Santana

Santana walked numbly to her car. How had this happened? One second she was singing happily with the Trouble Tones just another high school girl falling in love. Sure, she was falling in love with a girl. But she was just another face in the crowd, the head bitch of said crowd, but she was just another high school student floating in Lima, Ohio. Now she was about to be outted by a fucking commercial to all of Ohio, and suspended for slapping Finn fucking Hudson. She didn't even want to wait for Quinn to take her home she just walked numbly towards her house. It was quite a walk but she didn't really care. Her limbs moved but she didn't even register, and the constant movement helped keep her from going completely comatose at just how fucked up her life was. Her phone buzzed and she catatonically pulled it out staring at the screen.

Brittany:

Sannie r u ok? Mr. Shue just came back, where r u?

She stuffed the phone back in her pocket not quite ready to deal with everything just yet. Marshmallow nips could fill them in on what happened, he'll probably do it with a fucking smile on his face. Realizing she was on her block she autopilotted her way in the door and went to her room. Her mom wouldn't get off work until 5 and who knew when she dad would be home. She went to her room and sat on her bed. She knew what she had to do. She needed to come out to her parents. Hell she was practically being forced out of the closets wasn't she now. The tears finally came and she broke out of her catatonic state and broke down into sobs.

Later…

Santana had cried herself to sleep but she heard the front door closing now. She heard muffled bickering. It would appear her dad was home after all. Not that she knew why, he spent his time at home either drinking, fighting with her mom, or passing out in front of the television. But she supposed this way she would be able to get it out and tell them both. She dragged her body up and it felt like gravity was pulling her down. She thought for a second to let it. To allow gravity to keep her in bed, and maybe she wouldn't have to tell her parents. The Latina pulled out her phone and saw she had several missed calls from Brittany and Quinn as well as several texts. Both of them inquiring on how she was after they had heard the news. Brittany seemed worried and Quinn seemed to be angry at the man who wanted to air this commercial. She tucked her phone away still not ready to talk to either one of them before she dragged her feet towards her door.

The sound of her descending the stairs broke her parents out of their quarrel and they turned towards her.

"Mija!" Her mother's face lit up and Santana tried in vain not to cringe at that. How could she do this now that her mother seemed to happy to see her? Her father grunted in her direction and headed towards the fridge grabbing a beer from within.

She gritted her teeth and steadied herself, "Mami…Papi…I have something to tell you…"

They both turned their attention to her. The elder Latina with concerned etched on her face and her father with a look that suggested he was bored already. Ignoring her father's reaction she plowed on.

"There's something you need to know about me…and you need to hear it from me before you hear it from someone else…" She trailed off and took a deep breath trying to calm her nerves.

Like a band aid Santana. Just like a band aid. Rip that fucker off.

"Ay mija, are you pregnant?!"

Her mother's eyes bugged comically, and if it were any other situation Santana would have laughed. But today, and in this hour, she could only shake her head.

"Then what is it baby?"

Her mother asked, and Santana didn't know if she could go through with this if her mother kept calling her pet names.

"I like…girls…the way I should like boys…" She paused momentarily as if waiting for a reaction but all she got was blank stares from her mother and the same look of disinterest in her father's eyes.

"Mami…please say something."

She then watched as her mother's face flooded with emotion. Confusion. Realization. Sadness. And then what she feared. Anger.

The older Latina looked up at her with a dark face of contempt.

"I want you to get out of my house."

Santana blanched.

"Mami…" The young cheerleader hated the way her voice quivered pathetically.

"No. As of now I no longer have a daughter." Her mother's voice was firm.

"No…no…please Mami. Por favor mami no." The tears were quick to make their return and she looked desperately to her father for help. But he now wore a look that translated to, "this does not concern me." And went back to sipping his beer like her mother was sending bible thumpers away at the door. Her mother was moving now towards the stairs and Santana followed desperately. It wasn't supposed to happen like this. There was supposed to be disappointment and sadness but they were going to work through it like a family. She followed behind the woman trying and pleading her way up the stairs until her mom walked into her room. And she knew what was going to happen. The tears came now faster than ever.

