I want to thank all of you who are still reading the story although it takes me longer to write it than I thought! Next to work it's not always easy to be productive but I'm doing my best to finish it these days.

Thank you for the patience!

Brittany's POV

"Stop the car! There is someone sitting on the ground!" Eli yells just when Brittany spots the bicycle and person on the side of the road, too. She narrows her eyes while stepping on the brakes. That's her bike!

"It's Santana" She wants to shout but it comes out weakly. She's so relieved to see Santana when at the same time she's scared that she might be injured. "Take over, Eli and turn the car around. I'll get her."

Brittany manages to say before jumping out of the car. Eli does as he's told while Brittany hurries over to the brunette on the ground.

"Santana! Are you ok?" Brittany coughs because of the smoke and the shock of heat hitting her face. She kneels down to Santana so she can grab her face and have a closer look at her. She thanks the universe when reddened but familiar eyes finally lock with hers.

"Brittany?" Santana's voice is raspy, her nose running. She's wearing her sleeping clothes as well as a bandana hanging loosely over her mouth. Her tired fingers wrap around Brittany's arm. "Is that really you? I was asleep – I've been in bed for the past two days because I got a terrible cold. I-"

Brittany's heart instantly breaks at the way Santana sounds so confused. She pulls the bandana all the way down so she can lean in and press a kiss to Santana's hot cheek.

"You're safe now. Come on, my cousin is driving the truck. Let's go."

Brittany drags Santana onto her feet to guide her to the truck. Eli has already opened the passenger door for them to jump in. Brittany guides Santana inside first. Then she quickly goes back to grab the bike and throws it in the back of the truck before jumping next to Santana.

As soon as the door is closed Eli takes off. A couple seconds later two firetrucks drive by them into the opposite direction. It allows Brittany to take a breath of relief. Ten minutes ago, she had no idea if they were going to find Santana, let alone if she was still up there. The closer they got to Santana's house, the more scared she became. They drove by houses that were more or less destroyed. Others looked fine.

So far, the situation is pretty much contained because fire departments and officials reacted quickly. Still, the ferocity of the firestorm caused a lot of damage within just one day. Luckily the winds have faded, too but she was still scared when they got here. Now that she's holding Santana in her arms, she's finally able to breathe again.

While driving all the way together with Eli, Brittany had been as worried as never before in her life. Up until today she didn't know the feeling of being scared to death for someone else's life.

Dom and her grandma are both safe but she had no idea where Santana was. She couldn't reach her on the phone. Now she is sitting closely next to her, letting her tired body rest against Brittany's. What if they hadn't found her?

Santana's cough sounds terrible.

"It's going to be ok." She whispers into Santana's ear. The brunette whimpers.

"The house… everything." Santana whines softly, probably too exhausted to cry out loud. Brittany bites her lip, holding on tighter.

"I know…" She mutters when pressing another soothing kiss to Santana's temple. "But everything is replaceable. Not you though, ok? The most important thing is that you are safe. We're gonna find a way… You're not alone."

While Santana cries into Brittany's shoulder, Brittany guides her cousin to drive them to the hospital. Although Santana doesn't seem to be injured, Brittany needs to be sure that she is going to be ok.

It's in the morning hours when Brittany startles up from an unsteady sleep.

She needs a couple seconds to orientate herself. She's at home. On the small couch in her living room.

Eli's snoring must have woken her up. He's sleeping in her bedroom next door but she can still hear him. They weren't allowed to stay the night at the hospital, so Brittany took Eli home where she insisted on him taking the bed. She couldn't sleep anyway. The pictures of finding Santana on the side of the road kept replaying in her head. Santana had to stay the night at the hospital because of a smoke intoxication.

Brittany pushes a thin blanket off her because there's no way she's going to fall back asleep. She she makes her way into her small kitchen.

Trying not to make too much noise, she prepares a pot of coffee. Once it's brewing, she decides to make her cousin pancakes.

Eli definitely deserves it. He drove for way longer than she did. But the closer they got to home, the more she became a nerveless wreck. Eli managed to make her feel calm most of the time but whenever she allowed a scary thought to creep through her mind, she lost it. She imagined what it would be like to lose Santana. Like actually lose her. Not just as in they wouldn't be seeing each other anymore but as in – she passed away.

The thought still makes her feel like her throat closes up. She's pretty sure she could cry instantly but she doesn't want Eli to see her in this weak state anymore. The snoring just stopped. He must be awake and will probably come look for the delicious scent that's spreading in the kitchen.

But even the yummy smell of pancakes can't make her feel better. She can't stop thinking about Santana.

Will she be ok? What's going to happen with her house? There's only a hint of hope left that it got spared. Maybe it only suffered smoke damage. Maybe it's all gone.

Santana must be scared to go back and find out.

Brittany is going to be there by her side - if she wants her to. Once she has figured out how to get Eli back to Arizona, she will head straight to the hospital in no time.

"I don't want to hear a single word."

