Daisy and Boss: 13 - Devious Dani
#13 of Daisy and Boss
Fun fun. I love Dani, what about you guys?
Daisy and Boss: 13 - Devious Dani
Boss rubbed the pads of his fingers against his eyes tiredly as he sat at his desk. Glancing at his phone he groaned and leaned back in his chair. It was almost eight pm Friday night. He had come to work that morning driven and he had been reading and studying about Julian Wilderson and his possible connections in and out of prison well past quitting time. The coffee in his mug was stone cold, his eyes felt sandblasted, but he had accomplished some things. He had spoken to his chief and had been granted permission to put work hours towards tracking down and shutting down Wilderson's organization. He had used Daisy's letter and the likelihood that she was in danger to convince the old panther, but had also pointed out that Wilderson was most likely still running a fence for stolen goods. He had mailed out paperwork to the Fields, knowing full well that he would have to convince Daisy to agree to press charges if they wanted this to go anywhere. Because investigating the fence was tenuous at best. Boss moved his palm up over his head to the back of his neck and glanced at his phone again with a sigh. He had a feeling she wouldn't want to have anything to do with it. Which left plan B. Boss smiled in a very predatory way and thought back to his conversation with Ronnie.
"Well, I can't promise he'll cooperate, he aint a talker... but I can get you in to see him. Wednesday soon enough for you, man?"
"I'll be there."
If Daisy didn't want to press charges, then he would do some pressing of his own, Boss thought with entirely too much relish for a law abiding dog. He was about to open another file on another two bit thief when his phone buzzed beside him on the desk.
'APARTMENT', the little screen flashed in blue. He picked it up and brought it to his ear after a moment's deliberation.
"I'm still at the station." Boss said in lieu of a hello. A sarcastic snort sounded in his ear as Dani found that bit of information especially unsurprising.
"I figured as much." The mare chided. "Put down the damn file, turn off the computer and come home before I burn your apartment down like I did mine. I can't figure out why the thingie on the stove isn't staying lit..." There was a muffled clang and a scuffle that sounded like she had the handheld phone and was actually laying on the floor in the kitchen, looking into the broiler. Boss felt sliver of real concern.
"The stove... what!? What are you doing?" He was already standing up out of his chair and gathering the paperwork together to put away in the cabinet for tomorrow.
"I don't know... Why do you have such an OLD fucking stove!?" Dani retorted. Boss was putting on his coat and reaching for his keys.
"I never use it! Why would I get a new one?" He growled as he headed for the elevator. "Hardy, I swear to God, if you don't just stop whatever you are doing right now, I'm kicking you out." He bristled into the phone. Dani just laughed and Boss heard some more shuffling and an alarming rhythmic clicking that sounded an awful lot like the large grill lighter he kept for barbequing on the balcony with the charcoal grill.
"Oh, whatever, you say that like every day!" She scoffed. "I want acorn squash. And you cook acorn squash..." Dani paused and Boss literally jogged to his car once he reached the parking garage level. "...in the motherfucking oven!" Boss started his car with the remote auto start and hopped in as if his life depended on it. Or all his worldly belongings.
"Just... I'll be home in five minutes!"
He actually made the drive in a little less than that, resisting the urge to use his lights to get through a slow intersection. He still arrived thanking his lucky stars he lived so close to the station, and took the stairs three at a time up to his door. When he rushed thru the door however he was met with Dani lounging on the couch in front of the tv, and the smell of cooking acorn squash heavy in the air.
"Oh good, you're home!" Dani grinned, taking a hearty swig from the beer she was working on. Boss gave her a look that he usually reserved for the interrogation room. It didn't seem to phase the mare one bit. Se raised the hand not occupied with holding a beer and cheerfully clicked the grill lighter a couple times, little gouts of flame puffing out of it.
"The stove smells like its working." Boss grated out as he shrugged out of his suit jacket and set his briefcase down. He fought his rising irritation as he loosened his tie.
"Yup." Dani nodded, her attention focused on the tv as the commercials ended and 'Biggest Loser' continued.
"It was never broken, was it..." Boss growled. Dani flicked and ear at him but didn't look away from the screen.
"Nope." She shook her head as she drew out the response with an especially bratty pop on the 'p'. Boss' paws curled into fists and he narrowed his eyes.
"Care to explain.... Danielle?" He walked around the couch and stood in front of the tv, blocking her view. Dani craned her neck to first one side then the other and when she had no luck set her beer down on the end table and graced him with her attention. Her full exasperated and bitchy attention. She pointed the lighter at his face and shook it.
"You, Boss! You!" She whinnied. "I know you're a goddamn workaholic, but still, what's up with you? It's like eight o'clock at night..." She frowned and tossed the lighter on the ottoman before running her fingers through her dark hair. It was loose and flowed around her shoulders like silk, some if it falling across her face to obscure her features. As she fiddled, Boss got an idea as to where her attitude was coming from.
"You're jealous." Boss grinned, the dark look on his partners face confirmed it. The mare snorted through her nose and rolled her eyes.
"Whatever." She quipped, smoothing her hair and running her hands over her tail where it lay fanned across the couch next to her, pretending to check for split ends. Boss was incredulous, watching her pout.