Her mom was reaching to her tattered Cheerios duffel bag they used for away games.

"Mami! No! Mami! Please. It's still me. I'm Santana. I'm still the same girl. Por favor." The last word escaped like a whimper.

Her mom was already throwing random articles of clothing into the bag not even caring what she was throwing in the bag just as long as she was emptying the contents of Santana's closet.

"Mom…please don't do this…"

Her mom didn't even turn to acknowledge her as she brushed pass the younger girl back down the stairs throwing the front door open and tossing her bag out on to their lawn. She left the door open but jabbed a finger pointedly at the door.

"Get out."

"Mami…please…" The brunette felt her knees buckling and she wanted slid down against the door sobs wracking through her body.

Santana looked up at her father who was now sitting by the television already watching soccer with a second beer.

"Papi…help me." He looked over her and sighed rolling his eyes.

Her body was shaking uncontrollably from the sobs, and as he stood up and straightened his back she allowed an inkling of hope to spark within her. He approached her and without saying a word bent down and set his hands firmly on her upper arm pulling her up. She allowed him to wanting to fall into his chest and let him hold her. But before she could he pushed her harshly out the opened door his face not even changing before the front door slammed in her shocked and broken face.

The spark of hope she felt earlier made the pains in her chest worse than before and she crumbled against the closed door rocking herself against it.

"Please! Let me back in. I'm sorry! Lo siento! Mami?"

She cried desperately but nothing came from the other side. She finally felt herself calming and she hiccupped against the door still rocking herself. She looked to see her neighbors car pulling up from work. Not wanting to be caught crying against her front door she stumbled to the carelessly packed duffel back and throwing it over her shoulder.

She looked around helplessly and with a sigh of defeat she headed towards her abuela's house. She knew she could count on the older woman and she wiped her nose on her sleeve walking hastily towards her grandmother's house.

She arrived 10 minutes later and knocked on the door harshly. Knowing how close she was to the comforting arms of her abuela she felt the tears prickling at her eyes again. The door swung open to show the oldest Lopez woman with a phone clutched in her hand.

"Abuela…" her voice came out broken. She couldn't wait for the woman's comforting arms to surround her. She just wanted someone to hold her and show her they loved her.

Her grandmother fixed her with a dark knowing look and the younger Latina deflated visibly. She still shook her head in disbelief nonetheless. This was her family. They had been with her. This was her abuela. She was her nina pequina. Her Santanita. Her little senorita. Just last week her grandmother was doting on how beautiful she had gotten. They had shared one of her abuela's world famous cakes and she had made Santana tea just the way she liked it. The same way how last week her mom had taken her to the mall to spoil her with some new clothes. How was it that in one day she basically became an orphan.

"Abuelita…por favor, no."

Her grandmother shook her head at her in disdain.

"How could you be so selfish and do this to your mother. I thought I taught you better than that."

And with that verbal sting still in the air she slammed the door in the Latina's face.

The next day…

Quinn

Quinn had texted Santana a fifth time, her friend hadn't responded to any of her texts from yesterday. And hadn't replied to any of her texts this morning. If she didn't get her ass out of her house soon they would be late for school. Sighing in defeat she pulled away towards McKinley, she usually would pick up Britt as well but the blonde had texted her last night letting her know that her mom would drop her off today before a meeting with their math teacher about Brittany's grades. She pulled into the parking lot and was met by the group of Cheerios that liked to follow the Unholy Trinity around. Except they seemed short a girl today. Brittany ran straight towards her and frowned at the lack of Santana.

"Where's San?" Her eyebrows knit together.

"I don't know, she didn't come out of the house today when I went by."

