Chapter 6
"And that's why I think your restaurant is bull shit." Rachel read out loud, staring blankly at the computer screen. She looked to Santana and then back to the laptop, every time she read a sentence Santana's voice echoing through her head.
"It's good, right?" Santana smiled, taking the laptop back so she could re-read her work.
Rachel chewed her bottom lip with thought, unsure with how to proceed with her opinion, "Santana, I know we didn't have an enjoyable time, but do you really think writing a bad review is going to be helpful?"
"May I remind you about our dining experience at chef boy-r-disgusting?" Santana questioned with a look of repulsion expressed on her face, "The waiter was a first class asshole, the food was terrible and you almost ate meat!"
Rachel nodded with a small shudder. The memory of the fork of what was supposed to be a meatless dish coming way to close to her lips, it almost touching her tongue before Santana thankfully smacked the fork out of her hand.
Rachel sighed and waved her hand as she stood up, "Post it if you must."
"Oh I must and I already did." Santana grinned as she sat back, watching the computer screen, her smile faltering a little, "It's not like anyone is going to see it." She shrugged, "Do people even read blogs anymore? Maybe I should a start vlog? I do have the looks for it."
"Can you really call it a blog when all you do is criticize everything?"
"I'm just telling the truth." Santana mumbled, not feeling an ounce of guilt, "The people need to know. Plus..." She began, with a clear of her throat, her voice low, "It's kind of therapeutic."
Rachel turned around, sending her a small look of approval. When it came to singing or being on stage, she could totally relate to the therapeutic part. "Maybe your next one can be something kind?" she suggested and wasn't surprised when Santana's face twisted into one of confusion, "Come on, it wouldn't hurt."
"I don't know, Rach. I don't think it'd really fit with my vibe." Her attention moving to her phone when it buzzed with a text, smiling as she read it, "Ha, Kurt loved it, oh and Quinn." She said, lightly laughing as she read the blonde's text, "She told me to tell you it was insightful and informative."
Rachel gasped, "How did she even know my thoughts."
"It's Quinn." Santana stated and that was all the explanation she needed to give for Rachel to slightly nod in agreement.
"I miss her, we need to plan a visit soon or she comes here." Rachel suggested, walking back over to join Santana on the couch once again.
"She's coming next week." Santana said turning to look at Rachel, "For work."
"Good." Rachel said, "It's been too long."
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Quinn quickly burst through Rachel's apartment door, wheeling in a suitcase and shoving it to the side, "Hey guys!" she greeted with a quick wave, "I'm going to be late, I'll see you in like two hours." And with that she was back out the door.
Santana and Rachel stood there, looking from the door then to each other, Santana the first to shake her head with disapproval.
"She's going to overwork herself." Santana declared sitting back down on the couch and picking up her phone.
Rachel smoothed out her dress and nodded, sitting back down, "Hmm, perhaps we should prepare a nice meal for her for when she returns?"
Santana nodded, her eyes still glued to her iphone, "Yes. Cook her up one of your healthy things, lord knows she needs it. The last time I was there I swear her fridge was starting to breed take out boxes." Her thumbs tapping at her screen, not looking up once as she added, "I'll cook the meat. "
Rachel smiled as she stood up, "You're helping me?"
Santana finished whatever she was doing and then finally looked up, tossing her phone on the coffee table, "Because leafy greens aren't going to be enough, that girl needs some protein."
"Eee." Rachel clasped her hands together, loving the thought of working in the kitchen with her friend, turning and skipping towards that part of the apartment, "I'll pour the wine!"
Santana sighed as she stood up, "What kind of Rachel Berry fantasy have I've gotten myself into?"
A few hours later Quinn entered the apartment, the aroma of food hitting her right away, causing her to smile. She really could get used to coming home to home cooked meals more often. She rounded the corner, finding Rachel talking about who knows what while she stood in front of the stove, while Santana held a glass of wine in her hand, bored and leaning against the counter, occasionally glancing to her phone while nodding along to whatever Rachel was rambling on about. They looked like a couple and it sent an unwanted chill of jealousy through her entire body.
"Smells good." Quinn finally managed to say with a clear of her throat, finally pulling Santana out of her daze and causing Rachel to turn around.
