Fic: [NR] Mix of Dark Minors and Sunny Majors (Chapter 9/14)
Mix of Dark Minors and Sunny Majors
Word Count: Chapter 9: 3,664; [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]
-%-
"Yo, Matt, did Doctor D just take Mrs. Pittman down?" TK whispered loudly.
"Yup." Matt was still in shock.
"And then said she'd help the bitch?" TK asked.
"Yup."
TK threw up his hands. "I do not get chicks! Why ain't they slappin' each other and pullin' hair? The bitch called Doctor D a whore!" He shook his head.
-%-
"Charlie, see Mrs. Pittman home, now." There was no room for argument in Nico's voice.
"Nico-." But whatever she saw in his glare stopped her for a second, even had her stepping back from him. "I have my car, I'll see myself home." Gabriella huffed then tossed her hair and stalked away from everyone.
That had everyone erupting into action. Security passed the rat bastard over to the police. The police started demanding statements. The coach was yelling at the staff and players to get back inside, demanding Matt see that it happened. Charlie ran to keep up with the woman and make sure she got in her car. Nico stepped up to Dani's side and looked down at her.
"I'm sor-." "I shou-." They both started talking at once.
Dani reached up with her left hand and covered Nico's lips with her fingers. "Let me, please, Nico." She moved to cradle her broken hand-thankfully also the same shoulder she had wrenched getting away from rat bastard-and took a deep breath. There was so much she needed to tell him, to apologize for. First things first: broken rules. "I am so sorry I broke my promises to you, Nico." When he would have broken in, she shook her head. "Please just let me get through this, Nico." She waited for him to nod before she went on. "He got to me because I went back on my words to you. I promised you I wouldn't go outside the team's secure areas. I told you I wouldn't be far from you. I promised I wouldn't go outside the stadium without you. I didn't listen to you and he nearly succeeded in taking me-of hurting me. I am so sorry I hurt you, Nico." Her eyes filled with tears as she moved on to the next topic: dealing with Gabriella with an audience. "I'm sorry we had to do this with Gabriella with such a large audience. That isn't your style but I couldn't let it go. She has hurt too many for too long."
Nico rely wanted to yell and scream at her-shake her or strangle but her words floored him. He had failed her. He had left her alone. He had allowed a stupid situation take precedence above her life-threatening one. And if he hadn't seen before how toxic Gabriella was to him, and everything she touched, this woman's words and tears would have.
Dani used Nico's condemning silence to turn away.
Dani's moment unfroze Nico. He grabbed her shoulder only to swear at her hiss of pain. He moved to stand in front of her. "No. Now it's my turn. I failed you this time, Dani. I should-."
But the police broke in then. "Excuse me, but we need to get Doctor Santino checked out and then we need her statement."
Dani offered a quick smile to Nico. "We'll discuss this later, when we have time and more comfortable surroundings." She turned to the officer and asked, "Officer, can I have the team's doctor check out my shoulder here? You can take my statement while it is getting done. Mr. Careles has some calls to make about these new developments and he can have security get you a copy of the security tape."
"I am not leaving your side, Doctor Santino." Nico stated coldly. She was already getting rid of him? What happened to talking later? He wondered how much of the scene outside she had seen with Gab-Mrs. Pittman. Too much, he decided, since she was an intelligent woman who read people for a living.
Dani blinked and looked over at Nico. "Who said you were? He's not in jail yet." She froze. "He's under guard right? He won't get out tonight? Will he? Nico-." It was the fear talking but she suddenly couldn't control it.
He put a hand on her good shoulder and squeezed gently to reassure her. "Everyone is staying where they are until the trial is over and the verdict read." He felt her sag in relief. "Come on, let's get that shoulder looked at."
-%-
They were still in this office at the stadium five hours later but they were finally alone.
Nico looked over at her exhausted form and his eyes softened-until his eyes fell on her sling. He sighed: they needed out of here. They had talked to doctors, spent hours with the police even changing her clothes and giving up her shoes as evidence, gotten Xrays, talked to the team and staff, checked in with the original two women, and then spent time on the phone with Jeannette, the kids, her mother, Juliette, and Xeno. But he still hadn't his say.
Standing up, he spoke quietly. "Come on, let's get you home. Your home is secure and set to rights."
