Fic: [NR] Mix of Dark Minors and Sunny Majors (Chapter 8/14)
Mix of Dark Minors and Sunny Majors
Word Count: Chapter 8: 3,601; [48,282 total]
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Nico/Dani-Possibly. Eventually?
Spoilers: References something from 1x07 and 1x11.
Disclaimer: don't own. Don't profit. Don't … a lot of things
Summary: She'd be willing to bet the Nico of reality was somewhere between her good guy and his evil one but he wasn't ready to see that just yet. "Nico, I work on feelings and intuition. Of course I see the potential. You work in cold facts and realities that aren't pretty so you see the bad. In order for music to be beautiful, there has to be a mix of sunny majors with the dark, harsh minors."
Author's Note: So, you can blame or credit, jeer or cheer brokenroots & goodisrelative for this 92-page (20+ chapter) fic. Brokenroots started me thinking about NR fic (go read hers, it's better) and then they both beat me up to get more. Please note, this fic is done. finished. fin. over. ended. ... that doesn't mean there might not be a sequel. at least a "Sunday Supper at Mama C's" [you'll meet Mama C in a much later chapter]
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Dani growled at the phone. Who knew how difficult it would be to dial the stupid thing with only one hand. She put it on the table and called up Jeanette's number. She made the rounds, assuring the kids that the hand had not been someone trying to hurt her, she had been saving someone. She left out that the one she had been saving was Juliette: the young woman didn't need that right now. She talked to her mother to see how Juliette was doing and then she talked with Jeanette to get her take on Juliette.
"Hun, you take care of you and that hunk protecting you. Xeno has the security here, and trust me, the man misses nothing. His coffee is excellent too. Your Ma and I can handle Juliette. And the kids."
Dani rolled her eyes at her best friend. "You know he monitors these calls."
"Your point, Dani? You going to argue you don't find the man attractive?" Jeanette paused before continuing. "Yeah, I didn't think so. Ain't nothing wrong with that. Wouldn't be the first time a stressful and dangerous situation started a romance."
"I'm not on the market. I'm not even legally free yet. Besides, Jeanette, we work together. And I thought you were rooting for the other one."
"The other one was what you needed to get back out in the game. Fun and kinky and laughter. But that isn't staying power. That silent, brooding one has staying power. And he thinks of your kids, makes sure they are safe."
Dani sighed. She didn't need this right now. And if he was listening in, she was going to kill him-after she died of embarrassment! "I'll talk to you later, Jeanette. Call or talk with Xeno if you need anything." She looked up to see Nico in the doorway. "I suppose you want to head to the stadium now."
Nico read the exhaustion in her eyes and shook his head. "No. Today is a day of rest. You need to not be inundated with player problems and TK's hysterics. You need to just breathe and sleep."
Dani chuckled. "You think you can handle a whole day away or are you going to leave me in the hands of your trusty band of merry men in black?"
"I think we have already established the mistake that was." Nico raised his hand, not really in the mood to battle her again. "Not saying the motives were not right but we have seen the damage that can be done when I am not here. I have my laptop, aircard, iPad, and phone. I am fine here. I have a trusted man at the stadium who can intimidate the players if necessary. You should, though, call TK and give him the heads up."
Dani sighed. "All right, we'll agree to let that go." She looked down at her phone and glared then dialed the number before she picked it up this time. "I'm declaring a sick day, TK, so I expect you to behave, be good for Nico's man, and don't start shit." She chuckled at TK's response. "Seriously, Terrence, I need the day. One quiet day." She smiled. "Thanks, TK. And yes, you can send one tweet about yesterday. Only one." She stood up and walked into the living room and smiled at Nico sitting on the couch. "He's going to be sending a tweet, so be ready."
Nico chuckled. "I'll pull up his feed." He watched her pick up her book and settle on the couch with him. "So you like the flowers?"
"Flowers. Oh crap." Dani hit redial on her phone. "He got me fantastic flowers. Dozens! Gerber daisies, sunflowers, tulips and white daisies! Three bouquets with two dozen flowers in each." Dani rushed the words out to TK. He laughed at her, "Of course, Doctor D! Nico'd never let a woman down." Dani frowned at the phone before she put it down.
"What's wrong? What did TK say now?" Nico asked, concerned.
Dani rubbed her brow and shook her head. "Nothing. Just being TK." She leaned against his shoulder to see his iPad screen. "His tweet come through?"
