It is Dani's first day back at school and Dani is beyond terrified. Dani has done home schooling and Sue would bring home Dani's homework so Dani wouldn't fall behind. It is the beginning of second semester and Santana starts college classes that day. Santana's parents are home now so she has moved back home again, and her's and Dani's relationship is innocent.
Dani sits in the car as Sue drops Kelly off at the elementary school so while Dani waits; she is texting Santana who is sitting in her class waiting for her teacher.
"Who are you texting?" Finn asks next to Santana. Finn is getting his teaching degree at the community college.
"My girlfriend." Santana smiles.
"How is Dani? I heard what happened after her being on the news and all." Finn frowns. Santana frowns and sighs.
"She's better than she was, but is very skittish. She's terrified of everyone, even her mom, Kelly and I."
"If anyone can help her through this it's you three."
"Really?"
"Really." Finn gives Santana his famous crooked smile, making her smile back and nod.
"You always know what to say."
"Not really, I just try my best."
~S&D~
A few minutes before class started Dani walked into the class with her mom by her side. Sue walked over to the teacher and whispered something in her ear.
Santana looked to Dani and offered her a small smile. She knew Dani was scared of coming back and she hoped the small smile would help her feel a little better.
Sue walked back over to Dani and kissed her head. She whispered something to Dani and then left the room. Dani stood frozen in the doorway fighting the urge to run.
"Excuse me, Ms. Johnson, I'm going to ask you to please move your seat to the next open one." The teacher said to the girl sitting in the seat next to Santana's.
The girl did as she was asked. Dani still didn't move.
"Dani go sit down." Her teacher said.
Dani stood there frozen in place.
Santana stood up and walked over to her. "Hey, Babe, come sit down by me. I'm right here. Nobody is going to hurt you." She put her hand out for Dani to take.
Dani took her hand and allowed Santana to lead them back over to her seat. Dani sat down in her seat but starting shaking as Santana went to sit in her seat.
"Good. Now today we will be talking about…." Their teacher started and turned her back to them to write on the black board.
Once her back was turned Dani got up and went over to Santana. Santana wrapped her arms around her waist and pulled her gently down onto her lap. Santana didn't care. She loved having Dani in her arms.
"Baby!" a kid behind Santana laughed.
Dani looked down as tears filled her eyes.
"Shut up, jerk." Santana told him.
Dani took Santana's pen and wrote down inside her notebook. 'I want my mom and I want to go home.'
"Just ignore them, Babe, he's just jealous because he doesn't have a hot beautiful girlfriend to sit on his lap." Santana told her. "If you still want to go home after this class ends I'll take you to your mom, deal?"
Dani nodded and relaxed as Santana started to scratch her back.
Things were good for a few minutes until there was a knock at the door. It opened and Principal Figgins walked in with two teenage boys on both sides of him.
"These are our new students." He said.
"Wonderful! Welcome to our class boys. Thank you Principal, you can go now."
The Principal left the room.
"Boys why don't you introduce yourself?" The teacher said.
"I'm Paul and this is my brother Dave…."
Dani tensed and her breathing picked up. She knew it wasn't the same Paul and Dave who hurt her but just the sound of their names send chills down her spine.
"Shhh, Baby, breathe, breathe, you're ok. I'm right here. You're safe." Santana soothed.
But Dani's breathing only got worse as one of the boys sat right in the open seat next to Santana. Dani's breathing got so bad is was coming out in gasps. She couldn't handle it anymore. She stood up and bolted from the room.
Santana quickly went after here.
Dani was running as tears streamed down her cheeks as she panted and tried to breathe. She was shaking head to toe. She wanted to get to her mom's office but couldn't figure out which way to go in that moment.
She wasn't paying attention and crashed into someone. Sending them both to the floor.
Her fear increased and she curled into a ball whimpering through her cries.
"Dani? Honey? Sweetie, what's wrong?" Will asked frantically as he stood. He gently knelt down in front of her. "Dani, Sweetie, what's wrong Sweetie? It's me, Mr. Schue. I'm not going to hurt you."
Dani continued to cry and shake as she gasped for air.
"Dani, do you want me to take you to your mom?"
Dani nodded.
"Ok, I will. I promise, but I need you to take some deep breaths for me first." He said gently. "Copy me, inhale…" Will took in a deep breath. "Then let it go…" He exhaled his deep breath.
Dani slowly did as will did.
"Good girl, do it a few more times and I can take you to see your mom."
Dani took a few more deep breaths until her breathing was better.
"Good Girl. Now I can take you to see your mom. Would you like me to carry you?"
Dani shook her head and slowly stood up.
"Follow me." Will said.
Dani followed Will until they reached Sue's office.
They arrived and knocked on the door then went inside.
"Sue, I've got someone here who is missing her mom." Will said.
Dani walked into the room.
"Dani, Sweetie, what is it?" Sue asked.
Dani just ran into her mother's arms and cried. Sue hugged her tightly. "I'm here. It's ok. You're safe."
Will turned to leave but Sue stopped him. "Will?"
He turned back to face her.
"Thank you, Will." She said softly.
"Don't mention it." Will smiled and left the room.
"All right, Sweetie who do I have to beat up?" Sue asked her daughter.
Dani didn't speak but started calming down.
"Can you try and tell me what happen?"
Dani shook her head.
"What if you write it down?"
Again Dani shook her head.
"Maybe I can help."
They both looked up to the doorway to see Santana.
"What happen?" Sue asked.
"Nobody really did anything to hurt her. She got really spooked, but these two new boys who joined our class." Santana explained.
"What were their names? What did they do?" Sue asked.
"Their names were…" Santana stopped and looked to Dani. She smiled gently. "Don't look."
Dani hid her face in her mother's shirt as Santana wrote down the two names on a pad of paper. When Sue nodded Santana erased the names and wrote something else down. "Ok, Babe, you can look now."
Dani looked to the pad and blushed hiding her face again. It said 'Dani is the hottest, sexiest, most beautiful girl I've never met."
Sue and Santana chuckled.