A Second Chance

[Poganin]

Daniel

Daniel helped Mel spread a blanket on the grass and offered to bring some food. He snatched a few rolls from a basket and then entered the queue to meat. Luckily thanks to his earlier help he didn't have to wait long and quickly got a cheeseburger for Melissa and a set of ribs for himself. He also took a few tissues to wipe the mouth and hands afterwards. As he was approaching their blanked Mel put a strand of hair behind her ear in a gesture natural yet sexy at the same time and it made him gasp. Smiling to himself and to her as well Dan carefully placed the plastic plates on the blanket and sat down, leaning in to kiss her cheek.

"What was that for?" she asked glancing inconspicuously around.

"Oh, just like that. You look so nice I just couldn't help myself. Here," pushed the plate with cheeseburger in her direction, mentally slapping himself for such boldness.

"Well, here comes nothing!" Danny began devouring the ribs.

 

[Guest]

Mel giggled at Daniel as sauce dribbled down his chin and smudged the sides of his mouth. She restrained the urge to lean forward and lick the corner of his mouth. A gesture that would surely make him faint right then and there. She grinned and bit into her burger with a sigh. "Mmmm...these are good. Nothing like grilled hamburgers." She commented, chewing happily.

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the blond bombshell they were hoping to avoid and groaned, "Look out." She nudged Daniel and gave him a little head shake to the side. He glanced around her head and frowned. She wished that she hadn't told him...he looked so good smiling. So sweet and carefree.

"Maybe if we avoid eye contact, she'll go away." Mel teased and polished off her cheeseburger just as a shrill voice broke through their quiet moment.

"Daniel Dear!! I'm so happy that you came!" Came Karen's irritating voice.

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

Daniel choked on the rib he was just swallowing and drank some juice to clear his mouth, the wiped his face with tissue. Only then he looked up at the approaching Karen who paid completely no attention to Mel sitting next to him. He squinted a bit.

"I'm so glad that you came," she repeated, clapping her hands.

"I did?" Dan asked and looked at his pants in astonishment. "Oh, so I did!" he exclaimed and raised his eyes. "No thanks to you, sweetheart," he retorted, venom oozing from his tongue at this unpleasant interruption. "Just leave me alone, ok?"

"Hmpf," Karen tossed her head, matched gazes with Mel for a moment, fireballs almost flying and stomped away.

"Tactless bitch," he muttered. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Mel," he realised his mistake and covered his mouth in embarrassment.

 

[Guest]

Mel was a little shocked and yet amused, her lips twitching slightly and finally breaking into a grin. "Damn...that was harsh, but very effective I see." She giggled and took a drink. He still had a smudge of BBQ sauce right on the edge of his mouth. Reaching over and gently cupping his chin in her hand, she wiped it away with her thumb, where she would have rather used her mouth, but didn't say it. He gave her a curious look and she blushed slightly, "Sorry...you had some...um, sauce there."

They stared at each other a second and she was lost in his eyes until a moment later music blared out from the house and a DJ boomed through the speakers. "Ladies and gents! Time to get your groove on! Grab a partner and lets get busy!"

Mel blinked and giggled softly, leaning back onto her elbows. "I guess the DJ is in the house."

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

The magic began repeating itself. The moment Melissa took his chin in her hand and delicately wiped the sauce from his face time stopped its eternal marathon of entropy. For a short eternity there were only her eyes looking deep into his and Daniel was on the verge of actually leaning in and kissing her. But then the speakers spewed a torrent of sound, time resumed its pace and the moment disappeared like a soap bubble.

Slightly embarrassed Danny wiped his hands carefully and sipped some juice as he listened to the DJ making his announcements. Daniel glanced at Mel who relaxed, leaning back which made her bosom push into the fabric of her top, and caught himself staring, grateful that she was looking the other way. He too sat more casually and watched people gather in the other part of the garden and dance a bit or simply rock to the melody. That moment Dan wished he knew how to dance so that he might ask Mel to dance with him. Embarrassment of this realisation hit him and he looked away and to the side and met Karen's thoughtful glance as she studied him, tapping her cheek with her finger.

