Well, ho..ly.. Crap! This has taken me bloody long enough! I'm so sorry guys! I lost my mojo D: I've had insaane writer's block and just haven't been able to shake it D: I still don't think I've completely shaken it, personally, but I decided enough was enough and that even if it killed me, I'd get this update out to you guys! Shout out to CrimsonJoy, my lovely little Irish, for kicking me up the arse to get this done XD

I have another idea for a fic, so you may see another Brittana one pop up soon. But I will try to stay on top of this one too!

Oh! That reminds me, I have a bad habit of not fully planning out stories when I write them, so if you guys have any suggestions or scenes you'd like to read, give me a shout in a review or PM and I'll do my best to make it happen :D

Anyways, hope you like it guys :D Please leave a review, follow, favourite, whatever you fancy :D

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*Santana POV*

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Riding side by side with Britt, racing across the empty expanse of dry desert land, playfully over taking each other every now and then, I don't remember ever feeling this free. Under the beating sun, as free as I always felt before, I only now realise that I was always conscious of the weight of responsibility on my shoulders that comes with inheriting the leadership of a notorious band of outlaws. Riding with Brittany and only Brittany, I no longer feel the heavy ties I've been burdened with. When I watch her ride, she truly is the definition of free. It's just her, Archer and the ground beneath their feet. It's infectious! It feels so good to finally let go, even if it's only for a little while.

To finally come to terms with how I feel about Britt, that's truly freeing. I can openly admit to myself that seeing her so happy, with the wind blowing wildly through her hair and her eyes shining brightly as her amazing smile stays printed upon her face, is the most beautiful sight I've ever seen.

What are we now? Are we together? How does this work? There're just so many questions, but you know what? I'm not even the slightest bit frustrated about being clueless, for right now at least. But I'm more of an in-the-moment kind of person anyway.

"Hey! Would you get out of your head for a minute? I think I see Shue and his boys!" Brittany's voice snaps me out of my train of thought and I look ahead to where she's pointing.

About three hundred yards to our one o' clock, I see eight or so men on horseback heading in the direction of Rio Bravo. I shake my head.

Clearly Puck and Quinn need to work on their evasive riding…

I turn to Britt and wink.

"I know you're not really a criminal and you don't want to hurt innocents and all that, but how does having a little anti-law fun sound?"

"I've never liked Sheriff Shue," She laughs. "But as long as you're beside me, I don't care what you have planned."

I grin broadly, that was the sweetest thing anyone's ever said to me. Which, thinking about it, doesn't really say much about the people I live with, considering this isn't exactly the most extraordinary thing to do…

I know fine well that the men all know exactly who I am, but I like to keep up the image of Santana The Red Bandana'd Bandit.

God, I hope nobody actually refers to me as Santana The Red Bandana'd Bandit... That's just taking the piss…

As I reposition the cloth and pull the brim of my hat down, I see Brittany pull her blue bandana over her own nose and mouth. I've never actually seen her wear it before, so I assume she's borrowing it from Quinn. Lord knows Q's got enough bandanas to supply the entire gang, in every colour under the sun. I roll my eyes.

Hoarder.

Britt and I share a glance and a nod before increasing our speed to catch up with the men, staying at least ten feet behind. They haven't heard us over the noise of their shouts and horses and we don't make ourselves known just yet.

Christ, they're louder than my lot. At least my boys can be sneaky…

Two of them are riding a bit behind the rest, unable to fit between the ranks. I reach down to my saddle and close my fingers around the coil of rope by my right knee. I hold it up so Britt can see my intentions and wink when she also grabs hers. I can see the corners of her eyes crinkling and I know she's smiling too.

Using my thighs to steer Sapphira, I hold the looped end of my lasso in my left hand as I twirl it above my head and loosely hold onto the rest of the coil with my right. Once Brittany has hers going too, I hold up three fingers of my right hand, easily keeping hold of the coil, and count the off as we aim.

Three… Two… One!

At the same time, both our lassos flick out of our hands and successfully catch the two stragglers.

Yes!

Before they have a chance to think, the loops of rope close in around their arms and bodies and with a sharp tug, we pull them backwards off of their horses. I quickly snatch my knife from my belt and cut the rope so I can save the rest, that shit's useful. Racing past the bodies rolling fast in the dusty dirt, I laugh as we each give them the middle fingered salute.

The other men miraculously didn't even hear all that raucous, still shouting and thundering ahead. I feel Brittany ride up closer beside me and I can't help but smile when I hear her voice.

"They're either deaf, or not very intelligent." She sighs.

"I don't know, but either works for me." I giggle. "Follow my lead."

I encourage Sapphira to run faster until we've taken the places of the last two men at the back of the group, Brittany keeping up and joining easily.

The men's voices can be heard easily now that we're practically right next to them.

"This is it boys! This is our chance to catch Santana Lopez and her gang!" Will Shuester laughs, manically. "We've waited a long time for this opportunity, but this time, we will catch her!"

"That dastardly fiend!" Surprised, I look to my side and see Brittany grinning behind her mask as she shouts. "That she-devil is harder to catch than a puff of smoke!"

