Chapter Four:

"Daddy, I don't wanna go!" Angie screeched, tears streaming down her face, anger radiating in her eyes. She latched herself onto Danny's leg and shook her head. "I don't wanna go, Daddy, don't make me go! I wanna stay here wit' you. I don't wanna go!" Somehow through loud sobs, shaking, and coughing, she managed to get this message out rather clearly.

It was times like these that Danny wanted to have his heart removed from his chest so he wouldn't hurt so much.

He bent down and picked her up, setting her on the counter and wiping her face with a tissue, kissing the top of her head. "I'd keep you if I could baby, but I can't." He spoke calmly, yet firmly before swallowing the lump in his throat.

He wasn't going to cry.

Danny promises himself this every time.

He's bad at keeping promises to himself.

"I'll come see you again real soon, k? Pick you up and spend some time with ya?"

"I don't wanna go." She squeaked, sniffling and pouting. He felt a sting in his eyes

"I know. I don't want you to go. But you have to."

"But I don't like her bo-"

"If something happens, if one of Mommy's boyfriends says something to you, or you feel scared and unsafe, I want you to call me ok? Do you remember my number?" She nodded.

"645-7329."

"Good girl." He kissed her forehead. "Mommy's gonna be here soon, ok? Why don't you go wash your face in the bathroom and lay down for a little bit?" She sniffled again.

"Yes, Daddy."

blahblahblah

But she wasn't there soon. She was a whole hour and a half late. Danny was boiling, but he stayed silent because Angie was asleep in her room. He was in between the urge to scream his head off in anger and the overwhelming feeling that life was taunting him, allowing him to keep his daughter a little longer, only to yank her away again.

Life sucked. He wanted to punch it in the face.

There was finally a knock on the apartment door. Danny sighed sadly and went to the door, first looking in the peephole and then opening it up. "You're late," he said quietly. "Angie's asleep, I need to talk to you." Melanie shrugged.

"Sure. Bout what?" She came in and set her purse down.

"You weren' really at yer ma's, were ya?" She bit her lip. And two and a half years with the woman in front of him, and then sharing a child with her taught him that when she bit her lip she was either going to lie or try and justify what she did.

"I needed a break, Danny. She's always there."

"She's five, where else is she gonna go? And anyways, I don't care that you wen' on a cruise or anythin', I care that you lied ta' me. If I had needed to ask you something concerning Angie or if somethin' happened, how would I have gotten hold o' ya?"

Melanie rolled her eyes. "Nothing happened and you didn't need to ask me anything."

"But if I had!" He kept his voice low.

"Look, don't turn into a damn drama queen. Next time I'll tell you the truth. Whatever. But I need to get home and unpack. So can we please get on with this? Cause it always takes forever."

blahblahblah

"You wouldn't be losing hours this way, they just wouldn't be as spread out. You'd be working from seven to five Monday through Friday and then on call, and then you'd have Saturday and Sunday on secondary call." He nodded.

"And if she couldn't take her, I'd get my ma to watch her. Sounds good. I jus' don't wanna have to up and leave at three in th'mornin.'"

"Right." Mac nodded and turned to exit the office.

"Thanks, Mac, I really 'ppreciate this." He turned.

"Of course." Mac opened the door, just in time for Lindsay to breeze in.

"Lindsay," he nodded and headed down the hall Lindsay turned to reply but he was already gone. She looked around and sat one of the cups of coffee onto Danny's desk.

"Thought it might help. It's good stuff, not that bull shit in the break room." He looked at her and took a sip, swallowing and setting it down.

"S'got Bailey's in it."

"I know." They shared a smile. "Feeling any better?"

"I was startin' too til I got ta' my scene earlier." She cocked an eyebrow. "Someone pulled a Tell Tale Heart. Without the screamin' and the confessin'. No one heard a damn thing. Found out theJD was on sleepin' meds, could be why." She scrunched her nose.

"Damn."

"Jus' a bad day for everyone. Wanted to call Angie when she got outta school but I've been too damn busy." She nodded. "What about your scene?"

"Drowning."

"Where?"

"Her bathroom. No sign of forced entry. She was dressed like she was ready to go out and party. Perfectly quaff." He frowned.

Silence.

"Wanna meet in the locker room and make out?"

"Yeah." She said without hesitation or thought. "You go first, I'll be there in five."