Chapter 26
Late July

"Don't call her."

"She's your point of contact Danny and your wife.' Dooley reasons and he scowls because he knows that Dooley is right and within protocol.

"She's 8 ½ months pregnant and is supposed to be resting. It's a bump on the head."

"Because you charged into a room when you should have waited! Plus that's bump on the head is going to take at least 6 stitches to close. If you don't tell her and you go home with it. You think that's gonna be better?" Dooley reasons and Danny scowls, "I'm calling her."

Maria picks up the phone with a smile, "Hey, how it is going?"

"Baez…' she drops the glass she is holding and curses as it hits the counter and spills, reaching for a towel 'He's fine. Awake and talking."

"What happened?"

"He was in pursuit of a suspect and got injured."

"His partner okay?" Maria asks softly and the pause in Dooley's motions causes her blood to heat. "I'm on the way."

The drive is easy enough and she doesn't have to look far to find him, nodding to the officer outside the door. "Ma'am.' Opening the door for her. She can feel something in her relax as she sees him sitting on the bed, obviously okay and sulking as he waits for the doctor.

Danny watches as the door opens, the guard giving a half nod as he held it open for Maria. "You didn't have to come."

"Well I did.' She mutters as she crosses to the chair, leaning against it before meeting and holding his eyes 'What happened?"

"It's just a bump."

"It's a laceration and a concussion. I already checked in with the doctor. They are wanting to keep you overnight."

"No…'

"Danny."

"I'm fine."

"You're being difficult… what happened?"

"Hey Baez." Dooley says as he steps in, "Looking good there."

"Hey Sarge. You want to tell me what this knucklehead did or do I need to beat it out of him..."

"I'll let him fill you in. You need a chair? I can steal one of the nurses comfortable chairs."

"I'm fine."

"Now who is being stubborn?" Danny asks,

"You not telling me what happened tells me enough.' Maria shoots back at him and Dooley dips out at the tone, recognizing it enough to be aware of when to run. "I've been out almost 2 months Danny. Two Months! and you've gone through 3 partners!"

"They're not my partners."

"Someone has to work with you! You are not running around the streets on your own. That was the deal…'

"Maria."

"You promised you would be careful Danny!'

He sighs, watching as she stares at him. "I know…' he held out his hand, watching as she glared at him and didn't step forward to take it. Came to her instead. 'I'm sorry. I just… he went in the building and I didn't want to lose him."

"So you followed him in, alone, and got a pipe to the head for your trouble."

"I know…' He reached for her, not surprised she shrugs him off. 'Maria."

"If it was reversed? And I went in alone… without back up and no partner,' Maria tossed at him., 'You think you wouldn't be angry?"

"I would be, I know. I'm sorry."

"No you're not. You're not sorry Danny! You're being impossible and you would still be out there doing stupid shit if this hadn't happened."

"Maria."

"What if he had gun Danny? And not a pipe?"

"We can't play what ifs. You know that."

"You are supposed to go into every situation like there is trouble around the corner! That is academy 101 and you know that! You know that and you would have my head if I did something as reckless… this is not a conversation we should be having Danny. This is not something that should be a discussion?! This is common sense.' she winces, hand pressing against her side.

"Maria?" He takes her arm, sitting her down in the chair she was leaning on and watching as she braces her hands on her knees. Taking several deep breaths and closing her eyes.

"This fucking sucks Danny…' he hates the tears in her voice more than he did the anger, let's his curve around the back of her head. 'I'm tired of hospitals…' he presses a kiss against her temple before closing his eyes. 'This is our job Danny… I get that but you don't get to be reckless,' he nods, feeling her hand take his, thumb rubbing over his ring before pressing it against her stomach. He feels the baby roll against his heat.

"I'm sorry.' he dips so he can meet her eyes, kneeling on the floor between her feet. His hand cupping her cheek, 'I wasn't thinking. I'm sorry."

"I want you to come home to me Danny."

"I will.' He watches as her eyes slide over his head before back to his eyes 'I'll be smart."

"You won't be solo." She says firmly and he nods, "That was the deal."

"That was the deal.' he agrees because she was right and she nods. Danny chancing a kiss, feeling her return it. Her forehead resting against his as they both breathed. 'I love you."

"I love you too." She echos, and he takes a slow breath as he let's those words wash over him. "I'm still mad at you."

"I know."

Frank pushed open the door, watching as Danny gave a half wave from the bed. "How are you feeling?"

"You here to yell at me as well?"

"I heard your wife did a well enough job of it."

"Great."

"Dooley is putting a letter of counseling in your file.'

"I heard, glad it's not a write up. Considering." He points to his head, "Then again, she wasn't exactly quiet about her tear down… I think Dooley felt bad for me."

"Well, spouses tend to be more effective sometimes." He glances around before back to him. "Where is she?"

"Food. I tried to convince her to go home, she won't hear of it."

"Would you?"

"I'm not 8 months pregnant.'

"Fair enough but I don't think that logic is gonna work on her here."

"Probably not." Frank turns as the door opens, Maria stepping in. He rises, meeting her hug.

"Hey Frank,' Maria says softly, watching as he gives a tired smile. 'how are you doing?"

"Good. So they keeping you just one night?" Frank asks, watching as Maria crosses to a chair that looked like it had been poached from somewhere and lowers herself into it.

"Yeah, get to go home first thing in the morning if there is no hiccups."

"Here is hoping." Frank says.

"Can you stop in and make sure the boys eat something healthy." Maria asks softly and Frank nods.

"I can do that."

"Thank you." Frank squeezes Maria's hand before repeating it with Danny.

"I'll let you two rest."

Danny can't help relaxing as Maria lays down beside him, the nurse finding a couple of extra pillows for them. Danny letting his hand slide beneath hers on her stomach, feeling for movement.

"You are going to wake them up.' She mumbles and he smiles even as she relaxes beside him. 'I want this Danny."

"Me too." He promises, letting his eyes close as her hands wrapped around his own, pulling his arms tighter around her. "I'm sorry…' he says, feeling her breath hiccup and pressed a kiss against her shoulder. Hating the tears, the tightness in her breathing. 'We're going to have this." He promises.

He pulls her closer, holding her tightly and feels her nod. Holding her tightly until she relaxes.

"Scared the hell out of me… Dooley calling me. My heart dropped through my chest..."

He lets his eyes close, pressing his forehead into her hair and taking a slow deep breathe. Because he can't imagine hearing that news over the phone.

"I know…. I'm sorry."