A/N – I'm back with another story dealing with sexual abuse. The majority of the story will deal with the after effects and how Brittany and Santana cope. The beginning of each chapter will break down the event, a few flashbacks will be out of order but it should be easy enough to follow.

The title comes from a country song by Big and Rich. I'm not a huge fan of country but I thought the song was good. I don't own anything you recognize. For now the rating is T for some F-bombs but as it goes on I'll probably up it. I'm honestly a little nervous posting this, but here we go.

Stolen Halo

Prologue

Brittany rarely cried.

Even after everything Santana put her through in high school, and God knows she put her through a lot, she never cried. When Santana coldly informed the blonde that she wasn't making out with her because she loved her, Brittany didn't cry. She simply stuffed the pain away and carried on with her sunny disposition. Sure she pouted a bit but she moved on and found a new duet partner.

When Santana stepped in and drove a wedge between Artie and Brittany causing him to break up with her, the blonde didn't cry. Her lower lip trembled when she relayed the happenings to the brunette, how he basically accused her of taking advantage of him and stealing his virginity. Santana had been furious at the boy and while Brittany was clearly upset, she didn't cry.

When the realization came that Santa couldn't actually make Artie walk again as she had hoped once they had gotten back together, Brittany again didn't cry. A little of her faith in goodness and magic was diminished, but the blonde soldiered on with a smile.

Even through grueling Cheerios sessions and hateful words from Coach Sylvester Brittany didn't cry. When the New Directions were certain their days had come to an end due to losing Regionals, the blonde was crushed but tears did not flow. Not even when they sang to Mr. Schuester in the auditorium.

Brittany came close to crying the day Santana timidly approached her at her locker and declared her love. Seeing her normally hard and stoic best friend so vulnerable made the blonde's heart clench painfully. Brittany wanted nothing more than to take Santana into her arms and hold her, kissing away all her fears and insecurities. Even as her soul filled with a new hope at a future with Santana, Brittany couldn't ignore the nagging fear in the back of her mind that the brunette would only hurt her again. She couldn't risk being left alone as she had in the past so she painfully, and as gently as possible, rejected Santana. It had nearly broken her.

Everyone knew Brittany for her carefree countenance and happy go lucky existence. She was almost always smiling, and if she wasn't, she was usually giving an adorable pout or a look of confusion that was equally endearing. Life for the most part was good and people at heart were good, even when they did things that hurt others. Those instances were the exception to the rule that people in general were good. The blonde simply couldn't bring herself to believe otherwise.

So the day that Brittany crumbled into Santana's arms and sobbed as if all hope was lost, the brunette was terrified. There in the middle of the kitchen of the Lopez family lake house, Brittany shattered and for the first time in years, Santana's confidence was shredded and she could only gather the blonde into her arms and let her own tears flow.

xxxx

Chapter 1

"Come on Britt, let's cut through."

Santana came to a stop and tugged on her girlfriend's hand, pulling her toward the darkened alley. They were walking home and the sun had set a short time ago and Santana wanted to take the shortcut through the alley to their apartment.

"No S." Brittany said with a frown. "I don't like going that way, it's so dark and spooky. Let's just go around. Its not that much longer."

Santana Lopez couldn't help but roll her eyes slightly at Brittany's pout. "Come on B. There's nothing spooky about it. Besides, if we go around it's a whole extra half hour before we get home and can get our cuddle on."

Brittany pursed her lips as if deep in thought, her head tilted to the side slightly. Santana smirked and sidled up closer, running a hand suggestively up the blonde's thigh. "And," the brunette purred. "I'm just not sure I can wait that long to get you home to myself."

Brittany whimpered slightly as she felt Santana's warm breath on her neck. The blonde felt a shiver as her heat began to rise. "Um, ok San."

Santana smiled at her girlfriend's wide blue eyes. She licked her lips, already thinking of getting the blonde into bed as she pulled them into the alley. The two were giggling and bumping each other with their shoulders gently, lost in each other's smiles, and didn't notice the figure step out of the shadows in front of them.

"Evening ladies." The man said in a low voice with a sly grin.

Santana immediately tensed and pulled Brittany closer to her side. The blonde however was oblivious and grinned, giving a small wave to the intruder. "Hi." She said cheerfully.

Santana narrowed her eyes in the man's direction before tightening her grip on Brittany's hand and attempting to step around the man in their path.

