The Adult Denby Fanfic Site

Complexity

Two years later

She still thought about him. Everyday in fact. Sometimes, on the street, she would swear she would see him, walking towards her. After him, after Bobby, she still hadn't been able to cope with grief. When she saw a man with dark hair and a slim, lithe build, her heart caught in her chest. Today was not any better.

There was a man, he was sitting at the counter on a bar stool, sipping black coffee and chatting with the other patrons. She hadn't seen his face or heard his voice but the back was enough for her. She cursed herself for it.

When he turned, Diane buried her face in her paper. It wasn't Harry, she knew that for almost a definite truth, but she didn't want to be caught staring. She had learned that lesson many times over.

"Well April, I've got to be getting back to the hell pit."

The waitress laughed.

"Oh stop exaggerating Denby." Diane's coffee almost flew across the table, but she stopped herself. It was just a coincidence. There were plenty of dark haired men with the name Denby, right? The waitress continued. "It's not nearly as big a task being a lounge singer as you make out. Hell, I'd trade jobs with you in a minute."

The man laughed.

"Well, anyway, I have to get back to The Attic now. I hope you come and see me sometime?"

"Sure. One of these days I will."

"And bring your fianc�e."

"I will, I will."

"Bye bye now April."

"Bye bye Harry."

Diane, 6 hours later, was sitting at a little table at 'The Attic,' a small cocktail lounge right outside the precinct. She felt stupid as hell, sitting here to hear a guy who had the same name as Harry. And the same build. And the same voice. It wasn't him, she told herself.

An M.C. came onto the stage and the small gathering of people stopped drinking their beverages long enough to applaud. The M.C. smiled.

"Okay, okay, I know you've been waiting a while for this guy's next appearance. So without further ado, and without an introduction, here he is."

The light hit him. Diane flew back in her chair. Luckily, no one noticed, and Diane wasn't sure if she wanted anyone to. His silky, sultry voice filled the air as his hands flew deftly over the piano.

"At last, my love has come along. My lonely days are over..."

Diane laughed to herself. That was the same song that Harry had played the night they had made love for the first time. She closed her eyes and listened to him sing. But, strangely, reality hadn't sunk in. This was Harry.

He sang a few numbers, "Sittin' on the dock of the bay," "Hey Jude," and "Yesterday." But one song she had never heard before caught her interest. And brought tears to her eyes.

"Ladies and gents, for those of you who don't know this song, it's by a very talented singer, Fiona Apple. It's called 'I'll Know' and there are few minor adjustments made to it."

And then he sang, and it was the most beautiful thing Diane had ever heard in her life.

So be it I'm your crowbar. If that's what I am so far. Until you get out of this mess. And I will pretend that I don't know of your sins until you are ready to confess, but all the time, all the time, I'll know. I'll know. And you can use my skin to bury secrets in, and I will settle you down. And at my own suggestion, I will ask no questions, while I do my thing in the background but all the time, all the time, I'll know. I'll know. Baby I can't help you out while he's still around. So for the time being I'm being patient. And amidst this bitterness, if you'll just consider this- even if it don't make sense all the time, just give it time. And when the crowd becomes your burden and you've early closed your curtain, I'll wait by the backstage door. While you try to find the lines to speak your mind and pry it open, hoping for a encore. And if it get's too late for me to wait. For you to find you love me and tell me so. It's okay- don't need to say it."

And Diane wept.

Diane followed him home, eager for the first time in what felt like forever. And nervous, oh lord, was she nervous. The loud music of the radio was the only thing that kept her alert.

Pulling up behind his blue Ford, she waited for a moment, and watched him enter his apartment, number 38. Oh shit, what was she going to say to him? 'Uhh, hi Harry. I saw you play. I thought you were dead. Can I come in?' Not likely. But she walked up to the door anyway.

After knocking twice, she turned her back to the door, not wanting him to see her before she could make the first move. Her heart felt like it had exploded.

"Yes?"

She turned around very slowly, and the light from inside didn't catch her face immediately. She saw him up close before he saw her. She whispered his name in the darkness. Harry's hand fell away from the door, and he dropped to his knees, weeping. She got down next to him, clutching his head, and drying his tears while her own fell onto her cheeks.

"Oh God, oh God..."

Harry's voice was unbelievably soft. She kissed the top of his head, and he turned it up to look at her. He had never looked so handsome in his life, with his tear reddened eyes and pale skin. His hair was short, the same as it had always been, and she ran her hands through it.