School went by without a hitch and the two blondes of the incomplete Unholy Trinity waited for their beloved brunette to show up. But it by the time Glee rolled around it seemed obvious Santana may have just taken an emotional day from school. Brittany had asked Quinn if she could drop her off at the Latina's house after Glee. Brittany had failed her drivers test when she started driving across front yards in a near fatal chase for the end of a rainbow to find the gold left by the forgetful leprechaun.

Sue

How dare he? As if it wasn't bad enough that he called himself Reggie "The Sauce" Salazar. But to think he had it in him to beat a proven champion. And worst of all to attack one of her Cheerios so publicly. She would not tolerate it. That would simply not fly with Sue Sylvester. She failed at protecting a student once, and she would not allow it to happen again.

"Becky!"

The young Cheerio walked into the office. "Yes Coach?"

"Becky, I want you to grab the camera, I have a public statement to make as a runner in Congress."

The young girl walked hastily to retrieve the camera. If she pulled out of the race in time, she just might be able to stop the commercial from running.

Nobody messed with her girls.

Brittany

Quinn pulled the car to a still in front of Santana's house.

"Thanks Quinnie. I'll just walk home afterwards. I'll see you tomorrow okay?"

"Yeah, and tell Santana…" the head Cheerio hesitated battling between her pride and showing her Latina friend she cared. But she crumbled, "Tell her I hope she's okay."

Brittany nodded before she grabbed her bag and left. As she walked up the steps she heard Quinn's car pull away.

She knocked tentatively not sure what to steel herself for. A hysterical Santana? An upset Mrs. Lopez? The door opened and it showed a stone faced Mariana Lopez.

"Hi Mrs. Lopez."

"Brittany, how are you?" A small smile broke the stoney expression.

The blonde nodded, "I'm doing good, is uh-is Santana here?"

And just like that the smile was gone.

"I don't have a daughter." She looked down at the blonde still standing on her porch with a confused expression.

"Yes you do…she's ye tall, brown hair, brown eyes, answers to Santana."

The older Latina woman looked at Brittany who seemed to think that in all honesty that she could have actually managed to forget she had a child.

"She doesn't live here anymore."

With that she closed the door in the face of the confused frowning face of the blonde.

Brittany resisted the urge to knock again but instead settled for going to the next location to find Santana. She would run across all of Lima to find where her brunette was. She jogged towards Santana's grandmother's house. She had visited it whens he went with Santana for a family reunion. She had gone as her friend of course. She saw the house come into view and did the same. She knocked politely but urgently. The older woman answered the door and looked a little surprised to see the blonde but understanding washed over her face and she had the decency to look sorry. She frowned a little, she always had a soft spot for the blonde her granddaughter seemed to have tag-a-long everywhere.

She simply shook her head before gently closing the door.

Brittany frowned. If Santana wasn't with her parents, and wasn't with her grandmother, and wasn't with her. Where was she? No one at Glee had seen her either and she didn't understand. She thought about the park she and Santana used to go to all the time. The Latina would always appease her and spend hours by the pond feeding the ducks with her. She took off for the park not really caring that it was further away and she should probably have called Quinn for a ride. But she just wanted to find Santana and hug her.

It took 20 minutes for her to get there but she liked the burning in her legs from the jog. Even if she couldn't find Santana the burning in her muscles showed for her effort. Except, she saw no Santana. She saw a few seniors meandering about the park, she saw a young toddler feeding the ducks with his mother watching. She saw a few people walking their dogs. Where was her Sannie?

Pulling her phone out she sent out a text to Quinn.

Q I can't find her. Where is she?

The next year flew by in a torrent of drama and heartache for many of the glee members. Despite the fact that a minor had gone missing, the Lopez's adamantly refused to report it to the police or cooperate them when the Glee members went to them with their concerns on the missing Latina. Within the next few days Sue released a commercial to the public directed at her opponent Reggie "The Sauce" Salazar.

Sue

She was seated at her desk in her office with the Cheerios paraphernalia littered in the background. Becky was holding the camera recording for her. She sat back and pulled her glasses off fixing the lens with an icy glare.

