Fighting for Love Ch. 03

: Chapter Three :

Danny stood at attention as Cal yelled at him, the urge to hit Cal was intense and Danny had to remind himself of the consequences of striking a superior. "What do you have to say for yourself Storm?" Cal asked finally.

Danny took a deep breath. "I know I disobeyed a direct order but under the circumstances, I'd say it was forgivable sir," Danny said.

Cal looked at Danny in surprise. "How so?" he asked. Danny looked Cal in the eyes.

"Cal, you know how hard it was for me to walk away from Jess, even though I knew that if I hadn't, she could be hurt by our enemies. I didn't tell her why I was leaving, I just left. When I saw her pregnant, and in labor for that matter, I couldn't leave her again. I love her Cal," Danny said.

Cal sighed. "Danny, loving someone when you have a job like we do is not something that ends up working well. It usually ends up working against us," Cal told his friend gently.

Danny nodded. "I know that, but I can't help how I feel about her. I tried to forget her, I tried to tell myself that she hated me, and I hoped she would hate me, it would make things easier on me. But when I saw her give birth to our child, I need to prove that I will be there for her and for our son," Danny said softly.

Cal grinned. "A boy huh?" Danny nodded and grinned back. "I'm sorry I disobeyed an order, but I like to think that you would have done the same in my place," Danny added.

Cal sighed again. "I still have to issue punishment," Cal told Danny who nodded. Cal looked at the roster on his desk. "I'd give you kitchen duty but you would kill us all with your cooking." Danny chuckled. "You are assigned to guard duty from midnight to 8 am and you have to clean all of the bathrooms for two weeks," Cal decided.

Danny groaned. "Grave yard, wonderful," he grumbled. Cal laughed. "I'd like to debrief Jessica now," Cal told Danny. Danny nodded and led Cal up to the room off the infirmary that Claire had set Jessica up in.

Jessica looked up as Danny and Cal walked in. "Danny, did I get you into trouble?" Jessica asked quietly.

Danny smiled. "Just a little, but it's okay. I get the pleasure of cleaning the bathrooms for the next two weeks and grave yard at the front gate," Danny told her. Jessica sighed and glanced down at the sleeping baby in her arms. "I threatened him with kitchen duty, but he'd poison us all," Cal joked. Jessica smiled at that and nodded knowingly. "Jessica, I know you've been through a lot the last two days, but I need to know exactly what happened to you," Cal said gently.

Jessica tensed thinking about her abduction and the baby fussed. Danny reached for the baby and Jessica allowed Danny to take him from her. Danny held the now calm baby carefully and nervously as Jessica told them what had happened to her the day before. She pulled some papers out of the back pocket of her jeans. "I found these in Mr. Clark's desk when Jake cut the power," she told Cal. Cal grinned at Danny. "That's some girl you've got there," Cal said. Jessica glanced at Danny and sighed. "We aren't together. As soon as I'm able, I'll leave and you can all get back to your lives," Jessica told Cal. Danny's eyes widened.

"Do something," he mouthed to his superior.

Cal sighed. "Jessica, it isn't safe for you outside this compound," he told her. Danny nodded.

"Clark will come looking for you Jess. He'll hurt you thinking he can get to me," Danny added.

"Will it get to you?" Jessica asked quietly, searching his eyes, looking for the truth. "Why'd you leave me Danny?" Jessica wanted to know.

Cal shook his head. "I can't allow Danny to answer that, I'm sorry. But know he was against it and only did so because he had to," Cal told Jessica.

Jessica looked like she didn't believe him but let it go. "I can't stay here," Jessica whispered.

"You don't have a choice Jess. Clark is not a good guy. He'll kill our son and he'll kill you if he thinks he can't use you to find me," Danny said softly, his heart breaking a little at the thought. Jessica paled and resisted the urge to take her son from Danny and hold him close. "Jessica, I'll do everything in my power to keep you and your son safe," Cal promised.

Jessica nodded. "What about my job?" Jessica asked finally. Cal shook his head. "It isn't safe for you to leave the compound," Cal told her. "I don't know what you'll tell your boss, but you'll have to think of something. You're here for awhile," Cal added. Jessica sighed unhappily. Danny glanced at Cal. "I'll give you guys a few minutes to talk, then I'll come back and we can figure something out," Cal told them. Danny nodded and his eyes followed his commander as he walked out the door.

"I want to leave Danny. I don't want to stay here," Jessica said.

Danny shook his head. "You can't leave Jess, it isn't safe," Danny murmured.

Jessica met his gaze with her own. "I don't want to be around you right now Danny. I need time to think and I can't do that with you here," Jessica told Danny.

Danny shook his head. "I can't leave Jess, I've been assigned here," he said. Jessica gently pulled the now sleeping baby from Danny's arms and laid him in the center of the bed.

"Why did you leave me Danny?" Jessica asked again, daring him to lie.