"Get lost perv." The brunette muttered as she tried to push past him.

The man simply stepped back and to the side, again cutting in front of them. "Hey now, what's your rush? I'm just being friendly."

"Listen buddy," Santana said harshly, "get out of our way, we're not interested in anything you think you might have to offer. Now back the fuck off."

The man chuckled but didn't move out of the way. He was about their age, late twenties, but towered over them both. He rubbed at his jaw as if thinking. "That's pretty rude." He finally replied, eying Santana up and down. His eyes narrowed and glancing over their shoulders, gave a slight nod.

Santana registered Brittany's gasp from her position slightly behind her and she spun, seeing a second man grab the blonde around her waist and attempt to pull her away. The Latina snarled and flung herself toward the man who had his hands on her girlfriend.

xxxx

When Santana cracked open her eyes; she was alone in a hospital bed, a curtain stretched around and cutting her off from the bustle she heard nearby.

"Hey!" She called out hoarsely, trying to lift herself up from the bed. "Somebody better come tell me what the fuck is going on!" She would have smirked at the thought of her voice finally returning if she wasn't feeling such desperation to locate Brittany.

A reluctant nurse popped her head inside the curtain and informed the Latina that someone would be by shortly to chat with her. A half an hour later Santana was seething when Quinn stepped around toward the bed.

The blonde could tell Santana was fuming at having been left in the dark for so long. "Hey San, how are you feeling?"

"Where is she Quinn?" Santana hissed. "Where's Brittany? Is she ok, I need to see her! What the fuck is going on?"

"She's going to be ok San." Quinn replied softly. "No broken bones but a lot bad bruises. She's resting; they've got her pretty sedated."

The way Quinn was shifting slightly and her jaw muscles clenched, Santana knew there was something more she wasn't saying. Quinn and Santana had been friends and then enemies and then friends again all throughout the years but there was no denying that even in their off years, the two knew each other. The only person who could read Santana better was Brittany and by the look on the brunette's face, Quinn knew she saw the wheels turning in her mind.

"What aren't you telling me?" Santana finally asked lowly. "Just spit it out already."

Quinn nodded and settled onto the edge of the bed, reaching for Santana's hand. The two were close but left the physical affection to Brittany. Santana was immediately apprehensive as Quinn gently stroked her palm.

The blonde sighed. "The thing is…the police…we need to-"

"You need evidence." Santana breathed out stiffly.

Quinn clenched her jaw again and nodded. "Santana, I swear, I'll make sure she's ok. I'll be there with her. She's just been pretty upset and out of it still so I wanted to run it by you first. I just wanted you to be aware."

"Fine. You do whatever you have to. Make sure she's ok and get everything possible to nail the fucker who did this to her. But it better be quick because I swear to God Quinn…"

"I'll make sure. I'll take care of her Santana, I promise." Quinn said solemnly. "I love her too."

Santana nodded, giving Quinn's hand a brief squeeze. "When do I get to see her? I need to be with her Quinn."

"I know." Quinn replied softly, wiping a stray tear quickly. "You have to go for an X-Ray but right after that, I promise. Just try to get a little rest ok?"

Santana found herself alone again. She struggled to keep her mind from wandering back to the events of the night but she couldn't shake the image of Brittany's eyes wide with pain and fear.

xxxx

Apparently at some point, Santana herself was given a sedative and when she woke again, her head was thick and foggy. She growled when her mind finally cleared because more time had been wasted that she could have, should have, been with Brittany.

She hissed as she tried to pull herself upright. Her head was still pounding but she needed to get to Brittany. She swung her legs over the side of the bed with a groan. When she finally raised her eyes, Quinn was sitting beside the bed, watching with a quirked brow.

"Take me to Brittany." Santana insisted. "How long have we been here? She's been alone this whole fucking time?"

"Take it easy." Quinn replied calmly. "She's been asleep pretty much the whole time. They're keeping her sedated. And she's not alone, Rachel is with her."

Santana nodded; relieved that at least Brittany wasn't alone. But she still ached to see her. She needed to see for herself that the blonde was all right. "I need to see her."

Quinn sighed warily. "Santana, I'm not sure you should be out of bed. You did get the shit beaten out of you too if you remember."

"Quinn, you have no fucking idea…you either take me to her or get the fuck out of my way!" Santana hopped from the bed but swayed slightly as a wave of dizziness washed over. Quinn was there in an instant to steady her.

