Quinn was impressed as she looked around the penthouse apartment. She had bumped into Travis again with Kelly at Molly's a few nights before. He had invited her to a party he was throwing. She raised an eyebrow as she turned to face him.
"This is kind of quiet for a party" She pointed out as he mixed her a cocktail.
"I wanted the chance to get to know you better" He said with a charming smile "Parties for me are basically work so I may have lied about the start time so I could have the time to talk to you"
"Right" She nodded taking a cautious sip of the cocktail "The professional partier"
"You looked like you needed a chance to unwind when I saw you the other night" He told her leading her out to the balcony.
"Studying is taking a lot more out of me than I thought it would" She nodded looking out at the view "This place really is impressive"
"I wish I got to spend more time here" He said standing next to her "But work takes me all over, do you like to travel?"
"That's not really an option for me" She replied "I have an eight-year-old"
"Oh, I see" He said "I guess that would make travelling hard"
"She's worth it" She said with a smile.
"So, last time I asked Kelly he said you were in a relationship" He said changing the subject "Is that still the case?"
"No" She replied biting her lip "He went back to the rangers and didn't think he would come back so that ended"
"Would I be out of line if I wanted to take you out?" He asked his arm brushing up against hers.
"I'll take it under consideration" She replied with a half-smile as she stood back from the railing "Shouldn't you be getting your party ready?"
"Come on" He nodded with a grin "You can help me out"
Quinn raised an eyebrow as he led her back into the kitchen. She helped mix up a cocktail in the punch bowl while he stocked up the refrigerator.
"You know I've never been to a party where I've had to work to earn my space" She laughed "I'm also not a mixologist so I have no idea how this is going to turn out"
"Maybe let me take over that" He said stood behind her as he reached over and pulled the vodka bottle from her hand.
Kelly walked in to see Travis pressed up against Quinn leaning over her as they laughed creating some concoction in the punch bowl. He coughed bringing their attention to him.
"Am I interrupting something?" He asked with a smirk looking between them both.
"I'm just saving us from the mess she's creating" Travis said "Glad you made it Kelly"
"Fabray knows wine and wine only" He said grabbing a beer from the refrigerator.
Kelly laughed and ducked as Quinn through a lime wedge at him.
"Don't make a mess before everyone gets here" He warned with a grin.
Travis excused himself to go and start welcoming his guests being the ever-attentive host. He made sure to introduce her to a few of his more regular guests. She was having a fun time getting to know some of the women, laughing and dancing around.
Kelly was talking to a beautiful tall blonde about his planned trip to South America. She was talking about topless beaches, but he was distracted by Travis.
Travis had his hand on Quinn's waist whispering in her ear. She was giggling at whatever he had said. She had obviously had a bit to drink and was having a good time. He wasn't sure why it was bothering him so much.
"Excuse me" He said to the blonde girl as Travis walked over to the kitchen area "I'll be right back"
Travis was talking to one of his friends as Kelly walked over.
"So, who's the blonde?" The guy asked.
"Just someone I want to have fun with before we go" Travis said with a wink.
"She looks like she'd be a good time" The guy nodded looking Quinn up and down in her little black dress.
"She's got a kid, but for a one-night thing" Travis shrugged.
"Don't talk about her like that" Kelly said putting down his empty bottle.
"Come on Kelly" Travis said patting him on the back "You know we're just talking; you like to have a good time"
"I mean it" He warned him.
"Look" Travis said quietly "I was just stupid showing off in front of the guys, I didn't mean it I swear, your girl over there looks like she needs a drink"
Kelly decided to let it go and went back to talk to the girl he had been talking to.
Quinn had been talking to another woman who was also a lawyer. She had been talking to Quinn about internships that would be useful for her.
"All this work talk" Travis said with a smirk handing her a drink "This is supposed to be a party"
"We're enjoying our conversation thank you very much" She replied.
"And I was hoping to steal you away" He said.
