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Enjoy!
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"Do you want to grab a seat and I'll get the drinks?" Shelby asked as they walked through the doors of the bar.
"Yeah sure."
Santana made her way to a table in the far corner, it wasn't overly busy so they should have plenty of privacy. Shelby returned moments later with two glasses of beer and placed one in front of the Latina.
"Thanks." Santana raised the glass to her lips and downed half the glass, she was thirsty and this was just hitting the right spot.
"Should I have got you two?" Shelby smiled genuinely.
"I'm actually really thirsty I probably should have had a water first."
"Did you want me to get you one?" Shelby pushed her seat back quickly.
"No I'm fine I'll just take my time with the rest of this."
"So how have things been?"
"Really? This is how this is going to go? You plan on acting like we are old friends?"
"No I was just trying to break the ice a little…and if I'm honest I'm a little nervous."
"Having the person in front of you that you screwed over would tend to make any normal person a tad edgy."
"Yeah." Shelby looked down at the table and took another sip of her drink.
"So I'm in danger?"
"I'm not completely certain but I felt the need to warn you anyway."
"Why does he still have a problem with me?"
"Because he knows hurting you will hurt me."
"He isn't aware you did enough hurting me on your own?"
"He knows the only reason I did that was because of him, he knows my heart hasn't been his for a long time."
"What do you mean?"
"Shall I start at the beginning?"
"Please do because right now I'm confused as fuck."
Shelby proceeded to tell Santana all about Luke's threats to hurt Santana and her family if Shelby didn't end things with her. That he was a dangerous conniving man who would stop at nothing to get things the way he wanted them.
Santana felt like she was having an out of body experience, EVERYTHING she had thought about their break up was not the case at all.
"So now all the people you were seeing on the side are in his sights?"
"There wasn't anyone else San, you were the only one you have always been the only one."
"But you said…..that day in the hotel."
"It was the only way I knew you would give up on me completely." Tears stung the back of Shelby's eyes and she blinked them away furiously.
"You should have told me."
"It wouldn't have changed anything."
"Maybe not at the time but it meant I wouldn't have hated you the way I did for all those months."
"Right or wrong it was what I felt I needed to do at the time."
"To hurt someone you're meant to love?"
"You weren't the only one hurting Santana."
"No but I was the one left thinking everything I had felt was a joke and that the woman I was in love with was screwing other people."
"Nothing about what you felt was a joke please know that."
"Ok so all that emotional bullshit aside what am I supposed to do if he is out for my blood?"
"I've hired a private investigator to follow him and to keep tabs on him, I just wanted you to know so you can be aware of your surroundings….aware of who is around you that sort of thing."
"I work in a bar he could get to me anytime he wanted."
"I saw the article in the paper." Shelby smiled for the first time since she had begun her story.
"Yeah it's gained me a few new fans."
"Please don't think I'm a stalker or anything but I came by the bar the other night."
"You did?"
"I didn't come inside but I did see you leaving."
"Right."
"Look as long as there are people around you I'm sure everything will be ok."
"So maybe refrain from going running in an unknown neighbourhood by myself for a while."
Santana chuckled at her own stupidity.
"Yeah it could be a good idea."
"Noted."
"I'm sorry for causing all this drama."
"Did you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Did you go to the cops?"
"Not directly no."
"And that means?"
"They came to me. I had no idea what he was up to so I couldn't tell them anything anyway but I did provide them with other information that helped them bring it all together."
"You finally managed to stand up to him albeit indirectly."
"I guess you could say that…he has cost me so much already."
Santana nodded she knew exactly what Shelby meant by that.
"It probably doesn't mean much but please know I am so deeply sorry for how I treated you I have regretted that day ever since it happened." Shelby reached across the table and took Santana's hand in her own.