Nico looked down at her head on his shoulder and frowned. He thought they had moved passed this. "Give him a minute or two. He needs to process what he says to get the biggest impact. I'm sure we won't be disappointed."
Dani angled her head up, leaving it on his shoulder. "True. And I won't tell him that you find amusement in some of his stunts. It wouldn't do to have him trying to get you to laugh as you kick his ass." Nico's laugh rumbled through his chest and Dani blinked, realizing how intimate this was but she decided she wasn't moving. She picked up her book and read as they waited.
Nico checked email for a few minutes then checked the Twitter feed. "He tweeted." Nico stated quietly and tilted the screen for her to see.
Dani rolled her eyes as she laughed. "DocD gives N run for $$! Knocks out bad guy with one upper cut. Breaks hand. N presents flowers & instruction on how-not-to break hand." She looked up at Nico. "You are, you know?" At his confused look, she clarified, "When my hand is healed, you are going to teach me how to throw a punch without breaking my hand. I know not to tuck my thumb into my fist."
Nico smiled. "You went for his jaw. You came up into it from below. It's a hard bone that way so it can break something in your hand easier. The location of where you hit a person has as much to do with it as how you hold your fist, Dani."
Dani nodded. "That makes sense." She nodded then stared off.
Nico poked her shoulder, he figured since she was still resting on his, he could bother her. "Where did you go just now?"
Dani sighed and shifted her head to look at his face. "I was almost too late, Nico."
Nico shifted and grabbed her upper arms. "Hey, none of that. You got there, Dani. You protected her and you saved her. She isn't coming down right now because you got there in time."
Dani's smile faltered but she blinked back the tears and nodded. "Do you mind if I stay here with you? I don't want to be alone right now."
Nico smiled. "You just want my shoulder. Just breathe, Dani."
He couldn't pinpoint when she slid down to rest her head on his thigh. One minute she had been resting against his shoulder, the next she was sleeping with his thigh as her pillow. This was dangerous. She was dangerous. But he let her stay and turned his phone on vibrate.
It was over an hour later, Dani was still sleeping, and he was wondering if he could shift out from under her when his phone went off. He stared at the number. He frowned and let it go to voicemail, wondering why the hell she was calling him.
Dani felt him tense and raised her head. "Nico, if you need to fix something, it's okay."
Nico sighed, sorry she had woken up. "Nope. Delegation is an art and I can still do it. I do need to get up, though, my leg is asleep."
Dani giggled and raised her head enough for him to get up. She slid down a bit on the couch to give him space on the couch and closed her eyes again.
"Nico love, where are you? I stopped by the Stadium but they said you were out of the office all day today. I need to see you, it's urgent. Juliette checked out of rehab again, not surprising. At least she lasted two weeks this time. Love, can you see if you can locate her? Thanks. Call me, Nico love. You know the number."
He listened to the voicemail and resisted the urge to punch a fist through the wall. Why did it seem she always came into his life when he was done with her and in the middle of something so much more important than her?
-%-
Dani got up at noon and decided she wanted to make sauce. She went to find Nico in the little den in the back working at the desk. "Nico?"
He growled at her then sighed. "Sorry, dealing with a situation. What do you need?"
"Can I have one of the men go to the store? I know they aren't errand boys but shopping one-handed will suck and I would like to make sauce." Dani asked.
Nico looked at his watch. "Just open the back door and ask for Frank, he's on for a bit longer."
"Thanks, Nico." She studied him a moment before she leaned against the doorjamb. "You can talk it out, Nico. I won't go running to Twitter to tweet anything."
She got what she wanted: a smile out of Nico. "Go have one of the men get your ingredients and make your sauce." He shook his head and waved her away.
-%-
The men ate in shifts six hours later. She was sitting and chatting with the last group when Nico walked through the living room. He stopped before the doorway and just listened to his men and Dani. He didn't analyze his annoyance with his men taking up Dani's time, he just ignored it and smiled at Dani's laugh. Feeling like a sneak, he moved into the kitchen. "How come I wasn't called for dinner?"
Dani looked up and laughed. "Because it isn't time for your and my dinner. I was just keeping the men company while they ate in shifts. I was going to call you in about 15 minutes."
Nico nodded. "All is quiet at the beach house."
