Protecting the Heart
Disclaimers: I do not own any part of Glee or its characters. This is purely for pleasure I get nothing else for this. I want to give a special thanks to Niekie for helping proof read this story for me. She's all kinds of awesome and an amazing author herself. Check out her Glee fics too.
Chapter 20
A/N: Ok my lovelies it's still not over. Things come to a head as the story starts to wing down. 4 or 5 chapters left and I hope that you all are still enjoying this journey. Up next they return to NYC.
Hours later they were rushed from the airport through the busy streets of New York and Santana sat holding a sleeping Rosie as she looked out the window. Cars passed by quickly, buildings went by in a blur and people crowded every sidewalk they passed. After being away so long it was all a little overwhelming. She remembered feeling the same way when she first moved to New York. It had taken some time to adjust to the bustle of the city and she was realizing that it was going to take a while to readjust after being in Bozeman for so long.
Rachel sat next to her as Teddy slept with his head in her lap while she ran a hand through his hair lightly. She watched Santana take in her surroundings with a smile for a moment before turning her head and looking out of the opposite window. It was pretty late and the city was lighting up all around them. As they passed the Gershwin theater she smiled fondly remembering her stint in Funny Girl and all the time she'd spent on Broadway. It had been some of the best times of her life so far but she noticed that the pull to the theater just wasn't the same as it used to be.
As she watched it all fly by it all seemed a little too much tonight and she turned back to Santana leaning into her laying her head on her wife's shoulder. "God I'm so tired. I wish we were at home snuggled up in bed."
Santana smiled kissing her head softly. "Me too, but aren't you excited to see the daddies Berry?"
"Of course but we've just gotten into a good routine and you know how OCD I am about this stuff. Now we're back and we're going to have to get use to a whole different life style while figuring out your career and mine, moving you in with us, the wedding, telling everybody we're alive after almost a year of being dead. It's just daunting to think of it all I guess. Don't get me wrong, it's all happy and great things but it's just so much all at once. "
Once she shifted the baby to her other shoulder Santana wrapped her now free arm around Rachel's shoulders pulling her closer. "I agree that it's overwhelming thinking of everything that needs to be done. I understand baby, I've been doing the same thing. We just need to stop thinking of it all at once and take it one step at a time. Get it all organized by steps in that amazing brain of yours then it will all fall into place naturally." Kissing her head she smiled. "Everything is going to work out just fine baby. I just know it."
Rachel sighed burrowing closer "How can you be so sure Ana? There's just so much and on top of it all we have to deal with the trial and everything associated with that."
Santana pulled her face up to look in her eyes. "I know because together we can accomplish anything Querida. All we need to do is love each other, love our babies, and communicate with each other. We got this baby. The only guaranty I need is no matter what happens, at the end of the day we are all together. I just need you. The rest we'll work out, together."
Rachel pushed up and took her lips in a deep seeking kiss only pulling back once the need for air was necessary. "Ok love, we can do this together. Just promise me that you'll keep reminding me when I get all high strung and my crazy comes out."
Santana pulled her closer. "I promise as long as you promise to keep reminding me that you and the kids are mine forever." She turned her head and looked out the window. "Sometimes I still feel like I'm going to wake up and it will all have been a dream. This last year with you and the kids has been the best year of my life hands down. I love you all so much, it terrifies me that I'll lose what we've found now that we're back and you'll be immersed back into the limelight and your old life."
Rachel lifted her head sharply and pulled her face back to look into her eyes. "I don't care if I never step foot on another stage again or if I step on one every night for the rest of time. I will always want and need you to be by my side because without you it'll all be just empty. I love you. I need you and if I never sang for an audience again, I would be perfectly fine, as long as I had you, as long as I had our family. So never, ever, think or fear that I will ever choose any life that doesn't include you."
A tiny sob left Santana as she crashed her lips to Rachel's and devoured her. When they broke they were both breathless. "I love you so much." With another kiss they rested into each other holding their babies and each other close.
A few blocks later Santana smiled seeing the police station. "Finally, we're here baby. Let's get this taken care of so we can get these kids into bed and settled for the night. They are going to be so cranky in there if they wake up."
