Snowed In
A/N: Trying out a new idea. Since it is almost Christmas I wanted to write a small winter fic. The concept of the story is based on a film I saw on TV.
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or any of the characters other than those which are my own.
Chapter 1: Chance Meeting
It's only five days until Christmas so everyone is getting organised to travel so they can be with their families during the holiday season. Most people are leaving their towns and arriving at their destinations however things are not going so well in Utah. The connecting roads between Las Vegas and Denver, heading through Utah are being monitored due to severe weather conditions which has led to some journeys being cancelled or delayed. With the bad weather set to persist things are not looking bright for the next couple of days.
Former waitress Brittany pierce is sitting on a packed bus heading towards Colorado after leaving her hometown. She wants to get far away from her tumultuous life in Las Vegas, however Colorado is the furthest away her money will take her.
"Look at all of the police officers!" a fellow male bus passenger says.
"Are they looking for someone?" Brittany asks worriedly.
"No it's just the snow" the middle aged woman seated next to Brittany replies.
"The snow?" Brittany questions confusedly. "There isn't any snow though" she adds as she looks out the bus window.
"There is a lot of snow on the mountains" the woman responds while looking at Brittany. "It would be unsafe for the bus to travel through the mountains if the snow were to fall worse and cause an avalanche."
"Right" Brittany says sadly while continuing to stare out the window. At this point she realises that the main connecting road out of the area is partially closed. Her heart immediately sinks at this because she just can't go back to Las Vegas, too much has happened there.
An announcement comes through the speakers on the bus where the driver declares that they're going to have to stop temporarily in a café at the side of the road until they figure out their next steps and find an alternative route. Everyone sighs in disappointment at this.
"This is rubbish, I am supposed to being seeing my grandson for the first time this Christmas" A man says in annoyance.
"Yeah and this will be my first Christmas with my wife since I had to work the past few years" another man adds in while folding his arms and sighing.
"I'm sorry but the road is only safe for four-by-four vehicles to travel" the bus driver says apologetically. "It wouldn't be safe for me to drive the road at the present time so in the meantime we are all going to have to wait in this cafe" the driver finishes before standing up and leading all his passengers including Brittany into the café.
As everyone enters the café they all rush to take a seat since it is so busy as other car travellers have had to stop here as well. Brittany sits down next to the woman she befriended on the bus. "I am not sure we are going to get any further dear" the woman tells Brittany.
"We have to, I can't stay here" Brittany says, desperation in her tone.
"The weather is supposed to get a lot worse I'm afraid" the woman says truthfully. "There is no way we are going to get over that road, the weather conditions are not safe."
"Oh well" Brittany replies dejectedly. Brittany can't stay here or go back to Las Vegas but it looks like she has no option. She hasn't got a clue what to do because the thought of going back to Las Vegas fills her with dread, that place is no good for her and it scares the hell out of her that she may end up back there.
Just as Brittany is thinking through her options and what she should do, she overhears a loud woman on her phone. "I am telling you, I will make it to the party. I will be in Denver in no time" the woman says loudly down the phone. "Come on, I'm Santana Lopez" the woman says with a smug smirk. "When have I ever broke a promise before babe?"
"I'm going to my best friend's birthday party in Denver" Brittany lies to the woman. She is trying to emphasise how important getting out of here and getting to Denver is. "I have to make it to Colorado" Brittany reiterates once more before she hears the loud woman speaking again.
"Dani, will you calm down" Santana says down the phone as she sits in her seat, moving impatiently from side to side. "Yes the road is closed but four-by-four vehicles are allowed so I will be there soon" Santana says but it is to no avail as her fiancée Dani is still angry with her. "Babe, chill. I promise I will be there in time for our engagement party…" Santana says before she hears a ringing tone. "Dani… are you still there… shit, she's hung up on me." Embarrassment suddenly comes over Santana when she looks up from her phone and realises everyone is looking at her and has presumably heard her phone conversation.
Aspiring singer Santana Lopez is another traveller who had to take cover in the café after her vehicle cut out and she had to stop at the garage next door to get it fixed for the road. Santana was heading to Denver to spend the holidays with her fiancée Dani and to also attend the engagement party that Dani and her family were throwing for them. Santana was just about half way through her journey when her engine gave way causing her to wind up here, in the middle of Utah.
Just as Santana is finishing her coffee, she gets another phone call. "Hello" Santana says when answering the phone and then she gets a reply. "So my car is ready then?" Santana asks and then receives another reply. "Excellent, I will be there in two minutes. I am in the café next door" Santana says and then she hangs up. "At least I can get to Denver now" Santana says out loud to herself before she stands up from the table quickly and throws her jacket on before leaving the diner in a haste.
"I will be back in a minute" Brittany tells the woman next to her while offering her a soft smile. The woman nods at Brittany before Brittany rushes out of the diner. "Excuse me" Brittany shouts when she sees Santana's back but Santana doesn't turn around. "Excuse me, miss" Brittany says louder this time, catching Santana's attention, and causing her to turn and look at Brittany.