"Did you make it on time?" Santana asked, watching as Quinn approached her, stealing the wine glass from her hand, bringing it to her lips and draining the white liquid from the glass, "Thirsty?"
Quinn let out a breath, reaching around Santana to grab the bottle so she could refill it, "Ugh, barley. But the meeting went well."
"I'm happy to hear." Rachel smiled, "Dinner is just about ready too. I assume you're hungry?"
"Starved."
"I'll be right back." Santana suddenly piped in, pressing her phone to her ear and leaving the room "Hello?"
Rachel turned the stove off and then grabbed a few plates to dish out the food, "So do you think you'll be in New York more often? I think that'd be really great if that were the case."
"It's a possibility." Quinn nodded, about to elaborate on what she was working on, but Santana abruptly burst back into the kitchen, wearing one of her award winning smiles, one nobody had seen in such a long time.
"I'll have my lawyer look through it." She said into the phone, coming over and tugging at Quinn's arm, her eyes filled with nothing but hopefulness, mouthing the words I need your help and Quinn had no choice but to agree. "Okay, I'll talk with her and schedule an appointment. Thank you, bye."
"My goodness, Santana. What was that about?" Rachel inquired, turning to exam the ecstatic girl.
"What exactly do you need my help with?" came Quinn's worried response.
"That was the head of Real Talk magazine and somehow, through the almighty goddess of destiny, she found my blogs and loved them! She wants to give me a column in her magazine."
Quinn and Rachel both shook their heads, Quinn being the brave one to speak up first, "This sounds way too good to be true, San."
"She's emailing me the details and that's why you're coming to this interview thing with me to make sure I don't get fucked over."
Quinn and Rachel both shared a look; Rachel shrugged with uncertainty, while Quinn watched Santana's face, it nothing but anticipation and hopefulness and it caused her to finally nod in agreement.
"Fine, I have a few morning meetings, but we can speak with them in the afternoon."
"Thank you!" Santana smirked, pulling her into a hug and pressing a kiss to her cheek, turning and doing the same to Rachel and then heading out of the kitchen, "Going to find something to wear!" She called out.
Rachel pursed her lips with thought, her eyes meeting Quinn's, "I hope this is real because I haven't seen her that happy in a long time."
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Quinn stopped Santana before they entered the large building, placing both hands on her shoulders and holding eye contact, "So just be yourself and when we start discussing the contract just let me do most of the talking, okay? I read it over more than once and it looks really great, but we don't want to lose out, okay?"
"Okay." Santana nodded, letting out a nervous breath, "Thanks for doing this for me."
Quinn nodded, brushing some lint from Santana's shoulders and fixing the lapels of her collar, "You got this. You're Santana Fucking Lopez."
Santana couldn't help but smile, resisting the urge to hug her on the sidewalk in front of the building of her potentially new work place.
"Let's go." Quinn smirked, dropping her hands by her sides, the two of them entering the building, Santana surprised and delighted to see that Quinn's entire body language changed as soon as they crossed the threshold. She wasn't Quinn Fabray her best friend, now she was Quinn Fabray her kick ass lawyer.
The interview was just like any other, only Santana was actually excited about this job and as far as she could tell she was acing it. When it came time for Quinn to talk however, Santana was in complete awe. She knew Quinn worked her ass off to get where she was and it definitely paid off and now to see her in action gave her a whole new perspective on what Quinn was capable of and she was filled with nothing but admiration towards her. She could only wonder what Quinn would be like in a courtroom setting, her tone dominating and stern, her posture intimidating but reassuring, her mind suddenly slipping into a small daydream that sent a pleasant chill down her spine. Quinn is fucking sexy.
She didn't realize how big she was smiling until it faltered when she felt two pairs of eyes staring at her.
"Santana?" Quinn questioned, turning to look at the big boss sitting across the desk from them, "Would you mind if we discuss the terms in private before she signs?"
"Not at all. I'll leave you two alone." She smiled, getting up and heading out of her office.
Quinn waited until the door clicked, before she turned in her chair, fully facing Santana, "You obviously have a horseshoe up your ass because this contract is great." She grabbed the pages and flipped through them again, "Paid vacation, benefits, you only have to come here two days a week...you get to work from home. You can even afford a small apartment on your own. This is a dream job for anyone."
