Chapter 21: Backstabber (Ke$ha)

I took a deep breath and told myself that no matter what it was, I would be supportive and get Britt through it.

We could conquer anything.

She needed me and I wouldn't let her down.

Brittany's POV

I should have known.

Dionne had gone away a little too quietly.

Now my career was on the line because of her shit.

There was no way out of this.

She had screwed me over and I just had to deal with the consequences.

I had seen my bosses standing there watching when I was up on the stage but I kept directing the girls.

I really just tried to ignore them.

I guess that I was hoping that them seeing me hard at work would wipe away any doubt in their minds.

I hoped that it would prove to them that I was more serious about this show than I had shown in the last few months.

But when I looked down at them...their expressions hadn't changed.

I continued to dance until the tension became so thick that I couldn't focus anymore.

Mistakes happen when you aren't focused and this wasn't the time for mistakes to happen.

I stood to the side and watched the girls, try the moves that I had just shown them and that's when I noticed that Tony had been trying to get my attention.

Tony caught my eyes and when I saw his face, I could see that although he was happy to see me, he also looked really worried.

And if he was worried, I was certain that it had to do with August and Frank watching me.

Something was definitely up with them.

And I didn't like it.

I was in big trouble.

I glanced down at the seats again was still being watched and now they were whispering among themselves.

Through all of this Ana was still sitting there not noticing all the heaviness that I could feel.

She looked starstruck as she watched me work.

But right then in that moment...I didn't want her there.

It was like when someone who you purposely don't invite to a party shows up and you don't really know how to tell them to leave.

Why hadn't I called first?

Why hadn't anyone called me?

Maybe they were banking on me quitting.

I ended rehearsal and looked down at Ana.

She was standing there with so much pride in her eyes.

I tried to smile for her.

I didn't want her to be involved in anything. I wished that she had just dropped me off.

I was aching all over but the burn of my stitches was the worst part.

I couldn't worry about that right now though, I had something to prove.

My ass was on the line.

I stood on the edge of the stage and saw my two bosses giving me that look that Ana gives Izzy when he did something bad.

I knew that I had to talk to them and be honest about what was going on with me.

Tony hadn't told them anything but that I needed more time.

Which I know for a fact they hated.

I swallowed my fear and climbed down to the floor and headed straight to Ana.

At first I was going to try and convince her to just go home but the closer that I got to her and saw all the support on her face, I realized that I wanted her to wait for me.

I couldn't push her away like I normally would but I could protect her from any kind of scene.

I was happy when she gladly agreed to go to my office and was thrilled that I had left such a huge mess to distract her with, which meant she wouldn't come looking for me.

As Ana walked away, Tony threw an arm over my shoulders and leaned against my ear.

"I'm on your side in this. Don't forget that...okay?"

I looked in his eyes and nodded.

"Is it really bad?"

"Lets just say that...Dionne-"

"That's enough Tony!" Frank snapped back at us.

Our heads jerked up when we realized that our conversation wasn't so private.

Frank was pissed off and that was never a good sign.

I swallowed the acid in my throat and then tried to smile.

But I didn't think that it would last long.

Tony looked at me nervously and then we followed our bosses to the other end of the theater and up the stairs towards the old balcony that had been converted into two great big offices.

This could go two ways, if we headed into one of their offices, then I was probably fired but if we went into the big conference room at the end of the hall, then it was just going to be harsh words but I would still have a job.

I hung back and waited to see which way it was going to go.

I swallowed hard when I saw, August look back at me and then he opened his office door.

"Come on in Brittany."

Shit.

I got even more nervous when Tony stayed in the hall with Frank.

There was something off about all of this.

And it seemed like Tony already had an idea of what it was.

But I would hold my chin up just like Ana would tell me too.

They wouldn't see me break.

That was my hope.

This could still be okay, August was the one who had gotten me the job.

He was close to Frankie and he loved me like his own daughter.

I had never heard him say a negative thing.

