You Are On My Mind

Kiss Away The Tears

"I don't think so, Dad," Jamie told his father over the phone. "I'm not sure if she could handle it. You know how she gets sometimes.... I know that sounds bad, but you know how it is."
***************
Linda sat on the couch, her hands folded in her lap. She looked at the corner of the ceiling as she waited for her husband to get home. She was fuming; why wouldn't he tell her? Did he think she was emotionally unstable? That she was insane? She heard a car door slam, and quickly prepared herself for him.
"Hey," Danny walked in, smiling at his wife.
"How stupid do you think I am?"
"Uh— What?"
"How could you?" Linda stood up, walking around the couch. She stood with her back towards her husband.
"Linda, I don't know what you're talking about." Danny put his coat on the couch, then his hands on her shoulders.
She shrugged him off, walking away from him. "Did you think I couldn't handle that news?"
"What—" a rush of realization came over Danny. He knew what she was talking about. A perp he had arrested many, many years ago was getting out of jail. This particular Perp had kidnapped his wife. Salazar had been released for good behavior. Danny was convinced he had bought his way out, but he couldn't prove it. "Who told you?"
"Nobody told me! I heard it from Jamie! He was talking to Frank over the phone when he was here earlier, helping with the plumbing. I was in here when Jamie said I couldn't handle the news. That I'm emotionally unstable. He had said that you weren't going to tell me because I'd fly off the deep end."
"That was wrong of Jamie," Danny put his hand on her arm, but she swatted it away. He sighed, "I-"
"Who knew before me? Who did you tell first? Who else knows? Erin?! Garrett?! Maria?! Sid?! Your whole department?! How come I'm always the last to know everything?! This only concerns me, and the whole world knows!"
"Linda, sweetie," he put his hands on her shoulders. When she tried to shrug them off, he gripped tighter. "Listen to me. Dad knows cause he's the pc. Jamie knows cause he was there when I got the call. He was dropping off some files for a case. Rikers called, and he asked why I had gotten mad. Nobody else knows. I was going to tell you tonight. I promise. What else did Jamie say?"
"He said that I can't handle my emotions ever since I was shot. He said I was too paranoid, and then he agreed with Frank. Haven't they ever been shot?! It's scary!" Linda leaned on the back of the couch, looking down at her hands. Her tears were coming fast now, her whole body shook.
"Oh, baby." Danny stood her up and hugged her tightly. He kissed her hair as she sobbed into his shoulder, staining his shirt with her tears. He knew something else was bothering her; her reaction was too great to be upset about what his brother had said. He tilted her head up, and kissed her cheeks, catching the tears. He kissed her lips lovingly, then her forehead. "Something else is wrong. What is it?"
Linda only sniffed, hiding her face in his neck. She breathed through mouth, her nose too stopped up. Her hot breaths tickled her husband's neck, never failing to turn him on.
Danny slightly shook his head, knowing he needed to get her answer out before he could love her with his entire being. He tilted her head up again, "what's wrong?"
She looked down, not wanting to tell him. She felt childish for lashing out the way she had.
"Linda, talk to me."
She closed her eyes and sighed. Looking up at him, she said, "what if he comes after me again? What if he decides to do more than just kidnap me? What if he—"
Danny kissed her sweetly, sneaking his tongue into her mouth. He poured all his love and devotion into the heated kiss, "he won't get you, I swear."
"How do you know?"
"Cause he's stupid. He's on parole, and the second he breaks it, he'll be back in the slammer. Besides, he'll have to go through me first."
Linda nodded, "you promise?"
"I promise." He kissed her again, vowing to protect her for the rest of his life.