Dani looked up and shook her head slowly. "I don't want to go to my home, Nico. Not tonight. I know you worked miracles and the new security system is in place and it's totally cleaned up and even the damn landscaping is perfect, but I can't go back there tonight. Just not tonight."
Nico nodded, understanding. "All right. Where do you want to go? The beach house or the team's house?"
Dani shook her head no. "Not tonight. I just need a safe place far from all this. Some place that he hasn't tainted somehow. Some place quiet."
Nico sighed. "Very well." He offered her a hand up off his couch, his mind scrolling through a list of places and weighing if he should just use the team's house they've been staying at.
Dani took his offered hand and smiled, recognizing his planning face as he scrolled through options. She tangled her fingers with his and held on. "It has to be comfortable, Nico. You still get to have your say."
Nico blinked and looked down at her. "It'll wait. You're exhausted and I need to make sure he's processed."
Dani chuckled softly. She had to let go of his hand but she reached up to cup his cheek. "That will keep 'til morning, Nico. You'll be notified if something happens."
His eyes darkened. "I'm not allowing another screw up, Doctor Santino. Your sling illustrations the last one clear enough."
Dani took a deep breath as she took a step back from him and tensed. This was going all wrong but she couldn't seem to stop it. "I already took responsibility for that, Careles. What else do you want? My apology written in blood?"
Nico stared at her. "What the hell are you talking about? You were hurt because I put a vindictive, cold woman above your situation. I knew her situation was not important and I let her drag me into it with no thought to the consequences to what could happen to you!" He dragged a hand through his hair and turned from her. "It's always like that with her. I get sucked in and nothing penetrates." He admitted quietly. "Xeno called me and I ignored it. If it had been about-."
Dani stepped over to him and put a hand on his arm. He jerked at her touch but she kept it there. "She covered your phone. I saw that, Nico. You took it out, Nico. He called me." She smiled at him. "Xeno really doesn't like her."
Nico snorted. "Never has. Should have told me something right there." He shook his head. "Doesn't matter. I still left you alone."
"In a secure area with at least one scary dude shadowing me." Dani qualified.
He scowled. "See how much good that did! I should-."
"You fire or demote him and I'll-I'll-well, I don't know what I'll do, but I'll enlist Xeno and Frank to help me!" Dani cut him off. "I hauled ass after you. You know how I can get."
Nico smiled and nodded. "True." He sighed. "We both need rest. Come on." He slipped his coat over her shoulders and didn't even realize he'd taken her good arm until she rested her head on his arm.
-%-
He held open the door to a small house on a dead end street. Dani looked around and stopped short in the entranceway. She'd expected another team holding or even a Pittman Group holding. This was neither.
She blinked and shook her head. "No, Nico. This-you-No."
"You said comfortable and quiet. And I need it to be safe." Nico shrugged. "The men will grab our stuff from the team's holding and be here soon."
Dani stared at him. "But this is your home, Nico." She sighed, she recognized his stubborn blank face and just gave in. "Can we check in with Xeno one more time? I know you'd know if he was loose but-."
Nico smiled softly down at her. "But you are in Mother Santino mode and need reassurance all the charges are okay."
Dani eyed him at the name but there was no heat in it so she just shrugged. "I'll call TK later, too." With all that had gone on in the last week-god! Had it really only been a week since he had first been arrested?-she had finally given up on normal boundaries with TK. Not to mention admitting she was fond of him and wanted him to grow and succeed, just like one of her kids. God. She was doomed.
Nico chuckled, bringing Dani out of her thoughts. "I would expect nothing less than you checking in with all of your charges, Doctor."
She made a face at him before she began to prowl the house while he called Xeno. She stopped in the kitchen and smiled. She grabbed a bottle of red wine-yum malbec!-pulled open the drawer in front of the wine rack and chuckled as she picked up the opener she knew would be there. Control, order, organization, and efficiency: typical Nico. She knew now to throw in loyalty, black, and caring to round him out. She shook herself out of her psychoanalysis-she needed to stop doing that. He was a man and a friend, not a patient or a puzzle.
"Don't you dare sneak in and scare the crap out of me, Nico!" She scolded as she turned around. The wine bottle slipped out of her hand and shattered on the floor as she whispered, "No! No!" Instead of cowering, though, she grabbed another bottle and went after the man in Nico's kitchen.
"Dani! He's one of mine." Nico's voice halted her left-handed swing.
