Hey everyone. I'm soooo sorry this took so long. But i suddenly went from having one job to 5! yes 5! I work 7 days a week and finding time to actually WRITE what i have in my noggin is proving difficult. However, i just purchased a new SUV so i need to work to pay for the thing LOL
Also this chapter gave me some problems... cause all i wanted to do was get to something else and it just shoudln't be in this chapter LOL... i hope you enjoy. I hope its not tooo crazy and let me know what you think.
Mary straightened her dress as she walked slowly up to the oak door. She really didn't want to be there right now. She just wasn't ready yet to talk to him but worry set in after not seeing him at his son's funeral. Her mind wouldn't let her forget it. It nagged at her something fierce and before she knew it she had called a taxi and was on her way to Larry McCoy's house.
She wanted to go over in her head what she was going to say to the man during the ride over but her mind went completely blank. Since Danny's death it had been hard for her to function on many levels. Even simple things like remembering to eat were effected. Mary hadn't eaten well at all in the passed week. And being able to concentrate on some things became a difficulty too. So here she stood outside this mans house without a single word to say.
Suddenly she felt the need to flee and stuck her hand in her purse to find her cell phone and call back the Taxi. As she turned around to get away, a voice stopped her in her tracks, forcing her to turn back around towards the front door.
"Mary?"
"Larry… Hi." She said in a half whisper while putting her phone back in her purse and straightening her self out.
"What are you doing here?" Clearly he was shocked to see her on his front steps and looked like he was in a bit of a rush to leave the house. His car keys were in his hand and he looked like he had dressed rather quickly.
"I… I was just checking on you… Because you… I… I didn't see you at the… I didn't see you the other day." She stammered. This was awkward. She never had a problem talking to Danny's father before.
Larry just looked at her for a few seconds. It seemed like he was thinking hard about what to say to her. The fact that his eyes stayed on her during this wordless moment made her feel even more nervous and she looked down to her hands.
"I'm sorry for showing up like this. I should have called instead."
"Mary its ok. Thank you for the concern… but I have to be somewhere…"
"Oh I understand. Sorry for holding you up." Those ever present tears started to show themselves again and she turned to leave to avoid him seeing them but by then it was to late.
"I'm sorry Mary… I'm leaving."
"Huh?" she asked.
"I'm leaving Vegas. Its too hard being here and I thought you should know. It was too hard going to that funeral too… that's why I didn't go. Plus I had other things to do."
"Other things? What else could you possibly have done during your only sons Funeral?" This question came out of her mouth covered in a think angry tone before she could stop herself.
"I… Look. I know you've lost him too but you shouldn't have shown up here like this. I need space. Thanks for your concern but you should go back home or to the Casino or where ever else you'd go Mary. Don't worry about me and don't try to find me."
Mary didn't have a chance to say anything even if she wanted to. Larry McCoy pushed passed her and got into his work pickup truck. He was out of the driveway before she let her loose hanging jaw come back up to meet with its other half.
He had never been cruel to her before until now. She understood he was grieving but he pushed her aside like Danny meant nothing to her at all.
The tears started to pour down her cheeks as she went for the cell phone again to get out of there.
Larry downshifted as he came to the stop light down the street. He gripped the steering wheel tightly as he bowed his head and took a deep breath. That was so hard to do. He just wanted to gather poor Mary in his arms and comfort her and tell her everything was going to be just fine. He wanted to tell her about Danny but he knew he couldn't. She couldn't know. Ed was right and that fact alone pissed him off. This whole thing pissed him off.
He wasn't lying about leaving. He had thought about it all night. He had some family in NY and he'd be able to talk to Ed at any time about his son if something extra came up. Sitting by Danny's bed while he was in an Induced coma wasn't really helping either of them. It was also hard on Ed to hide him when he was there. The room they had Danny in is never used and only Ed and a few others knew about it but getting there and not being seen was difficult. He didn't like the idea of taking Danny out of the hospital just after surgery but after Ed told him what he had found out from Mary's father they had no choice but to hide him. He was still in Danger and so was Mary if everyone knew he was still alive. And in the state he was in right now he'd be very vulnerable to an attack on him. No… it was the right thing to do unfortunately.
The light turned green and he mashed the gas pedal, heading his way to say goodbye to his injured son. He hoped it wouldn't be the last time he saw him. Danny was still pretty bad off but the thought of leaving him in Ed's hands was a comfort.
Ed was exhausted. He had sat in that room all night long just listening to the machines beeping. He never liked falling asleep on his watch and last night was no different.
He was planning on waiting for Larry to come back for his shift but decided against it when Danny's doctor and nurse showed up to check on him.
Stepping out onto the floor, the bright lights, noise and smoke hit him so hard he winced. He really needed to sleep. A shower also sounded very good right now as well.
Ed stood still for a few moments adjusting to the overwhelming casino floor while his mind decided what to do. Finally he came to the conclusion that going up to his office and crashing on the couch would be the best idea. He didn't know if he could make it home. Besides… he didn't want to be too far away.
Jillian was going to be upset with him for not being home again last night but when this was all over with she'd understand… hopefully. He knew he wouldn't be everyone's favorite person when everything was said and done but he had no choice. Plain and simple. Sometimes though… he wished he had someone to talk to about the situation. Sure Larry knew. But that wasn't the same. Larry was Danny's father and him and Ed weren't that close.
