The birthday weekend was a huge success. The next morning Brittany had breakfast with Santana and The Lopezes and then lunch with just she and her mormor. Brittany and the older woman got along well. She shared stories of Erik's childhood with her. Apparently he had grown up quite poor as well, his father having died when he was young and Susan struggling to keep a roof over he and his 4 brother's heads. Erik was the oldest of the Eriksen men, his younger brothers relying on him to help them and their mother. He moved to the United States for the opportunities and sent money home often. His brothers eventually were able to provide for themselves and later their families, but to this day they all make modest livings and he eventually ends up helping this one or that one pretty often. It has led him to have a strained relationship with the younger Eriksen men, with Erik feeling as if they didn't try as hard because he was there to make all of the sacrifices. They looked at him more as a father than a brother it seemed, when he was barely older than they were. He didn't have a childhood so that they could, and he doesn't believe that they see his sacrifice. He never wanted to leave his homeland, his mother, his brothers, but he did it for them. He loves them, but they are spoiled and always will be, that is, until his mor dies. When she dies so does the gravy train. What he does for them he does because of her. Brittany didn't even know that Erik had brothers, that she had cousins and uncles. It kind of helped Brittany understand a little why he chose financial security over love. She was in no way excusing the man, she just happens to know that enough nights with a hungry stomach can make some people willing to do anything to insure that they never experience that again. People use the expression "I'm starving" after missing one meal, but people like Brittany, people like Danny, people like Erik, they know what starving feels like. They know the physical pain of hunger that lasts more than a few hours, the kind that sends you into the streets searching through garbage cans, the kind that makes you sell your body, the kind that you try to sleep but it keeps you awake. The kind that makes you feel like you have to vomit but there is nothing inside of you to bring up. Brittany understands now why Erik cried when she told her story, because he knows what the body does when it's threatening to shut down and your insides feel like they are feeding off of themselves. Maybe that's why Erik feels so close to Brittany, maybe that's why he says she is the most like him. They are survivors, warriors.
Vikings!
And maybe that's why for the first time she really feels like she forgives the man, just like she really forgives Brooke. She finally really feels like she is a part of both of them, that no matter the distance she had from them for most of her life there were parts of them embedded in her DNA. She is a Pierce, a Pierce with Viking blood. It's all new to her, forgiveness, but she has a weight off of her shoulders now. She isn't angry with anyone, and the Martinezes have been handed their justice, and now she has people, so many people, and she just wants to be happy. She just wants the people around her to be happy.
Erik and Brooke had reconnected the night of the party. Brittany was both happy and concerned for her mother, not wanting her to move too fast and then slip back into the darkness. Brittany was always afraid of her darkness. She was always afraid that the demons were waiting for their opportunity to return. Her mother is an adult, though, and does not need to be babysat any longer nor does she have to report to Brittany the ins and out of her love life. She was happy to hear that the pair were indeed taking it slow, though. The night they left the party hand in hand the went back to Brooke's suite and talked for over an hour, talked about the hard stuff, the past, and the present. They also spoke about the future.
Erik had informed Brooke that he had technically already moved out of his home, that he was staying in one of the suites at his new hotel. He had moved his things out and left before she had even agreed to sign the papers. He technically kept the address only until they decided how the property would be divided and that's why he hadn't gotten another place yet. He refuses to rent or purchase anything until things are finalized and so while that is technically his address he has spent every night at his hotel since The Pierce women left Vegas.
He assured her that things would move quickly, the family he works for, his wife's family, doesn't care about her love life. They care about their money getting cleaned and Erik is excellent at providing that service. Erik has always been an exceptional asset to them. As messy as his love life has been he has always managed to keep it all far away from his business. As a matter of fact it's his wife who had been the cause of most of their concerns over the years and they'd also finally had enough of her antics. They sat her down and gave her no choice but to take her money and go enjoy it. Even she won't be safe if she messes with their business.
Erik and Brooke did spend the night together, but not in the same bed. After their talk, as Brooke was telling Erik that they could talk again before he returned to Vegas, Erik admitted to her that he just wanted to be near her, even if he couldn't touch her. He asked if he could stay and she knew that he would be a complete gentleman, and so she let him stay on the couch in the suite and that was more than enough for him. He just didn't want to be alone. He wasn't lying, he really hadn't had more than the occasional sexual encounter with his wife for most of their years together and they usually involved booze and him seeking comfort when something left him feeling sad and alone and vulnerable. It really was a financial arrangement even if the women in his life never could get past that piece of paper. He felt more lonely than ever these days when Brooke was so close and he couldn't tell her everything he felt, everything he always felt. He was just happy having her close to him, the happiest he's been with a woman in years. The next morning he ordered breakfast for them and Brooke laughed that he remembered all of her favorite things. The conversation was light hearted, much of it about Brittany and all of the things he was learning to love about the young woman. Brooke and he looked through the photos of her life, watching her grow up together for the first time even if it was on faded pieces of photo paper. Brooke shared stories about Brittany and her love of Danny, the things they did together, the way he truly cared for her, how he cared for them both, and Erik could not wait for the chance to repay the man. It had absolutely stunned him when Juan had told him that Danny was alive. As a man in their line of business it also gave him great respect for Juan. The man left no stone unturned, and he was also willing to stick his neck out not only for his own daughter, but for anyone who she considered a friend. Brooke had shared with him the details of her extraction and he was quite impressed. He is not a bloodthirsty man but the thought of Manuel using Brooke as bait for his father, the thought of the things Miguel had done to Brooke and even Brittany, the thought that Miguel wanted to prey upon his child, he does not regret that he was the one who stole the breath from Miguel's lungs. Now, that he's settled that debt with Miguel he will soon have the opportunity to settle a different type of debt.
Danny was out of the clutches of the Feds. He could bring the man home to Brittany now.