Dani raised a brow. "I doubt that is the actual case but it is nice to know there hasn't been any security issues."
Nico chuckled. "True."
"This was nice, Dani. Thanks. The sauce was excellent. Reminds me of my grandparents'. They used to make sauce every Sunday and we were required to be there for Sunday supper." Nico complimented her.
Dani beamed. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. Not my best but not my worst effort by far. Frank, once he was off duty, helped with the de-seeding. I had forgotten how much a pain in the ass that step is without the food mill. When using a wire strainer and whisk, it sucks. And is impossible with only one hand. Frank heard me swear and came in."
Nico laughed. "And you got stories from him."
Dani stuck her tongue out at him. "You have the dishes. And he only told me stories he wanted to; there were no prompts from me. No matter how much I really wanted to!"
They talked with easy banter while he did the dishes. It was new for them, no ending in argument or wanting to throw something at the other. When he was done, they moved back into the living room and Nico flipped on the news before he sat down on the couch to skim Twitter feeds and Facebook statuses.
Dani settled back in on his thigh without asking. She smiled up at him before she focused on her book. She tried to read it, but just couldn't get into it at the moment. It was dark and she was living through a dark time. Putting her book down, she looked up at him before she asked, "What had you so frustrated and angry earlier? Was it the phone call you ignored before you got up?"
Nico tensed. He was not going to talk with her about Gabriella Pittman. He went with honesty to a point. "Yes, it was the voicemail from that ignored call that angered me. The caller has impeccable timing to derail projects when she wants something. Too easily, others around her get wrapped up in her drama and forget about the important things they are supposed to be working on."
Dani nodded and reached over to thread her fingers with his. "Knowing is half the battle."
Nico's tension evaporated as he laughed at her GIJoe reference. "You like that saying."
"Not as much as I love Spaceballs . Ooo, and The Princess Bride!" Dani laughed with him.
They talked of bad 80s 'B' movies which lead to 80s tv shows and more smiles and laughter than Dani had seen from Nico-ever.
-%-
They were back at the stadium the next day, Saturday. The team had a home game this Sunday so it was all hands on deck to get ready for it. Dani talked with her usual cast of players and checked in with Nico throughout the day. She frowned as she realized he was getting angrier as the day progressed. She knew it had to do with the ignored phone call the day before.
Nico had brought her food for lunch but they had ended up arguing so he had stalked away and she hadn't seen him in a few hours. There were rumblings with the players about a VIP guest who was around-one not well-liked.
Dani sighed. She had a meeting with Coach Parnell at 2 PM so she gave up looking for Nico and headed to the coach's office. Maybe he'd be at the meeting. Dani could only hope. They had talked about heading out to the beach house to have dinner with the kids.
-%-
Where the hell was Nico?! She needed out of this place or she was going to scream. He had said they would leave at 400 PM so they could have dinner with Jeanette, Ma, the kids, and Juliette tonight. It was now almost 530 PM! This wasn't like him-and if Rat Bastard had done anything new and he was keeping it from her, she would kill him.
"Doctor Santino, I think he was talking over by the Coach's office." Someone on Matt's staff told her.
Dani sighed, waved her thanks, and headed back in that direction only to see two figures-one in black-head toward the doors. She quickened her pace to try and catch them before they got outside-but didn't. She took a moment to think about going through the doors. Outside was not in the team's secure areas. She wasn't with Nico-and she had promised him. But damnit! He was out there!
Her decision made, she marched through the doors. It took a moment to spot the figures as her eyes adjusted to the brightness. What she saw stopped her cold. "Oh, Nico," she whispered. He was standing too close to the other woman, his hand on her arm. When the woman stepped closer to Nico, he didn't step back. Dani watched him grab both her arms to keep her where she was: no closer but he didn't push her back either. It was like watching a train wreck: you just had to keep watching. He must have gotten a call but the other woman covered his phone with her hand.
The moment Dani's own phone rang was the instant she placed the other woman-Mrs. Gabriella Pittman. She turned from the couple and looked down at the caller ID on her phone and swore-Xeno.
"Xeno! What's-." The man on the phone cut her off.
"We're fine. We thought you would be here by now. The kids are concerned."
Dani sighed and looked across the parking lot. "Nico had a situation arise. He's handling her as we speak. Go ahead and eat without us."
Xeno swore. "There's only one her who would prevent him from answering, Doc. You need to get him away from her. Now. Call him; he'll answer you."
