Chapter 3

Butting Heads

It turned out that Sam indeed did have a broken nose but it was only slightly broken … as in there was only a small break or something like that. He was lucky that the break wasn't bad so it would be healing nicely, evenly, so he wasn't going to have a crooked nose for the rest of his life. Santana and Rachel were wary around each other because they didn't want to have another fight for the sake of Quinn, being that she was best friends with Santana and partners with Rachel. Overall the police station had drama lurking around it and chaos surrounding it because of the fact that the serial killer hadn't been caught yet and it had been three days since the case was assigned. Another body had been found in that time since it was left carelessly in a park suggesting that the killer hadn't planned for this particular attack and messed up.

Quinn was extremely stressed out because they had gone to the neighborhood Sam had been attacked in and found no traces of him whatsoever. It was utterly frustrating and Quinn couldn't seem to find any way of locating the elusive killer other than the profile she wrote and that in itself was odd. There was something strange about this … could she have been wrong? Was she missing something else completely and unaware of it somehow? She sat lost in thought when something occurred to her. The first five bodies had been hidden which suggested organized kills, premeditated murders essentially. This last one hadn't been hidden but the MO had been the same, the murder had been the same. That suggested that not just one but TWO people who had to have been killing these people. One person seemed to be of lower intelligence than the other and was following blindly while this other person was executing the orders. This was a two person team they were looking for and not just one person who possibly had schizophrenia.

Quinn immediately went to the board to write her thoughts down when she saw something that stopped her cold. Someone else had already written down that it had to be a duo committing the murders and not a single person. Who had figured it out before her? She looked at the writing more closely and knew immediately who had beaten her to this revelation: Rachel Barbra Berry. She knew what every single person working this police station and what their handwriting looked like because she had an eidetic and photographic memory. She was the prodigy so having someone figure something like that out before was shameful for Quinn. She could not believe that something like that happened to her. She had to find Rachel immediately. She needed to know how Rachel figured it out before she had. It never happened to her before and so now she was feeling threatened by this beautiful, intelligent woman.

Have I become complacent? Maybe I've become overconfident in my abilities and I'm not trying as hard as I used to and that's what happened here? Whatever the reason I need to find her to ask her how she came to that conclusion … before I did but I won't mention that part to her. This is so utterly frustrating! She looked around the station but she could not be found anywhere that Quinn looked within the station. She looked at her watch and noticed something that made her feel extremely idiotic. It was already noon so why would Rachel still be here? She then looked into her memory and recounted the fact that she saw Santana and Brittany eating lunch together at their desk and that Puck and Sam weren't around and neither was Tina and Mike. She felt like she was losing her grip on what was once her grounded place amongst everyone because this kind of thing had never happened to her before.

Quinn went back to sit at her desk and she felt so defeated that it almost showed on her face and in the way her shoulders dipped down slightly. For most people it wasn't noticeable but for Rachel, who came back only minutes after Quinn had sat down at her desk, she recognized it immediately. She could just see it in the way Quinn stared at nothing in particular and the way her eyes, though hard to read as always, showed something in them that they had never showed before: tension. They were a stormy blue-green now instead of their usual hazel state and that was unsettling for Rachel to see. She had never seen Quinn in this state before in the last ten days she had been partners with her. It was most likely an emotion that even Santana and Brittany hadn't seen from her often as well. Rachel couldn't be sure but she suspected it to be so. It was only a conjecture after all.

She decided that she would speak to Quinn to make sure she was okay, "Quinn, are you feeling all right? You don't look well." Rachel even more worried when Quinn didn't respond for several quiet moments. "Quinn?" Quinn seemed to have broken out of her thoughts when she visibly shook her head and rubbed her face with her hands. It was almost as if she was shaking herself out of her thoughts. She looked up at Rachel with such a cold look Rachel wondered if it was just her way of hiding her emotions or if it was directed at her for whatever reason.

"I'm sorry, can you please repeat that? I was … lost in my thoughts." Rachel wasn't sure why but something about the way she was speaking to her made her feel uncomfortable. There was something about how she was looking at her and what she was saying that bothered Rachel greatly. Rachel was greatly taken aback by the expression on Quinn's face. It was as if Quinn hated her, despised her … loathed her greatly. That was the feeling that Rachel got from her and it was a bit disheartening for Rachel because she had thought that Quinn was opening up to her finally. She had thought that they were going to be good partners for each other just three days ago when Quinn opened up to her about her life at the station.

