Daniel was dreading going into work today. He hadn't slept well. Too worried to do so. He wondered how many others at the station now knew. Not that he minded that, he wasn't ashamed, he just didn't like the opinions and judging that some had.
He sighed and glanced at his watch, as Jessie sat eating her cereal. Still on schedule. He just needed to sort Jessie's lunch and get her to school, then work. He was still dreading it.
*
Jess watched her father. "What's wrong dad?" She asked as she worked on her cereal. "You need breakfast too."
*
He gave a small shake of his head and forced a smile in place. "Nothing, sweetie. I'm just trying to remember what you normally have for lunch," he said. "I will. I'll get something on the way to work."
*
"Angel always has cookies, she said."
*
"Oh, did she?" He quirked a more genuine smile this time.
*
"Mmm. no nuts"
*
Daniel nodded as he finished packing Jessie's lunch. "No nuts is good. And no lemon." He snapped the lunchbox closed and put it into her school bag. "OK, runt, teeth and then we can go."
*
"Can I go meet Dylan?"
*
"I... what?"
*
"Angel's having him after school, can I go too?"
*
Daniel blinked at her. "I've already arranged for Kelly to look after you. Angel's going to be working."
*
"Kelly doesn't like me."
*
"What? That's not true, she's just... young." Which didn't feel weird saying at all.
*
"Angel does!"
*
"Jessie... You've met Angel once. She shouldn't have been put in that situation in the first place." He rubbed at his temples. As happy as he was to see his daughter seemingly engaging with other people again apart from himself, he was worried as well. Lately the seven-year-old hadn't even wanted to see her old friends, and he was struggling to work out in his head if her wanting to meet Sam's son was actually about making a new friend or just because she had liked Angel.
"You really want to?"
*
"Why don't you want me to?"
*
"It's not that, sweetie, I just... Why do you want to?"
*
"We have to live here right? With people."
*
"Right. Still not getting a why?" Daniel arched an eyebrow at her.
*
"Because I like Angel, she's not scared of everything," Jessie replied
*
Daniel pinched the bridge of his nose. He wasn't sure whether his seven-year-old was actually implying that he was scared of everything or it was just a nothing comment. "Please just go and brush your teeth, Jessie." He paused before adding. "I'll ask. When I get to work, OK? No promises though."
*
Jess jumped down from the table and yawned
*
"Now, teeth. You don't want to be late."
*
She trotted off to do as she was told.
*
Daniel sighed and leant against the side. He was already thinking about how the phone call with Kelly would go if he had to change plans.