there is a train

independent sideblog for donny novitski from BANDSTAND || follows from carryindabanner || icon by juilebee

[armsextended]

“You know, you could’ve told me instead of publishing a poetry book and leaving a trail of crumbs for me to follow.” (bobbysoxersswoon)

@bobbysoxersswoon

“Told you about what?” Julia furrowed her brow. She had once put up with Donny’s nonsense, but having a boisterous daughter lowered her tolerance for ridiculous behavior from adults.

“I’m glad to hear you’ve been reading my work.”

[armsextended]

bobbysoxersswoon‌:

“Then watch me. I’m not saying I don’t want you there but, despite how we ended, we made a daughter who I’d like to know and don’t you dare try to tell me she isn’t mine, she looks like you, yes, but there’s no way the crazy black hair isn’t from me.” Donny was begging, he’d never begged before. In fact, when they broke up, he’d told her she’d be the one begging him.

She folded her arms. It wasn’t a very well-kept secret that Penny was Donny’s daughter. All it took was one look at them standing next to each other, and the resemblance was obvious.

And like it or not, he had a right. He had the right to a chance to prove himself. But after what happened, who knew if he would?

“Not now,” she said. “First I want you and I to sit down and talk. And then if it goes well, I’ll bring you to meet her.”

[bobbysoxersswoon]

“Of course, Julia. Whatever you want. Name a time and place, I’ll be there.” He was willing to go the distance and rise to any test Julia put in front of him as a way to prove himself worthy of fatherhood, he’d already missed so much.

Even if he and Penny’s mother had gotten off on the wrong foot over five years before.

[armsextended]

“You know, you could’ve told me instead of publishing a poetry book and leaving a trail of crumbs for me to follow.” (bobbysoxersswoon)

@bobbysoxersswoon

“Told you about what?” Julia furrowed her brow. She had once put up with Donny’s nonsense, but having a boisterous daughter lowered her tolerance for ridiculous behavior from adults.

“I’m glad to hear you’ve been reading my work.”

[armsextended]

bobbysoxersswoon‌:

“She’s beautiful, Julia.” That was all Donny could think to say once words found him again. “She looks a lot like you.” It wasn’t a lie, she did look a lot like Julia besides her hair and few other features.

“Penny Adams? I assume you gave her your last name.”

She nodded. “Penny Adams. She was born April sixteenth.” She was good at giving breadcrumbs, and Donny had earned those, at least.

She glanced over her shoulder, stepped outside, and closed the door behind her. It was an intimate conversation, but better to have it out in public than taking the chance that her daughter could overhear. “What do you mean by responsibility?” she asked. “You came all this way for what, exactly?”

[bobbysoxersswoon]

She was giving him something and he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t thrilled.

“I want to be involved. I don’t want to step on your toes but I want to be a dad. With your permission, hell you could be the room. I just want to help out. Say I can and I’ll move closer, I’ll take whatever you’ll give me.”

[armsextended]

He wanted to help out. After all this time, he wants to waltz back into her life?

“No.” Five years hadn’t dulled her memory. “Things weren’t good between us, Donny. And it’s been five years for us. I don’t know how you behave around a child.”

[bobbysoxersswoon]

“Then watch me. I’m not saying I don’t want you there but, despite how we ended, we made a daughter who I’d like to know and don’t you dare try to tell me she isn’t mine, she looks like you, yes, but there’s no way the crazy black hair isn’t from me.” Donny was begging, he’d never begged before. In fact, when they broke up, he’d told her she’d be the one begging him.

[armsextended]

“You know, you could’ve told me instead of publishing a poetry book and leaving a trail of crumbs for me to follow.” (bobbysoxersswoon)

@bobbysoxersswoon

“Told you about what?” Julia furrowed her brow. She had once put up with Donny’s nonsense, but having a boisterous daughter lowered her tolerance for ridiculous behavior from adults.

“I’m glad to hear you’ve been reading my work.”

[armsextended]

bobbysoxersswoon‌:

“She’s beautiful, Julia.” That was all Donny could think to say once words found him again. “She looks a lot like you.” It wasn’t a lie, she did look a lot like Julia besides her hair and few other features.

“Penny Adams? I assume you gave her your last name.”

