Our Burning Desires

CHAPTER ONE

The door burst open and Daniel stood there, looking every inch the hero. Of course, by this time, Betty had already found the fire extinguisher and was trying to put out the fire herself, so she didn't really need "rescuing".

She was almost sorry for his sake, seeing his anticlimactic expression when he realized she had things pretty well under control without his help. But that didn't change the fact that he had come running to save her from his psychotic EX girlfriend!

"You don't pay me enough!" was all she could think to say as she held the fire extinguisher. She knew she must look like a crazy person herself right now, pun intended. Still, Daniel had never looked better.

She supposed she could see...the attraction. Well, duh! She might need glasses, but she wasn't blind! And sure, like she had admitted to Renee, she could certainly understand how it looked...suspicious, all the time she and Daniel had been spending together lately.

She sighed, sitting on the steps outside Daniel's loft, seeing the firemen coming and going out of the corner of her eye. He came and sat next to her, squeezing her hand,"Are you sure you're okay? I really think you should let them take you to the hospital, Betty. Just to check you out."

She shrugged, doing her best at a smile, "I'm fine. How are you?"

"Me? I wasn't the one who was just almost set on fire, Betty!"

"No, but...you loved her. This has to be tough for you…"

He laughed, as he slipped his arm around her, rolling his eyes, "Only you would be worried about ME right now, Betty! Why did you even come here in the first place? You had to know she was here…"

"I was afraid she would hurt you. I found out what..she did to her professor and…"

"Thank you for your concern. But I'm a big boy. From now on, let me take care of myself, okay? Because I can't believe you almost got yourself killed, trying to protect me, Betty! Promise me, you'll never do anything so stupid…."

"But, Daniel…"

"Don't but Daniel me, Betty! What were you thinking? Did you hear what I said? You almost got yourself KILLED!"

She blew out a breath, trying not to cry, but the tears were so close to the surface, she couldn't hold them back anymore, "I...I'm SORRY!"

He pulled her to him for a hug, "No, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to yell at you. I was just so...scared I might actually lose you!"

"Are you two done...making love or whatever it is you do? By the way, Suarez, I'll deny this if you ever tell anyone I said it, but...I'm glad you're okay. I guess I should have known pasty boy here would never let anything really terrible happen to you!

I seriously doubt Willi would bat an eye if I were in mortal danger! She doesn't even care about her own sister!" he put his own hand over his mouth.

But it was too late. Daniel rushed over to him and grabbed his arm, "What did you just say, Marc? Did she cause this? Wilhelmina had something to do with Betty almost getting burned alive here?"

Marc gulped, his eyes wide with fear at almost outing his boss's subterfuge, "Nothing! I didn't say anything! I'm sorry! I never meant for Betty to get hurt! I didn't know she would let things go this far!"

Daniel still had Marc pinned against the door frame, not letting him leave, "TALK! What do you know, Marc? What the hell does this have with you pretending to go through my underwear? Why were you here? What did SHE have you do?"

Marc looked around furtively, but saw that his diva was with Renee and the police, so he was on his own. He wasn't going down for this! He nodded, "She...told me to switch out her sister's medication! She wanted you to see how bad Renee really was and dump her!

But I don't think SHE even realized it was THIS bad! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, Betty! I'm so glad you're alright! I had no idea Renee was actually so crazy that she would really try to...KILL you!"

Betty shook her head sadly, but got up and hugged Marc, "I know you wouldn't have gone along with her if you knew how bad she was, Marc. It's okay. You were just trying to do your job!"

"NO, it's NOT okay! Marc, I swear, I'm going to KILL that damn WIlHELMINA myself! She almost got Betty killed! SHE…" he was ready to charge toward the woman, but they all witnessed Renee, looking utterly frazzled and her sister, hugging her as they were led out by the police.

Betty stood up and put her hand on Daniel's arm to calm him down, "Daniel, please? It's okay. I'm alright. They have...enough to deal with right now! Let Marc go. He didn't know. You know Willie just manipulated him. And she...clearly has her hands full trying to help her sister."

Daniel moved aside, and Marc ran away quickly before the man changed his mind. Daniel sighed, shaking his head, "You're way too nice, Betty!"

"Can you take me home?" she seemed suddenly drained.

"Of course!"

Once they were in his town car, heading for Queens, she felt herself slip into unconsciousness, and she fluttered her eyes open, seeing she had fallen asleep against Daniel's shoulder.

Of course, she also became painfully aware that she had drool coming out of her mouth. She wiped her mouth, cringing at the thought that she was drooling on her boss's five thousand dollar suit!

She suddenly felt his arm going around her protectively, and noticed that he, too had nodded off during the ride.

She sighed, "I REALLY don't want to have to relive the whole nightmare, going through everything that happened to my family tonight! I wish I could just go somewhere and relax! And Henry texted that he is going to TRY to come but that stupid Charlie will think of some reason to keep him to herself anyway, so...he's...he's…"

"Pretty much useless to you!" Daniel couldn't help but finish her thought. She might not have used those exact words, but it was in fact, her sentiment right now.

Daniel perked up, smiling, as he tapped his driver, "Hey, Roger, we've changed our mind. Can you take us to a hotel somewhere between here and Boston, please? Somewhere a little...out of the limelight. Maybe a slightly less 'fancy' place than I usually go. We need to get away from our lives right now. Miss Suarez just needs to rest and relax and I'm currently homeless!"

"I know just the place, sir! I grew up outside New Haven. I know some very nice hotels that will be more discreet than any of the places you usually go here in New York. It should take less than two hours."

"That sounds perfect!" He took Betty's phone from her and made a few texts, then handed it back to her, smiling.

"What did you do?"

He shrugged, "I texted your sister and boyfriend that you would be gone for the weekend and you'd call them sometime Sunday."

"Gone? But…"

He smiled, "I just said, 'Daniel needs me.' Isn't that what you usually tell them?"

She nodded, "Usually."

Betty seemed to relax, still under his arm, with her head against his chest. Being with Daniel was so much easier than trying to spend anytime with her ACTUAL boyfriend these days! It was sad, but true. When she and Daniel were together, working or just...hanging out together things were simple, they were comfortable, they were fun!

The man didn't make her feel like she was ruining anyone's life by "stealing them" away from some higher purpose! Okay, now she really understood how Renee got so worked up, though! Had she actually ended up "stealing" Daniel from her?

She shook off the thought, that was absurd! The man was her boss! Yes, he was taking her to a hotel, but...not like that! Not like...well, not like the press or anyone might take it to sound like. He only wanted her to be able to rest from her ordeal,that's all! And like he said, thanks to Renee, he was now homeless! Besides, it's not like they were staying in the same room or something!

She furrowed her brow, "Daniel! I...I appreciate this, but...I don't want you to spend your money on a hotel room for me…"

He looked slightly surprised for a moment, then grinned, "What's wrong, Betty? Afraid your boyfriend will get the wrong idea about his girl going to a hotel with her playboy boss?

Good! Serves him right! HE should have been the one to...sorry! I...I didn't mean that, Betty. Renee was the one who...who...wanted to hurt you! It's my fault! I should never have put you in a position to try and 'make up with her'!

I'm the one who put you in harm's way! It's the least I can do to spring for a place for you to rest. I would be paying your hospital bill...this is MUCH better, trust me! Much better service and actually cheaper!"

She laughed, "Whatever you say, Mr. Sickington!"