Dear readers, I am so terribly sorry that I did not update any sooner. As you all may have understood from the story, I'm a med student, and the week after I posted my last chapter, university started again. It's a really difficult semester (oncology) and it has been kicking my butt since the first week I was back, so I really needed to put a lot of effort in there. Of course I wanted to write nothing but a good chapter for you all, so I hope this one will be.
As the chapter's title mentions, the dark days are over (I actually kind of stole that from Florence + the Machine's Dog Days Are Over, which is an amazing song). There won't be any kind of drama that was in the phase were Brittany was really ill. I'll do my best to write down the feelings as close as I can to how they really are :).
I'm so incredibly happy when I have reviews and alerts (and even some favourites!) after I post a chapter, it really makes my day! I really want to thank HeyaBrittana, DreamsAreGone and undertheopensky for always taking the time to talk to me and being so positive about what I write. Special thanks to FinishWhatYouStart, I think you'd really be my best friend or something if we'd live close enough together :).
Today was an important day for Brittany. Things had been going relatively well with her for the last few weeks, and she was gaining weight. She still wasn't the girl who she was before she got really ill, but at least she started to look healthy again. Today would decide if she had actually gained enough weight to be out of life danger. Being out of life danger would mean that she was allowed to go home to recover further, and that she didn't have to stay in the hospital any longer.
Brittany had had enough of the hospital, and while she was getting better mentally, she had really done her best to become stronger physically. She had eaten everything the nurses gave her, except for the chocolate milk with whipped cream on Boxing Day, which had been too big of a step to get back to eating normally again. Still she was a little scared it wouldn't be enough.
When the pediatrician entered the ward that morning in the last week of January, she looked at her mum, who was with her, noticing that she was a little scared. 'It's going to be alright, sweetie, you've been working really hard' she comforted her.
'So, good morning Brittany! How are you feeling?' the doctor asked.
'I really feel a lot better, doc. Happier mostly, and healthy' Brittany answered.
'You definitely look a lot better than when you came here. Let's see if you are ready to go home then' the doctor said.
Brittany climbed off her bed, and walked to the chair that worked as scales. She sat down and waited. Please let it be enough. Please.
'I'm proud of you Brittany, you really left the danger zone speaking of your weight. It's 45 kilos now, that's really good news. I want to see you again in three months for a checkup, but apart from that you're free to go home now' the doctor answered.
Brittany let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. She could go home. She was free again. Brittany jumped out of the chair and hugged her mum tightly. 'Finally mum, it's been too long here!' she said, excitedly.
'Thanks doctor for all your good care. Let's go home now baby' Brittany's mum said.
They started packing up Brittany's clothes and things. When they had everything, there were two huge crates with cards, stuffed animals, drawings, books and other presents Brittany had been given. On top sat the bright pink mp3 player Santana and the rest had given her. Santana..
'Mum, I've got to send Santana a text. She probably wants to know the good news as well' Brittany smiled. She picked up her phone and typed out a message to her best friend.
Santana sighed deeply. She had been sitting in the medical library for about three hours now. There were only two lectures this morning, but she had an appointment with a plastic surgeon at 6:00PM. She was really happy the plastic surgeon had invited her for a talk about a few days of internship with her at the academic hospital and children's hospital where she studied. But at the moment Santana was so bored she was growing a little grumpy. She hadn't thought about the fact she would have to wait five hours for the appointment. Her homework for the week had been done, and there had been no point in going home, because when she got home, she immediately would have to go back to the university or else she would be late for her appointment.
Anyway, Santana groaned and dropped her head onto the pathology book she'd been reading. Her eyes started to droop when she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She quickly unlocked her phone to see who had sent her a text.
San, I'M GOING HOME! The doctor said I'm not in life danger anymore. I'm sooooo happy! Xx Britt
Santana hadn't been able to visit Brittany for a couple of days because of the enormous load of work she had. When she read the text, she started smiling widely.
She was lucky that there weren't a lot of people in the library, because after reading the texted she couldn't contain herself with how happy she felt. She did a small dance in her seat and her grumpy mood from minutes ago was gone completely. She was so happy for Brittany. Finally the girl had come to terms with herself about the past, and above all she was no longer in danger!
You're not kidding me right? OMG Britt, I'm so happy for you! I wish I could be there to hug you now :). Xoxo S
I wouldn't do something like that, San! Now you mention it, I miss your hugs.. When can I get another one? Xx Britt
Santana felt her cheeks grow hot. Sometimes she thought Brittany knew exactly how Santana felt about her, and maybe, just maybe, the feelings were mutual. Well, there's enough time to explore that now she's really getting better, Santana thought to herself.
She typed out another text.
I can bring you a hug tomorrow! Got a day off then. I've really missed you (and the hugs) as well.. Xoxo S
Brilliant! We can watch a movie at my place, my mum has to work. Can't wait to see you! Xx Britt
Santana sighed. This was perfect.
Santana knew Brittany's mum had to work on Thursdays, so maybe there would be some time to talk, but only if Brittany felt up to it. Most important was that Brittany was home, and in the direction of getting back to the normal life in a few weeks.
When Santana got off the bus, she walked the few minutes to Brittany's house and rang the doorbell. She felt a little nervous since the girls hadn't been alone since the encounter where they ended cuddled up in Brittany's hospital bed. The times after that there always had been another friend present, so that made this afternoon even more special.
'San! It's so good to see you, come in!' Brittany squealed when she opened the door. Santana stepped in to the house and let Brittany close the door. Then she made her move to engulf the taller in a tight hug. Brittany was a little surprised. Santana had never really started a hug herself, but she didn't complain. It felt really good how the Latina wrapped her arms around her small waist.
'I missed you Britt. I'm so, so happy that you're home now' Santana said, with her head resting on Brittany's shoulder.
