I recently started watching Necessary Roughness again and I think this story deserves and ending. I intended to just write one last chapter, but it got a bit away from me. So this is only the beginning of the end.
Chapter 15: Getting to know Dominic
Dani slowly opened her eyes and felt slightly disoriented for a second. Then the last four days came back to her and the surroundings started to make sense all of a sudden.
It had all started the day of their first morning, well, after. After their first night spent together. Fearing it was just another dream she wandered downstairs only to find Nico, her own personal man of mystery, in her kitchen on the phone. The smile on his face warmed her, as much as the fact that he had already helped himself to some coffee. It was domestic and so different from his usual aura of mystery. For the few minutes in her kitchen he seemed like an open book, ready with easy smiles and banter. He had this special way of looking at her, like he couldn't really believe that they had crossed that line from friends and colleagues to lovers? A couple? Back then Dani hadn't been exactly sure how to label what was between them, but she knew that it wasn't anything casual. Even when Nico had got a suit from his car and changed and showered in her bathroom, he still seemed much more approachable than ever before. During their trip to TK and then back to the V3 offices, she felt like if she wanted to kiss and touch him, she could, even though it would be highly unprofessional. However, Nico wouldn't stop her. He wanted this as much as she did.
Her love-bubble had burst when she had been introduced to Alex Careles, his wife. It hadn't done so with a quiet pop. Rather the blast had been so loud that she walked around feeling numb for the rest of the day. There were no tears, even though the pressure she felt behind her eyes gave her a headache. She made it through a whole workday and managed to avoid him - not that she had any indication that he was even trying to talk to her. He had gone off with his wife to god knows where, and she had been left behind once again, with more questions than answers when it came to one Nico Careles.
What she knew of him in her heart suddenly didn't fit anymore with what she knew about him in her head. Nico didn't lie. Nico didn't compromise himself. Nico was crazy about her. Nico lov-, uhm, liked her as much as she did him, Nico would stay with her in New York. And then there was: Nico was married. To Alex. About whom he had never said a single word in all the time she knew him. Staring out into the night through the large windows in her office, she wondered what else he was hiding. Or well, maybe hiding was the wrong word with Nico. What he wasn't telling her, that was better. She wondered if she would ever know him, really know him, the way she had thought she knew him just that morning in her kitchen. She wasn't someone who needed to know where her guy was twenty-four hours of every day. However when she thought about the things she really knew about Nico, it was shockingly little. She knew his name, if it was his real name. So, maybe she didn't even know that. She knew he had been a Navy Seal. She knew Marshall Pittman had been his friend. She knew about his affaire with Gabrielle and his relationship with Juliette. She knew he was from Pittsburg. She knew the things he had let slip during their trip together. And then, there was literally nothing else. Where did he live? What was his favourite food? What music did he like? What did he do in his free time? These were all things one usually talked about during a first date. And yet she had known him for years and she had no idea.
So, when he came to her to explain about his wife, she just couldn't forgive him. There were too many blank spots in what she knew about him. The way he once again only gave her the information that was absolutely necessary when she asked him about his marriage, confirmed her suspicion that she would never really know him. And she voiced her frustration loud and clear this time.
"I just explained," Nico told her and Dani couldn't help but snort.
"That's your idea of an explanation?" she asked him, louder than was strictly necessary in her quiet office. "You have this maddening ability to compartmentalise. But here is the thing: I'm not gonna be shoved in some overhead bin and I am surely not gonna have a relationship with someone that I will never really know." Nico seemed surprised and angry by her admission and just looked at her without saying anything while Dani fought for her composure. They were interrupted by Paloma and Dani was grateful for the break. Her anger stayed with her for the next day and even Nico's assurance the next night, that she knew what kind of man he was, didn't help. How could she know what kind of man he was when she didn't know him at all?
Instead of dwelling on it longer, she called Jeanette and scheduled a visit with her best friend. It was time that she got to meet the baby of her best friend and also she could just really use a break. She knew even Barcelona wouldn't heal her broken heart, but it would distract her for a while until it got easier to deal with it.
After a last confrontation with Connor she packed her bags when Nico showed up at her door, once again in his power suit, but at least tie-less. When he stepped through her door it made her wonder, if it was a private visit or business.