He smiled at her, and she kissed him. Softly at first, and then it would build up. He clutched her to him fiercely, as if she would disappear. His next words warmed the chilly air between them.

"I love you."

Diane sat on his leather couch. It seemed that poverty hadn't robbed him of his taste. She smiled to herself, running her hand over it. A cat, Virginia, jumped up next to her. Diane gasped. It was the same damn cat!
The one he had...before...

"She's stubborn and refuses to die."

"Much like you."

Harry sat down next to Diane, handing her a cup of coffee. She sniffed it; it didn't have any rum in it. Thank God! She didn't know what she would do if he had become an alcoholic. Again.

"Well, I have a lot of explaining to do, don't I?"

"I have all day. And possibly more."

Harry set his cup on the old coffee table. He sighed, turning to her, and crossing his legs.

"First off, I want to know what clued you in on Amanda?"

"A lot of things. First off, how she got into your apartment. Then, I realized that Rich, the DOA, had been a friend of Don's. I did a check on Desiree, and it seems she's been in jail for her share of shit too. The rest was just gut. And Amanda kept asking about my involvement with Don and Jill. And after I told her, she asked where you were so she could 'come and see you.' It was all too mismatched."

"But the bullet...?"

"It didn't hit anything vital. It missed my lungs and heart, and though I was in pain for a year, it was relatively minor. For a shot to the chest."

"I checked your pulse. When I didn't feel anything, I panicked. There probably was a pulse, but I didn't feel it."

Harry nodded.

"It's common for that to happen when you're in shock."

No one said anything for a moment, and Diane realized that Harry had scooted closer and that he was giving her a foot massage. She smiled, and leaned her head back with her eyes closed. Ahh....kind soul.

He sat there, quietly massaging her feet for at least 15 minutes, and then was going to keep doing it, but Diane sat up and drew her feet away.

"I had never heard that song before. That Fiona Apple one, 'I'll Know?'"

Harry looked at her a bit confused. Then his face set in an embarrassed expression.

"Ahhh shit...I was hoping I could slack by without anyone I knew hearing me play."

"Why aren't you a cop?"

"Because you are."

Diane understood. Because he thought she was dead, he didn't want to do anything that would remind him terribly of her.

She felt her eyes tearing up. Leaning forward, she put her hands on Harry's chest, and lowered her head to his.

Six months later

Danny Sorenson sighed.

"Again? Bloody hell..."

"Don't you 'bloody hell' me! I'm the one getting married! I reserve the right to curse and scream."

"Harry, will you do me one favor? Just one fucking favor?"

"Yeah? What's that?"

"Shut up for one fucking moment."

"Message taken Danny."

Denby and Sorenson walked out into the main room of the church. They smiled at the people in attendance, waving at a choice few. When they got up next to the priest, the people sitting in the pews could see Harry tugging at his high collar. A few who knew him well laughed.

The music started up, and out floated Diane, clad in what had to be the most beautiful dress Harry had even seen. He couldn't stop the stupid grin that crept over his face. Diane looked so fantastic, so wonderful, so heavenly...Harry noticed somewhat dreamily that his mother was walking Diane down the isle.

When she stood next to him, Harry lifted the with gauzy veil away from her face. Her bouncy chestnut curls were painstakingly done up in a french roll, with little spirals of curls escaping here and there. Diane had never looked more beautiful. The minister began.

"Diane and Harrison, you stand here before me and before God to pledge your undying love to each other with an exchange of consideration..."

Harry looked mortified and Diane doubled over laughing. She put one hand to her mouth and tired to stifle her laughter.

"I got...I got this sudden urge, and I don't do good at resisting those."

The End.

'Primitive'
By Annie Lennox

Sweetheart, the sun has set, all around and primitive above our heads. Bloodstained on an ageless sky. Wipe your tears and let the salt stains dry. Let them all run dry. All run dry.

Sweetheart, take me to bed, that's where all our prayers are said. Whisper silent in the night, that's how all our dreams take flight. Let them all go by. All go by.

For time will catch us in both hands, to blow away like grains of sand. Ashes to ashes, rust to dust, this is what becomes of us.

Sweetheart, send me to sleep. Greater then our hopes to keep. Take your fears and make us strong. Lead us to where we belong. Let it all go by. All go by.

"...it is easy to slip into a parallel universe. There are so many of them: worlds of the insane, the criminal, the crippled, the dying and perhaps the dead as well. These worlds exist alongside this world and resemble it, but are not in it."

Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen, pg. 5 paragraph 2.