Redemption

Chapter Forty

"How long has DeMarco worked for Metro?"

"DeMarco? Why would you think he'd be involved?" The whole idea was ludicrous to her. Jeff wouldn't be brainless enough to get mixed up in terrorism. It just wasn't in his DNA. He'd join the force for the very reason to take down criminals of that magnitude. He'd had some sort of more important reason, yet he neglected to divulge that information onto her. Perhaps he thought she would think him weak if she knew the real reason.

"Jack told me about his visit. He said Jeff looked really shaken up about it, but also really guilty. Even if he's not involved anymore, he certainly might have been at one point."

Danni ran her fingers through her hair in vexation. She tugged at the strands as if doing so would make things clear. "How did everything get so screwed up?" she asked as she began to feel defeated. Jack being involved was one thing, but DeMarco was like a brother to her. This was certainly showing a different side of him that she hoped she'd never see, but knew would come.

Bobby shook his head as she moved to sit beside him. He wrapped his arm lovingly around her shoulders and pulled her close. Despite all of the confusion around them, this was the only thing that made them feel comforted. Being in each others' arms was the only thing that felt right at this point. "I don't know, but I wish I did." He let his lips lightly brush against her temple, making her give an involuntary shiver as she absentmindedly played with Luna's ears as the kitten slept.

"I swear, it's like we're cursed or something. Not one damn thing can go right for us," she mumbled and gave a slight whine as she leaned even more into him.

He accepted her movements and just held her tighter, but couldn't help but relinquish a smile. "I wouldn't say that we're cursed, Luv. A few things have gone right this week." He chuckled softly when he saw her roll her eyes. He might have believed it, but she certainly didn't.

"Yeah?" she whimpered, "Name one." The request was made with sarcasm dripping from the words, she knew that it would be impossible for him to think of one and whatever he came up with, she wouldn't think it to be positive. She saw him stutter as he thought about what had gone right. Just as she did, he drew a blank as well. "See? You can't think of one either."

He chuckled again and moved the arm that was around her shoulder to her neck to massage whatever stress she was feeling out of her. He may not have been able to think of a good thing off of the top of his head, because it didn't seem like too many good things had happened. Perhaps that it was because one of the best things he'd been planning didn't even compare to what this week had held. "Okay, so maybe I can't think of one. Why don't we make a good thing happen?"

She couldn't help but scoff as his muscular hands worked the tension from her neck and shoulders. It hadn't sounded like a scoff, though. The noise that escaped her sounded nothing like it, though he seemed to accept it as one. "Yeah, and do what?"

"Well, something occurred to me today when I was talking to Sparky. I never understood how much he cared about Sue before he told me and now I realize that they've really been dating since they met and if he'd popped the question tomorrow it wouldn't make a difference." He tried to gauge the reaction on Danni's face but it was hard to tell whether she was interested in his theory or not.

"And that's supposed to make me feel better, how?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. Don't get her wrong, though. She would have been more than happy for Sue if turtle-boy Jack would actually get up the nerve to ask that one special question. She just wished Bobby would have done it before him. They had been dating, officially, a lot longer than her cousin and the agent.

"Just hush and listen, Luv," he said, mockingly as he cradled her in his arms.

She couldn't help but roll her eyes but complied at his request. Apparently he had some big speech prepared and she wasn't aloud to speak until he was done. "Fine, continue." She motioned with her hands for him to throw out whatever it was he wanted to say so she would be able to comment on whatever cockamamie idea he'd come up with.

"Where was I?" he asked as he tried to remember where he'd left off as if he'd memorized what he was going to say to her. "Oh, yeah. So, that got me thinking about the things that I've planned and promised myself I would do." He couldn't help but get a slight feeling of déjà vu as he spoke. This reminded him of the last time he'd tried this and she had thought the worse. Hopefully he could spit all of it out before that thought occurred to her again.

He managed to slip his free hand into his pocket and take hold of the little trinket he'd kept there since the night he bought it—the night Stern was killed. Just holding it in his hands gave him the strength to do what he'd feared to. He'd held it the day of the funeral to give him strength to face her depression, but was relieved when she came to him as her old self. He would have done it that night if it wasn't for such a solemn occasion.

His gaze flickered to hers to see confusion but there was such love behind it that it was almost impossible for him to speak. He knew she didn't understand what he was talking about just yet, but he hoped she would get the picture during his speech. "Danni, there is so much I want to say to you, but I can't find the words to say it. Just one look into your eyes and I fall apart, which isn't a good thing for me to do. There's so much about you that I love and so much that I can't wait to discover about you."

She smiled up at him, placing a gentle kiss upon his chin. "I feel the same, but you don't have to tell me, Bobby. I know how you feel about me." She clearly wasn't getting what he was saying, which meant he would have to elaborate more.

"You're not getting what I'm saying." He paused as he used the hand outside of the pocket and managed to link his fingers with hers. "Danni, I… I want to ask you something and I just don't know if I can get it out."

He saw her eyes widen and become brighter at that. She was beginning to understand that this wasn't just a declaration of love, but much more. "Oh, Bobby," she said as she felt her skin warm in a blush and tears form in her eyes. "What are you saying?"

"Danni," he began as he almost removed the small box from his pocket. "Will you…" he paused and let a loud, aggravated groan escape his lips. The phone was ringing; the perfect distraction for the wrong moment. "Will you… hold that thought for a moment?" he asked as he reached for the handset of the cordless phone.

She could only stare incredulously at him as she sat in shock. Was he just going to ask her what she thought he was? She was speechless and couldn't help but continue to stare at him as he tried to get her attention. "Huh?" she asked when she finally saw his hand waving in front of her face.

"It's for you," he replied with a slight grin on his lips. He watched as she only nodded and took the phone from his grasp. He couldn't help but let his grin widen as her eyes never left his. She now understood the intent he had for their future, which she never thought would happen. The fact that he'd begun to ask the question made her want to just hang up on whoever wanted to talk to her and let him finish. But, the cheeky grin he gave her as he handed it over made her curious as to who would call and ruin such a moment.

Reluctantly, she put the phone to her ear. "Hello?"