"They let him go. He's in the county rehabilitation facility in Chattahoochee." Juan said.
"What?" Santana replied.
"They let him go."
"Oh my goodness, finally!"
"Erik will send for him in a couple of days. I figured they would keep him in Florida, but far way from Miami or where anyone would run into him. That doesn't surprise me."
"When are you going to get him?"
"Within the week mija. Erik and I have been talking. Brittany will not be able to function knowing Danny is somewhere in a hospital where she can't see him every day, even if Erik is getting him the best care. Erik is going to transport him to New York City. He'll put him in the best facility for head trauma near here so that Brittany will have him close. Brooke is here so she will help Brittany when they find out I'm sure, it may even influence her to leave Jacksonville for good. Say the word and I'll have my people go and pack her up and have her things sent to New York, that's if Erik doesn't want to handle it himself. I will keep him posted on everything I do for the Pierces from now on, it seems as if he is claiming them both as his family now which is wonderful. I will let him know that The Lopezes are available to them but I won't impose."
" I understand papi."
"Once Erik has him and he is safely in New York we will fly back and we will all tell Brittany together."
Santana felt sick. This is the moment she has wanted and dreaded for all of the time that she's known about Danny.
"There is one piece of the puzzle that is not as perfect as I would like for it to be. I have a few ideas in place, but the problem is this, how did we find out what facility he was in so that we could get him out? The Feds don't care what happens to him. They released him as an indigent John Doe, they know if any one cares and discovers he is alive they will figure out that the Feds had him because someone cared enough to give Brittany a fake body. Then he could have been in danger. Still, with the Martinezes missing and them having no real allies nobody should care if Danny is alive. We know that, but those dirty Feds didn't when they dropped him in a hospital and didn't let anyone know he was alive. They know about Brittany. That was just cold blooded but exactly what I would expect from them."
"So what are you going to do?"
"Don't worry about the details, mija. Erik and I will figure it out. Right now we'll work on finding out what kind of transportation he will require and which hospital or long term facility would suit him best. Trust us. Danny is coming to New York, and we will be there to help you with Brittany. I know you're worried about her reaction but if she loves you like she says she does she will be mindful of your circumstances here, and of the fact that her loved one is coming home and yours is not. Don't allow anyone to take their feelings out on you, no matter how much guilt you may carry."
Juan believed that Brittany loved Santana. He also knew that Santana knew Brittany better than he did, and Santana was worried. He liked the Eriksens a lot, but he loved Santana more than anything in the world. He hoped Brittany could handle Santana knowing with grace and remember that the moment won't be all about her and Danny, but about Santana and what she's going through as well. Juan doesn't want to only hear that Brittany loves Santana, he wants to see it as well. Brittany has come around in the past and stepped up to the task of loving his daughter, he just hopes that she continues to do so.
Juan and Santana hung up their burner phones and Santana prepared herself mentally for the events of the evening. Santana was a bundle of nerves. She would be having dinner with Brooke and Brittany after work at their place in order to discuss helping Brooke get services while she is in NYC. She was certainly on edge, now that the truth was at hand, about how Brittany would handle the news and his current condition. Still, she had told Brittany all that she could, and because of that she has no regrets about how she handled the situation. She was more afraid because Brittany was doing so well and adjusting so quickly to the new family she has found. Brittany was healing, and if she gets Danny back and he can't heal, will Brittany slide into darkness again? She hopes not. Brittany has people now, people who care. Santana hopes that she is worrying for nothing.
That night at dinner, Brittany, Brooke and Santana had a lighthearted evening before getting down to business.
"So Santana, have I mentioned that my parents have been having video chats every night like a pair of teenagers?"
"No you didn't" Santana played along as Brooke blushed profusely. Santana thought is was adorable how much Brooke reminded her of Brittany when she did that.
"They are disgustingly cute," Brittany said. "Parents these days..." she shook her head playfully, a slight smile threatening her lips.
Santana just smiled at the two who just both seemed so happy.
"So are you two making plans to see one another?" Brittany asked.
"He says he's coming to New York soon and asked if I wanted to have dinner with him."
"Cool where are we going?" Brittany asked smiling.
"Brittany quit it," Santana laughed. "Don't worry Brooke I'll keep her out of your hair."
Brooke laughed.
"Nope, I'm not leaving my mom alone with that old baby maker."
"Brittany!" Santana said and they all laughed.
"Anyway mom, speaking of intentions, I invited Santana here to talk about setting you up here with services while you're in New York."
"That's funny, I thought you brought her here so you could sneak off and make out."
"Woah," Brittany said as Santana took her turn to blush. "There's only room for one smart ass at this table." Brittany smiled.
"Then I think that's your cue to leave, Britt," Santana joked.
"Seriously mom, how do you like it here?"
"So far so good Brittany, but I haven't faced my first winter here yet. I'm not used to the snow and cold weather yet."
"And of course I won't force that on you," Brittany replied. "I remember it took some getting used to for me as well when I moved here".
Santana shook her head in understanding, having grown up in Miami.
"What I was thinking was that once we get the apartment together you can have an address in New York, that way Santana can oversee your care. When things are good we can find you some place warm. You can spend half your time here and half of the year there until you know if you like the new place. You can look for work or take some classes or whatever you want to do. You're doing so well and I just want to make sure that wherever you are you will have the proper supports. If you want to go back to Florida Juan has offered to help in any way he can, and Isabella said she loved getting to know you and would love to hang out with you sometimes if you wouldn't mind the company. You have a lot happening in your life right now and I don't want to bombard you with a bunch of choices but Erik has also offered to be there in any way that you will allow."
"Well, what did you have in mind for me Santana?" Brooke asked.