Dani looked over at Nico and started to crumple. Nico caught her and his man caught the wine bottle. "I'm sorry. So sorry, Nico and Nico's dude. So sorry. He startled me." She shook her head and looked up into Nico's eyes. "Should have known it wasn't you-you can sneak up on me. I knew the dude was there." Then she just crashed, her body finally giving into the stress and exhaustion.
Nico sighed in relief. "It's about time, Dani." He whispered then hauled her up in his arms. Looking over at his man, his face blanked. "Set up standard watch and security patrols. Only alert me if he gets away or free or it's an emergency or some-."
"Boss, get the good doctor lady to bed, sack out yourself, and we'll alert you if needed. You need the night too, boss." Nico's dude cut in. "I'll get the broken bottle cleaned up. Bring her pants, socks, and sneakers out and I'll toss them in the wash."
Nico sighed, the man was right. "Stay alert. Stay safe."
"Nico's Dude" smiled as he swept up the broken glass, soaked up the spilt wine, and even washed the floor. It was good to see the boss care about more than just the players-and focused on a woman worthy of him, one who wasn't just out to hurt someone or calculating her next move to maximize pain or gain.
Nico laid Dani on the spare bed then pulled off her wine-soaked sneakers and socks. He groaned and just gave in and grabbed the legs of the yoga pants she had changed into at the stadium and pulled them off too. He tossed a blanket over her and hurried out of the room.
-%-
Dani stretched then froze. This wasn't her room. Nor was it Jeanette's or the team's house they had been staying in. Where was she? Last night came back in a blinding rush and she groaned. She pulled the blanket over her head in embarrassment. She'd never be able to face Nico now. Sighing, she threw off the blanket and swung her legs off the bed.
And when she thought the morning couldn't get worse, she realized her pants were missing. She glanced around the room and noticed the robe on the chair. Then she saw her bag from the team's house and the gerber daisies on the dresser. She smiled at the flowers and pulled out a pair of pants then pulled the robe around her. She headed to the kitchen for coffee. As she moved through the house, she glanced at her watch and sighed: it was only just after 4 AM.
"Nico's Dude. Morning. Sorry about last night." Dani stated as she moved into the kitchen. "How many are on guard? Same as from the team's house? I'll fix breakfast sandwiches."
He shook his head. "Morning, Doctor Santino. Don't worry about breakfast; it's still a bit early for that and I can't imagine it would be easy with the cast and sling."
Dani smiled. "Your name? Am I cleared to know it since I almost took your head off with a wine bottle and you cleaned up the mess from the first one I dropped?" She opened a cabinet, impressed she found the mugs on the first guess.
The man chuckled. "You live up to your rep, Doc. I'm Tony DelFuco. And, yes, it's the same team as the team's house. Frank will be on this afternoon. The boss got to bed a couple hours ago so he'll probably be up in an hour or so. Probably set an alarm for 530 or 6 AM."
Dani nodded, sipping her coffee. "Thanks for the information, Tony."
"Oh, and Doc, your pants, socks, and sneakers are in the dryer." Then Tony was out the door.
Dani moved to find the dryer and brought the stuff to her room then hunted for Nico's room. While she had said she wouldn't change his alarm again, she didn't plan on changing the alarm. She paused at his door-would she just wake him up if she entered? She shrugged. She pulled the plug on the alarm clock then stole his phone and ran out of the room. Once she made it safely to the kitchen, she cracked up.
She debated on making food for herself then decided it was too early. She made fresh coffee for the men and had poured a second cup for herself.
Tony materialized as she was leaning against the counter halfway through the second cup. He noticed Nico's phone on the counter and raised an eyebrow. "Balls, Doc, you got 'em. I'll make sure I am far from here when the Boss wakes up."
Dani chuckled. "Thanks, Tony, and noted." Once he was gone, she took the rest of her second cup of coffee and Nico's phone into the living room and sank into his sofa and pulled her knees up to her chin and just breathed. It was the first time she felt she could relax in too long.
-%-
Nico found his phone next to her sleeping form on the couch just after 7 AM. He shook his head at her audacity.
"She was worried about you, Boss." Tony stated quietly from the door. "She was up about 4 AM. Had some coffee, stole your phone, then just relaxed." He added as the two men headed into the kitchen.
Nico nodded. "Usually she just changes the alarm from AM to PM but she had said she wouldn't do that again."
Tony just smiled and it was about time the Boss found someone who would take care of him for a change.
