Title: The Hero Dies in This One
Author: Courtney
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Rating: PG
Summary: Post ep for 'The Dove Commission'; it's not always easy to be a good guy.
The water was hot, so hot that it almost burned his skin. Danny tilted his head back to the steam, trying to get lost in it. He wasn't sure how long he'd been sitting in the tub; every time the water started to cool he would let some of it out and refill it with hot. Now his skin was starting to prune but Danny didn't care. He didn't have to think as long as he stayed here.
He heard her arrive, heard her key in the door and her purse hitting the table. He knew that she'd come looking for him so he just sat and waited for the inevitable. And, as usual, she didn't let him down.
"You went to see the kid," Aiden confirmed as she entered the steamy bathroom and took a seat on the edge of the tub, heedless of any water that might be present. He liked that getting her pants a little wet didn't phase her.
Nodding, Danny replied, "Yeah, told him his dad was one of the good guys."
Sensing his unease, she told him, "You're one of the good guys, too."
"Didn't feel like that today. Not when I had to go tell a kid that his dad had done the right thing, and still paid with his life. And not having to see the anger in his eyes at me, for the way I acted the other day. I don't think good is the right word," he told her.
Putting her hands to his shoulders, she began to knead his muscles, hoping to relieve some of his tension. "You did the right thing and that makes you a good guy," she assured him. His answer was to reach up and touch one of her hands, giving it a slight squeeze. She smiled at the gesture and leaned forward to wrap her arms around his neck from behind.
"Your mom called. She left a message at my place; something about returning your call from earlier."
Danny nodded. "I called to talk to my dad."
"Yeah, so she said. I guess he's at a lodge meeting tonight. In her message she said she'd have him call you tomorrow. Anything important?"
"Nah, just checking in," he explained.
It was Aiden's turn to nod. She kissed him on the forehead, more out of reassurance than intimacy, and moved to get up. "I ordered Chinese on my way over. It should be here soon."
"Yeah, I'll be out in a minute," he told her.
"Take your time," she said. "It'll be there when you're ready. And so will I," she added.
Danny nodded again, reaching out to catch her hand before she left the room. "Hey, thanks, babe. Thanks for . . . everything."
Aiden smiled down at him and replied, "Anytime." He smiled back, watching her go and thinking that he was definitely one of the lucky ones.
The End
March 24, 2005
