Chapter 4

Phoenix removed a single key from her pocket and opened the door to her apartment, not once jostling the now considerably calmer blonde in her arms.

Around two minutes before they reached Phoenix's apartment, Quinn had passed out in the former's arms from the high of her emotions. The blonde's body still trembled slightly and there were dried tear tracks on her face, but her frantic heartbeat had considerably calmed down since she fell asleep, her head nestled against Phoenix's neck.

Before she passed out, in the back of her mind, Quinn knew that it wasn't fair of her to be like this around someone who was a essentially a stranger. She was being weak. Maybe even childish. But Quinn couldn't help it. After everything that she had just discovered, it felt good to feel protected. To feel like someone cared about her, like she meant something to someone, even though it was a stranger.

Honestly, she didn't even care about what happened to her anymore.

Old Quinn wouldn't have let a random, mysterious redhead take her home.

New Quinn certainly followed a different rule book.

Phoenix walked towards her bedroom, massively thankful that Quinn had calmed down and fallen asleep in her unwavering arms.

For some reason, Phoenix had felt this inexplicable need to protect Quinn. She couldn't even think of someone hurting the blonde and couldn't even imagine not making someone who did that pay.

When Phoenix had seen that man pressing Quinn up against the wall in the alley, it was like something snapped inside of her. She had never felt angrier before and she knew it was more than just the thought of the incident that could've taken place that caused it.

She knew that it had something to do with the fact that it was Quinn.

Phoenix just sighed, pushing her bedroom door open softly and walking in. It hadn't been two days since she had been in Lima and look what was happening. So much for a quiet, fresh start.

Phoenix gently put Quinn down on her bed, spreading a blanket over her and tucking her in. Her muscles relaxed at the sudden absence of weight but she barely noticed it, too used to the feeling of over exertion by know.

It's not like the past three years had ever given her a choice.

Phoenix silently walked over to the mini fridge in the corner of her room and pulled out a bottle of water, which she later preceded to place on the bedside table next to Quinn's head.

"You're safe Quinn," Phoenix whispers, bending down and pressing a kiss to the blonde's forehead, before sitting down on the floor next to the bed and leaning against the bedside table, sighing as the events of that day replayed in her head, emerald eyes drooping after a few seconds.

Little did Phoenix know that Quinn had come back to consciousness for a few seconds, the redhead's words ringing in her ears and her reassuring kiss lingering on her forehead.

Phoenix had saved her, in more ways than one. She had protected Quinn, brought her to her house. She had taken care of her.

Quinn didn't know why Phoenix had done it. She really couldn't imagine why anyone would want to take a broken, sobbing mess to their house. But there was only one thing on her mind when she slipped back into unconsciousness, breathing in the scent of the winter coated she was still wrapped in, courtesy of one emerald eyed redhead.

She was so thankful that Phoenix had been sent into her life.

Santana was lying on her back on the bed, dried tear tracks on her cheeks, warm sheets clutched around her body.

She had considered it. Considered going to Puck's house. She was angry and upset and heartbroken and she needed a distraction. Going to Puck might have been pretty much perfect for that.

She couldn't bring herself to say yes to him though.

The minute she remembered why she was angry and upset, she knew that not even in a million years would she ever go back to Puck.

If she had even the slightest chance left at getting her girl back, she had to get her crap together, fix her mistakes and fight for the blonde. Do the things that she wished she had the courage to do a long time ago. She had done a lot of thinking during the walk home and the time she spent just curled up in bed, sobbing into Brittany's sweatshirt. She knew that if she didn't do something now, she was going to lose the blonde.

If she hadn't already.

The only problem was, that fear and terror in her heart was refusing to go away and she had no idea what to do.

The Latina snapped out of her morose thoughts when her phone beeped, making her roll over with a sigh and pick it up from the bedside table, her eyes lighting up when she was who the sender was.

From Britt: Have you reached home safe? I took the car and I didn't realize I left you alone.

Santana couldn't help but smile at Brittany's concern. The blonde was honestly angry and upset with her but she still wanted to know if she was back home safe and that small detail made her heart all fluttery.

To Britt: I did, you know my house is only a five minutes away.

Santana anxiously waited for a reply, sitting up and leaning against the headrest, knees curled up to her chest.

From Britt: Good.

Santana sighed at the curt reply, knowing that this time there was no way out. She took a deep breath before she typed, quickly pressing send before she had second thoughts.

To Britt: I'm sorry. For everything. But I promise you. I'm almost there B. I'm almost ready to come out, to be your girlfriend. I just need a little more time. Please give me some more time.

Santana closed her eyes as she waited for Brittany's reply, her heartbeat going a million miles an hour. This was it. It was in Brittany's hands. The final yes or no. Santana quickly sat straighter when her phone buzzed in her hand, squinting at the screen.

From Britt: You have to choose and you have to choose now Santana. Is it going to be me, or is it everything else?

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