Note: Two updates in one day. It's safe to assume this chapter is full of character and no procedural.
"May I sit?"Katie asked quietly.
"Of course," Danny said as he stood slightly while she took a seat. "If the circumstances weren't so dire, I'd say it was good to see you."
"I think I'll still say it…circumstances or not," Katie smiled slightly. "I took a polygraph and Agent Spade checked my alibi. She seems pretty convinced that I didn't kill Tracey in a jealous rage."
Danny nodded. "I could have told her that. But I can't be too sure about your father…or your husband."
"Danny…my father is not capable of that. He wouldn't cheat on my mother. And he wouldn't harm Tracey for any reason."
"If he thought she was any kind of threat to you or your mother, then I think he is capable of anything. I know that better than anyone."
Katie shook her head. "I think he regrets that now. I think he regrets keeping us a part. But then again, ultimately, he really didn't break us up, did he?"
"We both made choices."
"Right…choices…Why is it that I never felt like I had a choice?" she asked with a slightly desperate tone.
"What happened with Eric?" Danny asked not being able to sidestep it anymore.
Katie sat back in her chair and wrung her hands together. "Don't you have to get back to work?"
"I'm off the case. I have nothing but time. And I want to know how you ended up with him? The last I heard your father was going to tell him about us. He told me that in the hospital. He said that would break you and Eric up for good."
"Eric already knew about us. He knew that night. He knew that night you came to meet me in the Hamptons. After you left, he and I fought about it. He told me that he could see it in our eyes. He said he could tell by the way you looked at me…that you had sex with me. Part of me was glad that he knew. So, I told him everything. I told him that we…we slept together. And I told him that I was still in love with you. He stormed out. He was so angry. And then you showed up…and I wanted to tell you what happened but you were so angry…and…"
"I was drunk," Danny responded quietly. His heart sank as he felt the guilt of the aftermath of that night. "Then I really don't understand. How did you end up marrying him?"
"He came to see me in the hospital. When I woke up, he was holding my hand. He told me that he couldn't stand the thought of losing me, and he was willing to forgive everything. I was so weak. I didn't really know what to say…"
"And I was nowhere to be found…" he responded as he remembered feeling like he needed to get as far away from her as possible after what he'd done to her.
Katie looked at Danny with sadness. "After I got my strength back, I wanted to find you again. I knew…deep down…I knew how guilty you must have felt. So I told Eric that I wasn't sure I could be with him. I told him that I still loved you."
"And?"
"He showed me…he showed me a security video of our estate in the Hamptons. It showed you getting into the Range Rover at my grandmother's house, and me getting in the passenger side. It was proof that you were driving the car that night. He told me that he thought I blacked out about you driving that night, and he was just showing me to remind me of what you did. But part of me was scared…I was scared that he would use the tape to get you into trouble."
"Blackmail…he blackmailed you into marrying him?" Danny asked feeling the anger rise in him. "Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell me that day in the church?"
"What would you have done? You would have turned yourself in. You'd be in jail or god knows where right now. I couldn't let that happen. It was my fault you got drunk that night. I should have had the strength to tell Eric about us."
"Don't…don't even try to blame yourself. I got drunk that night…and I got in the car…and I should have paid the consequences…not you. Katie…how could you marry him if you didn't love him?"
"I did love him…not like I loved you, but...I thought I could be happy with him. He didn't blackmail me, Danny. I thought he loved me. I thought he loved me so much that he would do anything to be with me."
"That's it, isn't it? I didn't do enough to be with you. I chose to go to school and follow your father's orders. Eric went to extremes to be with you."
Anna nodded. "Looking back…I was so stupid."
"Has he been hurting you?" he asked genuinely concernedbecause ofher comments to Samantha in the interrogation room.
Katie hesitated. "It's hard to explain. After we got married, he…he changed, or maybe I just didn't see it before. Eric talked a really good game when we were dating, and he treated me like a princess. And then after the wedding, all of that changed. And he seemed to want to punish me for cheating on him. He stopped caring about me…about my feelings. He made me feel small…and not worth anything. For a long time, I actually believed the way he made me feel. That's why I stayed so long."
"Then why would your father allow him to stay at Mason?"
"I told Agent Spade the truth. I have no idea, but I don't believe my father is having an affair with Tracey. I just can't imagine…
"Hi, Danny."
