A/N: Sorry for the wait on this. I had a bit of trouble writing this chapter and I didn't want it to suck so I kinda got frustrated with it and left it alone for awhile. This is another set-up chapter that doesn't have too much Brittana but there is still some. Anyway, thanks for sticking with it, and I hope you like it.

"Santana, are you sure you want to go down to the docks again today? I mean, it's been pointless the last few times." Quinn asked as they were loading supplies into their packs. Santana didn't even look up when she replied,

"Of course I'm sure. We have to keep digging for information. I just know there is something in town that will help us. I'm not sure what it is, but we still have to go."

It had been two weeks since Santana's outing with Brittany, and not a lot had happened since. The camera slides from their traps were a bust, showing no signs of jaguar activity. This frustrated the scientist to no end, and ever since, she had been all work, all the time.

"This isn't you avoiding Brittany, is it?" Quinn sighed, "because if so, I'm going to kick your ass. Rachel won't shut up about how Brittany always asks about you."

"Rachel never shuts up, Quinn. Sooner you realize that the better." Santana shot back to her while fiddling with the straps on her camera. Quinn shoved her shoulder just hard enough to throw her off balance.

"You're avoiding the question, Lopez. Just like you avoid everything else. Your feelings, your family, talking about your father-" Quinn ranted before Santana interrupted her.

"DON'T talk about him, Fabray. Seriously. This discussion is over." She said icily while turning to walk away.

"Nope, it's not. I'm tired of your bullshit. I'm your best friend, Santana. You can cut this moody crap with me. You need to woman up and get over yourself. I'm here to help you find answers, and so is Puck. But we can't do anything until you stop ignoring the fact that you need help with it!" Quinn called out. This stopped Santana in her tracks.

She knew Quinn was right but she really did not want to admit it. Then again, she was tired of going this alone. Trying to do everything herself just wasn't cutting it. Sighing, Santana turned back around.

"Yeah? Well, this is coming from a girl who's interested in dating a troll." She told Quinn lightly. Quinn smiled. It was as close as Santana would come to admitting the truth to her. She walked over and placed her arm over Santana's shoulders.

"There's the Lopez we know and love. Now, are you really avoiding Brittany? Last I heard, things were progressing nicely." She asked while moving to a log to sit. Santana followed as she thought of how to answer.

Truthfully, things were going well. Ever since their hiking 'date', as Santana referred to it in her head, things between her and Brittany were great. They always sat next to each other at dinner, they always said goodnight and good morning, and they always made eye contact when in close proximity. But, Santana was unsure of how to proceed with the whole ordeal, so every night when Brittany asked about when their next outing would be, Santana would respond with how busy she was with work, and that was that.

"I don't know, Quinn. I'm just unsure of how to move things along. She keeps asking to go hiking again and I want to, but I know I need to focus on work, and finding Juarez. I just can't find the right balance here." She responded sullenly.

"Okay, you need to stop treating your life like a scientific equation. It's kinda pathetic." Quinn replied honestly, "and from what Rach tells me, Brittany is really interested in you. You need to give things with her a shot. Hell, if she can put up with you then you need to get off your ass and buy that girl some bling."

"Never say 'bling' again. I'm serious." Santana warned while getting up and readjusting her pack.

"You're avoiding again." Quinn told her while doing the same. Santana threw her hands up in frustration.

"Alright, alright! I'll go talk to her." She shouted, " You happy now? Jeez." Quinn smiled smugly and nodded.

The two made their way back toward the village to find Brittany. Just as Santana spotted her and was about to wave, Puck came rushing up.

"Guys! We have got to get down to the docks. My police friend has found some stuff for us." He said quickly while pushing them toward the path that lead to the docks.

"Really? Okay, let's go. The sooner we get back, the better." Santana replied as the trio headed off. She turned and looked over her shoulder to wave goodbye to Brittany, but saw that she was gone. She frowned in disappoint and hurried after Puck and Quinn.

"So, who is this friend of yours?" Quinn asked uneasily as they made their way to the docks. After their last run in, she was a bit cautious about anything to do in town.

"His name's Mike Chang and he's an old friend of mine. His dad knew mine somehow and we've always kept in touch. He knows all the locals and is the best bet in getting any kind of information." Puck told them both. Santana nodded while she processed the information.

"Well, I really hope this guy comes through for us. Anything will help, and we need all the help we can get." She replied back as Quinn nodded in agreement.

Once they reached the docks, Puck led them to a small building at the edge of town. Santana and Quinn shared a look as they both read a hand-painted sign that read 'Police Headquarters'. Quinn shrugged while trying to see into the dust covered windows.

" I know it looks bad, but my boy Mike is trustworthy." Puck explained while holding the door open, "so, ladies first." Santana pushed Quinn in the doorway before following, careful to avoid the slap Quinn sent her way.

Inside was a small table and two worn down chairs that were placed across from the only desk in the room.

"We're the only ones here, Puck". Santana told him. Just then, a head poked out from under the desk.

"Puckerman! I was wondering when you were gonna show up." A tall man with black hair and a kind smile exclaimed.

"Sorry about that, Mike. Had to go fetch these two." Puck told him while pointing his thumb to Quinn and Santana. Mike moved toward them.

