Chapter 14

Quinn watched bemused as Santana and Brittany discussed their lives in their home districts, something she was sure was completely innocent, and only a symbol of their friendship. She could tell the conversation was edited, so that the rest of them wouldn't find too much about the other districts, and she couldn't stop the feeling of paranoia that they were editing out more than just the comments on their districts.

Kurt, who had become friendly with Mercedes and currently sat with them in the Cheerios viewing room (Quinn had never seen him look so dishevelled), gave her a sympathetic pat on the knee as he noticed her tense at the conversation. Quinn had done her best to be nice to him, with Blaine more or less dying in there, but he always shook of her words whenever she spoke about him. She knew he opened up more to Mercedes, but he did seen genuinely happy that Santana was getting on ok.

"They're just allies, Quinn. Brittany is the only one Santana knows she can trust in there," he said softly, and Quinn noted how he didn't mention what had happened between Santana and Blaine in the arena. It was obvious to them all that Blaine did everything to help Santana, clearly accepting only one of them would be leaving that arena. But Quinn knew that if she was in Santana's position, she'd have no idea what to make of the boy.

"Your girl's looking at the blonde like a little kid anyway, Q. There's no way they'd-" A sharp elbow in the ribs from Kurt shut Mercedes up before she could finish her sentence. Quinn threw her a dark look anyway, leaning back in her chair and taking a deep breath as she watched the two continue to eat before the screen flashed to the arrogant Careers.

I'm just being paranoid. There's no way Santana would do anything with Brittany, Brittany's the only person helping her in there. Brittany is the only person trying to save her.

Santana and Brittany appeared on screen again as Quinn reached across and picked up her cup of tea. Mercedes and Kurt spoke about some new fashion designer in the Capitol, paying no attention to Quinn or the screen.

"I have these for my hands." Quinn watched the screen carefully as she brought her cup to her lips.

"Oh, I must say I think her designs are fabulous..."

"You can share my sleeping bag if you want. We'll both easily fit."

A loud smash filled the room and Mercedes and Kurt jumped in their seats, looking over to see a frozen Quinn, sitting dead straight in her armchair with the ruined remains of the cup in her hands and on her lap. She didn't notice her hands were cut as she kept her steely gaze focused on Brittany grinning widely at Santana- her Santana- delighted at the prospect of sleeping in the same sleeping bag as her.

"Quinn..." Mercedes cautiously said her name, while Quinn tried to keep her blazing anger and jealously in line. She knew it was wrong and Santana was only being nice but that stupid blonde looked so damn pleased about it...

"Quinn, sweetie, maybe you need a break," Kurt said softly, walking to her side and forcing her gaze from what she was sure was a guilty expression on Santana's face, to meet his kind blue eyes. She looked down and was surprised to see the cuts on her hands from the cup.

"C'mon, let's get you all cleaned up. Mercedes will call us if something happens, right M?" Quinn saw Mercedes nod slowly, and she allowed Kurt to pull her to her feet and lead her out of the room.

They walked in silence as Kurt led Quinn through the corridors, eventually telling her to wait outside his room for a moment. She did as he said, feeling exhaustion weigh down on her as she waited for him. She was so tired; Watching Santana in the arena was taking more out of her than she'd ever admit. But there was no one she could talk to, because no one else there who she could confide in understood. Mercedes certainly didn't, she still enjoyed poking fun about Brittany and Santana at Quinn's expense quite often, and Sue's prescience was just as unbearable in the current situation.

Kurt walked back out, a first aid kit in his hands and gestured for her to follow him once more. She examined her hands quietly, trying to make sure there was no glass in the wounds. She raised an eyebrow as Kurt brought her outside, to the gardens.

Where the Capitol can't hear us. She observed, as he led her through the tangles of bushes and flowers, until they came to a small bench beside a fountain, hidden in the middle of the garden. She'd never been there before, and sat next to Kurt.

His hands were soft and gentle as he used a pair of tweezers to remove the small pieces of glass in the cuts. She sat silently watching him, waiting for him to break the silence.

"You need to trust Santana, Quinn. I know how hard it is for you to watch, but she'd never cheat on you." His voice was as soft and gentle as his hands and Quinn's breath hitched for a moment. She narrowed her hazel-green eyes at him.