Maybe that was why it was him that took me into his office alone and not him and Frank.

The news would be easier coming from August, right?

"Have a seat, Brittany."

I nodded and slid into a seat in front of his desk.

My body screaming for me to stand once my ass hit the hard wood of the chair but I didn't show it.

I couldn't be weak.

Even if it was August.

August smiled at me and then surprised me.

He didn't sit behind his desk instead he took the chair next to me and turned it towards me.

This was new.

I was so confused.

It was like I was in high school all over again.

Be cool Lopez.

Just be cool.

"I have to be honest with you Brittany...we didn't think that you were coming back. Well Frank didn't think so but I did. I knew that you would come back here and at least fight for your job. Frankie even confirmed it."

"Frankie?"

I hadn't spoken to her since she came to New York back when I auditioned Ari...and so it shocked me that she had vouched for me.

"Yes. I called her to ask if she had been in contact with you. She told me that she hadn't really been in touch with you since her son was born. She did promise me that you would have a good reason for all this time that you have squandered."

"Squandered?"

My head was everywhere and no where at the same time.

"You have still been getting paid your normal salary, even with you sleeping around with one of the dancers. We have kept you on, even when you pushed your work off onto other people like Ariana. And you know how Frank is about her. I never heard the end of that rant. I nearly passed out when today things were suddenly different. Because suddenly, today, you came back in here like you owned the place. You showed us why we hired you and now we are both conflicted. Now we are wondering if this version of you is back for good."

I nodded as I took in what he had just said.

After a moment, I realized that he was waiting for some kind of response from me.

"I'm back for good. I went through some pretty hard stuff but I'm back to do my job. I'll do whatever you ask of me...just don't fire me, please August?"

I wasn't above begging.

"I don't want to fire you Brittany. That's why you are in here with me and not in with Frank...I needed to see where your head was before I vouched for you in a few minutes."

This wasn't it?

There was more to all of this?

August saw my confusion and patted my knee.

"Frank wants to meet with you and me after he is done talking to Tony."

Tony was in with Frank?

Had I put his neck on the line too?

I would never forgive myself if I had.

"So I'm not getting fired?"

"Not today...but there is still a big chance that you will, if you don't cooperate. If you want this job then you have some explaining to do."

"Explaining?"

I wasn't sure what they knew exactly but I knew that it was something bigger than just me and Grady.

"About Grady and Dionne. About the state of your office, the drug usage...and about your extended vacation. If we are going to keep you on then you need to be completely honest with us. We need to know whether keeping you on will be a benefit or a liability at this point."

Honesty.

Why was everyone so obsessed with that lately?

Being honest with my personal business with Ana was one thing, but my bosses too?

Where was I supposed to draw the line?

At unemployment?

August ushered me into the conference room where Tony and Frank were already sitting.

Tony looked angry as he looked at me and then over at August.

"This is bullshit, August!" Tony stood from his chair and pointed a finger towards Frank. "Don't do this to her. She's been through enough!"

"Like what? It would be nice if her bosses knew don't you think?" Frank said with a stupid smile on his face.

"Tony...calm down...this meeting is about us all getting on even footing. Our investors will be in for the whole month of September and we need to all be on the same page or we are all out of a job. Brittany plays a major part in that." August said as he sat beside me.

I was quiet and so was Tony as he sat back down in his chair and looked at me.

I was silent as I sat at my end of the table and looked at the three of them on the other end.

This was not how I thought this day would turn out.

But I was prepared for the worst.

Because I had a drug addict for a wife and because my son was constantly in and out of the hospital...I was used to this kind of thing.

And so I was never completely unprepared.

Ana had always told me to never be like Rachel and blurt out the first thing that came to my mind.

So I would wait until I actually knew what they knew.

Frank leaned over the table, looked across at me and smiled but I could see right through him.

He wanted me gone.

I could see it all over his face but he was outnumbered.

Tony and August were in my corner.

For now.