In all those Hollywood movies now would be the moment that electricity would be felt through their fingers and running up their arms, Santana's stomach would turn in loops and her heart would want to beat right out of her chest but that didn't happen. Instead in that moment Santana felt free. Now knowing why Shelby had done what she did allowed Santana to let go of any residual anger she had left inside. Shelby did it to protect her and here she was again ready to protect Santana even if she wasn't sure of the reaction she would get from her. Santana herself had expected the first time she saw Shelby again was going to involve a whole lot of tears, some cussing and even the possibility of the odd slap but here they were managing a civilised conversation and it actually made Santana feel good.
"Thank you for explaining things." Santana squeezed her hand gently before placing it back on the table.
"It's the least I could do."
"Do you want another drink?" Santana queried. In all honesty she just needed a few moments to herself and this would give her that.
"Yeah sure." Shelby picked up her glass and downed the last mouthful.
"I'll be right back."
Shelby watched her walk to the bar and talk to the guy behind it, she certainly was a different person from the woman she used to know. She was still confident but had lost most of the arrogance she used to carry, she seemed completely comfortable with herself and had blossomed into an astonishingly beautiful individual. Shelby wished she could have been around to witness that change but she also knew that maybe if she had still been around it may not have happened quite like it had either.
"Here you go." Santana lowered the glasses in her hands to the wooden table and took her seat once more.
"Thanks."
"Will he hurt you?"
"Luke?"
"Yeah."
"Emotionally he will try with everything he has."
"And physically?"
"I'm not sure."
"You have people around you though right? People to watch out for you."
"Yeah I'll be ok."
Shelby was touched that Santana cared enough to even ask.
"Good."
"I'm sure you have plenty of people around you…starting with your pit bull of a best friend."
Santana chuckled inwardly, Kurt never held back with how he felt about people especially if they had hurt someone he was close to.
"Yeah he certainly has my back."
"That's good and I get the feeling the blonde I saw you leaving with the other night will have it also?"
Santana smiled when she thought of Quinn.
"She will."
"Girlfriend?...sorry that's none of my business."
"It's ok and yes she is my girlfriend she is very special to me."
"You deserve that San."
"You do as well you know that right?"
"One day maybe."
"So where to now?"
"If you don't mind I will keep your number and I'll let you know if I hear anything from my investigator…other than that I guess it's business as usual."
"Ok yeah and likewise I will let you know if I notice anything unusual."
"That would be great…..thank you for this Santana."
"Anything to nail that son of a bitch."
Shelby laughed loudly which was something she hadn't done much lately and it felt good.
"Not just for that…for listening to me and for being so understanding."
"Acting like a prize bitch wouldn't have got us anywhere."
"No not really but it still would have been acceptable given the circumstances."
V
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Quinn finally waved Kurt down the drive and made her way back inside. She had been trying to convince him for quite some time that he didn't need to stick around and finally he relented and left. She was trying to keep it all together her insecurities would peak and she would get them under control then her anger would rise and she would work on bringing it down. The worst of all was her guilt If she was completely honest she had used sex as a way to forget her conversation with Kurt, not to keep it from Santana but to keep herself from blurting something out that she didn't know all the information about. If her body and her mind were focused solely on making Santana feel good then she was safe. However now seeing were safe had got her she certainly had some regrets.
She checked her phone for any further messages from Santana but none came. She would shower and head into the bar she refused to be the needy girlfriend who couldn't function because her other half was angry with her, she had apologised and there was not much else she could do.
V
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Another beer for Santana and a lemonade for Shelby later and both brunettes decided it was time to make a move.
"Can I drop you somewhere?"
"Ahhh…" Santana realised she was rather stuck she didn't have her keys for her place and she was certain Quinn would be at the bar right now and she didn't have a key for her place either.
"Nothing behind the offer…..Just going with the whole not wanting you to be alone at the moment kind of thing."
"Yeah yeah I get it I just need to get some things for work but I don't have my keys."
"Oh well I can take you somewhere to get your keys then drop you home if that makes life any easier."
"Actually that will be great! If you don't mind taking me to the bar Quinn has a key to my place."
"Sure thing."
They made their way back to Shelby's car in silence this time however they were both in a much better place.
