“So… got any ideas yet?” Mike asked as he slowly chewed on a toothpick and checked his watch again.

“Nope,” Danny admitted as he watched Mary lay out on a chaise lounge in the hot Nevada sun. He felt an odd sense of hope grow with each dismissive flick of her wrist at the men drooling and fawning over her.

“You know we have to leave in less than an hour to catch that tee time with Ed, right?” Mike reminded him.

“Yea, I know, Mikey,” Danny replied irritably. “But I mean look. Look at her. It’s not like I can just walk up to her.”

“Why not?” Mike smiled as he shook his head and flicked the toothpick onto his empty plate. He calmly stood up and stretched. “I am.”

“No, you’re not,” Danny said as he threw a napkin at his friend.

“Why not?” Mike asked again as he threw the napkin back at his friend. “Man, tell me you are not intimidated by her new look. Do you really think that just because she’s changed her hair and clothes mean that she’s no longer the same Mary? Because trust me, she is the same Mary. Five years has not changed her. ”

“How would you know?” Danny grimaced, placing the soiled cloth back onto the table.

“Because I saw her and Sam last…”

Danny’s head snapped up. “You saw her and Sam where, Mike?”

“Uh…” Mike stammered.

“Mike…” Danny warned. “Is there something you’ve been holding out on me? Would you like to confess your sins now?”

“I mean… the haircut and clothes are new, but…” Mike continued to fumble.

“Mike…” Danny said as he stood from his seat. “You know, for – what I’ve been told – a very popular television personality, you’ve seemed to suddenly lose your ability for eloquent speech.”

“Well, I saw them… while I was… we were… I gotta go,” Mike squeaked as he ran out of the cabana before Danny could interrogate him any longer.

“You suck,” Danny called out to Mike’s retreating back. “Coward.”

“Look who’s talking,” Mike taunted back. He turned and grinned at his best friend as he trekked towards the opposite side of the pool.

“Shit,” muttered Danny as he hung his head in defeat and followed him.

--

Mary cautiously opened her eyes. What am I doing here, she wondered as the desert sun warmed her body. She shook the cobwebs from her weary thoughts and became acutely aware of a presence next to her. She cautiously turned her head and was greeted by a familiar face.

Danny. Her Danny.

Mary felt her heart swell with love as she watched him sleeping peacefully on his side in the early morning light. Is this a dream, she fretted.She reached out and softly stroked his cheek just to make sure. She smiled as his lips curled into a slight smile at her touch. Her hand travelled down to his bare chest and traced his tattoo. She sighed softly. This was the way things should be, the way things should have always been and would always be forever – waking up every morning next to him, happy and in love in their home.

Except things were not that way.

Tears prickled Mary’s eyes as she slowly moved her hand from his torso and played gently with his hair. He was with Delinda, not her. Even though he murmured into her ear all night as they made love that he loved her, not Delinda, he was still not with her. Mary shuddered at the realization that she was laying in the same bed with him that he shares with her once close friend. He was Delinda’s, not hers. A tear broke free with a wave of nausea as Mary realized the simple truth.

She didn’t belong here. This was not her fairy tale; it was someone else’s where she had become the wicked witch enticing Prince Charming.

Mary kissed Danny lightly on his forehead before sliding out of bed. She quietly gathered her clothes before locking herself in the bathroom. Turning the light on, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and looked disgustedly at her own image. Harlot, she thought to herself. Sleeping with your friend’s boyfriend – you’re no better than she is. What were you thinking? He’ll never leave her. Not now. Not since she’s… Mary’s heart sank as she remembered Delinda’s secret confession in the women’s bathroom. He especially won’t leave her now.

Mary sobbed quietly as she quickly splashed water on her face. She carefully wiped her tear and mascara stained cheek and took a deep breath. As much as it pained her, she realized that this was the day. It was time for a change, she decided as she redressed herself in her day old clothes.

But as Mary opened the bathroom door, she felt her resolve slip. The sight of Danny still sleeping soundly in bed made Mary want to tear her clothes off and crawl back under the covers with him again – to hell with Delinda, the rest of the Delines, and everyone else. This was where she was happiest. This was where she had always been happiest, and probably always will be. It would take every shred of her willpower to leave. She sighed and took one last look at Danny before heading for the front door. This was the way it was going to have to be.

--

Danny reached out to the still warm, but vacant space next to him in the spacious king sized bed. His eyes flew open at the sound of the front door clicking closed. He stared at the empty space next to him. He wondered why she left in such a hurry this early in the morning. Then he remembered: Delinda. He rolled over onto his back and stared at the ceiling. What had he gotten himself into? How did he end up with a sterilely decorated million dollar loft in the middle of the Strip when what he really wanted was a homey two story house with a lawn and white picket fence in a quiet neighborhood? Annoyed and unable to fall back asleep, he kicked off the covers and headed towards the shower.

He flipped the light on and noticed a small piece of black lace on the tile. Danny smiled. Mary must have left behind her underwear on accident – the perfect excuse to drop in and see her before heading in for work, Danny thought. Feeling his mood lighten, he hurriedly showered and dressed for work. Today was the day, he decided. It was the day he was going to make a change and do what his heart had told him to do since he was two years old – to hell with Ed, the rest of the Delines, and everyone else. He was going to knock on her door and he was going to be her knight in shining armor, whether or not she wanted it.

