop shut.
-o-o-o-
It wasn't the impact of the flash drive being dropped on Daniel's chest that caused him pain, but the reaction his body had to it as it curled forward as he shot awake.
He couldn't hide the groan of pain or his hand flying towards his bruised ribs as he lay on the sofa. He shot Emily an annoyed look, but before he could say anything she spoke.
"She's still in love with you. You want her, don't be an idiot."
Daniel's confused gaze followed her as she walked out of the room as he found the flash drive on his stomach.
She feigned sleep as he walked into their room hours later reaking of alcohol, stripping by his bedside before dropping into bed.
-o-o-o-
"Why do you look so happy?" Jack asked walking into the yacht club as Nolan's last minute, 'Fuck it we don't have to go back to the city' gathering happened around them, the Friday following Labor day.
"They are about to implode," Nolan looked across the room to Daniel at the bar with Louise drinking and Emily with her back to them on the opposite side of the room.
"I sent my driver for them he said they looked like they were going to kill each other when he picked them up. Didn't speak the entire way here."
"How long have they been here?"
"An hour. Only words spoken was when Emily asked, if he thought that was a good idea. He smiled and took the shot."
"I saw Margaux earlier, she said she was going to stop by. I should text her not to."
"Oh please don't do that. Be a friend. Emily cannot get further wrapped up in this."
"I'm going to go talk to Emily."
"Tell her she looks beautiful."
Jack rolled his eyes and walked away.
-o-o-o-
"Margaux is on her way here. I think it would be a good idea if we left before she arrived." Emily spoke the words with no emotion as she arrived at Daniel and Louise sitting at the bar.
"Aww, but Danny and I are having fun. We'll be on good behavior I swear," Louise smiled at Emily. The quarter they had been using to play a drinking game twirled in her fingers.
"I'm sorry Louise," Daniel said with a smile, climbing off the bar stool, "when Emily says run, I'm supposed to run," he picked up his jacket from the stool next to him. "I don't fight, I just run."
"Daniel, don't."
"Everyone should always obey The Great Emily Thorne," Daniel smiled at Louise.
"You're going to cause a scene," Emily's jaw was tense.
"I'm pretty sure," Daniel smiled, "they've figured out things aren't always fantastic between us."
"I'm going home," Emily ignored him. "Goodnight Louise."
"You just can't stand it that I see you and I call you out on your bullshit." Daniel followed after her.
"Daniel seriously," Emily increased her gait.
"I see you, Em. The good, the bad, the ugly. I see you. And I am here fighting for you even when it's with you. I'm pretty sure half of them dream of that, but you just keep pushing me away."
"I wonder why?" Emily said keeping her voice calm, but unable to keep her mouth shut. She left the large room with Daniel still on her heels.
He easily kept up with her, his sprained ankle had only been a true inconvenience for a day or two, so the front door to the club didn't slam in his face as she would have liked for it to.
"You're not getting rid of me," he said as Emily looked a her phone for the time wondering how far away Nolan's driver had been when she texted him because he had said, 'Be right there' only he wasn't.
"Not going to stop me from trying," Emily didn't look at him only at the drive that held no escape.
Daniel forcefully turned her to him, "I am not going to stop fighting for you. I'm not fighting the world, I'm not fighting for a hurt little girl. I am fighting for you. I am not running."
"Why now?"
"I don't know. I spent my entire life thinking about fighting. Wondering what would have happened if I had fought. When I heard you and Kate. There wasn't time to think. To talk myself out of it."
"You have the time now."
He laughed lightly at her, "Too late. I'm not going anywhere. I'm not going to stop fighting for you. So maybe you could just ease up on fighting me about it because I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted."
Emily laughed slightly and Daniel's arms came around her.
"Why don't you go back in, you looked like you were having a good time."
"Only place I'm going is home with you," he kissed her softly, "although you're going to have to do all the work because I do not feel as I good as I felt on that bar stool."
She laughed slightly at him, "Not happening."
He grimaced.
"Car's here. Last chance to stay," she said stepping away from him.
His head shook slightly, "I'm with you."
She smiled as Nolan's driver came around to open the door, getting in first in deference to Daniel's injuries.
He grinned watching the simple navy dress creep up mid thigh, "Did I tell you that you look pretty tonight?"
"Still no Daniel," she smiled.
"Can't blame a guy for trying," he said climbing into the car after her.
-o-o-o-
"Hey," Jack smiled as he paused in Nolan's pursuit of finding out if there had been bloodshed outside.
"Hi," Margaux smiled back as she walked into the club. "No valet tonight?"
"Not enough people I think. How are you?"
"Regretting the fact that I can't drink and wondering why I didn't stay in with the pile of work I always have."
"I think that pile of work is a reason to be out," Jack smiled at her.
"You are probably right," she feigned a smile. "I just saw Daniel and Emily leaving. Have they not recovered?"
"I think they're just bruised and tired."
"I suppose I should count my lucky stars that I got out before Daniel drove me to try to kill him."
"You heard?"
"The Hamptons worst kept secret." Margaux smiled, "A lot gets back to you when you run a magazine."
"Come on," Jack said offering his arm, "let me buy you a club soda."
"The most tempting offer, I've had in awhile," she smiled and took his arm.
