Songs: Open Your Eyes by Andrew Belle, and Drink A Beer by Luke Bryan
Santana made it back to California and had the Fords drop her off at her barracks. She wasn't ready to enter the shared room. She really thought about getting her own place off base, but here she lived for free. She had just laid down on her bed when she got a call from Garcia saying the platoon was having a mandatory meeting and everyone was required to be there, the only ones exempt were those at home on leave and that he would be there in 10 to pick her up. Santana already had a clue as to what the meeting was about. It was about Ford, she was one of the platoon medics for almost 2 years everyone knew her and loved her.
Santana made her way to the meeting, she made her way to the front of the room and picked a seat with two empty chairs on each side of her, she knew one seat would be filled by either Garcia or Hall but the other one wouldn't be filled, that was Fords chair. She was resting her head on the table in front of her listening to the whispers and talk about the cause behind the meeting when felt a hand on her back, it was Garcia.
"Any clue what this is about?"
"Yep."
Hall spoke up from behind them "if we're getting deployed again, I'm quitting."
Santana smiled slightly "were not getting deployed again. And you cant quit"
"How do you know? Where's Ford at? Who said I cant quit?"
Santana shifted her eyes downward "she's not here anymore."
Garcia jerked his head and silently told Hall to take the empty seat on the other side of their team leader. Hall was about to say something when General Ford and other higher up stars walked in and gained everyone's attention.
"Sorry for calling this meeting guys, but this is important I've got some news."
A hand shot up in the back
"Are we getting deployed again?"
"No, please listen up"
Santana leaned over and whispered "told you" to Hall who nudged her shoulder.
"I've got some bad news though."
Santana instantly found her hands more interesting. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes and listen to the General speak
"As many of you guys know and for those of you don't. Sasha Ford, was restationed to a unit in South Carolina. Here's where the bad news comes in" the general took a deep breath to control his emotions.
"While helping a deploying company train, Ford was involved in a training accident. She was training the units medic when the building they were in collapsed. She put her body on top them to shield their body's from the building. She wasn't wearing her helmet, like usual."
Santana had silent tears streaming down her face; she could not take hearing this anymore.
"She took the majority of the force from the building, she was rushed to the hospital. She was later declared brain dead by the doctors. Sasha passed away New Year's Eve night." With the silence in the room you could hear a pin a drop.
"Funeral arrangements are being made right now, I will let everyone know where and when everything will be taking place. With this being said I ask that your respect my family. And for the love of the everything you believe please don't gossip, yes im talking to you Micheals."
The room shared a light laugh and the silence settled among the soldiers, most of them were in shock especially Garcia and Hall. The silence was broken by Santana's chair screeching from being pushed back and her walking slamming the door open and it shutting. Everyone watched her and no one said a thing.
"Dismissed" rang out in the silence.
The General quickly followed Santana out and caught up He held Santana until she was done crying. The General offered Santana a ride back to the barracks since she more than likely got a ride with Garcia. The General was proud to that his daughter had found a friend in Santana; he had his doubts at first. He remembers reading the letters from his daughter talking about this crazy Spanish girl who would challenge the drill sergeants every chance she got, how she would often get them in trouble and make them do extra exercises. He never thought he would consider that girl to be his second daughter. He was glad Santana came into his family.
Once back at the barracks Santana started unpacking some of her things. She put a picture of her Ford on her bed side table. It her favorite picture of the two of them. It was taken during the beginning of their second tour, they had their sleeves on their tannish color shirts pushed up and they were flexing their arms showing off their matching upper arm tattoos. They had the biggest smiles on their faces; they had just dominated a basketball game against Garcia and Hall.
Santana heard the room door open
"Hello?"
There wasn't an immediate answer so Santana reluctantly got up and went into the shared kitchen. She was met by a girl digging through the bag she had on her shoulder
"Hey."
The girl looked up at the sound of the voice
"Hi, I'm your new roommate. Names Sugar Motta."
Santana rolled her eyes awesome my day just keeps getting better Santana thought.
"Santana Lopez."
Sugar smiled warmly at Santana that only made her want to run away.
Santana continued
"I'll let you get settled in, if you need anything I'll be there"
Santana points to her room and goes back into it.
