Warning: Remember, this fic has strong language, some violence, and sexual situations. Thanks for reading and reviewing.
Twenty minutes into their drive, and Lauren had drained two vodka tonics.
"You've got quite a tolerance for that stuff," Danny said as he looked at her empty drink.
Lauren shrugged. "It takes the edge off."
Raising his eyebrows, Danny remarked. "Clearly, you have quite a few edges then."
Lauren laughed again. She'd laughed more in that last twenty minutes than she had in the whole past year. "You're very funny. That's why I 'found' you. You made me laugh.'
He regarded her closely for a few moments, not sure if he should say what he was thinking. But he ended up saying it anyway. "The politician doesn't make you laugh?"
The smile that momentarily lit up Lauren's suddenly vanished. Looking down at her hands, she whispered, "No. No, he doesn't."
"Then, in my opinion, you shouldn't give him the time of day."
Lauren nodded, but didn't look up. "I'll take that under advisement," she said as she inspected her fingernails.
Suddenly leaning forward, Danny said, "You deserve better."
Looking up quickly, Lauren narrowed her eyes. "How the hell would you know what I deserve? You don't even know me."
Smiling slightly, he responded, "I'm very perceptive. I can just tell…you deserve better."
Lauren shook her head. "I don't want to talk about hi…this. Okay?"
"Okay," Danny replied, raising his hands in surrender.
Fifteen minutes later, he had her laughing again – that deep uncontrollable laughter that was almost impossible to stop. Danny wasn't sure if he was really that funny or the vodka was finally getting to her.
Just as Lauren started to get under control, the limo came to stop. Her driver's voice came over the intercom, "Ms. Palmer, we've arrived at 133rd street.."
"That's me," Danny said quietly.
For a few moments, they didn't say anything else. They just stared at each other.
Finally, Lauren asked, "Aren't you going to ask me up?"
Danny smiled as he broke their stare and looked down. "Not tonight. No."
"You're not having a good time with me?" she asked in a seductive tone.
"Oh no, I am. But you've had a lot to drink, and I wouldn't want you to do something you'd regret when you sober up."
"I'm not drunk, Danny. And I bet you wouldn't make me regret anything."
"Maybe not, but still…I'm trying to be a good guy here," he responded with a slight shrug.
Lauren smiled and nodded.
Danny leaned forward and Lauren followed suit, assuming that he was going to kiss her, but instead he pushed the intercom button above her head.
"Charlie?" Danny asked.
Frowning, Lauren watched as Charlie responded, "Yes sir."
"You're Ms. Palmer's regular driver? Correct?"
"Oh, yes sir."
"Good. So you'll make sure she gets home safely, then?"
"Yes sir. I always do."
"Thanks, Charlie. You're a good man."
"Thank you, sir,"
Danny let go of the intercom button and held his hand out. "It's been a pleasure, Ms. Palmer.
Lauren laughed again, before responding, "Likewise, Special Agent Taylor."
Lauren almost felt like she was floating as she rode up the elevator to her apartment. The smile hadn't left her face since Danny had gotten out of the limousine. She knew the last thing she needed was to get involved with a charming FBI agent. The last couple of hours had brought her more joy than she'd had in a long time.
Putting her key into the lock, she opened the door to the loft. Her first instinct was to feel dread. That's how she usually felt when she entered the cold, impersonal living space that almost felt like a prison to her. But the warm feeling inside of her made the homecoming a little less dreadful.
Still smiling slightly, she made her way back to the bedroom. She toed off her stiletto heels and started to unzip the red dress when she heard the familiar clink of ice in the scotch glass. The warm feeling was instantly replaced by a chill down her spine.
Turning slowly, she saw him sitting in the chair by the window. She could barely see his face in the darkness, but she already knew what she would see if there was light.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," she started, her voice choking with emotion.
"Where were you?" he asked, his tone cool and calm.
"I, um, I wasn't feeling well, so—"
"Why didn't you come straight home?" he continued to grill her.
"I just…I just asked Charlie to take me for a ride through the park."
"But you weren't feeling well?"
"No. I mean, I had a headache. I just—"
"When I tell you to be somewhere – you stay there until I say it's okay to leave."