She nodded. “Penny Adams. She was born April sixteenth.” She was good at giving breadcrumbs, and Donny had earned those, at least.

She glanced over her shoulder, stepped outside, and closed the door behind her. It was an intimate conversation, but better to have it out in public than taking the chance that her daughter could overhear. “What do you mean by responsibility?” she asked. “You came all this way for what, exactly?”

[bobbysoxersswoon]

She was giving him something and he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t thrilled.

“I want to be involved. I don’t want to step on your toes but I want to be a dad. With your permission, hell you could be the room. I just want to help out. Say I can and I’ll move closer, I’ll take whatever you’ll give me.”

[armsextended]

“You know, you could’ve told me instead of publishing a poetry book and leaving a trail of crumbs for me to follow.” (bobbysoxersswoon)

@bobbysoxersswoon

“Told you about what?” Julia furrowed her brow. She had once put up with Donny’s nonsense, but having a boisterous daughter lowered her tolerance for ridiculous behavior from adults.

“I’m glad to hear you’ve been reading my work.”

[armsextended]

bobbysoxersswoon‌:

Donny’s breath caught in his throat, he’d not actually expected the kid to actually be real, well he did but he didn’t expect to be able to so easily pick out the small pieces of him in her face.

He was at a loss for words standing there dumbly, his cheeks red.

“Penny, go find Grandma, okay?” said Julia, turning around. “I’ll be right there.”

Penny shook her head and quickly climbed down the stairs, nearly losing her balance on the way. She drew right up to Donny, folded her arms, and pouted. “Stop it.”

“Enough.” Julia shepherded her daughter off toward the living room.

[bobbysoxersswoon]

“She’s beautiful, Julia.” That was all Donny could think to say once words found him again. “She looks a lot like you.” It wasn’t a lie, she did look a lot like Julia besides her hair and few other features.

“Penny Adams? I assume you gave her your last name.”

[armsextended]

“You know, you could’ve told me instead of publishing a poetry book and leaving a trail of crumbs for me to follow.” (bobbysoxersswoon)

@bobbysoxersswoon

“Told you about what?” Julia furrowed her brow. She had once put up with Donny’s nonsense, but having a boisterous daughter lowered her tolerance for ridiculous behavior from adults.

“I’m glad to hear you’ve been reading my work.”

[armsextended]

bobbysoxersswoon‌:

“The poem about me, for one. And about the love that left you a great gift. Or maybe the fact it says in your little bio on the cover that you live here with your mom and daughter.” His voice was incredulous, he couldn’t believe this. He’d not even wanted to end his relationship with her in the first place.

“I’d like some answers.”

“Let me get this straight. You read my work, assume it’s all about you, and storm into my home because…?”

He may as well be a perfect stranger now. No matter what they shared in the past–the happiness, the love, the arguing, the bitterness–no matter their history, it didn’t come before her daughter’s safety, and she didn’t let strangers around her daughter.

[bobbysoxersswoon]

“First of all I’m not in your home, I’m in the door. And second, I did not assume the work was all about me. But I did assume that maybe you had something you’d want to tell me when you have a five year old daughter and that’s about how long it’s been since you left me.” His voice was clearly showing his annoyance.

“I’m not barging back into your life, but if there’s something I did I’d like to help take care of it. I’d like to take some responsibility. So can you please get off your high horse and talk to me, Julia.”

[armsextended]

Always so demanding, so one-track minded. No option except for the one he wanted. Donny hadn’t changed much, had he?

“If there was anything I wanted to tell you, I wouldn’t have buried it in a book on the chance you would find it. I would tell you. I don’t need you taking responsibility—“

“Ma?” A little girl with thick black hair appeared at the top of the townhouse stairs. She watched, curious at the sight of her mother. She had never seen her so angry.

[bobbysoxersswoon]

Donny’s breath caught in his throat, he’d not actually expected the kid to actually be real, well he did but he didn’t expect to be able to so easily pick out the small pieces of him in her face.

He was at a loss for words standing there dumbly, his cheeks red.

[armsextended]

“You know, you could’ve told me instead of publishing a poetry book and leaving a trail of crumbs for me to follow.” (bobbysoxersswoon)

@bobbysoxersswoon

“Told you about what?” Julia furrowed her brow. She had once put up with Donny’s nonsense, but having a boisterous daughter lowered her tolerance for ridiculous behavior from adults.