Ed noticed himself slacking on the security of his secret in the past couple days. He figured if someone close could figure it out without him telling them then they deserved to know it. Plus for selfish reasons he wouldn't mind company.
He didn't remember the walk to his office as his thoughts ran wild but was soon brought back to reality when he heard his name called before he could shut the office door.
"Ed? Hey boss…"
Ed turned on his heels to coming face to face with Mike.
"Mike… What can I do for you?"
"I… was just wondering why you weren't around last night. I didn't see you at the get together." Mikey knew Ed wasn't there… He watched the screen all night long and didn't see Ed leave till this morning from whatever secret room he was in. Mike looked through the blue prints of the building and couldn't find any such door.
"Oh… I wasn't feeling up to dealing with people." Ed looked away from Mike and proceeded to walk over and sit on his couch.
"I hear you. No one really is." Mike added while watching his boss untie his shoes and stretch out on the couch.
"And for good reason. Now if you don't mind Mike, I'm going to get some rest." Ed said while shutting his eyes. The movement was a silent code to Mike that he was done talking.
"Alright… I'll talk to you later then." Mike Mumbled while heading towards the office door and exiting quietly.
After Mike had shut the doors, the privacy screen started coming down, hiding the office and its occupant. He couldn't help but be suspicious of Ed's behavior. Granted everyone wasn't exactly acting themselves but this seemed different.
He didn't have the ability that Danny had in being able to tell if someone had something up their sleeves but he hoped that with all the time he spend with the Marine SOMETHING wore off onto him.
Just to ease his mind, Mike headed out the door and into the direction Ed just came from. He wanted to see where his boss had just come from that kept him all night long.
Sam looked away from her PDA and scanned the casino floor. She had 3 important Whales in this weekend and for once she was not in the mood to deal with any of them. But these people don't care how you feel… only how THEY feel and what THEY want. All Sam wanted was to be somewhere else but in this casino. Everything around her reminded her of Danny. She hated to think of how Mary felt. If this was hard for cold hearted Samantha Marquez then Mary must be torn apart.
"Hey Sam." A voice behind the petite brunette shook her from her thoughts.
"Hey Nessa… How everything on the floor?"
"Peachy… how are your Whales?"
"All at their own tables tossing a lot the Montecito's way. On a normal day I'd be a happy camper right now."
"I know how you feel." Nessa said sighing and crossing her arms to scan the floor with Sam. "I'm afraid it wont be right for some time."
"I wonder where Mary is today. Have you seen her?" Sam asked while the girls started to walk through the casino.
"No I haven't. I haven't even seen Delinda today."
"Well I can understand both of them needing more time then the rest of us I suppose."
"What about you?"
This question caused Sam to stop dead in her tracks and look up at the tall woman in front of her with a confused gaze.
"Excuse me?"
"Well Sam… I thought you had something with Danny once."
Sam stared up at her but suddenly wasn't really looking at Nessa anymore. Her thoughts drifted away a bit before she involuntarily shook herself out of it.
"That was a long time ago and feelings weren't involved Nessa."
"I'm not talking about before you started working here."
"Nessa…"
"Sam look. I know there was something going on last year. I don't know how much but I DO know there was something."
She couldn't believe it. How could Nessa know about her and Danny's "moment" if you could call it anything. Danny was the reason she was still at the Montecito. He even convinced her to unpack her things and settle in. She admired him for the influence he had on her and even though nothing came of it… Deep down Sam wished something had.
Things hardly ever go the way you want them to go though and nothing ever came of Sam and Danny.
"I'm fine Nes." Sam said in a tone that clearly shouted 'let it go'.
Nessa took the hint and the two girls continued walking on the floor in silence. They were so engrossed in their own thoughts that they missed a familiar person walking among them in the casino.
Larry McCoy walked swiftly through the slot machines and Card tables en route to Ed Delines office. He figured it wouldn't be a big deal to come through the main entrance for this visit. He decided on the way over he wasn't going to go in and visit Danny before he left. He had enough of a memory of his son on his deathbed to last him 2 lifetimes. He didn't want more.
Just has he reached the door to the security area, the door opened swiftly and Mikes face appeared in front of him.
"Oh… Hey Larry." Mike spit out a bit surprised.
"Mike… Is Ed around?" He was hoping he didn't run into anyone to avoid an other mishap with Mary. Of course again luck was no on his side.
"He's in his office but he's resting. I don't think he wants visitors. Can I help you?" Mike knew when it came to Danny or his family that Ed had time for it always but his curiosity was overpowering lately. He was searching for any sort of information that might help him with his enigma.
"You really cant Mike… I really need to see him. I'll take the heat for it."
Mike looked at his late friend's father and sighed.
"OK. Go ahead." He said opening the door and signaled for Larry to enter. "No one will give you a problem. Just have Mitch page in his office."
"Thanks Mike…. Good bye." Larry said while disappearing through the door.
Now he was aggravated. He was never going to get anything out of value out of anyone on Ed's weird behavior. 'Maybe going off into dark corners of the Montecito is Ed's way of handling his grief?' He thought to himself. Maybe all of this was in his head. Ed thought of Danny as a son. Maybe the poor guy went to a quiet spot to let it all out and just cry and here he was trying to pick it apart.
Mike turned his body around in the other direction and headed to the parking lot. It was time to go home and get some sleep. Maybe afterwards he would think clearly and stop making up things that weren't there.
