Mary cried most of the way back, worrying Danny beyond belief. When they arrived at the hotel, he suggested that she go up to her room and compose herself, while Danny took care of Joshy for the afternoon. Mary agreed, not wanting Joshy to see her so upset.
"C'mon Joshy, do you want to see where I work?" Danny led him to the security stairwell.
"Is mommy okay?"
"She'll be fine. I think she's just glad to be back in Vegas."
"Really?"
"Yeah, really." They stopped at a landing. "Okay, now I'm gonna take you to meet my boss."
"Danny?" Joshy tugged Danny until he knelt down.
"Yes, Joshy?" Danny smiled at the concerned expression on the little boy's face.
"Um…are you…are you…"
"What is it, Joshy?"
"Are you my daddy?" Joshy looked at him with a hopeful smile on his face.
Danny wasn't sure how to reply. "Why do you think so?"
"Mommy never lets me go anywhere alone with her boyfriends. And your daddy brought me lots of presents. So are you?"
"Your mom should really be the one…wait, boyfriends? How many boyfriends?"
"Well, there was Chris, and Ben, and Damien." It took a minute for him to get the last name out. "Not very many. But I didn't like them as much as I like you. So?"
"I really shouldn't if your mom isn't here."
"So you are."
"Joshy…"
"You are." He hugged Danny tightly around the neck.
Danny's phone rang, startling them both.
"Yeah? I'm right outside…Okay, I'll be right in." He hung up. "C'mon Joshy." He grabbed Joshy's hand and opened the door. The boy looked around in awe at the television sets.
"Hey Danny." Mitch rolled up to him. "Who's this?"
"This is Joshy. Joshy, this is my friend Mitch." Danny introduced them.
"Hi." Joshy said brightly.
"Hi Joshy. Danny, Ed wants to see you."
"Thanks. Joshy, why don't you let Mitch show you what he's watching? Okay with you, Mitch?"
"Sure. Come on Joshy." The little boy followed Mitch over to his desk, and was lifted onto a chair. Danny smiled at them before walking up the stairs to Ed's office. He entered to see Ed looking out the window.
"Who's the kid?" Ed asked without turning.
"Joshy. He's Mary's …and mine." Danny admitted.
"Yours?" Ed walked to his desk as Danny took his spot at the window.
"Yeah. She told me last night."
"Really. So how are you dealing with the news?"
"I'm not sure. He's amazing and so smart. He figured out who I am. I definitely want to be his dad. But I can't understand how Mary could keep this from me." He collapsed in a chair opposite the desk.
"Well, let me see. How old would you have been?"
"We were both seventeen, just out of high school."
"And had you two intended to stay together?"
"What do you mean? She was my best friend."
"Your friend?"
"Well, I was in love with her but wasn't brave enough to tell her, except once."
"I'm gonna assume I know when that was. Did she disappear before you joined the Corps?"
"No, after. But I was going to come back to her."
"Did she know that?"
"I thought she did."
"So, you were seventeen, just out of school. You had taken off with no guarantee of return. She's pregnant and suspects you only think of her as a friend." Ed paused sarcastically. "Gee Danny; I don't know why she didn't tell you."
"Thanks a lot, Ed." Danny stood up to leave. "Did you want me for something?"
"Oh yeah," Ed stood as well, "Mike said there's some MIT students acting suspiciously. I want you to check into it."
"Sure."
"And I want to meet this kid of yours."
They walked into the surveillance room. Joshy saw Danny and ran up to him.
"Daddy! Mitch showed me me on the TV."
"Cool, Joshy. This is my boss, Mr. Deline."
"Hi sir." Joshy held his hand out for Ed to shake.
"Hello Joshy. How do you like my place?"
"It's cool. You can see everyone." He walked over to one of the monitors. "See, that's Miss Delinda."
"You know, she's my daughter." Ed told him.
"Really?"
"Yes, really." Ed confirmed.
"Mitch, can you get me those MIT students Mike mentioned?"
"Sure thing Danny."
Joshy stayed with Danny and Mitch in the surveillance room the rest of the afternoon, fascinated by the changing screens. Luckily, they only had to pull his attention away two or three times. Danny spent part of the time thinking about what Mary had said the night before and what Ed had just made clearer.