"I know. I know. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," she said as she walked toward him and then kneeled down in front of him. "It won't happen again. I promise," she said, hoping that her pleading, almost seductive tone would ease his anger.
He didn't respond. He just looked at her with cold disdain. Lauren thought quickly to try and diffuse the anger she was sure was coming. "Let me get you another drink," she said with a smile.
Without saying a word, he handed her the scotch glass. She rose to her feet and then made her way to the kitchen. Taking a deep breath to stop her hands from shaking, she filled the glass with ice and then poured the expensive scotch over it. Quickly, she wiped the corner of her eyes before re-entering room – knowing that he hated it when she cried.
"Here you go," she said as he held out the glass. "Just the way you like it."
Not making a movement to take the glass from her, he just said, "Put it down and get on your knees."
From the tone of his voice, Lauren could tell she hadn't diffused the situation. But she didn't say anything, she just gracefully feel to her knees.
Suddenly, the man reached out and roughly cupped her face. "Who did you fuck tonight?"
"No one. No one. I swear."
He moved her face around as if to inspect her neck and shoulders.
"I wasn't with anyone. I swear," she pleaded.
He moved his hand from her face to the zipper on the side of her dress. In one quick motion, he unzipped the dress and pulled it down.
"Stand up," he commanded.
Lauren stood and let the dress fall down and pool at ankles. He took a few moments to look at her. She wasn't sure what he expected to find.
Finally after several more moments, he stood up and then picked up his drink. "Come with me," he ordered as he started to walk toward the two way mirror.
"Please…no…please," Lauren pleaded, knowing what going through that door would mean. "I'll do anything…anything…"
He looked back at her with a disgusted glare. "You keep testing your limits with me. You need to know there are consequences for that type of behavior. I won't tolerate it."
"I made a mistake. I saw you with your family and I didn't think you needed me—"
Before she even knew what happened, she felt a hard, stinging blow to her stomach. "You cunt!" he yelled. "You fucking cunt! You don't mention them. They don't exist to you…you fucking whore," he screamed as he grabbed her hair and dragged her toward the mirrored door.
Three Days Later
"I met someone," Lauren stated in an almost hesitant whisper.
"A man?"
Lauren nodded.
"Where did you meet him?"
"At one of the functions I'm required to attend."
"Isn't that taking a pretty big chance?"
"Yes," Lauren answered in a choked tone.
"Is that why walked in so gingerly today?"
Lauren nodded.
"So he found out?"
"Nothing happened for him to find out. I just met this nice guy and we…we took a drive through the park, and he made me laugh. That was it. He didn't even ask for my number. I think he figured out that my personal life is more complicated that he cared to get involved with."
"Why did you get hit, then?"
Lauren shrugged. "I guess because he didn't believe me or maybe because I dared to make a move without his approval or maybe just because he hadn't seen me bleed in a while."
"When are you going to find a way out of this…this situation?"
Lauren shrugged again. "When one of us dies, I guess."
Breathing in even, deep breathes, Danny increased his speed. His heart pumped quickly as he felt the burn in his chest and legs. When he finally saw the entrance to the park, he started to slow down. He kept his breathing even and deep as he lowered his pace to a brisk jog. He'd just run three miles in the park, and now he was cooling down during the last half mile to his apartment building.
As he reached his building, he slowed to a walk. Approaching the walk-up steps, he noticed a woman in large, dark sunglasses scanning the list of tenants at the top of the stairs. Taking a closer look, he smiled slightly when he realized it was Lauren Palmer.
"You looking for someone specific?" Danny asked as he stood at the bottom the stairs.
Startled, Lauren turned upon hearing his voice. "Um, I…"
"Or are you looking for me?" Danny asked in a menacing voice.
Lauren nodded slightly, but then shook her head. "Honestly? I have no idea why I'm here. I was at an appointment downtown and when I finished, I gave the cab driver your address. But I really shouldn't be here."
Danny frowned. "Why not?"
"Seems a little desperate…and slightly stalkery. I mean, we have one conversation in the back of a limousine. And then you don't invite me up to your apartment or ask for my number. And yet here I am. Gloria Steinem would be very disappointed."
