Author's Note: I do not own Blue Bloods or any of its characters.

Chapter 2: Haunted by the Past

Maria tossed and turned in her bed, unable to sleep. Her mind was a whirlwind of memories—Javi's death, her mother's cold rejection, and the constant ache of loneliness that never seemed to go away.

She had always prided herself on being strong, on being able to handle whatever life threw at her. But lately, it felt like the weight of everything was too much to bear. She had no one to turn to, no one who truly understood what she was going through. And then there was Danny.

Maria cared about Danny more than she wanted to admit. He was her partner, her friend, and someone she trusted with her life. But over the past few months, something had shifted between them. She had started to see him in a different light, and that scared her.

She didn't deserve someone like Danny. He came from a strong, loving family, while hers had all but disowned her. He had two amazing sons, while she had no one. How could she ever fit into his world?

Maria sighed and rolled onto her side, staring out the window. It didn't matter anyway. Danny would never feel the same way about her. He was just being a good partner, trying to help her through a tough time. That was all.

But deep down, Maria knew that wasn't true. There was something more between them, something that terrified her just as much as it thrilled her.

The next morning at the precinct, Maria tried to shake off the lingering thoughts from the night before. She had a job to do, and that was all that mattered. But as soon as she saw Danny, standing by their desks with two coffees in hand, her heart skipped a beat.

"Morning," he said, handing her one of the cups.

"Morning," Maria replied, trying to keep her voice steady. She took a sip of the coffee and forced herself to focus on the day ahead.

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't escape the growing feelings that threatened to consume her. And neither could Danny.

As they got to work, their usual banter was replaced by an uncomfortable silence. Maria tried to focus on the paperwork in front of her, but her mind kept drifting back to Danny. She could feel his eyes on her every now and then, his concern palpable.

"Danny," Maria finally said, breaking the silence, "you don't have to worry about me. I'm handling it."

He leaned back in his chair, his blue eyes studying her for a moment before he spoke. "It's not about me worrying, Baez. I care about you. You're my partner, but you're also my friend. And right now, it feels like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders alone."

Maria's chest tightened. She knew he was right, but admitting that felt like admitting defeat. She had always been independent, always dealt with her problems on her own. But the truth was, she felt more alone now than she ever had before.

"It's just… hard," Maria admitted quietly. "Losing Javi… and everything with my family. I feel like I have no one left."

Danny's expression softened, and he leaned forward. "You have me, Maria. And you're not alone. My family… they care about you, too. You're part of us, whether you realize it or not."

His words hit her like a punch to the gut. The thought of being part of the Reagan family—a family that was so close, so loving—felt overwhelming. It was everything she had never had. Her mother, Carmen, and her sister, Ana, had distanced themselves from her after Javi's death, blaming her for not being able to protect him. They had always disapproved of her choice to become a cop, but after Javi's murder, they had practically cut her out of their lives.

Maria looked away, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill over. "I don't know if I deserve that," she whispered.

Danny frowned. "What are you talking about? Of course, you do."

She shook her head, her voice barely audible. "I couldn't even protect my own brother. How can I be part of your family when I can't even fix mine?"

Danny stood up and walked around the desk, kneeling down beside her chair so that they were eye level. His voice was gentle but firm. "Listen to me, Baez. What happened to Javi wasn't your fault. You did everything you could. You can't keep blaming yourself."

Maria's eyes locked with his, and for a moment, she let herself feel the weight of his words. She had been carrying that guilt for so long, letting it eat away at her. But hearing Danny say it out loud, hearing the conviction in his voice, made something inside her shift.

"I'm trying," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Danny reached out, placing a hand on her arm. The warmth of his touch grounded her, and for the first time in a long time, Maria felt like maybe—just maybe—she wasn't completely alone.

——————

Thanks for the likes and positive vibes! Chapter 3 will be posted very soon!