Boiling Water

That night a storm had begun sweeping through New York. Santana was lying awake in bed listening to the rain pound on the window behind her head, and the wind whistle between the buildings. The room was suddenly illuminated with a flash of lightning, a blue glow making everything visible for a split second. Santana felt Dani move beside her and rolled onto her side. Dani was sleeping restlessly, her brow furrowing occasionally. Santana watched her as the rain got heavier outside. Suddenly, Dani's eyes shot open and stared up towards the ceiling. She was breathing heavier and Santana noticed a drop of sweat roll down her face. 'Dani, are you okay?' She asked. Dani turned to her with a confused look on her face.

'Santana?' She said, squinting her eyes through the darkness.

'Yeah, I'm here.' Santana replied, scooting closer to Dani and wrapping an arm over her stomach.

'I had the weirdest dream.' Dani told her. 'I was in a big room, with a fire pit in the middle. It was all stone and smoke.' She moved out from Santana's embrace and sat up, Santana doing the same as she continued. 'There were people standing watching me but they were all in hooded cloaks or something because I couldn't see their faces. Then I woke up.'

'It's okay baby, it was only a dream.' Santana soothed, brushing a stray strand of hair behind Dani's ear.

'But it felt so real.' Dani looked at her with pain in her eyes. 'Like I'd been there before.'

'Dani...'

'I know it sounds ridiculous, but you of all people should know that things aren't always what they seem.'

'We should talk to Quinn tomorrow, she'll probably be able to help make sense of it.'

'Maybe.' Dani said. She looked to Santana and smiled. 'I'm going to get a drink of water, I feel like I'm on fire.' She laughed and removed the covers. 'Get some sleep San, I'll be back.'

'Okay.' Santana whispered as she watched Dani leave the room.

The large windows at the back of the room illuminated things enough for Dani to leave the light off. The moonlight was being shredded by large drops of rain and the occasional strike of lightning. Dani jumped when the thunder sounded, booming through the open space threateningly. She reached the kitchen and took a glass from the cupboard, holding it under the tap and filling it with water. She started to sip it but stopped when she noticed the water bubbling. Her eyes widened as she watched the water continue to spit and evaporate. It's like it was boiling in her hands. She dropped the glass instinctively and watched it shatter on the metal sink, but immediately wished she hadn't. The light came to life above her and she waited for the inevitable; 'Dani, is everything okay?' Santana said quietly. 'I heard a crash.'

'Sorry, I dropped the glass.' Dani said, looking down at the shattered mess in the sink.

'Is everything okay?' Santana asked coming up behind her girlfriend.

'Yeah, everything's fine.' She lied, making herself smiling. Santana placed a hand on Dani's shoulder and looked at her.

'You're burning up.' She noticed, moving her hand and placing it on Dani's head. Dani took Santana's hand away and held it before she could fuss any more.

'It's nothing San, I promise.' Dani kissed her hand and pulled her away from the sink. 'Let's go back to bed.' Santana let Dani lead her back to the bedroom but noticed her girlfriend's lingering look at the smashed glass.

Dani was up before Santana the next morning and was careful not to wake her. It was a bright morning, the storm from the night before having passed. Dani hadn't gotten much sleep that night and she knew she looked tired. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders as she poured some coffee into a mug. She was about to sit down when Brittany came into the room. She rubbed her eyes and looked to Dani. 'Hey.' She mumbled sleepily.

'Good morning Brittany, do you want some coffee?' Dani offered.

'Please.' She accepted and sat down across the table whilst Dani poured her some coffee. Dani set it on the table and sat opposite her, watching as she took a sip. 'Hey Dani?' Brittany said, looking up. 'Do you love Santana?' Dani looked a bit taken aback, setting her cup down on the table.

'Of course I do Brittany.' She smiled.

'And you won't hurt her right?'

'No. Never.' Dani said firmly. 'Why are you asking me this Brittany?' Dani wondered.

'I just want to make sure. San has had bad luck with girlfriends.' Dani was just about to ask what that meant when Santana came out with Quinn close behind her.

