Fighting for Love Ch. 10

I'm almost done with "Fighting" and I am considering a sequel; would you rather see a sequel about Jake or Cal or both? Thanks for reading!

CHAPTER TEN

Danny found Jake in the weight room heading toward the locker room. Danny grabbed him by the arm and slammed him into the wall. "Why did Jess leave?" Danny asked.

Jake shrugged. "How the hell should I know?" Jake muttered.

Danny threw the letter at him and Jake scanned it quickly.

"Why did Jess leave?" Danny asked again. Danny glanced over his shoulder as Cal stepped out of his office. "Why the fuck did Jess say to ask you why she left?" Danny shouted, his temper coming to the surface.

"Jake blamed Jessica for you getting hurt," Cal said from behind Danny. Danny looked at Jake, stunned.

"I told her to leave. When she refused, I shoved her against the wall and stuck a knife to her throat," Jake admitted. Danny punched Jake hard, breaking Jake's nose, causing blood to spurt every where.

"What gives you the right to tell my girlfriend to leave?" Danny roared. Jake grabbed a piece of paper towel from the stand and held it to his nose.

"If she hadn't gone to Clark, you never would have been in a coma!" Jake exclaimed. "You're my friend Danny, and I didn't want to see her hurt you like Caitlin hurt me," Jake said in a softer voice.

Some of the anger left Danny's face. "Jessica isn't Caitlin. You had no right to tell her to leave. You'd better hope that Jess, Will and the baby are healthy or I swear to God, I will kill you," Danny threatened before storming out of the weight room.

-2 weeks later-

"Any luck?" Jake asked, meeting Danny in the front of a restaurant. Danny shook his head as a hostess led him to the table that Cal and Claire were sitting at. "Danny, I'm sorry for losing my temper with Jess. I just didn't want her to hurt you," Jake apologized again. Danny gave his friend a cool look. He still hadn't completely forgive Jake for his traitorous act. At least Devon's was understandable, but Jake's was done out of paranoia and if Jessica couldn't be found, Jake probably wouldn't make it out alive. The hostess brought over mugs of coffee for them. "Your waitress will be right with you to take your order," she told them before heading to the tiny break room behind the kitchen. "Are you okay hon? You're not looking so hot," she murmured.

Jessica nodded. "I'm alright Carrie, it's been a long day; I'm exhausted," Jessica admitted. Carrie smiled sympathetically.

"I just sat a four top for you at table twenty. After they've finished, go home, I'll cover the rest of your shift," Carrie offered.

Jessica smiled and shook her head. "Thanks Carrie, but I need the money," Jessica said, standing up and heading for the dining room. She walked over to table twenty. "Welcome to Denny's, are you ready to order?" Jessica asked. One by one, heads appeared out from behind the menus. "Danny?" Jessica whispered, her eyes wide. She looked around the table; Jessica wasn't surprised to see Cal and Claire, but she was very surprised to see Jake. He shifted in his seat and offered a small smile.

"Hey Jess," Jake said. Jessica turned her attention back to Danny who stood up and gently pushed her into the booth. Carrie had been watching from the hostess stand and hurried over.

"Jess, are you okay?" Carrie asked. Jessica nodded.

"Jessica's punching out for the night," Danny said, throwing a twenty on the table. Jessica shook her head as Danny stood up and began to pull her from the booth.

"Danny, I have to finish my shift," Jessica protested. Danny shook his head.

"You have to take me to Will," Danny told Jessica. Jessica sighed and tried to tug away.

"Danny, I need to finish my shift," Jessica repeated.

"Should I call the police?" Carrie asked.

"No, we're taking Jessica home," Cal told the nervous hostess.

"Jess, do you want me to call the police?" Carrie asked her friend. Jessica glanced from Danny to Jake to back to Danny and shook her head.

"Carrie, I'd like you to meet Danny Storm. He's Will's father," Jessica introduced.

Carrie's eyes widened then narrowed. "I think I should call the police, she obviously left you for a reason," Carrie said, giving Danny a curious look.

"Danny has never hurt me. I left because I thought he was dead and I needed to find a job to provide for Will," Jessica told Carrie. Carrie looked like she didn't believe her. "I'll be fine Care, don't worry," Jessica assured her friend. "Tell Billy I'll stop in tomorrow to clean out my locker," Jessica added. Carrie nodded and watched as Jessica follow Danny, Jake, Cal and Claire out of the restaurant.

Marie looked up as Jessica opened the door. "You're home early," Marie observed. "Are you feeling all right?" Marie asked. Before Jessica could say anything, Danny eased his way in behind her. "Jessica, are you all right?" Marie asked again. Jessica nodded.

"Marie, this is Will's father Danny," Jessica introduced again.

"Where is Will?" Danny asked, anxious to see his son again. Marie studied Danny carefully.