"I can get you enrolled in our agency and I can likely get you on my case load. I'll make sure you get medical coverage through the state and can even get you housing assistance. For now Brittany will cover everything but should you decide to stay in New York on a more permanent basis I can get you rental assistance, food stamps, educational grants, anything that you need to start you on the path to independence. Then of course most importantly your mental health services. Then if you'd like you can go to NA meetings or other support groups and I can always help you find those as well. If you decide to look for employment or educational opportunities I can point you in the right direction with those things as well. I know some of those things you likely won't need but don't let pride hold you back. You will likely only need some of these services, and most only on a temporary basis. Most importantly let me get you started on getting some state health insurance, I can get you set up through emergency assistance."
"What do you think, Brittany?"
"I think if Santana feels like the insurance is the most important step that's what we need to do,and you can take a moment to figure out the rest."
"Ok then Santana, if you don't mind."
"Of course not, Brooke. Anything you need I've got you covered." Santana answered.
"Thank you so much," Brooke said, reaching across the table and squeezing Santana's hand.
"It's my pleasure, Brooke, and I will stay on top of everything and make sure you get the best services available to you."
"Thank you," Brittany said taking Santana's left hand as Brooke still held on to her right hand and staring into her eyes.
"Anything for you two," Santana winked.
Two days later, the problem of how they would "find" Danny came to a surprising end. As Juan was concocting a plausible scheme for him to be discovered, Danny solved all of their problems for them. Danny had secretly been improving more than he could ever let the Feds know. The minute he began talking and responding to questions they would never let him go, so he stayed mute for weeks, but alert enough for them not to give up on him. When they tried to come up with a system of either blinking his eyes or squeezing a hand to answer yes or no questions he would intentionally get some answers wrong so that he would be deemed an unreliable witness. Basically he let them think his brain was scrambled until they cut him loose and then still played the part for a while until he found a nurse he felt he could trust. This particular nurse would talk to him even when he only followed him with his eyes. He would tell jokes, a couple Danny had to really fight back a laugh. He would flirt with him telling him that if he liked guys he owes him a date and he needs to get better soon because he needs a big strong man like him to take him out on a night on the town. Danny felt his spirit, and so he trusted him to complete a very important task for him.
Danny couldn't contact Brittany or Brooke, the shock may kill them. If they knew he was alive they would have sent for him plus he had overheard enough when the doctors and agents would talk. Couldn't contact Carlos, he was not sure if he could trust him fully. He had no idea that the Martinezes were missing but certainly couldn't contact them and contacting Carlos may mean that he was inadvertently contacting them. The only person he could think to contact was his "mom".
Luciana would be getting a call very soon.
Danny waited for his favorite nurse to come on duty. He knew he would have the chance to speak to him when they took his roommate to dialysis. It's been the routine of his nurse coming in and turning on the tv to keep him company when his roommate was gone since dialysis took about 4 hours at least. In those 4 hours he would expect at least 3 visits from the nurse, even if it was just to say something silly like "just came in to see if you're ready to talk to me yet. No? I'll be back soon then. I can tell I'm wearing you down." Then he will flash a smile and leave.
This was it. Today was the day. The nurse came in about 40 minutes after Danny's roommate left for dialysis to bring Danny his medication. As he was putting the medication into the IV the nurse sang gently.
You make me
Feel like I'm livin' a teenage dream
The way you turn me on, I can't sleep
Let's run away and don't ever look back, don't ever look back
My heart stops When you look at me,
just one touch Now, baby, I believe this is real
So take a chance and don't ever look back, don't ever look back
"Amazing" A deep low voice croaked from behind the nurse, dry and raspy from lack of use for weeks.
The nurse startled.
"Oh my goodness! Look who's back!" The nurse exclaimed. "You just wait right here and I'll go get you a doctor."
"No,wait"
The nurse paused.
"Don't tell yet. Water."
The nurse quickly pours Danny a cup of water and helps him to drink it.
"Thank you." Danny said.
"I need to get your doctor for you."
"Just give me one day, and do me one favor."
"I can't."
"Please, my life depends on it, and if something happens to me you'll never get that date I owe you."
The young nurse blushed profusely.
"I'm sorry, I was just joking around making conversation to pass the time."
"That's too bad, because I was looking forward to paying that debt."
The nurse blushed. "What do you need smooth talker?"
"I need to make a call. Did they bring any belongings in with me when they dropped me off here?"
"A couple of things, they're in your closet."
"Please look for a phone."
The nurse looks through the belongings and locates a phone. He hands it to Danny.
"Fuck, it's dead."
"I'll find you a charger."
"Please, and remember, my safety depends on your silence. What else is in that closet?"
"Ummm, some clothes."
"Can I see them?"
"Sure," the nurse hands him the bag.
"These are my pants and underwear but not my shirt."
"You were shot in the head, your shirt probably had blood on it but not your pants if they let you keep them."
"Where is my wallet?"
"Whatever is there is all you had. You were shot, maybe you were robbed. Do you remember anything?"
"No," Danny lied. "How did I get here?"
"You were transferred here. That usually happens if you were rushed to a private hospital to save your life. When someone without insurance is stabilized they are transferred to a county hospital or rehabilitation facility for the remainder of their care. "
Danny was quiet just taking in the information. His mind was racing. At least they were kind enough to leave him with his phone. Who is he kidding? The Feds have already copied everything in there and he knows it. His wallet was probably given to Brittany or Brooke.
"I'm going to go get you a charger. I'll give you a day before I say anything as long as nobody here is in danger."
"No, I don't have any bad guys looking for me or anything like that. Let's just say it's a domestic situation."
"Is your partner a threat to you?"
"Not if he doesn't know where I am, and not as long as I'm in here, so nobody can know how well I'm doing yet."
"The doctors have been perplexed as to why you haven't shown more improvement, is your partner the reason why?"