"Oh man, a penny for her thoughts and a trench to hide in..."

 

[Guest]

Mel watched as people filled out onto the lawn and began to dance. One of the Dad's in the group that Daniel had been socializing came over, a huge grin splitting his face as he pointed to Mel. She shook her head and put her fingers, making a cross sign as if to warn him off, laughing. But he just chuckled and grasped a hand. "Sorry Daniel, I need to take Mel from you for a minute and get a dance in. This one can move!! Then it'll be your turn."

Mel blushed and gave Daniel a pleading look, "Don't let him do this!" She joked, laughing as Bob pulled her up and into the mess of people. She grinned up at the big man...he was tall, broad and married to a nice lady, but he also had a big bear gut. It was rather amusing to watch as he started to dance and urged her on. "Come on Mel...I've seen you dance before, lets go!"

Giggled, she decided, what in the hell! There was no harm in this...they were among friends. Tossing her hair over a shoulder, she began to move to the rhythm of the music. Bob let out a whoop and they went with the crowd. The first song was up beat, letting people dance together and yet they didn't have to touch. The second was a slow one. She thanked Bob as he went to fetch his wife and turned to leave, when a pair of hands swirled her into an embrace. Surprised, she blinked up into Ted's face as he grasped her hips and pulled her closer. "Hey there sexy...how about giving me a dance?"

Putting her hands on his chest, Mel pushed to gain a little distance, but he seemed to like having her that near. Her chest moved back, but her hips were still rubbing up against his. "I'm tired, Ted. I'm going to go and sit with Daniel."

"You and Daniel seem real cozy tonight." He commented, his eyes flashing with what? Jealousy, envy, anger? She didn't care to delve into the depths of this jerk.

"So what if we are, none of your business anyway." She retorted tartly and was surprised when his fingers dug into her hips almost painfully.

"Maybe I want to make it my business." He returned, slidding one hand down onto her bottom boldly.

She gaped at him, her eyes widened and cheeks flushed with embarrassement. Regaining her senses, she frowned in sudden anger, "You better let go of me or I'll..."

Just then a tap on her shoulder cut off her words...

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

Daniel smiled widely as Bob approached them and asked Mel to dance with him, the way Mel protested was cute but she finally agreed to go. Bob was the type of fellow everyone liked for his attitude and healthy sense of humour. A real family guy with two kids and a nice wife. It was funny watching him dance to the music, his big belly shaking a little as he danced. But the way Melissa danced... almost made him gape. Her body moved sensually to the music and the rhythm, her hips swayed and her whole body seemed sa if made for dancing. He bet that more than a few men were watching her now and felt a little proud that she came here with him. Then someone sat beside him and he had to look away.

"What does she have that I lack, Danny? I have the looks, don't I?" It was Karen, pouting and looking hurt and he almost felt sorry for being so rude before but he just couldn't stand her pushy and in-your-face attitude.

"It's not just about the looks that men my age care, you know? You're a real looker, Karen, but you're not my type. Sorry."

"Oh, and who's your type? Young, attractive widows? I bet you were just waiting for your brother to die to slip into her panties."

Daniel's face hardened and his eyes became cold. "I think you should be going now if you want any man to find you attractive today," he said menacingly and got up, seeing that Mel was in the embrace of Ted.

They seemed to be dancing but the way Melissa was turning be body and the position she was in told differently. Slowly he made his way towards the dancing are, politely declining requests to dance from two women and a girl and came close to Ted and Mel just as he put his hand on her buttock. He couldn't hear their conversation over the music but her face showed that she wasn't really satisfied by being in his arms.

He put a hand on his shoulder and shouted, "Is something the problem?"

"No, no problem at all," Ted replied. "We're dancing so you should just go away and nurse some kids and let us adults have fun."

"Doesn't look to me like Mel's having fun with you, Ted. Perhaps you should let her go and see to your car? I think I saw some punks fiddle with it."

