Disclaimer: Of course I don't own anything or anyone etc.
Chapter 3
Mary Connell was a girl of word. She said that she's going to help her best friend handle everything, and that she did. In fact she tried to keep him as far away as she could from the funeral arrangements because she didn't want him involved in anything that could depress him more than he already was. He himself didn't want to do it, but he couldn't let her take the entire burden since now she was as vulnerable as he was. But she did anyway.
Danny's father was a well-respected and lovable man and that justified the large amount of people that were present at his funeral. From friends and relatives to co-workers and clients, everyone was there and everyone had only good things to say about that man. Mike, Delinda, Sam, Ed, Nessa and Jillian were also there to support Danny and offer their condolences.
The whole time Mary and Danny didn't stop holding and comforting each other just like they always did. They knew what they had to do to make the other one feel even a little bit better. They would stick together and get trough whatever it was that they were facing.
The funeral was over and everyone left, but Danny couldn't put himself to say goodbye. He felt he still had so many things to say and do with his father, but since it was late for that, being as close to him was the best he could do. He didn't really believe in paradise but this was one of those moments he wished he was wrong, because he knew that way his father wouldn't be alone anymore. He'll have his mother keeping him company again. "Take care of her dad" he said in a low voice as he left a rose on top of their grave.
Mary slowly approached him from behind and put one hand on his shoulder. The couple stood there for a while not saying a word. "Come on sweetie, let's take you home" Mary finally said knowing that if she didn't do something he could stay there forever.
They spend most of the way home lost in their thoughts. "I'm sorry Jake couldn't be here for you" Danny said breaking the silence. He couldn't understand what could be more important than supporting his girlfriend in such a difficult time.
"It's ok" was the only response he got as she quickly tried to change the subject. "I'm gonna stop by the Montecito tomorrow. I still have my two weeks off, but since I'm here the new owner wants to talk to me about some stuff."
"I'll go with you. Ed offered to help me with my dad's company and house… to decide what I should do." He sighed as he never before thought that the time will come where he'll have to once again make a decision about his future with the company. At least not anytime soon. He'd already felt that he let his father down when he left the construction business the first time and he didn't want to disappoint him again, even if he wasn't with him now.
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"I'm glad you're here kiddo." Ed said as he watched the former Marine enter the surveillance room. He then turned to Mike "Run a complete check on that guy" he instructed while pointing on one of the monitors "and tell me if you co-" he didn't complete his sentence as he was interrupted by his ringing cell phone. "Ed Deline" "I'll be there" He turned back to Danny "Um, there is a little situation. I'll be back."
"Do you want me to help you?" Danny offered.
"No, no. You sit here with Mike. It won't take long."
"How are you holding up man?" Mike asked his friend after Ed left.
"It's hard… but Mary is helping me a lot. I don't know what I would have done without her." He replied wistfully.
"Good thing you caught her before she left"
"Yeah…" Danny responded as he spotted Mary in one of the cameras in the casino floor. His face fell when he saw her talking to a familiar but hateful to him person. What really caught his attention though was the fact that something seemed off. Mary didn't look so happy about their encounter. "Mike can you zoom in on Mary?"
"Sure. Isn't that Jake?"
"What the…?" he queried as he watched Jake gripping Mary's arm and her trying to go away. He immediately stood up. "I'm going down" he said as he had already started to run.
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"Jake what do you want?" the beautiful redhead asked irritated.
"I came to see you"
"How did you even know I'd be here?"
"We need to talk" he said avoiding her question.
"Talk about what? There is nothing to say."
"I came here to tell you that I'm willing to forgive you and give you one last chance to make the right decision" he said casually.
"What? Forgive me?" she exclaimed and shook her head. "Jake it's over. Just leave me alone" she stated as she started to walk away.
He grabbed her harshly, completely forgetting about the cameras, and turned her around. "You're making a huge mistake Mary. You're fooling yourself if you believe you'll be better with that looser. You're just one of his many toys. You should have known that by now." He said trying to hurt her feelings.
"Let go of me!" she quavered, tears starting to fall down her cheeks.
"I can give you anything" he trailed off as he saw Danny heading their way.
"Let her go, now!" Danny said wrathfully and stood protectively in front of Mary. "Mary what's going on?" he asked confused, feeling that he was missing something.
"Well if it isn't Boy Scout" Jake said sarcastically.
Danny took a step forward ready to hit him but Mary held him back. "He doesn't worth it Danny"
"How do you do it? Is it the pitiful face that gets the girls excited?" he asked Danny ironically.