There was some stuff that I would rather forget and I was hoping that Dionne hadn't said anything about it.

"The moment that you two push too fucking hard...I'm taking her out of here." Tony said as he crossed his arms over his chest.

August nodded in agreement.

"Okay." August said before looking over at Frank. "Where do you want to start?"

"The sex on my stage."

I nearly choked, I thought we were alone that night.

"What?"

"Yes...sex on my stage. I walked out of my office and there you two were going at it on the middle of my stage like jack rabbits!"

Tony growled...Frank actually looked scared and immediately apologized.

"What do you want to know about it?" I asked plainly.

I wasn't going to play any of Frank's games.

"How long after we hired Grady did you start having sex with him?"

"What does that have to do with anything, Frank?" Tony asked before I could answer.

"It matters because there is a rule in both of your contracts that strictly forbids affairs with the dancers. It also has guidelines about drug usage. From what I know, Brittany broke both of those rules."

I was tired and I couldn't keep up with the arguing going on in front of me.

They were all yelling at each other now.

It was making my skin rise and my head pound.

Finally I had enough and slammed my hands on the table.

"Stop!"

All three of them froze when I stood up

"Please...I'll tell you what you want to know."

"I want to know everything." Frank said finally.

I nodded and leaned forward on my hands.

I couldn't do this sitting down...I wanted to seem in control.

It's something that I learned from Sue...always seem larger than your opponent.

And this was the only way that I could do it.

So I sighed and then started at the beginning.

"I hired Dionne and she flirted with me endlessly. I didn't sleep with her. We kissed once. We smoked weed...but not here. At my house. She stayed with me for a while and then she told me about her friend that was this amazing dancer. Tony was looking for the male lead so I sent her to him. I didn't meet Grady until after Santana went into rehab. We started off as just friends. We flirted a little but it was harmless. Then one night...we were dancing...just for fun after we had both gotten way too high. Yes...it was in my office. It went a little too far. We had sex on the stage...I got pregnant but didn't know it. I know that's against the rules too. I didn't tell anyone because I was still trying to work things out with my wife. Dionne had been staying at my house until my sister in law put me out for smoking in the house while my son was there. She thought I was sleeping with Dionne...so I found Dionne a place with my friend Rachel. She kept trying to sleep with me. I refused her. Santana and I broke up after that...so Grady and I kept things going. I was still professional...I was still doing my job. I hired every single one of those girls, when I was sober and trained them. I did my job. Then things fell apart with Santana...I told Grady how I wanted to go back to her and he got mad. He threatened to leave the show...I begged him not to. Then I went Lima for our break...and my world fell apart. He showed up after my parents kicked me out after finding out that I was pregnant. Dionne had gotten into Grady's ear about me being back in Lima sleeping with Santana...anyway...I came back here and he told me that he had enlisted in the military so that he could better take care of our baby but then the next day...after he spent the night with Dionne...he came in and made me feel like complete shit. He convinced me to get an abortion. He told me that you two would fire me. So I did it. He left me here by myself and I got depressed. I got sick and so Tony and Ari covered for me. They didn't know what was going on...just that Grady had left me. I was so depressed that I stopped taking care of myself. I was too weak to dance, I was too sick to get out of bed. Santana came here and got me on my feet enough to try and work. Then I got sick again. Thankfully Santana...found you guys Tucker. Who has not steered you wrong. And if it wasn't for her you wouldn't have Ari either, by the way." I said pointing at Frank. He looked at me and bowed his head before looking at me with that coolness again. They were all looking at me with looks of horror. They had asked for this and so I was giving it to them. It was the first time that I had said most of this stuff out loud and it actually felt good.

"And the extended vacation?" August said in a whisper.

"When you guys told me that I had no choice but to take those two weeks off...I spent the first week with my kids. The second week I got really sick and ended up in the hospital. I almost died. I had to have an emergency hysterectomy. I needed that extra week because I could barely walk on my own. I came back as soon as I could."

After I finished pouring out my soul, I sat back in my chair and looked at Tony.