"He's asleep. Jessica, go sit down on the couch, you've been working too hard," Marie instructed, going into the kitchen. She came back a moment later with a bowl of piping hot beef stew and a glass of juice. "Eat this, it'll be more filling than those frozen dinners you buy on nights you work," Marie said. She turned to Danny. "Would you like some?" she asked, out of politeness. Danny nodded as he surveyed the apartment that Jessica had made into a home. Marie handed Danny a bowl of the stew and picked up her jacket.

"Here, let me get you some money," Jessica said, reaching for her purse. She opened her wallet and sighed when all she could find was a twenty and a ten. She handed the money to Marie. Marie shook her head.

"You keep it. You need it more than I do," Marie said with a smile. "Oh, I was going to tell you, Will had a slight fever earlier, 100.2. I think he has more teeth coming in. I gave him a little baby Tylenol and rubbed some Orajel on his gums and he calmed right down. Jessica smiled and sighed.

"Yeah, he has like three teeth just under the surface, thank you Marie, for everything," Jessica murmured, standing up to give the older woman a tight hug.

"Don't mention it. Will is an angel. I'm guessing now that Danny is back in the picture that you won't need me anymore," Marie said, glancing at Danny again who nodded. "I'll put an ad in the paper that an apartment has become available. Take as much time as you need, just slip your key under the flower pot outside my door," Marie said before leaving. Danny looked around the apartment.

"Where do you sleep?" Danny asked. Jessica patted the couch.

"There's only one room; I gave it to Will," Jessica answered. Danny shook his head.

"Why did you let Jake chase you away like that?" Danny asked. Jessica sighed.

"I thought he'd kill me," Jessica admitted. "I never thought he'd be capable but he was so pissed and blamed me for you getting hurt," Jessica whispered. Danny's eyes were full of anger towards his friend. "Danny, he was worried about you," Jessica told him.

"That didn't give him the right to chase you and Will away," Danny said. Jessica shifted uncomfortably.

"It was my fault. If I hadn't gone to Clark's office, you wouldn't have had to come after me," Jessica murmured.

Danny shook his head. "You were kidnapped, and when you found out about Melly, you stayed to help a friend and to keep him from launching a terrible weapon on the compound. You saved a lot of lives. Yes, I really wish you hadn't put yourself in that position, but I'm proud of you," Danny murmured. Jessica smiled weakly.

"I'm glad you woke up," she murmured. Danny laughed.

"So am I," he agreed. Danny glanced towards the bedroom as Will began to fuss.

"Go get him," Jessica said with a small smile. Danny grinned, stood up and walked into the bedroom. Danny returned to the living room a moment later with a babbling Will.

"He's gotten so big," Danny marveled. Jessica laughed.

"That's what happens. He's just over nine months old," Jessica reminded Danny.

"And how far along are you?" Danny asked. Jessica sighed.

"Just about five months, give or take a week or so," Jessica answered.

Danny shook his head. "I can't really tell that you're pregnant," Danny murmured. Jessica laughed.

"That's because I'm wearing a baggy shirt. Let me go change out of my uniform," Jessica told him, disappearing into the bathroom. When she came back out, it was a little more obvious that she was pregnant.

"You're beautiful," Danny said, drinking in the sight. Jessica laughed a little. "I'm serious Jess," Danny told her. Jessica shrugged and yawned. "Does the couch pull out?" Danny asked. Jessica shook her head. "Pack a bag, we'll go back to the hotel and come back for your stuff in the morning," Danny told her.

"I have work in the morning," Jessica protested.

"Denny's?" Danny asked.

"No, I work at ERT in the collections department," Jessica told him. Danny shook his head.

"Jess, you're the mother of my children, and you belong with me. If you want to get a job, that's fine, but I have to go back to the base; my term of service isn't up for another year," Danny said gently.

Jessica sighed. "I don't know Danny. I love you, but I love this job," Jessica murmured. Danny resisted the urge to sigh.

"Jess, come back with me. We can be a family, and when my term is up, if you don't want me to sign up for another one, we can go where ever you want to go," Danny promised.

"Anywhere?" Jessica asked.

Danny nodded. "Anywhere," he repeated.

Jessica picked up her cell phone and dialed.

"Hello?"

"Jerry, it's Jessica. I'm sorry to call you at home, and so late, but I wanted to let you know that I won't be back," Jessica said.

"Are you okay Jess?" Jerry asked.

"Yeah Jer, I'm fine. My boyfriend Danny was in a coma, and I felt responsible, no I don't want to get into it, but he's awake and I'm going back to be with him," Jessica answered in a rush. She spoke with Jerry for a bit longer and hung up the phone.

"I'll pack up Will's bag, you get your stuff," Danny said softly. Jessica nodded and packed up. "Is that everything?" Danny asked, surprised to see only four bags around Jessica's feet. Jessica nodded again.

"All of the baby furniture belonged to Marie and since her kids are our age, she didn't need them anymore," Jessica murmured. Danny handed Will back to Jessica and lifted all four bags with very little effort.

"Let's go home," Danny said, opening the door and holding it for Jessica.