"Jake stop it!" she said angrily.
"Why? I think I deserve to know"
"Jake please". She was afraid of what he was going to say.
"I need to know the reason we broke up. The reason you chose him over me." He didn't realize he had just dropped a bomb.
Danny turned to Mary and looked at her both shocked and stumped.
"I can't take this anymore" she said and run off.
"Mary wait!" Danny yelled. He turned to face Jake "If you ever come near her again, I swear to God I'll kill you" he threatened before he run after Mary.
He tried to catch her up but the casino floor was crowded and everyone stood in his way. By the time he got outside she was already gone. "Damn it!" He climbed in his Camaro and drove away hoping that she'll go home.
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He parked his car outside her house and hurried to the front door. "Mary are you in?" he asked knocking at the door.
The last thing she wanted was for Danny to ask more questions and feel sorry for her. "Go away Danny! I don't want to talk!" she cried out.
"Mary please open the door" he pleaded, his forehead resting on the door. "I'll stay here all day if I have to, you know that."
She sighed at his stubbornness and unlocked the door to face him.
"Thank you". He stepped inside and stood in front of her. He tried to figure out what to say, where to start. "Why didn't you tell me?" he finally asked.
"You are going through a lot right now Danny and I didn't want you to worry about me too."
He just nodded and moved to a more crucial for him question "Is it true?"
"Is it what true?" she asked, acting like she didn't understand.
"What Jake said before you left. Is it true?" he repeated.
"It doesn't matter, ok? It's over. Can we please leave it that way?" she implored. She stepped away from him and started walking towards the kitchen.
"It does to me!" he admitted as he followed from behind and gently grabbed her hand.
"Why does it matter Danny?" she challenged, looking him straight in the eyes.
He wanted to tell her how he felt so badly but once again he got cold feet and all he could utter were chewing words.
She sighed disappointed and started walking again.
Thinking that it was now or never, that this was his chance, he found the strength he needed and his for-so-long trapped feelings finally found their way out almost violently "Because I LOVE you!"
She closed her eyes in both relief and fear of his words, and her heart almost stopped when she felt his strong hands turn her body to look at him.
"I never stopped loving you Mary" he said in a lower voice this time.
She had the expression of a scary child and tears were threatening to escape from her eyes. "Danny…"
He put a finger on her lips to stop her from going further. "It's my turn to talk" he said in full determination, remembering that night in the elevator where she was the one to let everything out.
"I've made a lot of mistakes in my life but they were nothing compared to the one I made with you when I let you go. Seeing you with someone other than me was eating me alive, but you deserve the best and I didn't want to mess your life anymore." He sweeped a strand of hair behind her ear and continued "I don't want to sit and watch that happening again Mary. I wouldn't survive it. Not a second time. I want to be with you. I want to be your knight in shining armor, because it's the only thing that makes me feel that I worth something. That I am somebody. I know I was stupid to take everything for granted but I promise you right here, right now that it wont ever happen again. You mean the world me and all I'm asking from you is to give me the chance to prove you how much I love you." "Everytime single I try to picture my future, you're always there. And you're always here" he said trembling and he put one of her hands on top of where his heart was placed.
His hands capped both sides of her face and after exploring her with his eyes he slowly leaned down, his lips meeting hers in the most caring and tendering way possible. Feeling her respond he deepened the kiss, his tongue finding its way inside her mouth. Her hands were on his chest, fingertips gripping his shirt tightly. They were touching and tasting each other like it was the first time. Both surrendered to a heavenly moment they didn't pull apart until they were both gasping for air.
He rested his forehead against hers "Now you can talk" he said in a husky voice causing her to smile just like the way she did when he told her how beautiful she was the night he shipped out.
"I love you McCoy" she said smiling, transforming the once uneasy expression on his face into a wide grin.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and left small kisses all over her face and neck. "Oh, and no secrets right?" he said looking at her, to remind her that she didn't tell him about Jake.
"Ok!" she replied rolling her eyes. "Although there is something I haven't told you"
"There is?" he asked worryingly.
"Remember that football you and Greg used to have and the little accident it had?"
"Of course I remember. It was my favorite football. But what does this has to do with anything?" he asked not understanding.
Biting her bottom lip she confessed "Well let's just say that this 'accident' kind of involved me, a nail and the fact that you never let me play with you". She gave him a quick kiss and run to the bedroom, leaving him standing in shock.
"You didn't!" "You don't really believe you're gonna get away with this Connell, do you?" he shouted threatingly and run after her.
THE END