Dani stiffened suddenly. "I don't think I can do that right now. Tell him I'm sorry I broke my word again."
"Hang up the phone, Doc." The breath was hot on her neck but it still made her shiver.
She made the motion but kept the phone connected: her only thought was that he had cloned the phone. He'd see it was Xeno and be concerned. She kept her eyes off Nico. He had taught her things. She closed her eyes but all she could think of at the moment was that she had broken promises to him again. She was outside without him. Wait. What had he told Lins that first night? Be smart. Think.
So Dani thought. She had wedge heeled boots on today and she could see Rat Bastard's sneakers as he pulled her farther from Nico. Farther from Nico was bad-she had to stop that. Nico would come for her, so she froze and pulled them to a standstill. She didn't even think as she brought her knee up and slammed her heel down as hard as she could. Vengeance had her twisting her heel as she continued the pressure down.
Nails dug into her arms, he swore in pain-but Dani just brought her other foot up then down on his. This one wasn't as direct of a hit but she was pulling out of his grasp-wrenching her shoulder-until she got free and used her purse to hit him in the face.
Someone pushed her farther away and she saw a flury of black take swings.
"Nico! What the hell are you doing to one of our star players?!" someone shrieked.
Dani blinked and faced the woman as sirens were heard and security poured out of the stadium-along with players and staff. "His contract was terminated over a week ago. He will now be arrested for assault and battery and attempted kidnapping on top of all the sexual assault and harassment charges he is out on bail for."
"Nico! Why the hell are you not handling this? You are supposed to be fixing these situations for me! His termination fee is outrageous! I want-." Gabriella was screeching.
Dani looked over at Nico, her apology in her eyes that this was happening in front of so many. Then she cut into the other woman's tirade. "Nico is handling the situation. He is fixing the situation for the women this rat bastard hurt. You don't get to want anything in this situation and Nico isn't yours to do your bidding." Dani's eyes narrowed as the woman finally focused on her. "Nico is a part of this team and he is one of mine and that gives him the mama bear protection being one of mine affords." Dani's eyes flicked up to his and caught a flash of smile before she refocused on the woman in front of her. The hand came out of nowhere but was stopped inches from her face. Dani didn't even flinch. She trusted Nico to be there.
"We paid the bastard's termination fee last week." Nico turned to one of his men, "Please see Mrs. Pittman home, Charlie."
"Who the hell do you think you are, Doctor Santino?" Gabriella spat. "You're nothing more than a two-bit shrink who can't keep a husband satisfied so you have to whore around the team for money and action."
Everyone stilled at that comment. Nico stared at the woman he had known for far too long wondering how he had never seen through her act before.
Dani blinked then smiled slowly. She held up a hand to quiet the sudden murmurs and to let Nico know she had this one. "And you are just a scared over-the-hill woman who let life pass her by to follow a dollar. Now you become the super bitch because you no longer can tolerate the life you knocked others to get. You're trembling, Mrs. Pittman, because you are realizing just what your recent actions have cost you. A price you weren't willing to pay but have no choice now, and that scares you. You're floundering, Mrs. Pittman, and just using words to lash out. But as I have told someone recently," her eyes raised up to Nico's for a moment before settling back on the woman in front of her, "I battle words every day."
Gabriella glared, spitting, "You have no idea what I am capable of! I'll see you get your due!"
Dani took two steps over to her, getting deep into the other woman's personal space, and stared her down. "I know exactly who and what you are, Mrs. Pittman, and I protect my own. You want to talk of what you are capable of? Let's leave Nico out of this and talk of your daughter." She felt the other woman flinch. "You don't even know where she is. I'll tell you because you are her mother: she is safe. But I won't tell you where. And you won't be able to get it out of Nico because in a few days even he won't know where she is. She will make it through this and be stronger. She'll be a better person than you ever showed her to be. I'll make sure she doesn't lose her way again." Dani's voice was steel and her words had been carefully calculated to inflict hurt, but then she stepped back and softened her next words. "You'll hit that wall, Gabriella, we all do one day or another. When you need to talk, you know how to contact me." Then she cradled her broken hand and turned away from the other woman.
Everyone-cops, security, staff, the players, TK, Coach, Matt, even Nico-stared at her in stunned silence. They weren't sure what startled them all more: Dani's ability to be cold and calculating or her sudden turn around to soft.
