Chapter Two,
Twenty minutes later found Quinn directing Santana into a parking place in front of an old apartment building.
"Wait here I won't be long" Quinn tells Santana as she exits the vehicle and makes her way over to the building.
She makes her way up the stairs to the 8th floor and knocks when she reaches her destination. Rustling is heard over soft music through the door and a minute later the door opens to reveal a plump middle aged Jewish women. Recognition crosses the woman's face followed by a large smile as she throws the door the whole way open and throws her arms around Quinn.
"Quinn! It's been so long. Please come in". She gushes, untangling herself from the embarrassed blonde before moving back allowing Quinn entrance to the small yet homely apartment.
"Good to see you are too Mrs Puckerman" Quinn replies walking into the apartment that hasn't changed in 7 years.
"Did you want a drink dear? You hungry? I can fix you up something if you want" Quinn laughs at the women's enthusiasm, turns out the apartment is the only thing that hasn't changed.
"No thank you, I'm actually here looking for Noah". A slight sneer passes her face before she responds.
"That good for nothing son of mine is still sleeping even though it's". She pauses to check her watch "two in the afternoon on a Wednesday! He's just like his father. He's in his room if you want to go wake him".
Quinn thanks the women and walks down the familiar hallway. Quinn met Puck when she was fourteen and new to the streets he always looked out for her and became like the big brother she never had, they had stayed in contact over Quinn's years in jail.
Puck's room smells of old socks and sex and Quinn has to hold down a gag as she slams the door shut behind her.
"Up you get Puckerman". Quinn all but shouts as she flops down on the edge of the bed.
Puck jolts up from his sleep in alarm looking around the room almost comically before his bleary eyes fall on the blonde perched on his bed. It takes a few seconds for his sleep addled mind to register what he is seeing but when he does his reaction is even more enthusiastic than his mother's.
"Really Puck, still living at your mums" Quinn says with her trademark quirked eyebrow.
"Hey! Rents cheaps plus she cooks and does my washing. Who'd give that up?". Puck cries indignantly. "It's been a long time, it really is good to see you Quinn"
"You too" she says with a smile. "Look I can't stay we'll have to catch up properly later, I'm here actually cause we need some muscle".
"Who's we?" he inquires warily.
"Me and Santana, my old cellmate. Don't worry she's solid"
"Any friend of yours is a friend of mine. So what's the job, more importantly what's the pay?" He ass with a grin.
"Stand around and look threatening, I reckon even you'd be able to pull that off. $200 for you and $100 each for any of the boys you get. Probably need about three or four. You in?"
He doesn't hesitate in his response "for you? I'm in! Just name the time and place baby".
"It'll be around four am tonight. Give your number and I'll contact you with the location of the meet". Quinn responds.
After swapping contact information and hugging goodbye Quinn makes her way to the door.
"Sure you can't stay awhile? Beds pretty cold by myself" Puck says with a grin to Quinn's retreating form.
"In your dreams Puckerman, in your dreams".
Nine o'clock comes way too fast for Quinn's liking as she descends the stairs to the basement level bar the is her new workplace. The bar is larger than she expected but just as seedy. There are a row of booths off to one side, a large stool lined bar on the opposite side with a few pool tables separating the two and a small dance floor complete with jukebox and an extremely small stage at the end of the establishment. The lighting is low and the smells are almost offensive.
Quinn scans the clientele. A group of large hairy leather clad men (presumably bikies) occupy a booth in the far corner loudly enjoying their beers, a middle aged couple are playing pool and a elderly man is seated at the bar with his head down, dead to the world. Most bizarre is the stunningly beautiful blonde girl dancing unabashedly to the jukebox at the far end of the bar.
There is a closed door behind the bar and Quin assumes it's the owners and/or manager's office so she steps around the bar and knocks. There is no response but after a minute Quinn feels a tap on her shoulder and she turns to find the dancing blonde eyeing her expectantly.
"OMG! You must be Quinn! I told him to make sure they were hot but damn I didn't expect someone like you!" the young women screeches excitedly.
"Umm thank you?" Quinn says embarrassedly not sure how to take this women.
"Oh sorry, I'm Brittany I own this place" she explains holding out her hand to Quinn's. No sooner than Quinn shakes her hand does the blonde pull her behind the bar.
