Dark Secrets(81)

She hadn't been aware of standing somewhere in the middle of his speech and she hadn't been fully aware of her intentions before she found herself throwing her arms around Salvatore, knocking him back a step, before his hands went around her.

"It's alright, kid," he said, rubbing at the pressure between her shoulder blades. "He's going to be alright."





Except that wasn't entirely true.

Because just an hour after surgery, Anthony got a massive infection despite the megadose of antibiotics he was on. He had a soaring fever that made him seize twice before they got it under control.

It wasn't until the third day that his body finally seemed to accept that it wasn't going to die. And it wasn't until then, either, that any of them left the hospital except for short trips to take quick showers.

That included Daniel.

She hadn't realized how much she wanted him there until he never left her side. Until she felt his hand hold hers every single time an update came down to them. Until she finally gave in and fell asleep on his chest only to wake up with the side of his face on top of her head, asleep as well, his arm protectively around her. Until she finally started to see that despite the dishonesty at first, that everything about his words and actions since his true identity was revealed pointed to him being all in, being serious, wanting to fix what they broke.

He got her coffee and he massaged the aches out of her back and neck and shoulders from sleeping in awkward positions. He ran out to grab food to bring back so she didn't have to miss an update. He took her key to go home to freaking feed Rhoda when she herself had almost forgotten that such a fish existed anymore. 

He filled the silences that seemed to get more painful by the hour- telling her little tidbits of the places he had lived as a child, telling her how he knew from the first day of oppressive dry heat in Texas that he wasn't meant for those types of climate. He told her about what Christmas was like in a ski resort in Colorado. He told her about his time in Quantico, about some of his missions, especially that of the one in Navesink Bank.

"You know, I trained a girl, we all- K, me, Gabe, and Xander, trained a girl who is in The Henchmen MC now," she told him, finding it funny that even in a world as big as theirs, they somehow found common associates like that.

"Wouldn't it be funny if we had to show up there together for some reason?" he'd asked and they both laughed at the idea.

Somehow, long hours, not enough sleep, and tense emotions seemed to strip away Faith's defenses, made her more open to discussion about them, about a chance for their future, about letting go of the past.

"I'm not asking to take anything from you Faith," he said when she had sat silent after asking for them to seriously give it a shot. "The opposite really. You get to go on being yourself, helping the women you help, scowling at bar patrons, bossing around Vin, naming fish after members of the opposite sex, being a smartass, making your own decisions. I just get to be there too. For the ride. Except I'd be the one driving since someone doesn't have a fucking driver's license," he added to try to lighten the mood.

"I bet I'd drive circles around you," she said, brow lifted.

"Well, you go get your permit and we'll see about that," he offered. "But you know that that means you will have to stick with me for at least three months..."

She felt the weight of that, let it sink in for a moment, and decided it didn't make her anxious, it didn't make her fearful, and she didn't want to fight it. "You took defensive driving courses at Quantico, right?" she asked, lips tipping up.

Daniel's rose to match hers. "Yeah, babe."

"Well, I'll tell you what. I'll agree to three months with you, barring you not being a dickhead in which case, I reserve the right to toss you on your ass, but let's pretend you don't piss me off- I will give you three months if you agree to teach me how to drive like they taught you at Quantico."

"We'd have to head out somewhere rural for that, city girl," he said, his hand landing on her thigh.

"I could use a vacation," she told him with a small smile.

"Alright, you're on then," he agreed.

"Alright then."

There were grant, romantic people in the world, ones with all the flowery words and poetic declarations.

Faith was not one of those people.

'Alright then' was about as good as he was going to get.

And he didn't complain one bit about it either.





EPILOGUE





Faith- 2 months





"You better stop fucking cursing at me, Anthony, or I am going to take that goddamn cane and shove it up your ass," she snapped. They were only about three minutes into what was supposed to be a good, invigorating walk to get him moving and to get him out of his foul ass mood.