Redemption
Chapter Seventeen
The door buzzer was loud and annoying, Danni realized as she practically jumped out of her skin when she'd first heard it. She'd been sitting on the edge of her seat while waiting for Bobby to come home or her parents to arrive. Sadly, she'd hoped her parents wouldn't show up at all, but of course they would take her up on her offer, though one of them would object to it and show up anyway. Yet, there was a problem with this picture. Bobby was nowhere around to keep her sane. He and the team were working late; a factor she hadn't taken in account for.
She'd gone to the Bureau to drop off any pertinent information that they could use and she'd practically spilled her guts out to everyone in the room. She was lucky that the whole team wasn't there to see her break-down. Only Bobby, Myles, Tara and Sue had seen and only Bobby and Sue were of any help to her. Sue had at least met her parents before; Bobby hadn't that wasn't an experience she wanted to put him through.
The Aussie said he'd try to be home in time, but as the minutes ticked by, she knew he wouldn't make it in time. Perhaps that was for the best, though. Meeting her parents could be overwhelming—mainly her mother—and she figured he would be safer with dealing with the terrorists. And that's what she told him.
"I'm sure they can't be that bad," he'd said to her with a comforting kiss upon her forehead.
She scoffed loudly as she crossed her arms over her chest, like she always did when she was trying to prove a point to him. Bobby realized that she reminded him so much of Sue when she was trying to persuade Jack into something, except for the fact that Sue's hands usually were upon her hips after a minute. "That's easy for you to say. Your mother actually likes you. I've barely spoke two words to mine in eight years. Our relationship isn't as wonderful as yours." She would have been exaggerating, except for that she'd met his mum. Danni remembered how her relationship with Charlene was like that once. She was only thirteen at the time, though. After that, it just seemed to go downhill until it was hit by a bus.
Mrs. Manning had been wonderful, though. She took a shine to Danni straight away. She saw what kind of woman she was and knew instantly that Bobby had found his soul mate.
She and her husband, Bobby's stepfather, had come to DC to visit their son. Apparently, they'd been told many stories about the new love in their boy's life and they wanted to meet her. The fact that he had been telling them stories about her made her blush. He'd been telling them about how wonderful she was, which she seemed very flattered about, but she was also a bit disconcerted. Danni had been so nervous about meeting them that she'd dropped hot tea into his stepfather's lap, spilled dessert all over the front of Bobby's brand new sweater, and forgotten her own name. She'd just wanted to make a good impression and she'd managed to botch it up in no time. It was simple to say what kind of impression she'd made; a lasting one.
Fortunately, after Danni had been restricted to the couch until they left, by Bobby, the heat was taken off of her when she was given the sweetest comment. "I've never seen my baby happier." Mrs. Manning had said it with pride in her eyes and a smile upon her lips as she clutched one of the young girl's hands in her own. She wouldn't have lied with that expression in her eyes. Even with Darcy, whom she never really liked, he wasn't as happy. Danni had to blush yet again at that comment. Then, she'd whispered something to her son that was along the lines of, "don't let this one get away," which made her blush even more.
A soft chuckle escaped her as she remembered that day. Despite the burns from the tea and the ruined sweater, she'd had a wonderful time with them and that only made her dread what was to come when she opened the door. She would just have to suck it up, though. She was a big girl and she could handle a simple visit from her mom and dad. Of course, it would be so much easier if her mother didn't criticize everything she did. Perhaps if she told them everything, she would finally be able to live her own life and be with Bobby.
More dread filled her. They were going to hate him when they met him, she just knew it. And the fact that he actually kept them waiting all night wouldn't help much.
She was beginning to think what would happen if she just pretended to not be home, but that was so wrong. She needed to do this. It was now or never, though she happily would have chosen never. With a sigh, she got up from her spot on the couch and went to answer the door.
When he saw the time, he quickly closed up shop. He'd expected to leave much sooner, but he'd gotten so wrapped up in things that time flew by. They were expecting him sooner, but of course, things never went according to plan in this business.
He turned off his computer and put away any files he'd left out. He would deal with them tomorrow if he got the chance. They weren't high-priority, which meant he could get to them at his leisure. For now, it was time to go home. He put on his jacket and slipped his keys into his pocket as he turned off his desk light. He said goodnight to the few stragglers around the office who were still working diligently on their case and headed toward the elevator.
She opened the door with a flourish as she welcomed her mom and dad once again. She gave her father a big bear hug and a kiss on the cheek—which he happily returned—while she gave her mother a swift peck on the cheek. She led them to the table where she'd set out plates and coffee cups while she'd waited and they all sat down in silence. She took her cup in her hands and took a sip from it before she tapped her fingers upon the side of it. Apparently, none of them knew what to say and it was making the scene even more awkward. "Coffee?" she asked. A sigh of relief escaped her when she got some sort of reaction from the both of them and got up to get the still hot coffee she'd left on the hot plate. She poured them both a generous amount and let them add whatever they wanted. She didn't even want to both to guess what they would put in it, these days. "How about dessert?" She'd only asked so she didn't have to sit in silence anymore.
She dug the plate of the ice cream dessert out of the freezer and saw there wasn't as much as she'd hoped, yet enough for four people. Bobby obviously had gotten into it while she was still sick. She rolled her eyes at his actions and smiled. He was the only calming sensation she had and she wished he was there with her. How much more did he have to do?
The parking garage was more than quiet; it was eerie. A dropped pin would shatter his eardrums if he heard one and that made him only want to get to his car faster. He couldn't help but have the feeling that there were eyes upon him as he got inside the trusty, old car. As soon as he closed the door, he made sure to lock himself inside.
He glanced around the area to make sure there was no movement in the shadows before he became satisfied. He was most likely tired and it was going to his head like it usually would.
With a heavy sigh, he pulled out of his space and headed for home.