this one ties in a little bit with We're Gonna Go Through This Together (another story not yet uploaded). Not necessary to read WGGTTT first, but would be greatly appreciated*

Linda Reagan sighed as she cut the raw meat. She had fully seen all her scars- her scars from her kidnapping, scars from her rape, scars from the gun wounds, and scars from the crash. She hated how she looked, hated how she felt, hated how all she and Danny ever did was argue.

Linda held the big carving knife in her hand; she remembered the last time she thought about killing herself. She almost did, and would have, too, had not Danny grab her wrist and kiss her like she'd never been kissed before.

Her hands shook as she remembered that kiss and that night. That kiss had so much emotion attached; everything Danny had been feeling- guilt, pain, sorrow, fear- all of it was in that kiss.

Linda shook her head and threw the knife down. She grabbed her purse and got in her car. She drove to the fifty fourth. She just needed to see her husband. See him smile at her. Feel the love he had for her radiating through his eyes.

Linda walked straight to his desk and sat down in the chair next to the desk. She kept her head down, her eyes fixated on Danny's shoe.

"I needed ta see ya," she said before Danny could ask. "I needed to hear your voice. I needed to hug you, to kiss you. I needed to feel loved." Tears slid down her cheeks as she stood up, "but you don't need to do that. I'm just wasting your precious time." She shook her head as she got up to leave.

Danny stood up and pulled Linda into a tight embrace. He kissed her cheek and rubbed her back. "I'll always give you love. No matter what." He kissed Linda's cheek, catching a salty tear. "I love you more than anything in the whole entire crappy world."

Linda chocked down a sob, "I love you, Danny. I love you."

The detective pressed his lips to her forehead, gently swaying her back and forth.

Linda hung her head and put her hands on his chest. Shaking her head, she whispered, "you don't need this. I'll move out, and you'll never have to worry about me again."

Danny held Linda at arms length, "Linda Reagan, don't you dare talk like that. I do need you. The boys need you. Everyone needs you. You are very important and I'm-a gonna prove it to you."

"How?"

"You'll see... you think Pops'll take Sean?" Danny sat down.

"Sure, Why?"

"No reason. I'll be done 'round seven."

"No, you won't."

"Yeah, I will. I've got desk duty today. Go home, and don't cook dinner."

"Um... okay... what should I do?"

"Relax."

Linda nodded, "I love you, Danny."

"I love you more."

"I love you most." She kissed him again, then went home, wondering what Danny had planned.