"I thought you said you were going to be as far from here as possible when Mr. Careles woke up and found his phone gone, Mr. DelFuco." Dani stated, leaning on the kitchen's doorjamb.
Tony shrugged as he turned to face her. "You mellowed him."
Dani laughed as Nico scowled. "You'd better do your report and head out before he loses his mellowness." She moved over to Nico with a scrunchie and plastic bag. "I'm going to shower."
Nico stepped behind her and pulled her hair back into a bun then taped the plastic around her cast.
Tony watched the scene but kept his smile to himself. He didn't have a death wish and he wasn't one to intrude.
-%-
She found him scanning emails on his iPad in the living room forty minutes later. She folded herself onto the sofa after deciding against another cup of coffee. "Anything vital I need to know? When do we need to head to the stadium for the game?" She was thankful it was a late game today.
"Rat bastard was processed. His attorney is pushing for bail. The DA is laughing since he attacked you on film. Your mother is concerned but knows you are in capable hands. Jeanette is taking the kids out somewhere. Your mother and Juliette are staying at the beach house." Nico stated as he continued to scroll through his email. "Since it's a late game, I should be there at 11 AM."
Dani sighed. "I won't apologize for stealing your phone, Nico. We both know you could have stopped me."
Nico's head jerked up to look at her. "Maybe I was avoiding another argument."
Dani shrugged. "No matter: you allowed it. Don't think I don't realize that, Nico."
Nico sighed. "So we are going to have an argument anyway."
She opened her mouth then thought better of saying anything. She got off the couch and walked to stand in front of him. She needed to see his eyes. "No, Nico, no argument. I just wish you would trust my judgment sometimes. I knew how tired you were. I knew you were up long after I collapsed. Why is it wrong when I do something to care for you, yet I have to be grateful when you do it for me?"
Nico held her eyes. "Did I say anything this morning about you allowing me to sleep longer this morning? Or how you went about getting that done?"
Dani sighed and just shook her head. She really didn't want to argue. "Did you eat?"
Nico gave her a half smile. "You cooking one-handed for me?"
Dani chuckled. "No, besides, I only asked if you ate, never said anything about me making anything."
He rolled his eyes-he had walked right into that one. "What would you like?"
Dani's eyes blanked. "I'd like for this nightmare to be over. I'd like for this evil to never have touched my family." She smiled at him. "As for food, whatever you are making is fine with me."
"You are getting entirely too many this morning, Doctor Santino." Nico shook his head as he stood up.
"Not getting anything you haven't offered, Nico." Dani chuckled and make her way to the kitchen. "How about an omelet: three eggs, peppers, mushrooms, bacon, and cheddar?
Nico squinted. "I thought whatever I was making was fine?"
Dani shrugged. "I'm a woman: I changed my mind." She moved around the kitchen with ease to help him.
He frowned at how comfortable she was in his kitchen.
"Just because I'm comfortable in your kitchen doesn't mean anything, Nico. Remember, you brought me here." Dani whispered as she handed him the eggs.
Nico sighed. "True enough, I did bring you here but you've been battering to be let in since you started." He flipped the omelet.
Dani smiled over at him as she sat at the peninsula. "Actually, you entered my life and wouldn't leave. After we eat, you'll get your say, Nico, don't think I've forgotten."
Nico nodded. "Never even crossed my mind."
"Nico, thank you for taking care of me last night when I collapsed. I hadn't realized how exhausted and stressed I was." Dani stated softly as she finished her omelet.
He nodded. "You are welcome."
Dani moved to finger the sunflowers. She leaned in to smell them and smiled. "You really did pick awesome flowers, Nico." She looked at him over the flowers. "It was late, how was there a place open with this much stock?"
Nico just held her smile. "I went with sunny flowers, ones that bring smiles and happiness because life has been too dark lately. Sunflowers, daisies, and gerbers are the best for that."
Dani nodded. "I love gerbers, specifically when they are like the bouquet you put in my room: with all the colors like a rainbow, but especially the orange ones." She studied him a moment before she asked, "And the tulips? Why the red and white ones?" She wondered if he would answer.
Nico held her gaze. "White are for forgiveness. I still feel guilty about you getting hurt." He shrugged and turned to wash the dishes in the sink. "The red were a good mix to go with the white."
Dani found it interesting that he didn't hold her gaze with that last sentence but she let it go, choosing to think on it. "I'm going to put in a call to the kids and Juliette while you do the dishes."