'I missed you too San, and your hugs. We didn't have much time alone the last few times you visited me in the hospital' Brittany answered.
'Yeah, but it's okay. I'm here with you now' Santana said. Ahh, so I wasn't the only one who wanted more time along with her.
'Can we watch a movie? I really missed all the new movies that came out the last couple of months. Puck downloaded a few for me, it was really nice of him' Brittany asked.
'That'd be great Britt, I haven't been to the cinema much since I've started med school, so we can catch up together. You can pick the movie' Santana replied.
Santana sat down at one side of the couch, while Brittany went through a small stack of DVD's that Puck had brought her. She put the small package she had for Brittany (when she noticed it at the station while waiting for the train, she couldn't resist buying the fluffy thing) next to her so Brittany wouldn't be able to see it until she sat down.
'Can we watch Tangled?' Brittany asked.
'Yeah of course, I think it's a funny one!' Santana said.
Brittany put in the DVD and walked over to the couch with the remote control in her hand. She plopped down next to Santana, as close as possible without actually touching the Latina. Hope that wasn't too obvious, she thought.
When the commercials before the movie started playing, Santana reached next to her for the small package. She was sure Brittany would like it (Brittany seemed to like everything Santana got her), but she was curious how to react to it.
'Hey Britt, I got you something. I was waiting for the train, and when I saw this, it made me think you would like it, so..' Santana trailed off, a little nervous suddenly.
'San, you didn't have to get me anything! I was more than happy that only you would be visiting' she said, smiling. She opened the package and found a small teddy bear under the wrappings. A fluffy pink teddy bear with relatively long paws, with a rainbow on its back. She knows, was the first thing Brittany thought. But then it occurred to her, she seems happy about it. This is amazing.
'Err.. I can take it back if you don't like it Britt' Santana said. She had watch the girl's face change expressions faster than she thought possible. She had come to learn the subtle changes in sparkles in her eyes and knew she was shocked about something, but afterwards there seemed to be a carefully kept in happiness to shine in her eyes. Maybe she gets the rainbow hint, Santana thought.
'No! Er.. no, San, it's so cute!' Brittany said. With that, she sat the bear on the coffee table and flung her arms around Santana's neck. She planted a kiss on the other girl's cheek and lingered there for a few seconds before snuggling her head onto Santana's shoulder to hold on to her for a little longer.
Oh. My. God. Did that just really happen? You've got to be kidding me. No, it did happen. I can feel where she kissed my cheek. And wow, it was really close to my.. wow. I think she really likes me. Santana's thoughts were spinning. As if her body had enough sense, she wrapped an arm around Brittany's waist, and laid her head on top Brittany's where it was resting on her shoulder. After staying like that for a while, just enjoying each other's presence and being so close to each other, Brittany broke away from Santana. Slightly disappointed at the lack of physical contact, Santana remembered they were supposed to be watching a movie. That was what Brittany thought as well.
'Shall I start the movie?' Brittany asked.
Santana noticed that her cheeks her grown hot, but Brittany's were flushed with some pink as well.
'Yeah, okay, let's go' Santana said.
Brittany pressed the play button on the remote control and sat back to watch the intro of the movie. Missing the lack of contact with Santana, she thought for a second, watching the expression on the Latina's face, and acted then. She shuffled as close into the smaller girl's side without wrapping an arm around her. She put her legs up on the couch, as if to hug them with her arms, but she let them drop sideways so they were half in Santana's lap. She sighed happily, but didn´t say anything. She was glad Santana didn´t pull away or something.
Santana on the other hand felt her cheeks grow hot again. She took a sideways glance at Brittany, smiling when she noticed the blonde girl staring back at her. At first she had tensed at the sudden closeness, but when the shock of it was gone, she relaxed and found herself happy that Brittany was that touchy feely. The first couple of minutes into the movie she enjoyed the fact of their closeness.
´You look like Rapunzel, did you know that, Britt? Only your hair looks way better' Santana said. Their closeness had made her confident, and she thought that a little sweet talking would be no problem.
'Really? That's really sweet of you San. It's nice to be with you like this' she answered.
Santana smiled. Now was the right time to do it, she thought. She wriggled her right arm from in between them, and wrapped it around Brittany's waist. Brittany smiled, and put her head onto Santana's shoulder.
Both girls made it look like they were focused on the movie they were watching, but actually both of their heads were spinning with questions waiting to be answered. Does she really like me? Am I just imagining things? Really, this feels too good, I'm sure she thinks the same way.
Brittany knew Santana was always a bit reserved about her feelings. True, she had been opening up a lot to Brittany, and Brittany knew she was comfortable talking about it with her, but still it wasn't easy. However, she knew she had to be honest with Santana, because she couldn't stand lying to her in the first place, but also because she was almost certain that Santana had similar feelings.
Santana wanted to tell Brittany that she really liked her as well, but she was scared she might mess up their friendship, or the progress that Brittany had made during her time in the hospital. That was the last thing she wanted. I think I should wait a little longer, just to make sure she's really healed and ready for an emotional bomb like this. Maybe I shoudl wait until she confesses her feelings to me.. In the meantime I can just go and enjoy the closeness we have.
What Santana didn't know was that Brittany felt ready to tell Santana her biggest secret that she hadn't even told her mum yet. Still enjoying their embrace, Brittany's hands found their way to Santana's hand, that had come to rest on top of Brittany's knees. She squeezed them softly and said:
'San.. Can we talk?'
Thanks so much for reading! Please leave a review, I could really do with some comments about how my dialogues are 'cause I don't feel completely happy about them yet. Other reviews are welcome as well, obviously! I'll do my best to not leave you guys hanging with this little cliffhanger for too long!