A/N – Thanks for your reviews and favorites of this story. I'm glad so many of you are enjoying it. I just wanted to reassure everyone that I will be updating Unconditional Love. I'm not abandoning it for this story. I am working on the next chapter.
Chapter 3
Brittany was woken from a sound sleep when her cell phone rang. Shaken she quickly grabbed her phone from the charger on her nightstand as she sat up in bed. "Hello?" She had been a deep sleep and it could be heard in her tone of voice. It was the first night since Gracie had been killed that she actually had fallen into such a deep sleep. Brittany's parents had been visiting for two days and the love and support she had gotten from them had helped her feel safe once again.
"Miss Pierce, this is Roger from the alarm company. The security alarm at you dance studio has been activated and the police have been notified and are en route."
Brittany's heart started racing hearing the news. It was the first time since she had the security system installed two years ago that she had gotten a call it had been activated. "Thank you. I'm on my way."
"Miss Pierce would you like to me to stay on the phone with you until you arrived at your dance studio?"
"No thanks that won't be necessary." Brittany hastily ended the phone call and went to the guest room to tell her parents what happened and that she would be leaving. Her father insisted he go with her but she said she preferred he stay there with her mother and Cole. Finally he gave in although he wasn't happy about having his daughter roaming around NYC at 2 in the morning to a possible crime scene.
The cab Brittany took pulled up outside the dance studio to a scene that looked like it was out of a TV show. Three police cars were in the parking lot with their lights flashing along with a black unmarked car with a blue light flashing on the dash. Brittany didn't know if she should get out of the cab or not. She didn't want to walk in on the something she shouldn't and end of getting hurt or worse. She thought about Cole and how he had already lost one parent so she decided to sit in the cab and wait.
After a few minutes one of the uniformed police officer came over to the cab and knocked on the back seat window. Brittany put the window down. "Ma'am may I help you?" The officer asked.
Brittany was nervous and it could be heard in her voice, "I'm Brittany Pierce the owner of this dance studio. I got a call the security alarm had been activated."
"Miss Pierce we've been waiting for you. Please come with me." The officer opened the car door and Brittany got out. The cab driver asked if he should wait and the officer said they would make sure Brittany got home when they were done.
Brittany and the officer walked to the two front doors of the studio and Brittany gasped when she saw the glass in the doors had been shattered. "Miss Pierce we have thoroughly checked the building and there is no one inside. The only damaged appears to be to the front doors. We believe the alarm went off when the glass was broken and it scared them away." Brittany heard what the officer said but was too numb to answer. Seeing the door glass shattered was shocking to her. "However, we need you to walk through the studio with us and let us know if anything else has been damaged or stolen." Brittany still couldn't speak so she nodded her head yes. "Be careful when we go through the doors there's glass all over the floor."
Brittany carefully stepped over the glass the best she could but there was so much of it that she had to step on some of it. "What the hell is wrong with you Foster making Miss Pierce walk all over all this glass? Get it cleaned up now."
Brittany turned to look behind them when she heard the voice and got her second shock of the night when she saw Santana standing there. The voice Santana had used when yelling at the police officer wasn't the soft, caring voice she used during their two previous encounters. Her voice now was full of authority and confidence. Brittany couldn't look into Santana's eyes so she looked her clothes. She was wearing black jeans, a white V neck t-shirt, and black leather jacket. She had her badge hanging around her neck on a silver chain.
"Yes, I mean..I'm sorry Detective Lopez." Officer Foster stumbled over his words like he was a little afraid of Santana.
"I'm sorry for Office Foster's carelessness. As he explained to you we want you to walk through and tell us if anything has been damaged or stolen. We believe the alarm scared the person or persons who broke the glass causing them to flew." Santana was being professional even though it was difficult because just like the last two times she'd seen Brittany she had the strong urge to hug her. The poor woman has been through so much recently the last thing she needed was a break in at her dance studio.
Brittany and Santana walked through the entire dance studio together and everything seemed ok. There was no further damage and nothing appeared to be stolen. Brittany's office door was locked and when she unlocked it everything was where it should be. They never kept money overnight in the studio so if whoever tried to break in was looking for money they would have been disappointed. Brittany decided she'd better call her parents when she was in office and tell them what had happened. She didn't however tell them Santana was the detective that responded to the incident.
When Brittany was on the phone Santana looked around the office and saw a picture on the wall of Brittany, Cole, and Gracie. It was taken when Cole was probably about a year old. Santana swallowed hard when she saw Gracie. Seeing Gracie's driver's license photo was one thing but seeing her in a picture with Brittany and Cole make her more real. It felt surreal looking at a picture of someone who looked so much like her but the strongest feeling Santana got looking at the picture was seeing Brittany and Cole so happy with a woman who looked like her but wasn't her. It was a very confusing feeling for Santana because she couldn't put her finger on exactly what the feeling was that overtook her. Was she overwhelmed seeing someone who looked so much like her so happy with a family or was it a hint of jealousy? Or maybe a bit of both? Santana started to feel funny. Her face felt warm and she felt like she couldn't breathe. Oh shit she was having a panic attack. This hadn't happened at work since she was rookie and saw her first murder scene. She couldn't let Brittany see her like this so she quickly walked out of the office while Brittany was still talking to her parents.
