Turning a Blind Eye
Disclaimer: Don't own anything.
Chapter Six: The Land of the Blind
Serena stumbled back in shock and found herself against a warm chest as she heard the door slam.
"What was that?" Serena almost yelled, but held back knowing there were reporters on her front porch.
"Someone gave your address to the paparazzi." Darien muttered as he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket to call Max.
"Who? The girls wouldn't, the guys wouldn't." Serena frowned.
"I think I know who, but you're not going to like it." Darien said as he waited for Max to pick up.
"Danny?" Serena asked, shocked as her phone began to ring, "Hello?" Serena answered as she received a shrug from Darien at her previous question.
"Danny, what…. No, she needs to come home…. I… How did you know there are paparazzi outside my house?... You didn't….. DANNY!... No…." Serena sighed outraged as she looked at the phone, "He hung up on me. He called them." Serena said softly, still looking down at the phone in her hands.
"Max, Serena's ex called the paparazzi, they're outside." Darien said simply, "Thank you; I'll talk to you later." Darien finished his call then pulled Serena into his arms.
"He's not going to drop Rini off, doesn't want to expose her to this. He did this to make himself the better parent." Serena sobbed as soon as Darien's arm came around her.
"Shh, it'll be ok. Max is an amazing publicist; he'll clear all this up and get them off you." Darien told her, "Do you want to pick up Rini?" Darien asked.
"Yes. But he did have a point; I don't want Rini to be exposed to this." Serena said, looking at the door pointedly.
"Yeah, how about we pick her up and go to my place. There's a reason I live in a gated area." Darien pointed out.
"Ok, that might be best." Serena agreed numbly, "I can't believe he called them." Serena mumbled as she began gathering Rini's favorite toys and blanket.
"He wants to hurt you, to control you and your life in any way he can. With calling the paparazzi, he can have eyes and ears on you at all times; at least until Max works his magic and gets them to disappear." Darien told her soothingly as he followed her through the house.
"He wants to disrupt my life too." Serena muttered, "Wait, should we go to your place? I mean, Danny won't like that and who knows what else he might have up his sleeve, I don't want to drag you into this as well." Serena thought suddenly as she walked into Rini's room to gather some clothing.
"Don't worry about me." Darien told her seriously as he came up to her and wrapped his arms around her.
"Darien…" Serena began, obviously trying to think of other options.
"I mean it, I want you to come and stay with me. I won't feel comfortable unless I know you and Rini are safe and the best way to ensure your safety is to keep you with me. Danny has no say in where you sleep or live. He doesn't like it, too bad." Darien explained, "I want you with me tonight."
"Ok." Serena smiled at him after a breath and leaned against him for a moment.
"Let's go get that munchkin." Darien smiled as he pushed Serena a little to continue packing.
"Yeah, how are we going to do that with all the reporters? They're bound to follow us." Serena asked.
"The good old switch-a-roo." Darien smiled, "I texted Raye to have her and Jake be ready to meet us at the hospital to exchange cars, you're going to have to wear a hoodie with sunglasses on, but we should be able to pull this off without the police." Darien smiled, "And, I won't actually be with you as the press would be able to tell Jake and I switched cars since we can't wear sunglasses."
"You've done this before?" Serena asked about the well thought out plan.
"No," Darien smiled, "But it should work; hurry and finish packing, we need to meet Raye." Darien said as he turned to leave her to her packing.
"Oh, will you call Lita and let her know there are paparazzi lurking about." Serena said as she put Rini's pj's and a couple changes of clothes in a bag.
"No problem." Darien called from the living room as he picked up the remains of their dinner and took them into the kitchen, reaching for the phone as he passed it by.
Serena came out of the bedrooms a few minutes later with a couple of bags, "I think I have everything." Serena sighed as she looked at the bags.
"Even if you don't we can come back and get it, have someone pick it up, or buy it somewhere." Darien reassured her, "They won't break in or come on the property, they've all probably been arrested for that."
"Yeah, I know. Ok, how are we getting to your car?" Serena asked, remembering he parked on the street.