"Yes." Danny decided to go with the domestic violence thing, because the drug cartel thing is not an option. He's only half lying here. Carlos is someone he needs to remain hidden from for now and maybe stay away from forever, he doesn't know yet. There is too much he doesn't know and Danny doesn't like that. He needs to get back on the grid just enough to find out some information.
"What's your name?" The nurse asked. "You came in as a John Doe."
"Benny," Danny lied. He can't give him that kind of information, not yet.
"Nice to meet you Benny, I'm..."
"Nurse Anderson," Danny finished.
The young nurse smiled.
"You told me when you first started talking to me. I may be forgetting a lot of things, but I never forget the name of a handsome man." Danny flirted.
Nurse Anderson smiled. " It doesn't hurt that my name is on the board," the young nurse laughed. "Let me get you that charger, Benny."
"You know where to find me nurse Anderson."
The nurse left and Danny wiggled in the bed a little, happy to finally exercise his voice, happy to finally put the act away for just a little while. He needed to see if they deleted his phone or anything because if they did he's in trouble. He needs Luciana's number and he hopes that they didn't figure out who she was. He needed to get somewhere that he can get real treatment without worry that someone will find out how well he's doing and cause a problem for him later. He needed to know how much danger he was in.
Nurse Anderson returned with the charger and helped Danny plug in his phone. He helped Danny hide the cord just in case someone walked in.
"I'll give you a few minutes and give you a heads up if anyone is heading your way. I'll be back when they bring you your lunch."
"Thanks Nurse Anderson."
"When we're on a covert mission you can simply call me Blaine."
"Blaine it is." Danny said smiling. "Blaine, what time do you go for lunch?"
"The earliest I can go is in about an hour."
"I can't make a call on this phone, Blaine. Is there any way you can grab me a phone card or a prepaid cell? I promise you if you trust me I will pay you back."
"You can use my phone." Blaine said.
"If all you can get is a calling card I may take you up on that offer."
"Okay."
"Blaine, I don't know why you're doing this but I want to thank you for taking a chance and believing me."
"I don't like abusive men, Benny. I've dealt with their kind before, and working in a hospital I've seen the damage that they can do."
Danny hated lying to the man, he seemed like a solid guy, but he would make it up to him if he ever got the chance.
Blaine left and Danny eagerly waited for his phone to turn on. He let it charge for what felt like the longest 5 minutes of his life before turning the phone on. He had two numbers for Luciana, her actual phone number and the burner number she had in Chicago. Thankfully his contacts seemed to be in order.
Danny typed in the letter "M" and waited as his contacts took him there, scrolling through the "M's" until he found what he was looking for. He saved the number under "mamacita" as a clue to Brittany in case she got into his phone, and in hopes that if anyone saw it they would overlook it as the number of a friend or a fuck buddy. Sure, there were a lot of people that knew he was into men, but there were also a lot who didn't, and bisexuality is actually real, so it seemed like a good option that looked rather harmless.
It was the longest two hours of his life. Before Blaine left for lunch he stopped in and checked on Danny. Danny returned the charger to the man just in case it raised eyebrows if anyone saw it, tucking the fully charged phone underneath his pillow and making sure it was off. Blaine helped Danny with his lunch before leaving.
"It's okay you can leave, I can feed myself okay."
"Oh so you've just been faking the whole time, huh?"
"Just because I'm doing better than they know I am doesn't mean I'm faking."
"Tell me what's wrong, your health could be at stake."
"Headaches."
"How bad?"
"Like someone is hitting me in the head with a hammer."
"That's not good Benny."
"I can deal with it one more day."
"I'll give you an hour after I return from lunch. I won't tell them that you can talk, but no need for you to act confused and answer questions incorrectly. It is an act,right?"
"It is."
"Stay silent, it's okay, but point to your head and make a banging motion. If the doctors are too stupid to figure out what you're trying to say I'll throw the headache suggestion out there and all you have to do is give a faint thumbs up, okay?"
"Ok."
"You can't play like this with brain injuries, Benny, you could have a stroke or a blood clot or a number of other horrible things happening in that head of yours. I'll get you your phone call, but you have to let me do my job."
Danny gave a faint thumbs up and Blaine chuckled.
"What are we going to do with you, Benny?" Blaine laughed while spooning another spoonful of applesauce into Danny's mouth.
Danny really did have some trouble feeding himself. He needed help with many motor skill things, including walking to the bathroom. He felt like he was unbalanced when he walked. He himself was curious of the damages he had suffered, even if he did feel 100 times better than he did when all of this first happened.
After Danny had his lunch Blaine left to have lunch himself. He returned about 45 minutes later with a phone calling card.
"Sorry Benny, the one place near here, the gas station down the road, that might have had a prepaid phone for sale didn't have any. They did have calling cards though. I bought you a $5 card which has like a million minutes on it but if you need more I'll get you more don't worry."
"Thank you Blaine, this is fine. I know I'm pushing my luck here but do these room phones actually work?"
"You can make local calls, so you should be able to use the calling card since it has a toll free number."
"Great, so would it be okay if I use my neighbor's? I know he'll be gone for a while."
"I'll have to help you out of bed, it won't reach over here."
"Please do, and if you can I just need 15 minutes where nobody checks up on me."
"That won't be hard, this is a county hospital after all," he smiled. After helping Danny to his roommate's phone he left the room.
Danny took the phone card and dialed the first number. It went straight to voicemail. It was the drop phone, and Danny had no idea if it had been compromised. He didn't want to leave a message, he couldn't take that type of chance.
He needed to call Luciana's actual number. He needed to take a chance, her phone could be compromised, but he also knew that he had to assume that it was compromised and he would have to get out of the hospital soon even if he had to sneak out. He needed to talk to Luciana. She needed to hear his voice.
He typed in the letter "L" and scrolled down to the name he was looking for. He had her contact saved under "Louie" so that anyone who got his phone would have to dig just a little deeper to find out who the number belonged to. He also didn't want to make it look like he was hiding the number, people knew that they knew one another, he just wanted to put a little cover on it just in case.
