Chapter 10

"Dios, here she comes." Puck sat silently beside Mr and Mrs Lopez, his eyes never leaving the screen as they watched Santana emerge beside Blaine at the opening ceremony. His entire family were there with them, with little Elisabeth sitting on Mrs Lopez's lap. She was biting the sleeve of her shirt, glancing at Puck every few moments. They had watched all the other tributes ride out in their chariots already; There was a vain looking pair painted like angels from 1, some ogres from 2 and Puck had zoned out for most of the others. He wasn't interested in any of them and grew impatient as he waited for Santana.

"So you think they'll dress her up as a coal miner?" Puck's mother asked, dragging Elisabeth away from the distraught pair. Puck and his family were the only ones Santana's parents had allowed in to support them.

"She considered you family. That makes you our family now." Puck didn't like how they used the past tense. She was a fighter, a survivor. There was no way he was counting her out of the fight yet.

Funny, her grandmother didn't have the balls to show up. Heartless bitch. To say he didn't like her was an understatement.

"Si, it's what they do every year isn't it?" Answered Mr Lopez wearily. Himself and Mrs Lopez looked exhausted. They had dark bags under their eyes, their faces were gaunt and Mrs Lopez always looked as if she'd been crying.

Puck probably didn't look so great himself.

"And last but not least, District 12!"

They all held their breaths as the coal black horses pulled the chariot from the shadows.

Impossible.

"She's on fire- Oh my god she's literally on fire!" Puck rose to his feet in shock, his jaw dropping. He didn't notice everyone else did the exact same, his attention completely focused on Santana, his Santana, riding on a chariot next to Blaine Anderson, engulfed in flames and looking damn sexy.

She looked taken aback at first but was soon smiling and waving to them crowd. A smile crept across his face as she began to blow kisses to the crowd.

Damn Lopez. You're doing good.

Puck heard a sob and turned to see Mrs Lopez leaning into a beaming Mr Lopez's embrace, tears of pride trickling down her cheeks.

"She's so beautiful- Dios, she might actually earn some sponsors!" Puck smiled at the blatant joy on both of their faces. Mr Lopez, who always stood so tall and strong, had tears in the corners of his eyes. Puck knew Santana's father was always proud of her, but he'd never noticed it more than at that moment.

"That's my girl. You show them, Mija." He said it to no one in particular, and Puck turned his attention back to his best friend on the screen, watching as her and Blaine Warbler raised their arms in triumph. The camera loved them, and there was no doubt in Puck's mind that they got the most airtime. The Capitol ate that dramatic crap up.

"When she comes home, Noah, I would appreciate if you could have caught as traded a wild turkey for one of the baker's cheesecakes. I think we owe her stylist a token of gratitude."

"Yes sir."

Xxxx

"Santana started training today." Puck continued to hack at the tree stump with his axe, wiping his hands on his t dirty stained t shirt from time to time.. They'd run out of firewood and needed fresh supplies, so his mother had allowed him the day off to help her out.

He knew she was really giving him the chores to distract him from the fact that he couldn't face the first day back to school today, knowing Santana was beginning training. He'd barely gone a day without her there, and he already felt like he was in a dark, depressed state ever since the Reaping. School would only make things worse.

"Go do your homework, Elisabeth." He said shortly, viciously chopping a log in half. He couldn't bare to look at her. She probably thought he was mad at her, angry for Santana volunteering, but really he just felt like a fucking coward. He should've been the one to volunteer that day. Not her. Instead he'd just watched as the two most important girl's in his life were victims of the Capitol's cruelty.

He sighed as she ignores what he said, but didn't turn around still. He rested for a moment, leaning his arms on the axe. He was exhausted. He'd barely slept the last few days, thinking about what could happen. He'd gotten up especially early as well to ensure he caught enough food for Santana's family and his own. He'd brought her grandmother game, and was pleased at how shook the old woman looked when she answered the door to him.

"Santana told me to bring you food. Seeing as she can't anymore." The old woman's lips pursed into a tight line as she took the bag from him.