"I'm not going to fight you Santana. Just give me a second to make sure we can get in. I gotta round you up a wheelchair, you're not walking anywhere."

The blonde pulled out her cell phone and typed out a quick message before helping Santana dress into a robe. She then slipped out and returned a few seconds later pushing a wheelchair she had commandeered from an orderly.

"Ugh." Santana groaned as she settled into the chair. "I'm having horrible flashbacks to hoveround when he thought he could woo my woman."

Quinn chuckled as she pushed Santana out and toward the elevator. "No life crisis can shake the bitch out of you. It's a comfort really."

Santana smirked but the light mood couldn't last. Quinn pushed them off of the elevator and down a fairly secluded hall.

"Why are we on different floors?" Santana asked quietly.

"They just want to keep a closer eye on her." Quinn replied vaguely.

Santana twisted in the chair to look back at her friend. "Why? What's going on Quinn?"

"She's…been incoherent. She's been fighting off the doctors. They had to sedate her."

The brunette clenched her jaw, the images of the assault forcing their way back into her mind even though she fought to keep them at bay. "That son of a bitch…he…you have no idea Quinn."

Quinn squeezed Santana's shoulder as they came to a stop outside of a closed door. They quietly slipped inside and Santana abandoned the chair almost immediately and shuffled closer to the bed. Rachel was sitting in a chair by the bed looking pale and chewing on her fingernail absentmindedly. Santana barely acknowledged her presence.

Quinn moved to Rachel's side, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. Rachel stood as Quinn approached and the blonde frowned at the tears that were sparkling on her cheeks. "Rach?" Quinn asked quietly.

"She's ok." Rachel said quietly. "She's sleeping."

Santana moved closer to the bed slowly, her eyes glued to Brittany's bruised face. When she reached for the blonde's hand, she realized Brittany was positioned at an awkward angle on the bed. Her wrists were fastened to the bed, cuffs restricting her arms to the bed rails.

"What the fuck?" Santana hissed, turning toward Rachel and Quinn. "You let them fucking tie her down? After what she's been through? You let them fucking tie her up?"

"San." Quinn warned lowly, her grip on Rachel tightening.

Rachel tensed but didn't back down. "She was trying to rip her IV out. The doctors were afraid she was going to hurt herself so they restrained her. What was I supposed to do? They couldn't let her hurt herself Santana!"

Santana growled and turned back to Brittany, running her hands over the cuffs gently. The blonde was resting fitfully but didn't seem aware of her presence. Santana quickly unsnapped the cuffs and gently placed Brittany's hands on the bed.

"Shit babe." Santana muttered, reverently caressing Brittany's bruised cheek. "Try to relax Britt. You need to rest babe, don't fight."

Brittany's fluttering eyelids seemed to calm and still. A sigh escaped her lips and she seemed to drift into a more peaceful sleep.

"Speaking of rest…" Quinn interrupted. "You need to get back to bed yourself Santana."

Without taking her eyes from Brittany, Santana shook her head, clenching her eyes shut when the movement caused a wave of dizziness to quickly wash over her. She exhaled slowly before opening her eyes again. "I'm not leaving her."

"Santana-"

"No!" The brunette said sharply. "I'm not leaving her Quinn. She…she could have left me but she stayed and look where she is now. I'm not leaving her now when she needs me most."

Quinn stepped closer and gently gripped Santana's arm. "I was just going to suggest maybe you should sit down. Preferably before you fall down. You look like shit."

A smiled finally tugged at Santana's lips as she allowed Rachel to scoot a chair closer. She sat, still close enough to keep Brittany's hand in her own.

xxxx

Being a pediatrician in town, Quinn Fabray had quite a few connections and friends in the hospital. She finally convinced the staff to have a cot brought into Brittany's room to allow Santana to remain by her side. Santana had to promise to actually sleep before Quinn would actually allow the bed to be brought in however.

The next morning, Santana was officially released. Noah Puckerman had stopped to check on them and practically had to carry her out of the hospital to go home simply to shower. The brunette only consented when Puck pointed out that Brittany would need a few things from their apartment and he promised to bring her back in a few short hours.

A much more refreshed Santana strode into the hospital room a few hours later to find Quinn on duty by Brittany's bedside.

"How is she?" Santana asked, moving to the bed.

Quinn smiled sadly. "She's been asleep the whole time. She started to get restless so they gave her another sedative."