Chapter 8
Word Count: Chapter 9: 3,664; [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]
-%-
"Yo, Matt, did Doctor D just take Mrs. Pittman down?" TK whispered loudly.
"Yup." Matt was still in shock.
"And then said she'd help the bitch?" TK asked.
"Yup."
TK threw up his hands. "I do not get chicks! Why ain't they slappin' each other and pullin' hair? The bitch called Doctor D a whore!" He shook his head.
-%-
"Charlie, see Mrs. Pittman home, now." There was no room for argument in Nico's voice.
"Nico-." But whatever she saw in his glare stopped her for a second, even had her stepping back from him. "I have my car, I'll see myself home." Gabriella huffed then tossed her hair and stalked away from everyone.
That had everyone erupting into action. Security passed the rat bastard over to the police. The police started demanding statements. The coach was yelling at the staff and players to get back inside, demanding Matt see that it happened. Charlie ran to keep up with the woman and make sure she got in her car. Nico stepped up to Dani's side and looked down at her.
"I'm sor-." "I shou-." They both started talking at once.
Dani reached up with her left hand and covered Nico's lips with her fingers. "Let me, please, Nico." She moved to cradle her broken hand-thankfully also the same shoulder she had wrenched getting away from rat bastard-and took a deep breath. There was so much she needed to tell him, to apologize for. First things first: broken rules. "I am so sorry I broke my promises to you, Nico." When he would have broken in, she shook her head. "Please just let me get through this, Nico." She waited for him to nod before she went on. "He got to me because I went back on my words to you. I promised you I wouldn't go outside the team's secure areas. I told you I wouldn't be far from you. I promised I wouldn't go outside the stadium without you. I didn't listen to you and he nearly succeeded in taking me-of hurting me. I am so sorry I hurt you, Nico." Her eyes filled with tears as she moved on to the next topic: dealing with Gabriella with an audience. "I'm sorry we had to do this with Gabriella with such a large audience. That isn't your style but I couldn't let it go. She has hurt too many for too long."
Nico rely wanted to yell and scream at her-shake her or strangle but her words floored him. He had failed her. He had left her alone. He had allowed a stupid situation take precedence above her life-threatening one. And if he hadn't seen before how toxic Gabriella was to him, and everything she touched, this woman's words and tears would have.
Dani used Nico's condemning silence to turn away.
Dani's moment unfroze Nico. He grabbed her shoulder only to swear at her hiss of pain. He moved to stand in front of her. "No. Now it's my turn. I failed you this time, Dani. I should-."
But the police broke in then. "Excuse me, but we need to get Doctor Santino checked out and then we need her statement."
Dani offered a quick smile to Nico. "We'll discuss this later, when we have time and more comfortable surroundings." She turned to the officer and asked, "Officer, can I have the team's doctor check out my shoulder here? You can take my statement while it is getting done. Mr. Careles has some calls to make about these new developments and he can have security get you a copy of the security tape."
"I am not leaving your side, Doctor Santino." Nico stated coldly. She was already getting rid of him? What happened to talking later? He wondered how much of the scene outside she had seen with Gab-Mrs. Pittman. Too much, he decided, since she was an intelligent woman who read people for a living.
Dani blinked and looked over at Nico. "Who said you were? He's not in jail yet." She froze. "He's under guard right? He won't get out tonight? Will he? Nico-." It was the fear talking but she suddenly couldn't control it.
He put a hand on her good shoulder and squeezed gently to reassure her. "Everyone is staying where they are until the trial is over and the verdict read." He felt her sag in relief. "Come on, let's get that shoulder looked at."
-%-
They were still in this office at the stadium five hours later but they were finally alone.
Nico looked over at her exhausted form and his eyes softened-until his eyes fell on her sling. He sighed: they needed out of here. They had talked to doctors, spent hours with the police even changing her clothes and giving up her shoes as evidence, gotten Xrays, talked to the team and staff, checked in with the original two women, and then spent time on the phone with Jeannette, the kids, her mother, Juliette, and Xeno. But he still hadn't his say.
Standing up, he spoke quietly. "Come on, let's get you home. Your home is secure and set to rights."
Dani looked up and shook her head slowly. "I don't want to go to my home, Nico. Not tonight. I know you worked miracles and the new security system is in place and it's totally cleaned up and even the damn landscaping is perfect, but I can't go back there tonight. Just not tonight."
