AN: Thank you for all the reviews and follows and fav's I'm really glad that you like this story. I'm enjoying writing it. It's a nice change of pace.
She hadn't gotten the part, she hadn't even gotten a call back. It was discouraging to say the least. It was hard sometimes to tell whether it was about her status—or her actual skill. It was demoralizing and she called Santana who hadn't picked up, which meant she was busy with work. Santana had been distant the past two days, which meant Gunther had probably done something again and Santana didn't want her to worry. But she did—Santana didn't have to take Gunther's abuse anymore.
She bit her lip, and looked at the number on the phone. Charlie could claim them tomorrow and Santana would be safe. If she knew how bad it was then maybe she could put a stop to things. Santana hadn't wanted her to ask Charlie of anything, but this was important. She was tired of Santana coming home with bruises and the occasional disgusted look on her face. She was tired of just getting the job only to realize they didn't want her for her dancing. She just wanted to dance. So she called the number if Charlie didn't pick up then—
'Hello.'
Brittany could hear someone singing in the background and she paused Charlie was probably busy with her own work, she didn't have any idea what making an album entailed but she hoped that she wasn't interrupting anything. "Hey Charlie, I didn't mean to interrupt."
Charlie grins at the sound of Brittany's voice. 'You didn't, I promise you didn't, I'm just watching Mercedes do her part for one of my songs.' Charlie says truthfully watching as Mercedes sang in the recording studio. She smiles and leans back in the chair ignoring the sound technician who was giving her a strange look.
Brittany smiles curling up on their beaten up couch. "I was wondering if you wanted to come with me to visit San at work today. Maybe we can have lunch together," she offers. She's met with quiet and she frowns wondering if she's overstepped her boundaries and she's about to apologize when Charlie finally speaks up.
'Is that okay with Santana? I know she doesn't really like me—and I don't want to make her upset with me. I want her to like me.' Charlie whispers into the phone.
Brittany pauses and smiles a bit. "San just doesn't know you Charlie, this is a good way for her to get to know who you are. It'll be okay because I'll be there."
Charlie nods listening to Brittany for a moment, "Mercedes will be done soon, I'll give Puck a call and have him take us to the diner. Oh? How did the audition go did you get the part? I thought you were the best girl on stage. I'm not biased or anything, well I am, but Quinn agreed with me. My eyes were on you the entire time. You were amazing."
Brittany grins as Charlie bumbles on, but the smile on her face has a tinge of sadness in it. "I didn't get a call back," she admits and once again Charlie falls silent for a moment. "Charlie?"
'Why? You were the best girl on that stage—do you want me to call someone. I can call someone for you?' There has to be someone she can demand answers from. Brittany was actually a fantastic dancer. She deserved to get a part.
"Don't do that Charlie. It's okay—there's always the next audition right?" Brittany says cheerfully. She doesn't want someone to get yelled at because of her. She didn't mind places like that in the long run, at least they were doing what they could to protect her even if not getting the job hurt. Dominants generally thought they could get away with anything and everything. Some people had a reputation, others didn't.
'That's a positive attitude. There's some open call auditions that are going to be announced soon. I can send you the details,' Charlie said. According to Frannie she couldn't just give Brittany the part, she'd have to audition just like everyone else.
Brittany smiled, open auditions were basically all she could hope for and she smiled at the thought of getting more. "I'll see you soon?"
'You'll see me soon.'
The lunch rush was over and Santana was busy wiping things down. Another day, another bunch of lousy tippers, and dominants who had rather grabby hands. Gunther was still an asshole but that was nothing new. The bell on top of the door rang and Santana looked up, smiling when she saw Brittany with Puck in tow. She didn't really want Brittany around Gunther, but truthfully after the week she was having she was grateful that Brittany was around to make this shitty day better. The smile on Santana's face faded for a moment when Brittany turned around at the door and motioned for someone else to enter. Charlie Fabray entered wearing her usual ripped jeans and button up shirt a pair of sunglasses on her face.
Charlie glanced at Santana who didn't exactly look pleased to see her and waved lamely an apologetic look on her face as Brittany grabbed her arm dragging her to a booth. "Brittany—are you sure she's okay with this?" Charlie asked Brittany.