"Eh… yeah?" Santana asks, wondering why this woman is calling out to her.
"I heard your phone conversation in there" Brittany tells the brunette while nervously fidgeting with her fingers.
"Yeah, you and everyone else in the diner" Santana sighs out. "I'd waited two hours before I could get any cell phone signal."
"I heard you are going to Denver" Brittany says nervously as she moves closer to Santana.
"Yeah…" Santana replies, feeling a little confused as to where this blonde woman is planning on taking this conversation.
"Can I get a ride with you?" Brittany asks hopefully. "I've got money, it's only two hundred dollars but you can have it all" Brittany says before she then pulls out the money from her jacket and thrusts it in Santana's direction. "I know it is not much but I could get you more when we get to Denver."
"Look, I don't want to take you money" Santana says honestly. "If you agree to it, how about we just go halves on gas?" Santana offers up with a shrug. Santana was driving to Denver anyway so there is no way she would take this young woman's money plus halving the gas would help Santana out.
"So you will give me a ride?" Brittany asks excitedly while almost bouncing on the spot.
"Yes" Santana responds calmly. "I am Santana by the way."
"I'm Brittany" Brittany says before shaking Santana's outstretched hand. It doesn't go unnoticed by Brittany how beautiful she thinks Santana looks. Brittany has never been with anyone apart from Henry who has been her one and only boyfriend so it is rare for her that she finds someone who she truly thinks is beautiful. Henry is one of the reasons why Brittany is so desperate to escape her life in Las Vegas and get to Denver instead. Henry is probably the sole reason to all of her problems.
"Why don't you get your bags from the bus and I will go and bring my car round" Santana says to Brittany before they both rush off in opposite directions and then meet a few minutes later.
"Are you sure about this?" the woman from earlier that Brittany was sitting with asks. "You don't even know her" the women says worriedly.
"She seems like a decent woman" Brittany says, referring to Santana.
"Ready to go?" Santana asks Brittany before taking Brittany's bag from her and putting it in the trunk.
"I'm ready" Brittany says impatiently.
"Be careful, drive safe" the middle-aged women tells the pair. "Take care."
"Thank you, you too" Brittany replies happily before getting in the car with Santana.
"Let's set off then before the snow gets worse on the mountains" Santana says before she drives off. While driving off the middle aged woman takes a note of Santana's license plate number just in case something goes wrong and Santana isn't someone Brittany can trust. Better to be safe than sorry, the woman thinks to herself. "I can't be delayed anymore or I will be in big big trouble" Santana says before laughing lightly.
/
"It's really actually Dani's mom" Santana says. "She wants to make the big announcement before Christmas" Santana explains before sighing. "I would just be happy if Dani and I celebrate our engagement together rather than showcasing it all to everyone. I mean can't we just tell everyone when we see them instead of making a big deal of it and making it into a huge announcement?"
"She's probably just excited that her child is getting married" Brittany says with a smile while playing with her hair braid.
"Maybe" Santana hums out.
"How come you are not wearing a ring?" Brittany asks curiously.
"I don't have one, I proposed to Dani so she never really had a chance to get me a ring" Santana replies.
"Oh, so Dani is a girl?" Brittany asks and Santana nods. "At least you can get married in any state you want now."
"Yeah" Santana says but she doesn't seem to be as thrilled about this engagement as she should be. Brittany thinks that if it was her that was marrying the woman she loved then she would be jumping for joy.
"You love her?" Brittany asks while looking at Santana.
"Huh" Santana asks, half listening.
"Dani, do you love her?" Brittany asks but doesn't wait for a reply. "And she loves you?"
"Yeah" Santana says, replying to both questions.
"Don't worry then" Brittany tells Santana. "I can see you look super worried but if you both love each other then don't worry about it, you will get to see each other as soon as you can" Brittany says while placing her left hand on top of Santana's hand. "I am sure the phone conversation was just because she wanted to see you, if you are late or don't make it on time then I am sure she will forgive you."
"Well you don't know Dani" Santana says before laughing a little.
It doesn't take long before darkness takes over the roads but in Santana's mind they need to keep powering through, they can't stop until they get to Denver. Santana looks towards Brittany and can't help but smile slightly when she sees that Brittany is sleeping peacefully. The more they drive though, the worse the snow is becoming causing Santana's vision on the road to be very poor. All she can see in front of her is white flakes coming towards her windscreen.
"Whoa" Brittany says as she is awoken from her sleep with Santana's car sliding slightly.
"Sorry" Santana apologises. "One of the wheels hit a really slippery patch."
"It's not your fault, it's the weather" Brittany says, while taking deep breaths to try and calm herself down from the fright she got.
/
"Oh shit" Santana hisses out when she feels the vehicle sliding from side to side.
