Oh, alright, here's your daily dose! I can't promise to keep it up, but I'm trying! I hope you all liked "Run, Mindy, Run." I like to think of Danny as a non-violent guy, but the fight seemed justified. Here's a little game for you for this story. A line in this one-shot is what birthed the whole series. If you guess it and guess it first (via a review), I'll dedicate the next one-shot to you!
It was Labor Day weekend and despite the relatively unsuccessful camping trip in the spring, the employees of Schulman & Associates had opted to try once again. Morgan had his own tent due to his self-identified night terrors. It came with a lock on the outside that the others were instructed to unlock in the morning only when they were certain he was fully awake. Mindy and Betsy were to share a second tent and Danny and Jeremy were to share the third, though this plan had hit some clear snags when everyone headed to bed after the bonfire.
From within their tent, Betsy and Mindy could hear the two men arguing until finally it seemed they had taken it out of the tent.
"No. Nope. This is not going to happen," Danny announced. "There is no way I can share a tent with him."
Mindy and Betsy both came out of their tent, trying to do something to avoid this turning into a physical altercation.
"Guys, what's going on?" Morgan yelled from his locked tent.
Mindy pulled Danny aside. "I can't do it, Mindy. I can't share with this narcissistic, irritating asshole."
"Well, what do you suppose we do then?'
"Someone is just going to have to switch with me."
"Who should switch? I can't share with Jeremy. I have no plans on ever crossing that bridge again and you know he would try, so sharing is absolutely out of the question. Morgan can't share with anyone. And we can't ask Betsy. She's a subordinate in the practice. It would be like sexual harassment."
Before Danny could answer, Betsy approached them. "I can share with Dr. Reed. It's fine, really."
"Are you sure, Betsy?"
She confirmed she was and although Jeremy was an ass, both Danny and Mindy knew that he had enough common decency to not put the moves on sweet, innocent Betsy. Of course, this also meant that they would be sharing a tent themselves.
After a few minutes in their respective sleeping bags, a noise came from the outside the tent and Mindy bolted up out of her sleeping bag.
"Relax," Danny said in a sleepy voice. "It's probably just Morgan."
"How can you say relax, Danny? Do you know what kind of wild animals are out there?'
"Sure, it's the woods, but we're safe in here."
"Fine, do you do solemnly swear that if a bear attacks this tent in the middle of the night that you will throw your body in front of me, sacrificing yourself so that I might live?"
"Sure, will do."
"I'm not entirely sure I believe you, but fine," Mindy responded though she didn't move from the spot in which she was standing.
"What's wrong now?"
"I'm cold."
Well, that's what happens when you borrow a My Little Pony sleeping bag from your friend's kid, now isn't it?
"Yes, I know that now, but the knowledge doesn't help too much at the moment!"
Without getting up, Danny unzipped his sizable sleeping bag. "Get in."
"Are you sure? It doesn't look very roomy…"
"Would you rather freeze?"
Mindy hesitantly got into the sleeping bag with Danny, attempting to keep her distance, which is pretty much impossible in a sleeping bag. It was a lot warmer than her sleeping bag though so she was glad he offered. She kept wiggling around, trying to get comfortable, but also trying to not end up in too close of a position with Danny, at least while they were both still awake. Danny was frustrated by her movements, so he flung arm her waist and they basically ended up in a spooning position.
"Danny, don't you think this is a little inappropriate?"
"No, what's inappropriate is that you and Reed seem hell-bent on depriving me of sleep tonight. We're both adults here. I think we can handle body parts touching."
A few minutes passed and Mindy could tell by Danny's breathing that he was still awake. His breath, by the way, was hot on her neck when he exhaled, though not necessarily unpleasant.
"Danny? Can I ask what happened with Christina?'
"Really, Mindy? You want to do this now?"
"Not if you don't want to."
Danny sighed deeply. "I spent a really long time wondering what-if with Christina and waiting for her to realize her mistake and come back to me. But then when she did, I guess I realized that someone who would intentionally cause me so much pain didn't really deserve to be with me. I mean, being with again helped me not feel so bitter or resent her as much, but when I didn't feel that way anymore, being together just didn't make sense for me. She may have been right for me at some point in my life, but that time is over now."
"Wow, I don't know what to say. I really appreciate you sharing, Danny."
"Well, you asked. And we're friends."
"We are, aren't we? Even if you didn't ask for it."
"I know I never really apologized for that. I was upset and I'm an idiot. Obviously we're friends and that friendship means a lot to me."
"Thanks, Danny."
It probably should have felt more awkward to have this conversation while basically cuddling in a confined space, with practically no space between their bodies. Oddly, it really didn't. It didn't feel awkward the next night either...