“I’m glad to hear you’ve been reading my work.”

[armsextended]

bobbysoxersswoon‌:

“The poem about me, for one. And about the love that left you a great gift. Or maybe the fact it says in your little bio on the cover that you live here with your mom and daughter.” His voice was incredulous, he couldn’t believe this. He’d not even wanted to end his relationship with her in the first place.

“I’d like some answers.”

“Let me get this straight. You read my work, assume it’s all about you, and storm into my home because…?”

He may as well be a perfect stranger now. No matter what they shared in the past–the happiness, the love, the arguing, the bitterness–no matter their history, it didn’t come before her daughter’s safety, and she didn’t let strangers around her daughter.

[bobbysoxersswoon]

“First of all I’m not in your home, I’m in the door. And second, I did not assume the work was all about me. But I did assume that maybe you had something you’d want to tell me when you have a five year old daughter and that’s about how long it’s been since you left me.” His voice was clearly showing his annoyance.

“I’m not barging back into your life, but if there’s something I did I’d like to help take care of it. I’d like to take some responsibility. So can you please get off your high horse and talk to me, Julia.”

[armsextended]

“You know, you could’ve told me instead of publishing a poetry book and leaving a trail of crumbs for me to follow.” (bobbysoxersswoon)

@bobbysoxersswoon

“Told you about what?” Julia furrowed her brow. She had once put up with Donny’s nonsense, but having a boisterous daughter lowered her tolerance for ridiculous behavior from adults.

“I’m glad to hear you’ve been reading my work.”

[bobbysoxersswoon]

“The poem about me, for one. And about the love that left you a great gift. Or maybe the fact it says in your little bio on the cover that you live here with your mom and daughter.” His voice was incredulous, he couldn’t believe this. He’d not even wanted to end his relationship with her in the first place.

“I’d like some answers.”

[armsextended]

♦ (bobbysoxersswoon)

Nonsexual acts of intimacy

♦ : Slow dancing

@bobbysoxersswoon

They had danced together before and sang together much more than that, but never like this. With him in his uniform and her in white, this dance was much more important than any they’d led before.

“I love you,” she whispered. “For the thousandth time, I love you.”

[armsextended]

bobbysoxersswoon‌:

“I love you too, Missus Novitski.” The words felt foreign and strange to say, but welcome all the same. It felt like a victory. Like finally all the fighting he’d done had had purpose and it was this moment right here. Dancing with her, their friends instruments setting the slow tempo of the swaying they were doing.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been happier. This may be the happiest day of my life.”

She closed the gap between them with a kiss. Her new life had begun with high hopes, but Donny was capable of meeting all of those. An extraordinary career, a wonderful, sweet home, and who knows what else was on the way.

A sour note emanated from the piano. She looked over her husband’s shoulder and saw her mother hurriedly look back at the piano. “I think Ma’s getting distracted.”

[bobbysoxersswoon]

Donny let out a quiet laugh. “I can’t say I blame her. You’re a pretty distracting sight, Missus Novitski.” He loved saying that.

He had a wife, a missus. It was something he didn’t think he’d ever get.

The song was coming to a close, the horns building up to their last notes. Donny took the opportunity to capture Julia’s lips again, speaking in a tone so that only he and Julia could hear when he pulled away.

“I love you.”

[armsextended]

♦ (bobbysoxersswoon)

Nonsexual acts of intimacy

♦ : Slow dancing

@bobbysoxersswoon

They had danced together before and sang together much more than that, but never like this. With him in his uniform and her in white, this dance was much more important than any they’d led before.

“I love you,” she whispered. “For the thousandth time, I love you.”

[armsextended]

bobbysoxersswoon‌:

Donny had a grin glued to his face. He thought he might never stop smiling. The day had been perfect, everything that Julia and her mother had planned had gone off without a hitch. Being this close to her, swaying to a song, one of their songs, surrounded by their family and friends. It was a dream.

He leaned in closer, his forehead resting against hers. “Y’know, I could stand to hear it for the thousand and first time, if you’re offering up any extra I love yous.”

“I love you, Mister Novitski,” she whispered. “I think I made that pretty clear at the altar, though.”

