[He quietly opens the door with his key, not wanting to wake Lindsay or Lucy if they're sleeping. Dropping his bag at the door, he locks it, carefully untying his Chucks and slipping out of them, leaving them at the door. Softly, he tiptoes over to the couch, intending to wrap Lindsay in the blanket draped over the back of it; he leans to kiss her forehead and catches a glimpse of her wrist. He sinks to his knees with a deep and shuddery breath, reaching out to gently run his hand from her shoulder to her hip.]
[Lindsay stirs a little, shifting on the couch, the bear they'd bought for Jess was pulled closer to her as she settled. Slowly she licked her lips, smacking them together because of her dry mouth]
[Kissing her forehead once more, he stands and makes his way to the kitchen. Pawing through the refrigerator, he emerges with a bottle of cool water, and brings it wordlessly to his wife's side, twisting the top off and offering it to her.]
[it's only when he leaves that she realises that there is someone there. Her eyes open slowly and she blinks, trying to adjust them to the light in the room]
I can letchu sleep more, I can take care'a Lucy an' tuck her in with us when I put her ta bed? [He shrugs, wanting her to be happy, and to know that he won't keep their daughter away.]
[He automatically thinks that she found the baby's footprints and took a razor or knife to her wrist, visibly paling.]
No, not it's fine, you don't have to do that. And she should sleep in her own cot. [Lindsay doesn't want to take out her emotional state on Lucy]
[hissing a little she finally pulls the bandage off. Her wrist is red and a little puffy. But there on her skin are two perfect, tiny footprints, identical to those Danny took, and under it is Jess' name and the date she was "born" in tiny writing.]
[He nods.] Okay. Maybe we can bring her in bed an' take a nap with her? Maybe tomorrow? I'm not workin'.
[Wincing at the expression of pain on her face, he braces himself for jagged scratches. But that's not what he sees, and he's taken by surprise. A choked sob escapes his throat, and he brings her palm gently to his hands and kisses it, not wanting to kiss the tattoo and cause her pain. Tears leak from his eyes; this was - it was perfect.]
[She watched him for the longest of moments, watched him kiss her hand, watched the tears fall down from his eyes. Slowly she pulled her hand away and reached for the first aid kit that was on the table beside the couch and offered it to him. A small, simple genture to make him know there were times she needed his help]
[He blinks, looking up at her to process everything. He finally reaches out, accepting the kit from her hand, and slowly opening it to find the cleansing wipes, antibiotic ointment, a gauze wrap, and some first aid tape. He carefully cleans her wound, spreading the ointment over the tattoo and placing the gauze over it, taping it down on all four sides.]
Would... Linds, could... could I... [He swallows.]
Could I do that, too? An' get Lucy's from when she was born... an' have ya write out their names an' dates? Get it on my back? I - I wanna have my girls on me. That's... [He gently traces the gauze.] That's one'a the most beautiful things I ever saw.
[She watched him, her eyes watching his fingers work. Expert fingers. The way they moved to clean and cover the tattoo. Slowly his words started to sink in and she wanted to tell him no, she wanted to say he couldn't have Jess' footprints, they were hers. She was hers.]
[But that wold be selfish]
[Pulling her hand back she looked her wrist over, reaching to pick up Jess' bear as she stood and walked towards the kitchen] If that's what you want Danny.
[She placed the old bandage in the bin, washing her hands in the sink after, and then put the kettle on] Tea?
[She's my daughter, too, he thinks, carefully sitting back on his haunches and watching her slide her feet onto the floor, heading toward the kitchen with the bear, the water running. He shakes his head, calling out to her in case she can't see.]
No... I think I'm just gonna... take a nap before Lucy gets here.
[Her eyes started to fill as he talked about going to lay down until Lucy gets home]
I'll stay out here [her voice was soft and she looked away as a tear fell down her cheek. Wiping it away she moved to sit on the couch, bear and tea in her hands]
...Linds?
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Danny? What time is it?
[Taking the water she sits slowly, taking a sip]
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Four, babe. I took Luka an' Lucy ta lunch. I'm home from work.
[Carefully, he reaches out and lightly grazes the bloody bandage.]
What... what happened?
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I've been asleep since two.
[looks down, watching as his hand moves over the bandage]
I found Jess' footprints...
[moving her wrist away she started to pick at the bandage]
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[He automatically thinks that she found the baby's footprints and took a razor or knife to her wrist, visibly paling.]
Linds... babe, show me. Please.
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[hissing a little she finally pulls the bandage off. Her wrist is red and a little puffy. But there on her skin are two perfect, tiny footprints, identical to those Danny took, and under it is Jess' name and the date she was "born" in tiny writing.]
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[Wincing at the expression of pain on her face, he braces himself for jagged scratches. But that's not what he sees, and he's taken by surprise. A choked sob escapes his throat, and he brings her palm gently to his hands and kisses it, not wanting to kiss the tattoo and cause her pain. Tears leak from his eyes; this was - it was perfect.]
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Will you clean and redress it for me?
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Would... Linds, could... could I... [He swallows.]
Could I do that, too? An' get Lucy's from when she was born... an' have ya write out their names an' dates? Get it on my back? I - I wanna have my girls on me. That's... [He gently traces the gauze.] That's one'a the most beautiful things I ever saw.
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[But that wold be selfish]
[Pulling her hand back she looked her wrist over, reaching to pick up Jess' bear as she stood and walked towards the kitchen] If that's what you want Danny.
[She placed the old bandage in the bin, washing her hands in the sink after, and then put the kettle on] Tea?
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No... I think I'm just gonna... take a nap before Lucy gets here.
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[She made herself a sweet tea, holding it in her hands as she headed back into the living room]
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If ya want, ya can come. I know ya just woke up. I just wanna lie down 'till she gets home.
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I'll stay out here [her voice was soft and she looked away as a tear fell down her cheek. Wiping it away she moved to sit on the couch, bear and tea in her hands]
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