"Give me the bags and we're going to run for it. Put your hood up and make sure your hair isn't showing. Once we get to the front door and everything is ready to go, put on your sunglasses and we'll be off." Darien explained.
"Ok, let's go get my baby." Serena said as she tucked the last strands of hair into her hood and got her sunglasses ready to be shoved on to her face.
"Let's go then; keep your head down, I'll make sure you get into the car safely." Darien said as he put her arm around her shoulder to guide her.
"I know you will." Serena whispered as she reached for the door knob and opened the door, causing the reporters to gather and begin calling Darien's name.
"Ms. Tsukino! Why all the secrecy?" One reporter shouted.
"Did you meet at the hospital?" Another yelled.
"Keep moving, we'll be there soon." Darien whispered into Serena's ear, his arm tightening around her.
"Are you two going on a vacation?" One reporter asked, seeing the bags in Darien's hands.
After what seemed like a month and going through a forest of people, they made it to Darien's car. Roughly opening the passenger door, Darien blocked the door opening as Serena sat down and pushed the bags to her feet and closing the door. Darien rushed around the car and got in, shutting the reporters and their questions outside the relative quiet of the car.
"Are you ok? Keep your head down till we drive away." Darien instructed as he started the car.
"I'm ok, this is insane." Serena sighed as she buckled her seatbelt, "Why do they want to know so much about you?"
"I have no clue. I'm not any different from any other doctor." Darien said as he began pulling away from the curb slowly, not wanting to hit any of the people surrounding his car.
"You're the Chief of Medicine." Serena reminded with a smile as soon as no one was around the car anymore and Darien hit 30 mph.
"Yeah, I was hoping the hype would die down by now. But I guess having one of the wealthiest bachelors off the market will make the front page of the tabloids." Darien sighed.
"And to think what they'll say if they find out I have a kid." Serena scoffed.
"They won't." Darien swore to her as they headed into the city.
"I know you'll do everything in your power to prevent that." Serena smiled at him as she reached over and took his hand while he drove.
They drove in companionable silence through the dark city; Serena gazed out at the dimmed lights that passed by through her sunglasses, clutching Darien's hand. Without realizing how quickly they drove, Serena was surprised when the pulled into the parking garage of the hospital.
"Ok, Jake's going to drive you to pick up Rini, then drop the two of you off at my house." Darien said quietly as he squeezed her hand after parking next to Jake's car.
"Ok." Serena said, giving him a small smile.
"I'll see you in a little bit." Darien whispered as he leaned in to kiss her.
"I can't wait." Serena whispered back as his lips met hers, "Why don't you have some hot chocolate ready for when we get there, Rini would love that." Serena told him.
"I'll make sure it's waiting for you two." Darien said with a nod of his head, happy to see Serena beginning to relax.
Serena smiled at him again and quickly pecked him on the lips before opening her door for Raye who was outside of it but talking to Jake through the driver side window.
Raye turned as Serena got out of the car.
"Hey Sere, how you holding up?" Raye asked as she hugged her friend.
"Ok, I guess. How do you deal with it?" Serena asked as she held on to Raye a little longer than usual.
"I just take it one day at a time. It also helps being married to a lawyer who can sue them." Raye smiled against Serena's hair, "It'll be ok."
"I know, thank you." Serena sighed as she let go of her friend.
"Ok, go get your little one; it's probably a good thing Jake's taking you, cause if it were anyone else we'd beat the crap out of Danny for doing this." Raye basically growled.
"You sound like a mother already." Serena chuckled.
"Aw, thank you, but you know it's true." Raye continued to smile as he hand went instinctively to her lower stomach.
"Yeah, I do. Ok, Jake, let's get going." Serena said as she turned to the open window and Jake started his car, "I'll you at in a little bit." Serena smiled at Darien through the open door.
Darien smiled and waved as Raye got in the car and Serena turned to walk around Jakes car. Before she knew it, they were off; Jake driving in the direction of Danny's apartment and Darien in the opposite direction with Raye. It was no surprise to see Darien being followed by several cars and vans while no one followed them.
"Did that really work?" Serena asked as she looked around the street.