"AAHH" Brittany screams when the vehicle swerves and almost tips onto its side. Santana manages to stop the vehicle but it ends up at a tilt with the left side of the vehicle sitting on a large pile of snow.
"Are you ok?" Santana asks Brittany while panicking.
"Yeah, I'm ok" Brittany says as she holds her chest and takes a deep breath.
"I'm really sorry about this" Santana says, regretting what happened. "Hey, are you crying?"
"I'm fine" Brittany says while looking into Santana's eyes.
"I'm going to unbuckle myself and then I will come closer to you" Santana tells Brittany before she takes off her safety belt and holds onto both front seats before almost falling on Brittany. "I'm sorry… wait, you're pregnant."
"Of course I'm pregnant" Brittany says, almost looking a little offended. "What did you think… I was just really fat?"
"No I thought you were… uhm… yeah" Santana stutters out before becoming red in the face with not only the cold but embarrassment as well. "You know what… never mind, I am just digging myself further and further here." Santana then turns towards the back of her car and grabs a sleeping bag. "Apparently you are supposed to stay in the car but we can't stay like this" Santana says before handing Brittany the sleeping bag. "We're going to have to get out of the car so wrap the sleeping bag around you."
Santana manoeuvres herself out of the car before she then helps Brittany out. All both women can see though is white, there is snow everywhere and they are in the middle of nowhere. They keep walking around for a while until Santana spots a sign.
"We've made it" Santana declares.
"Made it, made it where?" Brittany asks confused before Santana points at a sign. "Rosemont" Brittany says as she reads the sign. "What's that?"
"I don't know but it must be something" Santana replies while shrugging. "Let's go and see if we can find out what the sign is referencing." Santana then helps Brittany as they walk around, trying to figure out what the sign means.
"Look, there's a building" Brittany says as she points to something in the distance.
"Maybe it is a lodge or something" Santana says hopefully while leading Brittany closer.
As the women approach the lodge, an older woman with a shotgun appears.
"We've been caught in an accident and we need some help" Santana shouts towards the woman. "Is there any way that you could help us?"
"Idiots, you should have thought about this before going out joyriding" the woman barks back before thrusting her shotgun in the air and letting off a shot. "Get off of my property this instant or I will aim my next shot at you."
"Jeez, calm down" Santana says angrily. "We just need some help." Santana then whispers to Brittany "Can you try and talk to her, I'm going to…" but she gets cut off by a man.
"I would listen to her" the man says to Santana.
"Go on, get out of here and take your fat friend with you" the woman says harshly, raising her gun.
"I'm not fat, I am eight and a half months pregnant" Brittany states while gesturing to her stomach. The man then touches Brittany's stomach.
"She's telling the truth, we got to let them in" the man tells the woman. "We can't leave a pregnant woman out in the cold."
"No way, I want them off of this property Charlie" the woman says to the man. "Pregnant or not, any woman who is well enough to run around on a snowmobile is well enough to walk home."
"We are not on snowmobiles" Santana says while holding her hands up and walking closer to the woman. "We were in a car but it crashed so we just need some help."
"Rosemary, we have to let them in" the man scolds the woman. "They're freezing out here."
"WE, what do you mean WE?" the woman shouts. "You work for me, this is my inn."
"Don't listen to anything she says, she's not going to shoot" the man, Charlie tells Brittany and Santana.
"That's it, you're fired" the woman shouts to Charlie.
"The next time you fire me, I am really going to quit" Charlie says angrily. "And I will find myself a decent job." Charlie then turns to Brittany and Santana "You two, follow me in." He then leads everyone inside the lodge.
"Can I use your phone?" Santana asks. "Our cell phones are out of service."
"The landline is down, it has been like this for two days" Charlie explains. "It always does this when the weather is like this."
"They can sleep in your room, they are your guests" the woman, Rosemary, says while taking off her coat. "You can make up a bed for yourself in the storeroom." Rosemary then turns and looks at the two women but for some reason she can't stop looking at Brittany.
"Is everything ok?" Brittany asks nervously, feeling a little self-conscious under Rosemary's gaze.
"She's eight months pregnant" Rosemary tells Charlie. "She could have the baby anytime."
"Exactly, which is why we need to help them" Charlie says. "Can you not at least act like a decent human being Rosemary?"
"Look, they can take their clothes off and wear some of the clothes from the closet in room thirty" Rosemary says. "I can wash and dry their clothes."
"Ok" Charlie says, he is glad that Rosemary listened to him.
"My name is Santana and this is Brittany" Santana says with a polite smile before Brittany waves awkwardly.
"Just take them down to your room and get them out of their wet clothes" Rosemary says drily before she walks off towards the kitchen.
"Don't worry about her, she is always like that" Charlie says while waving it off. "Anyway, I will show you ladies to your room" He then adds before leading Brittany and Santana towards their room.
A/N:That's the first chapter, let me know what you think. This story will probably be a lot shorter than my other fics.