Against All Odds

Chapter Six: Happy Ending

Johnny's POV:

I carried Danielle out of the theater and into the theater lobby, ignoring the strange looks given to me by everyone in the room. "Hey," I whispered, placing her on the ground and kneeling in front of her. Tears began to roll down her face, "Hey, hey, hey," I said, wiping them off her face as they fell. "It's okay."

She shoved me away, "I just want my mom!"

I grabbed her and pulled her back into my arms, "I know, kiddo. I know."

She hid her face in my shoulder and hugged me. "I miss her so much! I just don't know what to do!"

"I know, little sister, I know," I told her. "But you've got your dad, and Jazz, and Kitty, Tucker, your grandparents. Kiddo, you've got a lot of people who love you very much. And, hey," I smirked, "You can't lose me or Kitty. You're stuck with us, forever."

She sniffled, but let out a little giggle; the first real giggle I'd heard in weeks. "Do you want to go back into the movie?" I asked.

She shook her head. "Should we go get your dad and the girls?"

"They can stay and watch the movie if they want, I don't feel like it anymore."

"This day is about you, babe. Wait here and I'll go get them."

"Okay."

I ran back into the theater, not surprised that all of them were waiting by the door. "She doesn't want to watch it anymore."

"Is she okay?" Danny asked, as we walked out.

"Yeah, she's okay."

He walked over to her and lowered himself to her level. "Are you okay?" he asked. She nodded. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, Daddy," she told him. "Can we leave now?"

"Sure."

So, instead of watching the movie, we all piled back into the convertible and started to drive to an ice cream parlor.

Danny's POV:

Sitting in the car, Kitty had the music turned back up. Everyone was trying really hard to have fun with her, but I knew Johnny was extremely upset. I was, too. This wasn't working at all the way that we wanted to.

"Guys," Danielle piped up suddenly, turning the music down. We all turned our attention to her. "I don't really feel like having ice cream. Can we go home?"

I looked at Jazz, letting her decide. "Sure, honey," she said. "If that's what you want to do."

Kitty turned the car around and we headed back to the house. Kitty and Johnny came into my house with all of us. Danielle sat down on the sofa and Johnny pulled us all into the kitchen, shutting the door behind us.

"Look, I've kept my mouth shut for awhile, but Danielle is important to me, too, and I think my idea will work better," Johnny said.

"What's your idea?" I asked, desperate.

"We need to sit her down and force her to talk, to get this out."

"Johnny," Jazz began, "forcing her to talk about this may not be the best idea..."

"Look, Jazz, I respect you and your opinion, but we tried your idea and it backfired. Let's try my way."

"I'm all for it," I said. "Anything to get her back."

"Let's go," Johnny said.

Jazz sighed, but I knew she was as desperate as I was to get Danielle back, so she followed us all into the living room. "Danielle," Johnny said, "we need to talk."

Danielle looked up, looking somewhat interested. "About what?" she asked.

"Look, kiddo, we understand that you miss Sam. Hell, we all do, but you've got to try to move on."

"Johnny, I-"

Johnny walked over and sat beside her, taking her hands in his, "Sam wouldn't want you to be like this, Dani. You never talk about it with anyone, babe, and I know you need to. You need to let it out."

I cut him off, "What Johnny is saying, sweetheart, is that you don't have to act so strong. You can talk to us, Danielle. You don't have to hold this all in until two or three in the morning. It will never go away if you don't let it out."

Danielle looked slightly overwhelmed, and I began to worry that this was too much for her, but then she started crying. I crossed the room and pulled her into my arms. "I miss her so much, Dad," she sobbed. "I feel bad, because I should have protected her-"

"Danielle, I told you that it wasn't your job to do that."

"I know it wasn't my job, Dad! But I'm the one with ghost powers, I should have stopped him!"

"Danielle, there is nothing you could have done. And do you know what would have happened then?" I asked.

"What?" she asked.

"I would have lost both of you! I can live without Sam, but I couldn't live if I'd lost both of you, Dani! I couldn't live if I even just lost you! You are my entire world, Danielle. And it was not your fault."

I held her close, kissing the top of her head. "I really miss her!" she sobbed.

"I know, Dani. We all miss her, too," Johnny said, "but you still have us. I told you that. We've nearly completely lost you, too, and it's killing us. We understand that you're sad, kiddo, but we don't want to lose you."

"I'm sorry," Danielle whimpered.

"Don't be sorry," I told her, wiping tears off of her face. "Everything is going to be okay."