"Santana just needs to get to know you," Brittany said gently because that was true. Santana just needed to know who Charlie was and then things would be better and they could all be happy together. That was the grand plan but it was no doubt that Charlie would need to show Santana that she wasn't like all the other dominants that she had run into.
Gunther's eyes widened, it seemed that Rachel Berry had kept her part of the bargain. It was one of the Fabray sisters who was visiting his diner this time. From the looks of it was the infamous Charlie Fabray, another star on his wall would set his place on the map. He could see the article in some of those snobby food magazine's now. "That's—one of the Fabray twins!" he turned to Santana who had a slightly annoyed look on her face. "Whatever she wants Santana."
Santana resisted the urge to roll her eyes. It was just Charlie. The same person who had face planted right there in front of them the night of Rachel's opening. Who hadn't known how to say goodbye so she had just stuck out her hand awkwardly. Sure she signed a few autographs and people came up to her and asked her to sign things but it was just Charlie. But she grabbed her notepad anyway and headed to the table. "Welcome to the Spotlight dinner, may I take your order." Gunther was hovering again, she could practically feel his terrible breath on the back of her neck.
"Hey San, we came to visit you at work today," Britt said cheerfully and Santana smiled at her before flicking her eyes to Charlie, who finally pulled her shades off and hooked them in the front of her shirt. "See Puck and Charlie came to see you work."
"Hey Santana," Charlie greeted flashing her a huge smile, her eyes flicking over the waitress. Santana gave her a look and Charlie sunk down in her seat and picked up the menu. "Brittany said I should come," she mumbles under her breath. She probably shouldn't have come.
"Yes so you can get to know her better," Brittany said looking at Santana giving the Latina a look of her own. Charlie hadn't done anything wrong. "She's gotten me a few more open auditions, so I'll get to dance," Brittany said conversationally.
"I'll get my usual," Puck announced after a moment grinning at her. Sam had liked Santana and he had no doubt his dominant would like Brittany once they actually had the chance to meet. He turned to Charlie who was looking at the menu carefully. "Just get what I get."
"Puck the last time you told me to get what you got, I ended up throwing up on Frannie's shoes. She billed me, and then threatened to sue me for emotional distress," Charlie reminded him.
"I didn't tell you to eat as much as me," Puck said with a lopsided grin.
"No you dared me to eat as much as you," Charlie said and looked up at Santana realizing how foolish she sounded. Brittany seemed amused by this admission but Santana looked unimpressed. "I promise I've learned my lesson. It's best to just ignore Puck when he dares you to do something." Really she should have learned her lesson after she had broken her arm back when they were kids.
Santana was now a hundred percent sure that they had gotten stuck with an idiot for a dominant. It was clear from the goofy look that generally crossed Charlie's face. She was about to say something when Gunther had clearly heard enough of this. He always needed to make himself feel important. So he laughed loudly as if Charlie had just said something funny and he discretely elbowed her aside.
"I'm sure we all have things that we wish we didn't do," Gunther said as he reached over the table ignoring Puck and Brittany. "Lunch is on us. I absolutely love your work."
Santana resisted the urge to call Gunther out on his bullshit. He hated her work, whenever one of her older songs came on the radio he would switch the station calling it drab pop music. He was sucking up to her just because of her celebrity status. "So can I take your order?"
"The waffles are really good," Brittany said to Charlie who smiled at her. It was what she always got when she came here. "That's what I'm getting."
Charlie grinned at Brittany, "Well after that recommendation I'll get the waffles please," she said looking up at Santana a pleased look on her face. Santana raised a brow at her and she flushed. "I like breakfast food?" She said holding up her menu for Santana to take.
Gunther immediately took the menus before Santana could move. He was embarrassed, that a dominant had to explain herself to a submissive in his restaurant. That the response wasn't an immediate and crisp yes. The celebrity looked ready to bolt out of his restaurant. "We'll have that out for you right away. Ms. Fabray."