Chapter 7
Word Count: Chapter 8: 3,601; [48,282 total]
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Nico/Dani-Possibly. Eventually?
Spoilers: References something from 1x07 and 1x11.
Disclaimer: don't own. Don't profit. Don't … a lot of things
Summary: She'd be willing to bet the Nico of reality was somewhere between her good guy and his evil one but he wasn't ready to see that just yet. "Nico, I work on feelings and intuition. Of course I see the potential. You work in cold facts and realities that aren't pretty so you see the bad. In order for music to be beautiful, there has to be a mix of sunny majors with the dark, harsh minors."
Author's Note: So, you can blame or credit, jeer or cheer brokenroots & goodisrelative for this 92-page (20+ chapter) fic. Brokenroots started me thinking about NR fic (go read hers, it's better) and then they both beat me up to get more. Please note, this fic is done. finished. fin. over. ended. ... that doesn't mean there might not be a sequel. at least a "Sunday Supper at Mama C's" [you'll meet Mama C in a much later chapter]
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Dani growled at the phone. Who knew how difficult it would be to dial the stupid thing with only one hand. She put it on the table and called up Jeanette's number. She made the rounds, assuring the kids that the hand had not been someone trying to hurt her, she had been saving someone. She left out that the one she had been saving was Juliette: the young woman didn't need that right now. She talked to her mother to see how Juliette was doing and then she talked with Jeanette to get her take on Juliette.
"Hun, you take care of you and that hunk protecting you. Xeno has the security here, and trust me, the man misses nothing. His coffee is excellent too. Your Ma and I can handle Juliette. And the kids."
Dani rolled her eyes at her best friend. "You know he monitors these calls."
"Your point, Dani? You going to argue you don't find the man attractive?" Jeanette paused before continuing. "Yeah, I didn't think so. Ain't nothing wrong with that. Wouldn't be the first time a stressful and dangerous situation started a romance."
"I'm not on the market. I'm not even legally free yet. Besides, Jeanette, we work together. And I thought you were rooting for the other one."
"The other one was what you needed to get back out in the game. Fun and kinky and laughter. But that isn't staying power. That silent, brooding one has staying power. And he thinks of your kids, makes sure they are safe."
Dani sighed. She didn't need this right now. And if he was listening in, she was going to kill him-after she died of embarrassment! "I'll talk to you later, Jeanette. Call or talk with Xeno if you need anything." She looked up to see Nico in the doorway. "I suppose you want to head to the stadium now."
Nico read the exhaustion in her eyes and shook his head. "No. Today is a day of rest. You need to not be inundated with player problems and TK's hysterics. You need to just breathe and sleep."
Dani chuckled. "You think you can handle a whole day away or are you going to leave me in the hands of your trusty band of merry men in black?"
"I think we have already established the mistake that was." Nico raised his hand, not really in the mood to battle her again. "Not saying the motives were not right but we have seen the damage that can be done when I am not here. I have my laptop, aircard, iPad, and phone. I am fine here. I have a trusted man at the stadium who can intimidate the players if necessary. You should, though, call TK and give him the heads up."
Dani sighed. "All right, we'll agree to let that go." She looked down at her phone and glared then dialed the number before she picked it up this time. "I'm declaring a sick day, TK, so I expect you to behave, be good for Nico's man, and don't start shit." She chuckled at TK's response. "Seriously, Terrence, I need the day. One quiet day." She smiled. "Thanks, TK. And yes, you can send one tweet about yesterday. Only one." She stood up and walked into the living room and smiled at Nico sitting on the couch. "He's going to be sending a tweet, so be ready."
Nico chuckled. "I'll pull up his feed." He watched her pick up her book and settle on the couch with him. "So you like the flowers?"
"Flowers. Oh crap." Dani hit redial on her phone. "He got me fantastic flowers. Dozens! Gerber daisies, sunflowers, tulips and white daisies! Three bouquets with two dozen flowers in each." Dani rushed the words out to TK. He laughed at her, "Of course, Doctor D! Nico'd never let a woman down." Dani frowned at the phone before she put it down.
"What's wrong? What did TK say now?" Nico asked, concerned.
Dani rubbed her brow and shook her head. "Nothing. Just being TK." She leaned against his shoulder to see his iPad screen. "His tweet come through?"