Nico nodded, understanding. "All right. Where do you want to go? The beach house or the team's house?"
Dani shook her head no. "Not tonight. I just need a safe place far from all this. Some place that he hasn't tainted somehow. Some place quiet."
Nico sighed. "Very well." He offered her a hand up off his couch, his mind scrolling through a list of places and weighing if he should just use the team's house they've been staying at.
Dani took his offered hand and smiled, recognizing his planning face as he scrolled through options. She tangled her fingers with his and held on. "It has to be comfortable, Nico. You still get to have your say."
Nico blinked and looked down at her. "It'll wait. You're exhausted and I need to make sure he's processed."
Dani chuckled softly. She had to let go of his hand but she reached up to cup his cheek. "That will keep 'til morning, Nico. You'll be notified if something happens."
His eyes darkened. "I'm not allowing another screw up, Doctor Santino. Your sling illustrations the last one clear enough."
Dani took a deep breath as she took a step back from him and tensed. This was going all wrong but she couldn't seem to stop it. "I already took responsibility for that, Careles. What else do you want? My apology written in blood?"
Nico stared at her. "What the hell are you talking about? You were hurt because I put a vindictive, cold woman above your situation. I knew her situation was not important and I let her drag me into it with no thought to the consequences to what could happen to you!" He dragged a hand through his hair and turned from her. "It's always like that with her. I get sucked in and nothing penetrates." He admitted quietly. "Xeno called me and I ignored it. If it had been about-."
Dani stepped over to him and put a hand on his arm. He jerked at her touch but she kept it there. "She covered your phone. I saw that, Nico. You took it out, Nico. He called me." She smiled at him. "Xeno really doesn't like her."
Nico snorted. "Never has. Should have told me something right there." He shook his head. "Doesn't matter. I still left you alone."
"In a secure area with at least one scary dude shadowing me." Dani qualified.
He scowled. "See how much good that did! I should-."
"You fire or demote him and I'll-I'll-well, I don't know what I'll do, but I'll enlist Xeno and Frank to help me!" Dani cut him off. "I hauled ass after you. You know how I can get."
Nico smiled and nodded. "True." He sighed. "We both need rest. Come on." He slipped his coat over her shoulders and didn't even realize he'd taken her good arm until she rested her head on his arm.
-%-
He held open the door to a small house on a dead end street. Dani looked around and stopped short in the entranceway. She'd expected another team holding or even a Pittman Group holding. This was neither.
She blinked and shook her head. "No, Nico. This-you-No."
"You said comfortable and quiet. And I need it to be safe." Nico shrugged. "The men will grab our stuff from the team's holding and be here soon."
Dani stared at him. "But this is your home, Nico." She sighed, she recognized his stubborn blank face and just gave in. "Can we check in with Xeno one more time? I know you'd know if he was loose but-."
Nico smiled softly down at her. "But you are in Mother Santino mode and need reassurance all the charges are okay."
Dani eyed him at the name but there was no heat in it so she just shrugged. "I'll call TK later, too." With all that had gone on in the last week-god! Had it really only been a week since he had first been arrested?-she had finally given up on normal boundaries with TK. Not to mention admitting she was fond of him and wanted him to grow and succeed, just like one of her kids. God. She was doomed.
Nico chuckled, bringing Dani out of her thoughts. "I would expect nothing less than you checking in with all of your charges, Doctor."
She made a face at him before she began to prowl the house while he called Xeno. She stopped in the kitchen and smiled. She grabbed a bottle of red wine-yum malbec!-pulled open the drawer in front of the wine rack and chuckled as she picked up the opener she knew would be there. Control, order, organization, and efficiency: typical Nico. She knew now to throw in loyalty, black, and caring to round him out. She shook herself out of her psychoanalysis-she needed to stop doing that. He was a man and a friend, not a patient or a puzzle.
"Don't you dare sneak in and scare the crap out of me, Nico!" She scolded as she turned around. The wine bottle slipped out of her hand and shattered on the floor as she whispered, "No! No!" Instead of cowering, though, she grabbed another bottle and went after the man in Nico's kitchen.
"Dani! He's one of mine." Nico's voice halted her left-handed swing.