He was clenching his jaw as he looked at me with a hurt look in his eyes.

He had bits and pieces but had never heard the full story.

I was so proud of myself for not crying.

It was silent for a long time and then finally August broke through it all.

"Thank you for that information, Brittany. I'm sorry that you went through such a hard time. I wish that you had come to us about it. It must have been really hard to go through that sort of thing."

"Thank you August but I'm better now and I just want to work." I said quietly.

"Why don't you step out for a second...go get some water...while we talk about this?" August said.

I nodded and slowly walked from the room.

Had I done the right thing?

Should I have found out what they knew first?

They asked for honesty right?

I had told them everything.

I stood leaning against the vending machine trying to calm down my emotions when Tony poked his head into the hall and waved me back in.

Everything was quiet as I sat back at the end of the table.

August wouldn't look at me and Tony wouldn't look at Frank.

It was really tense and horrible.

Frank cleared his throat and then looked at me with the same harsh expression.

"It's really sad that you had to go through something so horrible. It's commendable that you were able to still dance today. Unfortunately, you still broke several rules and that means that we have to follow through with the consequences, if we ever want to move forward."

"Okay...what are the consequences." I leaned forward on the table and crossed my hands.

He wasn't going to break me.

"Every move that you made is now in question. Frankly, the entire time that you have been here, you haven't been entirely focused. So every single dancer that you hired will have to re-audition...including Ariana, unfortunately."

I looked at him in disbelief.

Even with his love of Ariana this was still happening.

But I'm sure that it was Tony's way of keeping him fair.

If he was going to be stuck on rules then he had to be fair all the way.

Still this seemed extreme.

"Frank...I hired 48 dancers. You want me to re-audition all of them?"

"No."

"Oh thank God...that's extreme."

He seemed pleased with my answer.

"No...YOU will not re-audition them. Tony and August will. Until every slot has been reviewed you are suspended. You still have to report to work to help Tony with anything he needs but you will not be paid for it. Also...given that you don't seem to be the person that we hired...you are going to need to re-audition as well."

I wanted to explode.

"What?!" I looked at Tony and he looked away from me.

This is what he had been angry about and now he couldn't meet my eyes.

I had 48 jobs on the line now because of my actions, well 49 if I included myself.

How could I think that I could think that I would get away with this?

"Do you agree with those terms?" Frank asked after I had been silent for too long.

"I already told August that I was willing to do what every he asked. So I'm not going to go back on that."

"Good...then we are done here."

"Not quite."

"Excuse me?"

"What did she tell you?"

"Who?" His eyebrows raised.

"Dionne Parker. What did she say to you, since this is a time of honesty?"

Frank looked at August but didn't say anything.

Finally August looked at me in the eyes and sighed really heavy.

"She told us that you threw yourself at Grady and threatened to fire him if he didn't sleep with you. Which was suspect since only Tony, Frank or I can fire the male dancers. She told us that you were selling marijuana to the other dancers. We asked around and none of the other dancers verified that story. So we were iffy about her claims but then she talked about other things...like you sleeping with Grady around the theater and we started to think that some of what she was saying was true. We wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt. You hired that girl. So now...we need to go back and look through the rest of the dancers that you hired. We can't afford to have someone like that on our staff. It will create chaos. We want you Brittany...we just need you to be on board and hopefully you having to audition to regain your position as a head choreographer will help you regain your focus. This is just temporary."

I nodded and then looked at Tony...he wasn't buying anything that August was saying.

He was still angry.

I just wanted to cry.

Why couldn't I just quit?

Right...this was my dream.

I just wasn't sure that it was still worth it.

Santana's POV

It was like watching a train wreck.

Ari's whole face dropped and went pale as she listened to Britt tell her what happened in the meeting.

Britt wasn't crying anymore, instead she was looking at Ari and waiting for some kind of explosion but Ari didn't say anything she just looked at me and then back at Britt.

