The Past Never Stays Where It Should

Part Five

Danny stood outside Carmela's hospital room and watched her through the plastic window.

Don Flack had arrived at the hospital fifteen minutes ago and was getting a statement from Carmela. Danny knew he should have been in there, at her side, supporting her but he couldn't. He knew that once again Carmela had been hurt because of him. Why was he always in the wrong place at the wrong time? He wasn't there for Mikey and Tony and he hadn't been there for Carmela when Sonny and his boys had shown up this morning.

Danny hit the wall beside him in frustration, "Un figlio di puttana!"

Flack came out of Carmela's room just as Danny hit his head against the wall.

"Calm down man, there's nothin' you could've done. The bastards would've got to her some other time," he tried to reassure his friend.

"That's just it Don. They wouldn't have got to her if I had been there. If I hadn't left early…" Danny lent against the wall and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"They would have come along tomorrow or the next day or the next. Danny you have to stop blaming yourself for every bad thing that happens to Carmela"

"How can I when it's all my fault in the first place? I wasn't there when the shit went down with Mikey and Tony and I wasn't there this morning. I've let Carmela down too many times and when I do she ends up gettin' hurt. She's in that hospital bed now 'cause of what happened eight years ago when once again I wasn't where I shoulda been," Danny ranted.

"Danny, Carmela doesn't blame you for anything. Alright? You gotta be strong for her, she needs you."

"I know. What did she say about Sassone? Anything to get him with?"

"Oh yes", Don smirked "Sonny was very, very stupid. Not only did Carmela scratch him and leave his DNA under his nails", he waved a small brown package at Danny, "But he confessed to killing Mikey and Tony."

"What?"

"He told Carmela that he was the one who shot them. Unfortunately he didn't stop there; it was a pretty graphic description. The nurse had to sedate Ella she got so upset."

"And once again I was out here instead of in there where I should have been"

"Danny stop. Go in the hospital room and sit with your girl. Just havin' you here's gotta mean a hell of a lot to her", Don said as he grabbed Danny by the shoulders and shoved him in the direction of Carmela's room. Danny stood and stared at the door.

"Go!" Don said sharply.

Danny turned and nodded at his friend, "You better get them."

"Oh we will."

Danny entered the sterile hospital room and sat in the plastic chair beside Carmela. The only sound in the silent room was the beeping of the heart rate monitor beside the bed. Danny brushed her dark hair off her forehead and took her right hand in his. She looked so beautiful but so fragile with her multicoloured face and numerous bandages.

Danny rested his head on the bed, "I'm never gonna let you down again Ella. Ti voglio bene."

Translations (soooo sorry if they aren't right)

"Un figlio di puttana!" – Son of a bitch Ti voglio bene – I love you