Nico saw the scared expression on Dani's face when she knew what was happening. He was so glad he was here.
"Dani, I want you to go lock yourself in your bathroom, call the police, and whatever you do, DO NOT come out, no matter what your hear," Nico whispered. Dani was in shock and didn't move. "Go now," Nico said.
Dani finally moved and whisperd to Nico, "please be careful." Nico gave her one last look and made sure she locked herself in before he headed downstairs.
Nico wasn't worried as far as something happening to him because he had skills in this area. Plus, he had the advantage since he had parked where nobody knew he was here.
Dani sat in the bathroom, scared, and wondering what was going on. The police were on their way.
Nico eased down the steps that went in the kitchen. He knew that whoever broke in would have came through Dani's office. When Nico got to the bottom of the steps, he could hear someone going through Dani's things in her office. He eased his way to the open door and saw who it was. He became infer rated.
"What the hell do you think you are doing, Troy," Nico said as he flipped on the light. Nico had his gun ready, but before he could do anything, he felt someone come up behind him. They wrapped a chain around Nicos neck and tried to choke him.
"I'm going to find out what was messengenered to Dani. I know it was from Carl and I just dare you or anyone else to get in my way," Troy yelled loudly.
Nico was struggling to get free as the chain dug harder and harder into his neck. Troy was enjoying this. "How does it feel Nico to be on the receiving end of the struggle instead of on the given. Oh and by the way, your woman, she's mine," Troy said as he ran up Dani's stairs.
Nico became so angry. There wasn't anyway that Troy was getting to Dani. He got into position and slung the person that was trying to choke him over his back and through one of the windows in Dani's office. Nico ran up those stairs and tackled Troy before he could find Dani's room. Troy got in some good punches and shoves because they both fell back down the stairs. He managed to get ahold of one of Dani's flower vases. He slammed it into to Nicos face. That was all he could do before Nico ran him through Dani's front door and out into her front yard where they continued to fight. They were both banged up pretty bad, but Troy got the worst of it and Nico was wearing on him. Troy had all he could take and finally just laid there. The cops showed up a few minutes later, along with a paramedic. The police took Troy and his buddy into custody. Nico had to have several stitches above his eye where the glass vase got him. His neck was bad too with big welps, bruises, and cuts. He was sore and took some bad hits this time.
Once Nico gave a statement, he headed back upstairs to check on Dani. He knocked on her bathroom door. "Dani it's me. Can you open the door?"
Dani was so relieved to hear Nicos voice. She slung the door open, but wasn't prepared for what she saw. A black and blue Nico was something she never thought she would see. Her expression showed it too.
"Dani, it's okay. I'm fine," Nico said and he couldn't stand it any longer. He pulled Dani in his arms and held her tight. She broke down then simply because she had been so scared and that Nico risked his life to keep her safe and got hurt in the process.
"You risked your life for me, Nico, Dani said.
"Always," Nico said as he pulled back a little, but still rested his hands on her hips. "Dani, surely you know that I'm concerned for your safety by now, don't you?"
Dani nodded her head. Nicos eyes were driving her crazy. It was like she could see every part of him. "Thank you," she whispered into his chest.
This was a little much for Nico. Dani was seeing him vernable in every way. This was the part that he had tried so hard not to let anyone see, but that all changed when he met Dani. Dani watched all these emotions run across Nicos face and she hoped he wouldn't push her out or shut her down like he did those six months.
"Dani, I...," Nico started to say as Lindsay ran into her moms room. Thank God she had been at Winter's, Dani thought.
After Dani hugged Lindsey, Lindsey looked over at Nico. "Thank you so much for what you did for my mom."
"Anytime," Nico said as he looked at Lindsey and then back to Dani. "I'm going to give you some time to talk. I've got all kinds of protection surrounding your house. I'm going to go home, take some pain pills, and a shower. See ya."
Before Dani could even say anything back, he was already gone. Dani knew he was going to take of business too and find out more as to why Conner let any of this happen.
"Mom, are you okay," Lindsey asked interrupting Dani's thoughts. It was almost four in the morning and Dani felt so drained. Plus, she has an early meeting with Connor in the morning, but she planned on calling in, which is not something she would ever do, but considering the circumstances, she didn't care.
"Yea, honey. Just a little shook up is all," Dani managed to get out, hoping to get away with as little as possible of an explanation to Lindsey. Lindsey didn't really ask a whole lot. She was just extremely glad that her mom was okay.
"So mom, you and Nico, huh?!" Lindsey said. It was really more of a statement than a question.
Dani just smiled at Lindsey. She loved the way it sounded and hoped that soon it would be true. "It's complicated, honey."
"It doesn't have to be. I can tell he is into you. I would give anything to have someone look at me that way and protect me the way Nico just did for you. To me, that's not complicated. That's love. So why are YALL fighting it?" Lindsay said as a matter of factly.
Dani just stared at her daughter in awe. What her daughter just said impressed her and she knew Lindsey was right. "Wow Lindsey, when did you become such a great therapist?"
"I've been taking notes from this awesome therapist that I know and although I don't show it much, I love and appreciate everything she does and I just want her to be happy, Lindsey told her teary eyed mother. They hugged and sat there and talked for a while.
