Hey lovely people here is a quick update for you :)
On a side note most (I know not all) of you seemingly love the idea of Dani and Shelby together, the question I have is would you like some detailed intimate moments between them or keep those just to Santana and Quinn?
Enjoy!
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"Santana, Hi it's nice to meet you please take a seat."
Santana smiled at the counsellor before taking a seat next to the woman's desk. She glanced around the room and admired the certificates and diplomas on the wall this lady was certainly well qualified.
"So let's get started, firstly you can call me Victoria."
"Ok no problem." Santana sat back more comfortably in the chair and crossed her legs, her initial plan was to act as normal as possible get the woman to sign her off as ok to work and get out of there quickly, however she reasoned on her way up in the lift that she would likely be very well trained in smelling bullshit so it was probably a better idea to just be honest.
"Have you ever seen a counsellor, therapist or psychologist?"
"No I haven't."
"Well to explain what I like do here is I simply like to chat with you, go through any issues or feelings you might be having, give you some tools to use if you become overwhelmed or stressed that kind of thing."
"Sounds easy enough."
"This is a no pressure environment. PTSD can impact people straight away, further down the track or simply not at all. I guess what I'm saying is I can be available to as often and for as long as you need."
"Ok cool."
"You mentioned in our phone conversation that you want to get some clearance to return to work?"
"Yeah I think I need to get back into everyday living….. Being busy and all that. If I stay at home for much longer I'm likely going to go mad."
"And your boss is not supportive of you returning?"
"My boss is also my girlfriend so she is a little more involved in all of this."
"Ahhh I understand."
"I also technically got taken from the bar so she is worried about that too."
"Yes….you work at the Rose Bar?" Victoria double checked the report she had been given.
"Yeah that's right."
"Have you been back at the bar since this all happened?"
"I went in yesterday for a little while during set up."
"And how did that go? Any nerves or uneasiness?"
"Not at all, I feel safe with the team there."
"That sounds great I think you should be ok to return if you feel up to it, of course using your own judgement as to length of shifts etc. being in a crowded room with a lot of people could trigger some insecurities so you will need to be mindful of that."
"There is plenty of work that can be done behind the scenes if I get overwhelmed."
"Do you need me to write an official clearance letter or will your girlfriend take your word for it?"
"I'm sure she will trust me, however I'll give her your number just in case." Santana smiled widely.
"Actually that's something I recommend you do anyway if you are ok with it."
"Give my girlfriend my shrink's number?"
"Ha ha I'm not a shrink but yes sometimes loved ones may need to get in contact."
"If I flip out you mean?"
"Something like that." Victoria winked at the brunette.
"Fair enough I'll give her one of your cards." Santana reached across the table and took a business card from the holder on the desk before tucking it into her jeans pocket.
"Ok now that that's out of the way would you like to start at the beginning and tell me what happened?"
Santana nodded and began to explain what happened that night and the days after, Victoria stayed quiet throughout the only way Santana knew she was listening were the looks of various emotions that washed over her face as the story began to unfold and of course the small notes she was making on her pad.
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Quinn sat in the car singing and tapping on the steering wheel as she waited for Santana to finish. She jumped when her phone began vibrating from the seat beside her, her frown turned to a smile however when she saw the caller ID.
"Well hey there stranger."
"Hey Q where are you guys?" Dani had returned to a very quiet house and felt she needed to check in.
"Santana is seeing the police counsellor so I'm just waiting here for her to finish up."
"Oh good I'm glad she followed through with that."
"I have to admit I expected a little bit of a battle if I'm honest."
"Ha ha yeah."
"So how have you been?"
"I'm really good, I'll spare you all the details but yeah I'm good." Quinn could tell she had a grin to rival the size of the Grand Canyon on her face.
"That's good."
"How long are you guys going to be? I was gonna get my stuff together and clear out of this palace."
"Hardly a palace Dan." Quinn chuckled.
"Well it is compared to my place."
"Your place is cute."
"That's a super nice way to describe a shoe box Q."
Quinn smiled at her cousins' response.
"I don't want to leave without saying bye though."
"We will only be about an hour I would think, Stick around I think San wanted to have a chat with you about a few things before you left anyway."
"No problem it will probably take me that long to strip the bed and clean up."
"Awww such a good house guest."
"I try! That's why I keep getting invited back isn't it."
"Yep! The only reason….oh and when the guest bathroom needs cleaning I invite you over."
"Pshhh I knew it."
They both laughed together, it's something they always had done a lot of growing up and continued to this day however the topics were certainly a whole heap more grown up these days.
"So are you heading back to your shoe box or back to Shelby's?" It felt weird rolling off Quinn's tongue but she had promised to make an effort.
"I'm not sure to be honest."
"Two nights together enough?"
"Hardly…but just don't want to push things you know?"
"Yeah I get it, so I guess I'll see you soonish."
"Sweet, ciao for now."
"Bye babe." Quinn ended the call and stretched back in her seat, the sun pouring through the window made her comfy and cozy and she figured now could be as good a time as any to catch up on some of the sleep she had missed out on last night.