Luciana's frowned at the strange numbers that appeared on her screen. Usually she would let such things go to voicemail but Quinn and Imani were away on a job and Luciana had learned that Quinn would never call her from her own phone when she was working. She took a chance hoping it was her sexy assassin.
Luciana was a little more straight forward at how she had saved Danny's name in her phone. She simply used his last name as a cover for their friendship. It wasn't odd that they had each other's numbers, after all Danny sometimes worked close to Valentina. So when Luciana got the man's number she simply saved it in her phone as "Mitch" because of his last name, Mitchell.
"Hello" Luciana answered apprehensively.
"Lu?"
"Who is this?" Luciana asked.
"Lu, it's me, Mitch." Danny knew how the woman had his name saved in her phone.
"Who the fuck is this you sick, crazy bastard?!" Danny was not used to this side of Luciana.
"Lu, it's me, Mitch. Listen, Rosa I'm not sure if you ever made it to the place I told you to go, but I'm guessing you did if you're safe. I know that's not enough proof for you, but I know that you would call your special friend carino when you two were alone and you had gone too long without seeing one another like you did that time in the back of the car."
Luciana gasped. Nobody knew that she and Valentina would call one another that when they felt particularly close to one another after being apart for so long. They would be holding hands in the back of the car as Danny drove them back from the airport after a get together of old friends, cuddling close to one another. Robbie would go along to make it seem as if it wasn't what it actually was, the chance for the two women to be together in the way that they yearned to be. It was a term of endearment they rarely used unless they were feeling vulnerable about something and had shared a particular kind of intimacy that day where they played the role of both best friends and secret lovers, sharing their bodies and their pain together. This time they had flown to Cancun on one of their many reunions. Nobody ever paid much attention when the three old friends made plans to party together, although there were people who suspected the two women were seeing one another. Still, Manuel would never be able to openly make a big deal about it without humiliating himself, and so it went undiscussed. Once Valentina found out about Carlos and Danny a secret friendship was formed between the four and they openly shared their affection for one another in front of Danny whenever they wanted to. Since Manuel needed Carlos to be with him and Miguel that day Miguel sent Danny to pick Valentina up from the airport and it was there that Danny realized how connected the two women truly were.
"Listen, I can't say much. I'm in Chattahoochee General hospital. I'm a John Doe. I just told the only nurse that knows I can speak that my name is Benny. His name is nurse Anderson, Blaine Anderson. We're going to share the same last name, Rosa. So my name is Benny Gonzalez. That's the name I'll give if I need to speak to anyone here, which I won't be doing for at least 24 hours. Please have your father look into things, Please. I have my phone, but I'm keeping it powered off and I don't know how wise it will be for me to use it."
"They told us you were dead Mitch."
"I know, please, we can't talk, call your father now, please. I have to go. I'm going to call you again from this number in exactly one hour, please try and reach your father by then. I really hope to see you soon."
"Bye Mitch," but Danny never heard it, he had already hung up the phone.
A few minutes later Blaine returned to help Danny to his bed. He handed the man back the phone and tucked the phone card into his phone case. The way Danny had to make the call wasn't ideal, but it had to do. He took the only precautions he could at the time. He would have only used Blaine's phone under dire circumstances, calling card or not so he was thankful that the room phones worked. He would have rather had a drop phone or at least gone to another room but all he could do was hope that this was enough and that someone would come and get him the hell out of there.
"Thank you Blaine" Danny said,hoping that he could trust the man. For all he knew everybody in that hospital was connected to the Feds. he had been silent for a week, he had to do something.
"It's fine. Now Benny, I'm going to do my job, okay? I have to tell the doctors that you communicated with me. I won't say verbally, I'll tell them you indicated by tapping on your head and nodding your head 'yes' when I asked if you were in extreme pain. It's for your safety,okay? I did all you asked, now you have to do this."
"I owe you that much, I won't put your job in danger, but you won't hear me speak to them."
"That can be our little secret. I also have to ask, the trouble walking and eating, the problems with your motor skills are real?"
"Yes"
"What about the answering simple questions incorrectly?"
"I'm not sure."
"I won't push, if you say you're not sure I'll believe you. Promise me you won't continue the charade much longer."
"Just another day or two."
"Ok then. Well it was nice speaking with you. Hope to hear your voice again soon."
"I'm sure you will, Blaine Anderson."
"Okay John Doe."
Blaine soon returned with the doctors, and Danny went along with the plan to reveal the headaches to the doctors. They were happy to see him communicating more, even if he still was not talking. They assumed the trauma was keeping him from improving faster, but with the new developments they ordered more tests and gave him something to help with the migraines. Whatever they gave him helped enough to cause the man to drift off to sleep, wondering what had developed while he was gone and most importantly hopeful to be reunited with his Tink again soon. He can't imagine what she's been going through without him. He can't stop thinking about how alone she must feel and it's driving him crazy.
Luciana immediately called her father.
"Papi, are you home?"
"Si mija, are you ok?"
"Si papi, I'm on my way home. I need to talk to you and tio if he is available."
Pedro knew that it was important if she wanted Juan there.
"Meet me at your tio's. I'm on the way."
Pedro called Juan to let him know he was on his way. He was there within 15 minutes.
"What do you know, hermano?" Juan asked.
"She didn't say anything other than she needed to speak with me and her tio. She says she's ok so she's safe." Pedro answered.
Still, the men knew that something big was going on. Luciana arrived about 10 minutes after her father and they all retired to Juan's office after greeting Isabella.
Luciana hugged the men and then took a seat, Juan and Pedro sitting after her.
"Tell us what's wrong mija." Pedro asked.