"I do trust Santana." He paused for a moment, quirking his own eyebrow skeptically at her. She sighed, biting her lip. "It's Brittany I don't trust." Kurt accepted this answer, nodding and going back to his work.

"I see. Well, if it's any consolation I don't think she'll try anything. She obviously loves Santana as a friend at least, and wouldn't compromise that by making a move. Especially not when Santana's romance with you is probably what's keeping them both alive right now." Quinn hadn't thought about that, and contemplated Kurt's words as he began applying a soothing cream to her hands.

"I...hadn't thought about that. You're probably right,"she unwillingly admitted and he laughed.

"What's this, the great Quinn Fabray, the "Ice Queen", admitting she was wrong?" Quinn couldn't stop a small laugh escaping as she shrugged.

"Tell anyone and I will be forced to kill you," she joked. Her expression softened slightly as she took in Kurt's appearance once again. He looked as exhausted as she felt, and she realised that she wasn't the only person being effected so horribly by the arena. Because she wasn't the only one who's love was fighting for their lives.

"Kurt...I'm sorry about Blaine," she said gently, and he visibly tensed at her words, before slumping slightly in defeat.

"I...Thanks, Quinn. I'm proud of him, for doing so well, it's just-just hard, you know? To watch him in there. Especially when Sebastian kept coming onto him, and now..." He pulled his hands back onto his lap, having finished wrapping hers in bandages. She cautiously took his again in her own.

"Sebastian's a creep. And Blaine's a fighter, don't count him out yet." Kurt gently squeezed her fingers in his.

"He is a fighter. But is that enough?"

Xxxx

It was later that same day, and Quinn and Kurt sat draped across each other in comfort on the long couch watching Blaine struggle over to the lake to catch a fish, and Santana cuddle in a sleeping bag with Brittany, discussing how she was going to get rid of the Career's food. Mercedes- who Quinn had never seen speechless before- was shocked at the new found friendship the two shared, and watched them warily from her own seat.

"This is making me uncomfortable," she finally said as Quinn pressed her head into Kurt's shoulder to avoid watching Brittany snuggle up to her girlfriend. Quinn smirked at her while Kurt chuckled.

"What's wrong, Mercedes? Can't handle actual human emotions?" Quinn teased. Mercedes snorted at her, folding her arms.

"From you, no. You're Quinn Fabray, I'm not used to you being all-" She gestured wildly up and down at the pair of them. "You're the Ice Queen. The Queen bitch. The girl who went all crazy ass in the arena and killed, what, 13 other opponents?" Quinn's expression darkened and she glared at the girl.

"Watch it, Jones. I wasn't the one who turned into a raving psychopath-"

"Hell to the no, I've told you not to call me a psychopath-"

"Q, ARETHRA, SHUT IT BEFORE I MAKE YOU!" The two victors stared viciously at each other while Kurt tried not to laugh.

"Bitch."

"Bite me. Actually, I take that back. Knowing you, you actually might."

Xxxx

"Quinnie! I think you'll want to see this!" Quinn knew letting Mercedes watch with them in the District 12 viewing room was a bad idea. But Sue had had enough of their bickering, and insisted it was the only way she could ensure the two of them didn't kill each other.

Quinn casually walked into the room, nodding a greeting to Will and Holly before sitting to the right of Sue. Mercedes grinned widely at her other side, and Quinn quirked an eyebrow as she turned her attention to the screen. Santana and Brittany were gathering supplies, as they had been for quite a while, and she was about to snap at Mercedes for wasting her time when Brittany's words cut her off.

"So did you love her when you saw her in the Games last year?"

Well shit.

Santana seemed visibly uncomfortable at the question, and wouldn't meet Brittany's eye. The entire room's attention alternated from the screen to Quinn's passive expression.

"No. I didn't really watch much of the Games last year. I knew the kids from 12 who were in it and after their bodies were returned... I didn't have much of a reason to watch." Quinn had never spoken to Santana about her time in the arena in much detail, she assumed she'd already watched it. It shocked her to hear the Latina hadn't even remembered her. Quinn shifted uncomfortably as she realised she had killed one of the tributes from twelve Santana spoke about, a short brunette who hadn't even seen Quinn's sword coming.

