Hello everybody! I just wanted to say thank you to all of you that are following me and TFM and to all of you that have reviewed and sent me PMs! You guys are awesome! And thank you to everyone who has ever read any part of this story. It means a lot. Here is another new chapter that helps settle things down a bit after the Daniel/Dana drama.

Enjoy guys!

Lovely Wanderer

Chapter 10 - Heroes and Hugs

"Dana, are you okay?" I call to her, but she was already halfway up the stairs and clearly not in the mood to talk.

I hear her bedroom door open and close and the sound of muffled crying soon followed.

I turn to look at everyone, and they were all standing there in stunned silence.

"What did I just walk into?" I ask them, wanting someone to explain to me why Dana was a crying mess.

Henley and Merritt exchange a look between themselves before answering me.

"Well Daniel here upset and insulted her," Merritt said, pointing a thumb at him.

He was holding a napkin up to his nose and I could see a bruise starting to form on his cheek.

"What did she do to you?" I ask, shocked that a girl like her could hit someone.

"She slapped me and then punched me in the nose, is what she did! Innocent little Dana is not what she appears to be. Don't let her looks fool you," he advised.

"Danny deserved it," Henley said, jumping into the conversation. "We got a package from our benefactor. They sent us formal wear to dress in to go to a gala that's going to be in the hotel. Dana pulled out her dress and said it would be the most amazing thing she would ever wear. Then Danny decided to open his big fat mouth and started making all these assumptions about how he thought she was just a spoiled little rich girl. Then she blew up at him, chewed him up and spit him out. He got what he deserved."

I glare at Danny. He was my hero. I looked up to him when I first started out. Hell, I still do! When I found out that I had the chance to work with the J. Daniel Atlas, it was a dream come true. But I guess it's true what they say. Never meet your heroes.

I glance at everybody in the kitchen, and my eyes land on Dana's book. It was still open to the page she was on. I slowly walk over and put her bookmark in, picking up the book as I do so. I leave the kitchen silently and make my way up the stairs. I pause at her door before I knock. She's still crying.

Knock, knock, knock, knock.

I hear shuffling and the door opens up just enough that I can see the left side of her face.

"Hey.'

"Hi Jack." Her voice cracks when she greets me.

I hold out the book to her. "You left this downstairs. I thought it might keep you company."

She opens the door wider and takes the book from me. Her hand is still shaking. I look up at her face. It's tear stained with red puffy eyes and a runny nose. Hurt was in her eyes.

"You okay? I heard what happened. Merritt and Henley filled me in."

She doesn't answer me at first, like she's mulling over the events in her head. I see more tears start to form in her eyes, and before I know it, she's hugging the life outta me. It takes me a little by surprise, and she knocked all of the breath out of me, but I hug her right back.

I wrap my arms around her shoulders and squeeze her tight. I can feel her body shake with each breath she takes. I start to rub her back in attempt to calm her down a little bit.

"Dana, listen to me, okay?" I say softly.

I feel her nod.

"You can't listen to him. I know he can be harsh, and this seems to be a new low for him, but you are not what he says, okay? You are kind. You are smart. You are important. To me, to Henley, to Merritt, and whether he likes it or not, Daniel too. So just brush it off and never look back. Okay kid?"

We stand there, silent, in the doorway of her room as time passes us by, but I don't dare let go of her. I don't dare say anything either, knowing that this silence is all she needs right now. Ever so slowly, her breathing returns to normal, and her tears stop flowing. I feel her squeeze me a little tighter.

"Thanks Jack," she says before she lets go of me. "You are a good person. Remember that for me, okay?"

I feel a smile spread on my face. "I will. I promise."

She lets go of me and then gives me a really? look.

"What?" I ask innocently, knowing full well what she's going to say.

She quirks an eyebrow. "Really? 'Kid'? I'm not that much younger than you, you know."

"Yeah, but I don't have a better nickname for you, so it's kid until I think up of a better one. Now how about we go exploring? I think it's high time we check this hotel out."