That's What You're Supposed To Do

Both girls emerged a little over half an hour later, Quinn gently closing the bathroom door behind them as they went around the corner to their friends. Brittany had put the television on and found some cartoons, Rachel listening to her Ipod whilst the others read or watched along with Brittany. It was only when the dancer saw Santana and Quinn that she turned it off. 'Hey,' She said, causing the others to step away from what they were doing. They could see sweat covering Santana, her body twitching every now and again because of the intensity of the past half and hour.

'Hey B.' She said quietly as Quinn took her hand and led her to the nearest bed. Mercedes scooted over after putting down her book, Santana giving her a grateful smile as they sat down. Quinn set herself in a half seated position against the headboard and pulled Santana on top of her, they all noticed the brunette wince slightly but she gratefully accepted the position as she closed her eyes.

'You okay?' Santana heard Brittany whisper as she crawled on the end of the same bed.

'I am now Brit.' She smiled, opening her eyes and looking around all of their worried faces. 'But I have to apologise to you guys again. I'm broke now though so I cant take you to another movie.' Some of the girls giggled slightly as Santana smiled. 'I'm sorry Q. I completely lost it.'

'Yeah you did.' Quinn giggled. 'But thank you.' Quinn planted a kiss on her head, Santana looking confused.

'Why are you thanking me? I just made a massive scene in a public place and spent the past half an hour throwing up right next to you.'

'You defended me Santana. That's what you're supposed to do.'

'Oh, right. Yeah.' Santana smiled. 'So much for open minded city people.' She laughed, the others quietly joining in.

'Those guys were assholes okay. Neither of you should take anything they said seriously.'

'We know Tina, thanks.' Quinn sighed, pulling Santana in closer as she felt the brunette relax. 'Are you tired?'

'I'm exhausted.' Santana admitted, closing her eyes once more as she gripped the arm Quinn had over her chest.

'That was twenty minutes longer than last time San.' Quinn pointed out, everyone watching them contently.

'I know.' She realised, not wanting to open her eyes because a tear might escape.

'It's not getting any better is it?' Brittany asked, playing with the material on the bottom of Santana's trousers.

'It's not Brit, but I'm okay.' She added smiling, not wanting her friends to worry too much. She then cleared her throat as she reopened her eyes. 'Would it be okay if I slept here for a little bit? I can go back to our room if..'

'Go to sleep Santana.' Mercedes interrupted.

'Thanks.' Santana smiled. She then slid down further into the bed, her head buried in Quinn's side as she drifted off. Literally a few moments later Quinn felt Santana's breathing even out, the girl falling into a deep sleep.

'Quinn,' Rachel whispered, the blonde looking up. 'Is she really okay?' Quinn sighed, running her hand gently over Santana's hair.

'No. If I had to compare, I'd say the shaking was worse than the last time this happened. I just don't know why.' She put her head back to the wall.

'Isn't it obvious Q?' She looked down at Brittany who had crossed her legs on the end of the bed. Obvious and Brittany weren't really two things that went together. But then again, she seemed to make the most sense when the topic was Santana related.

'What do you mean Brit?' Lauren asked for them.

'It was those guys.' She played with the duvet. 'I can guarantee you that all Santana was thinking today was; please don't let it happen again.' Brittany looked into Quinn's eyes. 'She told me once that that was her worst fear, it happening again.'

'She told me that too B.' Quinn sent her a small smile before hugging Santana tighter.

'Then why did she keep going at him? Why not leave it alone, do her counting thing?' Tina asked.

'Because of Quinn.' Brittany said, Quinn now realising. 'She wanted to protect you. And the only way Santana knows how to do that is by kicking ass.' Brittany grinned as the others smiled. 'That's why she didn't stop. To look out for you.'

'Brit, I never want her to do that,' she looked down at her sleeping girlfriend. 'If this is the end result.'

'I don't think it's your decision Quinn.' Rachel pointed out.

'Yeah. Santana needs to feel like she's not powerless. If she freezes up in situations like that she will feel just as bad as she does now.' Brittany pointed out, looking across at Santana as her arm convulsed slightly, the effects from moments ago not having worn off. Quinn looked down after feeling it and stroked her arm, letting her know she wasn't alone.

'But it was so bad in the bathroom you guys.' Quinn's eyes were watering. 'I honestly don't know how she can take it.'

'You're right there with her aren't you Q?' Brittany asked, smiling.

'Yeah.'

'Then that is why she can take it.' Brittany said whilst Santana snuggled further into Quinn, gripping the other side of the blonde's shirt as she fell deeper into dream world.

'Why does her body keep tensing up?' Lauren asked, noticing as Santana's face contorted once more.

'I think it's like,' Quinn tried to explain it. 'Like the shocks that come after an earthquake. The main event has gone but bits of it linger behind. That's the only way to describe it really, but it will stop after a while.' Quinn assured them.

'How comes she never told anyone sooner? How did we not notice sooner?' Rachel wondered out loud.

'Believe me Rachel, I asked myself the same things. I don't know how no one saw it.' Quinn sighed again as she hugged the girl next to her.

'Santana was always really good at hiding things.' Brittany informed them, all of the girls nodding in agreement. The conversation was almost at it's end, all of the girls looking at each other as to what to say next. Then Tina noticed something else.

'Quinn, I hate to ask you this..' She drifted off, playing with the hem of her jacket.

'What is it Tina?' Quinn looked at her comfortingly.

'Is Santana eating, well anything? She looks really thin.' After she said this all of the girls studied the Latina. Tina was right. Santana's arms were thinner than they remembered, you could practically fit two of her inside Quinn who they thought was skinny enough.

'She eats when I ask her to.' Quinn admitted. 'She tries to live off of that horrible coffee she has but I try and make her eat properly.'

'Why doesn't she eat properly anyway? I mean I'm sure she doesn't want to add an eating disorder on top of all the stuff she already has going on.' Mercedes said, sitting on the bed next to Santana and Quinn.

'I don't think she's thinking about it that way Mercedes.' Quinn informed them. 'She doesn't want to eat much because of what happened today. The throwing up. I think she feels like the less there is inside her to get out, the shorter the experience will be.' Quinn stroked her hair again. 'Although, judging by today, that isn't the case. I'll have to remind her that at dinner later.' Quinn smiled, all of the girls nodding in agreement.

'How long until dinner anyway Quinn?' Rachel asked.

'About three hours.' She looked once more at the sleeping brunette before looking back to the girls whose room they were in. 'If it's okay with you guys can we stay for a couple of hours? I'll wake her up when we need to go and get changed?'

'Of course Q, you two can stay as long as you like.' Mercedes confirmed, squeezing Quinn on the arm to reassure her.

'Thanks.' Quinn smiled. 'Now what were you watching on the TV Brit?'

'Woody Woodpecker!' Brittany exclaimed, scrambling back over to the TV and switching it on. No amount of noise was going to wake Santana.