Fic - Zero Hours - Betty/Daniel - PG
Title: Zero Hours
Pairing: Betty/Daniel with mentions of Betty/Henry
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~1380
Summary: AU. Daniel makes a realization just as Betty’s life begins to crumble. Spoilers up to ‘Bananas For Betty’.
Disclaimer: Ugly Betty does not belong to me.
AN: After whining for a week about how evil my muse was, it gave me this.
The countdown had begun at seventeen weeks. Daniel knew this since he’d overheard Betty mention it to Christina. After hearing too much of their conversation, he had slipped back into his office and picked up the calendar his bank had given him and counted. When he hit the date of Henry’s departure, he circled it in red marker, and placed the calendar away so no one would see it.
As the week slowly dwindled down, Daniel tried his best not to say anything judgmental. He saw a change in Betty that broke his heart and spoke volumes on how she was really feeling. He would ask, of course, if there was anything she needed and, in true Betty fashion, she would grin and tell him no.
He wanted to say more; wanted to do more but he was at a loss. Betty had always been the levelheaded one and not him. So Daniel did what he’d been doing and was there for her as the weeks continued to disappear.
***
“How much do we still have to go through?” Betty asked. She was sitting in Daniel’s office, one eye on the clock and the other on the current layout.
Daniel looked up from the papers in front of him and noticed how edgy she seemed. The seventeen weeks had turned into four days and it was starting to show. “Not much,” he said, while considering her for a brief moment. “Why don’t you go? I know Henry leaves soon and--.”
“No. It’s okay. He’s just packing and doesn’t have a lot of time and...”
Betty trailed off and Daniel could see the hurt in her eyes. He wanted to move over to her and offer her some sort of solace but before he could, she was standing from her chair and started to pace the office.
“I should go. It’s only four days and... four days seem like nothing to some and I guess it really isn’t but--.”
It pained him to see her like this. Daniel closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. He had a sudden need to protect her and make sure nothing bad ever happened to her. He wanted to love her like Henry wouldn’t.
When the realization of his thoughts came crashing down around him, Daniel’s eyes flew open and he stared at Betty, his mouth agape.
He loved her.
Of course, he had always loved her. As a friend. This... well, this was different. It was the sort of emotion he’d only felt for a select number of women.
“Betty...”
Her name seemed to hang in the air, as if it was waiting for him to finish his confession. Yet, he couldn’t. Daniel couldn’t do that to her. He couldn’t blurt out his feelings while her world was crashing down around her. So instead of saying what he wanted to, he merely cleared his throat and pointed toward the door.
“Go be with Henry.”
The order was heard and Betty nodded while muttering a soft ‘thank you’. She was out the door and he watched while she gathered her things and put her jacket on.
And while she disappeared down the hallway, Daniel took a shaky breath as his chest tightened with pain.
***
Four days later, Betty’s desk was empty. Her coat wasn’t draped over the back of her chair nor was her bag sitting on the floor. There were no kittens running across her computer screen, and Daniel hated it even though he’d been the one who gave her the day off.
Henry was leaving that evening and Betty wanted to spend one last day with him.
Despite his best efforts, Daniel couldn’t bring himself to care about the work at hand. He missed Betty. He missed seeing her and it hurt to know she was hurting. His office door stayed shut all day because he believed it would make it hurt less. Yet, it didn’t. The realization he’d had days before was still there. He still loved her but could do nothing to stop her pain.
When the day came to an end, Daniel went through the motions of leaving the building and getting into one of the cars. As it pulled away from the curb, he glanced at his watch, noting the time. Henry’s plane had taken off already.
Seventeen weeks had turned into zero hours.
Fishing around in his pocket, he pulled out his cell phone and flipped it open. Would he dare to call her? Daniel didn’t even know if he was doing the right thing, yet, he dialed Betty’s number anyway.
“Hello?”
“Betty? It’s Daniel. Are you okay?” he asked. When he heard car horns in the background, he furrowed his brow. “Where are you?”
“I... well, I’m outside your apartment building. I didn’t know where else to go,” Betty said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Daniel felt his heart break and he took a deep breath. “I’ll be there in a few minutes. Just hang on tight,” he said before ending the call.
As the car approached his building, Daniel spotted Betty. She was standing by the front door, her hands tucked inside the pockets of her jacket and her head bowed. Once again, he felt his heart shatter to pieces. He only hoped he could do something to make her feel better.
“Betty,” Daniel said while pushing the car door open. He barely allowed the car to stop before he jumped out and went to her. “Are you okay? What happened?”