The song was slow, and their friends were playing, but just for this one. The wedding was a celebration of the band as much as it was of them–the band had brought them all together. But just for this one song, because this wasn’t a gig. This was Donny and Julia’s wedding.

“Are you happy, Donny?”

[bobbysoxersswoon]

“I love you too, Missus Novitski.” The words felt foreign and strange to say, but welcome all the same. It felt like a victory. Like finally all the fighting he’d done had had purpose and it was this moment right here. Dancing with her, their friends instruments setting the slow tempo of the swaying they were doing.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been happier. This may be the happiest day of my life.”

[armsextended]

♦ (bobbysoxersswoon)

Nonsexual acts of intimacy

♦ : Slow dancing

@bobbysoxersswoon

They had danced together before and sang together much more than that, but never like this. With him in his uniform and her in white, this dance was much more important than any they’d led before.

“I love you,” she whispered. “For the thousandth time, I love you.”

[bobbysoxersswoon]

Donny had a grin glued to his face. He thought he might never stop smiling. The day had been perfect, everything that Julia and her mother had planned had gone off without a hitch. Being this close to her, swaying to a song, one of their songs, surrounded by their family and friends. It was a dream.

He leaned in closer, his forehead resting against hers. “Y’know, I could stand to hear it for the thousand and first time, if you’re offering up any extra I love yous.”

[armsextended]

“This is Doctor Walters at University Hospital, I’m looking to talk to a Miss Julia Trojan in regards to a Mister Donald Novitski. It’s rather urgent.”

“This is she,” said Julia, her fingers knotting into the phone cord. Dread filled her heart–why was a hospital calling her about Donny?

Donny, with whom she had had a fight of Biblical proportion. Donny, who seemed hell-bent on ruining things between them. “What is it?”

[armsextended]

bobbysoxersswoon‌:

“Of course, I’m not sure how awake he is but we’ll see.” He knocked lightly on Donny’s door before opening it. “Mister Novitski, you’ve got a visitor.”

In the bed was Donny, his eyes struggling to stay open. He had gauze wrapped tightly over an area of his forehead, where he’d managed to crack open his skull against the damn glass of the table in the hall. That’s what he’d caught his head on.

“Jules.” His voice was rough and his speech slurred thanks to the hell his throat had been through and the medication they were giving him to help keep him comfortable. “I dunno wha’ happened.”

Julia let out a gasp when Donny spoke to her. He was awake, he was lucid, and he recognized her. All good signs.

She hurried over, totally ignoring the doctor and her mother as she reached for his hand and bent to press a gentle kiss to his cheek. “It’s okay,” she said. “Everything’s going to be fine.”

The door closed behind her. Julia glanced up and found that her mother had left with the doctor, and they were alone. She turned back and asked, “So the doctor didn’t tell you anything?”

[bobbysoxersswoon]

“He did. I dunno how it coulda happened.” He closed his eyes but continued. “I took the sleeping pill Doctor Madden gave me and the next thing I knew I was here with a tube shoved down my throat.”

He tried to swallow, struggling with the task before accomplishing it. “I’m sorry. If I’d just called you and apologized I wouldn’t have needed none of this.” His sleep was only ever bad when he was alone now, but they’d fought very much ruining any hope of Julia spending the night and he’d been the one who’d started it.

[armsextended]

“This is Doctor Walters at University Hospital, I’m looking to talk to a Miss Julia Trojan in regards to a Mister Donald Novitski. It’s rather urgent.”

“This is she,” said Julia, her fingers knotting into the phone cord. Dread filled her heart–why was a hospital calling her about Donny?

Donny, with whom she had had a fight of Biblical proportion. Donny, who seemed hell-bent on ruining things between them. “What is it?”

[armsextended]

bobbysoxersswoon‌:

“It appears as though he’d had a few too many, and collapsed on his way to bed, hitting his head on the way down. This usually wouldn’t be serious, people pass out from time to time, but he’d gotten sick and was choking on it. When the police got there he wasn’t breathing.”

Doctor Walter put his hand on Julia’s shoulder. “That man must have someone watching over him. He’s lucky to be alive as it, especially seeing as he’d taken his medication already. Most folks don’t wake up in those circumstances.”

June put her arms around her daughter, pulling her in. Julia felt her insides caving in. He’d been drinking, he’d had medication, and this happened?