Dani looked over at Nico and started to crumple. Nico caught her and his man caught the wine bottle. "I'm sorry. So sorry, Nico and Nico's dude. So sorry. He startled me." She shook her head and looked up into Nico's eyes. "Should have known it wasn't you-you can sneak up on me. I knew the dude was there." Then she just crashed, her body finally giving into the stress and exhaustion.
Nico sighed in relief. "It's about time, Dani." He whispered then hauled her up in his arms. Looking over at his man, his face blanked. "Set up standard watch and security patrols. Only alert me if he gets away or free or it's an emergency or some-."
"Boss, get the good doctor lady to bed, sack out yourself, and we'll alert you if needed. You need the night too, boss." Nico's dude cut in. "I'll get the broken bottle cleaned up. Bring her pants, socks, and sneakers out and I'll toss them in the wash."
Nico sighed, the man was right. "Stay alert. Stay safe."
"Nico's Dude" smiled as he swept up the broken glass, soaked up the spilt wine, and even washed the floor. It was good to see the boss care about more than just the players-and focused on a woman worthy of him, one who wasn't just out to hurt someone or calculating her next move to maximize pain or gain.
Nico laid Dani on the spare bed then pulled off her wine-soaked sneakers and socks. He groaned and just gave in and grabbed the legs of the yoga pants she had changed into at the stadium and pulled them off too. He tossed a blanket over her and hurried out of the room.
-%-
Dani stretched then froze. This wasn't her room. Nor was it Jeanette's or the team's house they had been staying in. Where was she? Last night came back in a blinding rush and she groaned. She pulled the blanket over her head in embarrassment. She'd never be able to face Nico now. Sighing, she threw off the blanket and swung her legs off the bed.
And when she thought the morning couldn't get worse, she realized her pants were missing. She glanced around the room and noticed the robe on the chair. Then she saw her bag from the team's house and the gerber daisies on the dresser. She smiled at the flowers and pulled out a pair of pants then pulled the robe around her. She headed to the kitchen for coffee. As she moved through the house, she glanced at her watch and sighed: it was only just after 4 AM.
"Nico's Dude. Morning. Sorry about last night." Dani stated as she moved into the kitchen. "How many are on guard? Same as from the team's house? I'll fix breakfast sandwiches."
He shook his head. "Morning, Doctor Santino. Don't worry about breakfast; it's still a bit early for that and I can't imagine it would be easy with the cast and sling."
Dani smiled. "Your name? Am I cleared to know it since I almost took your head off with a wine bottle and you cleaned up the mess from the first one I dropped?" She opened a cabinet, impressed she found the mugs on the first guess.
The man chuckled. "You live up to your rep, Doc. I'm Tony DelFuco. And, yes, it's the same team as the team's house. Frank will be on this afternoon. The boss got to bed a couple hours ago so he'll probably be up in an hour or so. Probably set an alarm for 530 or 6 AM."
Dani nodded, sipping her coffee. "Thanks for the information, Tony."
"Oh, and Doc, your pants, socks, and sneakers are in the dryer." Then Tony was out the door.
Dani moved to find the dryer and brought the stuff to her room then hunted for Nico's room. While she had said she wouldn't change his alarm again, she didn't plan on changing the alarm. She paused at his door-would she just wake him up if she entered? She shrugged. She pulled the plug on the alarm clock then stole his phone and ran out of the room. Once she made it safely to the kitchen, she cracked up.
She debated on making food for herself then decided it was too early. She made fresh coffee for the men and had poured a second cup for herself.
Tony materialized as she was leaning against the counter halfway through the second cup. He noticed Nico's phone on the counter and raised an eyebrow. "Balls, Doc, you got 'em. I'll make sure I am far from here when the Boss wakes up."
Dani chuckled. "Thanks, Tony, and noted." Once he was gone, she took the rest of her second cup of coffee and Nico's phone into the living room and sank into his sofa and pulled her knees up to her chin and just breathed. It was the first time she felt she could relax in too long.
-%-
Nico found his phone next to her sleeping form on the couch just after 7 AM. He shook his head at her audacity.
"She was worried about you, Boss." Tony stated quietly from the door. "She was up about 4 AM. Had some coffee, stole your phone, then just relaxed." He added as the two men headed into the kitchen.
Nico nodded. "Usually she just changes the alarm from AM to PM but she had said she wouldn't do that again."
Tony just smiled and it was about time the Boss found someone who would take care of him for a change.