Daniel winced when the words spilled from his mouth. He knew what had happened.
“He’s gone,” she said without looking up. “I thought maybe... maybe he... I could make him stay.”
“I’m sorry he hurt you.”
Betty finally looked up, her eyes red from crying. “It’s not that he hurt me, Daniel. It’s... if I can’t keep someone like Henry happy enough to want to stay, how can I expect to make anyone else happy? No one is going to want me if I can’t make them happy,” she quietly said.
“Betty, no! That’s not true!” Daniel protested. He shook his head and reached down to take her hand. “Betty, listen to me. What happened with Henry was his fault. It had nothing to do with your ability to make others happy.”
Betty looked like she didn’t believe him.
“You make a lot of people happy, Betty. Henry’s... well, Henry’s a jerk. Please don’t beat yourself up because of it. Instead, you should hold your head up and move on.”
“What if no one wants me?”
“Anyone would be lucky to have you, Betty.”
“But Hilda once said I aim too high and--.”
Daniel waved his hand and cut her off. “Why shouldn’t you?” he asked. “You should go out there and get what you want. You deserve it.”
Betty stared at him for a moment before looking away. “I don’t think I can have what I truly want,” she quietly admitted.
“Have you tried?”
“No.”
“Then try.”
Betty turned her head and looked up at him. Daniel looked down at her, wondering what she was thinking. Suddenly, her glove-covered hands were on his face and she was leaning toward him.
The moment their lips touched, Daniel quickly wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. He couldn’t let her go. Not after wanting this for so long. And, even if this was to be the only kiss they shared, he wanted to remember it.
When it ended, Daniel licked his tingling lips and smiled. However, his smile faltered when he saw the look of horror on Betty’s face. “What’s wrong?” he asked while she twisted out of his arms.
“I’m sorry. I... I’m sorry,” Betty said. She turned as if she wanted to run away. But before she could, Daniel caught her by the elbow.
“Betty...”
“I’m sorry, Daniel. Can I just go? I shouldn’t have done that and--.”
“Was this what you wanted?” he gently asked.
“I...” She trailed off and looked away. “Yes.”
Daniel grinned and gently turned her face so he could look at her. “Good, because I’ve wanted it too,” he whispered. Leaning over, he kissed her, knowing he would never tire of her or how he felt.
Pairing: Betty/Daniel with mentions of Betty/Henry
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~1380
Summary: AU. Daniel makes a realization just as Betty’s life begins to crumble. Spoilers up to ‘Bananas For Betty’.
Disclaimer: Ugly Betty does not belong to me.
AN: After whining for a week about how evil my muse was, it gave me this.
The countdown had begun at seventeen weeks. Daniel knew this since he’d overheard Betty mention it to Christina. After hearing too much of their conversation, he had slipped back into his office and picked up the calendar his bank had given him and counted. When he hit the date of Henry’s departure, he circled it in red marker, and placed the calendar away so no one would see it.
As the week slowly dwindled down, Daniel tried his best not to say anything judgmental. He saw a change in Betty that broke his heart and spoke volumes on how she was really feeling. He would ask, of course, if there was anything she needed and, in true Betty fashion, she would grin and tell him no.
He wanted to say more; wanted to do more but he was at a loss. Betty had always been the levelheaded one and not him. So Daniel did what he’d been doing and was there for her as the weeks continued to disappear.
***
“How much do we still have to go through?” Betty asked. She was sitting in Daniel’s office, one eye on the clock and the other on the current layout.
Daniel looked up from the papers in front of him and noticed how edgy she seemed. The seventeen weeks had turned into four days and it was starting to show. “Not much,” he said, while considering her for a brief moment. “Why don’t you go? I know Henry leaves soon and--.”
“No. It’s okay. He’s just packing and doesn’t have a lot of time and...”
Betty trailed off and Daniel could see the hurt in her eyes. He wanted to move over to her and offer her some sort of solace but before he could, she was standing from her chair and started to pace the office.
“I should go. It’s only four days and... four days seem like nothing to some and I guess it really isn’t but--.”
It pained him to see her like this. Daniel closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. He had a sudden need to protect her and make sure nothing bad ever happened to her. He wanted to love her like Henry wouldn’t.
When the realization of his thoughts came crashing down around him, Daniel’s eyes flew open and he stared at Betty, his mouth agape.
He loved her.
Of course, he had always loved her. As a friend. This... well, this was different. It was the sort of emotion he’d only felt for a select number of women.
“Betty...”
