Danni was trying to hold back the tears as Bruce broke up with her.
"Whatever you want. Feel better soon." She got up and walked out the door. She all but ran to her bike, still on its side from three nights ago. The paint was scrapped off, but she didn't care. She didn't even put on her helmet as she drove home. Once she stepped through the door her answering machine was blinking. Even though she knew who it was, she listened.
"Danni, it's Bruce" she erased it the second she heard his name. Tears came pouring out as she climbed the stairs to her room and pack her duffle bag. She couldn't stay here for a while, not so close to him and the memories of him holding her. Picking up her cell she called Jack.
"Hey, Jack. Bruce and I had a fight and I was wondering if I could stay with you and Sandy for a while?"
"Of course you can stay with us. What happened between you two? Are you ok?"
"It was just a fight, but I think we're over and I'm not ok. I really need my brothers right now and you're the closest thing I have now. I would usually call my best friend but that's …."
"Ok Darling, I 'm coming to get you. Be ready in 15 minutes"
"I'm ready now and I can drive myself. See ya in a few."
The second she was in the driveway, Jack had her in his arms. She began to shake and Jack lowered her to the ground, rubbing her back, trying to comfort his partner. Sandy, now quite pregnant, was outside with them and led Danni to the guest bedroom. Danni fell on the bed and cried herself to sleep. What sleep she did get were plagued by dreams of her and Bruce, them growing up, camping with him, holding her the day she buried the guys. Whenever she woke up, she wrapped Donny's sweatshirt tighter around her.
The next morning, she found 20 messages on her cell, all from Bruce, pleading her to talk to him. She decided to call him.
"Danni! Please talk to me!"
"I don't WANT to talk to right now Bruce! Get that through you thick skull! I want to be alone and not talk! Don't bother goin to my house I'm not there!" And she hung up
Bruce look at his phone in defeat. He swore he heard her heart breaking as she yelled at him. He had Alfred drive him to Jack's, knowing she was there.
"Don't even think about trying to talk to her, man" Jack put his hand on Bruce's chest and saw him wince. "That's what this stupid fight is about?! Your stupid hobbies! Is that what she is to you?!"
"Please Jack, let me see her" he begged
"Over my dead pregnant body" Sandy suddenly appeared at the door. "You hurt her in so many ways, Wayne. I'd be surprised if she even stays in this city after what you did. Now get off our property, or we'll have the police escort you off." And the couple slammed the door in his face.
Danni watched as Bruce got back in the car with Alfred and drive away. She hit the repeat button on her CD player and listened to the Backstreet Boys 'I Need You Tonight" for the umpteenth time.
Open up your heart to me
And say what's on your mind, oh yes
I
know that we have been through so much pain
But
I still need you in my life this time
Chorus :
(And) I need you tonight
I need you right now
I
know deep within my heart
It doesn't matter if it's wrong or
right
(I really need you tonight)
I figured out what to say to you
But sometimes the words they
They
come
out
so wrong, oh yes they
do
And I know in time that you will understand
That what we
have is so right this time
[Chorus]
All those endless times
We tried to make it last forever more and
baby I know
I need you
I know deep within my heart
It
doesn't matter if it's wrong or right
I really need you, oh
I need you tonight, I need you, oh I need you baby
I need you
right now, it's gotta be this, it's gotta be this
I know deep
within my heart
No, it doesn't matter if it's wrong or it's
right
All I know is baby
I really need you tonight
Sandy open to the door to her friends room and her heart went out to Danni as she saw her curled in a ball wrapped tightly in one Donny's sweatshirts that was two sizes too big on her.
"Honey, you want something to eat?" she asked sitting next to her, stroking her tear drenched hair.
"No, What I want doesn't want me anymore. I owe you and Jack for getting him out of here."
"Be the baby's godmother, keep yourself and Jack safe in the field and we're even."
"Deal" laughing for the first time in days. "I really miss the guys. They always knew how to cure a broken heart. I remember when I learned my favorite Backstreet Boy had proposed to his girlfriend, I cried for days. Matt, Mikey, and Donny just held me and hummed my song.
"What is it? Maybe Jack and I can sing it"
"Promise not to laugh? It's 'My Girl'
"Nothing funny about that, Darling" Jack said as he entered the room and went to the other side of the bed. He and Sandy began humming the tune and just held the godmother of their child.
A few weeks had passed since the break up. Danni was at work when they got a call about someone threatening to blow himself and the eight hostages up. Danni and Jack stormed the building with the other raid guys only to learn it was a trick
"HIT THE DECK" she yelled and tackled Jack just as the bomb went off. The partners crashed through four floors before hitting the concrete basement. Jack landed next to Danni and the two let out a groan.
"Girl, remind me to not play tackle football against you."
"Hey I made a promise to your wife I'd keep you safe and I don't think you getting blown up counts."
"Danni, Jack, can you guys hear me?" Jim's voice came over the radio
"We hear ya Jim. How's the team?" Jack answered
"Teams fine. How are you guys?"
"I'm fine, save for the giant bruise I'm gonna have. Dan's got a dislocated left shoulder and mild abrasions, but other then that we're ok.