"Yeah, right. Bugger off."

"There was no reason for insult, you know," Dan said and grabbed Ted's fingers from Melissa's hip and wrenched them in the wrong direction making him cry and his legs to give slightly in. A fist flew in Danny's face but he swatted it away like a bothersome fly and grabbed Ted's ear instead, his fingers digging deep i nthe sensitive flesh. Holding the man like that Daniel led him ten yards away from the dance area and pushed him away.

Ted whirled back at him. "You want me? Huh?"

"No. Go see to your car. And leave Mel alone. She's not interested."

This said Dan returned to Melissa and put a hand on her shoulder. "Are you ok?"

 

[Guest]

Mel smiled softly, "Yeah...I'm fine. Thank you. He's being a jerk." Daniel gave her smile, but she could tell he was irritated by the situation. Ted wasn't going to give up that easily though and without and Mel never saw it coming, being blocked by Danny's frame. Suddenly Dan flew against her, having being shoved by Ted.

"Come on, be a man and fight me like one!" He yelled, his face a curious shade of red. The crowd around them had stopped dancing, women worriedly stepped away while some of the men stepped forward. Mel wrapped and arm around Danny's waist to keep him close.

"Leave us alone Ted! You weren't taking the hint, Danny was helping, now leave." She said, keeping her tone level as she met his gaze.

"Shut up, Mel. No one is going to treat me like that." He shouted and she felt Daniel tensing, his body rigid next to hers.

"Perhaps you should leave, this is a family gathering. We don't need fighting in front of the kids." One of the men warned, his voice gruff, but Ted was livid. His fists clenched and unclenched by his sides...a nervous tick in his jaw was becoming very prominent as he glared at Daniel.

"Your car." Was all Daniel said in return and Ted snapped. Mel saw him lunged and felt a moment of panic. Her first instinct was to protect Daniel, so she forced herself in front of Danny even as he went to push her away. Being a fairly inexperience fighter, Ted wasn't prepared for the change in events and his flying fist caught Mel sqare in the jaw. The crowd gasped and as her head snapped back and blood flew from her mouth. She was thrown back against Daniel, dazed as pain blasted through her head. She tried to grasp onto something, anyone, but then slipped into darkness and crumpled.

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

Dan was ready to intercept the incoming punch but Mel stepped in front of him and blocked his arm. His struggle to push her away only made the situation worse as she became locked between him and Ted who promptly hit her in the face. Danny managed to grab her as she twisted form the punch and saw her eyes turn white as she lost consciousness and went limp in his arms. "Mel? Mel!" he spoke, stunned, and eased her on the grass.

"What the... you crazy or somethin'?!" someone shouted.

"Oh-o," somone else muttered as Daniel stood up, adrenaline suddenly coursing in his veins, hate and anger suddenly blurring his vision. "This is gonna be bad."

"I'm going to ask you one last time to leave, you shithead!" Daniel heaved.

"What did you call me?" Ted talked back and those were the last words he uttered that day as Dan moved two steps forward, evaded the next punch and his Ted in the solar plexus, holding him to prevent his fall.

He turned and looked at the crowd. "Take care of Melissa. I'll be right back."

"Daniel, be reasonable," Bob called to him and Dan only nodded back to him and led groaning Ted out of the yard and into the parking lot next to his car.

"You'll pay for this! You'll fucking pay for this! See, I told you to go and see what's with your car!" he shouted and pushed Ted against the side of his wheels. Then he kicked, smashing the right front light and then the left. "Oh, and there's something due for you as well. Melissa is probably still unconscious and cannot deliver so I'll fill in for her, you piece of shit."

Having said this Dan lifted Ted by his shirt and head-butted him in the face, satisfied that his nose broke; the he added a punch to his jaw that sent him flying on hood of his car.

"Next time I see you even glancing at her I'll beat the living shit out of you!" Daniel said and spat on the groud.

A little less angry but still pissed off and anxious he returned to the garden, still too furious to notice that Ted's broken teeth cut his knuckles and he was bleeding.

