Chapter 8: Connecting

Brittany hopped out of the cab and threw some money at the driver, muttering a distracted 'thanks' through the window. She didn't know why she'd decided on the cinema, but now that Sugar was calling Santana to alert her, she didn't want to change her mind.

She stared anxiously at the digital time displayed on her phone. Two minutes. The churning in the pit of her stomach, which had begun almost half an hour ago, was making her feel sick. One minute. Brittany frowned, shaking her head at herself as it dawned on her that the Flanagan clan knew where she worked. There had been no point driving to another location. Rory had found her at the studio. What if-

Her phone vibrated in her had a split second before her ring tone began, filling her ears despite the sounds of traffic and idle conversation all around her. She licked her and swallowed, her mouth abnormally dry as she slid her phone open and hovered a shaking thumb over the handset button for a long moment before pressing down. Bringing the phone to her ear she mustered the most calm tone possible.

"Hello, Brittany speaking."

"Hello, Miss Pierce?" A high, female voice filled the line.

"Yes, that's me." Brittany felt her brow furrow and she glanced around frantically, suddenly wary that she might be being watched.

"Ah, Miss Pierce, I'm so glad to finally catch you. My name is Sylvia Henderson and I am calling from Onyx Security. We specialize in affordable security options for young business owners and our present focus has been on businesses in your local area."

"O-kay then. So if you've been unable to contact me, why not contact my business partner?" Brittany knew to be suspicious, but she was also strangely unnerved by the genuine tone of the other woman. From the sound of her, she couldn't be any older than Brittany herself. Brittany's main priority was to keep Sylvia Henderson talking in the hopes that Santana and the others at the SRS would be able to secure a location.

"SpinFlex is registered in your name Miss Pierce, with an Al Motta registered as co-owner. A quick Google search indicated that Sugar Motta was a second instructor at your studio, but nothing in the registered business details lists her as a contributing party. Would you prefer I direct my questions about your studio's security to Miss Motta?" The woman's voice remained sincere and again Brittany felt strangely concerned by this.

"No, go ahead. What would you like to know?"

"Well, as I mentioned, we provide affordable security packages to young business owners, understanding that the security of new businesses is paramount to its continued success, but that young business owners may not necessarily have the financial backing for elaborate security options. If you could give me details of any current security measures you have taken at SpinFlex, our technicians can then visit the premises and provide a free quote for a more comprehensive package."

Brittany shook her left arm in order the reveal her watch from under the sleeve of her top. They had been talking for a little over two minutes. Brittany knew that she would need to keep the other woman talking for at least another thirty seconds, but needed to do so while avoiding directly answering the woman's question.

"Miss Pierce, are you there?"

"Yes, sorry, ah, I was just checking my schedule, I have a class starting soon so I'll need to go, but could you give me the name of your company again and I will contact you to arrange that free quote."

"Onyx Security. O-N-Y-X. If you like, Miss Pierce, I can send you out some information which will include an outline of our three most popular and cost effective packages." Brittany was surprised that the woman appeared unfazed by Brittany ending the call.

"Thank you." Brittany glanced at her watch again. Over the three minute mark. "I appreciate your call. I'll be in touch." Brittany was about to end the call when she heard the other woman speak up on the other end of the line.

"Ah, Miss Pierce?"

"Yes?"

"I'll give you a week to look over out package and then I'll check back in with you. Take care."

The beeping in her ear sent a chill down her spine. The woman ended the call on her terms, and was explicit about making contact again. Brittany wondered if she didn't answer the call in a week whether the woman would persist. Feeling confused and overwhelmed, she walked over to the steps of the cinema and sat down, shoulders slumped and phone clenched tightly in her right hand.

Thousands of thoughts swam through her mind, but the only clear one was that she needed to get back to the studio to call Santana. The idea of only being able to text her, unless an alternate phone was in reach, was frustrating, but she also imagined that Santana would be concerned if she didn't hear from her.

All okay, heading back to studio now. Will call from Sugar's in ten.

Even though she had taken a cab to cinema, Brittany decided to walk back needing to clear her head somewhat. She felt the buzz of a text message in her jacket pocket and smiled seeing she had a response from 'Shay'.

Good job, got a trace on this end. I'll be there in twenty to get the details…and to see you : )

Brittany instantly felt like a warm blanket had been wrapped around her. She felt warm and less exposed than she had been on the steps of the cinema and she picked up her pace. Walking past Mawson Electronics, Brittany paused and turned back to look in the window. A florescent pink sign was advertising an iPhone at a discounted price as a newer model, displayed in a picture beside it, was due to be released the following week. Without thinking twice she walked into the store and spent the next twenty minutes with a sales clerk organizing a new number and getting a quick lesson on how the phone worked. The young man scoffed at her when she asked if she could make a FaceTime call, making some snide remark about 2011, and he had also raised an eyebrow when she assured him that she did want to keep her current phone. Apparently it was so old she would have to input all her contact details manually as there were no compatible cables in the whole store to hook it up to a computer and it didn't have Bluetooth compatibilities. Whatever that means.

Glancing at her watch, Brittany realized that Santana would probably be waiting for her and she ran the rest of the way to the studio.

Arriving slightly out of breath she smiled to herself as she saw the form of Santana through the glass panel in the front door of the studio.

"Where have you been? You said you'd be here fifteen minutes ago." Brittany flinched at Santana's tone but saw only concern in the other woman's eyes.

"Sorry. I got held up." Brittany slipped the Mawson Electronics bag behind the front counter casually. "Come on, let's talk in my office." She placed her hand against Santana's lower back and gave her a soft push in the direction of the office.