"I got a call from a strange number. I only answered because I thought it may be Quinn. The man identified himself as Mitch. It's Danny. I'm pretty sure. He sounded different but he knew things. Maybe somebody is trying to trick me. Danny's dead isn't he papi?"
Pedro looked at Juan and Juan nodded his head.
"Tell her."
"He's alive mija, Juan found out shortly after he got to Vegas. It's a very long story but that's for another time. What did he say?"
"He said he's in a hospital in Chattahoochee and that he's going to call me again in exactly one hour."
"We know where he is."
"He said he's listed as a John Doe, but that he told the nurse that's helping him that his name is Benny. He also told me he would be using the last name Gonzalez. For now the doctors don't know that he can speak, just this one nurse named Blaine Anderson. He says his secret should be safe for at least 24 hours."
"Okay, he should be calling in about 30 minutes. He won't need those 24 hours, we'll have him home long before that." Juan said. "Meanwhile, I know you have a lot of questions, I'll leave you and your papi time to catch up."
Juan walked over and kissed the girl on the top of her head. "You hungry nena (babygirl)? Your tia made some ropa vieja. You know she's going to want to feed you both if you're here."
"I'm not very hungry."
"She made arroz con leche for dessert."
"In that case..." Luciana smiled.
"Excellent! What about you hermano? Querer comer?"
"Why do you ask me questions that you already know the answer to Juan?" Pedro smiled as Juan pat the man on the back. He left the two to talk as he went to let Isabella know that Pedro and Luciana would be joining them for lunch. He returned to his office and listened as Pedro filled Luciana in on everything and they waited eagerly for Danny to call.
Finally the phone rang. It felt like hours to Luciana but Pedro and Juan were used to waits like these.
"Hello?"
"Rosa?"
"It's me Mitch. My papi and my tio are here."
"Hola amigo. No need to speak just listen. It's okay to let them know that you can speak but not until the early morning hours when barely anyone is there. The main doctors on your case likely won't be there at that hour. Your nurse, have you happened to notice what his shift is?" Juan asked
"He usually comes around 7 am and leaves around 7 pm" Danny answered.
"Excellent, so start at around 6a.m. so that all of your awakenings don't happen when your friend is on duty. While the nursing shift changes we will already have someone en route to you. Ask for your things, your phone, charger, whatever you need to text Luciana. Send her a photo of yourself and simply explain in the text where you are and to please send someone to get you. State in the text that you can't speak well but you need her help. Ask her to arrange for you to come home. We will handle the rest. Speak very little, I'm guessing you've been holding back, keep it that way. I only want you demanding your phone and that's it, I'm sure you can be persuasive."
"Ok" Danny said, knowing better than to ask any questions and knowing to keep things quick.
"Within a few hours of you sending Luciana the text someone will be there for you. Just hang tight amigo. Rest and act normally tonight, tomorrow you go home. Is there anything else?"
"No"
"Excellent. Handle your end and we will handle ours. Adios."
"Goodbye."
Juan told Luciana and Pedro to meet him in the dining room he had a call to make. He instantly got The Viking on the phone.
"Hello friend," the Viking answered.
"Hola amigo. Everything is set for 8 a.m.." Juan said. He and Erik had everything worked out already. They knew where to call for medical transport and what rehabilitation facility would be taking him in New York. They had quietly arranged everything and were only waiting for a go time. It won't seem strange to anyone that Erik would be able to pull this all together in a couple of hours, people with his kind of wealth and connections can do things like that.
"Wonderful."
"He told his nurse that his name is Benny, Benny Gonzalez. If you need me, you know where to find me."
"I do, thank you my friend."
"You're welcome. Keep me posted, I will see you soon."
"See you soon."
Juan joined Isabella, Pedro and Luciana for lunch. They had a good time and Luciana wanted to come to New York with them just in case Santana needed some moral support. Luciana wanted to be near not because she thought that Brittany would get angry, but because she feared it would make Santana mourn Valentina all over again. As much as she was in love with Santana herself just a few short years ago, as much as that love still lingers at times, Luciana is thrilled that Santana is finally happy and she's thrilled that they are both letting go of their childhood feelings and moving into a more adult friendship. She wants to be there for her, and she would be lying if she said that Danny's resurrection didn't sting a bit. She was very happy for the man, he was her friend after all, but she loved Valentina and when she's with Robbie and Santana it's even more clear how much a piece of their heart is missing. Every day she hopes Luis Ramirez suffers for hating the Lopez family more than he loved his own daughter. The irony that he gave up everything for a power that the cartel will never trust him to have now is probably driving the man mad. Valentina's murder and all of the blunders by the Martinez men has sealed the deal.
Juan Lopez is officially the most powerful man in the Miami underworld.
Juan Lopez knows this, but he doesn't celebrate it. Juan loves money but has never been power hungry. Juan loves his daughter and the way she is making her own path no matter how modest it may be. He loved spending time with her in the life she is making for herself, but he wishes he could give her more. She grew up in such a different world, and in his mind he was doing it so the women he loves the most never have to worry about money. Still, he respects that Santana is okay with her simple lifestyle, he respects that she is proud of it and doesn't mind Robbie or Luciana of anyone seeing it, that she's not trying to live up to the life she had. Times like this is when he is most proud of her strength, the way she demanded to live her life doing what makes her feel whole. Juan wishes he could get out, live a normal life, just be Santana's dad and Isabella's husband. His love, his Bella as he calls her, maybe he can run away with her one day and live a simpler life. It's his secret dream, and Santana inspires him to make it come true but his recent rise in power has made the improbable seem more like the impossible. He doesn't want to be an old man looking over his shoulder. He'd rather be staring at his beautiful wife instead. Maybe that's why his old man handed it all over to him, why Ramirez forced Valentina to be a part of the game. In the end, after more money is made than they could ever spend, they just want to live their lives out in peace. Juan thought about leaving it all to Robbie, began training him for it, but it's not what he promised Robbie's mom. He promised to try and keep him safe, and there is nothing truly safe about what he does.
