Chapter Three

Admit it. You have fun.

"Shut up." D muttered to the unceasing irritating voice in his head.

Why is it so hard for you?

"A year and a half," he ground out through gritted teeth. "They've been gone a year and a half." He slammed the door closed and locked it. "You can't expect me to have gotten over it already!"

I'm not. Maybe you never will. That's okay. What I'm saying is that maybe you should move on.

Demetrius, he could almost hear Donna saying, don't be like this forever. We love you, but you can't stay like this. You need to love again.

"Yeah?" he taunted. "What do the kids have to think about that?"

Daddy, we love you…

The voices faded, and he collapsed onto his bed, mentally and physically exhausted. "Why? Why did you leave me?"

We love you…

/\\/\\/\\/\\

"Mommy, why do we have to go to Grandma's house?"

"Because, Davey, your Dad-"

"Mom, look out!" Tanya screamed.

Donna swerved to avoid the van that was heading straight for them, but it was too late.

"MOM!"

The car slid to a stop. It sat in a pile of wreck in the road for five seconds before it went up in a silent ball of flame.

D woke up in a cold sweat, gasping for air. Oh, dear God. He yanked on his robe and tied it, and padded to the kitchen to make some coffee. "Just a nightmare."

His hands were shaking as he poured himself a cup. 4:30. Two and a half hours before he had to be at work. He picked up the phone and dialled a familiar number. "Jack, it's D."

On the other end, Jack Hudson instantly detected the fear in his voice, and he flew out of bed. "I'll be there in five."

/\\/\\/\\/\\

Jack regarded his friend worriedly as he warmed his hands on the brimming coffee mug that D handed him. "Nightmare."

D nodded and drew in a ragged breath. "The first one in a month."

Compassion firmly etched in his facial expression, Jack said simply, "I'm sorry."

D nodded again. He debated for a minute whether to tell the younger man about Kaylee; and he decided on the latter. "I met someone."

Now it was Jack's turn to nod. He knew not to press. D would talk when he wanted to.

"Kaylee. Kaylee Lockhart. Incredible jade-green eyes, silky black hair, bronze skin, flawless complexion-" D paused, "-Jack, she's beautiful."

A small smile appeared on Jack's face. "That's great."

"I met her at the gym. She spotted me for a while; then asked me out for coffee." D couldn't help it. He grinned. "She can speak Greek."

Jack laughed at the look on his friend's face. Wow, he thought. "Does she know?" he asked gently.

D inclined his head slightly. "She knows that I had a wife," he replied, slightly emphasizing the word 'had'.

"Okay."

"She left me her number."

"And?"

"I like her, Jack." D admitted.

"I'm happy for you. But D-" Jack leaned forward on his elbows. "What are you going to do about it?"