You Are On My Mind

I Need To Hear It

Linda walked up to the house, surprised to see police officers standing outside the door. "What's wrong? What happened? Everything okay?"
"Yes, Ma'am. Everything's fine. Detective Rea-"
"Lemme guess. Detective Reagan just sent you over as a precaution. Nothing's wrong, he just wants to make sure the kids and me are safe. Is that correct?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Figures. Thanks for putting up with his paranoia. He says he isn't paranoid, but we all know better."
The officer smiled at her.
"Come on in. You hungry?"
"Yes Ma'am. I'm starving."
Linda poked her head out the door. "You want a sandwich?" She asked the other officer.
"Thank you, but I'm good."
"Just Knock of ya need anything."
********
Danny's heart caught in his throat as he saw the police cars surrounding his house. He looked around quickly as he got out of his car; no cop in sight. "Linda..." he breathed before rushing into the house. "Linda!" Danny frantically searched for his wife. "Linda!" He heard muffled screams coming from upstairs. "Linda!" He called again, praying she was alright. He was surprised to find her on the floor of their bathroom with her hands tied behind her back and a gag over her mouth.
"Danny, watch out!!" Linda screamed through the gag. But Danny was half a second too slow. The 'officer' Linda had let in the house stabbed Danny in the back with a knife, sending him to the floor in pain and blood flowing out of him.
"Come on, toots," the perp yanked Linda off the floor. "You're coming with me!"
"No!" Linda struggled with all her might, trying to get the gag off. Finally, she shook it off. "No! I won't go with you! I'll fight all my life! Forever I will fight you! I'll always run! But..." her chest rose and fell as she looked down at her husband. He was reaching for his gun, sending Linda's mind into a plan. "If you let me help him, I'll never run. I'll never fight. Wherever you go, I'll go with you. I'll do whatever you want. Just. Let. Me. Help. Him." The perp stared at her, "please.... don't hurt my family."
Before the perp knew what had happened, Linda fell to the floor, and Danny shot him twice. Right in the heart.
"Danny!" Linda immediately crawled over to her husband. "Are you okay? Stupid question. Help me with these ropes, so I can help you!"
Danny helped her untie the ropes across her wrists.
Linda pulled out her phone, "9-1-1." She put the phone on speaker so she could help Danny. "Danny, I need you to sit up and get your shirt off. I'll help you."
Danny nodded and painfully took his shirt off while Linda called 9-1-1.
"What's your emergency?"
"My husband's been stabbed!" Linda tore off the sleeve to Danny's shirt and made a tourniquet. "Um, it looks like he was stabbed near or in the left kidney, with a big butcher knife."
"What's your name?"
"Linda Reagan."
"Are you re-"
"I'm the Commissioner's daughter-in-law," Linda lightly pressed a towel to Danny's wound.
"We'll send someone right over."
"Thank you!" Linda hung up. "You're gonna be okay, Danny. Just keep the towel over it." She stood up and grabbed the first aid kit out of the cabinet. "This might sting a little, but it's gonna help, okay?" Linda's Mom/nurse instinct completely took over. "Just breathe, Danny. And don't talk. You need to save your energy."
Danny winced as his wife applied the right stuff. He had to focus on his breathing and staying with Linda. The last thing he remembered was hearing the ambulance sirens and Linda whispering she loved him.
************
"No no no no no!" Linda almost screamed. "No! Danny! No. Please.... no." She started sobbing, clenching the fabric beneath her fingers.
"Linda!"
Someone was calling her name. But who was it? Was it....? It couldn't be....
"Linda!"
She was shaking as the horrifying sobs racked her body. She felt like she was going to die- she wanted to die. Her heart pounded in her ears, hurting her chest. Her tears quickly soaked her pillow. Her cries were sure to have someone wander in, wondering if she was okay.
"Linda!! Baby, open your eyes."
She shook her head, not registering who owned the voice. "No, no! I can't!"
"Why not?"
"Because I want to die! Without him, how can I go on living? And it's all my fault he's dead! I killed him, and now I don't want to live!" The scared blonde managed to get out between sobs.
"Who's dead?"
It wasn't a voice in the distance anymore; it was present. It was in the room. It was next to her.
She paused for a second, finally hearing the tone, the softness, the deepness of the voice. "Danny?" She whimpered.
He put his hand on her shoulder, "yeah, baby. It's me."
She cracked her eyes open, and saw her husband. He wore a face of worry and concern, and, even in the dim light, she could tell he had dark circles under his eyes. She threw herself at him, crying into his neck. She gripped his shoulders, "I thought I lost you!"
"It was a bad dream, sweetie. But you're okay, and I'm.... okay." He was far from okay. How could he be okay when someone just burned his house down? At the thought, he tightened his hold on his wife.
With words of love, kisses to her head, and a steady hand rubbing steady circles on her back, Linda calmed down. Her breathing became even, her tears stalled. She closed her eyes and sniffed, "thank you."
"You're welcome, baby." He kissed her head.
Linda stayed in Danny's arms until she started to doze off. He helped her lie back down, tucking the covers around her. He kissed her cheek, brushing hair away from her face. She's so beautiful. He stood to leave the room, wanting to go back to his spot in the kitchen. He felt her fingers grasp his ring finger and pinky finger.
"Stay. Please?"
Danny's heart broke when he heard the fear in her voice. He nodded, whispering, "okay." He got under the covers, and was about to spoon his wife when she stopped him.
"No. I need... your heartbeat. I need to hear it. After that, the nightmare and the fire, I need to know you're alive."
He opened his arm for her, securing her against him. He squeezed her tightly, "I love you, Linda."
"I love you more."
"I love you most." He said a silent prayer of thanks before he, and Linda, fell into a restless slumber.