Quick Flicks

I paced back and forth, trying to clear my head so that I wouldn't say something I'd regret.

"Danny, look, I get that you're in the spotlight a lot. And, obviously you have girls come up to you all the time. That's something I've obviously been aware of since we started dating. But," I held my phone up to him, the picture in question on the screen, "this just seems, like, way too much."

The picture was of Danny at a bar. The huge grin on his face mirrored by his teammate, who sat on one side of him. He sat up on the counter, which wasn't completely abnormal, except for the fact that he had a girl at his side. She was a thin blonde, with beautiful long legs and a tight black dress. Her arm was around Danny's neck and she was pressing a big kiss to his cheek, her other hand pressed to his chest. If I hadn't been dating Danny myself, I would've thought they were a couple.

He took the phone and looked at the picture, for what must have been the fifth time in the last hour, and dropped it on the couch.

"She was just some stupid puck bunny. It's not a big deal."

I sighed, again not wanting to completely freak out.

"But, it is a big deal. Can you imagine how this looks to people? They aren't going to see this picture and say 'wow, that's a man with a loving fiancee at home!'. There gonna see a guy who looks like he's having the time of his life as a bachelor!"

"Oh my god, Emily, you're making way too big a deal out of this. I didn't even talk to her! She just hopped onto the bar and did that!" He gestured towards the phone that lay on the couch. "Seriously, I don't even know her name."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Danny shook his head and started walking towards our bedroom, before changing his mind and walking back to where I stood.

"I shouldn't have to prove to you that I love you. I don't know why you're acting so jealous. Come on, you're making way too big a deal out of this."

At that point, I couldn't hold my emotions in any longer.

"You know what? Maybe I am making too big a deal out of this! I should totally be fine with my fiancé walking around and taking pictures with random girls!" I grabbed my purse off the counter and the keys off of the hook. "I am so, so sorry I'm being so jealous and crazy right now. Maybe I'll just leave for a while and go be jealous somewhere else." I walked out the door, slamming it behind me.

I completely forgot to grab my jacket on the way out, and the cold, November air was already stinging my bare arms. I hopped into the car and quickly started it, the tears spilling down my cheeks as I backed out of the driveway.
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Danny's POV

I knew as soon as the phone rang that it was Emily. I just had this horrible sinking feeling in my stomach that something had happened.

It was like one of those stupid Lifetime movies Emily always made me watch. Everything happened in slow motion.

The person on the phone said that she had been going the speed limit, but that in the winter weather it was still too fast. The road was slick and, as she rounded the corner, she lost control and slammed into the guard rail.

I have never run so quickly. I didn't even bother grabbing my coat or turning off the lights. I just hopped outside and got into my car, my GPS set for the hospital.

My mind was racing at 100 mph, and I barely saw where I was going as I drove. I pulled into the lot fifteen minutes later, throwing my keys to the valet and running through the doors.

"Hi, I'm looking for Emily Sanders." The woman behind the counter looked tired and unimpressed. She looked down at her keyboard and typed in the information I gave her.

"Go sit down in one of those chairs. Someone will be out to get you soon."

"But- "

"Look, I said someone will come get you soon. Okay?"

I thought about being a douche and asking if she knew who I was, but luckily I didn't have to, because someone came through the door right then and called my name.

I nearly ran over to the nurse standing there, as she ushered me down the hall. She stopped with her hand on the handle to what I assumed was Emily's room and looked at me.

"Listen, Mr. Carcillo. Your...." She trailed off, so I filled her in.

"Fiancee."

"Fiancee. She was seriously hurt. She'll be okay, luckily. The airbags in her car protected her from dying on impact, as did the fact that she was wearing her seatbelt."

I silently thanked myself for pushing so hard for her new car. She had insisted she didn't need a new one, and that I didn't need to pay for it. But, I had pushed, and she finally gave in.

"Come on in, but be careful. She's in a lot of pain and the doctor gave her a pretty strong sedative. She'll be in and out of it for the next few hours." I nodded quietly as she opened the door and let me walk in.

I gasped as I saw her laying there. Her eyes were closed and I could see some bruises forming on her cheek and along her jawline. Her arm was in a sling, and the other had an IV hooked up to it.

I sat in the chair placed next to her bed, reaching out and taking her hand lightly in mine. I wanted to hold it together, I really did. But I felt my eyes burning and brought my hand to my mouth, taking a deep breath and trying to hold it together.

The doctor walked in right then, and I sat up straight and composed myself.

"Mr. Carcillo? Hi, I'm Dr. Smith." The doctor looked to be in her mid-fifties, and gave off a very calming vibe. I shook her hand, and then put my hands in my pockets as I stood at the end of Emily's bed, looking at her in hopes she was okay. I looked back at the doctor, who I think could sense my anxiety.

She took a deep breath and began speaking.

"Emily was hurt pretty badly. If she hadn't been wearing her seat belt or if her airbags hadn't worked, she wouldn't be here right now. As the nurse told you, she's on a pretty strong sedative right now. The bruising on her face is just from the impact with the air bag. She has some on her torso, as well. She also broke her collarbone and has some pretty serious bruising on her arm. Besides a few scratches elsewhere, that's the entirety of it."

I sighed, taking all of the information in. The doctor placed her hand on my shoulder, patting it in an attempt to comfort me.

"Push that button on her bed if she needs anything. I'll leave you alone, now."

I sat down in the chair again and held Emily's hand. I stroked her palm softly, feeling a tear escape as my heart beat rapidly. My thoughts were racing and I couldn't help but blame myself for this.

If I hadn't been so stupid and argued with her, she wouldn't have stormed out. If I had just stayed calm and listened to what she had to say, she wouldn't be sitting in this hospital bed right now. If-

"Danny?" I looked up, snapping out of my stream of thoughts, and saw Emily's blue eyes staring back at me.

"Oh my god, Emily, you're awake. I- I am so, so sorry. You were right, I shouldn't have taken that picture. I can't help it when girls come up to me, but I shouldn't have let it go that far. I never, ever want to make you feel unwanted again. I love you more than anyone or anything in the world. I am so sorry, babe."

Emily looked at me, her eyes glassy. Whether it was because of the drugs or the tears that were forming in her eyes, I couldn't tell. She gripped my hand tighter.

"No, don't apologize. I know you love me. It's just hard, sometimes, to see that and not feel like shit. But, I love you so much and know that you would never do anything to hurt me." Her voice was soft and her words were slurred a little bit, but I could tell she meant what she said.

I lifted her hand and kissed it, promising to myself that I would never let her forget how much I loved her, ever again.

Notes