Ch. 25

He had to see her. He needed to see her. He ran up the steps to their condo, digging his keys out of his pocket on the way. Unlocking the front door, he pulled the keys from the bolt and shut the door behind him.

Seeking her out, he found her getting ready to prepare herself breakfast. He walked up behind her, and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his hands on her swollen belly. My son. My wife. My family. Sighing he closed his eyes, the scene and interrogation from earlier filling his mind. How could anyone not want this?

She leaned her head back onto his shoulder, smiling, "Hey." He didn't reply.

The images of the 4 month pregnant DB found in the alley behind the liquor store had overwhelmed him all dayBlunt force trauma to the back of the head.

"Come on man, you know how it is, guys like us," the perp said gesturing to Danny, Mac in the corner.

"Guys like us?" Danny asked leaning forward a little.

"Come on, you can't tell me you don't get a lot of game," the perp said. Danny cocked his eyebrow at the guy. "She said she was pregnant, like I was supposed to care."

"You killed her because she was pregnant with your baby?" Danny asked incredulously.

"Whoa, dude!! Hold up! I did NOT kill her. We got into it, she grabbed me, I pushed her against the wall and left," the perp stated.

"You pushed her so hard she slammed her head against the concrete wall, she bleed out," Danny finished, hoping to see some remorse in the guy's eyes. He found none.

"Yeah, you're right. I used to be like you, the only thing I cared about was my job and who to fill my bed with that night. But I grew up, found someone who didn't fall for my game, and now she's giving me the best gift in the world. Something you'll never know now. Now the only thing you'll have to worry about is who your bunk mate is gonna be," Danny closed his folder and stood up. "Now I get to go home to my wife and thank her for saving me from myself, and for making me a father."

Holding her helped a little but he needed more. He turned her around in his arms, cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. Tenderly at first, then he deepened the kiss, her mouth willingly allowing him access.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling his need for contact. He swept her into his arms, and carried her to the bedroom.

Laying her on the bed, he removed his glasses and her shirt exposing her swollen breasts and her 6.5 month pregnant bump. He kissed her lips again and made his way down her neck and chest. To her surprise, he stopped at her belly and just laid his head and hand on her.

Running her hand through his hair, she sighed. Maybe he just needed to feel them? "Are you okay?"

He nodded his he in agreement, "Thank you." He finally said.

"For what?" she questioned.

"For this," he stated simply. He kissed her bare belly, and then crawled back up to her face then kissed her again, thoroughly, completely. "For loving me, for having my son, for making me become a better man, for being you."

"Tell me about today," she prodded, cupping his face in her hand, trying to figure out what had gotten him like this.

"Pregnant DB and someone I used to be before I meet you," he stated simply. Moving down he lay his head on her bare chest his hand stroking her belly. He needed to feel her heart beat. He needed to feel his son flutter at his touch.

She had had those days, too. The need to feel human, physical contact with someone you love, with him. They had that together, one of the few in their precinct who had someone who understood the job, understood they saw the worst that the world had to offer. They had each other at the end of the day, and they always would. They beat the odds together.

"We'll always be here," she assured him, kissing the top of his head.

She smiled when she heard his deep steady breathing; he had fallen asleep, her steady breathing lulling him to sleep.

"I love you, Danny." "Love you," he mumbled in his sleep.

R&R