Rachel shifted Teddy into her arms and kissed Santana lightly once more as they came to a complete stop. "I just hope this doesn't take all night. Once Teddy see's my dads he's going to be wired for a while."
Santana got out of the car and helped steady Rachel as she got out holding a still sleeping Teddy. "Do you need to trade?"
Rachel shook her head with a wink, "No Ana, I am more than capable of carrying this boy. You take care of my light weight."
With a slap to the ass and a chuckle Santana followed Rachel and the Agents to the side door of the station where Donavon stopped them. "I called ahead so your captain should let us in pretty quickly."
Santana just nodded and smiled as the door opened and Captain Simmons walked out. He lit up seeing her and engulfed both her and the baby in his arms. "Damn Lopez it's good to see you."
Santana chuckled as she returned the hug and stepped back next to Rachel. "Hey Cap, it's good to be seen. I hear you had a pretty big bust yesterday."
"That is a huge understatement. We got 'em all Lopez. This is finally all coming to a close and we can move on to better things."
Santana wrapped her free arm around Rachel and sighed. "I'm all for better things Cap. We are so ready for all this to be done with. You remember Rachel don't you?"
He watched them curiously then grabbed Rachel's hand shaking it kindly. "Of course, I hope this one here didn't make things too rough for you."
Rachel laughed at the indignant look on Santana's face. "Oh she's a handful but I wouldn't have survived without her."
Santana scoffed kissing her temple. "Who's the handful?"
"You are love but I don't mind." She shifted Teddy in her arms and looked back to Simmons ignoring the fake shock on Santana's face. "So Captain Simmons, what's going to happen now?"
Shaking off his shock of the easy intimacy between the two he smiled. "Ok, so, we are going to go in and I'm going to settle you in my office with another officer to take your statement. I'll have Lopez here with me." She turned to Santana. "We'll use yours and Rodriguez's office so I can debrief you. She's not here at the moment, I sent her home to get some rest but she'll be back in an hour."
Santana moved to say something when she felt the tension in Rachel's body and turned to her. "What's the matter?"
Rachel leaned into her heavily. "Why are they separating us? I don't want to go without you."
With a sigh she kissed Rachel softly. "I know baby I don't like it either but I'm a cop so I have to be debriefed and I'm not allowed for you to be with me while I do that and I'm not allowed to be in the room with you when you give your statement. It's shouldn't take that long to get everything done then we'll get our babies home and in bed, ok?"
With a deep sigh Rachel nodded and looked back to the captain. "Can we just get this over with quickly? We need to get our babies settled for the night."
Captain Simmons smiled, "I promise we will get this done as quickly and painlessly as possible. Once you give your statement we will take you to your fathers. They are already here waiting in a room with a Ms. Corcoran." He turned to Santana "Your parents were in the city so when I called them I asked them to come in too. After we get your statement I'll talk to your parents and take you in to them."
Santana was shock that her parents were already in the city but was happy about it none the less. "Awesome, can you put them all together and tell them at the same time that we are alive then we will go in together to see them. I don't want to be apart any more than necessary and my Mami is going to want to see Rachel and our babies as soon as she finds out they are here and alive." Santana pulled Rachel in closer and kissed Teddy and Rosie's heads softly.
Simmons watched them curiously totally confused and concerned with what he was seeing. "Um… Lopez?"
Laughing Santana shook her head amusedly at the look on his face. "I'll explain it all Cap, let's just get this going."
With an unsure nod he ushered them into the station and up the back stairwell. They slipped into the captain's office unnoticed and Santana showed Rachel to a couch. Once she sat and situated Teddy to lay next to her with his head in her lap Santana handed over the baby.
She kissed both children then cupped Rachel's face lovingly. "I'll get this done as quick and I can baby and get back to you as soon as humanly possible, I promise. If you need anything I am going to be right down the hall three doors to the left. My name is on the door along with Angel's."
With an anxious smile she nodded squeezing the hand in her own reassuringly and kissed her softly. "I will too. Just talk quickly so we can get to our parents and get you back with us. Once these guys wake up they will not be happy if you are not with us."
With one last quick peck to her lips Santana left her family with one of the other detectives and the agents and followed her captain out. She pulled the hood of her jacket up to conceal her identity and they made their way swiftly to her office. She let out a breath when they were finally inside and away from prying eyes. She was just not comfortable in her surroundings at the moment.