 

[Guest]

Mel was woke up slowly, groaning as pain shot through her head. Something cold was being pressed to her face and her eyes fluttered. Bob and his wife were both over her, staring worriedly into her face. "Melissa...wake up hon...are you alright?"

The tang of blood in her mouth made her want to spit or gag...she wasn't sure...but her mouth didn't feel right. Trying to move, she instantly regretted the action and promptly fell back. "Don't move hun...you took quite a hit."

"What happened?" She asked, her words coming out strained and awkward, her hand moving up to her face where it came in contact with a bag of frozen pees.

"Ted missed Daniel and hit yoiu square in the jaw girl...you missing any teeth...you're bleeding at the mouth."

Mel shook her head no, having ran her tongue along her teeth, "Bit my lip." She explained, pushing out her lower lip and wincing.

Bob seemed to examine it with a frown, "Will need stitches...you should go to the hospital anyway...make sure you're alright."

Just then Daniel re-appeared. His image was fuzzy for a moment, but she managed a weak smile.

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

With his heart thudding loudly and blood singing a high-pitched tone in his ears, Daniel rounded the corner of the house and entered back into the garden. He could see the small crowd where the dancegrass was, people were standing in small groups talking and there was a tighter gathering where Melissa lay in the place he had eased her down. He shook his head to clear the haze of adrenaline from his brain and tried to relax a bit so as not to scare the kids or Mel as he saw she was conscious again. He was very anxious about her state, he knew that even the smallest of such punches could break some teeth or worse, the jaw and there was the added shock.

He approached the crowd slowly and looked only at Mel as she lay helpless on the grass, her face bloodied and pale. He knelt next to her.

"Are you ok, Mel?" he asked softly.

"She'll be fine. More scare than hurt in that but she should see a doctor. It was so sudden and she might be in shock and the lip is bleeding," Bob's wife explained.

"Dan, you didn't... did you?" Bob asked, noticing his bleeding knuckles.

"No, just returned the favour," Danny answered without looking back. "Come on, I'll take you to a hospital," he said and put his arms under her to carry her to the car.

She mumbled something that sounded like "I can walk by myself" but he shook his head. "You might be in shock, it's not advisable. I'm sorry for spoiling the fun, guys," he added to the gathered, standing up.

Making sure she was comfortable he started towards where they had parked.

 

[Guest]

Mel looped her arms around Daniel's neck and held on as tightly as she could...which wasn't very tight at all. She felt weak and dizzy. "Ow it hurts..." She mumbled, resting her head against his shoulder.

She felt him kiss the top of her head and sighed. They reached the car where Daniel gently set her down and opened the door, then slid her in, buckling her up like a little kid. But she didn't really mind...she didn't feel like moving.

Closing her eyes, she tried to block out the throbbing pain and felt suddenly very tired. She felt Daniel slide in next to her and cracked her lids open. "You know the way?" She mumbled and he told her he did, so she closed her eyes again. "I feel so damn tired...ow! and it hurts to talk."

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

"Shhhh," Daniel shushed her. "Don't talk," he said and started the engine. He tried driving slowly and comfortably for Mel, without bumps or sudden turns and stops. Her lip was still bleeding so he took a pack of tissues from the glove compartment and handed one to Melissa to clean herself and stop the blood from dripping down her chin.

Whenever it wasn't necessary to drive with both hands he held her palm resting on her thigh, trying to give her some strength and show her that he was right next to her. "Just a moment longer, we're almost there. The docs will give you something for the pain and it'll be alright. It's nothing. There won't be a sign. Don't worry, Mel" Daniel tried soothing her but felt that he wasn't really making a good job of it.

FInally they reached the hospital and Dan helped Mel out of the car and then gently lifted her again and carried her inside, calling for a doctor to see to her face.

 

[Guest]

Mel pressed the tissue to her lip and tried to relax as best she could. Daniel's hand warming hers. She clutched gently, slender fingers wrapping around his when she got the chance to and he didn't need it to drive. Then once at the hospital she once again wound her hands around his neck. A nurse stopped them first, putting her into a wheel chair and wheeling her to the emergency room while she handed some papers to Daniel to fill out.