Santana was about to drift back off to sleep when there was a pounding on her wall. Santana groaned rolled onto her side and put a pillow over her head trying to drown out sound. It wasn't working. Santana got up and got ready; she couldn't stay in the room any longer. The pounding and the music was driving her nuts. She left a note for Sugar saying she would be later and left her number in case she needed to get ahold of her for something.
Santana found herself the tattoo shop, she often found herself at when she needed or wanted a new one. The artist knew her by her first name that's how often she and or Ford were around.
"Lopez back for more?"
"You know it."
"Alright lay it on me whatcha want pretty lady?"
"I want "she'll be a star" with "8/20/92 to 12/31/2017" under it."
"Where you want it at?"
Santana lifts her shirt, turns slightly and points to the left side of her rib cage right under her bra.
"Here. All black."
"Alright well let's get started."
A few hours and a tattoo later, Santana made her way to Lenny's, a bar her and friends had become somewhat of regulars at. They would always perform on open mic night or karaoke nights most of the time they had a some drinks and were doing it for fun but this time it would different for Santana, she would always karaoke or an open mic night with Ford. She entered the bar walked up to the bar tender.
"Lenny!"
"Ahh Santana"
"Can you set up the things for an open mic? I wanna go first tonight, it's kinda important"
"I can do that, piano or guitars? Oh and here's a shot, you look like you need it. On the house dear."
"Thanks. Piano please, I'll be back out in about 5 minutes." Santana grabbed the bottle of vodka from behind the bar, left a 20 dollar bill and then took off for the bathroom.
Lenny reminded her of her grandpa, he often gave her and her guys a few drinks on the house every week. He would always hug Santana when she left, he smelled like the cologne her grandpa always wore, it always made her smile no matter what.
Once in the bathroom Santana lifted her shirt and looked at her tattoo in the mirror. She put down her shirt, she finished off whatever was left on the vodka bottle threw it away then gripped the edge of the sink with her hands. She was gripping so hard her knuckles were starting to turn white. Santana took a deep breath and look at herself in the mirror. I look like a hot mess she thought. Santana turned on the water cupped some in her hands and splashed it on her face she dried her face and walked out, Lenny gave her a thumbs up as she walked to the stage, and she mouthed a "thank you" back.
Santana stepped, more like stumbled, up onto the stage she recognized a bunch of the faces as the regulars she seen a few new faces in the back, but the lights were blinding her to see any further back. Time to face the music she thought. She cleared her throat and begun to speak.
"Hey guys I'm back."
The crowd in the bar cheered, most of the crowd knew her, and some of them yelled "welcome back"
Santana smiled a warm smile and nodded her head in thanks.
"As many of you know, my side kick who many of you know as Ford or as Sasha and I are a tag team when it comes to this. Unfortunately I've got some bad news for you guys." Santana took a deep breath and swallowed back tears. "Sasha has passed away. There was a training accident and she died doing what she did best, saving soldiers' lives."
Someone near the back of the bar shouted a "HOORAH!" which caused Santana to smile and raise her fist and "hoorah" a quiet one back.
"So this song is dedicated to her."
Santana went back to sit behind the piano that was up on the stage, she got herself situated and played a couple of notes trying to find her fingers and then started playing.
"Open your eyes now, open your eyes now
It's time to see if you can reach me
Open your eyes now, open your eyes now
It's time to leave it's time to leave me
Open your eyes now open your eyes now
It's time to see if you still believe in me
Open your life now open you now
I'll try to be all that you need me to be
She'll be a star now
I will follow her lead
She'll be a scar now
I will still let her bleed
Open your eyes…."
Santana abruptly stopped the song stood up and asked for a guitar, a mic stand, and a stool.
"sorry guys. I just wasn't feeling that song anymore. That song wasn't her, but this song is or is atleast close to it." Once Santana got everything she wanted and needed she stung a few chords then started in on a new different song.
"When I got the news today
I didn't know what to say.
So I just hung up the phone.
I took a walk to clear my head,
This is where the walking led
Can't believe you're really gone
Don't feel like going home
So I'm gonna set right here
On the edge of this pier
Watch the sunset disappear
And drink a beer
Funny how the good ones go
Too soon, but the good Lord knows
The reasons why, I guess
Sometimes the greater plan
Is kinda hard to understand
Right now it don't make sense
I can't make it all make sense
So I'm gonna set right here
On the edge of this pier
Watch the sunset disappear
And drink a beer
So long my friend
Until we meet again
I'll remember you
And all the times that we used to...