He quickly stripped the bed and straightened the loft before enjoying a bagel and a cup of coffee while he read the newspaper. He heard the front door unlock and smiled tightly as he secretly cringed internally.

“Good morning, tiger,” Delinda purred as she glided across the room to him.

Danny looked up from the paper long enough to acknowledge her presence. Slightly miffed, Delinda snatched the bagel from his hand and took a bite.

“Mm…” she said as she chewed. “How did you know I was hungry?”

Danny looked at her in incredulously as she polished off his breakfast and gulped the rest of his coffee.

“What?” she asked innocently as she licked cream cheese from her fingers.

He merely shook his head as he got up to answer the knock at the door. His heart stopped as he looked through the peephole at the figure standing on the other side.

--

Mary held her breath as she quietly knocked on the door again.

“Come in,” he finally called out.

She let out a sigh. This was it, now or never – and never was not an option at the moment.

“Ed…” she smiled cautiously as she entered his office, freshly showered with her hair pinned into a chic chignon and attired in a clean crisp white button blouse and gray slacks and red pumps.

Ed quickly got up from behind his desk. “Mary, sweetheart,” he said as he coaxed her in. “Come on in. Have a seat.” He gestured to the couch in front of the view of the Strip.

Mary headed towards the tan leather couch. I’m going to do it, she thought. Be strong.

“How can I help you?” Ed asked as he sat next to her, his voice broke through her thoughts, causing Mary to jump slightly.

She looked at the older man that she considered to be her second father – Larry always being her father in her heart, her own father only being the man who brought her into existence, but not life.

“I just… I want to thank you for what you’ve done,” she started slowly.

Ed smiled at his surrogate daughter. Didn’t she know that she was family to him? And that he would do anything to protect his family? He opened his mouth to speak, but Mary continued with her voice full of emotion.

“Not just last night. But for all of the opportunities you’ve given me.”

“You deserve all that,” Ed said as he reached over and patted her knee.

Mary closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Like a bandage, she thought. Just do it.

“Ed, I’d like to take a sabbatical,” she blurted.

Ed caught his breath. “Of course, dear,” he agreed. “You deserve some time away. With your dad and work… How long do you think you want to be away? A month?”

Mary fidgeted uncomfortably on the couch. “I was thinking about more like a year.”

Ed widened his eyes slightly. “A year?”

Mary nodded, “At least.”

“Is there something wrong?” Ed asked gently. “I mean, besides what happened last night.”

Mary felt the red blush of embarrassment creep across her cheeks as she recalled where she had woken up that morning. “No, no…” she shook her head. “Nothing else,” she tried to say convincingly as Ed carefully watched her.

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely,” she forcefully smiled. “One hundred percent.”

Ed continued to watch her suspiciously. “When would you leave?” he finally asked.

“Tonight.”

Ed sighed as he leaned back on the couch. He didn’t have time to hire someone to replace Mary for a year. But he could tell from the gleam in her eyes that she was going to leave whether or not her approved her sabbatical.

“Can I make you an offer?” Ed asked. “A deal, perhaps?”

Mary swallowed, apprehensive of what Ed Deline might offer. “Absolutely…”

“I have no one to replace you while you’re gone,” Ed said simply.

Mary nodded slowly, feeling her heart break into pieces at the thought of being in the same country as Delinda’s belly grew, much less the same building.

“So what I propose is this. Why don’t I send you to the Montecito in Hawaii for a couple of months, have you train the assistant manager there so he can take over for you for a little bit, then you can go on your sabbatical?” he negotiated.

Mary’s heart and spirits lifted. She leapt across the couch and hugged the older man. “Thank you, Ed,” she said as she kissed him on the cheek.

Ed was taken aback from the burst of emotion from the redhead. He patted her back as she squeezed him. “You’re welcome, sweetheart. Have my assistant book your flight, then go up and pack your bags, get your personal affairs in order... I’ll let the staff know.”

Mary quickly released him as though he burned her. “Um…”

Ed looked at Mary quizzically. “What is it? What’s the matter?”

“I… I just…” she fumbled as she wrung her hands. Then she shook her head. “No, that’s fine. Never mind.”

Ed furrowed his brows.

“No, really. It’s fine,” she asserted. “Thank you, Ed.”

Ed nodded. “Okay then,” he said as he got up from the couch. He offered his hand to Mary. “If you ever need to talk or need help, my door is open to you,” he said as he gave the redhead a final hug.

“I know,” Mary said as he released him. “I’ll be in touch.”

Ed watched as she crossed the room and left. He felt a tightening in his chest with the sinking feeling that it was going to be a long time before he would see or hear from her again.

--

“Lieutenant McCoy?” the young Marine asked as Danny opened the door.

Danny slowly returned the soldier’s salute. “At ease,” he said cautiously. Danny glanced down either side of the hallway. “What’s going on?”

The soldier quietly handed Danny an envelope. “I have new orders for you.”

“You what?” Danny asked incredulously as he tore open the envelope. “There’s no way…”

Danny absentmindedly dismissed the man as he stared at the letter in disbelief.

“What’s the matter?” Delinda called from the table.

Danny slowly turned and looked at her.

“I’m being recalled.”