'Morning girls.' Quinn said, Santana kissing Dani on the cheek before moving to the coffee pot.

'No alarm bells go off in your head last night then Q?' Santana said, handing her a cup of hot coffee.

'Very funny Santana, if the alarm was tripped we'd all hear it, that't the point.' Quinn pointed out. Santana grinned and sipped her coffee, before stroking Dani's hair.

'I heard you get up a couple of times last night babe, couldn't you sleep?' Santana asked.

'No, I just ended up wandering around. I sat by the window for a little while and watched the rain.' She smiled.

'That reminds me Q, we need to talk to you, about something potentially magical.' Santana said.

'Okay, sure. Let's go get comfy.' She motioned them over to the couches where they all settled in. 'So, what's up?'

'Well, Dani had a dream last night and we we're wondering if it might mean anything.'

'Tell me.' Quinn said, sitting up as her interest grew.

'Go for it babe.' Santana said to Dani, who took a deep breath before starting. She told the girls her dream, and was finishing just as Rachel and Kurt emerged from their rooms.

'Morning everyone.' They said in unison, looking at the girls gathered around the living room. 'Anything exciting happening?' Kurt added.

'Dani was telling us about a dream she had last night.' Brittany informed them.

'Was it a good dream?' Rachel asked, sitting on the arm of the couch.

'Strange, is the word I would use for it.' Dani said.

'So Q, what do you think?' Santana asked, wanting to know if she had something to be worried about.

'It's all very vague at the moment.' Quinn admitted. 'There's nothing really unusual about it, I mean, it could just be Dani's brain dealing with this new, magical situation. She's using her dream world to make sense of the real world. If that makes sense.'

'So you're saying that my dreams have gone weird because I'm trying to deal with everything that's happening?' Dani asked.

'Pretty much. If your dreams become more magical, the real world will seem normal.'

'So I'm not going crazy?'

'No Dani, far from it. I think you're handling everything very well.' Quinn smiled.

'Okay, then there's something else I need to tell you.' Dani admitted.

'What is it babe?' Santana asked.

'Last night, when you heard me drop the glass.'

'Yeah.'

'I dropped it for a reason.'

'Dani what are you talking about?' Santana asked, seriousness written all over her face.

'You said I felt hot, right? And I was sweating. Well when I held the glass of water in my hands it started to bubble and evaporate.' Santana looked at her blankly. 'I think I was boiling the water.'

'Is that possible?' Santana looked at Quinn. 'Q she isn't magical, how would that be possible?' Quinn looked at Dani for a moment, perplexed, before standing up. 'What are you doing?'

'I want to try something. Dani stand up.' Quinn looked at Dani, fear in her eyes. 'Don't worry, I wont hurt you.' Dani looked to Santana who nodded, letting her know it was okay. Dani stood. Quinn moved her hands up into the position she could normally have when freezing things.

'Quinn?' Rachel prompted after a moment.

'My freeze isn't working on her.' The blonde said, a little shocked.

'What do you mean Q?' Santana stood up.

'I mean my powers aren't working on her. Try yours.'

'No way! Are you crazy! I'm not going to do that.' Santana protested.

'Santana please trust me. We need to see if she's immune to our powers.' Quinn looked to Santana who sighed, turning to face Dani.

'Do you trust me babe?' Santana asked.

'Yes, just do it.' Dani nodded, trying hard not to close her eyes. With one swift movement, Santana threw her arm in her girlfriend's direction and everyone held their breath. Seconds later Dani was still standing, on her feet right where she stood. She hadn't moved.

'She's immune to our powers. Oh my god.' Quinn said, smiling slightly.

'But what does this mean?' Brittany asked.

'Come on Q, put the pieces together for us here.' Santana pleaded, moving beside Dani and linking their arms. Quinn began to mumble to herself.

'Heat, restlessness, stone room... fire pit... boiling water with her hands...' She began to pace and then abruptly stopped, looking at Dani. 'I'd need to do more research and find out more about you Dani, but I think... I think you're an Alchemist.' They all looked shocked but none more so than Dani.

'What the hell is an Alchemist?' She asked.