"She...usually gave it to her parents to bring to me."

"Well I didn't want to give them any extra hassle. They've got a lot on their plates."

"Yes, I...heard." Puck turned to walk away, leaving the old woman standing sheepishly in her doorway.

"I'm not the terrible person you think I am, boy." He didn't face her as he kept walking.

"I doubt that ma'am. But I'm sure if you keep telling yourself that it'll make you feel better."

He didn't see the woman's face crumple in pain as he walked away.

"We prayed for her in school today. And I got Mr and Mrs Lopez some of Milly's milk. I thought you could maybe help me make 'em some cheese from it." Puck wiped his face with his shirt, taking a deep breath at his sister's sad voice. He ran a hand through his Mohawk, imaging what Santana would say if she were here now. Probably make some comment about his Mohawk, before beating some sense into him.

Stop being an ass, Puckerman. That's what Santana would've told him if she was there. She always got angry whenever he was an asshole to Elisabeth, and he was about to answer her when she spoke again, her voice shaky with tears.

"I'm sorry, Noah. I didn't mean to get picked." Puck finally turned to find his baby sister crying, her long brown hair covering her face. Guilt gnawed at his stomach as he threw aside the axe and his gloves, before walking over and engulfing her in a tight hug.

"You don't need to apologise, kiddo. I was being a jerk, ok? I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at the Capitol and I'm sorry I've made you feel this way. So cheer up, alright? Cause San would want you to be happy," he said softly, and Elisabeth snuffled and nodded, pulling back to look her older brother in the eye.

"She'll be ok, won't she Noah?" He smiled widely at her.

"Of course she will. She's Santana. Now c'mon, let's go make some cheese for Mr and Mrs Lopez. I need to drop off some of this wood for them anyway."

Xxxx

"Have they shown the scores yet?" Puck ran into their small family sitting room, panting heavily. He held a sack of game he'd just caught over his right shoulder, and was still filthy from the forest. He'd sprinted back home, terrified he'd missed Santana's score being announced.

Mr and Mrs Lopez's nervous expressions answered his question, and he threw the bag of game to the side before sitting next to them on the small couch. His mother was brewing some tea in the kitchen and Elisabeth sat at the old kitchen table behind them, supposed to be doing her school work. Mrs Lopez took Puck's left hand with her right, and he squeezed it reassuringly.

"She'll do good, Mrs L. You know how she can shoot, she'll knack em out. Just you see." He was convincing himself as much as the nervous woman, as his mother brought them all in tea, turning up her nose in disgust at the sight of her son.

"Really Noah, you couldn't have-"

"Mom, shut up it's starting!" No more was said as they watched Rod Remington comment on the results. The Career tributes all did expectingly well. The girl from 1 got a ten, and Puck couldn't help but think of how much Santana must hate that girl with the fake smile.

She's probably already nicknamed her Dwarf or something.

The other tributes averaged at around five, and Mrs Lopez's grip tightened on his as District 12 finally popped up. Puck was mildly impressed at Blaine Anderson's 8.

"He must've done some pretty boy dancing for them. They'd eat that crap up."

"Noah!"

"What? It's true."

"BE QUIET!" Santana's face appeared and Puck held his breath.

Please do good, please do good. Oh god, don't let her have screwed it up with one of her psychotic anger rampages. Please do good!

He leaped to his feet as the number eleven flashed on screen.

"THAT'S MY GIRL!" Mr Lopez whooped and hugged his wife, who was cheering in Spanish.

Puck grinned widely.

"There's room for improvement, but damn!" He joked, highfiving his younger sister.

"Our girl could win, Juan, she could come home!" Mrs Lopez was beside herself, practically bouncing on the spot.

Puck was starting to believe it himself. There had always been a hint of doubt in the back of his mind whenever he saw the Careers and the boy from eleven, but Santana had outshone all of them. And according to the commentators, she was selected as a Cheerio by Sue Sylvester.

I could see her again in a few weeks. The reality of it all came crashing down on him and he sat down, eyes widening at it the thought. He ran a hand through his Mohawk, trying to think of something he could do to that she'd appreciate when she returned. His hand froze on top of his head, and he smirked as it came to him.

