Redemption

Chapter Seventy-Six

Charlene and Nicholas's sudden appearances were not expected as they both stepped into the room, a bouquet of flowers in her hands, while he carried the cutest little teddy bear Danni had ever seen. It wasn't that she wasn't happy to see her parents, because she was, but it was because of what they would think of Bobby as she saw her mother glance from him to her, her usual look of disappointment clear. Charlene only seemed to like Bobby to a point. As long as Danni was healthy and safe, she found no reason to dislike him, yet when her daughter was lying in a hospital bed and him with barely a scratch on him, that was when trouble was brewing in her brain.

"Charlene, Nick" Bobby greeted, shaking his hand meeting with a sympathetic stance. It was obvious whose idea it had been to come here and Bobby greatly wished Sue hadn't called them. They had the right to be here, he understood that—he just didn't enjoy the look her mother continued to give him as he stood by Danni's side, her hand wrapped safely in his. He watched as Charlene walked to the other side of the bed, eyeing him the entire way, before looking down at her daughter with compassion.

"How do you feel, sweetheart?" she asked, shooting a glare toward Bobby.

"I'm fine, honestly." The reassuring tone in Danni's voice did little to settle her mother, she noticed and looked to Bobby for what to say.

He raised his hands in defeat, leaning down to place a light kiss upon her forehead. The room had suddenly felt stuffy and he needed some air. "I'm going to call the others and get some air." The look she was giving him was one that told him not to leave her alone with her mother, but the two women needed to talk and he would just be in the way. "I'll be back in a little bit, don't worry," he whispered, placing another kiss upon her cheek in the process. "Love you," he said before he and Nicholas looked at one another, silently thinking the same thing and wanting to leave the two women alone for this conversation.

"I'm glad you're okay, sweetie," the older man whispered as he handed over the teddy bear before he placed a kiss on his daughter's forehead and joined Bobby's side as the two men exited the room together. Throughout the woman's bickering during the last few times they'd met, he and Bobby had made a connection and a mutual respect for one another. They were similar in many ways and Nicholas often cracked jokes about if he thought Charlene was bad when she was by herself, he needed to witness the holidays when she and Carla were together. Those two always would team up on their daughters, asking the questions that no single woman wants to hear. Luckily, now both Danni and Sue had answers to those questions, though they probably still wouldn't answer them if their lives depended on it.

Danni enjoyed seeing her father so friendly with her fiancée. He was the one she'd been worrying about when it came to liking him because Nicholas had always been overprotective of her and no boy or man was good enough for his little girl. She wasn't sure what Bobby had done to charm him, but she was glad he did. Now, if only he could do that with her mother.

Charlene was glancing around the room at the small amount of flowers and cards that were scattered around. It was obvious that her daughter had many friends in Washington who cared deeply about her, but none of them had had enough sense to keep her away from danger. That was what made her blood boil the most. How many FBI agents had been present and how many had left that scene unscathed? Of all the people that were present, why did it have to be Danni?

Crossing her arms over her chest, the young woman watched the turmoil race through her mother. She could see Charlene fighting with herself, trying to make sense of what had happened but even she found it difficult. She figured she would be filled in when the time came and would leave it at that. There was no use wondering over the what ifs if a life is at stake. That's something that she'd known since day one as a police officer. "I know what you're thinking," she said, surreptitiously as she let her crystal-blue eyes follow the pacing figure of her mother as she reverted to the foot of the bed.

She'd begun at Danni's side just before changing direction and forcing herself to try to decide what to say. She wanted to yell and scream at Danni, asking her what she was thinking, but it would do little good. Sue had told her what happened and she was just happy that her daughter was alive and safe. It was all she could ask for right now. "You couldn't possibly know what I'm thinking." Heck, she didn't even know what she was thinking so what made Danni think that she would know?

"I don't want you blaming Bobby for anything that's happened. You don't know the whole story and jumping to conclusions is something you usually do." She schooled her features to force herself to be stern with her mother. She understood the dislike she had for Bobby and his actions, though it was ridiculous to think that he would willingly put her jeopardy.

Charlene should have know that her daughter would try to defend the Aussie and that caused her to roll her eyes and sigh heavily. "I don't understand why you're defending him." She crossed her arms over her chest as she stopped pacing and turned to look down at her daughter.