The emotion that Rachel was feeling right now was akin to someone pulling a rug out from underneath her feet and it was uncomfortable, disconcerting in many ways. "I … I asked if you were feeling all right because you don't seem well. You looked … well very tense and upset just a moment ago before I … interrupted your thoughts." Rachel was unsure about how to approach the very cold and aloof blonde now that she was looking at her the way she was now. Quinn had never been this way around Rachel before so it left her flustered because she wasn't sure what she wanted anymore. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to interact with the blonde now that she was acting the way she was: colder than ever and distant, so very distant.

Quinn just looked at her for a moment before she looked right into her eyes and she saw something that had never been there before: fear. Quinn was afraid of something but she wasn't voicing it and it made Rachel worry even more. The fear was hidden well but it was still visible for Rachel to see plainly, clearly. It was hard to decipher at first but she could see it as clear as the sun shining bright on this summer day. It was there and she had no idea, no clue, as to why it was and she planned on finding out.

Quinn interrupted her inner monologue by finally speaking, "I'm just … thinking about the case and about how there haven't been any clues as to where the lead suspect is in our case, that's all Berry." She paused and seemed to soften up slightly, "is there anything else you needed?"

Rachel was taken slightly aback by the softness in her tone. It was not something she had ever seen in Quinn before and it made her wonder what the reason for it might be. "I … well have you eaten yet? I brought some food back with me since I was planning on eating here and it doesn't appear as if you've left to get yourself something to eat yet. … Would you … would you like to share with me? I have enough to feed both of us if you wish to share with me rather than going out to buy something to eat, Quinn." Quinn looked surprised at the offer and her expression became even softer but subtly so in a way that if anyone else looked they might not have been able to read her expression. In fact they might have mistaken it for something else, something it was most definitely not at all. Rachel saw it for what it was though and it unnerved Quinn that she was able to read her so well.

Rachel wasn't sure what it was about Quinn that attracted her so much but there was just something about Quinn that kept her coming back for more, even if more meant that she was coming back to a cold and nearly unapproachable tall blonde. "I … I would like that Rachel. Thank you for your generosity … Rachel." Quinn said with a small smile. Rachel recalled, with some awe, that it was only the second time Quinn had referred to her by her first name since they first became partners. The first time she had been defending her and now … Rachel didn't know what it was but she felt an emotion she had never felt seeing that small smile on her face. It was the first time she had ever seen a smile on the blonde's face directed at her. She had seen that smile before but it was only ever directed at Santana and Brittany and it was rare even then. It was unusual to see such a soft smile on her face and it was a strange but welcomed sight for Rachel.

"It honestly it isn't any trouble and … you're my partner after all and I like you. I mean I know it's only been ten days but I can see myself being not just your partner but your friend as well Quinn." And she really believed so. The blonde felt something she had never felt before and she couldn't decipher what feeling it was but she distinctively didn't like it. There was just something that was growing inside of her, a feeling that continued to fester uncontrollably. Was it the fear of her becoming better than her in this station and then becoming unnecessary? She wasn't sure what it was but it was becoming unbearable. The blonde wasn't sure about how to start her line of questions about how Rachel came to the revelation that she did but she knew she needed to ask.

She figured out a way to not be completely strange and … well crazy while asking what she needed to know. "Berry, I noticed your writing on the board and saw that you added some notes to the profile, mainly that it is a two person team as opposed to one person. How did you come to that conclusion if you don't mind my asking?" Quinn asked carefully. She didn't want to let on that she felt threatened because that would just reveal another part of her personality that she kept hidden. She didn't want anyone knowing she was this insecure about her position at the Lima Police Station. She felt the need to stay on top so she could stay useful to the team, so she could be useful and necessary.