"Your hand sir...it's bleeding too..." She gave him a suspicious look and Mel glanced at him, looking surprised.

"Daniel...you hit him?" She asked, "Are you OK?"

"Bastard deserved it." He muttered and ignored the nurses look.

The nurse left them in a small examining area and pulled the curtain around them for privacy. Being a week day and mid afternoon, there really wasn't much going on and it didn't take long for a doctor to come in. He was young, tall and friendly enough. Giving them both smiles and assurances after a quick look over that things would be alright.

A nurse was assigned to Daniel, wrapping his knuckles up and Mel wheeled off for some X-Rays. Time seemed to drag though...she wanted to go home and crawl into bed with some pain killers and Daniel by her side.

Thankfully the X-Rays revealed no serious injuries...from the looks of it, it was just bad bruising and a cut lip that would require a few dissolving stitches. Mel wasn't too thrilled over the prospect of a needle being pocked into her lip, but with Daniel holding her hand and eyes tightly shut, she reframed from punching the doctor in the face and was thankful when it was all said and done.

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

Dan took her back to the car in a wheelchair, helped her inside and thanked the nurse for her help. He got into the car and for a while sat there, looking at Melissa, her face bruised and slightly swollen, the stitches on her lip giving her a bit of a pouty look. Danny leaned in and delicately kissed her cheek.

"You'll be okay, Mel. It's over now and we're going back home. Look, I'm sorry. It's my fault, I should have led that bastard away initially. I'm sorry."

Daniel started the engine and drove back home slowly and as gently as he could. He didn't want to cause her any more discomfort than she already had suffered today. Even though she insisted on walking herself he persuaded her that she was on painkillers and the whole experience must have made her dizzy and again he carried her in his arms, her body resting warmly against his. Only when he put her safely down on the sofa in the living room did it come to him what he had just done, carrying Melissa in his arms into the house. Embarrassed he ran out and took the car into the garage, closed the door and returned inside.

"Can I get you anything?" he asked, removing his shoes.

 

[Guest]

Mel felt woozy...the pain killers really kicking in once they had reached home. She just wanted to close her eyes and rest, but she also wanted to be near Danny. "I'm OK..." She murmured and motioned him closer. "I'm just really tired." She continued.

She blinked, her eyes feeling heavy as she tried to focus on his handsome face, "Hey...please don't blame yourself. I didn't want him to hit you and I didn't think he would swing with me in front of you...what a jerk." She blinked again, stifling a yawn and wincing as it stretched her lip tight against the titches.

"You could take me to bed." She mumbled, feeling sleep taking over and not even realizing how that really sounded right, "I just want to sleep for a while."

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

"Okay," Dan quickly replied and lifted Mel from the sofa. "You know, carrying you around sure becomes a habit," he joked softly and took her to her bedroom. Putting her on the bed and drawing the cover over her body he looked curiously around, after all this was the first time he was to her room. It was clean, neat and nicely decorated and it smelled nice too. Actually, it smelled like Mel, he noticed. She mumbled something as he bent to kiss her forehead.

"I'll go get changed. I'll leave the door open so call me if you need anything, ok?" he offered but Mel seemed already asleep or dozing away so he just smiled and left her room and went to his own to put some casual clothes on.

 

[Guest]

The drugs let Mel sleep deeply...she hadn't slept like that since the night she'd slept in Daniel's arms in his bed. Now in her own, she snuggled deep into the plush pillows around her and drew the covers almost over her head in her sleep.

She slept the rest of the afternoon away until early evening, when she stirred, blinking and wincing as the throbbing pain in her face woke her up again. It wasn't as sever as before, but it was still irritating and painful.

"Daniel?" She called out softly, her voice hoarse and throat dry. She bite back a yawn, keeping herself from moving her lips too much and slowly began to sit up, then flopped back down with a groan. She really did hate taking meds...they always made her feel so weak and dizzy.