"Noah, where are you going?"

"You'll see soon, relax Mom."

Xxxx

Elisabeth eyed him oddly as they waited for the tributes to come our for their interviews. The two of them had joined Santana's parents, bringing a plentiful supply of meat and bread with them. He frowned at her, folding his arms.

"What are you staring at?"

"You." she said bluntl, and he self consciously ran a had along his newly shaven head. If anything would be a pleasant surprise to Santana when she got home, it would be him sans the Mohawk.

"You do look very different with a nice haircut, dear." It always amazed Puck how Mrs Lopez managed to insult him and compliment him at the same time.

"Thanks Mrs L." He flicked at Elisabeth who dodged him and skipped away over to the other side of the room, bringing her seat with her. They had pulled in two stools and left the Lopez's on the coach. It had become a regular thing for Puck and Elisabeth to call over, and they seemed grateful for the company.

"It's starting." They were all silent as the interviews began. One by one the tributes walked up on stage and did their best to win over the audience. Rod Remington was as good a host as ever, and made even the dullest of tributes appear the best they could.

Finally, it came to Santana, and Puck tapped his foot nervously as she smiled uncharacteristically and say down.

"She looks beautiful." Puck said softly and they hummed in agreement. She was unusually charming and funny, even giggling after she twirled in a dress. Puck was amazed. If he wasn't watching it himself, he'd never have believed it was Santana in that interview.

"She's doing well." Elisabeth said as Santana sat down, dizzy after spinning and showing off her fiery dress. Puck murmured in agreement as Santana refused to answer the questions about her score. She seemed uncomfortable at the mention of her private session, and Puck couldn't help but wonder what happened.

"Let's go back then, to the moment they called that little girl's name at the Reaping. And you volunteered. Can you tell us about her, and your relationship with her?" Puck a eyes flickered to Elisabeth who tensed, while Santana stared down at her lap.

"Her name's Elisabeth. She's just twelve. And I love her as if she's my own sister. Her brother...he's my best friend. They're like mi familia. They asked me to win." Puck clenched his jaw as he attempted to keep his emotions in check.

Don't you dare cry, Puckerman. That's what she would tell him, before proceeding to punch him in the arm. Santana didn't do emotions.

"What did you say?"

"That I would."

"I bet you did." None of them spoke as Santana repeated her promise to them all. The atmosphere in the room was solemn, and Puck pretended he didn't hear Mrs Lopez hid a sob.

"And this friend of yours, her brother, is he a special friend?" Puck crumpled his face at the question, as the rest of them laughed.

"No, he's not my type. Don't get me wrong, I love him and everything, but the fact that he's a boy kinda puts a stop to the whole thing." Puck was offended as the entire room and the Capitol audience roared laughing simultaneously.

"She could so a lot worse than me!" He huffed and Mr Lopez shook his head and grinned.

"You keep telling yourself that, Noah."

"So there must be some special girl back home then!" They all glanced at Puck as Santana shook her head.

"As far as I know she's telling the truth." Santana couldn't stand most the girls in the district. Probably because he had slept with most of them, but that was besides the point.

"Come now, you're a very attractive young lady, surely there's somebody special?" Santana smiled sheepishly on screen.

"There is one girl, but she's...she's not from home. I only met her recently."

What the fuck? Santana's found herself a girl?

"I see. And does she know how you feel?" Puck didn't like how Santana was laying out her personal life to the entire country.

"They should not be asking her this." Mr Lopez's voice was low and angry. He didn't like his daughter's heart being exposed as much as Puck didn't.

"Yes. She's helped me ever since Sue made me a Cheerio, and... she knows I like her, but I don't think she realises how much ." Puck watched Santana carefully, and noticed her eyes flicker to the audience for a moment. That meant it wasn't another tribute, at least.

"She doesn't know you love her, does she?" Nobody moved as they waited for Santana's response.

