The Breakdown

Chapter 4-Danny

Danny was one of the ones stunned by Mike's attempted suicide. The last he talked to Mike, he seemed fine, despite knowing that Mike had recently received word that the remains at Deer Park had been positively identified as Mike's wife and daughters. In fact, Mike almost seemed upbeat; asking about Frankie and talking about a fishing trip.

Danny had had a difficult relationship with Mike. He knew that he was kind of Tom's pet and Mike held up to a very high standard. It caused resentment on Danny's part and frustration on Mike's. He simply wanted Danny to lead and had called him out numerous times. At the time, Danny wasn't thrilled, but he had gleaned valuable experience from Mike and not just at work, as memory served.

"Congratulations on your boy. I hear he and Kara are doing okay?" Mike asked as he fixed a cup of coffee.

"Yes, thank you; Sir. I wish I had been there." Danny said.

"Yeah, that's hard. I wasn't home when Hannah was born. She was four months old when I saw her the first time. She screamed for two days any time she saw me." Mike commented.

"That doesn't make me feel any better." Danny remarked.

"She got used to me. Frankie will get used to you. Kids are resilient. Babies bond with people quickly. I don't think me being gone that four months affected my relationship with Hannah at all. She is…was…a daddy's girl, through and through; not that Kaitlyn isn't…wasn't." Mike stumbled through the last sentence, even though his statement was profound.

"I hate the idea of being gone so much. When I joined, kids weren't on my radar." Danny admitted.

"I had Kaitlyn and I struggled. Just, when you are home, be all home. Don't think about the mission or what you could be doing. Let my experience by your teacher, because I wasn't always so good at practicing what I preach. Just be home, physically and mentally." Mike warned before leaving the wardroom.

Danny hadn't always followed the advice well, and it had led to his separation with Kara, but it also helped him to work things out with her. He wasn't good at putting things on paper, but the next time he saw Mike, he'd remind him how much they all needed his friendship and his sound advice.