Danny would never, ever be thankful for what had happened to Dinah. It had scared him more than facing Shou-Lao. And that dreadful sense of impending potential loss he had felt at the thought of losing her was something he had not felt since he had been lost in the Himalayas. It had been horrible, and yet...
He could not deny that having her around at all times the past week had been wonderful. Everything about the way she pitched in and interacted with the children, to spending every waking moment with her had been so perfect that he did not want to imagine the school without her in it. Part of him wondered how he had even gotten by without her, and though he knew she had no desire to become a full time instructor, it was impossible for him to wish that things could be different.
...And that was before even considering what it had felt like to wake up in the morning with her in his arms.
Even now as he was warming up for another sparring session, he found himself thinking more about sneaking into the shower with her afterward. Though at this point he did not imagine it would be so much of a surprise unless he failed to make an appearance. The thought of that nearly made him laugh until he saw the expression on her face and heard her words from across the mats. He turned to where she was looking just in time to see the doors of the black SUV being thrown open as heavily armed and armored men poured out from all sides.
Danny felt a natural inclination to go to Dinah, but there was no time for that. Not now. Instead he gave her a longing look as he mouthed the word "Go", before turning his back on her to stride across the mats toward the doorway. He could only hope that she would listen given that there was no time to argue. Her bike had been kept ready for a situation like this, beyond the secret exit that lead to an abandoned railway line. When Danny had shown her days ago, he had explained that since he had no gift of flight or teleportation that he got around by way of real estate instead. They had joked about it and he had not thought there would have been an actual need, until he saw what lay beyond him on the other side of the main entrance now.
He reached the doors just in time to open them to meet the men beyond, to whom he regarded with an incredulous and slightly annoyed look.
"Gentlemen, the hour is late, many of my students are asleep, and I would never allow you inside with those weapons."
He knew it would not be this easy, but he had to try. Even if only for the purpose of being able to call what happened next self defense.
"But I would be more than happy to clear up whatever confusion this is out here."