Santana kept looking at Charlie for a moment before she felt Gunther grab her arm and practically pull her away. Maybe she was being too hard on the celebrity, she was nice and polite. She didn't seem to be a threat and Puck did say that he could teach her how to wrap Charlie around her finger—not like that would be a challenge from the awestruck look Charlie gave her every single time that she looked at her. Charlie hadn't done anything that had caused any red flags in her mind. She sighed as Gunther dragged her into the kitchen away from prying eyes.
"I don't think I'm growing on her Brittany," Charlie said with a sigh looking at Brittany, a slight frown on her face. She hadn't liked how that man had touched Santana. "Should I talk to her? Like privately, is there something I'm missing? Am I doing something wrong?"
Brittany shook her head and bit her lip not sure if she should tell Charlie the whole story and why she had brought Charlie here to the diner. "We're unclaimed Charlie, what happened to me when we first met wasn't the first time it's happened and not everyone was as nice as you. Not everyone treats submissive's like you and your friends do."
Charlie's face hardened after a second. She knew that. Rachel had run into problems when she was first starting out with some asshole director who hadn't taken no for an answer. He had disappeared never to be heard from again.
"Santana doesn't trust dominants, it's not your fault. Just it's going to take her some time. I think she likes you but she doesn't trust you. I wish she did—you probably would have helped her with Gunther."
"Who the fuck is Gunther?" Charlie asked a frown on her face. The name sounded vaguely familiar.
"The asshole who just took Santana to the back," Puck said immediately. "Wanted Sam to punish me for interrupting him the other day. Treats his submissive wait staff like shit."
Charlie blinked at this information and turned her attention back to Brittany a dark look on her face. "Does he hurt her?" Her voice was eerily calm and Brittany hesitated for a moment before nodding her head. "Puck call my sister," she said standing up.
"Charlie don't—" Brittany began but Charlie was already moving toward where Gunther had dragged Santana off to.
Puck didn't look particularly perturbed by the turn of events as he pulled out his phone. "Which one?" he asked.
"Frannie," Charlie called over her shoulder as she hopped over the counter.
"You can't—" one of the waitresses said but a quick look from the furious dominant immediately shut her up and she moved aside.
Brittany looked over at Puck who had dialed Frannie's number. "You have to stop her!" She hadn't wanted to get Charlie in trouble or cause Santana any trouble she had just wanted Charlie to see what was going on. She didn't like violence.
Puck held up a finger as Frannie picked up the phone on the second ring.
'Puck I'm about to head in for a deposition this had better be good.'
"Charlie's about to be arrested again," Puck winced when he heard the yelling.
Frannie paused she could hear the yelling in the background of the call. 'On what charges?'
Puck turned as she watched Gunther hit the ground hard, Charlie moving into view. "Attempted murder from the looks of it. I should go break this up before she kills the guy. We're at the spotlight diner, Rachel knows where it is. I've got to go Frannie." Puck said hanging up and moving to keep Charlie from getting slapped with a murder charge.
Charlie had seen red when she had seen Gunther pressing Santana against a wall his hand on his belt. Santana had a resigned expression on her face like she was used to this and Charlie had lost it, grabbing him and throwing him off her. She was going to fucking murder the son of a bitch. She had moved quickly after she had thrown him into the main dining area, not caring that Gunther was an old man. She didn't even hear Santana yelling at her to stop she just wanted to murder the asshole. She was rich she'd probably get away with it.
She mounted him and slammed her fist into his face, hearing the satisfying crunch of his nose breaking. "Don't touch her." She said each word punctuated by another fist to the face as Gunther struggled to push her off scratching at her arms.
Puck dived for her grabbing Charlie tightly and dragging her off the man. Charlie struggling against him trying to get back to the man who had hurt her soulmate. He was probably going to get in trouble with Sam for not actually stopping the events from occurring.
Gunther scrambled away slowly his head was swimming, "I'm calling the cops you crazy bitch. You saw that she attacked me. I'm going to sue," he screamed at her reaching for the phone.
