Santana pov.
Today I get out of hospital. Today I go to my new, temporary home.
Today I move in with the Berry's.
Rachel came by after dance last night. Just as promised.
She brought me magazines and an ipod full of crappy, uplifting Broadway songs
But it's the thought that counts.
Right?
She stayed for an hour before Hiram picked her up. Both he and Leroy have been busy sorting paperwork and therapists out apparently.
He apologized so many times for not being around more.
I don't mind though.
I'm used to being alone.
It turns out that crazy blonde lady with the stripper name is gonna be my therapist.
Joy.
Also I have to give a statement on Wednesday.
To the police.
They need to hear my side of the story so they can arrest my Papi as soon as he steps foot on American soil.
I'm scared.
I'm scared of telling them what I've been through and I'm scared of how influential Papi is.
He's a head trauma surgeon with no previous criminal record.
I've watched enough special victims unit and CSI to know he won't be under custody for long.
Then he'll come for me.
Maybe I should run.
I could get my money stash that was for mine and Britt's making it official weekend away
The money I was gonna surprise her with.
Spoil her with.
Maybe I could just grab it and go.
Never come back.
Disappear.
"Hey.".
I look up to see Quinn stood nervously at the door.
Instantly my body tenses.
"I need to talk to you for a moment...if that's ok?".
She speaks confidently, but as she steps closer I see her eyes are red and her usual rod straight posture is slumped.
"Sure Q...come sit.".
I pat the bed and criss cross my legs so there's room.
Tentatively she makes her way over and gracefully climbs onto the spongey mattress, mirroring my position.
Only Lucy Quinn Fabray could make climbing onto a hospital bed look graceful.
I smirk at the thought.
"What's the sly grin for?".
She tries to joke, but I can hear the tremble in her voice.
"Nothin, just how you can make anything look graceful...it's kinda unfair.".
I see her cheeks redden a little and an actual smile forms on both our lips.
"Well that's because I actually observe proper posture...unlike you!".
Her voice is a little stronger now, her head a little higher.
"Sorry Sergeant!". I mock, saluting her as I do so.
She giggles a little and it feels good to hear.
We haven't spoken like this for so long.
Except for insults and fights we haven't had any contact that wasn't due to Cheer or glee.
I've missed this.
I've missed her.
Quinn's pov.
I notice San's eyes darken and I know she's going to a bad place.
For a moment everything seemed ok.
But it was fleeting and here we are again.
In hospital.
Pretending this isn't happening.
"I'm sorry".
I tilt my head to the side as Tana croaks out yet another apology.
"What for S?".
"Everything.". She sighs, her lip quivering. "The constant bitching, the fighting...not being able to protect you from him.".
I see a tear roll down her cheek.
She turns her head to the side and wipes it away discreetly.
Typical Santana.
Always hiding her pain.
"I was a bitch too. I fought with you too. And as for what he did...you do not have to apologize...ok?".
She shakes her head and looks back to me.
My heart stops when I see the self doubt and hurt in her eyes.
"I didn't know...He, he...when he first...with me...he said if I was quiet, if I was good...he wouldn't..".
Her face scrunches and she pulls her hands up to hide her tears.
Bile rises in my throat but I force it down.
I know what she was going to say.
I know because I have my own memory of those words being spoken.
"Don't Tana...please, don't hate yourself because of what he did!". I choke back a sob as she shakes her head again.
My body acts on it's own will, and I feel myself surging forward, wrapping her in my arms.
"He hurt me Tana not you....you saved me from him though, you stopped it happening.". My voice cracks as I feel her struggle out of my embrace.
"NO Q!". She half cries, half shouts. "I. FAILED! I FAILED YOU!".
Through blurry eyes I saw her raise a clenched fist to her chest and hit herself as she insisted she failed me.
"I should have seen the signs...".
Her eyes lock with mine, a sob instantly tearing out of my throat as I see the pain in them.
How did I never notice!?
"I waited two months...two months of him fucking me like the little slut I am, before I stopped you coming over...I, I was stupid...I should have realised that if he was sick enough to rape his own daughter, he wouldn't think twice about someone else's!".
Her harsh words and self deprecating tone smash into me as I try and fail to control my breathing.
"How..how many times?". She questions.
She can't ask me that.
She doesn't need to know.
I know for sure she'll take it all and blame herself.
Hold herself responsible.
I'll lose a little more of my best friend.
I've already lost so much of her.
"I don't know San...I just...I don't know."
I know she can see through my lie.
San has always been able to read me.
"Please Q...how...how many.".
A pain shoots through me at her broken tone.
"It doesn't matter S.". I whisper.
Suddenly I'm aware of how quiet the room is.
"I need to know...I just...please.".
Her voice breaks and my will does with it.
Part of me thinks she just needs to know she isn't alone.
That part of me wins.
"Thirteen...lucky for some...". I whisper.
I can't look at her.
My hands suddenly become interesting and I watch as I nervously play with my fingers.
Deafening silence filling the room.
Only our occasional hiccups and snifles permiating it's suffocating hold over us.
I raise a hand to wipe a fresh tear away and when I lower it I notice a small, tan hand fearfully reach out.
I take it and wrap my other around it.
A whimper sounds from Santana and I break again.
I look up to see her sucking her lips in, eyes full to the brim with fresh tears and empathy written all over her face.
"You...you don't hate me?". She questions, her voice so vulnerable.
"Never San...never.". I croak back. "You...don't hate me?".
She should.
I saw the signs.
I ignored them.
I could have saved her too.
"Never in a million years Lucy Q.". She whisperes back, her voice vibrating with her bodies need to cry.
Another sob rips through my body and I fall awkwardly into her.
I'm so grateful for her.
She should despise me.
Hate me.
Loathe me.
Buthere she is.
Cradling me as I cry into her lap.
Comforting me as I break into a million pieces.
And I know she'll pick them all up and put me back together again.
Just like I will with her.
We both messed up by pushing each other away.
But now were bonded again.
It may be by a horrific event.
But we are bonded non the less.
And I am determined to help her fight through this and come out ten times stronger.
I almost lost my best friend.
I'll be damned if that ever happens again.
Heyyyyyy.
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Big thanks to all my reviewers!
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*curtseys*
Muchos love.
Daisy x