"Yes, Raye wasn't kidding when I threatened to sue." Jake smirked.
"Bravo boss." Serena smiled as she sat back and took a deep breath knowing Jake knew the way to Danny's apartment. It had, after all, been her address when she first started working for him.
Jake easily pulled up in front of the apartment's main entrance, "I'll wait here for five minutes, if you're not out by then I'm coming in after you." Jake said, knowing Serena would want to face her ex on her own.
"Thank you." Serena smiled at him as she got out of the car and checked to make sure they were alone.
"No problem, go get that sweetheart." Jake smiled as Serena shut the door and rushed to the doors of the apartment, punching in the security code to open the door.
Serena rushed up the main staircase of the building, passing the familiar doors and hallways before she came to a dead stop in front of Danny's door, taking a deep breath she knocked.
Danny opened the door and shock lit up his face, "Sere? What are you doing here?" Danny asked.
"I'm here to get Rini." Serena said, almost pushing her way into the apartment.
"I don't want her exposed to those reporters." Danny said softly, his eyes blank.
"Neither do I. We're not going home we're going somewhere safe. Now give me my daughter." Serena growled.
"You're staying with him now? This is all his fault, you know." Danny said.
"No, it's your fault." Serena said clearly, holding back from yelling at him and pushing at the door.
"You come in here I'm calling the police." Danny threatened.
"Go ahead; you don't have the legal right to have Rini for the night. I've already put in for a custody and visitation change." Serena said sternly as she continued to push at the door.
"I'm her father!" Danny yelled.
"You're just a man in her life. A father doesn't try to steal away their children, a father doesn't make their child's mother look bad to win something in court, a father doesn't do what you have done." Serena told him with a final shove at the door that pushed Danny back to reveal his living room.
Serena pushed into the apartment and found Rini sitting on the couch, looking at her parents in the doorway.
"Momma, we go home?" Rini asked.
"Not exactly, we're going to see Darien." Serena said as she came up to the toddler and gathered her in her arms.
"Asshole." Danny muttered.
Serena glared at Danny over the top of Rini's head.
"Good-bye, Daniel." Serena said as she walked past him and out the apartment, not caring that she left Rini's day bag there, she had what she came for and what she'd give up her life for.
111111
"Thank you, Jake." Serena said softly when he parked outside Darien's house.
"No thanks is required; I'll go with Max to make sure the restraining orders are submitted against the reporters, hopefully this will all be settled in a couple of days." Jake responded quietly as he glanced to the backseat to look at the sleeping toddler.
"I can't believe I forgot her car seat." Serena mumbled as she shook her head.
"I can't believe you were able to grab everything you did." Jake scoffed, "And how hard would it have been to get the car seat out of your car and into Darien's? Then the press would definitely know you had a child." Jake pointed out.
"Yeah, you're right." Serena sighed, "How am I going to get it now though?" Serena asked.
"We'll figure something out, let's go inside." Jake suggested as he unbuckled his seatbelt.
"Yeah." Serena gave a tired sigh as she unbuckle her seatbelt and got out of the car, immediately going to the back car door to retrieve her child.
Rini mumbled a little in her sleep and re-snuggled herself in her mother's arms when Serena picked her up, but didn't fully wake up. Kissing her forehead, Serena turned to follow Jake to the front doors after he closed the car door for her.
Not bothering to knock, Jake pushed the door opened and stood aside to let Serena pass him with her precious cargo, "Living room is straight and to the right." Jake added softly as he closed the door behind them.
Serena followed Jake's directions and found Raye sitting on a sofa, a mug in her hands as she watched the 10 o'clock news.
"Hey." Serena said softly as she sat down next to Raye, still holding onto Rini.
"I thought I heard the door open." Raye said softly as she reached over and smoothed Rini's hair down, "How'd everything go?"
"Daniel was upset." Serena said after a pause.
"So he did call the press." Raye filled in the blank.
"We already knew that. He wasn't going to let me take her, threatened to call the police on me." Serena expanded her original answer.
"A-hole" Raye muttered, censoring herself at the last moment, not caring that Rini was asleep.
