Linda angrily stomped up the stairs. How dare he say that? 'I let you work at the hospital'. Let me nothing. Is he really that... arrogant? She knew that was the wrong word, but she was mad and wasn't thinking straight. She locked herself in the bathroom, running the shower so her sobs would not be heard. Sometimes he was so stupid, sometimes he annoyed her to hell and back. She sunk to the floor, clutching her knees to her chest. Thoughts like he's stupid or antiquated macho pissant swarmed her head.

There was a knocking on the door, "Linda!"

She ignored her husband.

"I'm gonna keep knockin' till you come out."

She rolled her eyes, wiped the few tears, and opened the door. "How antiquated are you, exactly?"

"I'm not antiquated."

"Oh no?" She walked over to the nightstand and pulled the dictionary out. Quickly she found the definition, "antiquated: old fashioned or out dated. Example, 'I let you work at the hospital, don't I?' Meaning, 'I don't think you should work. I think you should cook and clean and keep house. You should make bread and sew'. You're turning into my parents."

"I told you that's not what I meant."

"What did you mean? Cause that sounds like my parents are reincarnated in you." Linda pointed to Danny with both hands, still angry.

"All I meant is..." he paused, trying to think of what he meant.

"See? Antiquated macho attitude."

"I didn't mean that at all... look, the Jefferson Houses are in a bad neighborhood. And-" Danny ran a hand over his face, "why wouldn't there be security there? Who's bright idea was it to forgo security? There are... rapists, and- and robbers at the Jefferson Houses. And at night?" He sighed, collecting his composure. He was getting whiny- which Linda had previously pointed out to him, wanting him to correct that. "I just want to keep you safe."

"I know. And I appreciate that. But I can't grow if you have me on a tight leash. And you can't just tell me I have to stop because something bad happened. That'd be like... wanting to be a nurse, but failing chem, and saying 'oh well. There goes that idea'."

"How is-"

"If you really wanna be a nurse, you retake chem in the summer. If you fall of a horse, you get right back on."

"And if you get mugged at the Jefferson Houses, you go right back so you can get raped."

Linda growled as she curled her fingers, as if getting ready to choke someone. "He took my grandmother's chain. He wanted to take my wedding rings, but I yelled. I screamed 'no', loudly. And he ran. Like hell."

"That only proves you can scream."

"Ugh!" She walked back into the bathroom, slamming the door.


"But I'm not gonna get my grandma's necklace back until, you know, it's not evidence anymore." Linda told Danny the details about the evidence after they had sent the boys away.

"Right. Well, we got our guy too."

"Good."

"He was going after a nurse." Danny sat on the couch with Linda.

"Hmm." Why is he telling me this?

"She was carrying and had a license. She told me she'd be a fool not to carry."

"Jamie talked to you?"

"About what?"

"Danny." She nearly chided.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Linda."

Danny's eyes grew wide when he saw her out a gun in the table. "It's not loaded."

"You know, I stood there, talking to this nurse and she's blond, about your height, pretty. Not as pretty as you, but pretty. The whole time I was talking to her, I just kept thinking: Linda got a gun."

"You're making this up," she looked at him with her 'stop-making-up-stories' face.

"I swear to you, I'm not."

Linda stared at the metal piece, hating her decision. She chewed her lip, then looked at her husband. "I don't want it," she shook her head."It's not for me."

"Okay."

"What I do want is for you never to disrespect me again. To be proud of me. Like I am of you." She smiled a little, looking to him. "Can you do that?"

"I can do that." Danny kissed her sweetly. "And I am proud of you. Every day, you do something that makes me proud. Whether it's... cooking a fantastic dinner, or sticking to your guns-"

They both looked at the gun, with Linda chuckling lightly. "I don't even know why I did it. I hate guns."

"I know you do... but I think you should keep it. And your license. Just in case."

She nodded, "friends again?"

"We're more than friends, Linda. But, yes, argument over."

"Good. I hate fighting with you." She snuggled into his side, closing her eyes.