"I have to go." she jumped up from the edge of the coffee table and left the room.

She was pissed.

Britt stared after her as if she was hoping that Ari would come back.

But I knew that she wouldn't.

This was her dream...her life and she had dropped out of school and given up a prestigious scholarship to take this job and Brittany had jeopardized that by messing with Grady when she knew that it was against the rules.

If it hadn't been for Britt telling her just how sick she had gotten, how she had the hysterectomy, I was pretty sure that Ari would have torn her down but she had swallowed her anger and left before she could say anything hurtful.

I sat there staring at Britt, waiting for her to say something but she didn't and then my phone started buzzing.

Britt looked at me and then got up and went into the bathroom and slammed the door.

I heard the lock click and knew that she just needed some time alone.

We were being more open and honest but we still needed our space and I knew that this was one of those moments where I had to let her come to me.

Where are you guys?-Q

We are coming home soon. Is dinner ready?-San

Yes, but it's late and the kids are tired.-Q

Are they in bed yet?-San

Izzy is. Puck put him down. He was cranky and hitting Beth and the baby.-Q

Oh. Wow not good...I'm going to see if B is ready...we should be home in about a half hour.-San

Ok...see you then.-Q

Thanks for this!-San

Anytime.-Q

I heard glass breaking in the bathroom and immediately jumped up.

Before I could knock on the door, it cracked open.

Britt knew that I would demand to come in so she wasn't going to fight me on it.

I pushed open the door and could see that it was the mirror of above the sink that had taken the hit.

I looked straight at Britt's hands but they looked undamaged.

Then I saw that she was missing a shoe.

It was in the sink.

"Well...that's interesting." I joked.

Britt looked up at me with a confused look and then shrugged.

"I remembered how you broke your hand and so I threw my shoe instead."

"I see, that was smart."

"Are you mad at me too?"

She looked up at me with that sad face that I couldn't resist.

I reached for her hand and she slid it into mine.

I pulled her from the bathroom and out into the office.

She looked sad and hurt but I didn't falter.

"No, B. In fact...I'm proud of you. So fucking proud."

She sat back on the couch and looked up at me in shock.

"Are you serious?"

I nodded and then walked over to her office door and locked it.

"Very."

Britt sat there looking at me as I stood by the door.

Then as if on instinct she leaned forward and licked her lips.

I lifted my shirt over my head and then unclasped my bra as I made my way back to her.

She licked her lips again before pulling her bottom lip into her mouth.

I pushed down my shorts and panties in one shot and then straddled her lap completely naked.

"I can't believe you are doing this right now."

She looked up at me with her eye brows raised.

"I want you so bad, B. Right now...take me...please?" I begged.

She put her hands on my hips and then leaned up and captured my lips.

"Why?" she pulled away and looked at me in confusion.

"Because...you could have gone up there and quit but you didn't. You talked about all the shit that you have been holding in and then you came in here and you told me. I'm so proud of you."

She still seemed hesitant but that didn't last long once I took her hand and placed it between my legs.

She moaned into my mouth.

"You're really wet." She whispered.

"Only for you, Britt...now fuck me...please?" I said as I looked her straight in the eyes.

I threw my head back when she kissed my chest and at the same time she pushed her fingers inside of me.

I rested my forehead against hers and growled. "Yessssss...like that. God...Britt, I've missed you so much!" I moaned.

"Show me how much." she whispered.

She was into this now and I didn't let her stop being into it until I came so hard that I had to bite her shoulder to keep from screaming.

It was hot and heavy...

And really, really good.

On our way!-San

Did you guys have sex?-Q

After all the sex I walked in on this summer, you have no room to talk, Lucy.-San

It was just twice!-Q

My treehouse has lost it's magick!-San

If anything it has more now ;)-Q

That's just nasty!-San

In a good way? ;)-Q

In a nasty way!-San

Ugh! Just get here ;P-Q

As I said...we are on our way.-San

We returned to the apartment the same way that we had left it.

