Chapter Twenty

My body is startled awake and a scream is begging to rip out of my mouth, but I manage to control the urge, thinking that Eli would come running in here. I didn't want to disturb him, so I try my hardest to calm myself down. I grapple with my senses and tell myself it was just a dream. I whisper, “But it wasn't just a dream, was it? These things really happened...” I freeze when I notice Eli sleeping on the chair in the corner of my room. My breath even hitches in the back of my throat. I don't move or make a sound. I just stare at him, watching for even the slightest movement. He looks so peaceful as he sleeps and my mind drifts. I wonder if my features have even a fraction of the peacefulness that he displays. Probably not. I probably look tortured and tormented.

I don't know how long I watch Eli, but eventually he stirs and stretches. When he notices I'm awake he smiles and whispers, “Morning.”

I mumble, “Morning.”

“What time is it?”

I glance at the clock, “4:30.”

Before I can stop myself, I ask, “Why are you in here?”

I gasp and cover my mouth, willing the words to go back into my mouth.

“You had a really bad nightmare and I didn't want to leave you in case you woke up again. I'm sorry if I scared you. You were pretty freaked out.”

I nod, my thoughts wandering to the nightmare. I didn't forget I'd had it; I just chose not to think about it whenever possible.

Eli watches me for a little while and then he whispers, “Dani? Do you remember what you said to me?”

My eyes widen and I find myself panicking. What could I have said? Did I reveal some disgusting truth? What could be much more disgusting than admitting you were a drug addicted prostitute? I realize Eli is waiting for an answer, so I shake my head slightly.

He hesitates and then says, “You asked me if I could smell the burning flesh. What was that about?”

I wrap the duvet tighter around me and stare at the foot of the bed. I muster up the courage to say, “I'm sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned it. Sorry sir.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for, sweetheart. I want you to talk to me. I want to help you. I don't know how else to prove to you that I want to help you. I hate seeing you so upset and so scared and I just want to fix it. Let me help you. What can I do to show you how much I care?”

I can't say anything. The thoughts from the night before come rushing back and I feel so confused. I don't know whether or not to believe him. I don't know if he's going to hurt me or if he's being genuine.

I feel a breeze on my cheek, which is strange because I don't open any windows. As the breeze hits me, I hear a whisper, “You're not listening to me, svetlyak. You need to listen. Just trust him. I can't keep telling you the same thing. I want you to be happy. He will make you happy.”

I gasp and whisper, “Poppa?”

Eli frowns and asks, “Dani?”

I look around frantically, trying to find some evidence that my poppa was here. I can't see or hear him; nothing to suggest he was really here. Maybe I am actually going crazy. Maybe all the years of drugs and malnutrition have caught up with me and I am losing my mind.

That thought worries me and I whisper, “Eli, I think I'm going crazy... I'm losing my mind...”

“What do you mean? You're not losing your mind.”

“I'm so sure my poppa was just here. I felt him touch my cheek. That can't possibly happen because he's not coming back, so the only explanation is that I've lost my mind.”

“Maybe you're just hearing what you know is true, you just need it to be confirmed.”

I sigh, “Maybe.”

“I'm going to make a start on breakfast while you get ready. Dani?”

“Yes sir?”

“Are you ok?”

I shrug. “Honestly? I don't know anymore.”

“I think you just need some real sleep and some closure. I'll let you get ready.”

As I lock myself in the bathroom to get dressed for work, I can't help but analyze the past 20 minutes. Everything was just... weird, for lack of a better word. Waking up with Eli in the room wasn't as terrifying as I thought. I'm so positive that my poppa spoke to me that I determine to try harder. If my poppa is telling me to trust Eli, then that's what I'll try to do. Lord knows that guy has worked his way into my life and heart, and I will try my hardest to trust him, even if I do get hurt in the long run. I may not be able to be forthcoming with information, but I can certainly try to answer some of the questions he must have.

We manage to get through the work day without much trouble. Although, the department shrink pops in to speak to the Captain. He spent a few minutes just staring at me, which was extremely uncomfortable for me. After he leaves, my intercom buzzes and the Captain says, “Dani, I need Eli before he leaves for the night.”

“Yes sir.”

The team had been on a routine security detail and they weren't back yet. I knew Eli would fill in paperwork and lock up all the weapons before he appeared at my desk to take me home. I'd tell him the Captain wanted him then.

Just as predicted, Eli stood in front of my desk after finishing all his duties. “Ready?”

“The Captain wants you before you leave.”

“Sure. Wait for me?”

“Of course.”



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(Eli's POV)



I step into the Cap's office and he seems to be troubled.

“You wanted me, sir?”

“Yeah, take a seat Eli. I had Paul in here earlier talking about Cain's progress.”

“Is everything ok?”

“With Cain? Yeah, he seems to be going through the steps just fine. It's not Cain that he was worried about though.”

I raise my eyebrows, not knowing where this was going.

“He's worried about Danica...”

“Huh?” Real words actually fail me, I'm that shocked.

“You must have seen her behavior, Eli. You're with her more than anyone. How has she been acting?”

“Same as usual. Why is he worried about her? Has she been to see him or something?”

“No, no. Nothing like that. It's just things he has observed. It's his job to notice. What's going on Eli? Surely you know more than you're telling me. I know you; I know you're observant and I also know you can get information out of a stone. So?”

“Would you just trust me if I say it's private and I'm dealing with it?”

The Cap shakes his head. “Afraid not. Paul seems to think Dani is a ticking time bomb. He thinks she's going to crash and become a liability to the department.”

“What? How? What's she going to do? Check out a few cameras illegally or something?”

I don't mean to demean Dani's job, but I have to get him away from this. She wouldn't want this.

The Cap shoots me a stern look. “You know it's never that simple. I'm sure you're also aware that Dani's job is far more complex than that. What happens if she misses an important threat? What happens if we need her for coms or surveillance and she loses it? You mean to tell me you're willing to risk that? Come on, Eli, you above all people know that this job is too important to risk the safety of everyone. We have to be seen to be doing something. Especially after the Cain incident. And don't try to tell me it's because of Cain. This has been going on longer than that.”

“Sir, with all due respect, I'm not comfortable talking about this. It's not up to me to tell you.”

“Then I'll call Dani in and ask her.”



A/N: Uh oh! Sorry for the short chapter and the suspense. I wanted to get something uploaded in case I can't post over the weekend. It's going to be a crazy weekend for me. Thanks for reading and please take a moment to vote and comment :D