"So I should sign?"
"You would be stupid not to sign."
"This all just happened so fast." Santana said suddenly feeling nervous.
Quinn reached out, taking her hand, "What do you have to lose?"
"You're right, Quinn." Santana said smiling just as her new boss entered the office, "We have a deal." She said standing up to shake her hand before signing the papers.
When they were out of the building, Santana grabbed Quinn's hand, tugging her in the direction of a liquor store, "Come on! It's celebration time."
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"So let me get this straight." Kurt began, sitting next to Blaine closely on the loveseat, a drink in his hand, watching as Tina, Quinn, Rachel, Blaine and Santana all poured their attention onto him, "You wrote a few blogs criticizing restaurants, movies, celebrities and whatever – then out of millions of blogs on the internet this chick finds yours and you get a job?"
"What can I say?" Santana cheekily grinned, holding up a drink in her hand, giving cheers to an invisible presence, "The universe loves me." She paused and took a long drink, "And fucking owes me."
"I think I speak for everyone when I say we are all flabbergasted, but just as easily happy for you, Santana." Rachel smiled.
Santana nodded with gratefulness and then stood up, "So how drunk are all of you? Because it's my night and I want to play some strip poker. I want to see the goods you all are hidin'"
There were five nods approval, the one and only disapproval coming from Rachel, who eventually begrudgingly followed her friends to the table, succumbing and joining the game.
Rachel soon found out she had very little to worry about when it came to de-clothing, because it somehow became a flirty game between Quinn and Santana, and Rachel being the most sober had seemed to be the only one to notice. While Kurt, Blaine, Tina and herself chose people sparingly, Quinn and Santana had seemed to playfully banter and chose only each other, Santana throwing her off one time, causing her cheeks to flush a bright red when Santana asked her to remove her top and she now sat in just a thin white tank.
"Alright, Q." Santana grinned, eyeing the cards in her hands and then looking across the table to find Quinn's poker face, "I think I'm about to find out if you're wearing that pink lacy thong." Confident in her full house, spreading the cards against the table top.
Quinn bit her bottom lip, a certain sparkle in her eye, "Geeze, San, looks like we're all about to see those lovely enhanced tits of yours." She wittedly replied, laying a four of kind on the table.
"I've been dying to see them up close." Kurt smirked, high fiving Quinn once her cards were laid out and she was declared the winner.
"Now wait a second!" Rachel shirked, "She's down to her bra and underwear."
"Which would make her the loser, since we discussed that underwear were to remain on." Blaine informed her, "I mean we can stop now and Santana can keep her bra on. We all know who lost."
"No-those aren't the rules." Quinn spoke up, thanking the alcohol she consumed for the liquid courage to speak up.
Kurt clapped with an excited nodded, "Let the ladies free."
Santana smiled as she reached behind herself and with one snap her bra was hanging off of her and then eventually it slid to the ground.
"They're very perky." Tina said in awe, unable to look away, as with everyone else.
"And worth every penny." Santana proudly stated.
Blaine and Kurt simply nodded, while Rachel huffed and stood up searching the ground for Santana's shirt.
"Quinn? You're awfully quiet. Are you taking in your winnings?" Santana taunted.
Quinn stared straight ahead, licking her lips, not sure if she remembered to blink yet, "Mmhm." She cleared her throat, shaking her head, but it didn't help and her eyes were still very wide and open.
"Game over." Rachel finally said throwing Santana's shirt at her, it helping to take Quinn out of her daze.
"We're going to get going." Kurt said Blaine and Tina both standing up to give hugs and head out the door, while Rachel, Quinn and Santana began to clean up.
"So, Q..." Santana began with a smirk dancing on her lips, titling her head to the side as Quinn bent over to pick up a few pillows off of the ground that had fallen off of the couch, "I just have to know, were you wearing the pink lacy thong?"
Rachel's eyebrows creased with curiosity, gathering a few wine glasses off the coffee table, watching as Quinn stood up, nothing but playfulness shining bright on her face. She tossed the pillows on the couch and then walked over to Santana, splaying her hand against her stomach, "Actually, San... I'm not wearing any underwear at all." She winked, gently shoving her away and then headed towards the bathroom to get ready for bed.