When Dani realized that it was almost 7 am, she decided to go ahead and text Connor. She looked over at Lindsey, who had fell asleep in her bed, and decided to let her stay home from school today. After all, it was Friday and spring break started next week so Dani knew they wouldn't be doing much anyways.
"Lindsey, sweetie why don't you go get in your bed."
"Mom, what time is it?" Lindsey asked still half asleep
"Seven. You can stay home from school today if you would like. I know it's been a rough and scary night."
"Thanks mom, but I need to go today. I have two test, but I might step first period. Can you write me an excuse?" Dani nodded. Lindsey could tell her mom was taking what happened pretty hard. She was glad Nico had provided them with some protection. "Mom, you gonna be okay," Lindsey asked.
"Yes, honey, I will be fine. It may just take me a bit to get over everything that happened," Dani said hoping she wouldn't ask much detail.
"I'm going to take a shower and get ready for school," Lindsey told her.
Dani decided to do the same. She also decided that she would go ahead and go to work. The only way to get past this was to stay busy doing something else. Before she took a shower, she wanted to go down and see the damage, but when she got down to her office, everything was in place. All of her windows were fixed and so was the front door. She walked back in her office and checked the desk. Everything was in its normal spot and all her patients charts were in their right folders. That's when she saw the note. Hope everything is in the right spot and back the same way you had it. I'm so sorry this happened to you. Hope you are doing okay. Can you text me? I'll find you at V3 later today. ;) Nico
Dani just stood there and read it over and over. She kept having the flashbacks of everything she heard while she was waiting in the bathroom. The same thought kept crossing her mind. What if Nico hadn't have been there. They probably would have killed her. Dani just flopped down in her chair and finally let the tears fall. Lindsey came down and found her mom in this state. She decided to sneak back upstairs and get Nicos number out of her moms phone.
Nico, it's Lindsey. My mom isn't doing so good. She is taking what happened pretty hard. I really don't want to leave her by herself.
I'll be there in fifth teen minutes~Nico
Thanks~Lindsey
Nico knew this would be hard on her, not only the breaking in, but her patients confidentiality. He hated this, but knew he would protect her and get her through it.
Lindsey went back to her moms office. "Hey mom, go back to bed. You need to stay home today."
Dani decided that was best. She was drained in every way you could imagine and she just needed a day.
"Okay, honey. Your note is on the counter. I'm going to miss you this weekend and next week, but I know you will have fun with your dad."
Dani went upstairs crawled back in bed. She decided she better text Conner, but when she checked her phone, she already had a few missed calls and texts from him telling to stay at home today and to take next week off. He also said he hoped to see her at the V3 beach party tomorrow. Dani was glad she had some time off. After everything that had happened with Carl, the FBI, Blake Bridges, Hutch, and Alex. Drama after drama. Dani was just exhausted. She also knew that Alex was a topic that her and Nico had yet to discuss, but she knew it was coming. Dani heard her phone buzz just as she was almost asleep.
Lindsey let me in. Can I come up?" N
Yeah~D
Nico knocked on Dani's bedroom door. She was laying in her bed with a thin tank top on that Nico could see thru. It drove him absolutely crazy.
"Hey," Nico said. He knew that Dani was not only upset about what happened, but also because of Alex.
"Hey," Dani said back. She didn't know what to say because she had so many mixed emotions.
When about fifth teen minutes had gone by and Dani hadn't looked at Nico or said anything, Nico said, "well, I guess I'll go then." Dani didn't want Nico to leave anymore than he wanted not to.
"Nico, please stay with me. I feel safe when I'm next to you. Can you lay here with me and just hold me," Dani pleaded with Nico.
Nico wanted that so bad, but he just had to stick his foot in his mouth, "are you sure you want a man that you don't trust or are mad at in the same bed as you." He was tired of playing these games. He wanted them to be staright forward with each other from now on instead of holding it back.
Dani gave him a go to hell look. "Look, I'm struggling with so many things right now, but what I do know is I want you here with me, beside me, in my bed, holding me."
"That's all I've ever wanted, Dani," Nico said as he climbed into bed and pulled Dani into his arms. They were both banged up bad over everything that happened.
"Nico why didn't you tell me about Alex," Dani asked quietly and caught Nico off guard.
"There have been so many times I wanted to, but it never seemed like the right time," Nico said with hope that they could get past this. "Dani, I'm really sorry that I didn't tell you. I should have. I guess the same reason that you didn't tell me about Black Bridges because I knew how you would react."
Dani took that like a slap in the face. "Do you not believe in us enough that you couldn't tell me?"
When Nico didn't answer and gave her a look, she said, "well, if you were trying to break my heart you just did."
Nico was quite for several minutes because he was trying to process everything. "Dani, you know what kind of man I am and I am so sorry for everything. I promise I'm not trying to break your heart."
"I don't want your pity, Nico," Dani said sharply.
"Baby, look into my eyes. That's not pity. That's love," Nico said in almost a whisper because he was feeling vernable in a way he had never felt before.
Nico wiped the tears that rolled down Dani's cheeks. "You love me?" Dani asked with so much emotion in her voice.
TO BE CONTINUED SOON!
Thanks so much for the reviews. Just trying to keep an awesome show with an amazing couple alive. Hope you enjoy!
