Chapter 37
Home again.
Danny watches as Maria drops the bag beside the door
"Oh… I want to sleep for a week." He laughs, watching as the boys are already truding to their rooms. The flight had been delayed coming out of Seattle and then they had to circle the airport for an hour before they could land due to weather over New York.
"Come on. I'll start the laundry.' She groans and he shakes his head. "Go take a bath, I'll get it going."
"Okay." He gets it started, stepping in to see her foot braced on the lip of the bathtub, her head resting on the edge of the tub.
"You can't sleep in there."
"Wanna bet…' she says without moving and he shakes his head,
"Be more comfortable in bed.'
"Requires movement."
"I know. Come on."
She sleeps hard, wakes with him presses against her back. Hand under her shirt, pressed against her stomach and his soft snores in her ear. She shifts to her back, enjoys the way he groans in protest and burrows closer. His head beside hers on the pillow. "Morning,"
"Nope… not yet."
"No?" She questions and he shakes his head, refusing to open his eyes. She smiles as she takes his hand, pushing it the rest of the way up to cup her breast. The soft smile as he rolls the weight carefully. "Maybe?"
"Definitely have a convincing argument…' he mumbles as his eyes open.
"Boys are over at their friends place…' she loves the smile, 'have the place all to ourselves."
"Sounds amazing…' the kiss is slow, his hand sliding around to her back as she rolls to face him.
They spend the day doing laundry and cleaning up. Spending time with the boys once they get home. Her sister texting her asking about the dinner plans.
"Friday?' Maria asks, sees him nod in agreement. Confirms the time and date with Ana. 'You sure it's okay?"
"It's fine. I want you to spend time with your family, they should see you when your happy, outside of work, not just the cop."
"Sometimes I think that's all they see…' He nods, pressing a kiss against her temple.
"I know. It's hard for you to let the wall down but you deserve to be happy, to have their support in your choices."
"I know."
"Do you?"
"I do.' She agrees, watching as he nods, holding her gaze. 'Really I do."
"Ask for what you need Maria. What you want from them? From me."
"I'm happy here Danny."
"I know,' he nods, before cupping her face in his hands, watching as her eyes meet and holds his. 'I just want to know if you do need something, want something. You'll ask for it."
"I have been.' He nods before pausing again.
"I'm not just talking about.'
"I know…' she bites her bottom lip before talking a slow breath and he lets her have a moment. To let her figure out how to voice her thoughts. 'you've given me everything I've asked for and things I didn't know I need."
"Okay.' She lets him pull her into a hug, his lips against her hair before he hugs her tightly. 'I love you." He says it softly and she closes her eyes and soaks in this moment.
"I know. I love you."
She has to admit having the boys both home from school keeps them busy. Danny also keeps her off her feet, leg propped up on pillows. Sean dropping beside her to help keep her from being completely bored. "Mission?"
"Sure."
Danny shakes his head as he steps in and watches Jack get sucked into it as well. "2 hours and then you to go outside and do something."
"It's snowing." Jack protests.
"Then clear the walk ways."
"Yes Dad."
Maria smiles, watching as he drops beside her and watches the screen, shaking his head as they all get dead.
"You're distracting her." Sean accuses and Maria laughs at the put out look on Danny's face.
"I am not. I'm just sitting here. Besides I have seen this woman on the actual range. Nothing distracts her."
"Oh. Can we go to the range?"
"Anything to get you off this screen.' Danny murmurs and she chuckles. 'Pack up the guns and we will go over."
"Fun!"
She shakes her head as she moves her way into the range, watching as Danny rents the four lanes and gets the targets.
This is the first time she's seen the boys with a gun but it's clear that he has spent some time on gun safety lessons because they handle them carefully and with great respect. He puts both boys between them and everyone takes a few minutes checking their weapons before firing them.
It's been awhile since she's been in the range and it's different with the boys there but she goes through her normal routine practices. She doesn't tune into the fact that Danny is giving the boys a lesson until she's done with her first set. Glancing over to see the three of them staring at her.
"Bring it forward." He asks softly and she does, "So she wouldn't tell you this but she's got this thing she gets to wear on her uniform."
"It's nothing. They make me wear it."
"Well that's what you get when you smoke everyone in quals every year."
"Shut up." Jack takes a glance at the target, the center mask for the 10 gone.
"Wow…"
"No… this is wow.' Danny switches out the target on all four.
"I'm not doing it." She says evenly, not surprised by his look.
"Yes you are."
"Danny. They're not rookies to you get to show me off too."
"What? Gotta show them why they need to practice."
"Leg."
"Excuses. Boys, reload and watch the master." Maria reloads her gun, watching as Danny does the same with a small smile but humors him.
"Time?" He asks as he drags out his phone. This time earning a look that was not humored.
"Leg.' She reiterated.
"Fine. No time. Step back." He says as he grips both boys shirt.
"I hate your gun."
"Still smoke me with it every year." Danny lobs back at her with a smile, just to see her roll her eyes.
"So if I get all of these… what are you going to give me?"
"Bragging rights?"
"We need Uncle Jamie." Jack says, remembering Christmas.
"He did want a rematch at the range." Sean agreed.
"That man is getting a rematch at the actual drill run.' She says and Danny laughs, watching as she starts at his gun. 'See him talk his way out of that one."
"Poor boy won't know what hit him.' Danny mutters, "Go."
He loves and hates how effortless it is for her, watching as she goes through the rounds of each gun with an efficiency that was scary. Setting hers down at the end and taking her glasses off with a smile.
"No way." Sean says as he hits the buttons to bring them all forward. "How did you do that?"
"Practice… lots and lots of practice." Maria answered, watching as Jack hit the other two, removing the four targets and laying them across the table.
"Even with a busted leg you still don't miss, that should affect your stance." Danny says, impressed himself
"Just gotta adjust what you are doing. Basics are the same no matter what the gun."
"What are you all doing here?" Danny smiles as Frank steps into the lane.
"Maria is showing the boys why you practice." Danny says as he gestures to the targets.
"Impressive. Mind if I join you?"
"Course not."
Frank watches as Maria works with each one of the boys, softly correcting their stance, offering tips and encouragement when needed.
"She's good at this." Frank says,
"Don't even bother."
"What?"
"Trying to talk her into instructing…' Danny says he cleans his gun, watching as Frank raises an eyebrow, 'kids… one thing… bunch of 'overgrown boys with toys' completely different thing."
Frank chuckles before nodding in agreement. "Dooley made her one year, part of something or another. She sent three of them out of the room near tears."
"Mouth off?"
"Then didn't have the stones to deal with it. She only looks sweet and innocent. She's got a steal spine underneath it."
"Well she's dealt with you for how many years."
"Har Har."