Rachel looked at Quinn, really looked at Quinn, and she must have seen something in her eyes because when she answered she answered in a way that suggested that she knew that Quinn was asking for a reason other than just pure curiosity. "Of course I don't mind Quinn … we are partners after all and partners should share this kind of information with each other." She hinted heavily by saying things this way but Quinn just pushed it to the back of her mind … for now. "Well anyways, I was looking at similar cases in the record room and I stumbled across a case with such a similar MO that I read the entire case through, came back to the board you had written on and looked back at the case and I saw everything that you had written down. It all made sense to me then and I wrote down the other missing pieces down so that everyone else could see it. I don't want you to feel ashamed that you didn't figure this out on your own because this case was one before you came to work in the police station so you should not feel anything like that." Rachel could see in Quinn's eyes that she was surprised that she had caught on so quickly to Quinn's insecurities.

Quinn was almost tempted to ask how Rachel knew but she refrained from asking and thanked her softly, "thank you Rachel … for everything." This was the third time she had referred to Rachel by her first name and this time there was a certain soft quality to her voice. Rachel felt something strange in her chest. It was like her heart was happy and beating faster out of happiness. It was strange because she had never felt this way before. She wondered what it could be that was making her feel this way. It was like her heart was fluttering … perhaps it was because of how sincere Quinn was and because Quinn seemed to be warming up to her so well despite her normally introverted ways.

"There is absolutely nothing you need to thank me for Quinn. Now let's eat because I'm rather hungry if I do say so myself. I have a vegan dish here with me from my favorite vegan restaurant. Is that okay with you Quinn?" Quinn looked slightly surprised, which meant she was extremely surprised, but she nodded her head nonetheless.

"I've never eaten anything vegan before in my life but I … I'm willing to try something new that you seem to like so much." Quinn was smiling her small smile again and Rachel felt that same fluttering in her heart but she had no idea what it was or why it kept happening around one Lucy Quinn Fabray. Rachel watched as Quinn took her first bite from their shared container and she seemed to enjoy it greatly if her appreciative groan was any indication. "This is … wow, this is amazing Berry. I've never had anything like it before in my life. I am so glad you were kind enough to share this with me because I think I've found something new that I will definitely incorporate into my home cooking from now on. This is really amazing." Quinn was smiling the widest smile Rachel had ever seen on her face and she felt something even stronger than a flutter … it was like an avalanche of emotion flooding her and filling her heart up entirely. She would have to investigate this further somehow.

"You need to shut up now midget! I know that you're new and all but you are pissing the fuck out of me and you need to leave now before I smash your face in so that your oversized nose doesn't bother me anymore!" Santana all but shouted.

"I've never met such a ridiculous, hot tempered, stubborn human being in my life! I mean I've had my fair share of stubborn people and I am stubborn myself but never quite to this extent!" Rachel was speaking louder than her normal speaking voice but she wasn't quite shouting either.

"Do you know where I grew up? I grew in Lima Heights Adjacent so we know how to take care of business there dwarf." Santana was becoming angrier and angrier as she spoke to the point that she was nearly ready to revert to her roots and her native language. "You should know better than to insult people when you talk to them short-stack." The nicknames seemed to flow from the Latina easily as insulting name after insulting name was being spoken. "It's not every day I get such a golden opportunity to let others know that what happens in the Heights stays in the Heights. You never insult me or Brittany and we're fine but since you chose to do something so idiotic I guess I'll be teaching you a lesson now Berry." Santana cracked her neck and her knuckles as she approached the tan diva. She stopped only when there was a single centimeter separating them. Rachel stood her ground as the Latina looked down at the shorter tan woman.

Rachel stared right into the fiery eyes of one very pissed off Santana Lopez as she spoke boldly, "I did absolutely nothing wrong and you know it. I personally think that all you want to do is pick a fight with me because of your petty reasons and your dislike for me. All I did was ask you why you were flirting with your … partner instead of working on the case like everyone else in this station. You have absolutely no right to treat this as something I did to affront you purposefully and you know it. Now stop with all of the BS and grow up Santana Lopez. I would also appreciate it if you stopped calling me all of those derogatory names and leave me alone because I have done you no wrong. Now I would appreciate it if you take a few steps back and leave me alone."

"Escucha soy de Lima Heights Adjacent yo teco orgurro! Na quesa que pasa en Lima Heights Adjacent? Cosas mal!"* This time was so close there was no space between them as she yelled in absolute fury. Santana was shaking in anger and ready to pounce when someone finally intervened and stepped between the two angry women, facing the hotheaded Latina head on.