Juan accepts it, he will die working for the cartel but he won't die because of stupid mistakes. Still, the target on his back is miles wide now and soon he will need more security than ever. He's glad that Santana rejected the lifestyle, he's glad the cartel doesn't own his little girl the way that they own him. The only way he would be able to retire is to make an epic mistake the way that Ramirez did, and retiring that way is dangerous indeed because being disposable to the cartel also puts a miles wide target on your back.
After lunch Pedro and Luciana went home to pack while Juan invited Isabella along for the trip. Of course she wanted to go. Not only will she see Santana which her eyes will never get enough of, but she can also be there for Brooke. Pedro rarely has the opportunity to invite his wife, she has the boys to look after and they're at an age where they can find themselves in messes if no one is there to oversee them, but soon he hopes to have his wife by his side more often as well.
Juan called to arrange for a private jet to be ready to go in the morning and Isabella packed a few things for the two of them. At the last minute he decided to invite Robbie, for Santana, for Luciana, and even for Robbie. If they needed to mourn together again they would. The car would pick The Lopezes up within a half hour of Luciana making the call and they would be off to wait for Erik and Danny to reach New York.
Santana's part would be small in bringing Danny home but crucial. When Luciana received the text from Danny she was to text Santana forwarding her the message and asking her to contact Erik to have him look into this for them. Since Santana and Brittany are openly dating and word is rapidly spreading about Erik's newfound child it would all make sense and it opens the door for Erik's swift movement in bringing Danny back home. Santana would then text Erik the photo and then call him at which point all he would say is that he would look into seeing who was behind the photo and what it was all about. It all seems like a lot of steps but once again it's the mundane things that trip people up and so Juan pays attention especially to the mundane details. He hatches plots and creates reasonable doubt for law enforcement at the same time.
It felt like one of the longest days of Santana's life, which turned into the longest night. She had avoided seeing Brittany that night, claiming that she had to go and help a client in trouble find a rehab that would take her in ASAP. It happened sometimes, and so Brittany thought nothing of it, as a matter of fact she loved Santana more for it. These women, these women were like her mother and they had children just like she was who suffered just like she had or even worse. If Santana was helping to put these women back together again Brittany would never fault her for that.
The text finally came, as Santana sat sipping coffee way too early in the morning. She instantly did as planned and texted Erik and called him, setting Danny's trip home into motion. She then called her parents who were already waiting to start their journey to New York. After that she waited, and all of a sudden she just wanted to hug Brittany.
Santana called out of work that day. Yeah, she had taken a shit ton of unexpected and unused vacation and sick days lately but it was her right to do so. Still,all of this shit needed to end soon because she was running low on usable hours. When her supervisor balked over the phone about her calling out Santana hinted at taking an official leave of absence. It wasn't meant as a threat but it quickly shut her boss up. They needed whatever they could get from Santana. What she does doesn't pay her nearly what she's worth and the people who do this job well do it well because they love helping people and are committed to it. They usually have a story when they care that much. They either have a loved one who is or was an addict or they themselves are recovering addicts. Santana's boss suspected she had someone close to her who was touched by addiction, and so she helped these people with an exceptional amount of dedication and vigor. Nobody would have guessed where Santana really came from.
By 11 am Santana's parents had arrived from Miami. Pedro, Robbie and Luciana had an important task to complete first. Santana of course could not let Brittany know that they were in town without giving a good reason why, and how could there be a good reason when everyone had just left after her birthday celebration? She didn't have a good reason, so she had to lie. If Brittany called her job they would simply say she wasn't in today which Brittany would take to mean that she was working in the field that day and she would think nothing of it. Still, all of these lies by omission simply felt like lies to Santana and she was glad it would all be over soon.
It had been a very eventful morning for Danny as well. He had done as he was told, revealing his ability to speak and using that voice to only ask for a phone and a charger. It was a little chaotic, with the nurse immediately getting the doctor who did an assessment with Danny claiming his head hurt when they tried to ask too many questions. It was not a lie. While it didn't hurt as much as the day before it did hurt, it often hurt. He wanted to talk, wanted to know what real damage had been done to him. He had been playing mute for so long he didn't know what was real right now. He just knew he needed someone to have his back right now and Luciana knew the right kind of people. Hopefully they would keep him safe even if for now everyone thinks he messed up somehow and got Valentina killed. Still, Luciana must have told them how he tried to help her or they wouldn't be helping him now, he guessed.
By 7 am when nurse Anderson arrived to start his shift he was as surprised as anyone to discover that his favorite patient had revealed the very secret he had begged him the day before to keep quiet. He was happy about that so that the man could start to get proper care, but he was also perplexed. He wanted to ask what had changed but there was a constant stream of movement in Danny's room. It took about an hour for him to get a moment alone with the man in order to get an update.
"Good morning Benny, were we talking in our sleep last night and giving ourselves away?"
"Sorry, there was a change of plans. I was able to contact a friend of mine. They are going to arrange for me to go home."
"Benny, you need a proper work up to see how you're really doing. These headaches are concerning."
"I need to be closer to home, there's someone that needs to know I'm okay."
"Oh, I understand, but still..."
"She's like my kid sister, and she has to be beside herself. I couldn't reach out to her like this. She doesn't know I'm okay, I don't even know if I'm okay. All she has is me and her mother, and her mother isn't well."
"You're going to have to sign yourself out, and they will fight you tooth and nail."
"I still have a little fight left in me yet. I called a friend, hopefully her dad will help me get placed closer to home."
"And where is home?"
"Jacksonville," he lied. In a way that was his second home. Brooke and Brittany was all he had. New York and Jacksonville. He couldn't even begin to dissect whatever he had with Carlos. Manuel Martinez shot him in the head and Carlos works for Manuel. Danny knows how to quit while he's ahead.