"Hold on. Rescues on its way"
"Have I mentioned how much I hate hospitals"
"Yes. Four time in last two hours. Now you leave tomorrow, should I call Bruce to pick up?"
"Actually Uncle Jim. Bruce and I broke up a about three weeks ago."
"Sweetie, I'm sorry. Why don't you stay with Barbra and I till your shoulders better." Gesturing to she left arm in a sling.
"No, I haven't been home for a while and thinks its time. When I'm better, you and Barbra go out and I'll watch the kids at my place. They can even stay over."
"Only if your sure."
"I'm sure"
The next night, Danni was walking to the MCU to pick up her car, when she felt someone grab her from behind and force her to the ground. She tried to fight them, but with one bad arm it was impossible. She felt the guy get thrown off her and be pick up in none other but Batman's arms. He used his grappling gun and got them safely to a rooftop.
"What the hell were you thinking?! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!" he yelled in hid gruff voice.
"Why the fuck do you care?! You said you didn't want to be together without so much as an explanation!" she yelled back as it started to pour down rain. She wrapped her arms around her. She was just wearing a pair of jeans and t-shirt Barbra and brought her at the hospital.
"Lets get you home before you get sick" he said in normal voice, the one that made her heart stop.
"Fine. Drop me off at my car" without another word he got her to her car and headed for her house.
She stepped into the door drenched to the bone and shivering to find Bruce in a jeans and a black shirt that clung to his muscles, making a fire. He tossed her a towel and watch as she dried her face and arm, have trouble with her left arm in a sling. He went over and helped. She looked at him with tears in her eyes and walked away.
"Danni, we need to talk."
"About what Bruce? You made it clear you didn't want me to the one to, what was it, patch you up?" she said throwing the towel to the ground in frustration. "Do you even know how much you hurt me? You basically broke the one half of my heart that I still have. I had to go to Jack and Sandy for comfort. That's the job my best friend is suppose to have, but it was my best friend who hurt me"
"You think this isn't hard on me too. Danni, I broke up with you to prevent you from having me die in your arms. You've cleaned up my blood so many times and every time, you see Donny's death. What's gonna happen, if I don't make it and you're the one trying to save me?"
"Bruce, I knew when I learned who you were, I would have to risk losing you. But I would rather lose you after having you, then not at all. You have to know I can handle that, just like you have to handle my job is dangerous too, but you can't save me every time I get in trouble." She walked up to him and put her hand to his face.
He leaned into her touch, not realizing how much he missed her.
"When I learned it was you and Jack yesterday, I was so scared. I thought she doesn't know I still love her"
"I know now" reaching up to kiss him.
He retuned the kiss rougher then he had intended but was happy she answered as hungrily as him. He wrapped his arms around her still wet form and lifted her off the floor. He immediately set her back down when he hear her groan.
"Damn, I'm sorry"
"Its okay. Gonna be while before we can kiss like that. I love you Bruce. I always have and will"
"I love you too" he hugged her. He was about to release her when she cried "Don't let me go"
"I never will again"
MONTHS LATER:
Danni and Jack were in the gym lifting waits when Jack's phone went off.
"Hello? What your sure!? Ok. I'll meet you at the hospital!"
"Baby time?" she asked as he hung up
"Yeah. What do I need? She has the bag and is on the way to the hospital" he mumbled frantically to himself and began pacing. Danni had to hit him upside the head to get him to concentrate.
"Hey, get your head on right. I'm driving us to the hospital and your gonna be by your wife's side as she brings your baby boy or girl into the world. Now lets move!" and she dragged him to her jeep and speed to the hospital.
5 minutes later she and Jack were in the delivery room, each one holding Sandy hands as the doctor told her to push.
"Your doing great babe! Jack cheered
"SHUT UP YOU BASTURD! YOU DID THIS TO ME! IF YOU TOUCH ME AGAIN. I'LL HAVE HER RIPE YOU ARM OUT OF ITS SOCKET AND DUCT TAPE IT BACK IN!!" she gestured to Danni, whose eyes who wide from the shock of hearing Sandy not only yell, but swear.
"Sandy, calm down. Your almost done." Danni reassured her friend
The doctor order Sandy to push one more time and Danni looked at Jack's face, disoriented in pain from Sandy's vice grip on their hands. A cry filled the room and the group began to cry as the doctor held up a beautiful baby girl.
Danni was holding "baby Danni" as the new proud parents called her when Bruce came by. She looked from the sleeping infant to her boyfriend.
"Want to meet my godchild?"
"Sure"
"Bruce meet Danni, Danni meet Bruce" putting the child his arms.
"Nice to meet you Danni." He looked at his girlfriend and kissed her cheek.
"So how long before we're the godparents of you guys kids?"
Laughing Danni said "Jack I may trust you with my life, but I won't trust you with my kids."
Well that's it of this chapter. Sorry for dropping the "F bomb." The parts about "My girl being Danni's song her brother would sing to her when she was down is something I thought would be perfect. That is one of my favorite songs of all time and the part about Brian of BSB getting engaged is true. I did cry for days when I heard that news. That was my first broken heart. And I am planning another Batman story. It gonna be a good one involving Vampires and Were Wolves and secret organizations.
