Danny
Prompted by 'Guest': What if, on the 8th July, Marlena hadn't gone to College Coffee and set off the fire alarm when Danny asked JP for a second chance?
Inwardly, John Paul shuddered at Danny's words 'there's nothing stopping us' because he was totally mistaken. There was so much stopping them from getting back together: John Paul's feelings for Danny's son, the fact that his family had no money and had moved in with Danny's son, and not forgetting the fact that he had been sexually assaulted six months earlier and wasn't in the right mindset for a relationship. Obviously John Paul couldn't tell Danny that so he sat for a few moments, avoiding Danny's gaze and allowing the atmosphere to grow increasingly awkward. Danny began to feel concerned that he had destroyed any chance of a reconciliation and considered checking whether or not John Paul was ok. However, before he had the chance, John Paul did the first thing he could think of and rushed out of the coffee shop. Danny stared after him in confusion, feeling slightly offended by John Paul's reaction. He knew he had a lot of making up to do, but John Paul wasn't even giving him a chance. Curiously, Danny stood up and chased after the young man.
Strangely, John Paul had only reached the shaded path around the corner and was sitting on the bench, wringing his hands anxiously.
"Hey" Danny panted as he reached him. John Paul didn't look at him so Danny sat down beside him.
"What happened back there?" Danny asked worriedly
John Paul shook his head, "You think it's so easy, don't you?" he questioned bitterly
"What do you mean?"
John Paul looked up at him, "You think that just because everyone knows the truth about you that we can just be together?"
Danny shook his head, "I know it'd be difficult-" he began
John Paul stood up, "No Danny, it'd be impossible" he cried, "You were married with kids yet you deliberately started an affair with me, made me trust you and fall for you. Our whole relationship was a lie" he snarled
Danny stood up sadly, "I know, and I can never apologise enough for it" he replied, "But I promise that it'll never happen again"
John Paul shook his head, "Not good enough" he retorted, "You know, looking back it was so obvious what was going on, what you were hiding from me. But I was naïve and I couldn't see it"
Danny took a step towards him, "And I am so sorry for all of that, but it'd be different this time if you just gave me another chance"
John Paul shook his head, "I can't" he replied despondently, "I can't go back there again, I can't shake those memories of be treated like a dirty little secret again. I can't move past any of that" he paused, "and I don't really want to either"
Danny pondered John Paul's last comment, "Is this about Ste?" he demanded, "You don't want to get back together with me because you want to be with my son, right?"
Reluctantly, John Paul nodded and Danny scoffed, "Keeping it in the family then" he murmured
John Paul shoved him away, "Don't you dare say that" he exclaimed, "You are the biggest hypocrite I've ever met! You two-timed me with your wife, kept our relationship a secret from everyone and almost slept with your own son, so you have no right to judge me"
Danny instantly regretted his snide comment "I'm sorry" he sighed, "I guess I just want some stability, it feels like my whole life's falling apart"
"Yeah, well join the club" John Paul spat
Danny looked confused, "What do you mean? I know you're having financial problems but I didn't realise things were that bad"
John Paul shrugged, "Doesn't matter"
"Yes it does" Danny argued softly, taking a step towards him, "I still care about you, you can tell me what's wrong"
John Paul stared down at his shoes and Danny reached out to rub John Paul's arm comfortingly, causing the young man to jump backwards away from his touch.
Danny looked concerned, "What's going on, John Paul?"
John Paul shook his head, "Nothing, I'm just sick of you hassling me"
Danny crossed his arms, "No, I know there's something else"
John Paul glanced away and Danny sighed, "I'm not gonna give in until you tell me the truth"
"You'll probably die of old age before that happens then" he retorted
Danny looked puzzled, "What could be so bad that you refuse to tell me?"
John Paul shook his head, "Just forget about it"
"No, I can't" Danny replied, "You know me, I have the memory of an elephant and I'm as stubborn as a mule"
John Paul tried to hold back the smile that was forming on his lips, "You're not doing yourself any favours by comparing yourself to animals, you know"
Danny chuckled, "Yeah, I've just realised that" he replied before looking serious, "Now don't try to change the subject, just tell me what's going on"
John Paul shook his head again, "I can't" he choked out
Danny nodded earnestly, "You can, you know you can trust me"
John Paul looked outraged, "'Trust' you?" he repeated, "You had an affair with me and lied to me for months on end, I'll never be able to trust you now"
Danny considered this, "I know, but I want to earn your trust back" he argued, "So please just tell me"
John Paul stared at the older man, seriously considering revealing all to him. He knew that secrets were better out in the open and that Danny was a responsible person who would probably be mature and understanding. But he was scared of how he would react: he didn't want disgust, but he also didn't want pity either. Danny could sense his inner conflict and cautiously took a step closer, "I want to help" he whispered.