She looked around as she rounded her desk and sat. "Does Angel know yet?"
He shook his head, "No, not yet. Don't you think she'd be here right now if she did? Like I said earlier, she'll be here in a little while."
She smiled and sat forward, "awesome. Now, let's do this so I can get back before the kids wake up and find me gone. My Rose bud will not be happy."
She chuckled and Simmons shook his head disapprovingly. "What are you thinking Lopez? You are way too attached to this family. It's against the rules to engage this way with a witness. I think we need to keep you separated for the duration of this trial as not to compromise the case."
His harsh tone and the words coming out of his mouth had Santana completely freaked out and on her feet in an instant. "Cap, I love that woman and our children more than life itself so if you plan on causing issues about this I'll have to hand in my badge because I will never give them up. I've been waiting to love that woman freely most of my life and I'll be damned if I lose her now that I finally have her. THAT'S MY FAMILY!"
She slammed her fist into the desk causing Simmons to flinch, completely taken back by her outburst and he held up a hand, "Alright Santana. Calm down and sit so you can explain this all to me. Breathe."
Sitting roughly in her chair she sighed. "I'm sorry James but I can't lose my family. You don't understand. I can't, I won't do it."
He sat forward and took her hand. "Ok, ok, explain it to me."
Taking a deep breath she sat back and explained it all to him. She told him everything from how they met as children, losing each other through school and stupidity, just to become friends again and lose it all again. She explained how she felt when Donavan opened the door and seeing Rachel for the first time in five years and growing closer.
As she talked she told him how Rachel had gotten tangled up with Broody to begin with and what she went through to get rid of the guy only to have her get pulled into his shit again and getting Rosie out of it. By the time she was done telling him all about how they became a real family and telling him about Brody finding them and taking their son but thankfully getting him back Simmons was completely flabbergasted.
He was silent for a long time and she shook her head on a sigh. "Look, I know that it's against the rules to get tangled up with a witness but this is different Cap. I've been in love with this woman since she picked my ass up off the fucking ground at that park. She's my heart. Those kids are my life. Don't ask me to choose because I will choose them every time."
Simmons stood coming around to stand in front of her. He pulled her up and into is arms. "I'm still a little apprehensive about this but I won't push the issue. I'm proud of you Santana. You have a beautiful family and you did an amazing job keeping them safe. I'm so happy that you are all ok and that you're finally home. I missed you my friend."
She stiffened at the initial contact then melted into him as he spoke. This man had been her boss and her friend for many years. She respected this man immensely and she was happy she wouldn't have to fight him for her family. "Thank you Cap."
They both looked up and moved apart as the door opened and Angel came into the room. "Hey Cap, what are you doing in here? The guys said you wer..." She froze as she looked up and they locked eyes, "San?"
Santana smiled softly at her sister and came around the desk, "Hi Angel."
As Santana came toward her Angel came out of her shock slightly. "Oh my god Santana, you're alive."
They rushed the final few feet to each other and threw their arms around one other as Angel burst into tear holding her tight, "You asshole what the hell?"
She just smiled rubbing her hand up and down Angel's back. "I was in WITSEC with Rachel. After my cover was blown it wasn't safe for me to be here so Cap put me in protection with Rachel to keep her and Teddy safe."
Angel leaned back just enough to look in her eyes. "Rachel? The witness that was hit by the car? How could you do that and not tell me? Damnit San do you have any idea what it did to me thinking you were dead, what it did to mami? I can't believe that you're alive."
Santana sighed and pulled her back in. "I'm sorry sweetie, you know I couldn't. I didn't even know it was happening until Cap made you leave the room. It all happened so fast but I'm ok, I'm here."
Angel opened her mouth to say something else but they startled at the commotion outside of the office.
"MAMI, MAMI HELP!"
Santana was in motion instantly. "Teddy!"
A/N: Hello my lovelies, I am so sorry for the extremely long wait for more chapters. Life is life but as promised I will always come back to it and I will finish my stories eventually. I'm already starting on the next chapter for this story and for a few of my others. I hope to get more updates very soon. Thank you for all the pm and reviews and sticking with me. You guys are amazing.