Nico looked down at her head on his shoulder and frowned. He thought they had moved passed this. "Give him a minute or two. He needs to process what he says to get the biggest impact. I'm sure we won't be disappointed."
Dani angled her head up, leaving it on his shoulder. "True. And I won't tell him that you find amusement in some of his stunts. It wouldn't do to have him trying to get you to laugh as you kick his ass." Nico's laugh rumbled through his chest and Dani blinked, realizing how intimate this was but she decided she wasn't moving. She picked up her book and read as they waited.
Nico checked email for a few minutes then checked the Twitter feed. "He tweeted." Nico stated quietly and tilted the screen for her to see.
Dani rolled her eyes as she laughed. "DocD gives N run for $$! Knocks out bad guy with one upper cut. Breaks hand. N presents flowers & instruction on how-not-to break hand." She looked up at Nico. "You are, you know?" At his confused look, she clarified, "When my hand is healed, you are going to teach me how to throw a punch without breaking my hand. I know not to tuck my thumb into my fist."
Nico smiled. "You went for his jaw. You came up into it from below. It's a hard bone that way so it can break something in your hand easier. The location of where you hit a person has as much to do with it as how you hold your fist, Dani."
Dani nodded. "That makes sense." She nodded then stared off.
Nico poked her shoulder, he figured since she was still resting on his, he could bother her. "Where did you go just now?"
Dani sighed and shifted her head to look at his face. "I was almost too late, Nico."
Nico shifted and grabbed her upper arms. "Hey, none of that. You got there, Dani. You protected her and you saved her. She isn't coming down right now because you got there in time."
Dani's smile faltered but she blinked back the tears and nodded. "Do you mind if I stay here with you? I don't want to be alone right now."
Nico smiled. "You just want my shoulder. Just breathe, Dani."
He couldn't pinpoint when she slid down to rest her head on his thigh. One minute she had been resting against his shoulder, the next she was sleeping with his thigh as her pillow. This was dangerous. She was dangerous. But he let her stay and turned his phone on vibrate.
It was over an hour later, Dani was still sleeping, and he was wondering if he could shift out from under her when his phone went off. He stared at the number. He frowned and let it go to voicemail, wondering why the hell she was calling him.
Dani felt him tense and raised her head. "Nico, if you need to fix something, it's okay."
Nico sighed, sorry she had woken up. "Nope. Delegation is an art and I can still do it. I do need to get up, though, my leg is asleep."
Dani giggled and raised her head enough for him to get up. She slid down a bit on the couch to give him space on the couch and closed her eyes again.
"Nico love, where are you? I stopped by the Stadium but they said you were out of the office all day today. I need to see you, it's urgent. Juliette checked out of rehab again, not surprising. At least she lasted two weeks this time. Love, can you see if you can locate her? Thanks. Call me, Nico love. You know the number."
He listened to the voicemail and resisted the urge to punch a fist through the wall. Why did it seem she always came into his life when he was done with her and in the middle of something so much more important than her?
-%-
Dani got up at noon and decided she wanted to make sauce. She went to find Nico in the little den in the back working at the desk. "Nico?"
He growled at her then sighed. "Sorry, dealing with a situation. What do you need?"
"Can I have one of the men go to the store? I know they aren't errand boys but shopping one-handed will suck and I would like to make sauce." Dani asked.
Nico looked at his watch. "Just open the back door and ask for Frank, he's on for a bit longer."
"Thanks, Nico." She studied him a moment before she leaned against the doorjamb. "You can talk it out, Nico. I won't go running to Twitter to tweet anything."
She got what she wanted: a smile out of Nico. "Go have one of the men get your ingredients and make your sauce." He shook his head and waved her away.
-%-
The men ate in shifts six hours later. She was sitting and chatting with the last group when Nico walked through the living room. He stopped before the doorway and just listened to his men and Dani. He didn't analyze his annoyance with his men taking up Dani's time, he just ignored it and smiled at Dani's laugh. Feeling like a sneak, he moved into the kitchen. "How come I wasn't called for dinner?"
Dani looked up and laughed. "Because it isn't time for your and my dinner. I was just keeping the men company while they ate in shifts. I was going to call you in about 15 minutes."
Nico nodded. "All is quiet at the beach house."
Dani raised a brow. "I doubt that is the actual case but it is nice to know there hasn't been any security issues."
