Chapter 9
Needing Closure
Aiden was much more relaxed and at ease as she drove home that night. Her day had turned much better after seeing her mother that morning. It did help that she and Danny had gotten a chance to go out for lunch as their "first official date".
Now, as she pulled into the parking lot under her complex she couldn't help the contented smile that blossomed over her face. And, of course, she'd told herself repeatedly, it had nothing to do with her official, planned date with Danny in a few hours.
So when she found her mother lounging on her couch, her world fell out from underneath her.
"You know I don't appreciate being treated as the scum of the earth," she said spitefully.
"Neither did I:" Aiden answered coldly, putting her purse and keys on the table by the door. The reports she'd wanted to finish were dropped onto the coffee table as she took off her coat and moved into her bedroom.
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb with me mother. You ignored me for the better part of 20 years. James and Daddy know and they agree," Aiden called back.
"That is ridiculous!"
"Get over yourself!" Aiden yelled. "You never showed up to any school events, never looked at my grades, never even gave a second thought to my birthday… yet you think you can just waltz in here? You can't believe you can waltz into my life?" Her mother rolled her eyes.
"This is a little dramatic, Aiden," her mother scolded. Aiden wanted to pull out her own hair.
"I'm not a girl!" she yelled.
"Aiden!"
"Enough! I don't have the patience for this, Mother. I have things to do. Please leave." It had taken a few minutes to say the last words as calmly and politely as possible.
"You will not kick your mother out of the house!" Patricia Burn exclaimed indignantly.
"You are not my mother," Aiden said, voice icy cold. "I don't have a mother." She pulled the door open, waiting for her mother to exit. Patricia sputtered.
"Last chance. My best friends are cops."
"This is ridiculous!" Aiden didn't budge and Patricia Burn had no choice but to leave. Aiden closed the door with finality and leaned against it. She stayed there for a few minutes before she pushed off and headed to the shower.
She was just finishing when Danny knocked. She opened the door and felt a rush of feminine pride as she gawked.
Aiden was wearing a red dress that hugged her curves down her torso and flared down in layers to mid calf. It dipped to hug her chest with thick straps that crossed across her back. Fabric covered up to her mid-back. Danny took her hand, encouraging her in turn.
"Wow, Aiden… Wow." Aiden couldn't help the feminine giggle that escaped her throat.
"You're speechless," she managed.
"You're beautiful," he replied. She blushed prettily.
"You don't look too bad, yourself," she told him, laying her hands on his shoulders for a quick kiss. It was a kiss he gladly returned and deepened.
It was their first real kiss, the first one that called to mind all of the horrible love clichés. His arms wrapped around her waist, hers around his neck. Her mouth opened under his, giving him entrance that he immediately took advantage of. She couldn't stop the moan that came from her throat. They finally broke the kiss for the need of oxygen. Aiden hummed contentedly.
"We should head out," Danny said, his hands drifting up and down her back. Aiden nodded, eyes still closed. Danny chuckled, tugging her out of her apartment.
It almost surprised Aiden how much she and Danny could find to talk about without delving into cases. They had prolonged conversations about little inconsequential, neither aiming for deep conversation during the drive over. Once they were seated, in an intimate corner of the little Spanish restaurant Danny had picked, the conversation changed. It wasn't on purpose, but Aiden mentioned the visit from her mother.
"She acted like she'd done nothing wrong," Aiden remarked sadly. "Like she'd done everything perfect." Danny, in tune with Aiden and the tones of her voice, caught the hint of insecurity in her voice.
"You know that's not true, right?" he asked, getting to the root of the issue, rather than scooting around the issue. He knew, no matter how painful it might be for her, he needed her to work through it. Aiden ran a hand through her hair, a nervous habit.
"I don't know what to do. I want this finished. It's haunting me, Danny. My mother doesn't understand that it hurt and I don't know how to make her get it." The frustration was tangible in her posture, the annoyance in her eyes. Danny didn't know what to tell her. Having never been in her situation, he wasn't sure of the best way to handle the whole thing. So, he gave her the only two things he could offer: his support and his love.
"Do you want advice or do you want me to be honest?" he asked. Aiden considered a moment.
"Honesty," she decided. Danny took a deep breath, knowing that though the words might be a little harsh, he wanted her to be happy.
"Honestly, I don't know what to tell you. I can't pretend to know how it feels and I can't analyse this like I would a case." He paused to collect his thoughts. "Honestly, I can't offer advice, not really. If she doesn't see what an amazing person you are, Aiden, as clichéd as it sounds, she doesn't deserve to know you, let alone talk to you." Then for levity, "of course, I'm biased." Aiden smiled.
