I Love Me Some Evil Cliffhangers. :)
Outside Observations
Word Count: 2,524
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Nico/Dani, Dani/Matt, reference to past Dani/JD
Spoilers: up to 1x12.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. I just break things.
Summary: Sometimes it's only clear from the outside.
Author's Note: I had this thought nagging at me for a while, and though I'm not a big fan of JD, in the end, he did right by Dani, and so I started thinking about if he came back what that might be like, what he might expect/do, and this was what I ended up with. I thought it would be three scenes, but it didn't quite end there, so... there is a second part. I'm just evil enough to let this one end here. :)
About Him
"Do you have a moment?"
At the knock, Careles looked up from his desk and frowned a little. JD wasn't surprised to get the frown. He knew that the other man probably thought he'd never see JD's face again. He wouldn't blame him, not for a second. JD had gone to Africa not knowing when he'd come back, and he'd left everything-and everyone-here behind. He had someone in mind that he wanted to see, but he had figured there was a stop he should make first. "Doctor Aldridge? What brings you by here?"
"I was back in town, just finished my new book. Thought I'd offer you a free copy. Signed," JD said, handing it over to him. The advance copies weren't even ready to go out yet, but he'd bullied his publisher into giving him two copies, one of which he'd already handed over. The other one would wait a little bit longer. "I'll personalize it if you want."
"That won't be necessary," the head of security assured him, taking the book. He opened it, saw the signature, and set it down. "Thank you. This was... thoughtful of you."
JD shrugged. "I figured I owed it to the man who actually read my other book."
"And if I confess that I found the Cliff Notes version?" Careles asked, opening the bottom drawer of his desk and taking something out of it. JD couldn't get a look at what it was, but he supposed that really didn't matter.
"Unfortunately for you, there never was one," JD told him. The idea of his books ever being popular enough to get a Cliff Notes version made or even a study guide was unlikely, but he was flattered all the same. "You actually had to read it."
"I spend a lot of time waiting. It gives me time to read."
"But not enough time to sleep?"
The other man didn't answer. He rose from his desk, picked up the book and then his coat. "Again, thank you for the book. I will let you know what I thought of it."
JD smiled, walking out with him. He didn't have any idea where Dani's office was, and he'd been meaning to ask. It looked like now was the time. Careles was headed out, and JD wasn't stupid enough to try and make him stay. "Is Dani-Doctor Santino here?"
The question stopped Careles for a moment. "Yes, I believe she is. If you wish to see her, though, perhaps you should make an appointment."
"An appointment?" JD repeated, and then he heard the sound of Dani's laughter coming down the hallway. He could wait. If she was coming, there was no reason to make an appointment. He was patient. Then he frowned and turned to the head of security again. "Is there some reason why I shouldn't be here? Something I should know? A reason you don't want me around?"
Careles frowned. "I have no reason to disallow your presence."
JD gave the man an odd look, but his attention was quickly drawn to the couple coming around the corner. Dani was leaning on the arm of the friend she'd introduced him to last time he was here. Oh. So that was why Careles suggested he have an appointment.
"JD," Dani began as she caught sight of him. She smiled warmly. "What are you doing here? Wow, it is so good to see you."
She came over and hugged him, and he saw the frown on the other man's face, the trainer. So, that one was the jealous type, was he? "I'm back with my new book. They want me to do a tour this time. I don't know about that, but I just gave your friend a copy of it."
"Really?" Dani asked, stepping back from JD to look at the head of security.
"I even got an autograph, Doctor Santino. I had better take care of it. It could be worth something someday," Careles said, holding up his copy. "Thanks again, Doctor Aldridge. Good evening. A pleasure to see you again."
JD nodded, watching the other man leave thinking that whole exchange was more than a little awkward. Dani was frowning, too, and she didn't look happy that Careles had already gone. Things were strained there. JD had a few ideas as to why, too. He turned back to Dani. "I just thought that I'd ask you if you'd be interested in a cup of coffee with a friend, put up with a few of my stories about Africa, catch me up on everything that has happened in your life?"