"No, she doesn't." She looked up into the audience. "Sorry, Quinn." Suddenly a beautiful blonde who Puck recognised as the Victor from last year's Games. She had dazzling hazel eyes, and seemed the perfect HBIC. Her expression was blank, as she seemed to realise all of Panem were watching her.

"She's very beautiful," Mrs Lopez admired, a small smile on her face.

"She's got good taste, like her Papi," Mr Lopez seemed proud and Puck laughed. Quinn kept her eyes fixed on Santana, and Puck felt sorry that his best friend would have to feel the wrath of that ice queen later.

"You and your big mouth always get you into trouble, Lopez."

Xxxx

Puck wrapped his arms around Elisabeth as she sat on his lap, snuggling into him. Santana stood tall and proud on her metal plate, her hair tied back in her high pony and glancing around her as the final countdown continued.

"Noah, I'm scared." Elisabeth admitted as the final ten seconds began. Puck tightened his grip on her as the gong finally rang out.

"Me too." It was chaotic, but Puck kept his eyes on Santana. She sped off and grabbed a pack, before reaching another the same time as another boy. He shouted in fear as he watched the girl from 1 throw a knife into the boy's back, her eyes fixed on Santana.

"RUN, SANTANA!" He shrieked as if she could hear him, standing up as Elisabeth quickly jumped off him. Santana had enough sense to do as he said, taking off towards the woods with the short girl in pursuit. His heart pounded in his chest as the girl threw a knife at her head, and let out a shaky breath as Santana threw her backpack up to stop it. The short girl roared in defeat as Puck shouted in relief.

"Thanks for the knife, Ru Paul!"

She's got some death wish.

Xxxx

"Q, would you stop pacing. You're making me dizzy just watching you," Sue snapped. Quinn threw the woman a scathing look, but stopped. They were in a large plush viewing room reserved for the mentor's for District 12. Herself and Kurt had been allowed in as well, but Kurt was in the launch room with Santana.

"Just take a seat, Quinn. You need to relax, Santana's going to be ok. We all know she's a fighter," Will said, gesturing to the armchair beside Sue. Quinn sighed, but took it anyway. She tapped her foot nervously against the ground as the tributes were brought up into the arena. Her breath caught at the sight of the raven-haired beauty.

"That's the problem," she whispered, watching Santana closely as the final countdown began. Santana was eyeballing the bow and arrows and Quinn groaned, knowing exactly what her girlfriend- was she allowed call her that? Well, it didn't matter now- was thinking.

"Don't you dare, Sandbags," Sue growled. Quinn looked at Sue knowingly.

"You know what she's like. If she get's some notion, she's going to go for that bow." A feeling of dread overcame her at her own words, and Sue began massaging her own temples.

"Stubborn idiot...oh thank you Teen Gay!" Quinn saw Blaine shake his head at Santana as well and breathed a sigh of relief.

"At least someone's looking out for her in there."

No one answered as the gong rung out.

What is she doing? Santana, RUN AWAY FROM THE CORNUCOPIA! Sue and herself simultaneously rose to their feet screaming obscenities at the Latina on screen. She was fast, Quinn gave her that, but Rachel Berry now had a set of knives and was looking around for Santana, not hesitating to take out the boy Santana was struggling with to get to her.

"Oh my god, RUN!" Quinn nearly fainted as Santana narrowly blocked a knfe flying towards her skull.

"Thanks for the knife,Ru Paul!" Quinn flung a cushion at the screen.

"I'm going to kill her when she gets out." Reckless fool.

Xxxx

Santana hadn't found water. She'd narrowly encountered a confrontation with Blaine and the Careers- Quinn could see the betrayal in her eyes- and now she looked close to death. She was barely recognisable as the girl Quinn loved, and ever step she took was pained. Even after she said Sue's name, begging for the liquid, Sue refused to send her some with the girl so close to the pond.

"What if she doesn't reach it in time?" Quinn whispered, her heart breaking as Santana stumbled her way onwards, refusing to give in.

I can't lose her after only just finding her.

"She will. She's strong, she'll make it." Sue didn't convince her.