She might've been her friend...

"That sucks. So when did you first see her?" Quinn wasn't impressed by Brittany's lack of tact. The girl didn't beat around the bush, to say the least.

"When I was watching the reapings from this year. I couldn't keep my eyes off her when District Four was on." A smile crept onto Quinn's face, the first genuine one in days, and she payed no attention to the others watching her. Santana was blushing with her back to Brittany, and Quinn missed her more than ever in that moment. She was the only person who could turn Santana Lopez, the girl on fire, into an awkward blushing 17 year old girl. Not the blonde from district 11.

Quinn leaned back in her chair, a smug grin on her face as she ignored the gagging noises from Mercedes' end.

"I miss the days when the Games didn't revolve around some sappy love story."

"You're just jealous."

"You wish; Barbie."

Xxxx

Quinn gripped Will's hand (because Kurt had to run to the bathroom after seeing Blaine's deteriorating state, and there was no way she was getting comfort from Sue or Mercedes) and watched as Santana lined up to take her shot at the pyramid of supplies the Carewrs survived off of. She'd seen her hunt before, and Quinn was impressed by the obvious talent the girl possessed with a bow, but as Santana's first arrow successfully nicked the sack of apples, Quinn was in awe of the girl's skill.

She knew she was probably crushing Will's hand by the second arrow, but didn't care because his grip tightened considerably as Santana released her final arrow. Time seemed to slow down as the bag ripped, the apples falling to the ground and setting off the series of explosions.

Quinn's heart stopped as Santana was blasted backwards into the air, landing with an I audible thump onto the hard plain behind her.

Please don't be dead. God, please don't let her be dead.

Quinn fell back into her chair in relief as Santana managed to crawl away eventually, as the enraged Careers came barrelling through.

"Good thing she landed on those sandbags."

Sue always did have the worst timing.

Xxxx

"She's doing...ok." Quinn didn't want to jinx Santana's current well being, but she couldn't help but marvel how the girl had gone from apparently dead and crawling to lazing in a tree waiting for Brittany to return from lighting their third fire. Sue grunted in response frowning at the screen. Santana hummed quietly to herself, gazing up at the clear blue sky of the arena, so Quinn focused her attention on Sue.

"What are you thinking?" she asked, leaning her head on her left hand.

"Something isn't right here." Sue said carefully, squinting at the screen.

"What are you talking about? Santana is-"

"When was the last time they showed Brittany, Q?" Quinn opened her mouth to respond, but found she couldn't. In all honesty, she had no idea the last time they'd seen the blonde and a feeling of dread overcame her.

"You don't think-"

"That's exactly what I think."

Quinn ran her hands through her perfectly groomed blonde hair, before clasping them together in front of her face, her hazel eyes boring into the imagine of Santana.

This isn't going to be a good day.

Xxxx

Silence. Quinn had never heard the viewing room so quiet, hell she'd never heard the corridor as quiet as it was at that moment. She bit her lip to prevent the tears from rolling down her cheeks and crying as they watched Santana kill Jessie St. James and run to the impaled Brittany's side. Holly sniffled from somewhere to her left.

Her heart broke slightly as she watched Santana try to stay strong as she promised the innocent girl from 11 that she'd win. She held no resentment for Brittany at that moment, only resentment for herself for hating the girl who was forced into that situation an helped Santana. Brittany wasn't the enemy.

She never was.

Quinn heard Brittany whisper for Santana to sing, and saw the emotional Latina pause for a moment. She had gently rested Brittany's head on her lap, and untangled the blonde from the net that trapped her. Quinn didn't stop her tears from falling as Santana's beautiful, silky smooth voice began to sing. Quinn didn't even know that Santana could sing, and she'd never heard the song before.

Santana's melodious voice echoed throughout the entire building, as tears trickled down her cheek.

"Songbird," she heard Will say softly, and she looked over at the curly haired man unsurprised to see him crying as well. He met her eyes for a moment.

"It's from home." Quinn shut her eyes as she listened to the brunette finish the last note. It wasn't long after when Brittany's canon sounded. No one spoke, and Quinn gestured to an Avox for a tissue.