Her name seemed to hang in the air, as if it was waiting for him to finish his confession. Yet, he couldn’t. Daniel couldn’t do that to her. He couldn’t blurt out his feelings while her world was crashing down around her. So instead of saying what he wanted to, he merely cleared his throat and pointed toward the door.
“Go be with Henry.”
The order was heard and Betty nodded while muttering a soft ‘thank you’. She was out the door and he watched while she gathered her things and put her jacket on.
And while she disappeared down the hallway, Daniel took a shaky breath as his chest tightened with pain.
***
Four days later, Betty’s desk was empty. Her coat wasn’t draped over the back of her chair nor was her bag sitting on the floor. There were no kittens running across her computer screen, and Daniel hated it even though he’d been the one who gave her the day off.
Henry was leaving that evening and Betty wanted to spend one last day with him.
Despite his best efforts, Daniel couldn’t bring himself to care about the work at hand. He missed Betty. He missed seeing her and it hurt to know she was hurting. His office door stayed shut all day because he believed it would make it hurt less. Yet, it didn’t. The realization he’d had days before was still there. He still loved her but could do nothing to stop her pain.
When the day came to an end, Daniel went through the motions of leaving the building and getting into one of the cars. As it pulled away from the curb, he glanced at his watch, noting the time. Henry’s plane had taken off already.
Seventeen weeks had turned into zero hours.
Fishing around in his pocket, he pulled out his cell phone and flipped it open. Would he dare to call her? Daniel didn’t even know if he was doing the right thing, yet, he dialed Betty’s number anyway.
“Hello?”
“Betty? It’s Daniel. Are you okay?” he asked. When he heard car horns in the background, he furrowed his brow. “Where are you?”
“I... well, I’m outside your apartment building. I didn’t know where else to go,” Betty said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Daniel felt his heart break and he took a deep breath. “I’ll be there in a few minutes. Just hang on tight,” he said before ending the call.
As the car approached his building, Daniel spotted Betty. She was standing by the front door, her hands tucked inside the pockets of her jacket and her head bowed. Once again, he felt his heart shatter to pieces. He only hoped he could do something to make her feel better.
“Betty,” Daniel said while pushing the car door open. He barely allowed the car to stop before he jumped out and went to her. “Are you okay? What happened?”
Daniel winced when the words spilled from his mouth. He knew what had happened.
“He’s gone,” she said without looking up. “I thought maybe... maybe he... I could make him stay.”
“I’m sorry he hurt you.”
Betty finally looked up, her eyes red from crying. “It’s not that he hurt me, Daniel. It’s... if I can’t keep someone like Henry happy enough to want to stay, how can I expect to make anyone else happy? No one is going to want me if I can’t make them happy,” she quietly said.
“Betty, no! That’s not true!” Daniel protested. He shook his head and reached down to take her hand. “Betty, listen to me. What happened with Henry was his fault. It had nothing to do with your ability to make others happy.”
Betty looked like she didn’t believe him.
“You make a lot of people happy, Betty. Henry’s... well, Henry’s a jerk. Please don’t beat yourself up because of it. Instead, you should hold your head up and move on.”
“What if no one wants me?”
“Anyone would be lucky to have you, Betty.”
“But Hilda once said I aim too high and--.”
Daniel waved his hand and cut her off. “Why shouldn’t you?” he asked. “You should go out there and get what you want. You deserve it.”
Betty stared at him for a moment before looking away. “I don’t think I can have what I truly want,” she quietly admitted.
“Have you tried?”
“No.”
“Then try.”
Betty turned her head and looked up at him. Daniel looked down at her, wondering what she was thinking. Suddenly, her glove-covered hands were on his face and she was leaning toward him.
The moment their lips touched, Daniel quickly wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. He couldn’t let her go. Not after wanting this for so long. And, even if this was to be the only kiss they shared, he wanted to remember it.
When it ended, Daniel licked his tingling lips and smiled. However, his smile faltered when he saw the look of horror on Betty’s face. “What’s wrong?” he asked while she twisted out of his arms.
“I’m sorry. I... I’m sorry,” Betty said. She turned as if she wanted to run away. But before she could, Daniel caught her by the elbow.
“Betty...”
“I’m sorry, Daniel. Can I just go? I shouldn’t have done that and--.”
“Was this what you wanted?” he gently asked.
“I...” She trailed off and looked away. “Yes.”
Daniel grinned and gently turned her face so he could look at her. “Good, because I’ve wanted it too,” he whispered. Leaning over, he kissed her, knowing he would never tire of her or how he felt.