"I don't know how to spell it out any clearer for her," Aiden said, eyes downcast.
"I don't know what to tell you sweetheart." Aiden's head snapped up at the first endearment of their courtship. Danny didn't pick up on it.
"What I can tell you is that you are surrounded by people who care deeply for and love you. Focus on that because that's what matters."
"Very philosophical," Aiden said, smiling despite the tears clouding her vision.
"Don't tell anyone and don't get used to it," he admonished playfully, wagging his finger. He made a comical picture, funny enough to make Aiden giggle.
"This is…" he ran a hand over his head, collecting his thoughts. "I don't like seeing you all broken up about it." Aiden smiled softly, touched by his concern.
"You being here, listening to me and caring, is enough," she told him, her hand finding his over the table. It was the perfect time for a lull in the conversation. Their food arrived and they took the time to settle back, and think about what had been said.
Danny, though rationally he knew better, wanted to take her pain away. In his mind, she didn't deserve he pain her mother and both of the cases had dropped heavily on her shoulders. It tore him up to see her hurt and frustrated. He looked up to see her watching him.
"You can't do anything more, Danny. This is my fight and I will not have you on my parents' bad side because you stuck your neck out for me," she told him, leaving no room for argument. Danny sighed.
"Promise me you'll talk to me," he almost begged. Now that he'd gotten to admitting he cared deeply for his long-term partner and best friend, he found himself doing things he would never do for anyone else. For instance, Danny Messer never begged.
"Of course!" Aiden replied sounding slightly indignant. "I started this conversation, did I not?" he conceded with a nod of his head.
They made their way back to Aiden's apartment in much higher spirits. Conversation, as usual, was easy and constant. In addition, it was the first work-related conversation they'd had.
"I'm not exactly sure what to make of this case anymore. I mean, I guess I can understand that it's her job but if you had a boyfriend, why would you keep doing it?" Aiden asked. "Not only that but if he was starving the kids, what's to say he wasn't abusing her?" Danny shrugged as he turned the corner to her building.
"We'll talk about the suspect in them morning. I want to actually know what was her blood," he replied. Aiden's chin dropped, her mouth slightly open.
"We didn't…"
"Nope. We were slightly preoccupied with other things. Besides, you didn't need any more stress," he answered, glancing at her. "And close your mouth, you'll catch a fly." Aiden promptly shut her mouth with a glare. Danny chuckled as he pulled up to the curb.
"Walk me up?" she asked sweetly. Danny killed the engine in response. They both exited the vehicle at the same time, and Danny took Aiden's hand as she came around the car. Aiden couldn't help the smile that blossomed over her face at the domesticity of it all. They made their way to Aiden's apartment and she started to get nervous. Not only did she not want the date to end, but her apartment meant sleep and sleep meant dreams.
"Aiden?" They were at her door.
"Sorry," she responded quickly, withdrawing her keys from her purse. She opened the door slowly.
"Are you okay?" he asked, keying into her reluctance.
"Peachy," she responded automatically. He stopped her.
"Talk to me." His soft tone was enough to disarm her.
"I don't want to go to sleep," she confessed, eyes focused on anything but him. Danny directed her eyes to his with a gentle hand under her chin.
"Do you want me to stay?" Aiden paused for a minute then shook her head. Her eyes met his again and he knew she was lying.
"I won't think any less of you Aid," he told her seriously. Aiden sighed knowing he'd just read her mind. She didn't want him to think of her as dependent. For years she'd been the opposite and expected it to stay that way. Still she was undecided. Danny sighed his hands rubbing up and down her arms.
"I'll stay until you fall asleep," Danny told her, guiding her into her apartment. Aiden didn't argue. He waited in the living room while she changed, helping himself to a glass of water. He flipped on the TV and found an upbeat sitcom. Aiden joined him a few minutes later, curling up against him.
"Thank you," she said a few minutes later, tilting her head up to meet his eyes. He smiled down at her.
"You don't have to thank me," he answered, dropping a kiss to her forehead. She snuggled closer, resting her head against his chest. Danny however, wasn't finished. He lifted her head to meet his eyes.
"I want you to know and trust that you don't have to hide from me, sweetheart. I will be here for you, Aiden, and you will always be strong in my eyes," he told her gravely.
"Thank you," she whispered, leaning up and touching her lips to his.