"Yeah, I told him I'm changing the custody and after this stunt I'm going to ask for full custody." Serena told Raye, holding Rini a little tighter.
"As you should." Raye smile then looked over Serena's shoulder.
"And I'll back you one hundred percent." Darien said as Serena turned to look at what Raye was looking at.
"Thank you." Serena smiled as Darien approached with a tray of mugs, it was then that Rini opened a sleepy eye then sat up as Darien approached, almost as if she sensed the chocolate in the mugs.
"Endy!" Rini smiled up at his as he set the tray down on the coffee table to he could hug Rini.
"Hi pumpkin." Darien smiled as he scooped her up and kissed the top of her head.
"Endy bring hot coco?" Rini asked as she looked at the mugs on the table.
"Like mother like daughter." Raye laughed as Rini squirmed in Darien's arms to try and grab a mug.
"Hold on sweetie." Serena laughed as Darien sat down and settled Rini on his lap.
"The one on top is the cooler one." Darien said as she reached for the cups, grasping the one he mentioned, Serena checked the temperature with a small sip then held it out for Rini to sip.
Darien chuckled at Serena's testing as he grabbed a mug for himself.
"It's not that I don't trust you, it's just…." Serena began to explain though Darien cut her off.
"It's a mom thing." Darien smiled, "It's ok."
Serena smiled as she took her own mug and sipped it, loving the feeling of the hot cocoa warming her stomach; making her feel safe and secure. At the thought, Serena looked around and finally relaxed. She and Rini were safe here.
"Jake and I are going to take off; we'll talk to you both tomorrow." Raye said softly as she pecked Darien on the cheek and gave Serena a smile.
"Ok, thanks for everything." Darien smiled at his sister.
"Any time." Raye said as she turned her smile on him and quietly left before Rini could even really register she was leaving and get upset.
Serena leaned back against the sofa cushion, relaxing completely and trusting Darien to keep Rini busy.
"I think this is the first time you've sat down since you opened your front door." Darien commented as he tipped Rini's mug so she could have some more lukewarm cocoa.
Serena thought back through the night and realized that he was right, even in the car she was tapping her foot and sitting straight.
"Can I hope that it's because you are relaxed?" Darien asked as he continued to watch Rini.
"Yeah, I am. I feel safe here. I have my daughter and you safely with me; that's all I need right now." Serena sighed as she leaned over and rested her head against his shoulder.
"Good." Darien smiled, finally looking away from Rini to her mother.
Serena turned herself so she was curled up next to Darien and still able to sip her hot cocoa while Darien continued to help Rini enjoy her drink as well. Soon after her mug was empty, Rini fussed in Darien's arms, wanting to be next to him, not in his lap; moments after he had set her on the sofa, it became apparent why she wanted down. After Darien had settled her beside him and turned to respond to something Serena had said, Rini was asleep next to him.
"Would you look at that." Darien breathed, "I would have thought all the sugar in the cocoa would keep her up for at least an hour."
"Eh, like Raye said, like mother like daughter." Serena smiled, then yawned and settled into Darien's now empty arms.
They sat like that for a while, Serena just absorbing Darien's body heat and comfort.
"I really appreciate that you're going to be with me for all of this." Serena finally said.
Darien tightened his arms around her a little, "There's nowhere else I'd rather be. I'll help you in any way I can and that you want me to."
"Thank you for that and for opening my eyes to everything. I think everyone has been giving him the benefit of the doubt. I don't know if we'd ever see it clearly if you hadn't pointed it out." Serena admitted as she turned to look him in the eye.
"You would have seen it on your own; as any mother would." Darien argued slightly, "You wanted him in her life because he was her father, there's no fault with that. But know that many children grow up perfectly normal in homes with single mothers or fathers." Darien added.
"I know. I don't know if it would have been better or worse if I decided against having joint custody, but I don't want to dwell on that. It's in the past and done with, I just want to move forward and stop living in the land of the blind." Serena said with finality.
"Me too." Darien agreed with a smile as he pulled her back against him and just held her, feeling content in the moment with Serena in his arms and Rini asleep beside him.