"I would still love to take you on that date one day, maybe when I'm a little better. You've been so kind to me the entire time I've been here even though you didn't know I understood what was happening." Danny continued.
"I knew" nurse Anderson replied
"How did you know?"
"The eyes don't lie. Your voice was quiet but there was so much behind your eyes. Your eyes are why I helped you, and why I'm leaving you my number. If you are able to convince them to discharge you, I think a 3 hour drive to take me to dinner and karaoke would be thanks enough."
"Karaoke huh?" Danny smiled.
"Those are my terms," Blaine answered.
"Terms accepted," Danny smiled.
"Great, here's my number. Good luck getting out of here. I hope your people have a plan to get you out of here that includes taking care of you because believe it or not you're still a long way from being healed. I'm not a doctor but I've seen enough to know."
"I will make sure that I get to a hospital myself if I have to."
"I hope you're a man of your word."
"You have no idea, Blaine." Danny smiled.
Santana met her parents at the hotel. It was early but Juan being who he is managed to convince them to allow him to check in early. Santana was at the hotel 30 minutes later and was getting brought up to date on all of the new developments.
Danny was talking, and Danny had the knowledge to keep quiet and hatch a plan to get himself out of there, so Danny's brain seemed to be sharp. That's all they could gather from a few short phone calls. Still, Brittany and Brooke were in for a shock, and Danny would be returning to a world of developments he needed to be updated on, and the continuous cloud still hanging over Carlos' head. That's all they had for her, those scraps of information,and the information that Erik had given Juan about where Danny would be taken and how Erik was arranging the medevac to get him there. Erik had wanted to pick up Danny himself even though he had never met the man, but the flight from Vegas to Chattahoochee is a very long one. Juan knew that Pedro was the perfect person for a task like this and that he could perhaps use a few extra hands. He didn't anticipate any trouble but Robbie is an excellent bodyguard should any occur and Luciana would be helpful in advocating for Danny as well as overseeing that things run smoothly. Plus, she wanted to be there. She was anxious to see the man she considered a friend. He had done everything to try and keep her, Valentina and Santana safe. She would do the same.
The three caught their flight and three hours later they were standing in the hospital asking for their John Doe, Benny Gonzalez. It was here where they would have to begin to advocate for Danny. They were told that visiting hours weren't for another two hours, at which point Pedro informed them that they had been missing their family member for weeks now and wanted to see him. These were special circumstances. They objected of course, but the visitors worked their way up the hospital food chain until they got permission to see the man.
Danny had never met Pedro but of course he knew who he was. Pedro and Robbie stood back as Luciana came in and tenderly and tightly hugged the man. She had tears in her eyes, happy to see the man return from the dead.
"Benny, hermano, we've come to take you home."
"Hello I'm Dr..."
"Give them a moment," Pedro demanded. "If you need to talk now speak to me."
The doctor spoke to Pedro and told them Danny's condition, asked a few nosey questions about who they were, and generally tried to play detective and tell them why he shouldn't leave.
"Listen, doctor. We thank you for saving our Benny. Ask him if he wants to go with us and I'm sure you can guess what he will say." He let his eyes lead the doctors over to the reunion playing out between Luciana and Danny.
"We have medical transport ready to go for him and a rehabilitation facility set up to take him. He will be signing himself out today. He understands that it will be against medical advice. Still, this bed will be available within the next three hours so if you want to present him with a bill or anything I suggest you get to generating one, although the city should be picking up this tab am I correct?"
"I believe that you are but I don't know much about that part of things. You said he will have medical transport?"
"They are on their way and they charge by the hour, so let's start this discharge. My associate here will make sure that everything is running smoothly on that end, I will go down to billing and my daughter will stay with him and help him through the paperwork he needs to sign."
"I'm not sure he can sign." the doctor stated.
"We're about to find out. Listen doctor, I respect that you are so concerned about each patient that you are responsible for. You want to make sure he gets the best care. Benny is going home, he is signing the paperwork to release the hospital and you from any liability over what happens after he is released, but my daughter will read the fine print and it won't relinquish you from liability if he had any poor treatment before today. Let's just make this quick and easy, for you, for us, and most of all for Benny. Any pertinent medical information that the transport team needs please provide it. The facility will contact you if they need anything else. He is not a prisoner and we won't be interrogated. Let's get this all started, or my lawyer will be here within the hour to find out why the process is moving so slowly."
With that the friendly banter was over. Pedro didn't want to be there all day the ball needed to get rolling. Luciana stayed with Danny as they drew up the paperwork, Robbie waited around for the medical transport team and Pedro went to billing to speak to them. As he suspected that bill would be taken care of by the state. Pedro pressed to have the paperwork prepared quickly for Danny's discharge and everything was signed. Everything took about two hours but the medical transport Erik provided waited patiently and then nurse Anderson helped Danny get disconnected from everything and reconnected to the transport team's equipment. They moved him to the transport bed and hooked up all he needed and all Danny had time to do was give Blaine a wink and say thank you before he was whisked out of the hospital and into the ambulance. Luciana rode with Danny and Pedro and Robbie followed in the car Erik provided for them, their driver staying closely behind the transport vehicle. Soon they arrived at the airport where the plane Erik provided to transport Danny allowed he and his passengers on. Three and a half hours later Danny was in his new room at a swanky rehabilitation center. Pedro shook the man's hand and thanked him for what he had done for Luciana, Santana and Valentina. Robbie and Luciana stayed to make sure his transition to the facility remained smooth. Pedro went to the hotel to meet Juan.
Danny had a lot of questions but he knew that the answers would come soon and so he didn't ask them. There was only one question that he couldn't wait any longer to ask because it's all that mattered to him now. It's all that's mattered to him since he began fighting for his life.
"How's my Tink?"