Brittany stared at the carnage for a moment as Puck whispered something into Charlie's ear as she strained to show him what a crazy bitch could do to him. It didn't seem to work and Charlie redoubled her efforts to break away from Puck cursing the fact that he was bigger and stronger than her. Santana finally came to look at what was going on, she wasn't shaking in fear she looked surprised mostly and was watching Charlie struggle to get her hands on the guy. Brittany moved this was her fault, she had ruined things. Charlie was going to go to jail and she and San would be stuck where they were except now things were probably going to be worse for them. She moved and placed herself in between Charlie and Gunther, there was a wild look on her dominants face filled with anger and hatred and she swallowed before speaking. "Charlie please stop. I don't like violence."
Santana immediately moved to drag Brittany away, Charlie had clearly lost it and she wasn't going to have Brittany hurt in Charlie's rage. She had been shocked when Charlie had marched into the kitchen and pulled Gunther off her. Charlie had stopped for two seconds asked if she was okay before losing her temper on the guy. This was what she had seen in the video this wild and crazy person who—had instantly calmed down in Puck's arms and was focused on Brittany.
"He hurt her," Charlie said with a frown on her face looking at Brittany. Puck still had his arms around her. He had learned it was best to not let go until there were cops around. "I was just—he hurt her," she said calming down. She had scared Brittany in her rage. She wasn't going to do that again.
"I didn't want you to hurt him, I just wanted you to understand," Brittany said stepping away from Santana who was watching Charlie a stunned expression on her face. "I just wanted you to claim us so he couldn't hurt Santana anymore."
"You good," Puck asked his friend and she nodded so he let her go. She wasn't going to go through Brittany to get to Gunther who was on the phone with the police.
Charlie immediately straightened herself out and looked at Santana an apologetic look on her face. "I didn't mean to cause you any trouble—I just he was hurting you and I lost my temper. I'm sorry Santana. It won't happen again, and I really didn't mean to scare you Brittany. I'm really sorry."
Gunther spat some blood out from his split lip, his nose a bloody mess and his eyes were rapidly swelling shut. He was going to be rich, a little beating like this. After he sued Charlie Fabray for everything she had. His diner would probably be packed with people. "You lost everything for two unclaimed bitches," he sneered at her. "I'm going to sue you."
Charlie took a step toward him only to be pulled to the side by Santana who pulled Charlie to the sink. Turning on the tap she gently placed Charlie's skinned knuckles under the cold water. "What you did was stupid and idiotic and you shouldn't do stupid shit that's going to make Brittany worry anymore. But thank you for stepping in. Even if it was stupid and fucking idiotic, you're going to go to jail and he's going to become fucking rich now. You just gave this guy what he wanted."
Charlie flicked her eyes to Gunther and then gave Santana a huge grin, "Please by the time that Frannie is done with him this diner will be yours. At 700 an hour everything he owns including the clothes on his back should be yours." Charlie grumbled the last part but she gave Santana a look and a small encouraging smile. "It doesn't matter if you're legally unclaimed. He had no right to lay hands on you. I promise that you aren't going to be hurt ever again. Not by me or anyone else." Charlie vows before turning her head. There are police sirens that sound like they are getting closer. She sighs and dries her hands on her jeans and grabs her shades putting them on her face. Santana gives her a strange look and Charlie smiles. "Dad said he didn't want to see me in the tabloids again, so if anyone asks I'm Quinn." She's done this about fifty times before and she immediately pulls away from Santana as the police enter. She immediately puts her hands in the air and her smile grows when she recognizes one of the officers. "Oh hey Sebastian long time no see how are the kids?" Charlie says cheerfully as if she's not under arrest for the millionth time.
Santana felt Brittany wrap her arms around her and they both watched as Charlie got hauled out of the diner. There were flashes of photos being taken and Santana has no idea how the paparazzi even found Charlie. But by tomorrow morning Charlie was going to be on the cover of every trashy tabloid magazine again. She had gotten in trouble to protect her.
Britany nuzzled Santana gently, "See San, I told you she was different."
"She's being arrested Britt," Santana points out but her hearts not really into it.
"Don't worry about Charlie, she'll be out in a couple of hours," Puck said as his phone began to buzz non-stop. He glanced down at it, "Let's get you two out of here though. Frannie's on her way to the station. Let's get you guys someplace safe." Quinn's apartment was generally safe and he could sneak them in through the back.
AN: Charlie's in jail, Brittany and Santana finally really meet the rest of the family who want to know exactly what happened.