“He’s lucky,” she said numbly. He could have broken his neck, suffocated, any number of things could have happened, but he survived. She had to latch onto that. “Let me see him. Please.”

[bobbysoxersswoon]

“Of course, I’m not sure how awake he is but we’ll see.” He knocked lightly on Donny’s door before opening it. “Mister Novitski, you’ve got a visitor.”

In the bed was Donny, his eyes struggling to stay open. He had gauze wrapped tightly over an area of his forehead, where he’d managed to crack open his skull against the damn glass of the table in the hall. That’s what he’d caught his head on.

“Jules.” His voice was rough and his speech slurred thanks to the hell his throat had been through and the medication they were giving him to help keep him comfortable. “I dunno wha’ happened.”

[armsextended]

“This is Doctor Walters at University Hospital, I’m looking to talk to a Miss Julia Trojan in regards to a Mister Donald Novitski. It’s rather urgent.”

“This is she,” said Julia, her fingers knotting into the phone cord. Dread filled her heart–why was a hospital calling her about Donny?

Donny, with whom she had had a fight of Biblical proportion. Donny, who seemed hell-bent on ruining things between them. “What is it?”

[armsextended]

bobbysoxersswoon‌:

Doctor Walters had just been in to check on Donny, the fact the man was conscious meant he didn’t need the tube down his throat anymore.

“Miss Trojan, I assume? I have some good news. He’s woken up, though he’s having trouble staying awake but given the head injury that’s normal. We were able to take the breathing tube out for now.”

She nodded. Donny had woken up. He had a head injury and needed a breathing tube until recently, but he had woken up.

“What happened to him?” She felt lost and desperate, exactly how she had felt when–

“How was he found? Tell me!”

[bobbysoxersswoon]

“It appears as though he’d had a few too many, and collapsed on his way to bed, hitting his head on the way down. This usually wouldn’t be serious, people pass out from time to time, but he’d gotten sick and was choking on it. When the police got there he wasn’t breathing.”

Doctor Walter put his hand on Julia’s shoulder. “That man must have someone watching over him. He’s lucky to be alive as it, especially seeing as he’d taken his medication already. Most folks don’t wake up in those circumstances.”

[armsextended]

“This is Doctor Walters at University Hospital, I’m looking to talk to a Miss Julia Trojan in regards to a Mister Donald Novitski. It’s rather urgent.”

“This is she,” said Julia, her fingers knotting into the phone cord. Dread filled her heart–why was a hospital calling her about Donny?

Donny, with whom she had had a fight of Biblical proportion. Donny, who seemed hell-bent on ruining things between them. “What is it?”

[armsextended]

bobbysoxersswoon‌:

“Yes, of course. Whoever you think you need. I have little doubt that Mister Novitski is going to recover, Miss Trojan. But it’s going to take a lot of time.”

Donny was kind of aware of his surroundings as his eyes opened the tiniest bit and closing slowly once more after a few seconds of observation. All he needed to know was that he was in the hospital, judging by the sterile white color of everything, his throat hurt like hell and his head somehow hurt even more than that.

Julia had called her mother and then Jimmy, who insisted he’d take care of everyone else. While she and June drove off to University Hospital while Jimmy assembled their forces, and she was grateful to have his help, though she couldn’t help but wonder if he might be better suited to her side, where he might help divine just what she was responsible for.

They arrived at the hospital in a blur. Julia was all but racing down the hallway, looking for Donny’s room number. “Doctor Walters?”

[bobbysoxersswoon]

Doctor Walters had just been in to check on Donny, the fact the man was conscious meant he didn’t need the tube down his throat anymore.

“Miss Trojan, I assume? I have some good news. He’s woken up, though he’s having trouble staying awake but given the head injury that’s normal. We were able to take the breathing tube out for now.”

[armsextended]

“This is Doctor Walters at University Hospital, I’m looking to talk to a Miss Julia Trojan in regards to a Mister Donald Novitski. It’s rather urgent.”

“This is she,” said Julia, her fingers knotting into the phone cord. Dread filled her heart–why was a hospital calling her about Donny?

Donny, with whom she had had a fight of Biblical proportion. Donny, who seemed hell-bent on ruining things between them. “What is it?”

