Reviews are beautiful… thank you.
After a few minutes of crying everyone calmed and Santana took a few calming breaths and leaned back.
"So… Sam ruins everything like always, figures huh?" Santana says and smiles with her eyes closed.
"Santana, I am so sorry," Brittany muttered. Santana opened her eyes and looked at her.
"It's not your fault Britt, it's his," Santana said.
"But you joined the army because I turned you away," Brittany argued.
"Not entirely true, but to be honest with you, that was a very big part," Santana said, she leaned up and grabbed Brittany's hands. "Look, no matter what pushed me away it was my decision to join the marines, I wasn't told to or forced to I did because I wanted to," Santana said.
"But I still feel guilty," Brittany cried.
"Well, don't. There were a lot of factors to what I did, yes you were one of them, but you were not the only one," Santana said. "No more feeling guilty kay? And that goes for all of you," Santana said and looked at the rest of her old friends and mother. They all nodded.
"Well, I'm making dinner if any of you would like to join for dinner," Maribel said.
"I'll help," Quinn said and walked with her.
"I think I will join them," Rachel said and moved into the kitchen. Santana watched them leave and then looked at the rest of them.
"Well, here's the TV, I'm going upstairs and taking a nice shower," Santana said and stood up slowly.
"Do you want any help?" Brittany asked. Santana looked at her and smiled at her.
"Sure," Santana replied before walking upstairs with Brittany following close behind.
They walked into Santana's room and Brittany couldn't help but smile, it was still exactly the same from when they were in high school.
"I think my mom was waiting for me to come home," Santana said, opening her duffle bag and grabbing some clothes. She stood and looked at Brittany.
"We all were Santana, we were so worried," Brittany said.
"I didn't to worry you guys," Santana mumbled. Brittany smiled and shook her head.
"Don't worry about it too much, come on let's get you cleaned up," Brittany said walking into the bathroom, Santana following. Brittany helped Santana strip down; she couldn't help but feel pain in her heart looking at all the scars that covered a once flawless body… the body that she loves so much.
"Sorry," Santana whispered so softly that Brittany almost didn't hear her.
"For what?" Brittany asked confused, she started the water and waited for the temperature to be perfect.
"For my body… I know it's really ugly now," Santana said. Brittany turned and looked at Santana.
"Your body may have scars Santana, but that doesn't stop it from being beautiful, they show how strong you are and how much pain you survived," Brittany said. Santana looked down, a small tinged of blush attaching to her cheeks. Brittany walked up to her and grabbed her chin and lifted Santana's head so she would look Brittany in the eyes.
"Your body is still the most beautiful and sexiest body I have ever and will ever see," Brittany said, Santana saw the pure honesty inside her eyes and smiled shyly. Brittany smiled back softly and they stared at one another. Slowly they found themselves leaning in and then their lips touched gently. They pulled back and looked at one another for a second before going back into the kiss, more confident. The kiss was passionate, needed but not sloppy. They broke apart when they heard a knock on the door.
"Hey, um dinner is ready when you are," Quinn called through the door.
"Kay," Santana called back. They heard Quinn leave and they looked at each other before busting out laughing.
"Oh my God," Brittany laughed.
"Yeah, even after all these years Quinn is still the one interrupting us," Santana laughed out.
"Yeah," Brittany sighed they looked at one another ad Brittany couldn't help the blush that formed on her face. "Um I should go, and… yeah," Brittany stuttered and left. Santana chuckled lightly at Brittany being embarrassed. She quickly showered and made her way down to stairs everyone was seated in the living room.
"Here you go Honey," Maribel said handing Santana a plate. Santana took it graciously and sat on the floor next to Brittany and Quinn.
"So, I'm curious how did you injure your back Santana," Artie asked everyone glared at him.
"Really Artie?" Rachel admonished.
"No guys it's fine," Santana said and put her plate down. She sighed and recounted how she got her career ending injury.
They were in the middle of an ambush; she and her platoon were on their way to deliver extra supplies to another group who were running out and on the front of the battle. The Humvee that was in front of Santana's was taken out by an RPG, she and the other abandoned their Humvee, but one of the fellow Marines got stuck on the truck. Santana ran back against orders and detached the marine and pushed him towards the others, and then she heard the whistling of an RPG and turned to run. She wasn't able to get out of the explosions wave. Santana was tossed by the force and sent over a Cliffside. She tried to grab on to the ledge, but slipped. She fell several feet and landed on her back, adding pain to the existing burn. She was rescued twenty four hours later once they cleared out hostiles.
Everyone was silent after Santana told them the story. The girls had tears running down their faces while the guys looked uncomfortable and sad.
"That's terrible Santana," Jake said, breaking the silence.
"It wasn't so bad, the fall severed quite a few of the nerves in my back so I basically felt nothing after I awoke form the fall," Santana said.
"But you can feel now?" Tina asked.
"Yeah, I had extensive surgery and physical therapy, I can feel early everything, there are a few nerves and muscles recovering, hence the medicine and bandages and the occasional over stressing pain," Santana explained.
"Well, I think I say this for everyone that we are most certainly glad you are a stubborn bitch Santana," Puck said with a smiled.