... set right here on the edge of this pier
And watch the sunset disappear
And drink a beer
Drink a beer,
Drink a beer.
Yeah"
Once Santana was finished with the song the room erupted in cheers and gave Santana a standing ovation, many of the people in the crowd were wiping tears from their eyes, including the girls and the bouncer who was a very manly man. The way Santana sung the song could have brought anyone to their knees and tears to their eyes. It was full of nothing but raw emotion you could tell how vulnerable Santana was by the way her voice sounded, it was cracked and was raspy. Santana stood up thanking the crowd when a familiar blonde caught her eyes. She smiled slightly.
Santana stumbled but slowly made her way over to Rachel where she was greeted by a giant bear hug.
"Ow ow ow ow Rachel! Let me go!"
Rachel loosened her hold on Santana and whispered "I can smell the vodka on you. Heres some gum." Rachel then let go of the hug and put her hands on the taller girls shoulders
"Are you hurt? What did you do?! I was so worried!"
"Rachel calm down, I got a tattoo earlier and it's tender. And your midget bear hug was right on it."
Quinn spoke up "you got a new tattoo?"
Santana nodded her head. Mercedes spoke
"Your voice, that song, everything about you amazing." Santana smiled.
"Thanks, I appreciate it. Means a lot. That song has a lot of meaning behind it for me. I'm Santana by the way since these guys do not know now to introduce people."
"Mercedes Jones."
"If you weren't a soldier you could make a career in the music industry, if ever decide a career change just let me know. I'll take you under my wing and we'll conquer the world together."
"Mercedes calm down." Quinn laughed.
"Why didn't you pick me from the airport?!" Rachel asked
"I forgot what day you said you were coming in. It's in my phone, I can't find my phone. I think I left it on the plane."
"Sasha's dad has your phone, you left it their car."
"You called my General?"
"No, I called your phone when you never showed and he answered"
Santana mouthed an "oh"
"Yeah "oh" is right!
The girls sat down and listened to the performer. Quinn and Rachel went up to get the drinks. Mercedes and Santana sat there awkwardly, Santana played with the invisible spot on the table.
"Sorry to hear about Sasha."
Santana looked up from the table
"Thanks. She was amazing person. 25 is way too young to go but its life."
"Your new tattoo for her?"
"Yeah. Wanna see it?"
"Yes! Well if you'd like to show me that it"
Santana laughed and lifted up her shirt to show it off. At the same time Quinn and Rachel were coming back. Rachel rolled her eyes
"Santana be a lady for once and put your shirt down, were in public."
"Sorry mom. This better be stong Rach. I just want to forget the last couple days"
Rachel rolls her eyes again.
"Bartender said he made it the strongest he could, and all your drinks tonight are on the house."
"thanks Rach." Santana rested her head on Rachels shoulder
"youre gonna stay at my hotel with me, well leave here soon and drink the night away in the room. Deal?"
"yes please"
Rachel laughed lightly
The two were brought out of their own conversation by Quinn
"That seems like a pretty meaningful tattoo, I like it. What's the story behind it?" Quinn asked.
Afghanistan 2012:
Santana and Ford were walking to the food tent for dinner, they had worked up an appetite, and they had just kicked the guys' ass in basketball, when Ford suddenly stops causing Santana to walk straight into her. "What the hell Ford?" Santana looks up to see what caused the sudden stop she finds Ford starting at the sky
"There's a vast majority of the sky covered by stars but not every one star is alive. Some are already dead. But yet they still shine as if they were alive."
Santana cocked her head to the side with a confused look on her face
"What you getting at here?"
"I wanna keep shining. If anything ever happens to me I wanna keep shining, I wanna be a star."
Santana slowly nods her head. She's slowly catching on but doesn't quite get it.
"You're already a shining star Sasha, you're not dead but you still shine. If it wasn't for you I'd probably be laying in the sand dead. I thank you every day, you will always be my shining star, long after you or I are gone."
Ford turns around to look at Santana
"Promise?"
"With my life."
"Alright let's go get some food before the guys change the story on how we beat them!" Ford took off running as soon as she was done. Santana laughed and followed suit.
"I wanted to do something to keep her shining, she was an amazing person, and she's saved my life on more than one occasion. I wanted to do something to honor her."