[armsextended]

bobbysoxersswoon‌:

“Yes, for the time being he is stable and I have hope he’ll improve. But right now, he needs support and he has care decisions that need to made.”

He looked over his patient file again. “We’re already communicating with his psychiatrist and he’s assured us that he has no doubt this was unintentional. But we’ll still need to evaluate him once he wakes, just in case. It’s our standard procedure. And seeing as you’re the one he listed to make choices for him, you’ll need to sign some things.”

“Okay. Okay.” She had known that the likelihood of acting as Donny’s representative was higher for her than for most spouses, but she had hoped she would never do this, or at least she wouldn’t have to for decades.

“I’m on my way. Doctor Walters, was it? I’ll be there with my mother, and–and maybe some others.” On top of telling his family, she had to rally the band. How in the world did she break the news to them?

[bobbysoxersswoon]

“Yes, of course. Whoever you think you need. I have little doubt that Mister Novitski is going to recover, Miss Trojan. But it’s going to take a lot of time.”

Donny was kind of aware of his surroundings as his eyes opened the tiniest bit and closing slowly once more after a few seconds of observation. All he needed to know was that he was in the hospital, judging by the sterile white color of everything, his throat hurt like hell and his head somehow hurt even more than that.

[armsextended]

“This is Doctor Walters at University Hospital, I’m looking to talk to a Miss Julia Trojan in regards to a Mister Donald Novitski. It’s rather urgent.”

“This is she,” said Julia, her fingers knotting into the phone cord. Dread filled her heart–why was a hospital calling her about Donny?

Donny, with whom she had had a fight of Biblical proportion. Donny, who seemed hell-bent on ruining things between them. “What is it?”

[armsextended]

bobbysoxersswoon‌:

“We’ll discuss it further once you get here, but right now he’s not able to breath without assistance. It sounds like he fell and hit his head and his downstairs neighbors heard it and called police when he didn’t answer the phone or the door.”

There was more, the large amount of alcohol, the asphyxiation and the fact he’d vomited up a sleeping pill. Combined it made the diagnosis look bleak, and it’d be nicer to hear face to face.

Julia sank into a chair when the news hit her, like a breaking surf. He fell, hit his head–had he been drinking again?

“Is he stable?” she begged. “Is he–I don’t know, can you tell me anything else? Tell me he’s not getting any worse.” Though she couldn’t imagine how much worse he could get than this. 

[bobbysoxersswoon]

“Yes, for the time being he is stable and I have hope he’ll improve. But right now, he needs support and he has care decisions that need to made.”

He looked over his patient file again. “We’re already communicating with his psychiatrist and he’s assured us that he has no doubt this was unintentional. But we’ll still need to evaluate him once he wakes, just in case. It’s our standard procedure. And seeing as you’re the one he listed to make choices for him, you’ll need to sign some things.”

[armsextended]

“This is Doctor Walters at University Hospital, I’m looking to talk to a Miss Julia Trojan in regards to a Mister Donald Novitski. It’s rather urgent.”

“This is she,” said Julia, her fingers knotting into the phone cord. Dread filled her heart–why was a hospital calling her about Donny?

Donny, with whom she had had a fight of Biblical proportion. Donny, who seemed hell-bent on ruining things between them. “What is it?”

[armsextended]

bobbysoxersswoon‌:

“Miss Trojan, you’re listed as his emergency contact. Mister Novitski was found unresponsive this morning by police who were called by a concerned neighbor.”

“I’m afraid we’ll need you to come over as soon as possible to discuss what comes next once he’s lucid. I understand this news may be jarring, you’re welcome to bring someone with for support.” The doctor always hated being the bearer of bad news, though it was certainly easier when the patient was blessedly still alive.

Unresponsive. “What do you mean, unresponsive?” she demanded. “What, was it a break-in? What’s wrong with him?”

Donny’s recent behavior had baffled her, and to be followed by this was jarring, like he said. “What happened to him?”

[bobbysoxersswoon]

“We’ll discuss it further once you get here, but right now he’s not able to breath without assistance. It sounds like he fell and hit his head and his downstairs neighbors heard it and called police when he didn’t answer the phone or the door.”

There was more, the large amount of alcohol, the asphyxiation and the fact he’d vomited up a sleeping pill. Combined it made the diagnosis look bleak, and it’d be nicer to hear face to face.