I don't own these characters just a fan wanting to tell a story. Hope you enjoy!
"Maria," his voice was always soft, "You wouldn't leave me."
"Angelo, I think it's best for use to stay apart for a little while," She pleaded.
"You are just scared of our love!" He spat.
"Angelo, this is what I mean!" She cried, "This isn't healthy."
"Maria, we are meant to be together." He tried to persaude.
"Then go to rehab." Maria negotiated.
"Why, they are just going to tell me I have a problem when I'm fine." he said angrily
"Then I'm leaving." Maria stated harshly.
"No you aren't!" He ordered grabbing her arm and pinning her to the wall.
She screamed in surprise, it stung when he cracked a slap across her face.
"Angelo," She pleaded.
"Maria, I love you, I'm not going to let you go." He whispered passionately into her ear, then his rich laugh echoed out.
"You are testing me aren't you, to see how hard I would fight for you." He said with a hearty laugh.
"Yeah," Maria whimpered, scared of what he would do to her if she said she was serious.
She still remembered what it felt like when he grabbed her arm and pulled her back. She rubbed her arm, running her hand along where she had had bruises for week.
"Baez, you okay?" Danny asked.
She nodded, but he wasn't fooled, she was shaking and she was extremely pale.
"Baez, I'm taking you home, you aren't okay." Danny said sternly. Maria was going to protest, but she knew she wasn't fit to be on duty.
She nearly fell over when she stood up, she was so light headed. Danny supported her by grabbing her arm.
The ride to her apartment was quiet but Maria could tell Danny had a million questions. He followed her up to her apartment to make sure she made it safely.
"Maria, you were the person who filed the assault report" Danny started, "and the restraining order, what happened?'
"Danny, I'd rather not talk about it." Maria said, though secretly she wanted to tell him everything.
"As much as I want to let you keep to yourself, this guy is torturing and killing women. I need to know what happened." Danny urged.
Maria took a deep breath.
"I thought I was going to marry him," Maria said shakily, "I was so in love I didn't see how wrong it was." Maria sat on the sofa and Danny sat on the chair next to her.
"Start from where things started going wrong." Danny coaxed.
"To be honest, I didn't think it was wrong until-" Maria was ashamed to admit how long it took for her to get out of the relationship, "Until he beat me half to death."
Danny sat and listened as Maria explained the abuse, the emotional tomerment,and the physical damage. His blood boiled as she told him of what is was like to live in a home where she felt unsafe.
"When we broke up he started stalking me, I would come home and he would be waiting for me, begging for me to take him back. That's why I got the restraining order. It seemed to knock some sense into him and he went into rehab. Several months later I heard he moved to Colorado." Maria finished up, "I had no idea it had gone this far."
Danny's heart ached for her, he had no idea she had gone through so much. She always put on a brave face and like she lived her days without thinking of what she went through.
"I guess it's my fault, I should have stayed with-" Danny didn't let her finish that thought.
"No," He said sternly, "This isn't your fault. It's his and his alone."
Maria tired to smile, but she felt guilty. She should have called to see how he was doing, she should have done something.
"Does he know you're a cop?" Danny inquired.
"I don't know, maybe," Maria stated clasping and unclasping her hands.
"Do you think he could find where you live?" Danny questioned.
"I don't know," Maria answered becoming more panicked every second. What if he found her, would he kill her like he had killed the others?
"Maria," Danny stated, her first name foreign on his lips, "I don't think it's a good idea for you to be alone. I have a guest room at my house you will be safe there."
Maria thought about it, and to be honest she agreed, she was scared. She had worked so hard to move on from what happened but that didn't mean she had forgotten the pain.
"I don't want to inconvenience you." Maria deflected, she didn't want to be a burden but she hoped he would insist.
"I don't think you are safe alone." Danny persisted.
"I've been fine this long!" Maria protested, Why am I fighting this?
"I think you can take care of yourself just fine, but he won't think to look for you at my house." Danny asserted.
Maria felt like she had been fighting it long enough.
"Yes, you are probably right," Maria agreed, trying to sound reluctant but it was relief instead.
"Pack up and I will drop you off, I need to talk to sarge about what's going on." Danny stated.
It only took Maria about a half hour to pack up. Soon, Danny was helping Maria carry her things into the guest room. Maria inspected the room. It was fifteen by twelve and had dresser, closet, and a twin sized bed. She set her bag on the bed and looked around.
"It's not much, but it should keep you safe." Danny remarked, when he saw she looked displeased.
Her face brightened.
"It will do just perfectly!" She assured. She liked the room and it would work well, but she wouldn't want to stay here for a long time.
"There is food in the fridge, and feel free to watch the TV." Danny rambled, slightly awkward, "Make yourself at home." Danny said deciding that was the best thing to say.
"I will," Maria promised.
I hoped you liked this chapter, I was suffering from writers block and that is why this chapter is so late coming out. Love you guys!