"Hello Ohio, my name is Sue Sylvester and I'm running to represent the state of Ohio in congress. I'm sure you are all aware of my campaign against the arts. I am here today to officially resign from running. My actions in this campaign have hurt a student of mine very near and dear to my heart. And I must take responsibilities for my actions. As for you Reggie "The Sauce" Salazar. How dare you? How dare you drag an innocent child's personal life into your public campaign just in an attempt to dismantle me? How dare you try use personal details of a young teenagers life in your campaign? Ohio, here's a little tip. Don't vote for a man who builds a campaign on something heard in the halls of a high school where rumors fly around like STDs in an Amsterdam red light district whorehouse. Not only did you take a high school snippet of gossip to steer your campaign, you did not even to think about the child you could affect drastically. With that Ohio, I resign from the race."

The video had spread like rapid wild fire. Sue brought a few slots in the television times, but it had even gone viral flooding the internet. And suddenly all eyes were on Reggie "The Sauce" Salazar. His numbers dropped slightly. But the worst backlash was his own fault. Despite Sue's resignation from the race, he was angered by the video she made calling him out. He released his commercial he had originally made. With that Ohio voters understood what kind of man Reggie "The Sauce" Salazar was. He was exactly what Sue Sylvester had called him out to be. And now that they understood what personal information he had released, and once they learned of the sudden disappearance on the student in the commercial, his numbers plummeted. He was under public fire. Some people, mostly homophobic bigots, stuck by him. But many just couldn't get past the fact that he did indeed drag an innocent high school student into the mess of a political fight. He stuck to it, trying to rebuild his image as a family man but everyone knew it was a pointless fight. Burt Hummel was ahead of him by nearly 50%.

There was still no word on Santana and the Glee club had fallen into a bit of a funk. Quinn and Brittany at the center. No one liked the sadness on Brittany. She was always the picture of happiness. Her vivid smiles didn't reach her eyes anymore. She spoke less than before and retreated into herself. The Glee club members took it upon themselves to do what Santana did best protecting Brittany from bullying, Quinn especially. They all dealt with bullying, but Brittany's childlike innocence meant it was hard for her to fight back or understand why people said those mean things to her. It was easy for all of the other members to brush off the bullying, but Brittany took it to heart. Her record 0.02 GPA dropped to a 0.00 when she started believing what people told her. Maybe she was stupid. And by the end of the semester they realized she was not going to be graduate high school with some of the other members of her class.

Quinn

Quinn had snapped. Her patience with the Lopez's was like a string. And with every horrible repercussion of losing her best friend that string pulled tighter and tighter until it snapped. She had been sitting on Brittany's bed cradling her blonde friend's head in her arms as she cried desperately.

"I don't understand Quinnie. I can't breathe without her, it's like I can't breathe. Why can't I breathe, everyone else can breathe." The blue eyed girl sobbed into Quinn's chest as the head cheerleader rocked her trying to help but not knowing for the life of her how.

"Oh honey, its because you loved her with everything you are."

The blonde she was cradling hyperventilated a little.

"She took all the air with her Quinnie. Where is she? Why won't anyone look for her? I just want my air back. I want to breathe again."

The Cheerio felt her hazel eyes fill with tears but inside she felt it. The string snapped at seeing sweet Brittany so broken up. She didn't hold Santana responsible. Brittany had told her confused as ever at Mrs. Lopez's statement that she no longer had a daughter. Brittany didn't grasp the concept of the situation, but Quinn knew. Santana had come out to her parents and they had kicked her out. After the blond had finally managed to hiccup herself to sleep she slowly detangled herself and grabbed her car keys heading towards the Lopez's house. She pulled up ready to give them a piece of her mind only to find herself shell shocked and left sitting in her car staring disbelievingly at the front yard. She had been in that house countless times, hell she remembered practicing Cheerio routines with Santana on this very front yard. The very same front yard which currently had a "for sale" sign planted firmly in the dirt.