I laugh so hard, I can't even make a sound! I wave my hand about ridiculously as I try to catch my breath, my eyes squeezed shut.

They all shout in agreement to Brittany's words, shaking their fists in the air and growling.

I'm gonna go with the earlier assumption that these men aren't the brightest.

They didn't even realise that Britt's voice is too feminine to be one of theirs.

"Thank you, my dear! I do try!" I reply jovially, a single tear escaping as I struggle to contain my laughter.

The men's backs stiffen and a brief silence settles before being replaced by curses, screamed in frustration. Simultaneously, they all look over their shoulders to see us riding within spitting distance of them, snarling when Britt and I wave and tip our hats to them.

"What are you waiting for?! Get them you idiots!" Shuester commands, slowing down.

Some of his boys skid to a halt, the others turn in a wide arc to come up behind us. But we never slowed down, so we speed on ahead, whizzing past the whole crowd and leading them South West, away from Rio Bravo.

I hear Shue's almost agonised shouts of anger fill the air as we get a good twenty yards between us and them in a matter of seconds.

I hear a loud bang and feel the air change against my ear as a bullet screams past me, causing me to flinch like an idiot and flail for the reins.

"Fuck me!" I breathe heavily. "Oi! Whoever the fuck that was! That nearly got me!" I scream to the group, knowing it would rile them up.

"Good!" I hear. "Maybe next time it won't be 'nearly'!"

"Maybe!" I snigger.

I genuinely think Will should either train his boys better, find new ones, or just give up his career altogether. It took us probably ten minutes maximum to lose them. Once we reached the cliffs of Riley's Charge, it was as simple as downing a shot. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, aggravating Shue with Britt. We should do it again sometime.

I can see the gang waiting anxiously in the small valley of Rio Bravo as we trot up the slight slope towards them.

"Afternoon, boys! Miss us?" I holler when we reach the crowd.

Everyone rushes towards us, shouting their relief and concern.

"What happened?"

"Are you hurt?"

"Where's Will?"

I don't have time to answer anybody as Quinn comes to the front, glaring at anybody who protests.

"Santana, Brittany, are you two okay?"

Once again, we don't have time to answer because Puck pushes past her and points his dirty finger at Brittany.

"I knew it! I knew I couldn't trust you! After what happened back there, I have no doubt in my mind that you are hiding something-!"

During his little speech, Puck had made his way towards Britt and had made to pull her off of her saddle. What stopped him were the sound of a gun cocking and the push of a barrel against the back of his head.

"Stay the fuck away from her, Geronimo." The snarl rips from my throat.

"Santana! She's been lying to us! Using us! I know it!" Puck says, surprisingly steadily.

"So do I." I reply simply.

"What?"

"Her name is Brittany Pierce and she came here to avenge her parents by killing me. As you can see however, she has not done so."

"Pierce… The bounty hunter?" Finn pipes up, out of God only knows where.

"Huh… I hadn't thought too much on that particular detail…" I say thoughtfully.

"If you knew all of this Lopez, why the fuck haven't you killed her first?" Not-so-Lucky Puck demands. His hands are still raised and he's still glaring at Brittany, who says nothing.

"Because if I kill her, I might as well kill myself while I'm at it." I answer coolly.

An eerie silence fills the air as nobody knows quite what to say to that.

Britt smiles at me shyly, which I softly return.

"Now Puckerman, if you still have a problem with Britt, you will leave. Savvy?" I growl.

Not a single muscle is moved nor a single sound made for a seemingly long minute.

Finally someone moves, but it's not the reaction I had actually anticipated.

Puck steps away from Brittany and the wrong end of my gun and walks towards his horse. He climbs on and rides over to me, his steely gaze unfailingly boring into my eyes. He gives me a sharp nod.

"Be safe, Santana."

And with that he rides away…

I don't know what to think.

I don't know what to do.

One of the closest people in my life just left me because I chose to trust who he didn't.

I don't even know what I'm feeling.

Hurt. Anger. Betrayal. Anguish. Denial. Disbelief.

Broken.

Everyone silently watches him go, not one hundred per cent sure what just happened.

I act without thinking and I'm shouting unintelligible words and spurring Sapphira on, racing in the opposite direction through the valley. The next thing I know I've followed the trail to the top of the cliff, staring out over the surrounding desert. I can't see much, the sun set a while ago, but I can see the form of one lone rider in the distance.

A sob bubbles from my throat and a few tears escape my eyes.

I can't believe he would actually leave me. Along with Quinn, we're best friends. We would lay down our lives for each other. If there were anyone I could count on to have my back, it would have been him…

Another louder sob emits from my mouth as I feel a light hand on my shoulder and a gentle touch on my cheek. I look up to see Brittany and Quinn on either side of me, both wearing sad expressions.

I'm not about to cry in front of them. I'm not about to cry in front of anyone.

I take a deep, shaky breath and hastily wipe away the tears

"I'm fine," I reassure them.

And as I lied, I felt my heart break and sink.

Sooooo... What did you think? Good Chase? Good bit of drama? Puck finally confronted Britt but now he gooonne! Do you think he regrets it? Please leave a review, tell me all, comrades!