Brittany hadn't notice what happened with Santana because she was trying her best not to look her and so she was surprised to see Officer Foster standing in her office doorway waiting for her. "Detective Lopez asked me to escort you safely out of the building. I apologize for not cleaning up the glass earlier."
Brittany was confused as to why Santana left and put Officer Foster back in charge. The glass was all cleaned up when Brittany and Officer Foster walked out of the studio. Brittany looked around and saw there were only two cars left in the parking lot, the unmarked black car which she assumed was Santana's and a police car which belonged to Officer Foster. Brittany wondered where Santana was since her car was still there. Brittany looked to the left and saw Santana leaning against the outside wall of the studio taking deep even breaths in and out. Brittany had seen Santana take those same kinds of breaths when she was helping her through her panic attack at the airport and then at her apartment. It was clear Santana was having a panic attack but why?
Brittany was about to walk over to Santana when a red pickup truck drove into the studio parking lot. A man jumped out of the truck and when he spotted Santana he hurried over to her. Brittany watched their interaction as Santana and the man talked for a few seconds before the man pulled Santana into a hug. Brittany turned away feeling like she was eavesdropping on private moment between two people.
Brittany turned her attention to the two entrance doors to the studio that had yellow crime tape across them. It was then she started to panic wondering what she was going to do because she couldn't leave her studio with two doors with no glass so anyone could walk right in. She'd have to call her insurance company but in mean time she needed to figure out a way to board up the doors until the glass could be replaced.
"Miss Pierce". Brittany didn't need to turn around to know it was Santana saying her name. This time her tone was the soft, caring one Brittany had gotten used to hearing. When Brittany turned she found out Santana wasn't the only one there. Standing beside her was the man from the pickup truck that moments earlier had been hugging Santana. "This is Armando. Armando this is Brittany Pierce. He's a carpenter and I hope it's ok that I called him to board up the doors for you. I knew with it being so late it would be difficult to find someone to do it." The earlier confidence in Santana's voice was gone and now she sounded nervous.
"Thank you so much. I was standing here trying to figure out what I was going to do. I was thinking I may have to stand guard all night to make sure no one else tried to get into my studio." Brittany put out her hand and Armando did the same as they shook hands.
"No problem. I'll go to work right away boarding up your doors. Trust me when I'm through no one will be able to get through the doors." Armando spoke with a lot of charisma and had a beautiful smile.
"Miss Pierce you can go home now. I've already asked Officer Foster to give you a ride home. The report for your insurance company will be ready in the morning. I'll have an officer drop it by your apartment." Santana was back to sounding professional and Brittany wondered if every victim of a crime was treated with such hospitality as rides home and dropping reports off so they didn't have to go the police station to pick them up.
"Thank Detective Lopez." Brittany decided if Santana had to address her professional she was going to give Santana the same courtesy.
"Armando, I'll see you at home later." Santana gave Armando a small smile which for some reason bothered Brittany a little bit.
Armando hugged Santana before moving his truck closer to the doors so he could get to work while Brittany started walking to Officer Foster's car. Santana watched her walked away and then let out sigh of relief. A sigh of relief that she was only a few minutes away from going home and being able to take a nice hot bath before going to bed. Santana shift had been over and she was on her way home when the call came in about the alarm going off at the dance studio. Since it was on her way Santana told dispatch she would cover it. She had no idea Brittany was the owner until she got to the scene and was told the owner Brittany Pierce had been contacted and was on her way.
Santana watched as Officer Foster opened the back door of his police car for Brittany to get in and then closing it once she was safely inside. Santana walked to her car and was about to open the door when she heard Office Foster's voice calling her, "Detective Lopez, I can't take Miss Pierce home I got a call in the vicinity I need to respond to."
Santana closed her eyes she should have guessed this would happen because that meant now she would have to take Brittany home and she wasn't sure if she could handle being so close and alone with Brittany right now. It was like life was kept throwing them together for some reason. Santana turned around to find Officer Foster had already helped Brittany out of his car and was now leaving the parking lot with his siren and lights flashing. Brittany walked over to Santana's car where Santana had gone around and opened the passenger side door and was waiting for Brittany to get in the car. Once Brittany was in the car Santana closed the door before walking around the front of the car to get in the driver's side. Santana started the car and they left the parking lot with total silence inside the car.
The silence wasn't broken the entire ride to Brittany's apartment building which only took about ten minutes since the traffic in that area of the city was very light at 3 o'clock in the morning. Brittany turned to Santana before opening the car door to get out. "Thank you for the ride and thank you for everything you did tonight. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't call Armando."
Santana looked at Brittany briefly and then looked away so she was looking straight ahead out the windshield. "You're welcome but I was just doing my job and I knew you would need someone to board the doors and Armando does good work."