Danny took a breath and then walked up the stairs to the landing. "It was actually two conversations – one at the Ritz and one in the limo," he said, holding up two fingers. "The only reason I haven't called is because it seemed as though you were otherwise engaged. It certainly has nothing to do with not wanting to see you again."
"So you can't spend time with a woman who may, and I stress may, be otherwise engaged?"
"It's generally a bad idea, yes." Danny watched as Lauren's lips curved into a slight pout. "But I guess a cup of coffee wouldn't end the world or anything."
Lauren's pout turned into a smile. "No, it wouldn't. Maybe we could go across the street?" she asked as she motioned toward the coffee house across from Danny's building.
"Um…sure, but I just ran three miles. I should probably grab a quick shower. You could come up or wait at the coffee house. Your choice."
"I'll come up," Lauren said.
"This is nice," Lauren said as she walked around the small living room/kitchen area.
She heard Danny's laugh from his bedroom. "You're very charitable. This place is a dump, but it's been my dump for five years now."
Lauren stopped in front of a mirror that hung on the door of the coat closet. She could see Danny's reflection coming through from the open door to his bedroom. She watched as he peeled off his sweatshirt and t-shirt to reveal his sweaty chest and tight stomach. Then he removed his track pants, leaving only his gray boxer-briefs. She closed her eyes briefly because she felt so silly, but she wasn't sure she'd ever been this attracted to someone before.
When she opened her eyes again, Danny was gone. She heard the shower turn on. The part of her that seemed destined for trouble actually thought about taking off her clothes and joining him in the shower. But the practical side of her brain reminded her that he'd see the cuts and bruises and that would cause more questions.
At that thought, Lauren had the urge to leave. What was she thinking? She could never be with Danny. It would never work. She started to walk towards the front door when she heard the shower turn off.
"You know," Danny called out, "we could go to lunch instead. I haven't eaten today. There's a quiet Chinese place on the corner."
Lauren's hand was on the door knob. She knew the right thing for both of them would be to leave, but instead she answered, "Sounds good."
"So what do you do besides gracing service award events in hot red dresses?" Danny asked.
They were sitting in a back booth. Lauren's hands were wrapped around a cup of hot tea.
"I, um, I was going to drama school at Pace, but I dropped out last year. Um, I guess you could say I'm currently an out of work actress living off the residuals from a few commercials I did a while back."
"Really? Commercials? Which ones?"
Lauren's cheeks turned scarlet red. "It's embarrassing…so embarrassing."
"Oh come on! Spill."
"I did some feminine hygiene commercials, as well as a deodorant commercial."
Danny laughed. "Well, hey, it's work, right?"
"Right," Lauren answered.
"So how do commercial residuals pay for Charlie the limo driver? And an apartment on the upper West side? That's where you live, right?"
Lauren nodded. "Um…"
"The politician?"
She shook her head. "No! I mean, that's complicated. But we mostly live off of my father's pension. It's going to run out soon, but until then, it's paying our bills."
"Our bills?"
"My brother and I. He's in college…Georgetown, actually."
"Wow, that's impressive. So is that why you dropped out? So you could pay for Georgetown?"
Lauren looked down. "Something like that, yeah."
"That's very admirable."
"It's not—"
"It's a good thing. Don't sell yourself short. It takes a lot to step up like, even for a family member," Danny said in a knowing voice.
Lauren just smiled in response.
"So when did your Dad pass away?"
At the mention of her father, her eyes filled with tears.
"I'm sorry," Danny said quickly. "I shouldn't have asked."
After wiping the corners of her eyes, she responded, "It's okay. Um, a little over a year ago. It's just…when he died, everything changed. I just…I miss him."
"What about your mom?" Danny asked in a gentle tone.
"She lives in D.C. My brother actually lives with her to save money. She's a good person, but she just doesn't have it together. She's kind of lost without my Dad. So I get frustrated with her. It's…it's been difficult," she replied, shaking her head.
"Sounds like it," Danny said as he reached out and traced his finger across her wrist. "Hang in there. Things will get better." Danny gave her a small, supportive smile.
"I hope so," Lauren replied quietly.