It looks like Brittany won't have to drive Eli all the way back.

Aunt Kathrin's voice makes her feel like she's seven again.

Brittany once stole a second piece of cake from her kitchen counter when she and her parents visited the ranch during summer vacation. Brittany was only allowed to eat one piece but she couldn't resist and got another one. Aunt Kathrin wasn't amused.

About as unamused as right now.

Brittany wishes she had resisted Eli's persuasion to go with her. She wishes she had left her cousin on the dusty road and driven all the way home on her own. Even with the risk of falling asleep behind the wheel. Because then she wouldn't have to look into her aunt's disappointed face right now.

A few minutes ago her doorbell rang. Brittany already hoped it was Santana but when she looked through the peephole, she nearly choked on a bite of pancake. Aunt Kathrin was standing there together with one of her ranch workers. They must have followed them only a few hours later.

"You" Aunt Kathrin goes on. She's still standing in the doorway with her arms crossed in front of her chest and eyes landing on Eli. He's sitting at the kitchen table and has stopped eating in shock. "Get your butt outside and into my car. We're driving right back. And you…" She now bores her eyes into Brittany's.

Since Brittany isn't the seven-year-old girl anymore, she doesn't even try to avoid her aunt's eyes. Aunt Kathrin shrugs tiredly. "Well… I was furious during the ride but now that I'm here and can see that you two are ok… I guess I'm just glad. Is Santana alright, too?"

Brittany smiles at her aunt in relief before stepping closer to take her in for a hug.

"Yes, she's ok. We got there in time. We don't know about her house though. It's probably destroyed like many others."

Aunt Kathrin squeezes Brittany and mumbles an apology before heading over to pat her son on the shoulder.

"Those pancakes do smell awfully delicious. Now that I don't have to worry about my son and my niece anymore, I guess me and Samuel could eat a bite before heading back."

Brittany waves the guy inside who must have helped aunt Kathrin driving all the way here. Together they squeeze themselves around Brittany's tiny kitchen table.

"You don't have to hurry right back, Kathrin. My place might be small but you guys are welcome to stay a while before heading back. You should get rest." Brittany suggests but her aunt shakes her head.

"Thank you, Brittany but we must go back. My animals aren't going to feed themselves. You weren't there long enough to see that we're completely understaffed. It's hard work on the ranch. I love it… I do. But it's definitely hard work these days so I can't just take a day off whenever I want. Plus, I'm sure you'll be happy to have a quiet place to come home to with all the chaos going on in town. Luckily the fires didn't reach your area but still. Maybe you want to go help friends or someone else in need. Once Eli is finished, we leave right away."

Brittany nods at her aunts' final words. She feels terrible for hearing about how much work there is to do at the ranch. She wishes she could have stayed longer to help.

"I'll come help you out sometime" She offers thirty minutes later when they're all saying goodbye at her door. Aunt Kathrin smiles tiredly.

"That would be nice, my dear. You're always welcome to stay with us. And remember what I said to you about bringing Santana along…"

Brittany grins when hugging her cousin and aunt goodbye. She suppresses tears when thanking Eli again for doing what he did. But he's way too cool and just winks at her before walking off together with aunt Kathrin.

Brittany watches until they're gone around a corner. She really hopes to see them again soon.

Santana's POV

If she didn't see the hand on her own, she wouldn't know that somebody is holding her.

She's completely numb.

She knows she's ok. Physically. She knows that there is going to be a way for her and that she's not alone.

But right now… she's empty. She lost her home. Her belongings. Everything she called her own up until yesterday.

The realization hit her an hour ago. The only thing that stopped her from breaking into something like a panic attack were Brittany's eyes.

They've been sitting in the hospital cafeteria for a while now. Brittany is her first and only visitor so far. Loretta is on her trip in Europe, Kurt will come by later and her Dad just called her on the phone. He's going to arrange a meeting with her insurance counselor but right now she can't think properly.

The only thing she can focus on is Brittany. Her face makes Santana feel a little bit easier. It always does. It already did when Santana came home from work that day she turned down a job offer from this very unfriendly client. The only thing she needed was to talk to Brittany and things were looking brighter again.

She has no idea what her future looks like right now.

Maybe she's looking at it…

Maybe she'll have to completely reinvent herself and everything she knew.

"I'm sorry that I wasn't there." Brittany's voice breaks Santana's thoughts. "I'm sorry I left just like that. I wish I had been there with you. You shouldn't have been alone."

Brittany's hand is still resting on Santana's. Finally the warmth of it is reaching Santana.

"Brittany… it wouldn't have changed anything. We don't have to ask ourselves what if… and we certainly don't have to talk about why you left right now. I don't think I'm capable to have deep conversations. I don't even know what I'm going to wear to get home. I mean not home as in home… Kurt said I can stay at his place until I know what to do next. We don't have to talk about us right now. Is that ok?"

Brittany quickly nods her head and squeezes Santana's hand.