Santana sucked in a sharp breath, pursing her lips, watching the blonde walk away, "Damn."
"Santana..." Rachel sighed as she headed for the kitchen to put the wine glasses in the sink.
"What?"
Rachel turned around just as Santana entered the kitchen, giving her a look, "What is this between you two?"
"Rach, it's nothing. Quinn and I always get like this when we drink together." Santana answered, but Rachel's concern didn't disappear, "Rachel, I swear it's nothing. It's the alcohol, we're just having fun."
Rachel stood in silence for a few seconds, contemplating what Santana was telling her. It did just seem like harmless flirty fun between friends. She just didn't want to see Santana jump into something too fast and get hurt again. Finally she nodded, "Okay."
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"Quinn." Rachel softly said, gently nudging the sleeping blonde on the couch, "Your train leaves in two hours, shouldn't you be getting ready?"
Quinn groaned, slowly opening her eyes. Her throat was sore, her body ached and she had a pounding headache, "Fuck."
"Are you sick?" Rachel questioned, her voice rising to a higher pitch, the possibility causing her to jump away from Quinn and cover her mouth, "I haven't missed one performance yet and it will be a cold day in hell before I do miss one!"
"You mentioned my home being cold?" Santana teased as she walked out of the bedroom, her curiosity heightening at the sight of Rachel using her shirt to cover her nose and mouth. "What. The. Fuck."
"I don't feel good. She's freaking out." Quinn mentioned, pulling the covers up and under her chin, shutting her eyes to rest for another few minutes.
"We can't send her home on the train like this." Rachel mumbled through her shirt.
Santana looked from Quinn and then to Rachel, nodding in agreement, "I'll see if I can book a last minute ticket. I'll take her home."
Quinn's eyes snapped open, scrunching her forehead with surprise, "San, you don't have to."
"Quinn, I know you're normally pale, but you look like a snowman. I think your hair is even lighter." Santana said grabbing her phone to look for train tickets, "So I'm going back to Boston with you. I get to work from home remember? I can do stuff like this." She smiled with a wiggle of her eyebrows.
"I'll go pack her stuff." Rachel said quickly vacating the living room, her first stop the bathroom to wash any potential germs off of her.
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"Hey, Rachel." Santana said with her phone pressed to her ear, following Quinn inside the apartment, "We made it." She answered as she shut the door and then turned to watch Quinn pull her Mac book from her bag, "She was burning up on the train and now she thinks I'm going to let her do work." She snipped, ignoring the eye roll Quinn had given her as she walked by to start rummaging through Quinn's dresser. "I'll text you later." She said and then hung up, placing her phone on the top of the dresser.
"Santana, what are you doing?" Quinn asked from her spot at the kitchen table, her voice low and her body trembling with aches and chills, but she was still pushing through it and trying to log onto her email before Santana came to put a stop to it, not even caring that she was going through her clothes.
"You're taking a shower and then putting on some pajamas and going to bed." Santana answered spinning around to hold up sweat pants and a t-shirt she found and then marched over to the table, closing the Mac, nearly shutting it on Quinn's fingers. "Q."
"San." Quinn sighed, crossing her arms and leaning back against the chair, she and Santana having a silent stare down, but eventually Quinn gave in and nodded, the cold taking over her body and warranting her too weak to argue. She stood up taking a step closer to Santana, her hand on the clothes, "You never cared like this before." She whispered.
Santana's face softened, handing the clothes over to Quinn, "Well I've been through a lot of shit these past eight months and you and Rachel really came through for me. Plus you just helped me land a sick ass job. So, I'm going to take care of you."
"In that case, there's soup in the cupboard." Quinn smirked, brushing pass her to head to the bathroom.
"Wait, I was thinking I'd get to help you shower, not cook." Santana teased,
"You wish, San." Quinn said, as she quickly shut the door to the bathroom, letting out a ragged breath, because let's be honest, Quinn wished.
