an: I'm so sorry for the wait but thanks for all the reviews!

Jealousy is a Gift

Chapter Seven

Johnny splashed cold water onto his face, an attempt to wake himself up. He then walked into his kitchen and started to brew some coffee.

One week. One more week until Mary Connell would be his. They were meant for each other; he could tell that from the very first time he laid eyes on her.

Her long, auburn hair was flowing down her back. She had been wearing a black slinky dress and some high heels that matched her outfit. She had looked beautiful. But that had been the same night he had seen her with him, that stupid security guard, the man who she was also with now and had been her best friend for years as he could tell.

Johnny slammed his wrist against his kitchen counter top in frustration. Blood started to seep from a small area on his hand that had been punctured by a small sharp object.

"Damnit," he cursed to himself.

x-x-x

Mary stared straight into Danny's eyes, trying to see if they would tell her if he had heard any of her conversation with Nessa.

Danny looked down at his feet, avoiding her gaze. "That's the last of the boxes. We can start unloading now, Mare," he said completely calm, masking what he was really feeling.

"Okay," she said simply, hoping he hadn't overheard anything that he wasn't supposed to know.

Danny began to walk away, but how he was feeling just bulged out. "Why did you lie to me?"

She blinked nervously, finally knowing that he had heard about the date with Eric. "I didn't."

"Yeah you did. You said you were going out to dinner with a client, not an ex-boyfriend!"

"For you information, Danny, Eric is a client, whether he's an ex of mine of not!"

Nessa stood back in shock. She had never seen Danny and Mary fight and right now it was scaring her. The English woman politely excused herself and walked back into Danny's kitchen.

"Whatever," the former marine stated carelessly. "You still were never going to tell me about this 'date'."

"It's not a date, it's a meeting with a client," she said gritting her teeth.

"Oh, that's not what I heard you and Nessa calling it early. From what I heard, you'd rather be his girlfriend, than mine!"

"Maybe I would. At least he'd care for me and not go around kissing other girls right in front of me when he knew my true feelings for him!"

Danny grabbed Mary's arm tightly. "Never say I didn't care for you Mary. Because I sure as hell did."

Mary yanked her arm from his grip. She pushed him aside as she walked into the living room. "When I was the only girl around, maybe."

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked following her.

"It means, that if you were with someone else, usually another girl, I was like that dorky little sister who you would just be plain old mean to. You never showed an ounce of care or respect for me when other people were around!"

"That's not true."

"Oh it's not? Remember when you had a little movie night at your dad's house?" Mary said, recalling the memory herself.

"Yeah," Danny replied in a soft whisper.

"Where was I? Was I down there partying with you and your friends?"

"No," he answered softly.

"Then where was I? Huh, Danny?"

"In my bedroom," he said hating what had happened that night.

"Why?" she asked even though she already knew the answer.

"Because I locked you in there."

Mary shook her head and one tiny tear left the corner of her eye.

"I'm sorry baby," he said inching closer to her, "You know if I could I would take it back."

For every step he took forward she moved back. "I don't want to talk to you," Mary said gruffly. "I don't even want to see you for that matter."

Danny stood back in disbelief. If that's what she wanted, then so be it. He walked into the

living room where he had left his coat and picked it up along with his car keys. The security guard then closed the front door loudly on his way out.

Sam looked up from the fashion magazine she had been looking at. "What the hell is that all about?" she asked referring to the screaming and slamming doors.

"I think Danny and Mary just got into a huge fight," commented Delinda, using common sense.

"No kidding," Nessa replied, rolling her eyes, "I'm glad I got out of there fast."

"What was it about?" Delinda asked with curiosity.

"That ex of Mary's. Danny must have found out she agreed to go out to dinner with him later this week," Nessa answered.

"You mean like on a date?" Sam asked, not believing they were talking about Mary Connell.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Wow," Sam commented.

Mary then walked into the kitchen, her face tearstained. "Sorry about that guys."

"Honey, what was it all about?" Delinda asked rubbing Mary's back gently.

"Some unresolved problems I have with Danny." Mary sank into one of the chairs. "I don't think we were meant to be more than friends, Delinda. This is God's way of showing it."

Delinda took Mary's hand in hers. "Just because of a little fight? Nah, I don't think so."

"But, we aren't even officially moved in together yet and we already had this terrible fight. Which, was not very little I might add."

"Trust me, you guys will work it out," Sam said comfortingly.

"I hate relationships," Mary said as she pounded her head against the table.

x-x-x

"Where are you going?" Mike asked Danny when he saw him getting into his camero.

"I don't know," Danny stated, still unsure of where he should go. "Probably a bar."

"Why?" Mike asked as he stopped Danny from closing his car door all the way. "Are we already done unpacking Mary's things?"

"No."

"Then why are you leaving?" Mike asked unsure of what was going on with his best friend.

Danny closed his eyes for a long time, fighting against the tears that threatened to escape his eyes. "I just need a break. I'll be back soon," the former marine said, eyes still closed.

"Okay," Mike answered softly just before closing Danny's car door and then watching him speed away.

Mike opened the front door of Danny's home; he walked uncomfortably to the kitchen, where he knew everyone else was.

Nessa looked up at him, the look on her face telling him to be quiet, not to question why Mary was banging her head on the table while, slowly, tears drifted from her eyes.

x-x-x

Dana walked into the Pickle Pub and sat down at a barstool a few seats away from Danny. She knew he was here; she had been watching his house from her car waiting for something like this to happen. It was time to make her move.

She got up from her chair and sat right next to Danny and motioned for the bartender to give her a drink.

"Bad day at work?" Dana asked casually.

Danny smirked. "I wish."

"Okay, then did something bad happen in your family?"

"Sort of."

He considers his girlfriend family. Cute. "So then do you mind me asking what's wrong?" she asked charmingly.

He stared at her for a long time before taking a sip of his beer. "Yeah," he mumbled quietly.

Dana tried to hide her shocked expression, but she realized she didn't have to; he wasn't paying attention to her all. Well, that's a first.

She cleared her throat, pretending not to care at all that he didn't seem interested in her. "You know discussing your feelings is natural; just because you're a guy doesn't mean you have to keep it all locked up inside," she stated matter-of-factly.

"I don't have a problem discussing my feelings with other people…"

"Then why don't you—"

"…I just don't want to discuss them with you."

Dana stared at him blank-faced. "You're kidding me."

Danny smiled and shook his head no.

"Well, then. Um, here's my number incase you decide you want to 'talk'," Dana said as she slipped a piece of paper into Danny's left hand.

As she walked away, stopping once to smile and wave, Danny looked at the paper that was just forced into his hands and shoved it into his pocket, wishing a trashcan were near him.

Dana walked out of the bar, quickly took out her cell phone and dialed a number.

"Johnny."

"It's me. You so owe me big time."

"It's the other way and you know it, sweets."

"Don't remind me," Dana groaned.

"So, what did you find out?" he asked, Johnny's curiosity growing by the second.

"Never talk to Danny McCoy when he's at a bar, drinking, and pissed off at his girlfriend."

x-x-x

an: sorry for the wait, had writer's block and I finally, today, overcame it. Tell me what you guys think. Also, the "Pickle Pub" is actually a bar down here in Baltimore, MD. I couldn't think of any good names for one and that name stuck in my brain.