Little Me

It felt like the longest evening in the world to Santana. She had managed to convince Dani to eat something and have a bath. Dani was sleeping in the bedroom, arm over Santana's lap, when the door to the apartment opens. Santana gently removes Dani's arm and pulls the cover up to her shoulders. She makes her way into the living room and sees Kurt coming in from the diner. 'Hey, how'd it go?' Santana asks.

'Fine, Gunther wasn't that happy but he'll get over it.' Santana smiles, sitting down on the couch as Kurt puts his coat on the rack. 'How's Dani?'

'Sleeping, finally.' Santana brushes the hair out of her eyes. Kurt comes and sits opposite her in the living room.

'What's up Santana?' Kurt asks, putting his hands on her knees.

'Nothing, it's...' Santana sighs.

'Talk to me Satan.' Kurt grins as Santana looks up at him.

'She doesn't deserve this Kurt.'

'I know.' He agrees.

'So why is it happening? Why Dani?'

'I can't tell you why Santana, some people are just born into families who don't appreciate them. But that's why she has you.' Kurt sits next to her and puts his arm over her shoulder, pulling her close.

'Thanks Kurt, you always know what to say.'

'Yeah, it's a gift.' Kurt smiles and Santana elbows him in the side.

'Don't let it go to your head smart ass.' Santana grins back at him as the door to Santana's room opens. They turn and see Dani walking towards them. She smiles and sits down on one of the chairs.

'How are you feeling?' Santana asks, studying the cut across her lip.

'Better, thanks.' Dani shifts in her seat. 'I'm sorry for freaking out on the phone.'

'You have nothing to be sorry for.' Santana says.

'And I was thinking... that maybe I need to call the police now.' Dani watches as Santana sits forwards in her seat.

'Okay, we can do that. Can I ask why now?' Santana watches Dani wipe a tear from her cheek.

'I just don't feel safe, except for when I'm here with you, I don't feel safe.' Santana smiles sadly at her as she continues. 'Which is so stupid because he's my dad. He's the person I'm supposed to feel safest with. He's my dad Santana.' Dani sobs the last sentence out and Santana moves to her side. She pulls the smaller girl into a tight hug and lets her cry.

'I'll see you guys in the morning.' Kurt whispers, getting up and leaving the room.

'Thanks Kurt.' Santana replies. After a few moments Dani begins to calm down. 'Come on babe, lets go back to bed. We'll call the police in the morning.' Dani nods silently and lets Santana lead her into the other room.

The next morning Santana and Dani emerge from their room to find everyone up and watching the television. They move to sit on the end of the couch, Dani on Santana's lap. Dani smiles at Santana who kisses her gently on the lips. 'You two seem smilier this morning.' Rachel says.

'We are indeed.' Santana confirms. 'We just have one thing to do and then hopefully all of this will be over.'

'What's that?' Quinn asks.

'We're going to the police.' Dani informs them.

'Seriously?' Puck asks. 'Can't I just beat the crap out of him?' Dani laughs.

'That's a lovely though Puck but I think the police are our best option.'

'Besides, if we get a restraining order, he wont ever be able to bother Dani again.' Santana says, resting her chin on Dani's shoulder. 'We should go Dan.'

'Yeah okay.' Dani sighs, getting up and heading over to the door.

'You guys want some company?' Kurt asks.

'No thanks, we should only be an hour.' Santana tells them. 'But I'll call you if anything comes up.' And with that they exit the apartment.

'I really hope this is all over soon.' Kurt says.

'Yeah, for Dani's sake.' Puck agrees.

'Not just hers, Santana's.' Kurt points out. 'She loves that girl so much, I don't know what she'd do if she lost her.'

'I haven't seen her act like this since Brittany, that's for sure.' Rachel says.

'This is different though, this is real.' Quinn says. 'Santana's completely head over heels.'

'Good for her I say, she needs someone like Dani.' Puck agrees, grinning. 'Someone as hot as she is.'

'Puckerman!' Quinn sighs, slapping him on the shoulder.

Santana and Dani return from the police station, as they said, an hour or so later. They looked exhausted and cold from the snow pouring outside. Everyone else hadn't really moved from their positions but Quinn was making hot drinks. She notices them come in and calls to them; 'Hey guys, just in time. Hot chocolate?'

'Q you're my hero!' Santana says, teeth chattering. 'Two of your hottest cups please.' Quinn smiles and gets two more mugs from the shelf.

'Coming up.' Dani and Santana slump down on the couch with everyone else.

'You two look tired, how'd it go?' Rachel asks.

'It went okay eventually.' Santana informed them.

'Santana nearly punched an officer.' Dani smiles, linking their arms.

'What? Why?' Kurt asks.

'Nice.' Puck reaches over and high fives Santana.

'They we're just such jerks, it took up forever just to get someone to take us seriously.' Santana says, taking her mug as Quinn offers it. Dani does the same and thanks the blonde.

'So what's next?' Quinn wonders, sitting next to Puck.

'Well, our request was processed and we should hear within a few days. The officer who processed it for us said we may have to go to court if they don't think there's enough for a restraining order but she seemed confident we'd be okay.'