She was sure she would never forget the moment he told her his full name nor his whispered admission that he liked 'Nico' while she liked 'Dominic'. His name was sexy as hell for reasons she couldn't even fathom. Without her asking he told her about his cat, his family and a bit more of his career, before asking her, in a very un-Nico-like timid way, if she wanted to go away with him, like she had suggested in her kitchen the first morning after.
When he kissed her she melted against him and a silent "my god" escaped her lips when they stopped. She couldn't believe how much she felt for him when he simply kissed her. Her need to know more about Dallas reeled her back in to safer territories. He had declined the job, once and for all. It was one more fact that she could add to her very sparse knowledge of him: He had declined a very lucrative job for her.
And so she found herself standing in front of a small airplane later that day. A plane that would bring them to an unknown location, for her at least. A plane that he owned, which he told her when she thought he had borrowed the plane.
"There are some things about me that you should know," he told her and surprised her once more. Earlier he had given her facts about himself and now he even thought it necessary? Dani took it as a good sign that he seemed to understand that there were times when it wasn't just convenient to give her bits and pieces of information, but essential. Also, he seemed to understand that she needed to know him if they wanted to make this work. And it looked like he really wanted to make this work.
"Mr Careles, we are ready," the pilot said as he stuck his head out and stopped Dani from saying something. Nico just nodded, held his hand out to her and helped her into the plane when she took it. He stored her bags for her as she sat down in one of the wide leather seats and then sat down beside her. Dani had never flown anywhere in a plane as small as this and was caught by surprise how much the plane shook and rocked in the air. She didn't notice her death grip on the armrest until Nico reached over, peeled her fingers off the arms rest and laced his fingers gently through hers. She gave him a small smile, before she pushed the arm rest up and out of the way, then slid closer to him. She leaned against his side as his arm came around her shoulders and held her.
"It will get better once we're above the clouds," Nico told her quietly and placed a kiss on her hair. He was right and once the plane was stable in the air, Dani pulled back from him with a sigh. She wanted to stay in his arms, but she also needed some answers that he had so willingly offered.
"Why don't you get comfortable over there on the couch and I'll get us something to drink?" Nico smiled knowingly at her and for the first time Dani took her surroundings in. There was a small couch further back in the plane, as well as two single beds. There was also a bar and what seemed to be a small desk with a computer.
She took her shoes off before she went over and sat down on the couch, tucking her feet underneath her body to keep them warm. Nico handed her a drink before he sat down beside her. So close, her knees were pressing against the side of his thighs.
"So, you own this plane?" she asked him, when he just looked at her, his eyes sparkling with mirth because he knew she could not contain her curiosity.
"Technically, the Pittman group owns this plane. But since I own the Pitman group, I guess you could say that yes, I own this plane."
"How?" she couldn't even begin to understand what he was telling her.
"Marshall didn't start the Pittman group alone. After he got me out of Iraq and I was able to work again, I made good money. He had spent most of his own getting me out, so I wanted to pay him back. I funded his first projects with my pay checks and became a silent partner of the holding at the time. I was still working classified ops and the more successful the business became, the more important it became that neither my name nor face was ever associated with the fifty percent ownership of the Pittman group. The deal was that I let Marshall conduct day to day business as he saw fit, and he played the sole owner of the group."
"So, you didn't just inherit it after he died? It was always yours, at least partially."
"Some of Marshall's shares went to Gabrielle in the divorce, he sold some to fund the sports teams he owned and the Hawks finally went to Juliette, as you know. But he left me the rest of his shares, so now I own 78 percent instead of 50. If I wanted, I could force a buy out and get it all back, but for now I don't think it's necessary."
"Then why did you work security for the Hawks and V3? It's not like you need the money. And why did you even think about accepting the job in Dallas?"
"I don't like being idle. I couldn't work secret ops anymore and after what happened with Alex I was also done with the spy game. Working security was the perfect solution. I helped Marshall and the group, I had something to do and it was secretive enough so I could stay in the background. V3 was simply about the FBI stunt and finally getting rid of my records as well as helping Alex one last time. I always knew that some of the stuff I did for the Hawks could hurt me one day and possible reveal some other things I did. Having a clean slate and resolving the situation with Alex in one go was too tempting to pass up." Nico put his empty glass on the small side table, before he took Dani's free hand in his. "As for Dallas; that was simply a way to have an excuse, for others as well as myself, why I couldn't work for the Hawks anymore."