"You need to move away from her before you do something you regret San. I know you're angry but remember what the chief told you last time. You can't show such blatant affection to Brittany and you can't be mad at Rachel for trying to keep you out of trouble. In fact you owe her an apology and you need to thank her for what she did. She was only looking out for you sincerely, not trying to pick a fight with you. She had every right to be indignant and defensive because you came at her verbally so she only dished it back San. So just let it go, okay? I don't like seeing you two butting heads like this because you're both very important to me as both my best friend and my partner." When Santana did nothing but continue to glare passed Quinn to Rachel Quinn changed tactics. "For me San? Will you let it go for me? She's my partner and you're my best friend … can you at least try to get along with her for my sake San, if not for anything else?" Santana looked away from Rachel and looked at Quinn who was practically pleading to her to look at her with her words alone.

What Santana saw caused her to soften almost immediately and she did the impossible, she apologized. "I'm sorry Berry. I … know you and Quinn are right to tell me off for openly showing my feelings here because the entire department could get in trouble for it. You … thank you for what you did for me today." Santana paused and her sincerity ran out as she spoke, "but you better not tell a single soul that I told you this, got it Berry?" Rachel looked a bit shell shocked that the Latina actually apologized to her and thanked her because she had been so insistent on being a stubborn bull over it. The threat at the end was just what she expected from her however.

Rachel was normally a very forgiving person but she wasn't sure if she could just put it behind her this time because Santana had been particularly bullheaded over this issue. As stubborn as the diva was when she was wrong she was wrong and she said as much. Santana had outright refused to admit that she was in the wrong and it was something that Rachel could not stand in other people. It was something she could not accept readily no matter who it was her senior in work or not. It was absolutely frustrating because then who could prove another wrong if they refused to admit something as simple as being in the wrong about something? She just stood silently, neither acknowledging nor denying that she had heard Santana.

Santana looked back at Rachel because she had been silent. She wasn't looking into her eyes when she apologized and thanked her so Rachel wondered how sincere she could possibly be under those circumstances. Quinn noticed this as well and she turned from her current position to face Rachel instead so she could see what she was thinking, see the expression on her face. What she saw made her heart ache for a reason she could not figure out. Rachel looked entirely upset and Quinn wanted to make it better, wanted to make her feel better. She didn't like seeing Rachel so upset if she could help it in some way.

She whispered softly into Rachel's ear, "what's wrong? Santana apologized and even thanked you. She never apologizes to others and so even getting an apology out of her is very rare. Why are you still so upset Rachel?" This fourth pronouncement of her name had her heart fluttering softly in its cage and she felt better without understanding the why and how of it. She wanted to hold on to her anger but she had no reason to when Quinn was being so gentle and kind to her.

She looked away at the face that she found most beautiful out of all of the people she had ever met in her life. Quinn wasn't just the prettiest, most beautiful woman she'd ever met but she was one of the most intelligent as well … perhaps even the most intelligent because of the fact that she was a prodigy with photographic and eidetic memory too. She was truly and easily the most intelligent individual Rachel had ever met and it surprised her how many qualities she found in Quinn that matched up with her checklist. She then remembered that she was supposed to give Quinn an answer because she had asked her a question … yes, a question. "I … it's just that I can't tell if Santana is sincere in the least because she wasn't looking at me when she apologized to me Quinn." She took a moment to take a deep breath and let it out slowly to calm herself down from her adrenaline. "I … I'm used to people looking at me when they're apologizing to me sincerely. I don't like it when someone doesn't follow in that category. It seems rather insincere to me when someone apologizes without looking me in the eyes."