Nico chuckled. "True."
"This was nice, Dani. Thanks. The sauce was excellent. Reminds me of my grandparents'. They used to make sauce every Sunday and we were required to be there for Sunday supper." Nico complimented her.
Dani beamed. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. Not my best but not my worst effort by far. Frank, once he was off duty, helped with the de-seeding. I had forgotten how much a pain in the ass that step is without the food mill. When using a wire strainer and whisk, it sucks. And is impossible with only one hand. Frank heard me swear and came in."
Nico laughed. "And you got stories from him."
Dani stuck her tongue out at him. "You have the dishes. And he only told me stories he wanted to; there were no prompts from me. No matter how much I really wanted to!"
They talked with easy banter while he did the dishes. It was new for them, no ending in argument or wanting to throw something at the other. When he was done, they moved back into the living room and Nico flipped on the news before he sat down on the couch to skim Twitter feeds and Facebook statuses.
Dani settled back in on his thigh without asking. She smiled up at him before she focused on her book. She tried to read it, but just couldn't get into it at the moment. It was dark and she was living through a dark time. Putting her book down, she looked up at him before she asked, "What had you so frustrated and angry earlier? Was it the phone call you ignored before you got up?"
Nico tensed. He was not going to talk with her about Gabriella Pittman. He went with honesty to a point. "Yes, it was the voicemail from that ignored call that angered me. The caller has impeccable timing to derail projects when she wants something. Too easily, others around her get wrapped up in her drama and forget about the important things they are supposed to be working on."
Dani nodded and reached over to thread her fingers with his. "Knowing is half the battle."
Nico's tension evaporated as he laughed at her GIJoe reference. "You like that saying."
"Not as much as I love Spaceballs . Ooo, and The Princess Bride!" Dani laughed with him.
They talked of bad 80s 'B' movies which lead to 80s tv shows and more smiles and laughter than Dani had seen from Nico-ever.
-%-
They were back at the stadium the next day, Saturday. The team had a home game this Sunday so it was all hands on deck to get ready for it. Dani talked with her usual cast of players and checked in with Nico throughout the day. She frowned as she realized he was getting angrier as the day progressed. She knew it had to do with the ignored phone call the day before.
Nico had brought her food for lunch but they had ended up arguing so he had stalked away and she hadn't seen him in a few hours. There were rumblings with the players about a VIP guest who was around-one not well-liked.
Dani sighed. She had a meeting with Coach Parnell at 2 PM so she gave up looking for Nico and headed to the coach's office. Maybe he'd be at the meeting. Dani could only hope. They had talked about heading out to the beach house to have dinner with the kids.
-%-
Where the hell was Nico?! She needed out of this place or she was going to scream. He had said they would leave at 400 PM so they could have dinner with Jeanette, Ma, the kids, and Juliette tonight. It was now almost 530 PM! This wasn't like him-and if Rat Bastard had done anything new and he was keeping it from her, she would kill him.
"Doctor Santino, I think he was talking over by the Coach's office." Someone on Matt's staff told her.
Dani sighed, waved her thanks, and headed back in that direction only to see two figures-one in black-head toward the doors. She quickened her pace to try and catch them before they got outside-but didn't. She took a moment to think about going through the doors. Outside was not in the team's secure areas. She wasn't with Nico-and she had promised him. But damnit! He was out there!
Her decision made, she marched through the doors. It took a moment to spot the figures as her eyes adjusted to the brightness. What she saw stopped her cold. "Oh, Nico," she whispered. He was standing too close to the other woman, his hand on her arm. When the woman stepped closer to Nico, he didn't step back. Dani watched him grab both her arms to keep her where she was: no closer but he didn't push her back either. It was like watching a train wreck: you just had to keep watching. He must have gotten a call but the other woman covered his phone with her hand.
The moment Dani's own phone rang was the instant she placed the other woman-Mrs. Gabriella Pittman. She turned from the couple and looked down at the caller ID on her phone and swore-Xeno.
"Xeno! What's-." The man on the phone cut her off.
"We're fine. We thought you would be here by now. The kids are concerned."
Dani sighed and looked across the parking lot. "Nico had a situation arise. He's handling her as we speak. Go ahead and eat without us."
Xeno swore. "There's only one her who would prevent him from answering, Doc. You need to get him away from her. Now. Call him; he'll answer you."
