Since Daniel broke his leg, he was shifted to the guest bedroom and Tessa was offered to stay in his room. She took her things up there, but eventually ended up coming down to him because she needed to cry, finally letting it all out after having kept it together through everyone's coddling and comforts. She adored them for the effort, but she just needed a hug from Daniel.

During Christmas, she did her best to keep her spirits high or at least not dampen anyone else's and it went by quite in a blur. New Years as well, everyone around her kissing someone at the strike of 12, while all of Daniel's sisters-in-law gave him a smooch as he didn't have anyone, the officer laughing at their antics and his brother's expressions.

By the time they went back to Baltimore, Daniel's ribs were beginning to heal and the bruising around his face almost gone, but his leg would be in a cast for a further four to five weeks. The day after their return, the officer had wanted to talk to Tessa and ask her how she was doing, but that plan was shot down by his colleagues dropping by with well-wishes and bawdy jokes that had Daniel throw back his head and laugh at them, his superior telling him to take the time off and allow his leg to heal.

And then Tessa's friends came over, having heard what happened and took her out for the night, trying to get her to smile and laugh as she tried to, but instead felt more and more like going home. Eventually, she parted from her friends saying she just wanted time alone.

"Are you sure?" Natalie was instantly up and beside her. "I mean, we could go watch a movie or something,"

"No, thank you all, but I just want to go home now,"

"I'll walk you," Jeremy stated and grabbed his jacket, both of them bidding farewell to their friends before making their way back to her apartment. "I'm sorry for what happened, teddy, must be hard,"

"I'm actually more shocked and confused than hurt," She confided. "It's just taking me some time to wrap my head around it, is all?"

"Take all the time you need, okay? And you can always call me up if you ever need anything,"

"I know, thank you, Jeremy, you introduced me to an amazing bunch of people,"

"Hey, you introduced us to Danny," He laughed. "Sure, he acts a little tough and irritated, but he worries and loves us all the same. You more so than us, but regardless, he is constantly watching out for us all,"

"Really?"

"Oh, yeah," He nodded. "I mean Bruce went to the police station regarding something that had been stolen of his and Daniel personally oversaw the investigation until he got it back,"

"Daniel never told me,"

"He's very private that way," He laughed. "And protective too,"

"I know," Tessa chuckled.

"I mean, the other day, Valarie told me, she bumped into him at the store and he scared away these two guys who were bothering her, and then walked her all the way home."

"Huh,"

They both walked and talked about various things before they finally arrived at her apartment complex. Tessa hugging Jeremy and thanking him for all the effort they had made for her before heading upstairs and back to her apartment.

"Tessa, is that you?" Daniel's voice called out from the washroom when the apartment door closed behind her.

"Yeah! I'm home!" She responded and tossed her keys onto the counter, taking off her jacket and hanging it up on the hook, momentarily catching sight of the scotch bottle standing on the counter. Glancing at the door and back at the bottle before rushing towards it and grabbing a glass and pouring herself the drink, about to take a sip before pouring it back and running to her room, wondering what had gotten into her.

She hid away in her room for a while, hearing Daniel shuffle around the kitchen on his crutches and thought that she should go and help him but couldn't understand what she would do.

Eventually, she decided that she should talk to him about what was going on with her.

"Hey," Daniel called out with a smile when he found her stepping out and making her way towards him. "You came back early from the outing,"

"Yeah, I wanted to come home," She revealed and leaned against the counter, standing behind him and watched him move around with a limp.

"Feeling better?"

"I feel alright," She shrugged.

"I'm making egg fried rice," He turned around to look at her, momentarily taken aback by how close she was standing. "Everything alright?" He asked her with a raised eyebrow, watching in confusion when she brought her hands up and rubbed her thumb over his stubbly cheek, moving closer to him.

"Tessa," He called out to her cautiously. "What are you doing?"

Daniel held his breath when she stood on her tiptoes, looking at her in confusion and wondering if she was going to kiss him. Her lips were mere centimeters away from his, but instead of kissing him she exhaled and lowered herself, pressing her forehead against his chin.

"I'm sorry," She murmured dejectedly, Daniel having to swallow the turmoil inside him and placed a hand on her lower back. "There is just something wrong with me,"

"Understandable," He nodded. "You just went through a breakup, it's okay to be a little confused,"

"I'm more than confused, I feel like I'm lost at sea,"

"Then I'll be the lighthouse to guide you back to safety," He placed a kiss on the top of her head. "Just let it run its course."

Tessa swallowed and snuggled under his neck, inhaling his familiar fragrance and pulling herself closer to him.

It took some time, but eventually, Tessa managed to get a hang of her life. She didn't let her grades fall and did her best to do as good as she could, impressing not only Daniel but all her friends with her success. It took about a month, or two, but she was doing well now. She was good and smiling, even laughing.

Her probation had ended and the criminal charge removed from her record after Daniel had to pull a few strings, she was so excited to know that she was now a normal teenager and didn't have to hide anything anymore. Daniel's leg had healed and he was back to working on the field and was overjoyed to know that she was back on track, and focusing on studies, even having found universities she wanted to apply to and had begun the application process.

Daniel had been sitting at his desk at the precinct, sipping from his cup of coffee and swiveling in his chair as his friends chattered behind him.

"Hey, isn't that Bambi?" One of them asked and instantly he looked up to see Tessa making her way inside, a letter in her hand and her eyes searching for him.

"Yeah," He nodded to them and held up his hand to grab her attention, watching her catch sight of him before making her way over to him. "Hey, everything alright?" He asked and stood up.

"I got accepted," She held up the open envelope with a yellow insignia on the front. "I got accepted with an 80% scholarship," She bubbled with a laugh as an uproar of cheers ricocheted around them, all of the police officers overjoyed for her.

Daniel froze in his place, the realization hitting him as he stumbled back, bumping into things and nearly falling.

"Daniel!" Tessa called out in panic and grabbed hold of him before he could fall, everyone a bit too preoccupied with shouting for celebration. "What happened?"

"My God," He breathed out, placing a hand on his chest as a sudden pain and joy infiltrated his mind. "You're graduating,"

"I am,"

"You're leaving, Bambi,"

"I am?"

"Yes," He let out a choked laugh, not sure how to react to this. "You're going off to university and the university is not going to be in Baltimore and I'm just..."

"I'm taken off guard," He chuckled, running a hand through his hair and trying to get his thought together. "You're leaving me, Bambi,"

"I..." Tessa choked out, suddenly realizing the weight of the situation as everything around her melted away. "I don't want to leave,"

"Baby, no," Daniel laughed, feeling pride overwhelm him and cupped her face into his hands. "No, it's okay, change is scary, but it's inevitable. Don't you dare forget that no matter wherever you are, I am always going to be here, I will be right here for you, and I will be always one call away, you have my number. I want you to go to college and get a degree and do something you love! Tessa, my God! I am so proud of you!" He hugged her close, Tessa feeling confused.

"W-what?"

"You have come such a long way from the scared little girl I took in who couldn't look me in the eye or say no," He shook her shoulders. "You have come such a long way, sweetheart and I am so proud of your progress and now you're going to take on a whole new challenge!"

"I..." She trailed, seeing his point and feeling a sense of accomplishment, the warmth spreading throughout and having her smile. "It's scary,"

"It is," He nodded. "But it's totally worth it,"

Tessa laughed and hugged him again, allowing him to squeeze her tight.

"I am so proud of you, Bambi, you have no idea!" He kissed the top of her head and held her close, the sadness overwhelming him to know that she would leave and didn't need him anymore.