Tough Love

Chapter Fourteen

Hey guys! I'm so sorry it has been so long. I hope this isn't too short. I've already started working on this next chapter, so hopefully it'll be up in a couple days. It's my birthday tomorrow, so I'm going out to dinner tonight. I'll try to work on the next chapter tonight if I can though. I hope you enjoy! :-D

Chapter Fourteen

The days have passed, and they've turned into weeks. Eli hasn't really mentioned that night again. I don't know if he's waiting for me to bring it up or if he just doesn't know what to say. He's been so sweet though. He was at my house every day after work when I was off sick. He cooked for me, made sure I was resting and just tried to get me to accept his company. In another lifetime, I could see myself married to someone like him. He sort of reminds me of my poppa. Caring but very strong. He hasn't once shown any anger or disgust. He's always just been so caring and supportive.

I'm not going to go as far as to say I trust him, but I'm accepting him. He sort of hasn't given me a choice really. He hasn't given up on me, and for once, I'm glad he hasn't. He just keeps going, like he knows that by hanging around I'll eventually accept him. I do have to be honest and say that I don't find his presence as scary or as intimidating as I used to, but then again, he knows not to come too close to me. He hasn't pushed those boundaries, so I don't actually know how I would react to that.

I'm back at work and I do feel a little better than before. The Captain seems to be warmer to me, not like he was horrible before, but Eli told me the Captain missed me a lot. He actually calls him 'Cap' which makes me smile inside. They seem closer, a concept I find rather odd for a cop and his commanding officer. I have no experience to call on with commanding officers or even friendships, so I don't really know how either usually work. Ash has quietly been keeping an eye on me when Eli's not around. I think he thinks I don't notice, but I do. Since the bathroom incident we've had some sort of unspoken understanding I guess. I hope Eli hasn't told him anything. I don't think he would, but I know never to trust that.

Trust is such a strong word. I mean, you can never fully trust someone, can you? I have seen some of the most awful things in life, from people who I was told to trust, from people who were supposed to take care of me. If I couldn't trust them, who am I supposed to trust? Who's to say that someone isn't going to betray that at any moment?

Someone appears in my line of vision, breaking my thoughts, and causing me to panic. My breathing automatically kicks up and I find myself quietly counting without even thinking about it. I'm so focused on my breathing that I let out a squeak when someone says, "Dani? You ok?"

I try to take deep breaths and I whisper, "Yes sir, you just scared me Ash. I was thinking."

He smiles and says, "I saw... The Captain said you had the results from yesterday's training scenario?"

"Oh, yes sir."

"Anything we should be concerned about? What's the shot accuracy like?"

I bite my lip, not wanting to say anything. Ash said, "If you don't tell me now, I'll just ask Eli to ask you... You want to save yourself from that, don't you?"

I whisper, "Yes sir... Cain's accuracy has fallen below 80%."

"Really? I didn't think it was that bad. Surely it can't be his shoulder still, can it?"

I shrug, not really knowing what to say. I can honestly say I've never had to deal with a gunshot wound. At least there's something I haven't had to deal with, huh?

"Dani? You spacing out on me again?"

I feel my face heat up and I whisper, "Sorry sir.... You won't tell anyone I told you, will you?"