Hand in hand.

Noah was sitting on the couch with Beth sleeping on his chest.

I took a quick picture on my phone and then smiled down at them.

"Hey Nono."

"Hey."

I leaned in and kissed his cheek and then stood back up and looked around.

The apartment was spotless and the dining room table was empty.

"Where's Quinn?" I whispered, not wanting to wake up Beth.

"She's getting the baby ready for bed."

I nodded and then headed towards the nursery.

Britt didn't follow, instead she fell back on the couch next to Noah and closed her eyes as she rested against his shoulder.

She had a really rough day.

And the sex didn't seem to help.

I had thought that being intimate would help her to not feel so low but maybe it just wasn't the right time?

When I poked my head into the nursery, Quinn was about to sit down in the glider and feed Daniela.

I noticed Rachel was sitting on a bean bag chair, drawing, her new obsession.

She was surprisingly good.

"Hey...I can take it from here." I said quietly.

"Yay!" Quinn said quietly as she handed me the baby tiredly. "I'm going to go heat up your food. Where's B?"

"She's in the living room and she didn't have such a good night...so no sarcasm." I said as I sat in the glider.

"You got it."

Quinn left the room and shut the door behind her.

Rachel was really focused on what she was doing so I just focused on getting my baby to eat without biting my nipple off.

Her teeth were getting super sharp and so this couldn't happen for much longer.

After I had the baby situated, I looked down at Rachel and saw that she was closing her book.

"Hey Rachel? Can I ask you something?"

She looked at me and nodded quietly.

There had to be something on her mind because she was never this much in her head.

"Of course." She said as she crossed her ankles and rested back on her hands.

"What did you think of Dionne?"

"Ugh...worst roommate ever."

"Then why did you live with her?"

"I had just got out of rehab and needed a roommate. Britt told Quinn that her friend was looking for a roommate and so...I moved in with her. She was horrible. Loud sex...drinking...drugs. She was just bad and frankly, I'm surprised that Brittany even had a friend like her."

"She almost got Britt fired today."

Rachel looked at me in shock and then shook her head in disbelief.

"I'm glad she's gone. She is just a horrible person."

"So, I've heard."

"How are you doing with everything?"

"I'm okay."

"Britt called me and told me...when you two were in the woods. She told me about you going to that house. I'm proud of you for not giving in...even if it was just seconds."

I nodded and looked down at my little girl who was fighting sleep.

"Thanks. I went off the deep end...but I didn't use." I said as I looked back up at her.

"You should be proud of that."

"But I almost did...I was so close...I wanted to use."

"And now? Do you want to?"

I shook my head and meant it.

"No."

"I had a night like that...after rehab...it was one of the nights that I had a double shift at the restaurant and I came home to Dionne and Brittany sitting on my couch both drunk off their asses and smoking marijuana. There was so much liquor and beer everywhere, you would think there was a party but it had just been the two of them. I was cleaning the kitchen and right there on the counter was a shot already poured that they must have forgotten about. I picked it up, I sniffed it, I even put it to my lips but then Britt was yelling at Dionne about how she was married and that she wasn't interested. It got my attention because I remembered who she was married to...you. I put down the shot but that was the day I realized that sobriety is up to me...it can be easy to fall apart and just do it...just a taste...but then a taste turns into just a sip or a snort and the next thing you know...you have fallen completely off the wagon."

"Yea...I totally felt like that. I don't want to go back to using, Rachel."

She smiled and then leaned over and wrapped me in a hug.

I rested my head on her shoulder and took a deep breath.

She was a true friend.

Hopefully, Britt would learn to find better friends than people like Dionne.

She just had to learn that those friends can come in the strangest ways.

A few years ago, I wouldn't be caught dead hugging Rachel Berry and enjoying it.

Now though...I was different.

I was better.

And even though right now she felt lower than low, Britt was a better person too.

She just needed to get her confidence back.

A/N: There is so much going on in this chapter...I hope that it makes sense. Review!