Closing the door behind them Brittany made to take off her jacket, but was stopped by Santana pushing her, almost forcefully, against the door. Santana's lips met hers with just as much force, but she smiled into the kiss, relaxing as she felt warm breath mixing with her own. Santana's hands caressed her cheeks lightly and when she eventually pulled away, taking a deep breath, she pressed her forehead against Brittany's.

"I was really worried about you. Next time you get phone stalked by a crazy person, don't even think about going shopping, okay?" Santana's voice was gentle and her fingers running down Brittany's arm to her hand, where she intertwined their fingers, showed that she wasn't angry.

"I'm fine." Brittany rolled her eyes playfully and grabbed Santana's chin, pulling her forward for another quick kiss. "So you said you got a trace on the call?"

Santana nodded and moved her hands down to rest on Brittany's hips. "Yeah we…"

"Hang on. Why are you here?"

"Britt, I was worried about you. I needed to make sure you were okay." Santana looked almost offended by the question.

Brittany sighed "I know that. Thank you. I'm really glad that you're here. I just mean, I thought your boss pulled you off my case?"

Santana relaxed again and reached up to twirl strands of Brittany's hair around her fingers as she spoke. "I asked her to reassign me, but she sent me down here, I mean I asked and she was fine with it, made out to the others as though she'd instructed me to come and question you." Santana laughed and Brittany felt her own face break into a wide grin at the sight of the other woman so relaxed.

"Does she know about what's going on here?" Brittany looked away shyly, realizing they hadn't really talked about it themselves, and rubbed her thumb against Santana's fingers.

"What is going on here?" Santana's voice lowered and her eyes lit up playfully as a smirk formed on her lips.

Brittany felt herself blush, but tried to cover it quickly by grabbing Santana's hips and turning them around so she was now the one against the door. Brittany relished in the look of surprise on the Latina's face and reached down, grabbing both of Santana's wrists in her hands and holding them against the door, above her head. Santana's eyes widened and Brittany was sure she saw a flush creep across tanned skin as she leaned in, placing a delicate kiss against those inviting lips. Feeling bold she moved down, placing a single kiss against the woman's jaw. Encouraged by a sudden change in Santana's breathing she continued, trailing kisses down her neck. Adjusting her hands so that one now held both of Santana's wrists, she reached her other hand down to undo the top two buttons of the royal blue shirt. Moving the collar aside, she let her fingertips dance lightly across the woman's collarbone, eliciting a whimper which turned into a satisfied groan when her fingertips were replaced by her lips.

Pulling away suddenly she covered her mouth to stifle a laugh as Santana's arms fell limply at her side and her eyes, which had been closed in pleasure, sprang back open.

"Nothing at all." Brittany whispered into Santana's ear, smiling as she felt the woman shiver against her.

"What?"

"There's nothing going on here at all." Her smirk turned to a chuckle as she sauntered over to a chair, intentionally swaying her hips more than usual. Patting the one next to her she indicated that Santana should take a seat beside her, and felt a sense of satisfaction watching the woman try to compose herself before walking over.

"So Officer. What did you need to ask me?"

"Britt, stop playing. Ugh," Santana shook her head and turned in her chair, taking a deep breath. "…okay. We got a trace to a nearby residence which is registered under the business name Onyx Security. Just tell me everything the guy on the phone said."

"It was a woman and she told me she was calling from Onyx Security."

Both woman raised their eyebrows before Brittany continued, filling Santana in on every detail she could remember as the officer scrawled copious notes on a pad.

At 3:15pm, after the woman had discussed every possible detail, Brittany stood up and apologetically announced that she had a class in fifteen minutes.

Heading to the door, Brittany reached out and took Santana's hand and pulled her in for a hug. "Thank you." She whispered.

"For what?" Santana loosened her grip from around Brittany's neck and rested her arms on the taller girl's shoulders so they were looking into each other's eyes.

"For caring. For being here." Brittany felt tears stinging the backs of her eyes. She had a lot of people who cared about her, and who would look out for her, but it had been a long time since she had felt a connection to another person like this.

"Can I see you tonight?"

Brittany felt the fine hairs on her arms stand up as Santana's fingertips stroked the back of her neck and she sighed into the touch.

"Ah, Sugar and Becky will both be home tonight. Your place?" Even though she wasn't certain as to what Santana was suggesting she was hoping to finally be able to release some of the tension which had been building inside her over the past hour.

Santana shook her head. "Mercedes is cooking for her new boyfriend tonight. They haven't seen each other for a couple of days." She shook her head slowly and her brow furrowed.

Brittany reached out and ran her thumb along Santana's forehead to smooth out the creases.

"Damn." She wracked her brain for an alternative and stopped short of suggesting they meet up in a hotel room on the off chance Santana wasn't thinking along the same lines. "Will you come and see a movie with me?"

Santana smiled and then her expression fell. "Brittany…" her voice trailed off, "…we can't really be seen out together. I'm sorry I know this is shitty but I…"

Brittany cut her off placing a finger to her lips. "Let's not be seen together. If I just happen to be sitting up the back of a darkened cinema enjoying my popcorn, what's to stop a seriously hot, off duty cop from sitting down next to me? We show up separately, we leave separately, but we…can miss the most important parts of the movie together." She felt her heart begin to race in her chest as their eyes met and Santana's smiled widened knowingly. Placing a long kiss against Brittany's lips, Santana moved away reluctantly and reached for the door handle before turning back to look at the blonde.

"Deal."