Erin took a breath, watching Dave nestle their newborn against his broad chest; was enough to break her heart. "I don't understand, Dave."
"The way I see it, we have two options;" his tone took a hard edge.
"Door Number One, we bug your house and wait for Peter to snap, or, and this is my personal favorite, I can take care of this with one phone call."
"I can't let you kill a man," she whispered, her voice had gone hoarse throughout the course of her breakdown.
"I can't let you leave," he threw back. "This isn't right, Erin. You can't expect me to turn a blind eye to this. What's he going to do when he finds out Ava's not his?"
"My God, don't you think I know that! Now take a walk, Dave!" She shot him a glare that would turn a lesser man to dust. Her voice softened and for a moment he forgot just how vulnerable she was. "I'm exhausted and I'm tired of fighting."
"Just-" his voice hitched as he got to his feet and sat Ava gently in her crib, "think about it."
The door snapped closed behind him.
"You," Dave called out to a bigger guy in scrubs. " Listen, Steve. He read the man's name-tag. Don't let anyone in here unless it's a doctor or a guy with a badge;" He flashed his badge subtly from the flap of his coat, "until I get back."
Steve nodded resolutely. Yes, Sir."
Then Dave took the stairs down to the lobby.
"I'm losing my damn mind," Erin said aloud to the empty room. She plucked Ava from her crib, the poor baby would never get a good nap at this rate but Erin needed her close.
Dave made his way across the lobby, he dug out some change from his pocket and scoped out possible eavesdroppers before depositing the coins into the pay-phone. The man picked up on the second ring, "I need help, Gid."
"Where are you?" He pictured the other man springing into action.
Dave rested his head against his knuckles, his elbow against the wall of the small booth as exhaustion caught up to him.
"Memorial, on a pay-phone. Listen Jason, I'm about to do something that's very, very wrong. I need guidance."
"What's going on?" Genuine concern laced his tone. "Tell me what's on your mind."
"Grab your bible." Dave bit out, barely keeping his temper in check.
Jason snagged the tome off it's shelf. "Okay,"
"Let's go to Sunday school, turn to the Ten Commandments and start reading. I'll tell you when to stop." He dug out more change and fed the machine.
There was a cryptic edge in Dave's voice that Jason had never heard before, but he didn't like it, not one bit.
Okay," Gideon's hands shook as he turned the pages.
"1:You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD your God am a jealous God."
"Keep going," Dave ordered.
Jason read,"2: You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain.
"3. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."
4: Honor your father and your mother: that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God gives you."
"5: You shall not murder."
"Stop!" Dave barked. At that moment, he knew what he had to do. "Get a pen and mark that one out."
"What are you talking about, David? Gideon grew worried, "We can talk about this. Don't do anything until I get there."
"The next one, adultery," Dave spat, "you might as well cross out that one too."
Self hatred boiled through him, he'd called his partner instead of his problem-solver. He wanted to tell Jason everything, but he couldn't ask the other man to keep his secrets. He trusted Jason, but trust was a shaky thing in this situation.
"We'll work it out."
"Fuck that!" He slammed the receiver back on the hook.
He dropped more coins into the machine. Ragged breaths filled his lungs as he came to a decision he punched another number. The call was accepted within seconds, "help me, Momma."
Somewhere in Long Island Cassondra Claire Rossi sat in her living room. A cup of tea in her hand and a loaded pistol on her hip. Her husband, Stephanio, God bless his soul had made her carry and taught her to shoot-to kill if need be. He quickly gained respect of the local mafia and she kept his contact list locked away, but still useful.
Now she debated breaking it out. But her son, her only boy was in trouble and apparently putting a hit on another man seemed like his only option. Cassondra wasn't so sure, but they would discuss it. At length and in person only then, would she break out the book.
Dave hung up the phone and took an unsteady breath. As usual, his mother was the voice of reason.
He made his way back down the hall and let himself back inside Erin's room.
"Are you calm?" Erin asked harshly.
He nodded once and reached for the baby. "Yeah I'm calm." He grunted as Erin passed him the baby. He moved to a chair on the other side of the room, putting as much distance between them as possible.
"You're not going back to your house. I made the call and we're going to Long Island."
"Oh yeah?" Her chin jutted in defiance.
"Yep."
"Bet we don't."
Dave huffed in frustration, "What are your choices here?"
"I can't just drag my children to Long Island, David."
"You can't let them watch you and Peter fighting all the time either."
"It's not been so bad since-"
"You got pregnant," Dave threw back, finishing her sentence. "Save the bullshit for someone who isn't trained to handle it. Save it for someone who might believe you."
Busted. She stared at him, eyes wide as dinner plates, he saw right through her. "Why do you want us to go to Long Island? I don't know anyone there."
"That's the point. I'll drive. My mother deserves to meet her granddaughter." He said, laying a possessive hand against Ava's back. "Besides, it will give you a chance to get away from Peter. As you said, you don't know anyone there, so nobody can rat you out if he comes snooping around."
She nodded and suddenly, the idea felt 'right' maybe they could start over. "I guess you have a point." She checked her watch. "Eli will be here with the children any minute."
"We need to get your car." Dave pondered as his mind started forming a plan.
"No," she shook her head, "just the stuff out of it."
"Even better."
The pattering of small feet echoed through the hospital, the door burst open and a happy voice rang out. "Mommy!"
"Cassie!" Erin gasped as her four year old ran towards and failing to climb into bed with her mother. Erin reached for her, but from her position on the bed she couldn't lift her. She shot Dave a pleading look. "A little help?"
Dave sat Ava back in her crib. "Come here, Shorty." He said and lifted the little girl next to her mom. Cassie giggled and curled up against Erin's side. "I'm not short!"