When Santana eventually fell to the ground, closing her eyes when she was so close to the substance that would save her life, Quinn nearly went all "The Seam" as Santana would say, on Sue herself.

"You send her water RIGHT NOW Sue!" Sue pushed Quinn away, forcefully turning her towards the screen where Santana had dragged herself to the pond.

"Calm down, Fabray. She's fine, see? I told you so." Quinn noted the relief in Sue's voice as she sank back down into her chair.

I'm gonna have a stroke before she's out of there.

Xxxx

When Quinn had been in the arena, they'd never used fire to torture them. She'd endured a treacherous blizzard, earning her the nickname the "Ice Queen", but she'd never been tormented by a raging inferno or fireballs.

She didn't think she would've handled it as well as Santana did. Quinn watched her run with the animals for her life, vomiting her breakfast but pushing on all the same. She truly was a survivor, and Quinn's heart stopped for a moment as the fireball hit Santana's calf.

"Oh my god," she gasped as they watched in horror as the Latina screamed and attempted to put out the flames. She burned her hands and calf badly in the process, and Quinn thought she was going to be sick as eventually she stopped, and dragged herself back to a source of water.

The burns on her hand were red and blistered, and Quinn couldn't watch as Santana treated the one on her leg in the pool.

"Sue, you've got to help her." She turned to see the Victor had already left to find some sponsors who'd be willing to pay up for the girl on fire. Quinn had already offered her share.

Xxxx

"Well would you look at that." Quinn sat to Sue's right, her hands clenched in fists as she saw Santana rest after receiving the package. Her face was emotionless, and she prevented a smile from creeping onto her features when Santana smiled at her note and carefully tucked it away. Sue had been smirking at her the entire time and it was all Quinn could do not to shout at the woman.

Santana was stuck up a tree. With tracker jackers just above her.

And Brittany watching her from that other tree. Jealously raged in her as she saw the way Santana was visibly relieved at the sight of the blonde girl. Quinn knew it was irrational; If it was her in there and she was as close to Brittany as Santana was, she'd have been delighted too. Especially in that situation.

But Quinn wasn't in that situation. Instead she was stuck watching the girl she loves fight for her life and seek out help from the only other blonde she could. And even though she shouldn't, she hated Brittany for being the only one who could make Santana nearly cry with joy in there and loved her for saving Santana at the same time.

"Relax, Q. You look like you're passing a kidney stone. Sandbags is crazy for you, she just needs an ally in there right now. You know how it is." Quinn nodded at Sue's words, leaning back in her plush armchair.

That doesn't mean I have to like Brittany.

Xxxx

Quinn sat with Mercedes in the Cheerios viewing room, needing a break from Sue's suggestive comments. They were eating some bread from
district 4, Quinn's home, and watching Santana become allies with the District 11 girl.

"Heh, this is driving you crazy isn't it?" Mercedes grinned as Quinn's jealously raged. She forcefully chopped another slice of bread, clenching her jaw as Santana was sweet to the seemingly slow innocent girl.

She's weak. What does Santana even see in her? The fact that she was Quinn's opposite didn't help Quinn's insecurities that Santana had only fallen for her because she was there at the time.

"Shut up, Mercedes. You're only annoyed because your tributes lost." Mercedes held her hands up at Quinn's col words, chuckling.

"Jeez, Q, I was only kidding. No need to give me the psycho stare. That girl in there is crazy about you anyway, you've got nothin' to worry about." But as Sanrana gave Brittany the woven basket and called her a genius, Quinn had had enough.

"They're cute, don't ya think?" Quinn threw the nearest object to her back at Meecedes as she stormed out. She'd had her fill of this "Brittana", as Mercedes called it, alliance for the day.

"You're insane Quinn! That girl loves you, you're being crazy!"

"Shut UP Mercedes!"

Xxxx

A/N: So I'm really unsure about this chapter. I enjoyed writing it but it was more of a challenge than the others, because I had to completely wing it. Thank you for all your reviews on the last chapter, and please let me know what you think of this one, and if you'd like another further along in the story, thanks! -Q