WARNING: self mutilation and abuse triggers.

Dani's pov

"Okay.. well.." Ugh just spit it our already. "Alright, just to warn you I might cry." Santana nodded her head and said "and I will hold you."

"When I was young my mother left or maybe she died. I was never really told and no one ever talked about it. My dad was upset for quite sometime. He would go to work in the morning and drink all night. He was a mess, it was sad and heartbreaking." I swallowed hard and looked at the floor.

"I wasn't home much I stayed at my aunts a lot. But on those nights I did stay with him he would turn nasty and angry. He would yell at me and tell me I made my mother leave and that I was nothing."

I could feel my eyes starting to water. Santana wrapped her arms around me and held me against her chest. She felt so good and perfect. She always made everything better. They way she smelled soothed my fears. I took a deep breath. "he would grab whatever was handy and.." I buried my face into her chest and sobbed. She held me tight. We stood there for about ten minutes till she spoke.

"Its okay my love, just breathe. Everything is okay." She continued this while rubbing my back.

I pushed back and shouted "No Santana it is not okay. He would beat the living shit out of me for no fucking reason. I was grabbed by the hair and thrown down the stairs or beaten with a golf club. Don't you get that?"

"Dani calm down I know he hurt you and he will never lay another finger on you ever."

"You don't know that San. I've been dealing with this my whole life. You don't understand."

"That's because you wont let me. Whenever I try to talk to you, you shut down. How the hell can I understand things I don't know."

I starred at the floor, letting tears fall and watching as they hit the wood floor. I felt two familiar hands grab my face and my eyes meet hers. I want to hide my face but I cant. "You don't have to continue. I'm sorry I forced it out of you." She whispered softly.

Santana's pov

I was starting to feel guilty. I should have left it alone. Dani took my hand and led us to her bedroom. I dried her face with my sleeve and she laid on the bed. I stood there for a minute not knowing what to do. Dani curled into a ball and I crawled in behind her. I wrapped my arms around her and nestled my face into hair. I wasn't leaving tonight.

Dani fell asleep so I decided to make some dinner. She didn't have much food so I grabbed her keys off the counter and went to the store.

Me: hey come to the grocery store by the diner. Dani needs a few things and I don't want to go alone.

Rachel: Sure, Kurt is coming to

ugh i don't know if I can handle the wonder twins right now.

Me: great Ill be there in 15

I made a quick list and wrote a note for Dani in case she woke up while I was gone.

Went to get a few things from the store,

I'm sorry about earlier.

You're beautiful

love,

Santana

I kiss her head and left.

As I walked to the store my head was spinning. I didn't know how bad it actually was. God I feel like an ass right now. How could someone ever lay a hand on her? She is so wonderful and warm. People are sick. I arrived at the supermarket and saw Rachel and Kurt. Of course Rachel is jumping up and down waving at me. "I'm not fucking blind berry I can see you calm down" I shout to her. She linked her arm with mind and Kurt pushed the cart.

After a few minutes of casual conversation and shopping Rachel spoke up. "So, San.. did you talk to Dani?"

"not now Rachel" i shot her question down quickly.

"what? Whats going on? How come I don't know about this?" Kurt started to ramble

"Okay lady lips and hobbit. We talked but it is not my place to repeat. Her and I are fine. So drop it."

They stood there while I chewed them up. Once I was done my tangent they nodded.

We were in the check out when Rachel asked me again. "Is everything really okay?"

I glared at her "shes getting there, shes got me to help her now. Just don't talk about it around her. Shes got a lot going on." She nodded and that was the end of it.

On our way back to Dani's apartment I told the wonder twins my plans for the next little bit. Staying at Dani's will be nice. Waking up next to her feeling her soft skin against me and looking into her endless chocolate brown eyes. It's like a vacation.

When I walked in the door I put the grocery bags on the counter and went to go check on Dani. She wasn't in the bed but i could hear her sniffling. I followed the noise to the bathroom and knocked on the door.

"Dani, baby are you okay in there. I'm home now you don't need to cry." I whispered as I sat against the door waiting for her to open it up. Her crying grew louder so I took it upon myself to go in and help her.

When I opened the door I had to do a double take of the situation. I've never actually dealt with self mutilation. To see Dani on the floor her shirt soaked from her tears and the floor and carpet drenched in her blood. It broke my heart.

In a split second I grabbed a towel wrapped it around her shredded thigh I sat next to her, wrapped my arms around her and positioned her so that I could rock her back and forth.

"shh don't cry my love, its all okay, you're okay." I comforted her.

"No it's not look at me!" she shouted between sobs.

"All I see is a beautiful girl who has been damaged." I confessed.

She started pounding her fists against my chest, I didn't mind, I know she has a lot of built up anger.

"why don't you leave? Just go! I'm a mess. A screw up. I can't even be left alone for a few hours. How could someone like me ever be with someone like you!" She was crying again and I was too. That's when she stopped. She wiped my tears away and kissed me. This wasn't like our usual kissing though. This was apologetic and loving, it was scared and safe at the same time.

Dani's pov

I can't believe she's seeing me like this. She deserves someone much better. Why can't she see that?

"You Dani, are all I want, I'm going to fight for you. I'm not going to leave you. You can't get rid of me that easy." She was crying too. My heart was breaking every time a tear fell from her eyes. "Come lets get you cleaned up and fed."

She turned the bath on and help my limp, exhausted body get undressed and into the tub. It just came to me that she hasn't seen me completely naked yet. Shes going to see my hideous body and scars. Santana spoke softly. "Dani I'm not going to judge you, just please let me help you." when I was undressed Santana gasped.

"what? I know I'm ugly. Yo-." I'm crying again.

"stop! Y-you're prefect. Wow. You're go-gorgeous." she stuttered trying to get all her words out. I could feel my cheeks going red. "Seriously Dani." she was looking in my eyes now. This girl is going to be the death of me.

She washed and bandaged up my cuts and carried me to the couch. I watched her while she made some pasta. The way she gracefully moves around is captivating. I think I might be really falling in love with her.

We ate in silence but her eyes never left mine. It was nice, knowing she knew just what I was thinking. We were cleaning up from dinner when there was a knock at the door. Santana dried her hands on a towel and opened the big steel door.

"Can I help you?" She asked with out looking at me.

"No you can't, but that stupid bitch can." His voice boomed across the loft.

"Dad, you need to leave now." I held back my tears. I was not going to let him hurt Santana.

In a split second he pushed her out of the way and her back hit the table. She fell to the ground and didn't move. My dad ran to me and grabbed my ponytail and I fell to the floor. I jumped up as quick as i could since now I was bleeding through my bandages. I ran to the other side of the kitchen and when he was close I slid the blade of a knife into his abdomen.

I ran to Santana's side pulling her onto my lap and holding her. I reached for my cell phone on the floor near her head and called the police.