Quinn chuckled in response and Rachel nearly took offense but she realized that Quinn wasn't the kind of person did offensive things to others. She merely found something amusing about the situation. "Santana never looks someone in the eyes when she apologizes sincerely because she feels ashamed for not just admitting to whatever in the first place. She can't seem to find it in herself to look directly at the person because of her guilt and shame over what transpired. I found out about this little personality flaw of hers years ago when we were much younger so I'm used to it. You should accept her apology because she's being as sincere as she can be and that is truly difficult for her. She's not used to being sincere in this way because she grew up in such a bad part of town. Where she lived it was difficult to grow up with morals alone because she grew up in such a poor and bad area. She may have been raised in wealth because of her doctor father but she still faced a lot of things discrimination and opposition as she grew up. She was treated terribly by others for knowing where she lived despite her family's wealth. It's not easy for her to warm up to others so easily and it's even more difficult when someone doesn't understand where she came from. She's not trying to be a bad person or mean in any way … it's just what she grew up with and knows. Everyone had that kind of in your face attitude in the Heights Adjacent so that's the only way she knows how to express her anger. If she had grown up in a different environment I'm sure she would have approached you in an entirely different way. Her own grandmother disowned her for being with another woman when she finally came out to her in high school. Her parents were okay with it but … her grandmother didn't take to it and she hasn't spoken to her since. Her grandmother told her to leave her house when she told her so now Santana holds people she doesn't know at arm's length. You just need to figure out who she is on your own and she'll respect you and come to trust you eventually. I know you can do it." Rachel had no idea how Quinn so easily calmed her down and managed to relate things to her in a way that made sense to her and appealed to her compassionate nature.

Rachel nodded her head and finally made eye contact with the Latina. "I accept your apology and apologize for the way I addressed you earlier." Santana gave her a raised eyebrow look when she failed to mention the last part of her clearly expressed worry. Rachel realized that she had left a single part out and rolled her eyes at her, "I won't tell anyone that you apologized and thanked me … I honestly think you let them know better than I did to be honest. There are quite a few officers watching our interaction with focused eyes despite the fact that none of them are standing around us in a circle. You were quite vocal about your protest and I'm sure some of them noticed that you looked apologetic only a few moments ago despite the fact that you had been so adamant about not having done anything wrong. And who knows … some of them might even be able to read lips well and read your lips clearly." Though Rachel accepted the apology that didn't mean she couldn't hold it over her head a little bit for all of the trouble the Latina caused.

Santana didn't look pleased but she accepted the dig without a single word in retaliation because she knew she deserved it. "Whatever, just don't go around actively saying something to the others about me apologizing and mushy stuff like that all right? I'd rather not let them know that I actually have a soft spot for Quinn as much as I've shown just now. They all know not to mess with Brit and Quinn if they don't want me on their case but they don't know the extent of how protective I am toward Quinn. They just know that we're best friends in this station … they don't know how much I truly care for Q though … they don't know that I'd die for her. They don't know that I'd kill anyone who hurt her, they only know that for Brittany and that's it. None of them know how important Quinn is to me because I didn't want them to let it on just in case someone goes rogue or is a dirty cop and they can use it against me. I especially don't want anyone to know because not everyone here is trustworthy." She paused before she said something that surprised Rachel greatly, "I only trust our inner circle and I don't trust anyone out of it. Our circle meaning Quinn, Britt, Sam, Puck, Mike, Tina, Kurt, Mercedes, Will, Sue, and now you. As much as I dislike how you talk and make fun of your short height … I know you can be trusted. I don't trust anyone else outside of this circle here.

Rachel hadn't expected to hear from Santana herself that she trusted anyone outside of Quinn and Brittany let alone her. It was one thing for her to say that she trusted these people she had been working with for half a year and longer but another thing entirely to say she trusted her because she'd only known her for ten days. Nine days technically since she wasn't introduced to everyone until her second day because the first day she was situated in the station and was shown where everything was. She never thought she would hear that kind of thing from the Latina since they had been butting heads with each other since they first met essentially. In fact it was expected for her to feel so profoundly shocked by such an admission on Santana's part. It was akin to having a rug slide out from underneath one self and not being able to grab onto anything as a life jacket. Although Rachel was deeply surprised she was also extremely flattered by such a thought, as flooring as it was. The Latina trusted her despite the fact that she disliked her to a certain degree. That was one of the most obsequious things she had ever heard in her life and she wasn't sure how to handle that thought. She knew that despite Santana's dislike for her she would have her back because she trusted her and she felt triumphant over knowing that. It seemed even Quinn was surprised by hearing that her hotheaded friend trusted the brunette diva already. She hadn't expected her friend to trust her so easily this soon considering her nature. Then again it was easy to tell what kind of person Rachel was since she was who she was without apology and very openly.