"Oh really?" She asked cocking her head to the side "Don't you have a party to host?"
"I think everyone will be ok for a while" He said taking her hand and leading her upstairs.
"Why are we coming up here?" She asked furrowing her brow.
"It's just easier to talk up here" He replied opening a bedroom door.
"Or we could go outside" She suggested.
Travis tried to kiss her, but she pulled back. It wasn't a fun time anymore.
"Come on" He said pulling her closer "You've been flirting with me all night don't act like you're snow white now"
"Get off of me" She said slapping him across the face hard.
"Crazy bitch" He growled "What the hell is your problem"
Kelly had seen the full exchange. He grabbed Travis by the shoulder and punched him square in the face knocking him down.
"Are you ok?" He asked.
"I'm fine" She replied smoothing her dress back down where it had ridden up "I just want to go home"
"Come on I'll take you" He said putting an arm around her.
Kelly took Quinn back to her place. He sat at the kitchen table while she put on a pot of coffee. She took a deep breath as she sat back down. He had called Erin Quinn had gotten them a cab. He was worried with how quiet she was being.
"Are you sure you're alright?" He asked pouring the coffee when it was ready.
Before she could talk Erin walked in marching through into the kitchen.
"What happened?" Erin asked looking worried.
"You called Erin?" She asked raising an eyebrow "Everything is fine"
"If it's fine you can tell me what happened" Erin countered.
Quinn sighed clasping the coffee cup that Kelly handed to her.
"Some asshole tried forcing himself on her" Kelly said taking a seat.
"Wait what?" Erin demanded.
"It was my fault" She said shaking her head "I had been flirting with him, but then when he wanted to be alone I knew I wasn't ready and I said I wanted to go back downstairs or outside with everyone else, he just tried to kiss me it was nothing"
"And then what happened?" Erin asked taking her hand.
"He tried again grabbing at me he was mad, so I slapped him" She replied "Then Kelly pulled him off and punched him, I'm honestly fine"
"That's not nothing and you didn't overreact" Erin told her "But I'm glad you're ok"
"Thanks Kelly" She said looking over at him as he sat down opposite her.
"You looked like you had it handled" He smiled his eyes crinkling "That was some slap"
"He had asked me out earlier" She said looking down "I thought he was a nice guy, but then when he tried to kiss me, I just thought about…"
"About Mouse?" Erin asked "It's ok to not be over him yet, it's only been a few weeks"
Quinn wiped her eye as she felt a tear start to fall. She didn't want to start crying again. Especially in front of anyone. She had spent weeks trying to hold it all together because she felt like if she cried, she wouldn't stop. It felt like anyone she cared about always left eventually. She was happy with a lot of her life, but all she had ever really wanted was for somebody to love her. She loved Mouse but she was angry and hurt. He had gone to serve his country so she felt like she couldn't show that. She didn't like to show a lot of emotion anyway, but it was becoming exhausting.
"I just wish I had been enough" She said softly.
Erin's heart broke for her. She couldn't believe Mouse had left either. He had really loved Quinn and Cami. There was nothing she could really say. The only thing she was happy about was that Quinn had finally said something about it.
Kelly eventually left when he knew she was ok. Erin said she would spend the night with her. She thanked Kelly as she walked him to the door.
"Thanks for bringing her home and for looking out for her" Erin said.
"Of course," He nodded "I had to make sure she was ok"
"I'm glad she has you" She said smiling knowingly "Goodnight Kelly"
Quinn was glad that Erin had decided to stay. They sat up half the night talking about Jay and Mouse. It felt good to talk about it. To admit how she felt about it. She knew Erin was right when she said she had to talk about it to move forward. It wouldn't happen overnight but at least she could get some of it off her chest. She was exhausted by the time she got into bed. Like most nights since he had left, she went to sleep thinking about Greg, wondering if he was missing her, hoping that he was safe. Just thinking about him.