"Of course. I just needed you to know that I am sorry. About everything but especially about what happened to your house. And that I'll be there to make things up. I'm serious. If living with Kurt doesn't wor-"

"Oh my God… Mom?"

Santana can't believe her eyes.

She really can't. But it is her mother behind Brittany coming towards them. She's wearing her finest clothes, her hair looks like she probably just had an appointment with her personal hairstylist.

It's either the sound of her heels hitting the floor or the way Santana stares at her mother that makes Brittany turn her head to see what is going on.

Santana can't believe her mother is here. Walking towards her in expensive shoes and something in her face.

Is it worry? A spontaneous smile when their eyes lock over the distance?

"Isn't that your mom?" Brittany wonders when Santana gets up on her feet. It's happening automatically. She gets up and stares at her mother, not knowing what to think or what is going on. What is she doing here?

When her mother comes to a halt in front of her and the perfume she's been wearing ever since Santana was a child reaches her nose, Santana gets thrown back twenty years.

She had a friend named Gaby when she was eight who always played with her outside. One day they decided to take their bikes and they drove off way further than they were allowed. They completely forgot about time and just had fun. But when they returned, Gaby's mother was there and scolded as if they did something truly terrible. She only screamed at Santana because she was older than Gaby for doing something so irresponsible.

Santana ran home crying to find her mother sitting at her desk, doing some paper work. She pulled Santana into her lap and listened to what had happened. Maybe she wasn't always the perfect mom who spent that much time with Santana and Loretta. But in that moment she was there. She told Santana that she didn't have to feel guilty and that she would talk to Gaby's mom to make her calm down.

Santana was so thankful in that moment. So utterly relieved.

Right now she can sense something tickling at the back of her head. It crawls over her ears and cheeks until she realizes it's the feeling breaking into tears.

Her mother is standing in front of her and for the first time in years, she is looking at her. As in truly seeing her.

"Don't worry, Santana." Her mother speaks before reaching her hands out. Santana leans into her mother and lets her hold her when she starts crying uncontrollably. It just comes out of her. Up until a few minutes ago she had thought that she wouldn't be able to cry because of the shock that she's been in ever since she noticed the fire.

Her mother doesn't say anything else. She just holds Santana in her arms.

She doesn't know what time it is or for how long she's been sitting outside on a bench next to her mother. They're both holding a warm cup of tea in their hands.

Brittany said goodbye a while ago so Santana could have some time alone with her mom. A couple days ago that thought would have literally scared Santana. Right now she's just calm.

They don't talk too much because there's still the distance between them. But just sitting next to her mom is good. She's the last person Santana expected to come. Which is truly sad.

"My neighbors called me a couple hours ago…" Santana begins after a few silent minutes. "They immediately returned from their vacation and went back to the house. From what they said, I don't even want to go back and see for myself… pretty much everything is gone."

Her mother sighs. Slowly she shakes her head.

"It's unbelievable. How some areas got hit hard and others nearby got spared. The fire didn't even last for a day but it was enough time to destroy. I thought the clinic was in danger but Kirk and I were lucky. All the people were lucky as no one died… but losing your house is still going to take a lot of time to recover from. You have to promise me that you will take time to heal, Santana. Don't make any big decisions. Do what makes you feel good. And we're all here to support you. I'm sure Loretta will offer you to live with her as soon as she gets back. I actually think her second apartment is going to be available next month. The current tenant found something new."

Santana nods although she's not trying to say yes to that. She can't imagine moving into a new place. The thought nearly breaks her heart all over again. She had no time to prepare moving. She would have packed all her stuff.

What does she want in a new apartment that's nothing but empty?

"But until then…" Her mother goes on. "You're staying with me and Kirk."

Santana wants to do three things at the same time. She wants to respond, to huff in surprise and to swallow the overwhelming sensation that's rushing through her. But because she was also about to take a sip of her tea, she coughs. She coughs like they cough in the movies when they hear something they weren't prepared to hear.

"Contain your excitement, please." Her mother comments the awkward rattling in her throat. "And no back talk. I'm your mother and we have been avoiding each other for too long now. I think it's time we reconcile." Santana stares at her mother. She's dead serious. "Or at least we will try. But Kirk and I have enough space. Please… I want to use this opportunity to finally pull ourselves together."

Again Santana nods although she's not at all agreeing.

Yes, she's overwhelmed to see her mother. Yes, they still have a connection that she thought was lost.

But living with her? Right now?

"Oh wow… that's…" Santana croaks but nothing else comes out of her mouth. She just shrugs, incapable to speak.

Her mother gently pats the spot between Santana's shoulder blades as her voice is still raspy from the coughing fit.

"Drink your tea." She mumbles before guiding her own cup to her lips.

Quietly Santana does as she's told, gazing at her mother over the edge of her cup.

This is going to be interesting.

She has no other words for it than very, very interesting.

Awkward maybe. Peculiar.

Highly problematic.

Or just wrong.

But because she's scared of even thinking that, she'll go with interesting.