Lexi stood at the kitchen window staring out at the water. She had been doing dishes but her mind had become consumed with Steve. She just stopped what she was doing and stared out at a spot where he would go for a swim almost every day. She knew she would miss him terribly, but this was almost more than she could stand. He had been gone for barely 24 hours but it felt like days. The night before had been awful without him. She wasn't even sure if she had got a whole hour worth of sleep. It showed on her.
Danny knocked on Steve's front door and when he didn't get an answer his concern for Lexi told him to walk in. He called out to her and walked through the living room into the kitchen.
"Lexi?" he said again.
Lexi jolted out of her trance and turned around. "Danny?" she walked toward him frightened as to why he was there, "Is everything ok?"
He reached out and took a hold of both her arms, noticing the red in her eyes. "Everything's fine," he led her over to a chair, "Sit down."
She clamped onto his arm, "Why? What's wrong? What happened!" she said panicking.
"Nothing. Nothing's wrong," he smiled trying to reassure her, "Steve's fine. I got a text from him this morning." He sat her down in the chair and took the seat across from her. "He wanted me to come by and make sure you were ok."
She sighed with relief and put her hands up to her face, "I'm going out of my mind, Danny." She looked up at him, "I can't sleep. I can't eat. I can't…"
"Take it easy," he interrupted her. "You're getting yourself all worked up for no reason."
"No reason?" she said, looking at him like he was crazy. "You're as bad as he is! You act like this is some sort of vacation trip!" She stood up, angrily raising her hands, speaking sarcastically, "Oh honey, I'm just going over to South Korea to shoot a man. No worries."
"Lexi," Danny stood up with her, "If it was anyone else I'd be agreeing with you, but he knows what he's doing. He wouldn't risk this if he didn't think he could pull it off." He wasn't so sure he believed his own words but for her sake he had to make her believe it. "This is what he was trained for in the Seals. This isn't his first trip."
Lexi stared at him feeling the weariness of the night before catching up with her, "But this is the first time for me."
"I know," he said feeling empathy for her, knowing there was only one way to calm her. "Do you want to talk to him?" He pulled out his cell phone and dialed the number of Steve's new phone, handing it to her; all she had to do was push send.
She looked at it, wanting more than anything to take it, but knew if she talked to him, he would hear the fear in her voice. He'd know she wasn't doing well and that might distract his thoughts, which could put him in danger. She reluctantly shook her head, "No. He doesn't need to know about this."
Danny smiled, relieved with her decision. She was resilient just like Steve was. He had never met two people who were more perfect for one another.
"Sit down," he ordered. "I'm going to make you Danny's famous mac and cheese, and then you're going to lay down and take a long nap."
He walked over to the cupboard and pulled out two boxes of instant Macaroni and Cheese.