Dane

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While Chris continued to swear down the phone at John about how he didn't care about the fucking law, Dane finally turned to find Lila. They'd been working for an hour and he'd been so focused, he hadn't realized she'd gone over to the couch.

She'd pulled her legs up and curled them under her, snuggling into his big sweatshirt, elbow on the back of the couch, and her temple resting on her fist. She looked little, and young, and desperately sad. Dane's heart sank. He wanted nothing more than to shield her from this—from everything. He wished he could put himself between her and the rest of the world. Especially his father. Every day. Every moment. He wished there was a way to buffer her from any kind of struggle or pain.

It hit him then that while he couldn't stop everything negative in her life, there was at least one way he could protect her. Provide for her. He hadn't planned… not yet… but… was there any reason not to, now?

Dane blinked.

He couldn't come up with a single one.

His heart quickened and he turned around. Chris was hunched over his computer at the dining table. Lila was rolling up the sleeve on his sweatshirt so it would stop falling over her hand.

"Leave," he barked at Chris.

Obviously assuming he was speaking to someone else, Chris didn't even look at him so Dane stepped over to the table and leaned on it until Chris looked at him over the screen. "Go. Home," he said quietly. "This isn't going to end tonight. We aren't even going to make a dent in it. The building is secure. John's working on the image. Anything else you're doing can wait for morning. You know Dad, he's going to make me sweat now. Try to get me to lower my guard."

"Are you serious?" Chris was so surprised he didn't even sound angry.

"Dead serious. We've had a helluva night. I want to talk to Lila. And we know no one's getting in here in the next…" he looked at his watch, "seven hours. Go home, Chris. Sleep. This mountain will still be there in the morning."

"Dane, the team is outside."

"Exactly my point. We're as safe as it's possible to be right now. And that's not always going to be true. Go get some rest. We'll meet at the office tomorrow with the whole team and we'll brainstorm. Now's not the time. You can work on a plan if you want, or you can get sleep. It's up to you. But get the hell out of my apartment."

He looked at Lila then. She was staring at him, her mouth making a little O of surprise. But she wasn't arguing for once. He nodded at her and she nodded back, then closed her mouth. But her eyes said she had questions.

Good.

"Dane, I know it's been a rough night, but I really think—"

"I don't care what you think, Chris. We need to talk and rest and we can figure this out in the morning when we know if we can the image down or not. There's no chance he doesn't have it already, so… leave. Or I swear to god, I'll throw you out."

Chris stood up, glaring, jaw tight and leaned over his computer until they were almost nose to nose. "You need a rest from the shitstorm of your making, Dane?"

It didn't even touch him. "Yes, I do. Go."

Chris shook his head. "I knew something was going on with you. You're even more crazy than usual. I hope you're getting enough—"

"Finish that sentence and I will shoot you myself," Dane said quietly. Too quietly. Chris heard the line in his tone and scoffed, coming to life, slamming his laptop shut and picking up his bag and phone. "Fine. Fine. Get yourself killed. Get Lila killed. Whatever. Who cares right? The business is going down the tubes yet anyway."

He continued to rant, but he did as he'd been told and soon Dane had him at the door, and watched as he included the team of staff—four security guards and the receptionist in his summary of all the ways Dane was insane.

When he was done and the elevator finally closed over his beet-red face, Dane calmly turned to the rest of them, who were staring shocked, and nodded once. "Yes, I sent him home. And yes, I need you to be diligent tonight. I'm putting my life, and Lila's in your hands. Tomorrow I'll explain everything. But for now, we're going to rest. If we have any visitors I'll let you know. Otherwise, no one disturbs us, do you hear me?"

The Receptionist nodded, but Josh stepped forward to talk quietly to Dane. "Sir, I know it's a rough situation, but there is something to be said for getting a plan in place early, just in case."

"Eight o'clock tomorrow. At the office. Until then, you just let no one through the perimeter. You understand?"

Josh frowned. "Chris said—"

"Fuck Chris," Dane said and pushed the door closed on Josh's surprised face.

Dane almost grinned. Almost. He turned both deadbolts on the door—one over the handle lock, the other at the hinge side—and then he turned back towards the apartment.

Lila had come to stand in the space between the dining and living rooms, her face a mask of shock. Her hair was still twisted up, and her legs still flashed when she moved, where the slit of the dress opened underneath his sweatshirt that draped her from her shoulder, almost to her knees.

"Are you okay?" she murmured after he just stood there.

He swallowed, surprised to find his throat pinching. She was… precious. What was he going to do if something happened to her?

"I don't think so," he said.

*****

Lila

She'd wondered if he was having some kind of nervous breakdown when Dane shouted at Chris to leave. He was always so urgent about everything—so focused on fixing every problem before it even needed solving. Now everything had gone to hell and he was… putting it off until morning.

She opened her mouth, but didn't quite know what to say. Then Dane came to life, walking towards her smoothly, taking her hand as he passed, then leading he through the living room and into his bedroom.

She swallowed. She wanted Dane. Badly. And she wasn't against a little sex-therapy after everything they'd been through. But he looked like he was pulled tighter than a guitar string.

She didn't want to him to snap.

As they walked into the room, he let go of her hand and walked over to the bed, then sat on the edge of it. He was still in his full tuxedo from the night, tie and all. She thought maybe he'd start getting undressed. But instead he just sat there, staring at the floor for a second.

"Dane?" she said, her voice a little shaky.

He looked at her and held out a hand for her to come. When she walked over and took it he pulled her to stand between his knees.

Tall as he was, his head still reached her shoulder, even sitting on the edge of that bed. When he looked up, between the strands of his hair that he'd raked too many times to keep them back, his eyes were red. And she realized the hand that held hers was trembling.

"Dane, please. It's going to be okay," she whispered putting her hands to his beautiful face. "We're in this together now."

His eyes closed and he dropped his forehead to her chest. She bit her lip and pulled him in, holding him as he trembled, fighting tears of her own. His hands slid to her waist and he gripped her, his fingers so long he almost spanned her waist.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered.

"You have nothing to be sorry about. You aren't the psychopath here," she said.

He didn't look up, just pulled her in tighter. "I don't know if I can fix this," he said and a shudder rocked through him.

Lila, blinking back tears, pulled him in until she was afraid she might smother him in her chest, but he just clung tighter.

One time, just once, his shoulders shook. And it moved her so that she was afraid she might sob herself.

But she just held on. And so did Dane.

*****

She had no idea how long they stood there like that. Long enough that she was getting warm, smothered in his sweatshirt, and holding him. But she wasn't going to let go as long as he was leaning on her.

She stroked his hair, and rubbed his shoulders, and pulled him in tight every time his hands tightened on her as if he were afraid she might leave.

And then, out of nowhere, he took a deep breath, lifted his head and with shining red eyes, said hoarsely, "Lila, will you marry me?"

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