Danni thought this was ludicrous and wasn't in the mood to argue with her mother. Of course, if that was what it took to make her see the kind of man that Bobby really was, she would defend him until the world came to an end. "I'm defending him because you see to find fault with everything he does or has done. You blame him for his past as a gambling addict, yet you fail to notice that he still goes to meetings." It was one of the things that she admired about Bobby. Even after all this time of staying clean, he would continue to go to GA meetings where he could show that he was still staying strong. It takes a very big man to admit that he has a weakness, but it takes someone completely content with himself to show others that he wouldn't let something so deep and dark pull him down again. "You can see that he loves me and he wants to remain the man that I fell in love with, yet you're not exactly helping with your constant hen picking."

"I don't hen-pick," Charlene said defensively, though quickly before she was able to gain back her confidence. Her posture straightened as she felt a good point emerging within her mind. "Well, how do you know that you're not just another notch on his headboard?" She saw Danni's taken aback look and knew the question had had an effect, though probably not the one she was expecting. "I know men like him. Handsome and considerate at first, then all he wants is a conquest."

"If I was just a conquest, do you think he'd still be around? If that was true, he could have already taken what he'd wanted and ran." There was nothing like telling your mother you're not as pure as you first led her to believe, though Danni highly doubted that her mother hadn't suspected that already. She hadn't revealed it, but neither had she tried to dispute it. Wincing as she forced herself higher in her bed, she turned cold eyes to her mother, who was looking like she was about to cry. "Bobby and I love each other and we're getting married. What does that tell you about his character?"

The cafeteria was surprisingly empty for so late in the morning and so close to lunchtime, but it made his talk with Nicholas seem so much more quiet and close than if it were crowded with doctors, patients, and visitors. Paying for both lunches, Bobby looked at his future father-in-law, wanting to ask the question that was on the tip of his tongue. Instead, he asked a different one. "Do you think we should have left them alone?" He tore open a packet of sugar and poured it into his cup of coffee, carrying his tray to a vacant table where both men sat down. "The last thing Danni needs right now is stress and I can't help but to think that their conversation isn't going to be very calm."

"Danni will be fine," Nicholas urged, taking a bite out of his sandwich. Driving all night back to DC had been rough, seeing as though he wasn't allowed to stop to eat or sleep. They'd pulled over once to get gas and answer nature's call, but five minutes later they'd been back on the road. Right now, a simple hospital sandwich was like a five-star meal. "She's the only one who knows how to put Char back in her place. Besides, it gives me some time to talk to my future son-in-law." He gave Bobby a fatherly pat on the back when he saw the look in the younger man's eyes that told him there was something that Bobby wanted to say, but couldn't find the words to voice it. "Is there something you need to talk to me about?"

With his mother and stepfather on an entire different continent, thousands of miles away, Bobby sometimes found it difficult to talk to them about things and he really had needed their guidance to help him through his ordeal. He'd talked to them right after Danni was admitted, but he hadn't made a move to try to call them once she was moved to her room. He wanted to make sure he was by her side every minute, just so he could see her eyes when she woke up. Now that that had happened, he knew he would have to call home and get an earful from his mother for making her worry.

Of course, as he looked into Nicholas' brown eyes, he felt like he needed to explain his action, though finding the words was what was most difficult. "Look, I-"

"You don't have to defend yourself to me. Danni's safe; that's all that matters. Charlene understands that, too. She just likes to think she's right in times like these." That caused both men to chuckle.

"Sounds familiar," Bobby admitted, taking a sip from his coffee. "I just want to tell you that I really do love your daughter and I never wanted to see her like this."

"It's hard to see the one you love so helpless, but I'm glad Danni has someone like you to watch over her. I can see that she's in good hands and her mother will too, eventually." Nicholas had to roll his eyes at his own comment. It might take some convincing or a small miracle, but Charlene would understand even if he had to whack her upside the head with a rubber mallet. He loved that woman to death, but her stubborn streak was unbearable. Danni's wasn't much better, either. Her teenage years actually did a number on him and his hair; she'd been the cause of many a gray hair while growing up. But, seeing her as the strong woman she was today was one of the greatest things he could ever ask for. She knew what her heart wanted—the man who sat across from him was evidence of that—and she would do anything to get it.

He hoped Bobby was in for the ride of his life.