John Paul remembered Sam using similar words when he went to the police station following the attack, and couldn't stop the tears from falling. Confused, Danny put an arm around him and pulled him close, "Please talk to me, John Paul"
John Paul felt comforted by the warm body and strong arms holding him and he mumbled, "Finn raped me"
He felt Danny freeze for a moment and clear his throat, "What?" he queried, as though he had misheard him. John Paul hesitated, not knowing whether or not to repeat what he had said. Even though he was relieved to have said the words, he wasn't in any hurry to say them again.
Danny pulled away but was still holding the younger man, "Did you just say what I think you said?" he asked.
John Paul squeezed his eyes shut and nodded. Danny let out a breath and was silent for a while.
"When?" he eventually uttered
"January" John Paul sniffed
Danny's mouth dropped open, "That long ago?" he hissed, "Why didn't you tell anyone?"
John Paul squirmed slightly, "I did. I told Sam after it happened"
Danny was confused because Sam had never mentioned him being raped, though he soon realised that she couldn't because of confidentiality. However, thinking back over Sam and John Paul's sudden friendship and the young man's change in behaviour, Danny realised how clear it was and mentally kicked himself for not realising that something was seriously wrong with his former lover.
Suddenly a thought occurred to him, "Wait, if you reported it to Sam then why is Finn still in the village? Shouldn't he have been locked up by now?"
John Paul shook his head, "I never told her who did it. Sam took me to the crisis centre but I couldn't handle it" he confessed, "I ran away and never looked back. Sam tried to help me but I never told her the truth, then she cut me loose"
Danny pulled away further so that John Paul was at arm's length, "What do you mean?"
John Paul blinked at him, "When she found out about our affair, she came down the police station and accused me of making up what happened"
Danny was appalled, "No way!" he exclaimed, "I seriously don't understand what goes on in her head sometimes"
"She's your wife" John Paul retorted sourly
Danny shrugged, "So? That doesn't make me understand her any better, and it certainly doesn't excuse what she did"
John Paul shook his head, "No, but I felt as guilty as hell whilst she was helping me through it because of us"
"So you're glad she found out?" Danny queried
John Paul shrugged, "Yeah, well as horrible as the situation was, it was probably for the best"
After noticing Danny's aghast expression John Paul sighed irritably, "You're the one who made things ten times worse by telling Peri that her brain tumour was making her imagine us together"
Danny's face fell in shame and John Paul continued, "So you got exactly what was coming to you. We both did"
Danny nodded begrudgingly and began to stride away. John Paul raced after him, "Wait, where are you going?"
"To report Finn" Danny replied shortly, still marching in the direction of the Police Station
John Paul shook his head, "You can't"
"Yes I can" Danny argued, "The little thug has destroyed your life and needs to be punished"
"But it's not your place!" he cried, "This is my problem, not yours"
"It's been your problem for too long" Danny hissed, "And now that you've told me, it's become my problem so I'm doing what's right"
John Paul grabbed Danny's arm and pulled him around to face him, "Don't do this, please"
Danny looked confused, "You want him to get away with it?"
John Paul shook his head and Danny scoffed, "Letting him walk free isn't just harming you, it's putting everyone else in danger too. You're letting a rapist live in the village"
John Paul trembled at the word 'rapist' and he hung his head in shame.
"Please come with me to the station" Danny begged, lifting John Paul's chin up, "I'll be right by your side the whole time, I promise"
John Paul held his gaze for a while then nodded slightly. Danny smiled in relief before taking one of his hands gently and leading him away.
Unbeknownst to them, Ste had witnessed the last moments of the conversation. Although he hadn't heard what they were saying, he had seen Danny holding John Paul's chin, smiling and taking his hand. He watched after them, heartbroken by the fact that John Paul had apparently reunited with his dad. Despondently, Ste walked in the other direction and was overcome by the urge to find the drugs that he had hidden in one of his drawers whilst playing with Matthew. He would take anything to quell the disappointment that he was feeling.
Thanks for reading, and thanks to 'Guest' for the prompt: I hope this is close to what you were expecting. Again, I wasn't sure how far I should take the one-shot, but I was suddenly inspired by the cliff-hanger, so I used it; I hope it worked though. Anyway, as usual, if anyone has any more ideas for one-shots, then let me know, and remember that reviews are always welcome!