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It was the middle of the night and what Quinn hoped was just a 24hour sickness was in fact not. Her throat still hurt and her body still ached and her head was pounding, but there was one good thing, she was warm, thanks to Santana. She remembered falling asleep facing away from her friend, not wanting to be responsible in getting her sick, but obviously sometime in the night they had shifted onto their sides facing each other and now Quinn was nestled quite nicely in Santana's arms.
She winced when she swallowed and she could swear there were a million tiny knives in her throat, stabbing her every which way. She shifted slowly, aches and pains tugging at her muscles, the duvet exposing her shoulder causing a nasty chill to run through her body, prompting her to wrap her fingers around Santana's shirt, her knuckles brushing the warm skin against her smooth stomach, it inviting her to move closer, but Quinn also wanted to take some more medicine.
She pulled her head slightly back, not realizing how close she was to Santana until her nose lightly brushed along her throat, a pang of guilt coursing through her, Santana acted tough, but she was definitely going to get sick with how close they were tangled together.
Santana was there to take care of her, and Quinn was about to utilize that and wake her up, but when the faint light coming in through her window revealed her peaceful features, Quinn decided to let her sleep. She softly smiled at the sight, almost thankful she had woken up to witness the beauty before her. Quinn and Rachel had both held her through the night while she was crying, but as each day passed, Santana became stronger and right now as she slept, Quinn could tell just how far she'd come by the restful look on her face. Her full lips were slightly parted, her hair was framed almost perfectly around her face, some spilling over her shoulder, and her eyebrows once creased with worry and sadness, were now relaxed and calm.
Her eyes lingered on her lips for a few seconds, her tongue slowly sliding out to wet her dry ones, remembering a time when she was privileged enough to get to taste those skilled lips, but before her mind had wandered into a delightful memory, her throat reminded her that she was in no state to be thinking of such wonderful pleasures.
She whimpered and attempted to roll on her back, preparing for her mission to walk to the kitchen to grab the Nyquil, alas a hand slid pleasantly up the middle of her back and pulled her back into the warmth that always seemed to be radiating from Santana.
"Where are you going?"
Quinn was surprised to hear the mumbled words, wondering for a short second if she was awake this entire time and Santana caught her staring.
"I was going to take another shot of Nyquil."
"Mmm."
Quinn waited a beat, the room going silent again, questioning whether or not Santana had fallen back to sleep, and just as Quinn was about to tilt her head up to check, Santana was gently rolling Quinn onto her back, the blonde taking enjoyment in the sudden weight, which was gone all too quickly since Santana was just climbing over her to get out of bed.
"I'll get it."
Quinn rolled onto her side and watched her fumble through the kitchen, sitting up when Santana walked back over to the bed, letting out a giant yawn that lasted all the way until she reached the nightstand and placed the Nyquil and a bottle of water on top. Before she could reach out for it though, there was a sudden hand pressed against her forehead, and then the back of Santana's hand was placed on her cheek.
"You feel like shit." Santana stated.
"Geeze, thanks, San." Quinn replied her voice hoarse and her body trembling with every second she wasn't covered by her blanket.
"I'm just saying, good thing it's Saturday tomorrow. I think your body needs the rest." Santana said, deciding to grab the Nyquil and pour Quinn the shot for her.
Quinn only nodded, thankful it was the weekend as well, finally grabbing the liquid from Santana and downing the medicine, grimacing as soon as it hit her tongue. She placed the empty cup back on the nightstand and then fell back against the pillows letting out a slow breath. She looked over when Santana crawled back into bed, "You're so going to catch this."
"I'm not." Santana assured her, sliding closer, "Now you want to be spooned or what? This bitch is going to use her body heat to scare your bitch ass flu away. I'm way bigger and badder, so look out. "
"I don't even think badder is a word." Quinn mused, but she eagerly turned onto her side, nearly melting when Santana molded into her back and a protective arm draped over her stomach and pulled her close.
"Goodnight." Santana whispered.
"Goodnight." Quinn replied, her eyes getting heavy, feeling a wave of what she could only describe as bittersweet wash over her, the Nyquil was already making her sleepy which was great, but she also wished she could stay awake just a little while longer to enjoy the embrace she was sharing with Santana.
They're all flirty and close now - but heads up I'm not going to make it that easy for them. *evil laughter*