V
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Stacey could tell something was bothering Quinn but after the blonde told her to drop it after the third time she checked she daren't ask again.
"I'm sure Steph will be appreciative of a night at home with Billie." She spoke across the room trying to spark a conversation.
"Yeah I'm sure." Quinn grunted as she moved a table to one side.
"What time is San due in?"
"She is rostered on for seven."
"Ah ok."
"Did you stock the beer fridge?"
"Yep I did it as soon as I came in."
"Thank Stace."
Familiar voices out the front of the building made Stacey smile.
"Looks like she couldn't stay away huh?"
They both turned as Santana entered the bar with Puck following closely behind, he wasn't due to start for another half an hour but arriving early meant that he normally got a parking spot and when it came to late night closing he was happy to not have to walk miles to his car.
"Hey Q." Santana spoke softly.
"Hey you're early did everything go ok?"
"Actually I was wondering if I could grab my key off you I left my keys at your place and I need to get some work clothes from home."
"Oh right."
Quinn fumbled in her pocket and removed her keys.
"Here you can just take the car."
"Oh um actually I can't."
Quinn quirked an eyebrow at her girlfriend.
"I've had a few of drinks."
"You've been drinking…..with Shelby?"
Santana nodded it probably didn't sound too good.
"You know what here." Quinn took Santana's apartment key off the ring and thrust it in her direction.
"Don't bother coming in tonight."
"What?"
"I will not have my staff under the influence of alcohol as they work."
"Q I'm not drunk."
"It doesn't matter I do not condone that sort of behaviour from my employees."
"Wow ok."
"I can call you a taxi or if you give me twenty minutes or so I can drive you home."
"It's ok I have a ride."
"Let me guess your marvellous ex is waiting outside."
"Shelby is waiting outside yeah, she was going to give me a ride to get my clothes for tonight."
"Well that's fucking perfect!" Quinn practically yelled.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Just go, I'll see you later."
"Are you pissed at me?"
"Nooooo…. What gave you that idea?" Quinn replied sarcastically
"So are you angry that I've been drinking or that Shelby is outside?"
"Both of those are a good start."
"There's more?"
"What do you think San?"
"Nothing I'm going to say is going to even come close to being the right thing at the moment is it?"
"Can you seriously not see why I'm a little annoyed right now?"
"I'm just wondering why you've got your nose out of joint when your whole Shelby called intervention shit with Kurt this morning was about me talking to her and now I have."
"Kurt told me about Shelby because he was worried about you Santana! This morning was about two people who care about you trying to help you deal with what could have been a difficult situation but it appears we were wrong it was apparently easy and even warranted drinking."
"You should have told me he called you."
"Santana I was trying to do the right thing by you and by Kurt."
"What the hell is it with women I'm in love with assuming they miraculously know what is right by me without even talking to me?"
"Because I want you to be…wait women as in plural?"
"Huh?"
"WOMEN you are in love with…. as in more than one?"
"No I didn't mean it like…."
"Save it Santana I've heard enough."
"Oh my god you are being pathetic."
"You know what maybe I am and maybe my insecurities are a huge part of that. But when your girlfriend gets up and leaves your home without saying a word and you are left freaking out because you don't know where she is it gets to you. THEN she calls the former love of her life and casually arranges a catch up which turns into drinks, she then shows up at your place of work with said former lover waiting outside and acts like it's all a normal day to day thing! I think I'm allowed to act a little crazy and pathetic don't you?"
"I've been trying to get all this mess cleared up so it didn't need to cause issues for us."
"Yet that's exactly what it is doing."
"Only because you are acting like this."
"So if I randomly decided to catch up with Rachel tomorrow and not discuss any detail with you at all you would be one hundred percent ok with that?"
"Yes."
"Liar."
"You know what fuck you! You aren't even interested how I am! The whole point of seeing Shelby was because of the psycho ex-husband who may or may not be after me but all you are concerned about is the fact that I had a few drinks with her to calm my nerves and because I didn't rip her head off I must still be in love with her."
