anmodo - Here is a small conversation between Danny and Angie. But actually the secret is going to be revealed in a conversation with someone else! Can you guess who?
Chapter Thirteen - Don't Shut Me Out
Danny was silent as he handed Angie a cup of coffee. "It's not great, but it's hot."
Angie turned around and accepted his offering with a sad smile on her face. "So, we finally get to share that elusive cup of coffee, hmm?"
Danny smiled and rubbed her shoulders. "It's not exactly what I imagined, but I'll take what I can get."
Angie took a sip of the hot liquid and looked back over at her niece and nephew, playing with Vivian and Martin on the floor of the staff lounge. "Look what I've done." She whispered sadly. "I wasn't an orphan until I was fifteen. My parents weren't perfect, but at least they were alive until I..."
"They're not orphans yet, Angie." Danny said quietly, not wanting her to continue that line of thinking. "Mike said Theresa is still hanging on and we don't know what happened to Eddie."
"How do you do that?" She asked, not taking her eyes off the children. "Stay positive when you do what you do?"
"I've seen families who have given up all hope reunited with their missing loved ones more times than you would think. You don't forget that feeling and you carry it with you when the case gets tough."
Angie swirled her coffee around in her cup, avoiding his eyes. "I need something stronger."
"That didn't work too well for you last night." Danny said with a smirk.
"Actually, I didn't think last night turned out that bad at all." She finally met his eyes and smiled.
Their gazes held for a few moments before Danny said, "Angie, I..."
Angie shook her head and cut him off. "Don't, Danny. Don't say anything, ok? There's just too much and I don't have the strength to deal with what happens next. What happened in there is..."
It was Danny's turn to interrupt her this time. Softly, he said, "I don't want to be something that you have to deal with. Don't shut me out."
Angie looked up at him, searching his eyes. "After everything you've heard, you still want to be part of my life? Part of this nightmare that I was born into? I didn't have a choice, Danny. You do."
"And I'm making that choice right now." Danny glanced around to see if anyone was looking at them. When he was sure no one was, he pulled her close for a quick kiss on the lips. "Come on, let me take you home."
Angie was quiet for a moment. "Actually, Mikey is going to take the kids over to my place. Would you do me another favor?"
"Name it."
"Take me back to the hospital. I need to see Theresa."