Chapter 11
A/N: Okay, so my muse returned and hit me like a ton of bricks!
Disclaimer: I do not and will never own Burn Notice.
3 Weeks later…
Dani was exhausted to say the least. After a week of letting Jesse tend to her, she insisted on going back to work, stating she was fine. She would have gone back sooner, but after that first night in the hotel room, she knew Jesse was doing it more for himself rather than her. A wave of both nervousness and excitement tore through her; she was going on her first mission since the kidnapping. For the past two weeks she had been stuck on desk duty, no amount of begging had changed her boss's mind and by now she was beyond frustrated.
As soon as she sat down, her cell rang with a familiar number. "Hey" she said, surprised at the weariness in her tone. Jesse did not miss it, but put it aside asking instead if she would like to come to dinner with him, nothing fancy, just to see her considering he hadn't in four days. Thinking it would be nice to get out for a little while; she agreed and told him she would swing by his place at 7.
Jesse and Dani headed to a small café not too far away from his apartment, one that he knew was good. He glanced over and smiled, this was how he loved her best; not business like or dressed up but casual, with little makeup on. She seemed calmer than on the phone, but still not completely relaxed. He knew what she had been going through for the past three weeks; she hardly got any sleep since the kidnapping and any sleep was quickly disturbed by images she'd rather not talk about. Dani had called him once at 4:47 in the morning, needing to hear his voice and make sure he was okay.
As they ate, they discussed random things until she knew it was time to tell him about her next mission; it was better he know first than for him to call her and get worried for her not answering.
"Jesse?"
"Yea?" he looked up, knowing by the tone of her voice that the topic was changing.
"I need to tell you something" she hesitated, and then continued "Tomorrow, I'm going back in the field. I know you think it's too soon but-"
"It's okay, I know you and I am actually surprised you let it go on this long. You're not the type to sit out of the action and I don't want to stop you from doing what you want to do." He said smiling warmly, telling her he was really okay with her decision.
"Plus, you are in the CIA, you're gonna go on missions and there are going to be times where I'll be worried, but it's nothing I can't deal with. I cannot say my side job is completely safe either so let's make a deal. You promise to stay as safe as possible with your jobs and I will do the same with mine."
Dani smiled, she sometimes forgot that she was with someone who understood, and she enjoyed the fact that she didn't have to lie about her whereabouts like she would have to with other men. Realizing she had been silent while contemplating her thoughts, she quickly answered "Ok" and relaxed.
As they finished their meal, Dani's exhaustion slowly came back and by the time they were in the car, she had fallen asleep. Jesse chuckled to himself, not wanting to wake her since she had a big day tomorrow and opted to take her to his place since she had some clothes there and it was just as close to HQ as her place was.
Once there, he gently picked her up and carried her inside, taking the elevator to his apartment and getting her inside with as little interruption as possible. He put her on the bed and smiled at the vulnerable look one her face; she looked so peaceful when she slept but he would keep that to himself for fear of his life. He quickly prepared for bed, turned out the light, and laid next to her. She quickly took to her normal position of using him as a pillow, but he didn't mind, in fact he found it harder to sleep without it. He kissed her forehead, wrapped his arms around her, and also fell quickly into an exhausted slumber, happily curled up next to her. Dani seemed to unconsciously know Jesse was there and slept nightmare-free throughout the night and woke early the next day, ready and well rested for her mission thanks to the man lying next to her.