"You ever work at a bar before? Doesn't matter, all they order here are beers from there". She points to three taps on either end of the bar "or shots from their" this time pointing to an assortment of spirits and heavy liquor on a shelf in the wall behind the bar.
"Starts to pick up around ten, we close at two and you should finish your shift around three. Any questions?". The blonde finishes with a flourish.
Quinn has no idea how to take the bubbly blonde and her antics and only shakes her head in response.
"Ok good. Call me if you need anything". And with that the women smiles and turns on her heels, quickly returning to the sticky dance floor and resumes dancing. Quinn just shakes her head and decides to use the hour before things pick up to acquaint herself to her workspace.
Two hours later and Quinn was flat out, just as Brittany warned the place packed out just after ten. Luckily Quinn is a quick study as she has been serving drink after drink for the past hour.
Suddenly the lights get dimmer, and the music from the jukebox suddenly cuts out to angry shouts of the patrons who up until this point been enjoying the rambunctious music blaring from the speakers. Everything soon quiets down and all eyes face the stage as Brittany takes the stage.
"Ladies and Gentlemen" she pauses and looks around the bar. "Well Gentlemen and Gentlemen. We have a special treat for you tonight with real live music and from a real live girl too. Introducing to the stage Rachel Berry and her guitar playing friend Kurt Hummel!" The blonde introduces, in what Quinn is quickly realising is her usual bubbly voice.
Quinn expects some butch tattooed women to be playing a gig at a place like this and is shocked when a tiny brunette wearing an argyle sweater and an extremely short skirt revealing gorgeous tanned legs. Taking full advantage of the reprieve in serving the lull causes, Quinn leans back to watch as the cute brunette makes her way to the microphone stand while a young man, presumably Kurt Hummel, sits on a stool on stage and prepares his guitar.
The opening notes of the guitar flow melodiously over the awaiting crowd as the woman opens her mouth to sing. Quinn didn't know what she was expecting but she knew she wasn't expecting the voice that belted it self out of the women. Quinn could hardly believe such a huge sound could come from such a tiny set of lungs, emotion poured forth as the unfamiliar melody washed over Quinn. She was entranced, nothing existed in that moment except for Quinn and that women's angelic voice that reverberated into her very soul. The song came to an end and Quinn found herself saddened by the loss of the voice. The crowd erupted in cheers and Quinn couldn't help but join in.
Unfortunately Quinn's reprieve doesn't last into the next song but she finds the next hour flies by as she listens to that beautiful voice pour every ounce of emotion the tiny brunette can muster. It feels all too soon to the blonde before the set is over and that voice is gone. She doesn't get time to muse on this though as business kicks up a gear now there is no distraction.
At around one am the bar starts to die down, most of the patrons either left or passed out. Quinn hears a woman's voice from behind her.
"Excuse me miss?" the blonde turns to find the tiny singer from earlier behind her. She is even more beautiful up close, Quinn crosses to her and leans up against the bar towards her, giving the brunette her undivided attention.
"How can I help you beautiful?" Quinn purrs and the girl across from her blushes slightly from the comment and Quinn's intense stare.
"Umm, Brittany told me that you could give me my payment of $100 from the till. I'm Rachel Berry I finished performing here just a little while ago. I think that despite the natureā¦" She crinkles her nose slightly and Quinn thinks it the most adorable thing she's ever seen "...of this establishment I think I was quite the hit"
Quinn couldn't help a good natured laugh at the girls unnecessary rant.
"You definitely deserve it" Quinn responds removing five $20 bills from the register and places them in the brunettes hand, making sure her fingers brush her palm as she withdraws her hand.
"T-thank you" Rachel says with a slight tinge to her cheeks. Causing Quinn to chuckle.
"So what's your poison?" Quinn inquires grabbing an empty glass at the ready.
"I don't drink alcohol. Just a diet coke thank you"
"Who doesn't drink alcohol?" Quinn asks in mock shock quirking an eyebrow.
"Alcohol lowers one's inhibitions, not to mention the internal damage caused by excessive drinking. Plus I try not to anything that is detrimental to my voice" Rachel rants as she slides a $20 across the bar and takes a stool.
"It's on the house" Quinn tells her, sliding the $20 back towards her before placing one diet coke on the bar before her.
Quinn's attention is turned to the other end of the bar where a customer is waiting to be served. Five minutes later the blonde returns to Rachel who is now halfway through her coke.