'The last thing I want is my dad in court.' Dani says, shivering at the thought.

'Speaking of your dad, you need to tell him.' Santana reminds her.

'I know.' Dani sighs and takes out her phone, looking at it. 'Can I do it here with you guys?'

'Of course.' Rachel smiles. 'We're all here.' She reaches over and turns off the television as Dani dials the number, putting it on speaker. After a few rings a voice sounds from the other end.

'Hello?'

'Dad, it's me.'

'Danielle?'

'Yeah, look, I just called to...' He cuts her off.

'To say you're sorry and that you're coming home.' Dani clenches her teeth and Santana feels it in her hand.

'No, dad. I filed for a restraining order against you today. You can't come near me okay. If you do you'll go to prison.'

'What? Danielle you don't want to do that.'

'Yeah I do actually. So, goodbye.' Dani is just about to hang up the phone when Kevin speaks.

'Danielle, please, let's just talk about this.'

'I didn't think you liked talking dad, you prefer using your fists right?'

'I'm sorry Danielle, but I was only trying to get through to you.'

'Well it worked, loud and clear. You'll never hear from me again.'

'You're going to regret this Danielle.' Santana bites her tongue when he speaks, his voice dark and hostile.

'Somehow I don't think I will.' Dani says, immediately hanging up the phone. She sits back and closes her eyes, letting out a breath.

'You okay?' Santana asks.

'Yeah, I'm fine.' Dani looks to Santana and smiles. Santana leans in and kisses her.

'I'm so proud of you.' Santana whispers, resting her forehead on Dani's.

'Well, I think we need to celebrate.' Kurt says, standing and clapping his hands together. 'Who's up for drinks and take-out?'

'Sounds perfect Kurt.' Dani smiles and watches as he skips over to the phone. She looks back to Santana. 'I just need to go and process this okay, I'll just be in the bedroom but...'

'Whatever you need babe, I'll come get you when food is here.'

'You're the best.' Dani kisses her once more before getting up and leaving the room.

Santana enters the bedroom later to get Dani and finds her sitting on the bed, guitar in hand. 'Hey Dan, food's here.'

'Okay.' Dani says but doesn't turn to face her.

'What are you working on?' Santana asks, sitting next to her on the bed. She picks up a notebook with Dani's scribblings in it. 'Little Me?' Santana smiles.

'Yeah, it's a song about what I wish I would have known when I was living with my dad.'

'Can I hear it?' Santana asks.

'It's still really rough.'

'That's okay, I like a work in process.' Santana smiles.

'Fine.' Dani grins and clears her throat;

She lives in the shadow of a lonely girl,

Always so quiet you don't hear a word,

Always talking but you cant be heard.

You can see it there if you catch her eye,

Know she's brave but it's trapped inside,

Scared to talk but she don't know why.

Wish I knew back then, what I know now.

Wish I could somehow, go back in time and maybe listen to my own advice.

I'd tell her to speak up,

Tell her to shout out,

Talk a bit louder,

Be a bit prouder,

Tell her she's beautiful, wonderful, everything she doesn't see.

You gotta speak up,

You gotta shout out,

And know that right here, right now,

You can be beautiful, wonderful, anything you wanna be,

Little me.

Yeah you've got a lot of time to act your age,

You can't write a book from a single page,

Hands on a clock only turn one way.

Run to fast and risk it all,

Can't be afraid to take a fall,

Felt so big but you looked so small.

Wish I knew back then, what I know now.

Wish I could somehow, go back in time and maybe listen to my own advice.

I'd tell her to speak up,

Tell her to shout out,

Talk a bit louder,

Be a bit prouder,

Tell her she's beautiful, wonderful, everything she doesn't see.

You gotta speak up,

You gotta shout out,

And know that right here, right now,

You can be beautiful, wonderful, anything you wanna be,

Little me.

Little me...

Tell you one thing I would say...

I'd tell her to speak up,

Tell her to shout out,

Talk a bit louder,

Be a bit prouder,

Tell her she's beautiful, wonderful, everything she doesn't see.

You got to speak up,

You got to shout out,

And know that right here, right now,

You can be beautiful, wonderful, anything you wanna be,

Little me.

I'd tell her to speak up,

Tell her to shout out,

Talk a bit louder,

Be a bit prouder,

Tell her she's beautiful, wonderful, everything she doesn't see.

You got to speak up,

You got to shout out,

And know that right here, right now,

You can be beautiful, wonderful, anything you wanna be,

Little me.

Dani stops playing and looks to Santana who is smiling. 'That's a great song Dani.'

'You think so?'

'I do.' Santana kisses her. 'And you know what?'

'What?' Dani grins.

'I think that 'little you' knew those things all along.'

'Thanks Santana.'

'Sure.' Santana kisses her once more before Kurt bangs on their door.

'Stop singing! Your food is getting cold!' He calls.

'Come on.' Santana pulls Dani up by the hand as she laughs and they head for the living room.

The End

Thanks for reading everyone!