Brittany looked at Santana's profile as she continued to stare straight ahead not looking Brittany. It was then Brittany noticed that even though Santana and Gracie looked a lot like when you looked directly at their faces that their profiles were different. It was first time Brittany really looked at Santana and didn't see Gracie at all. She saw Santana a women who at that very moment was scowling as she looked straight ahead. Brittany had a feeling Santana scowled when she was thinking really hard about something. Santana was gripping the steering wheel tightly too. What was Santana thinking about now?
Brittany reached over and gently touch Santana's right forearm which caused her to jump slightly and look at Brittany. "Thanks again Santana." Brittany got out of the car and walked to her apartment building. Santana watched her until she was safely inside and then drove away.
XXXXXXXXXX
Brittany walked into the bakery and her senses were immediately hit with the smell of fresh baked bakery products like doughnuts, bagel, bread, etc.. This was Brittany's favorite bakery and she came here almost on a daily basis for coffee and to pick up some doughnuts. Cole loved the doughnut balls they had so she always picked him some up for him. Brittany had gotten her order and was ready to leave when she noticed Santana sitting at one of the tables typing on laptop. She wasn't surprised to see Santana there since the bakery was close to where they both lived. Brittany's first instinct was to leave but there was something else that told her she should at least say hi to Santana so she walked over to the table.
"Good morning." Brittany said quietly but it still scared Santana who had been concentrating deeply on what she was doing on laptop.
"Good morning Miss Pierce." Santana quickly said back.
"Please call me Brittany." Brittany gave Santana a smile that seemed to relax Santana. It was the first time Brittany had smiled at her and it made her heart feel warm.
"Ok, Brittany would like to sit down?"
"Sure but only for a minute because my parents and Cole are waiting for these doughnuts." Brittany sat down in the chair across from Santana.
"How is everyone?" Santana asked.
"They are all doing ok. It's been wonderful having my parents here and I wish they didn't have to go back home on Tuesday." There was silence and Brittany knew she had to say something to Santana about how she looked like Gracie. "When I first saw you on the plane I was in shock at how much you looked like Gracie. It was obvious by the way Cole related to you that the resemblance was remarkable. I was just so thankful Cole stopped crying that I never really thought about how having him call you Mommy and reaching for you must have made you feel. Then again when we saw you at the airport and he ran to you I still didn't take your feelings into consideration and I said some means things to you. I'm sorry Santana."
Santana listened to Brittany and she could hear the sincerity in Brittany's voice. "I must admit it freaked me out a bit when Cole kept calling me Mommy. I didn't understand why until the night I was leaving your apartment your doorman asked me if I was related to Gracie because I looked so much like her. Then I started putting two and two together. I was so curious the next morning when I went to work I looked up Gracie's driver's license so I could see a picture of her. It was a bit surreal to look at a picture of someone who looked so much like me. I know seeing me affects both you and Cole. It's ironic how all of the sudden we seem to be running into each other on a regular basis. By the way you have nothing to apologize for because everything you said was true and you were only protecting your son. I know every time Cole sees me it only confuses him. I promise in the future if I see you two I'll walk the other way."
Brittany suddenly was confused because hearing Santana say she would walk the other way upset her. But why was she upset? Was it because Santana was saying she'd walk the other way or was it because in her mind having Santana say she'd walk the other way was just like having Gracie say it? Brittany's feelings were getting mixed up and complicated so she decided it was time to leave.
"I'd better go before my family sends out a search party for their doughnuts. Thanks for all of your help again last night. I went by the studio before coming here and Armando did a wonderful job boarding up the doors. You are lucky to have a man like him in your life."
Santana scowled at Brittany's words, "Armando isn't the man in my life. He's my baby brother. He recently fell on some hard times so he moved in with me temporarily that's why I called him last night. I knew he could use the work and he's such a great person who deserves to get back on his feet." Santana spoke fondly of her brother.
"I'm sorry for assuming he was the man in your life. I saw you two hug and then you said you'd see him at home. I just put two and two together and obviously it was wrong." Brittany was a bit embarrassed.
"Actually there never will be a man in my life. Hopefully one day there will be a woman in my life though." Santana waited to see Brittany's reaction and she thought she saw a little hint of a smile on Brittany's face.
"I'd better go." Brittany got up from the table and Santana stood up too.
"I hope this isn't being too forward but I've wanted to do this since we met on the plane and since this will probably be the last time we see each other can I have a hug?" Santana swallowed hard after asking.
Brittany sat her doughnuts down on the table and then hugged Santana who immediately hugged her back. Having their arms around each other felt so comfortable like they had been hugging for years. Neither woman wanted to let go but they knew it had to end. Brittany was the first to pull away from the hug and she briefly looked into Santana's eyes before taking her doughnuts and leaving the bakery. Santana stood there for several seconds wondering how after that hug how she was going to ever walk in the other direction if she were to see Brittany and Cole again.
TBC
