It's hours later, and AJ wakes with a muffled scream - watching the accident replay over and over again in her mind, not even getting the least bit of respite, even from her dreams. She reaches for Danny for some comfort, to feel his arms around her, and she's alarmed when she feels his side of the bed totally empty.
Quietly, she slips out of bed, and searches for him, not even having to look far - she knows exactly where he'll be. Even in sleep, he looks haunted, broken, a shell of his former self. She wonders if she looks the same.
The bed is small, too small for Danny, and too small for the both of them together, but she doesn't care. She needs her husband now, more than ever. She climbs in, curling as close as possible, the feel of her smaller body wrapping around his larger at least a tiny mercy in such an awful time.
She's just not sure how they can go on without their daughter.
He feels the bed shift, the ice of her hand slip around his chest and he wants to cry so badly that it literally feels like his chest might explode. Danny remains steadfast however, shutting his eyes again as his hand comes down over AJ's, squeezing gently. He doesn't want to risk waking her if she's still more asleep than awake, and Danny knows being awake would be the worst thing for her right now.
Danny has a long day ahead of him tomorrow and he knows that he has to get some sleep in if he's going to get stuff done.
She feels the hitch in his breath, but doesn't say anything, not sure of what to say that would help the situation. She does squeeze his hand in return, though, and rest her face gently against his back, taking comfort just because he's by her side. As much as she doesn't want to fall back asleep, it's not long before she's on the verge.
Before she slips back into sleep, she nuzzles a bit closer, and murmurs quietly the only thing she can say. "I love you."
The next few days pass in a blur of meetings, phone calls, and deliveries for the wake. Danny tackles it all headlong, leaving AJ to while away the time in their bedroom or in Gracie's room, as she see fits.
On a much-too-sunny Sunday, he stands in front of the mirror, adjusting the name bar on his uniform. He hasn't worn it since Mecca died nearly a year ago, and it shows. Still in mint condition, and still a little too long in the sleeves, it's just as well-pressed as it had been when it was placed back into the garment bag.
One final deep breath, and he places the cap on his head, ready to escort AJ to the worst day of their lives.
Comments 20
Quietly, she slips out of bed, and searches for him, not even having to look far - she knows exactly where he'll be. Even in sleep, he looks haunted, broken, a shell of his former self. She wonders if she looks the same.
The bed is small, too small for Danny, and too small for the both of them together, but she doesn't care. She needs her husband now, more than ever. She climbs in, curling as close as possible, the feel of her smaller body wrapping around his larger at least a tiny mercy in such an awful time.
She's just not sure how they can go on without their daughter.
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Danny has a long day ahead of him tomorrow and he knows that he has to get some sleep in if he's going to get stuff done.
Reply
Before she slips back into sleep, she nuzzles a bit closer, and murmurs quietly the only thing she can say. "I love you."
She won't wake again until morning.
Reply
On a much-too-sunny Sunday, he stands in front of the mirror, adjusting the name bar on his uniform. He hasn't worn it since Mecca died nearly a year ago, and it shows. Still in mint condition, and still a little too long in the sleeves, it's just as well-pressed as it had been when it was placed back into the garment bag.
One final deep breath, and he places the cap on his head, ready to escort AJ to the worst day of their lives.
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