"I thought you said you were going to be as far from here as possible when Mr. Careles woke up and found his phone gone, Mr. DelFuco." Dani stated, leaning on the kitchen's doorjamb.
Tony shrugged as he turned to face her. "You mellowed him."
Dani laughed as Nico scowled. "You'd better do your report and head out before he loses his mellowness." She moved over to Nico with a scrunchie and plastic bag. "I'm going to shower."
Nico stepped behind her and pulled her hair back into a bun then taped the plastic around her cast.
Tony watched the scene but kept his smile to himself. He didn't have a death wish and he wasn't one to intrude.
-%-
She found him scanning emails on his iPad in the living room forty minutes later. She folded herself onto the sofa after deciding against another cup of coffee. "Anything vital I need to know? When do we need to head to the stadium for the game?" She was thankful it was a late game today.
"Rat bastard was processed. His attorney is pushing for bail. The DA is laughing since he attacked you on film. Your mother is concerned but knows you are in capable hands. Jeanette is taking the kids out somewhere. Your mother and Juliette are staying at the beach house." Nico stated as he continued to scroll through his email. "Since it's a late game, I should be there at 11 AM."
Dani sighed. "I won't apologize for stealing your phone, Nico. We both know you could have stopped me."
Nico's head jerked up to look at her. "Maybe I was avoiding another argument."
Dani shrugged. "No matter: you allowed it. Don't think I don't realize that, Nico."
Nico sighed. "So we are going to have an argument anyway."
She opened her mouth then thought better of saying anything. She got off the couch and walked to stand in front of him. She needed to see his eyes. "No, Nico, no argument. I just wish you would trust my judgment sometimes. I knew how tired you were. I knew you were up long after I collapsed. Why is it wrong when I do something to care for you, yet I have to be grateful when you do it for me?"
Nico held her eyes. "Did I say anything this morning about you allowing me to sleep longer this morning? Or how you went about getting that done?"
Dani sighed and just shook her head. She really didn't want to argue. "Did you eat?"
Nico gave her a half smile. "You cooking one-handed for me?"
Dani chuckled. "No, besides, I only asked if you ate, never said anything about me making anything."
He rolled his eyes-he had walked right into that one. "What would you like?"
Dani's eyes blanked. "I'd like for this nightmare to be over. I'd like for this evil to never have touched my family." She smiled at him. "As for food, whatever you are making is fine with me."
"You are getting entirely too many this morning, Doctor Santino." Nico shook his head as he stood up.
"Not getting anything you haven't offered, Nico." Dani chuckled and make her way to the kitchen. "How about an omelet: three eggs, peppers, mushrooms, bacon, and cheddar?
Nico squinted. "I thought whatever I was making was fine?"
Dani shrugged. "I'm a woman: I changed my mind." She moved around the kitchen with ease to help him.
He frowned at how comfortable she was in his kitchen.
"Just because I'm comfortable in your kitchen doesn't mean anything, Nico. Remember, you brought me here." Dani whispered as she handed him the eggs.
Nico sighed. "True enough, I did bring you here but you've been battering to be let in since you started." He flipped the omelet.
Dani smiled over at him as she sat at the peninsula. "Actually, you entered my life and wouldn't leave. After we eat, you'll get your say, Nico, don't think I've forgotten."
Nico nodded. "Never even crossed my mind."
"Nico, thank you for taking care of me last night when I collapsed. I hadn't realized how exhausted and stressed I was." Dani stated softly as she finished her omelet.
He nodded. "You are welcome."
Dani moved to finger the sunflowers. She leaned in to smell them and smiled. "You really did pick awesome flowers, Nico." She looked at him over the flowers. "It was late, how was there a place open with this much stock?"
Nico just held her smile. "I went with sunny flowers, ones that bring smiles and happiness because life has been too dark lately. Sunflowers, daisies, and gerbers are the best for that."
Dani nodded. "I love gerbers, specifically when they are like the bouquet you put in my room: with all the colors like a rainbow, but especially the orange ones." She studied him a moment before she asked, "And the tulips? Why the red and white ones?" She wondered if he would answer.
Nico held her gaze. "White are for forgiveness. I still feel guilty about you getting hurt." He shrugged and turned to wash the dishes in the sink. "The red were a good mix to go with the white."
Dani found it interesting that he didn't hold her gaze with that last sentence but she let it go, choosing to think on it. "I'm going to put in a call to the kids and Juliette while you do the dishes."
Chapter 8