Dark Night
It was a cold December night in New York. The rain was pouring down, pounding on the roof of the building. Santana didn't know how Rachel and Kurt were sleeping through it. She was sitting up in her bed, resting her head on the headboard and staring out of the window. She watched the droplets of rain trickle past her eyes and out of sight. She couldn't stop thinking about Dani. She hadn't had this feeling in her stomach since Brittany and now it was back. She didn't know what to do about it.
She was snapped out of her thoughts by a loud banging noise on the door to their loft. She turned her head to her bedroom door just as Rachel came in, slightly panicked. 'Santana, are you awake?'
'Yeah, what was that?' Santana asked, getting up and walking over to her flat mate.
'I don't know.' Rachel says nervously. The bang sounded again and they jumped, facing the main door. Kurt walks into the room and turns the light on.
'Is that someone at the door?' he asks sleepily, rubbing his eyes.
'Who would be knocking at this hour?' Rachel asked.
'I don't know.' Santana said, but then another knock sounded. 'Let's just answer it.' Santana was about to go to the door when Rachel pulled her back. 'What Berry?'
'What if it's a serial killer?' Santana rolls her eyes and walks over to the door. Rachel walks over to Kurt and takes his arm.
Santana reaches the door and takes a hold of the handle. She lets out a breath, hoping Rachel isn't right, and pulls open the door. She stares for a moment to register the sight in front of her. Dani is standing with her arms crossed in front of her, soaking wet and shivering, with a cut above her eye and a bruise on her cheek. 'Dani?' Santana steps forwards and Dani's eyes meet hers.
'Hey Santana.' She whispers.
'Come inside.' Santana said, motioning her in. Rachel and Kurt saw her, shocked and worried.
'Dani, are you alright?' Rachel asks, moving towards her. Dani shakes her head as Santana comes up behind her. She takes off Dani's wet jacket and then looks to Rachel.
'Rachel, can you go into my room and grab some clothes, a jumper, a towel, anything.' Rachel nods and heads off quickly.
'I'll put the kettle on.' Kurt says, Santana smiling at him as he leaves. She sits on the sofa next to Dani.
'Are you okay?' Santana reaches up to her face but she shy's away. 'What happened?'
'You know I said my parents weren't very supportive?'
'Yeah.' Santana said, worried that she knew where this was going.
'Well, my dad managed to track me down. He was at my flat when I got home after our shift today.'
'Your dad did this?' Santana watched as the smaller girl nodded, trying to fight back tears. Santana moves in closer and pulls her into a hug. 'It's okay, you're okay.' Santana whispered. But Dani was fighting her, trying to pull away. 'What's wrong?' Santana looked her in the eyes. 'You can tell me Dani.'
'My... my ribs hurt.' Santana looked down, trying to see through her wet top.
'Show me.' Santana requests but Dani shakes her head.
'I can't Santana. I didn't want to come here in the first place, but, I didn't have anywhere else to go.'
'Why didn't you want to come here?' Santana asked, feeling a little wounded.
'I didn't want you to see me like this. It's not your problem Santana, it's mine.' Dani looks away but Santana turns her back around.
'Look at me.' Dani looks into her eyes. 'You have nothing to worry about, okay. And you can always come here. I would have been mad if you didn't.' Dani let out a little smile which made Santana grin. 'There's that smile. Now please let me help you.' Dani nods and lifts up her top. There are dark marks along her ribs and down her back, turning purple and black. 'Shit.' Santana whispers. 'I need to feel your ribs okay.' Dani nods as Santana pushes into her ribs. Dani winces and bits her lip as pain shoots through her. 'Okay, I'm done.' Santana assures her as Dani puts her top back down.
'Is it that bad?' Dani asks.
'I want to take you to the hospital. I don't think an ice-pack will cure this.'
'Okay, but can it wait until morning?' Dani asks.
'Yeah, I guess so.' Santana runs her hand through her hair and gets up. 'I'll be back in a second.' Santana leaves as Dani leans her head back and closes her eyes.
Santana grabs Rachel as she comes out with a handful of clothes and drags her into the kitchen with Kurt who is pouring cups of hot tea. 'Is she okay?' Kurt asks.
'No, she's not. I'm taking her to the hospital in the morning so I need you guys to cover our shifts.'
'Of course.' Rachel agrees for them both. 'What happened?'
'Her dad found her. That's what happened.'
'Seriously?' Kurt asks, handing two of the cups to Santana.
'Yeah, I thought my Abuela was bad, but this...' Santana sighs. 'I think he broke her ribs, at least a few of them, the bastard.'
'What can we do?' Rachel asks.
'Go to sleep, cover our shifts and then we'll talk tomorrow.' Santana tells them.
'Are you sure you don't want us to stay with you now?' Kurt asks.
'No, she's embarrassed enough as it is, I've got her tonight.' Santana smiles at them and walks over to the sofa. Rachel follows to put down the dry clothes and then leaves them alone. Santana puts the cups on the table in front of them and sits next to Dani. Her eyes open as she feels Santana beside her.
'Hey.' She whispers.
'Hey back.' Santana says, lying her head back with Dani's. 'You should get some sleep. Come on.' Santana stands and helps her up, leading her into the bedroom before coming back for the drinks and clothes.