"You never cared about the money."
"No," he shook his head. "I cared about a certain doctor who wanted another man. And I couldn't stay and watch it from the sidelines."
"Oh Nico," Dani sighed, quickly put her glass down and wrapped her arms around him. She held him for a while and pressed her lips against his cheek as she pulled back. "There are some things you should know as well, because for once I don't think you do," she smiled and pecked his lips. He only raised his eyebrows in curiosity and leaned further back against the couch, taking her with him. "You know I was confused over my feelings, but did you know that what happened between us had me twisted in such a way, that I needed therapy?" He only chuckled at her words, but let her continue. "Problem was that I took the easy and save way instead of going after what I really wanted, who I really wanted. And then you were gone and ignored me, then you tried to get rid of me and I didn't really know if I could trust you again because I feared that you would just be gone again and push me away."
"I pushed you away because I wanted to protect you, not because I wanted to." He emphasised his words by brushing his lips against her temple.
"I know that now."
"I also never wanted to hurt you by keeping things from you. Being vague and evasive is just something that has become my second nature. I'm not used to sharing information, especially not information about myself. And at some point I will have to let you in on some things you might not want to know about or think about. However, I come with baggage, Dani, and I think that is something you already know."
"I do. I am not as naive as you might think," she huffed.
"I don't think that at all. I think you're very good at reading between the lines. But while my life was like a spy movie in many ways for years, that kind of lifestyle has some long lasting consequences not only for me, but for everyone around me. And that is not something that is shown in movies."
"As long as you tell me and talk to me, as much as you can at least, then I don't see any problem. There is one thing though that I need an answer to right now," she replied and moved away from him a bit so she could look him in the eye. He didn't seem too worried and only waited for her question.
"Where are you taking me Dominic?" she asked him and had to laugh when he rolled his eyes at her, before pulling her into his lap and shutting her up with a long kiss.
He had taken her to his house on La Gomera, a small Spanish island that was not only beautiful, but also only an hour by plane away from Barcelona.
"Nico?" Dani called as she got out of bed and padded into the living room. After they had arrived in the afternoon, he had shown her the house. It was past midnight New York time, and Dani felt the exhaustion of the day seeping into her bones. They had fallen into bed and Dani had been asleep before her head really hit the pillows. Her cellphone had let her know that it was only eight in the evening by the time she woke up and she wondered where Nico had gone off to.
"Hey," his voice came from behind and startled her. Her squint made him chuckle and he deactivated the stare with a kiss, as his arms came around her waist. "Feeling better?"
"Yes, but now instead of tired, I am hungry," she pouted and snuggled into his chest.
"Good. Dinner is ready."
"K, let me change real quick," she decided when she looked down and realised that her red dress was completely wrinkled and her hair a mess.
"Not necessary. I don't plan on dressing up either," Nico told her and she took a step back and realised the he had changed. The suit was replaced by a light blue polo shirt and black trousers. And he was barefoot.
"Ok, then, lead the way, kind sir," she grinned and pulled his head down for a quick kiss. He led her outside onto the patio in the back garden, which hadn't been part of the tour he gave her when they had arrived. Lights were illuminating the beautiful garden and a large pool was sitting right in the middle of it. "How long have you been up?" Dani asked him when she saw the set table and the large pan of paella standing on a gas stove. This was no dish one cooked in twenty minutes.
"I only slept for about an hour," he shrugged and handed her the wine so she could fill their glasses while he served the food.
"Jet lag? Insomnia?"
"Neither. I am just not used to going to bed before the early hours of the morning."
"When we first worked together I truly thought that you never slept," she grinned and held her glass up to toast.
"I still have the occasional nightmare, but I can assure you that I sleep," he smiled and clinked his glass against hers.
"Oh, I know. The night you stayed over I watched you sleep for a while," she admitted with a slight blush.
"Maybe I was faking it?" he teased.
"Nope, you were definitely asleep, Mister." Dani laughed and tasted the food. "This is good."
"Thank you. The former housekeeper and cook taught me how to make Paella when I first bought the house. Lovely lady, sadly she passed away a couple of years ago."
"You spent a lot of time here?"
"No, not really. Just a couple of days here and there when I really needed a break."
"How did you find this place?" Dani asked.