Danny sighed and glanced towards the door. "I can't go into specifics, but I work for a top secret branch of the military. If they found out I told you what it is I do without permission, they'll kill us both," Danny said quietly. Jessica paled and glanced at her son. "I left you because one of our enemies found out that we were together. They threatened to kill you. I left because I love you. I left to find the bastard who ordered the hit on you. We thought we had found out until Clark grabbed you. Had Clark not grabbed you, I would have showed up on your doorstep this morning," Danny said. Jessica laughed bitterly. "I'm not lying to you. I left to protect you," Danny murmured. Tears filled Jessica's eyes as all the events of the last two days flooded back. Danny wrapped his arms around her and held her while she cried. "I'm not leaving again Jess, even if you beg," Danny promised.

-Two days later-

Jessica stood at the stove stirring salt and pepper into eggs and scrambled them before pouring them in a hot pan. "Hey beautiful." Jessica sighed and turned around. "I'm Devin," he told her.

Jessica resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "You do realize that I just had Danny Storm's baby right?" Jessica asked, turning back to the eggs, slowly running a wooden spoon through the eggs to keep them from sticking.

"Well, if you ever get tired of Danny, let me know, or my friend Paul over there. We know how to treat a lady right," Devin said.

"Back off guys before Danny catches wind of this," Jake warned walking into the kitchen. Before anything else could be said, Danny called out from the doorway, "Jessica Lynn, what the hell are you doing cooking food for everyone?" Jessica and Jake exchanged amused glances as Jessica stirred the potatoes. "My agreement with Cal was that if I was to stay here until it was safe to leave that I'd be cooking," Jessica answered calmly.

Danny growled. "Jessica, it's only been three days since you've had the baby, I don't think he expected you to start now," Danny said as patiently as he could.

Cal chuckled from behind Danny. "I'll agree to you on that one Danny, I didn't expect her to start for another week or so," Cal said. Jessica sighed. "I need some sort of normalcy and cooking is calming for me, as long as dogs aren't sniffing around me," Jessica reminded Danny, throwing a heated glance towards Devin and Paul. Danny raised his hands in defeat and accepted the plate of eggs, potatoes and bacon. "Coffee is done, but that you get yourself," Jessica said, turning back to the stove. She began putting the food into the warmers before retreating to her small room, relieved to find the baby still asleep. Jessica pulled off her shoes and curled up on the bed, pulling the blanket over her body and that's how Danny found her an hour later as the baby was starting to fuss. Jessica's eyes fluttered open as she felt an increase in the weight on the bed. "When did you get in here?" Jessica asked sleepily.

Danny smiled. "Just a few minutes ago. We need to come up with a name for this little guy," he answered, looking down on the fussy baby. Jessica reached for the baby. "He's hungry," she murmured. Danny reluctantly handed the baby over and watched enthralled as Jessica nursed their son. "Any ideas?" Jessica asked. Danny thought carefully. "My grandfather's name was William," Danny said aloud.

Jessica grinned. "William Jacob." Danny looked at her. "Without Jake, neither of us would be here right now," Jessica said. Danny nodded. "I like it," he agreed. They sat there and stared at each other and after a moment, Danny leaned over and pressed his lips to hers. Jessica pulled back and shook her head.

"I need time Danny," she said softly. Danny sighed but backed away and glanced at the clock on the wall.

"I have a meeting to go to, I'll see you later," Danny murmured. He kissed the top of William's head, gave one last glance at Jessica and walked out the door.

Jessica turned away from the sink as Danny called her name. "You really should take it easy," he mused.

Jessica smiled. "I'm fine Danny," she said softly, turning back to the soapy dishes.

"I just got back from a conference call with Cal and his superior," Danny began. Jessica looked at him, her eyes narrowed. "They're sending me out on assignment," Danny told her. Jessica nearly dropped the plate she was rinsing off. "I don't know where I'm going or how long I'll be gone for, but I promise to come back," Danny added. Jessica shook her head as she placed the plate in the strainer.

"What about William?" she asked. Danny smiled. "He has you," Danny said softly. He reached in front of her and shut off the water. "I need to show you something," Danny said, handing Jessica a dish towel. Jessica dried her hands and followed Danny down the hall and into a spacious, well decorated room. Jessica knew by looking at the decor that it was Danny's room.

"This is amazing," Jessica told him with a smile. Danny grinned. "You and William will be sleeping here while I'm gone. There's plenty of room for the crib and changing table. I know you need time, and I'm more than willing to give it to you, but I'd feel better if you stayed here while I was gone," Danny said. Jessica studied Danny's face carefully and nodded. Danny grinned and opened the door to reveal Jake standing there with baby stuff. Jake and Cal brought in a crib, a dresser and a changing table. "This is too much," Jessica said softly.

Jake smiled and gave Jessica a hug. "You're family now," Jake told Jessica. Jessica smiled as Danny disappeared and reappeared with baby William in his arms. "Have you come up with a name yet?" Cal asked.

Jessica nodded and smiled. "William Jacob," Jessica said. Jake stared at them.

"If it wasn't for you Jake, Jess and Will wouldn't be here," Danny told his friend. Jake grinned. Cal gave Danny a pointed glance and Danny nodded. "I have to go," he murmured, reluctantly passing his son to Jessica.

"Is it dangerous?" Jessica asked softly. Danny smiled. "A little, but I'll be fine," Danny promised. Danny kissed Jessica on the cheek and ran a finger down William's face before following Cal out of the room.