"Hello there, I'm Mike Chang. It's nice to meet such distinguished scientists in this tiny town." He greeted while shaking their hands.

"Same to you. Puck tells me that you have something for us?" Santana responded back. Mike nodded and made his way over to the desk again. Reaching under it, he pulled out a broken shotgun and a bag of shells.

"Holy shit!" Quinn exclaimed from behind Santana.

"Damn, where did you find that? And what does it have to do with us?" Santana asked while looking over the fragmented pieces.

"Well, Puck told me that you found a shotgun shell out in the jungle, so I thought we could compare those." Mike explained while hand the shells to Santana, "plus, there's this." He grabbed the barrel end of the shotgun and pointed toward the end.

"Those are teeth marks." Quinn said while measuring the dents with her fingers, "Jaguar teeth marks, to be exact. You agree, S?" Santana moved to where Quinn was and nodded.

"Yup, they are. What I'm guessing is that this is a poachers gun, and things went wrong ." Mike nodded and pointed toward the handle.

"Looks like the gun misfired and the bullet got stuck. I didn't see any blood at the scene so I think the guy got away." He told them while placing the gun back on the desk.

"Let's see if the shells match before we do anything else." Santana said as she rooted around in her pack before producing the shell they had found weeks ago. Mike grabbed it and one of the bullets he found and examined the sides with a magnifying glass.

"Well, the serial numbers match, so the shells came from the same box." He confirmed.

"Can you take us to the site where you found this?" Puck questioned. Mike nodded and gathered the stuff back and placed it under the desk again.

"Wait, I know this is probably against code, but do you mind if we borrow a few guns as well? We've been on the receiving end of them one too many times, and I'd like us to be prepared if we go into poachers territory." Santana asked the policeman hopefully. Mike thought about it for a minute before nodding again.

"I trust you know how to handle a gun, with Puck being ex-military and you two having to use tranquilizers from time to time." He responding with pulling out a draw, "plus, I'm the only law enforcement in this town. It'll be nice to have some guys on my side if shit goes down."

"Oh hell yea!" Puck exclaimed with grin as Mike handed out some handguns to them. Santana shook her head at him before holstering hers to her side while Quinn did the same.

After that, Mike led them out of the building and down the dirt road to a small path just before the seedy bar where they had run into Juarez's men.

"When I heard a shot this close to the docks, I came out here to inspect, and that's when I found the gun." Mike explained over his shoulder as they moved farther away from town.

About five minutes later, they reached a small clearing. Looking down, Santana could see signs of a struggle.

"It was a jaguar, alright. From the size of these prints, a pretty big one too." She said while gesturing to the ground.

"And these boot marks go down that way." Quinn told her from a few feet away. Santana looked up and saw Quinn pointing east.

"That's back to the village." Santana mumbled in shock, anger bubbling in her at the thought of some sleazy poacher going anywhere near there. She was forced out of her musing by the sound of a branch snapping behind her. She whirled around, drawing the attention of the others.

"What is it, S?" Quinn asked quietly. Santana scanned the foliage ahead of her before replying,

"I heard something out there. It sounded like a boot snapping a branch."

Just then, it sounded again. Mike stepped forward.

"This is the police, come out now!" He bellowed while his hands started to reach for his gun. Santana was about to do the same when she saw the figure emerge.

"Brittany!" Santana yelped in surprise. The tall blonde rushed to Santana's side as soon as she heard her voice.

"San! I'm sorry, please don't arrest me!" She pleaded while latched on to Santana's arm.

"W-what are you doing out here?" Santana asked in shock. Brittany pawed the ground with her shoe.

"Well, I saw you guys leaving and I just really missed you, so I kinda followed you. I thought I could help and get to spend time with you." She explained sheepishly.

"You followed me? Brittany that's dangerous! Who knows what could have happened?" Santana told her frantically.

"I know, but I figured this was the only way I could get you to spend time with me." Brittany answered quietly. Santana immediately felt guilty. What would have happened if they had run in to poachers and Brittany was harmed in the crossfire? Shaking those thoughts away, she looked around. Quinn was glaring at her with an 'I-told-you-so' face on, Puck was waggling his eyebrows and Mike was shaking his head.

"Listen, you don't have to follow me to spend time with me. I'm sorry about these past couple of weeks, I just got distracted. Tomorrow I'm taking you to my special place. Okay?" She promised with a smile. Brittany brightened instantly.

"Really? Yay! Where are we going?" She asked excitedly. Santana shook her head.

"I'm not telling. It's a surprise." She answered with a wink. Brittany just beamed.

"Ahem. Well, we better head back." Mike said, breaking Santana and Brittany out of their trance. The group nodded before turning to leave.

"Glad to see you Britt." Quinn greeted while walking past, but not before punching Santana in the arm. Puck approached them, but didn't say anything due to Santana's glare, so he just waved and hurried past.

Santana began to follow them, but Brittany held her back. She turned to see why but was halted when Brittany kissed her cheek.

"I really did miss you." Brittany told her honestly. Santana's ears turned pink as she nodded in agreement before grabbing Brittany's hand and pulling them back toward the docks.

Sorry about the bland chapter, but it needed to happen in the story. Let me know what you think!