"I was sent on a mission to one of the neighbour islands. A drugs and weapon deal. The deal was a bust, I got shot and Alex took me here, because she knew the house was empty at the time and pretty run down. They patched me back up and I had to stay for a couple of days until I was fit for going back to the states. I liked the island and the surroundings, so I bought the house and fixed it up."
"Were you and Alex already married then? Was this… your house… together?" Dani didn't really know how to phrase the question.
"No, we weren't. And I don't think Alex even knows that I bought this place."
"Is she a spy?"
"Dani, I can't," Nico stopped himself mid sentence when he saw how much only the mention of keeping something from her, hurt her. "Look," he finally said and placed a hand on her arm, "I can't tell you a lot of things and believe me, I want to tell you all. But Alex… she's not out of the game," he let her know and Dani's eyes widened. "What I can tell you is that Alex, back then, infiltrated a drug cartel and helped us as an informant. She married one of the leaders under an alias and without her taking them out would have never been possible. Once that was over we were sent on a mission together and not everything went as it should have." Nico stopped, wondering what he should say and what should better be kept a secret. "Sometimes, what is right in the eyes of the law and what you have to do when you are doing what we did then, are two very different things. Wiretapping, surveillance, threats, kidnapping, selling guns and drugs and sometimes even killing someone are all things that are necessary in the grand scheme of things to stop some very bad people from doing even worse things. However, when you get caught the reason why you are doing this isn't important. And that's why Alex and I had to get married so we couldn't be asked to testify against each other."
Dani quietly sipped her wine and watched him while he talked. It wasn't like he told her something she hadn't already suspected, but for a second it scared her. Then she looked at Nico and remembered his words, about knowing what kind of man he is. And she did know, she was sure of that now.
"How many people have you killed?" she asked calmly and laced her fingers through his. He looked taken aback by the question, but didn't let go of her hand.
"With the Seals or later?"
"Either, both."
"Twelve," he finally said. "You look surprised," he added a moment later.
"Honestly, I though there were more," Dani admitted.
"I wasn't a sniper, killing wasn't really my job. More like a last resort."
Dani got up and held onto his hand until she had rounded the table and sat down sideways in his lap when he had pushed the chair back. She kissed him gently and wrapped her arms around his neck, while his went around her waist.
"I don't need to know every detail of your job and I know that there are thing you can't talk about, just like you know that I can't talk about my patients. But, if you want to tell me something, know that you can and that it'll never change anything, ok? I trust you Dominic." She whispered the last part against his lip and kissed him again, with a lot more passion this time.
"You really like that name," he chuckled against her lips and ran a hand through her hair.
"I really like that name. Take me to bed and I'll show you how much, " she grinned and laughed out loud when he got up so quickly with her in his arms that the chair fell over.
"When I put this dress on and did my hair this afternoon, I wasn't prepared for a six hour flight, a nap in the dress and a man who likes to mess with my hair," Dani commented as he walked them inside and she was busy nibbling on his neck.
"If you're worried about the dress, we should better take it off real quick," Nico replied just when they reached the bedroom. He put her down next to the bed and didn't waste a second to pull down the zipper on the back. When he wanted to slide the garment off her arms though, she took a step back and pulled his shirt from his trousers with a smile. She pulled it over his head and threw it carelessly on the floor, then went for his belt.
"What are you planing Dr. Santino?" he asked when she pushed his trousers over his hips, while she was still dressed.
"If you have to ask…" she smiled and let her dress glide to the floor. Underneath the red fabric she wore lacy black underwear, that left nothing to the imagination. From her one and only night with Nico, she knew that the second he saw her in the lingerie he would take over control. So she had user her time undressing him to level the playing field a bit.
"God, Dani," he muttered as he stared at her. He reached out with one hand and let it glide over her collarbone, down between her breasts and to her navel. It was like he was memorising her with his touch and it left her quivering. She stepped closer to him when he kept looking at her. She placed her hands on his chest, softly gliding her nails through the hair there.
"Nico," she said quietly, slightly overwhelmed by his reaction, as she looked up at him. Their height difference now more pronounced as neither wore shoes.
"I love you," it burst out of him before she could go on.
"Then don't make me wait any longer and make love to me. I missed you. And I love you, too," she replied. A moment later he swept her up in his arms and kissed her, before he showed her without words just how much he loved her.
TBC