Quinn growled. Figures the second the commercial aired through all of Ohio, Santana's parents would pick up and move. She eyed the trash cans sitting on the curb awaiting pick up the next morning and saw something that was peaking out from the lid that caught her eye. Peaking from the top was a little white teddy bear holding a silk red heart, Brittany given it to Santana Valentine's Day. She got out of her car jogging to the trash can and flipped open the lip. The contents were filled to the brim with pieces of her best friend's old bedroom. Her blood boiled dangerously. Popping the trunk the cheerleader began to pack certain things into her car. She didn't notice the tears running down her cheeks until they trickled on some of Santana's posters she was loading in her car. She swiped furiously at them with her sleeve before she found Scruffus. A small tatter dog stuffed animal that Santana had since she was in the 2nd grade. She never admitted to it, but she also never let anyone but Brittany touch it. She petted the doll gently before opening the passenger seat and putting it gently on the seat. It took her 15 minutes to get select items in her car. She had to desperately try to not put everything from her friend's room into her car. This was how that hoarders shit happened. Not even bothering to pick up the overturned trashcan she retreated to her car to head back to Brittany's house to the slumbering girl. Maybe these things would help her blonde friend.

She walked back into the house to find Brittany still restlessly sleeping on her bed. The blonde girl awoke joltingly from her nap and looked at Quinn blearily before a desperate name left her lips.

"Santana?"

It broke Quinn's heart a bit more. Hearing the desperate plea for the girl she loved and the weakness behind it. And she felt like she had to apologize for not being the Latina. But what killed her most was the hope behind the girl's voice. And she wished like hell that Brittan wouldn't wake up everyday with that same desperate hope.

"Sorry Britt-Britt, just me. But I went by her house…they're gone." She sidestepped names like it was going to lessen the blow. But the blonde sitting in her bed knew just as much as she did that it meant their last connection to the fiery Latina was gone. And much like their friend, they had no idea where to find them.

"But I found some of her things. Look B, it's Scruffus."

Quinn pulled the tattered white dog with a big dopey nose from behind her back holding him so it looked like he was waving at the blonde with his paws. And that was the biggest smile she had seen on Brittany's face in months. It still didn't reach her eyes like her smiles used to. But it was progress.

Brittany reached out like an eager child on Christmas Day for the doll and brought it snuggly to her chest. There was a moment of shared silence as they both thought back to their missing friend.

"You know…when I met Sannie in 3rd grade. She never spent a night away from him. And this one day a boy pulled my pig tails on the playground and pushed me in the sand box. And I was crying. Santana brought me to her house and told me to take Scruffus home for the night and that we could share him like divorced parents, but we wouldn't be divorced."

Quinn giggled at the story. She loved hearing stories from Santana's childhood years. She had met the Latina during middle school when they were both well on the way to becoming HBICs and they butted heads all the time. But Brittany was a solid reminder of Santana's soft side.

She spent the next hour brining up things to Brittany and they sat on the bed determining what things the blue-eyed girl wanted to keep. And that was everything. Quinn at picked through Santana's possessions carefully. To everyone else at McKinley, the Latina did not seem like the sentimental type. But Quinn had found a small box filled with all the letters traded between Santana and her and Brittany. They dated back to cheer camp, some of them were long notes filled with gossip about other girls at camp. Other long notes were Brittany reminding her of how much she loved her. She found the birthday card she had given Santana when they were freshmen at McKinley. She even took care to keep the small slips of paper that Brittan gave her during class, one of which that simply said, "Can we feed the ducks afterschool today?" Brittany had sniffled as she looked through everything Santana kept. Brittany chose certain posters to put up on her wall that had belonged to Santana. Quinn watched as Brittany scrolled through Santana's i-pod with a serious look on her face and she looked intently at her blonde friend. She made a promise.

"We'll find her."