"So what's a pretty little thing like you doing playing a dump like this?" Quinn asks.
"I could ask you the same question" Rachel rebuts cheekily.
"Touche, but I asked you first" Quinn come back with a smirk.
"I'm studying musical theatre at Julliard and my professor says we should get as much live experience as we can. Your turn"
"Umm" Quinn ponders how much she should reveal before deciding on the truth "my parole officer got me the job".
"Parole?" Now it's Rachel's turn to quirk her eyebrow "you don't strike me as the jailbird type".
"What can I say? I'm an enigma"
"Is that where you got that tattoo?" Rachel asks, referring to the head of a Chinese style dragon poking up from Quinn's collar and up the left side of her neck.
"Yes" Quinn mutters, her head unconsciously touching the tattoo on her neck.
"I've always wanted a tattoo, but I'm scared it will hurt. Did it hurt? Do you have anymore?". The brunette bombards Quinn with questions excitedly.
"It hurt a little I guess. And yes I have more but I don't show those ones on a first date" Rachel Blush's and turns away. Quinn is quickly realising she loves making this girl blush.
"OK GUYS LAST CALL. YOU GOT TEN MINUTES TO GET YOUR DRUNK ASSES THE FUCK OUT OF HERE" the girls are broken from their flirting by Brittany's loud yelling.
"Well I suppose I'd better get going, I need my beauty sleep to be fresh for classes tomorrow it was nice to meet you?"
"Quinn"
"Quinn" Rachel repeats with a smile "beautiful name".
This time it's Quinn's turn to blush, what the fuck! Quinn Fabray doesn't blush. Rachel stands from her seat and begins backing away, still facing the blonde.
"Maybe I'll see you around somewhere?" She starts to turn.
"Wait" Rachel turns, brown eyes meet intense hazel eyes "you're not gonna leave without giving me your number are you?"
The brunette beams and makes her way back to the bar, fishing a pen and paper from her handbag she quickly scribbles down her number and hands it too the blonde.
"Goodnight Rachel".
"Goodnight Quinn".
After helping Brittany clean up and close the bar Quinn finds herself sitting in Santana car under an overpass in Manhattan's lower east side at 3.50am, ten minutes before the meet is supposed to take place. Pucks old 4WD is parked next to them with three of his boys sitting in the car with him waiting.
Quinn exhales the smoke from Santana's pipe (she really needs to get her own) and hands it back to the Latino.
"Gots a present for you in the glove box" Santana tells her accepting her pipe back.
Quinn opens the glove box to find an old .38 special six shooter with the serial number filed off. Quinn takes the weapon and opens the chamber finding six unfired bullets all in place. Spinning the chamber like a cowboy she locks it back in place, double checks the safety before putting the weapon in the band of her jeans.
"Thanks" she mutters, Santana just waves her arm in response being in the middle of a large puff.
A few minutes later headlights can be seen approaching. Quinn and Santana exit the car and wait against the bonnet. Puck and his boys follow suit, removing their own sidearms and leaning against the 4WD they try to look nonchalant yet menacing.
Three cars approach and stop ten metres away from the group. Keeping the engines running, their headlights illuminate the underpass. Four figures appear from the middle car only and Quinn and Santana walk forward to meet the three figures halfway.
The man in the middle, a large ugly bald man is the one to step forward.
"You must be Quinn and Santana. I'm Johnson." His voice is gruff and he makes no move to offer his hand.
He motions to one of the men behind him carrying a brown paper bag and the man tosses the bag to Quinn. Quinn opens the bag and reveals a stack of $100s, she quickly flicks through the stack to make sure they are all $100s and he isn't trying to pull a fast one.
"It's all there" he barks, annoyed "now I believe you have something for me".
Quinn nods to Santana who chucks the package to Johnson. He catches the package and tears it open to check the product.
"If it's good we'll be in touch, if not we'll probably still be in touch". The threat is not lost on Quinn but she chooses to ignore it as the men move away and return to their cars before driving off, leaving them alone once more.
Quinn gives $500 to Puck to pay his boys and tells he she'll call him soon. Before returning to Santana's car, driving away from their first sale with a pipe between her lips.
This is my first fanfic so I'm not sure how the dialogue and interactions are going to read please review and let me know IF it works or not your feedback will be greatly appreciated, positive or negative, and help me improve the story.