"Of course. Let me call you," she agreed with a smile. The trainer put his arm on her back and led her forward, toward the door.
"I'm glad you were able to meet me for coffee."
Dani smiled, turning her cup over. It was nice to be able to talk with JD again, and without any awkwardness of an unfulfilled tension or awkward dating-that was even better. She was enjoying herself. It had been a pleasant morning so far, and she didn't have any patient appointments until the afternoon. It was a good day to meet, plenty of time to talk. "No, I'm glad. I loved the stories. Thank you for telling me them. And for the copy of the book."
"Well, who else is going to want it, right?" JD joked, shaking his head as he looked at the picture on the back. "Terrible picture. I look like I ate rotten fruit or something."
She laughed. "It's not that bad. And you gave one to Nico, right? He did seem... happy to get it."
"Honestly, I figured I'd better give him a copy and make sure I wasn't in any trouble with him for leaving before I asked you to coffee."
She shook her head. "We parted on good terms, JD. It was fine. We both knew it couldn't last. Nico never threatened you after you were gone."
"I find that surprising."
Dani frowned. "What? Why? Nico's not evil. He's cautious. Paranoid. But not a killer and not a vicious man. He did ask, in the vaguest terms, if I was okay the day after you left, but other than that, not a word. You're being way too paranoid yourself."
JD shook his head. "I don't think so. You didn't see what I saw."
Dani didn't like the sound of that. She set down her cup and put her hands on the table. "What do you mean? Did Nico visit you? Did he threaten you when I wasn't there? Why didn't you tell me? I don't know why you would think that I would be okay with it or put up with it? I will go over there right now and tell Nico he is never to interfere in my personal life again. I'll quit the Hawks if that's what it takes. I can't believe this. I thought we were friends."
"You and me?"
"No, me and Nico. He shared something with me that... Never mind. Clearly he has a different definition of friendship than I do if he went behind my back and threatened you."
JD shook his head again. "I was never threatened, Dani."
"Then... what?"
He put a hand over hers. "I didn't have an illusions as to what I'd find when I got back. I knew you would move on without me, and I knew it would be someone from the Hawks. That was where your life was, and I wasn't a part of it. I couldn't be. I wasn't ready to be tied down to one place. You are. You're needed here. I knew that then, and I still know it now."
She forced a smile. "It was nice, between us. I'm glad we were able to stay friends."
"Me, too," JD agreed. He picked up his coffee cup. "You've heard most of my stories already. Why don't we talk about you for a while? How is life with the Hawks treating you? How are your patients? Your children?"
"One thing at a time," Dani said with a laugh. "First, you know I can't talk about my patients. Second, Ray Jay and Lindsay are good. They're with their father right now, and so far the custody arrangements have been working out. The divorce has been final for a while now. It was a bit rocky right after the papers, but we're back to our usual level of chaos. Third, things are good with the Hawks. It's been a little rough since TK got shot, but he's recovering now. He's in rehab, and he hates it. He's always complaining, but that's typical TK. He's... a lot better. I think it helped, in an odd way. Being shot showed him how much everyone really cared about him, and that meant a lot to him."
"No stories? Tell me how TK got shot, at least."
"I don't know all of the details. It happened at a club, a fan from the other team just... lost it and pulled out a gun. It was right after a big playoff game. Most people consider that the reason that the Hawks didn't win the conference this year-because TK got shot," Dani said, picking up her coffee again. "TK says he'll get them next year, and he's bound and determined to prove it. When are you going to ask about the elephant in the room?"
"You have an elephant? I thought I knew what those looked like."
She shook her head. "You know what I mean, JD. You wanted to ask about Matt, didn't you?"
"I'm not jealous, if that's what you're asking. I'd like to be. You're a beautiful woman. But I had my chance. It's over. I am a big enough man to accept that. The only thing I am, really, is surprised."