"Well that was unexpected," Quinn muttered under her breath and Rachel, due to her proximity to her, heard her clearly and muttered her agreement.

"You're telling me," Rachel murmured under her breath. Neither of them had expected it to come from the Latina considering how much she teased her.

Brittany suddenly came into the picture and took hold of Santana's arm and pulled her away from the partners and whispered something in her ear which got her to giggle. Santana Lopez actually giggled and Rachel couldn't think of anything else that might be stranger than hearing such a sound. Considering she only ever saw Santana's bad side whenever Santana interacted with her, her finding it strange wasn't exactly unwarranted. It was in fact something she considered a sight rarer than a smiling Quinn and that was rare enough as it was. She had only seen little more than a handful of small smiles from Quinn and even less of her true, radiant smiles. This was in fact the first time she had ever heard the Latina giggle. Sure, she had heard her chuckle a time or two but she was usually scowling in some fashion one way or another when she was around her and she smiled or smirked most of the time. Her smiles didn't always indicate happiness and amusement sometimes it meant that she was thoroughly enjoying torturing … ahem, teasing someone about something. Rachel could just tell that it would be an interesting few months here and that she was going to find it a bit difficult to settle down with all of these things to take care of. There was one last thing she hadn't been expecting.

Several minutes after things had finally settled down one Finn Hudson was asking to speak with her privately. He hadn't said those exact words but she would think of it that way.

"Okay I know this seems kind of sudden but … um … well … would you like to go out to dinner with me sometime … or something like that? I noticed you a while ago but I wasn't able to work up the courage to ask until now … so um … will you?" Finn asked nervously.

Rachel was rather shell shocked by this bomb because she hadn't been expecting anything of this magnitude from the awkward giant. First of all this was his first time speaking to her since she was introduced to him and then he only muttered out a barely audible hello to her. This most certainly wasn't the case now but he still had difficulty articulating his thoughts into words.

"Um … I … uh," Rachel didn't know what to say. "It is rather sudden I must say but … I'm not opposed to the idea as long as you have something more definite in mind." She truly wasn't opposed to it but something felt strange and heavy in her chest as she spoke the words of acceptance to him, albeit reluctantly so.

"Oh? Really? That's great! I'll have something planned for the weekend if you're free then Rachel!" He couldn't hide his puppy like excitement and she wasn't sure why she didn't feel anything when she found it adorable. Perhaps it was because she just didn't know him yet.

"Just tell me what the plans are and we can meet up wherever it is you'd like to eat with me." Her chest constricted with protest as she said the words and she wondered why her heart was acting so strangely.

"Great! I'll tell you all of the details tomorrow! I know we're going to have tons of fun!" He said excitedly. "I'll see you around Rachel!" He said with a slight wave. She waved back but her chest felt strange for some reason. Unknown to Rachel Quinn had seen and heard the whole exchange and was wholly unhappy about it. Quinn wasn't sure why she was unhappy about it but she was entirely so and she didn't like it one bit. Was it jealousy brewing in her heart or was it the hatred she harbored for Finn that caused her to feel so unhappy about him courting her partner like that? She wasn't sure what the answer was but she quickly tried to hide it behind her cold mask when Rachel came back.

"Well that was certainly strange." Rachel said as she sat down at her desk.

"What was?" Quinn asked coldly, mask firmly in place.

"Well … Finn asked me out to dinner … what happened, Quinn?" Rachel asked with concern. "You were fine just a moment ago. What happened while I was speaking to Finn? Did something happen to upset you?" Quinn was silent before she shook her head and left it at that. Rachel was curious about why Quinn seemed so upset but she didn't want her to become upset with her if she pushed her for answers. Her day just kept becoming stranger and stranger it seemed. She wondered what would happen next. She wondered if there were still more … interesting things to come before the day was done because there were still several hours left before the work day was over. They still needed to solve this case too for that matter so she went back to work on it.

So here's the next chapter at just over 6,000 words and I hope it was just as enjoyable and interesting as the last chapter! Reviews are nice and motivational things!^^

*This was from Season 2 Episode 22 when Santana loses it. I can't be quoted because I wrote from what I heard and it might not be 100% accurate. Sorry for those read this already because I forgot to add this bit last night.

姫宮光る