Chapter Two
Daniel had a morning routine that he did’t like to deviate from. Wake up, shower, don’t think about Peggy, strap on his prosthetic, get dressed, don’t think about Peggy, eat some toast, swig some orange juice from the carton, and think about Peggy.
To some degree it worked. Over the past few months he began to think about her less and less. She was always somewhere in the back of his mind, but Daniel busied himself with other things to keep thoughts of her red lipstick, and chocolate colored eyes from flooding to the surface. But after last night, his morning routine had been tossed out the window. He was late getting up, which set everything else back. The mental block Daniel had been building came crumbling down on drive to work.
Because the SSR building was on a street corner, finding parking out in front was a hassle. Since Daniel was late, he missed out on his usual parking spot to some civilian, which put him in a sour mood, seeing as he had to park three blocks away. His arm ached a bit from his weight on the crutch as he made his way toward the office. Sure missing a limb sucked, but crowds would often part like the Red Sea when they saw him coming, making the walk a bit easier since he didn’t have to worry about bumping into anyone. Halfway down the street he was joined by a familiar face.
“Morning Rose.” he greeted her.
“Chief.” she said with a nod.
“Oh boy. Whats wrong?”
“Why would something be wrong?” she asked innocently.
“Cause thats not your usual greeting, usually you are more happy to see me.” he explained.
“Well maybe its cause I’m not happy to see you.” Rose countered with a look that could melt the frozen popsicle of a corpse hanging out in the morgue.
“What did I do this time?”
“Oh I’m sure if you think long and hard, I bet you could figure it out.”
“Is this about our visitor from the east coast bureau?” Daniel asked, he couldn’t bring himself to say her name.
“You’re damn right it is!” Rose exclaimed, flashing Daniel an irritated glance.
“Rose I-“
“I watched you pine over her for months, months! And now that she is finally here, you haven’t done a damn thing about it! What the hell is wrong with you!” Rose exclaimed, smacking him lightly on the arm.
“Because! I thought for sure that if I left she would be okay, that she could find someone else. She deserves someone who can be there for her, some one who is… ya know... whole. I’m not that guy.” Saying those words out loud was a lot more painful than just thinking them.
“What about Violet?” She asked as they neared the office.
“Honestly, I don’t know. She makes me happy. And to my knowledge I make her happy too. Doesn’t she deserve to see if this can be something real?” Daniel asked. He had no reason to doubt his feelings for Violet before yesterday. Now everything had been turned upside down, and he was scrambling to set things right again.
“Doesn’t Peggy deserve the same?”
Daniel had no answer. He often thought about what drew him to Violet. She was kind and understanding during his therapy, if a little bit pushy. But she made him smile, and he needed that. But if he was speaking honestly, he fell for her because she was the opposite of Peggy. Her fair hair and blue eyes captured the sunshine in a way that made his chest feel warm. Her delicate, lady like ways were so different form Peggy’s rough and tumble way of life, that it made him think that to was something he could get used too.
“She can do much better than me.” he replied.
“Thats a load of bull and you know it.”
Daniel could feel his face start to flush.
“So, you haven’t told her yet?” Rose asked. Daniel could tell she was referring to Violet.
“Not yet Rose.” He said sounding like an annoyed school boy.
“Are you gonna to tell her?”
“Yes Rose.”
“Well what are you waiting for?"
“ It didn’t really come up when we were chasing Officer Icicle.”
“Daniel, you’re a nice guy.” Rose began.
“Oh thats just mean.” He replied. Rose didn’t think he had the guts to tell Peggy about his relationship, and come to think of it, he wasn’t so sure he could either.
“Look, all I’m saying is the longer you wait to tell her, the more awkward its gonna be when they meet.” Rose explained.
They had entered the office and they where met with a wave of giggles coming from Rose’s desk. Both Peggy and Violet where in stitches over something. Daniel looked between the two of them, looking thoroughly confused. What was it Rose had said? When they meet it will be awkward? Daniel wasn’t sure if it was quite as uncomfortable as that, but it was definitely strange.