Santana clenched her jaw. "They can't fucking sedate her forever."

"She needs to rest San." Quinn replied softly. She moved to stand next to the Latina before dropping a hand to her shoulder.

Santana reached and covered Quinn's hand with the one that wasn't latched onto Brittany. "I know that. But she needs to wake up so we can start sorting this mess out."

"What do you have planned?"

Santana exhaled and reached to gently brush her fingers over the blonde's bruised cheek. "We're gonna go away for a while. To my parents' lake house. You know Brittany needs time to process things. I want her to be able to do that in a quiet, safe environment. She loves the lake house and my parents said we could have it as long as we need. My mother is going to cover anything that comes up in the office and Britt has time off from the studio."

After Santana graduated from law school, joining her mother's law firm had not been her ideal place of employment. But now, with her family about to cover for her, Santana couldn't help but think it had been one of her best decisions.

Quinn squeezed Santana's shoulder. "San, are you sure it's a good idea for you two to be alone? I mean; she might need-"

"I know what she needs Quinn." Santana said firmly. "We've been together our whole lives, I know how to help her. Sure I messed up in high school, but I know her. I know what she needs."

"San, no one doubts you're the only one who knows how to get her through this. I'm just worried you're taking too much on alone. I'm worried about you too." Quinn said softly.

Santana finally turned to meet the blonde's eye. She tried to smile. "I'm fine Quinn, really. I swore in that alley that no matter what happened, I was going to get her through this and I am. I know what I'm doing."

"I know you do. But you better not cut me out of this Santana. I want to be there for you guys too. If you do go, you have to promise to call every day."

Santana felt tears stinging her eyes as she saw concern all over Quinn's face. She was immediately grateful that they had mended their relationship and pulled her friend in for a tight embrace. "Thank you. Thanks for being here."

The brunette cleared her throat, awkward and slightly embarrassed at her display of emotion.

Quinn just tightened her hold. "I love you both." She said simply.

Santana pulled away and tried to wipe away a tear before Quinn could see. She finally shooed the blonde out of the room and settled into the chair next to Brittany's bed. She talked softly to her girlfriend's still form and gently stroked her fingertips up and down her arm. Finally, later in the afternoon, Brittany cracked open her sleep swollen lids with a soft moan.

"San?" she whispered, her eyes suddenly wide, frightened, and darting around searching for Santana.

"Hey." Santana replied, quickly jumping to her feet and leaning to hover into the blonde's line of vision. She pulled Brittany's hand to her lips, kissing it softly. "I'm right here Brittany."

Brittany's vision finally seemed to focus and she gazed up at the Latina intently. "You ok? Did he…Sanny?"

"I'm fine babe, I'm fine." Santana quickly replied, leaning forward to press her lips to Brittany's forehead. "You don't have to worry about me babe."

"You're ok? Promise? San?" Brittany whimpered. She closed her eyes and shivered.

Santana cupped her cheek gently, tears once again stinging her eyes. "I promise. Don't be scared babe."

"San, I'm…I-" Brittany clenched her eyes tightly and let out a shaky breath.

"I know. I know; I'm here. It's ok, you're safe now Britt. You're safe and I swear, I'm going to take care of you." Santana said softly.

Brittany tried to sit up but cried out in pain and dropped back onto the pillows. "Ow." She whined pitifully.

"That's your ribs babe." Santana said trying to help settle her back in comfortably. "You're going to be just fine. No broken bones. I know it hurts but you're going to be ok. I'm not going anywhere Brittany, I'm going to take care of you."

The blonde nodded before turning away, her body beginning to tremble. "It really hurt San." She said, her voice barely a whisper.

"I know babe." Santana returned, stroking Brittany's cheeks with her thumbs. "Britt, I'm so sorry. I…I love you. And I swear, I'm going make this better."

"I love you too San." Brittany said softly. "Maybe, maybe we could not talk about it right now?"

Santana nodded, feeling her stomach twist into knots. "Ok Britt. But…but I want to go away for a while, just you and me. To my parents' lake house. I think we could both use the quiet. What do you think? Is that ok, just for a little while?"

Brittany shrugged slightly, already feeling sleep pulling at her again. "Yeah, ok San. I love that place."

Santana choked back a sob as Brittany drifted away again. She pressed the blonde's hand to her lips again and wondered just how her life had gotten so fucked up.