Linda sat on the floor, knees pulled up to her chest, sobbing loudly in the darkness. She couldn't believe she had stooped to this low level; come on, Linda, pull yourself together! You're a grown woman, hiding in a closet!
The fear, loneliness, and depression took over Linda's brain as the tears cascaded out of her eyes. She couldn't remember the last time she cried in a closet— she must've been seven or eight, at most. She looked up and felt for a shirt, she didn't care which one. Finding one, she pulled it off the hanger, and hugged it to her. She pressed the fabric to her face, inhaling her husband's scent.
Linda took in a shaky breath, hoping the comforting smell of Danny would trick her brain into thinking he was holding her, rocking her back and forth, kissing her forehead. She hoped she'd be able to pull herself together before her husband came home. How thankful she was that Frank had offered to take the kids! She let out a big, staggering, painful sob as her knuckles turned white from gripping the shirt to tightly.
Unbeknownst to the blubbering blonde, her husband had just arrived home. Danny opened the door, smelling something burning. He quickly made his way to the kitchen, finding a pan with burnt on... what was it? Meatballs? The kitchen still smelled of smoke, and ingredients were strewn everywhere. Danny frowned; Linda was a very clean cook- she cleaned as she went along, leaving minimal cleanup for after dinner. That was the first clue something was wrong, the second clue was an open bottle of wine next to a half empty glass. Danny knee Linda didn't leave wine out on the counter, or leave burnt food to congeal onto the pan. He made his way upstairs, hating the knots forming in his stomach. He would never forgive himself if she was kidnapped again, after he had just gotten her back. As he approached his room, he thought he heard sobbing.
Danny carefully opened the door, scanning the room. He heard the sobs again, and looked to the closet. Linda had told him how she used to hide out in closets- he just didn't know she still did that. He knocked, possibly out of habit, before opening the door. "Linda?"
Linda got to her knees and flung herself at her husband, clinging to his hips. She cried convulsively as she hung onto the detective.
Danny carefully pulled her arms away and sat in front of her, pulling her to him. "What the hell happened?"
The blonde shook her head, incoherent syllables coming from her lips. "I- he- he was here."
"Who? Who was here? What happened? Did he hurt you?"
"S-Salazar."
"He's dead, baby. He can't hurt you anymore." Danny said softly, brushing her hair out of her face.
"But- I- I s-saw h-him."
"No, you were having a flashback or... something. But he can't hurt you, I promise."
Linda sniffed loudly, "promise?"
"I promise. It's okay, I'm right here," Danny kissed her head again, hating how she relived her kidnapping. He didn't know it, but that one, awful event would send his wife into something he never knew she'd have to cope with- anxiety and a little bit of PTSD.
"Are you going to leave me?" Linda asked so quietly, Danny had to strain to hear it.
"No, I'll never leave, not ever."
"But, but I burned dinner and I burden you."
"I don't care about dinner, that can be remedied." Danny hooked his finger beneath her tear-soaked chin, tilting it up. "And what's this talk about you burdening me?"
She moved her head, looking down and to the left. "I do. You don't need to deal with a wife who has nightmares and-and flashbacks or whatever they're called."
"Linda, I love you. So much, and helping you deal isn't a burden. It's in my job description..." he smirked a little, "besides, I do recall a pretty little nurse putting up with the nightmares and shortness and foul language that came from me."
"Yeah, but-"
"But what? It's different because I had endured four years of hell?"
"Well, yeah." Linda was now curled into Danny's side, his arm around her, leaning on the closet door.
"It's the same principle. You helped me, and I'm here to help you... now, what would make you feel better?"
"A time machine."
Danny's heart aches for his wife. She shouldn't have had to experience any of those things. "I can't give you that. I'm sorry..."
"Then a bath wrapped in your arms."
He smiled, "that I can do."
Linda smiled sleepily as Danny worked the knots out of her shoulders. She hated that she had gotten kidnapped, but she loved that Danny was by her side, right where she needed him. She leaned back, her back to his chest, and kissed his cheek. "I love you. With every fiber of my being, I love you."
"I love you more." Danny whispered in her ear, his breath sending the familiar tingles to the pit of her stomach.
"I love you most."