Katie and Danny were startled from their intense conversation. They looked up quickly and saw Heather, the girl who he spent the previous night with. Heather stood in front of them with a lighthearted smile wearing a micro-mini skirt and halter-top. "Hey. I…uh…I didn't know you were working today," Danny said sheepishly.
"Oh…I'm not. Just here to pick up my check," she replied as she looked at Katie. Katie returned her gaze with a polite smile.
Danny had no choice but to introduce them. "Heather, this is an old friend…Katie. Um, Katie…this is Heather…um…my…"
"His new friend," Heather interrupted as she shook Katie's hand and then turned back to Danny and bent down to whisper in his ear. "I won't bother you. I have an audition in about ten minutes. I just wanted to tell you what an amazing time I had last night. I hope we can do it again soon."
Danny couldn't avoid giving her a quick kiss on the lips. "Good luck with your audition," he said awkwardly as she backed away and gave them a slight wave. He took a deep breath as he noticed Katie shift uncomfortably in her seat. "I'm sorry…"
"God…Danny…you don't have to apologize. I mean…you have the right to date whomever you want," Katie replied in an understanding, but slightly annoyed tone.
"I know. I just…I'm sorry if it made you uncomfortable."
"Is it serious?"
"Is what serious?"
"Heather…"
Danny smirked. "No…not serious."
"Have you been serious with anyone?"
Danny looked around awkwardly. "In the last eight years?"
"Yeah…."
"Katie…this isn't really the time or the place."
"I know, but I've thought about it a lot. I've thought about whom you would end up with. It's strange…part of me was worried that you would sell yourself short and end up in empty and ultimately painful relationships like the one you had with Payton. But the other part of me was terrified that you find a nice girl who would adore you and live for making you happy. And you'd shower her…like only you can…"
Danny watched as Katie spoke in an almost dream-like tone. He ached for her because her father denied her happiness with him. And Eric destroyed her trust. And Danny knew he was responsible, too. He was responsible for breaking her heart.
"There hasn't been anyone like that…in a very long time," Danny finally responded. "Heather is just someone I met…and we went out, but there's nothing more there."
"You deserve more," Katie whispered as her voice cracked with emotion.
"Seeing you again…remembering what I did to you…I'm not so sure what I deserve. You shouldn't have protected me, Katie. You shouldn't have compromised your happiness and put up with Mathews for so long…for me."
She started to disagree, but before she could respond, her cell phone rang. "Excuse me," she said. "Hello? Mom…mom…calm down. They just want to ask you a few questions. Don't worry…of course…of course. I'm right across the street. I'll come right now," Katie said and then hung up the phone. Danny looked at her expectantly. "That was my mother. They are bringing her in for questioning. Danny…this is out of control. My parents did not do anything to Tracey Simon."
"I talked to your father. He's hiding something. And your mother could shed light on that. And she is suspect. There have been no developments to lead us in any other direction than your family."
Katie shook her head. "I have to get over there. She's about to have a nervous breakdown."
"I'll go with you."
"Thanks," she said as they rose from the table. For a moment, they just stood there looking at each other. Danny turned to head for the door. "Danny…"
He turned back to her as she closed the distance between them. She put her arms around his neck and pulled him to her as he encircled her waist. They held each other for a few moments and then she raised up on her toes and whispered in his ear. "I've missed you."
Danny gave her one last squeeze before pulling away. "I've missed you, too," he replied with a smile. But truly, he hadn't thought of her in a long time. He pushed her out of his mind like he did so many painful memories in his past. Of course, there were times when he thought of her. Every time he passed her parent's posh apartment building, he couldn't help but remember the two weeks they spent together. Anytime, he'd come across a Shakespeare or British literature reference, he would think of her and smile. But he never dwelled on losing her. Hehadn't spentyears pining for her, but he also hadn't really fallen in love with anyone since her. He didn't allow himself to feel those kinds of feelings. And if he really thought about it, he never pursued relationships with women who he could fall in love with. Seeing Heather while with Katie confirmed that. They couldn't be more different. From the moment he started flirting with Heather, he knew she just wanted a physical connection with him. And yet, he still pursued her instead of walking away. With Katie, it was never about the physical. He knew she genuinely loved him, and yet, he walked away from her twice.