"That was so beautiful," Holly finally said, breaking the silence. Quinn looked around to see them all in a similar state to herself, except Sue who looked emotionlessly at the screen, her lips pursed right. She seemed to be lost in her own thoughts, oblivious to them all.

"You ok, Coach?" Quinn asked, wiping her nose with the tissue, noticing Santana begin to cover Brittany in flowers. Sue blinked slowly at Quinn's words and turned her usually icy gaze to meet Quinn's. Fire and sorrow shone out in the usually haughty mentor's expression, something Quinn had never experienced to such an intensity before.

"Q, get me the mentors for 11. I have a sponsor's gift I want to discuss with them.

The last image Quinn saw of Santana was of the girl placing her three middle fingers to her lips before raising them in the air. A sign of respect, and mourning she'd been told.

Now more like a sign of rebellion.

Xxxx

"I miss you, Quinn." Quinn couldn't help the aching she felt in her chest at the desperation and loneliness in the girl she loves voice. She was in her own private apartment, given to her after she won the Games for her stays in the Capitol. It was large and plush, and Quinn never felt lonelier than when she was stuck there by herself. It was why she preferred to stay at the Training Centre, the Viewing Area or with Mercedes or sometimes Sam, a fellow victor from District 4.

She knew that as soon as she returned the following morning, she'd be hauled in for an interview with Rod Remington (she never liked the way that guy looked at her) and would have to avoid a lot of deeply personal questions about her relationship with Santana, but she pushed all that to the side as she slowly crawled off her couch, and made her way over to her tv. She wore an old baggy t shirt and bottoms, had her hair up in a loose messy bun and looked like the exhausted emotional wreck she truly was under all the make up and smiles. The her only Santana got to see.

Quinn pressed her hand to her television screen, so it was on Santana's cheek.

"I miss you too."

Xxxx

"Blaine!" Quinn frowned at the screen while Holly, Will and Sue stared dumbly at the screen. Kurt's eyes were wide and hopeful as he voiced what they all thought they just heard.

"They're both coming home- Oh my god, QUINN, THEY'RE BOTH COMING HOME!" It hit her then as well and she laughed loudly as the gay man threw his arms around her, spinning her around in a right embrace. She heard Holly squeal and Will and Sue shout in joy at the announcement.

"I know, Kurt. But they're not out of there yet." She didn't want to get her hopes up; Rachel Berry had a vendetta against Santana that could easily be fatal to the blonde. And no one left in that arena was to be underestimated. But things had certainly taken a turn for the better, and Kurt's grin was contagious.

"25 years with only William as my surviving tribute," Sue said. "And now we could have them both back." Will, who was hugging Holly, placed a hand on Sue's shoulder:

"It's about time." Sue smiled at that, and Quinn saw the Coach was having difficulties keeping her emotions in check.

"You're damn right it is."

Xxxx

"Keep going, San, you're nearly there," Quinn coaxed as she watched Santana trudge through the water, searching for her partner. She was back in the Cheerios viewing room alone with Kurt. She had no idea where Mercedes was, and frankly didn't care. She had a feeling something was going on with her and Sam anyway.

"Do you think she'll find him in time?" Kurt was jumpy and couldn't stop his leg from bouncing consistently. It was starting to annoy her, but she had to be nice to the guy. He'd more or less made her girlfriend a contender and his boyfriend was most likely dying.

"Of course she will. She's Santana." Kurt couldn't argue with that, and Quinn sighed and shook her head as Santana started arguing with a mockingjay.

It's a bird, Santana. It doesn't want you to go all the Seam on it's ass.

"Damnit, Warbler!" Quinn chuckled at her antics, as Kurt jumped to his feet, anticipating what was about to come.

"Your temper always did get the better of you, Satan. You here to finish me off, sweetheart?"

"ABOUT TIME!"

"Inside voice, Kurt."

Xxxx

A/N: So this took quite a while to write as you may have noticed. I'm really busy these days and I should've probably spent more time on this but meh. As usual thank you all for the reviews, the next chapter is back to Santana again, and please leave a review in the meantime! And oh yeah, happy Thursday! -Q