"How old are you, seriously?! Sometimes it feels like I'm saddled with a teenager for a partner, and worse, a teenager that lives with me!" Boss moved into the kitchen to find something to drink, and Dani jumped up and followed him, affront etched into every line of her sleek powerful body. She was svelte in a pair of black yoga pants and a tank top, and moved like a viper.
"Saddled!?" She hissed, advancing on him dangerously. Boss backpedaled, realizing he'd stepped over a line.
"Well, Okay... All right, wrong word!" He held his paw up pleadingly and she grumbled an expletive under her breath and then visibly brought herself in check, an ability that Boss was eternally glad she was capable of.
"I'm 27 years old, Boss." She said levelly. "And... I think you are acting strange." She arched a silver brow at him and tapped her fingers on the granite countertop. Boss paused, and bought himself a minute digging in the fridge, eventually settling for a diet coke.
"Just preoccupied." He snapped open the coke one handed with practiced ease, taking a swig and then wondering why he had grabbed it at all, the overly sweet bubbles tickling his muzzle and reminding him that Dani was the one who liked diet coke.
"Yeah, I guess..." Dani pointed at the silver can in his paw. "You don't like diet coke. That's mine." Then it was Boss' turn to roll his eyes.
"Well someone keeps drinking all my beer."
"Hmph." Dani smirked, her mood as fluid as ever. "I just mean, last couple of days, you've been obsessed! I haven't ever seen you like this, it's weird." Her expression grew serious and she crossed her arms over her chest, leaning against the counter.
"Oh, cool it, Dani..." Boss gruffed, taking another drink and making a face at the taste. Dani looked out into the living room over the breakfast bar and exhaled loudly thru her nose, her eyes wandering over the furniture aimlessly.
"Why this crusade all of a sudden?" She glanced at Boss who muttered an expletive and rubbed his face with a paw, setting the soda down blindly next to the sink overflowing with dishes.
"You mean Daisy..." He murmured. "You mean, why Daisy?" Dani stared him down even though he wasn't meeting her gaze. It unsettled her, and made her voice sound short.
"Well, yeah! I mean, I know you're a helpful guy, Boss! Looking out for those in need is sort of a cop thing... But this feels different. You seem different." Her eyes softened as she unfolded her arms. "Yesterday, when you saw those pictures... Boss I thought you were going to cry!" She waited for him to look at her, and after a moment he did, his eyes troubled.
"And then I nearly took your head off... Sorry about that, by the way." He apologized sheepishly. Dani smirked and waved it off.
"Pretty sure I could take you, big guy... but thanks." She flicked her ears. "I just don't like how you keep everything to yourself all the time! We're supposed to be partners, Boss. Partners share their troubles, especially if they involve serial killers." Dani moved as the timer for the oven went off for her squash. She donned a pair of oven mitts and pulled the pan of bubbling acorn squash out and set them on top of the range, poking at them with one red hooftip to test for doneness. Satisfied, she moved to Boss' side and picked up the abandoned soda, taking a drink.
"I'm sorry I've been distracted." Boss relented. "But I honestly don't know what to tell you... I met her and it's like she took away my control... I can't... I'm just going on instinct basically. I can't help it." Boss sounded frustrated, and Dani turned her head to rest her chin on his shoulder consolingly.
"Poor Bossy..." She smiled. "Haven't you ever been in love before?" Boss frowned and struggled for a response.
"Now that's pushing it... I just met her... She just needs my help, is all..." He stuttered, making Dani giggle and put an arm around his shoulders.
"I think I need to meet this girl." She grinned. Boss snuffled, his brow still furrowed. He gave her a sideways glance that Dani instantly recognized as Boss hiding something. "What...?" Dani prodded, soda poised for another drink.
"We actually have plans to meet up on Tuesday." He admitted reluctantly. Dani squealed and Boss pushed her away, startled by the noise so close to his ear. Dani didn't seem to care.
"Yeah?! Like a date!? Awww... Bossy! That's so cuuuuute!!!" She bubbled. Boss growled a little as she bounced up to him and gave him a hug.
"No, it's not a date! I need to ask her about the case... we might get lunch."
"Well if it's not a date, than I'm coming too." Dani said matter of factly. Boss blanched under his thick coat as the mare went about putting two halves of squash into a big bowl and getting herself a fork out of the silverware drawer.
"Uh, I don't think so."
"So it IS a date, then?" Dani tossed the empty soda can and sauntered out into the livingroom with her dinner to plunk back down on the couch in front of the tv. Boss trailed after her, scowling.
"Look, I told you, it's about Wilderson-" He started, only to get cut off by the mare as she channel surfed aimlessly with the fork handle sticking out of her mouth.
"Then I'm coming." She settled on the cooking network. Boss rubbed his long mane of fur forward over the back of his head in frustration and then threw up his paws, collapsing in a sprawl of hopelessness into the recliner next to the couch.
"Fine... Fine you can come." He sighed. Dani perked her ears at him and smiled sweetly.
"Good!" She chirped. "The other squash is for you if you want it."
"Thanks."
"Wanna get drunk?" Boss shot his partner a venomous look, and bristled.
"No."
"Party pooper."