Dani stiffened suddenly. "I don't think I can do that right now. Tell him I'm sorry I broke my word again."
"Hang up the phone, Doc." The breath was hot on her neck but it still made her shiver.
She made the motion but kept the phone connected: her only thought was that he had cloned the phone. He'd see it was Xeno and be concerned. She kept her eyes off Nico. He had taught her things. She closed her eyes but all she could think of at the moment was that she had broken promises to him again. She was outside without him. Wait. What had he told Lins that first night? Be smart. Think.
So Dani thought. She had wedge heeled boots on today and she could see Rat Bastard's sneakers as he pulled her farther from Nico. Farther from Nico was bad-she had to stop that. Nico would come for her, so she froze and pulled them to a standstill. She didn't even think as she brought her knee up and slammed her heel down as hard as she could. Vengeance had her twisting her heel as she continued the pressure down.
Nails dug into her arms, he swore in pain-but Dani just brought her other foot up then down on his. This one wasn't as direct of a hit but she was pulling out of his grasp-wrenching her shoulder-until she got free and used her purse to hit him in the face.
Someone pushed her farther away and she saw a flury of black take swings.
"Nico! What the hell are you doing to one of our star players?!" someone shrieked.
Dani blinked and faced the woman as sirens were heard and security poured out of the stadium-along with players and staff. "His contract was terminated over a week ago. He will now be arrested for assault and battery and attempted kidnapping on top of all the sexual assault and harassment charges he is out on bail for."
"Nico! Why the hell are you not handling this? You are supposed to be fixing these situations for me! His termination fee is outrageous! I want-." Gabriella was screeching.
Dani looked over at Nico, her apology in her eyes that this was happening in front of so many. Then she cut into the other woman's tirade. "Nico is handling the situation. He is fixing the situation for the women this rat bastard hurt. You don't get to want anything in this situation and Nico isn't yours to do your bidding." Dani's eyes narrowed as the woman finally focused on her. "Nico is a part of this team and he is one of mine and that gives him the mama bear protection being one of mine affords." Dani's eyes flicked up to his and caught a flash of smile before she refocused on the woman in front of her. The hand came out of nowhere but was stopped inches from her face. Dani didn't even flinch. She trusted Nico to be there.
"We paid the bastard's termination fee last week." Nico turned to one of his men, "Please see Mrs. Pittman home, Charlie."
"Who the hell do you think you are, Doctor Santino?" Gabriella spat. "You're nothing more than a two-bit shrink who can't keep a husband satisfied so you have to whore around the team for money and action."
Everyone stilled at that comment. Nico stared at the woman he had known for far too long wondering how he had never seen through her act before.
Dani blinked then smiled slowly. She held up a hand to quiet the sudden murmurs and to let Nico know she had this one. "And you are just a scared over-the-hill woman who let life pass her by to follow a dollar. Now you become the super bitch because you no longer can tolerate the life you knocked others to get. You're trembling, Mrs. Pittman, because you are realizing just what your recent actions have cost you. A price you weren't willing to pay but have no choice now, and that scares you. You're floundering, Mrs. Pittman, and just using words to lash out. But as I have told someone recently," her eyes raised up to Nico's for a moment before settling back on the woman in front of her, "I battle words every day."
Gabriella glared, spitting, "You have no idea what I am capable of! I'll see you get your due!"
Dani took two steps over to her, getting deep into the other woman's personal space, and stared her down. "I know exactly who and what you are, Mrs. Pittman, and I protect my own. You want to talk of what you are capable of? Let's leave Nico out of this and talk of your daughter." She felt the other woman flinch. "You don't even know where she is. I'll tell you because you are her mother: she is safe. But I won't tell you where. And you won't be able to get it out of Nico because in a few days even he won't know where she is. She will make it through this and be stronger. She'll be a better person than you ever showed her to be. I'll make sure she doesn't lose her way again." Dani's voice was steel and her words had been carefully calculated to inflict hurt, but then she stepped back and softened her next words. "You'll hit that wall, Gabriella, we all do one day or another. When you need to talk, you know how to contact me." Then she cradled her broken hand and turned away from the other woman.
Everyone-cops, security, staff, the players, TK, Coach, Matt, even Nico-stared at her in stunned silence. They weren't sure what startled them all more: Dani's ability to be cold and calculating or her sudden turn around to soft.
Chapter 7