Hurting You, Killing Me
Chapter Eleven:
A/N: So sorry for the short chapters, just working my way up to the climax. There won't be any updates for a few days, but don't worry, I'll still be writing.
Johnny's POV:
It was after New Year's when the first call came from Danny. I'd been out in the garage working on my bike when my cellphone rang. I looked at the screen, confused for a moment, and answered it.
"What do you want?" I asked.
"I...just wanted to check on her. Is she okay?"
"She's fine."
"I mean...is she happy?"
"Yes. Why do you care?"
"I never said I didn't care about her."
"You never said you did."
"I do care about her, Johnny!"
"Could have fooled me!"
"Look, I'm too young to be her father anyway, but that doesn't mean I don't care about her and you know it!"
"Whatever. If you cared about her, you would come see her, no matter what Sam says."
"I can do whatever I want."
"But you won't."
There was a click and my phone beeped, telling me that Danny had hung up on me. I rolled my eyes, he's immaturity suited him perfectly.
Later that evening, once Danielle had gone to bed, I told Kitty about the call. "He called to check on her? Seriously?"
"Yeah." I explained about how I'd kind of told him off and he'd hung up on me.
"Maybe we shouldn't be so hard on him, Johnny," she said slowly.
"After what he did to Danielle? Yeah, I don't think so."
"Well, he's right. He is young..."
"You know damn well that isn't why he won't be around her! It's Sam and we both know it!" I hated that I'd raised my voice. I tried harder than ever lately to not fight with Kitty.
"Yeah, I know. I just hate it...for both of them."
"Both of them?"
"Well, yeah. Danny has to choose between Sam and Danielle. He loves them both."
"If he really loved Danielle, he would try to explain that to Sam. I doubt he ever brings her up. He's too worried about pissing her off."
"I'm just trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, Johnny!"
"And I'm just trying to tell you that he's worthless and needs to stay out of our daughter's life!"
"She's his daughter, too, Johnny, and he's only fifteen."
"I don't care, that doesn't make up for the way he's treated her."
Kitty sighed, "You're right. It doesn't."
"I'm right?"
"Yes, Johnny. But don't get used to it," she said smiling at me.
I leaned over and kissed her, just as Danielle called from her bedroom. "Kitty! Johnny!"
I jumped up and ran down the hall with Kitty following me. I threw open Danielle's door and flipped on her light, sitting up in her bed with tears streaming down her face.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?" I asked, sitting down next to her.
"I had a nightmare," she said, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
"Do you want to tell us about it?" Kitty asked.
"It was about Vlad. Danny didn't get there in time and Vlad melted me!"
"It was just a dream, honey," I whispered, smoothing down her hair.
"I know, but..." she started crying again.
"I know, I know," I said, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her close to me.
Kitty smiled at me. "Do you want to sleep our room tonight?" she asked.
Danielle nodded and I lifted her into my arms, carrying her into mine and Kitty's room. I laid her in the center of the bed and Kitty and I climbed in on either side of her. I pulled the blankets up around her up and she fell asleep, seeming perfectly content.