Author's Note: Thank you so much to everyone who's giving feedback and adding this story to favourites/story alerts. It means a lot. This chapter is dedicated to Unfathomably for giving me such a glowing report on the rest of the 'fic. Lots of love to you all. ~KennyEchelon

Chapter 4.

Instead of going home, I turned around and walked back into town. I had to go to the one person who was going to listen to me, well, I wasn't sure that he would but it was worth a try. I had to do something. It wasn't too long before I was in Lima Town Center and I picked up a coffee from The Lima Bean on my way.

It wasn't for me though. I figured I could do with buttering him up before I dropped my request on him and I needed all the help I could get. I made sure I got his favourite type and everything. Everyone said I had him wrapped round my little finger but they were so wrong. They didn't know how much of a hard-ass he really was.

I kept going over what I was going to say in my head, trying to figure out how to put it. I obviously couldn't just blurt it out otherwise it'd be a definite 'no' for sure. I couldn't risk that; not for Brittany.

As I turned the corner, I saw my destination straight ahead of me and I became nervous. What if he did say no? I promised Britt I'd help her. I kept walking trying not to doubt my ability to charm people. I'm Santana freaking Lopez and nobody can resist a Lopez.

Except another Lopez.

I tried to push that thought out of my head as I approached the hospital. I know I could've seen him at home but he was always too busy to sit down for any amount of time and he was nearly always at work. It was a safer bet to find him at the hospital and knowing him, he'd need a decent coffee.

The automatic doors granted me entry and I strutted in, acting like I owned the place which technically I did seeing as Dad was the top dog there. Making my way over to reception, I leant on the desk and said: "Could I see Chief Doctor Lopez please? It's his daughter come to visit him." It was a guy on reception so I was as flirtatious as I could while still being subtle.

"He's scheduled to be available in about 20 minutes if you don't mind waiting?" said the receptionist as politely as possible without sounding pervy although I could tell he was trying to guess my age and trying to justify checking me out.

Ugh. Men creep me out when they do that but at least I can use it to my advantage.

"I kinda need to see him now" I said semi-seductively, gesturing to the coffee in my hand. He looked flustered but let me go upstairs. It did feel wrong but that's just how I got my way.

I went up to the floor my dad's office was on in the elevator because I wanted his coffee to get to him hot, otherwise my efforts to suck up to him would fail. With a loud ping the doors opened, leading out onto a very wide and very plain corridor that smelled of antiseptic. I had no idea how he could work in a place like this.

His office was on the other end of the corridor and when I reached it I gave the door a tentative knock, trying to hide me obvious apprehension.

"Come in" he said and I entered, faking confidence. "Hi Papi" I sang "I brought you coffee, just how you like it!" He didn't even look up as he told me to put it on his desk. My false smile faltered. I stood there for a minute, trying to build myself up to say what I wanted to. It took me five times reminding me who I was before I opened my mouth to speak.

"Um, I came to talk to you actually. I have a favour to ask."

Dad stopped staring at his paperwork and looked at me over the top of the pages. My resolve nearly completely disappeared until I pictured Britt's face. I had to do this.

"When you sent me to that dance school, I didn't want to go. In fact, I resented you for sending me. But now… now I think differently. On my first day, I met my best friend. Brittany Pierce. She is amazing and talented and treats me like I'm the best thing in the world. But she's wrong. She's the best thing in the world and she doesn't even realize it. The one thing she loves more than anything is dance and now her mom is unemployed she can't keep going to lessons. I know one day she'll be a great professional dancer, if we can just help her out financially until her parents are able to pay again. Please can you help her? I believe in her, just like she believes in me."

It wasn't until after I finished that I realized my eyes were shining with tears.

Dad looked dismissively at me and just said: "I'll consider it."

It hurt, knowing that he didn't even care. I felt defeated because he was the only person I knew who I could ask for monetary assistance. I felt like a failure. "Thank you for your time, Papi" I mumbled and left his office, fighting off tears. No-one ever saw me cry and I wasn't about to start letting them.

All I could think was: "I'm sorry, Britt."