"Surprised? You just got through telling me I was beautiful. You said you knew I'd move on with someone from the Hawks. Why would you be surprised that I'm with Matt?"
"Because I saw the way that someone else looked at you. Someone who called you an impact player and interrupted our dinner. Someone who read my book to make sure that the guy you were eating with was a good man. Someone who shared things with you and you called a friend. Someone who has an issue with you being with this Matt guy."
Dani frowned, shaking her head again. "Nico? You're kidding. He doesn't-"
"He does, Dani. He might not even know it yet, but he does. Take it from someone who's on the outside. I can see what the rest of you can't," JD told her. He finished his coffee. "I didn't tell you that to make you uncomfortable. Maybe if you confront the issue, you two can work together again because I also noticed some... tension there."
Dani had to admit, she'd picked up on that herself, but she figured that Nico was just stressed. He'd taken the brunt of things after TK got shot, and the fallout from the Pittman divorce was almost as ugly. He had every reason to be tired, snappish, and keep himself at a distance from everyone despite her best efforts. "Thank you, JD."
"What are friends for?"
"Nico, do you have a minute?"
"At the moment... No," Nico answered, taking a deep breath. He shut the drawer and picked up his coat. He was on his way out before she arrived, and she should have been able to see that. "I have to handle a situation right now, so if you would excuse me, Doctor Santino...?"
"Can I walk with you?" she asked, and he frowned at her. He didn't know what was bringing this on. Perhaps Aldridge was more of a problem than he'd thought. The man was supposed to be on his book tour, heading across the country for a series of signings and promotional events, though he could have chosen to stay behind or he could have been harassing her over the phone.
"Is something wrong?"
"Not exactly."
"Not exactly," he repeated, giving her a look. "That does not sound... convincing. What is going on? Did something happen with Aldridge? If he has done anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or would fall under the term harassment, I can assign a protection detail and-"
"JD didn't do anything. I would tell you if he had, but he didn't. And he funny enough, he defended you when I thought you had threatened him."
Nico frowned. "He... defended me? I didn't get the impression that he thought much of me, despite his invitation to join you both for drinks. The book was a nice gesture, but I think that he might have been just intimidated enough to make sure I wasn't planning on doing anything to him on his return."
"Would you have?"
"I protect my assets, as I told you before," Nico reminded her. "If Aldridge had done something, I would have intervened, if it was necessary. If it's not, then perhaps you will tell me what is troubling you, because we're almost to the parking lot, and I do have to leave."
She hesitated for a moment. "It's... This is probably nothing, but JD brought it up, and I don't know. I'd noticed that things were a little odd between us lately, and I thought I'd ask you about it because... I don't know. I guess I wanted to know if there was a reason for the distance or tension or whatever it is between us."
"I am busy. You're busy. That's all. There has been a lot of pressure since Terrence was shot, and though things have settled a little, that has not really abated. You would say that we're all suffering from delayed stress syndrome, some post-traumatic stress after the shooting. It affected everyone and then on its heels came the divorce and the ownership shake up that everyone's still feeling."
"Yeah," she whispered.
He stopped, touching her arm. "What is it? I know that it wasn't easy with the team changing hands like it did-from Pittman to his wife to some foreign holding company that turned out to belong to Marshall after all-but I had thought that the dust was...settling."
"Oh, Nico, if it was only that, it would be simple, really," she began. She ran her fingers through her hair, looking stressed. "Promise me that you won't... laugh or overreact or anything if I ask this, please."
"I can't do that. Without knowing what you're going to ask me, I can't predict my reaction."
She sighed. "You couldn't make this any easier, could you?"
"Apparently not, though I'm not sure what you're really asking of me or wanting or why this is so difficult," he said, frowning. "Whatever it is, perhaps you should just say what it is. It can be dealt with after that point."
"Or it can make this rift between us even wider."
"Also true, but until you say what it is, there is nothing that can be done about it."
"JD... made some observations."
"And?"
"He thinks you're in love with me."
Part two