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

While Mel slept Danny busied himself around the house doing some small cleaning up in the kitchen and the living room, prepared a jug of lemonade for Melissa to drink and called a drugstore to deliver some mild painkillers in case she needed them. He sat reading and waiting for her to wake up as the house was terribly empty and silent without her puttering about. A few times he got up and checked on her but she was fast asleep, wrapped in blankets.

And then she called him and Daniel hurried with a glass of leamonade and a straw and some pills to kill the pain. Entering her room he put a warm smile on and tried looking energetic to support her and make her feel better that way. Daniel put the tray on the nightstand and helped Melissa up into a sitting position, arranging her pillows accordingly.

Then he sat on the egde of her bed and took her hand in his. "I brought you something to drink and pills if you need them. Do you want something to eat? I'm not sure how to prepare it so that you can eat..."

 

[Guest]

Mel tried not to smile, but it was almost impossible to do so when he was looking at her so sweetly. "I'm OK...just need a drink and drugs." She chuckled lightly and took the glass he offered, sipping the liquid through a straw, chasing down a pill along with it.

She sighed and set the drink back down, "That's so much better. Thank you." Leaning back against her pillows she looked at him through sleepy eyes. "So...how bad do I look?" She asked him, touching her jaw, cheek and lips area gently.

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

Dan looked at Mel with compassion, it was such a shocking experience for her, being hit like that. He was very sorry that it had happened but knew that he had had no way of stopping it once Mel had stepped in to shield him.

Danny studied her jaw and mouth and decided that it wasn't as bad as it could have been.

"Well, your face is bruised and a bit swollen but that will go in a day or two and by monday there will be no sign of it I think. I don't know how long it will take for your lip to heal though, but it will be soon as well I gather. It's not very bad, Mel, and I saw much worse. No mark will be left once it heals and you'll be as beautiful as before. Do you want to rest now? Shall I leave you?"

 

[Guest]

She smiled softly at his compliment and blushed. "Thanks...I guess it could have been worse - but I'm glad it wasn't. I do want to sleep more...these pills just seem to zap my energy away, but I don't want you to leave either."

She took his hand and squeezed it, "I feel so much better when you're around...would it be too much to ask for you to stay?" Her blush turned a shade brighter and she motioned to the small TV in the corner of her room. "I haven't used that thing in forever, but if you're not tired you can just watch TV and I'll do my best not to snore."

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

"Alright, gladly. If it makes you feel safe, I'll stay and watch over you. Just let me fetch something to drink," Dan squeezed her hand back and got up. From the kitchen he brought the jug of lemonade he had prepared earlier, in case Melissa wanted a drink and for himself a few sodas.

Daniel checkde if the front door was lock tight and returned to Mel's bedroom. She was almost asleep again and the smile she smiled for him was sleepy and dreamlike. Chuckling to himself he put the dirnks on the nightstand and flipped the TV on to mumble a talk show and sat on the bed next to Mel, grasping her hand and interlocking fingers, his thumb absentmindedly stroking her soft, delicate skin.

Dan looked to the side and kissed the bruise on her face. "Just rest, I'll be here," he said softly.

 

[Guest]

Mel tightened her hand against Daniel's, but soon fell back to sleep. It was deep and dreamless or at least to her, but she did wiggle about a little and snuggled closer and closer until her face was pressed against his side and one arm was hugging him like a pillow.

She mumbled something and sighed, seemingly nuzzling his shirt before becoming still once more.

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

As Mel moved closer and closer Danny moved a little this way and that to make it more comfortable for the both of them. Finaly he found himself in a position that made it impossible to watch tv and he turned it off with a remote and he rested too, closing his eyes, letting the warmth of Melissa's nody next to him coax him into dozing off. Dan rested and even though he was patrially asleep he was still mindful of her and moved as little as possible so that she didn't wake up.

When he opened his eyes and checked his watch it was already after 10 pm. In the meantime Melissa had turned to the other side and Daniel slowly stood up and moved to the kitchen to make himself some supper and have a smoke.