Stacey cleared her throat loudly turning two sets of wild eyes in her direction
"Just wondered if your office may be a better place for this conversation?"
They both seemed completely unprepared to back down and their raised voices had already earned them an audience with the rest of the staff.
Quinn surveyed the room and sighed, here she was yet again letting her relationship drama spill over into the work place.
"Santana is everything ok?"
A voice from the door made all eyes in the room shoot in that direction. Santana inwardly cringed, Shelby's arrival couldn't have been more poorly timed.
"Shelby I take it?" Quinn's voice cut through the silence.
"Yes that's right, Quinn I assume? It's nice to meet you" Shelby began to move across the floor to greet the woman properly.
"I'll see you later." Quinn said quietly to Santana before turning and walking in the opposite direction.
Shelby stopped in her tracks, she was simply coming to check if Santana still needed a ride.
"I'm sorry did I interrupt something?"
"Well something is one way to put it." Santana replied.
"Shall I just go or did you still want me to wait?"
Shelby gestured towards the door way that Quinn had just disappeared through.
"No we can go I'm not required here tonight or even wanted it seems."
Santana stormed from the bar leaving a stunned Shelby alone in the middle of the floor.
"Um….ok…..have a pleasant evening everyone." Shelby lifted her hand to wave before realizing now probably wasn't the best time for pleasantries so instead she smiled and made her way back to the door she had used only moments before.
"What the fuck was all that about?" Puck said to no one in particular.
"Ok the shows over folks you all have jobs to do so I suggest you do them."
Stacey was very aware that people would talk but right now she had to focus on being a staff member short for the evening and that meant everyone need to pull their weight more than ever.
V
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"Are you sure you don't want to stay and diffuse whatever that was?"
Shelby thumbed backwards in the direction of the bar, she was still about 20 metres from her car where the Latina stood waiting.
"I don't think that's going to happen right now."
"Back to your place it is?"
"Yes please."
They both got in their respective sides of the car before Shelby turned to look at the Santana with raised eyebrows.
"What?"
"Want to tell me where I'm going then?"
Shelby grinned and Santana managed a chuckle.
"You mean you haven't stalked me at my apartment?"
"Not at all."
"Surprising."
"Well if you had had a full page article in the paper about your apartment then maybe I would have."
"Touché it's left at the end of the road."
"Got ya." Shelby winked at her before starting the engine and pulling away from the curb.
V
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The night went by in a blur for Quinn, they were busy so her mind was occupied most of the time but she did have time to think about the earlier incident with Santana. Had she over reacted? Maybe a little but she also felt she certainly had a right to be pissed about a few things. When Shelby came into the bar it was definitely the straw that broke the camels' back so to speak. Quinn wondered what Santana saw in Shelby she was seemingly the exact opposite to herself and normally people have a type.
Before she knew it the bar was closed and Puck was walking her to her car.
"Are you going to be ok?" He asked genuinely concerned.
"Yeah I'll be fine I'm just exhausted and need a good night's sleep."
"Try and get one then."
"I will thanks Puck."
"I will see you in a couple of days."
"Ok cool enjoy your time off."
Quinn squeezed his shoulder before getting into the car and driving off. Fifteen minutes later she found herself outside of Santana's apartment building out of habit. Glancing at the clock on her dash it was a bit later than she had realized. Santana would very likely be asleep and seeing as she no longer had her key on her keyring she wouldn't be able to get in without waking the brunette and quite possibly some of her neighbors.
It was dark but Santana could clearly see Quinn's car on the street below. She had tried to go to sleep numerous times but she knew it was fruitless, she needed the blonde beside her.
So now as she peered out the window like she had done for the past hour she wondered why Quinn was taking so long to get out of the vehicle. She felt a physical pain in her chest moments later when she saw the black car pull away again and head in the direction of the blondes house. Sighing she got up from her chair and made her way back to the bedroom, She used to be able to sleep without Quinn so she would just have to suck it up and do it again.