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Santana left the building with a little more pep in her step, she felt good after talking with Victoria and had made a follow up appointment for the following week. She figured it was important to follow through on the recommendations given. As she approached the car she noticed Quinn's seat was semi reclined and the blonde appeared fast asleep, her sunglasses hid the exact confirmation Santana was hoping for but still a smile spread across her face. Now she could do the whole nice girlfriend thing and gently rouse the older woman from her slumber but let's face it nice wasn't always at the top of her personality traits…. she went instead for the slamming her hand multiple times on the roof option causing Quinn to spring from her seat in a panic. Tears of laughter leaked from Santana's eyes as she slipped into the passenger seat.
"Jesus Christ Santana are you trying to give me a fucking heart attack?"
Quinn placed her hand across her chest and willed her rapidly beating heart to steady.
"Awww I'm sorry baby…..tell you what I'll buy you an ice cream on the way home ok." She couldn't even begin to hide her grin however.
"Sorry my ass?" Quinn grunted before continuing
"And we can't Dani is at home."
"So we will get her one too."
"No I meant she is ready to head home and is waiting for us so we better go straight there."
"Quinn it's a 5 minute detour I'm sure she can handle it…come on I know you want some sweet creamy goodness." Santana winked at her and licked her lips seductively.
"How the hell do you turn everything sexual?"
"I don't. It's your own mind my love…it assumes things that simply aren't true."
"Yeah yeah of course it does." Quinn shook her head and started the car.
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"Crap this was definitely worth sticking around for." Dani placed the last spoon full of her salted caramel and pistachio ice cream in her mouth.
"I told you she would like that one Q."
Santana and Quinn had debated for a solid 2 minutes about which flavor to get their house guest before Quinn finally relented and agreed with Santana's option, merely because she was paying and they really didn't have the time to spend any longer in the shop.
"She would have liked my choice just as much." Quinn replied with an exaggerated eye roll.
"Oooh what flavor were you gonna get me?"
"Blueberry Cheesecake."
"Holy crap that sounds good too! Next time you can't agree just get a scoop of both ok?"
"Of course we can! That would likely be the much quicker option anyway."
Quinn turned to Santana with a very pleased for herself smirk across her face.
"Skiting isn't very becoming babe."
Quinn laughed and finished off her own sweet treat with a smack of her lips…..lemon swirl totally delicious.
"Quinn mentioned you wanted to talk to me about something San?"
Dani thought she had better interrupt the eye battle going on between the two women before they jumped each other.
"Yeah just wanted to run something by you and see if you are interested."
"Sounds intriguing."
"I'm going to move in here with Quinn till it's ready to sell and we find a place of our own."
"Oh that's great! You guys are officially joining the domestic bliss brigade."
Quinn laughed at her cousins' expression before taking Santana's hand and squeezing it gently.
"Something like that huh baby."
"Domestic bliss….hot sex on tap…. depends how you wish to look at it." She winked at Quinn before proceeding with the conversation.
"So I wondered if you would be interested in moving in to my place. It would be closer to your work and I can only assume it would make your dating life a tad easier."
"Oh my god are you serious? That would be amazing I'm sure what I'd save in gas would nearly cover the extra rent."
"Extra rent?" Santana looked at her confused she didn't expect the blonde to pay rent for a place she already owned.
"Yeah I'm assuming because of its location it's going to be more than what I'm paying at the moment."
"Dan I own the place you don't have to pay rent! It saves me the headache of having to sell it."
"I can't live there and pay nothing."
"Look you can cover any expenses that come up but you won't be paying me monthly rent or anything."
"Santana that is too much." Dani's head was spinning if she didn't have to pay a weekly rent imagine how much more she could put in to her classes.
"It's not a problem, like I said you are actually saving me a hassle."
"Oh my god you are amazing! When can I move in?"
"Well It's going to take a little bit of time to go through all my things and clear them out but equally if you are happy to be in there with a few of my things it can be whenever you want."
"That sounds great I will email my landlord, I think I have to give two weeks' notice anyway."
"It's only a small place you may want to take a look before you fully commit."
"Nothing can be smaller than where I'm currently living I can assure you."
Quinn nodded in agreement beside Santana.
"Do you want to take a look anyway? We could go there now unless you have plans?"
"No plans I'm all yours landlord."
"As long as you aren't a tenant from hell you will never have to see me in that respect."
"I'll be good I promise." Dani smiled widely and pulled Santana into a tight hug.
"Ugh enough of the soppy shit." Santana groaned and batted the blonde away.
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"This place is perfect." Dani stated enthusiastically as she came out of the bedroom.
"It's a cute little home." Santana looked around wistfully she had been spending so much time at Quinn's she hadn't realized just how much she missed her things.
"Perfect for one." Dani winked at her.
"You got it."
"You sure you want to move out of here?" Dani could sense a slight change in the brunettes' demeanor.
"It's funny you know when we first got together Quinn liked it here more than her place."
"You guys have only been at hers after what happened when that asshole hit Quinn thought right? Better security and all that….besides I think she would like to be anywhere that you were to be honest even if it meant a cardboard box on the side walk."
"Home is where the heart is they say."
"And at least her place doesn't seem even half as clinical with you there as it did when Rachel was around."
"A tad more relaxed you think?"
"Ah just a bit." Dani laughed and put her arm across the Latina's shoulders.
"I'm actually looking forward to us getting our own place….start fresh and all those things."
"I totally get that San."
"Hey so on the whole new beginnings thing your folks are like the closest thing Quinn has to parent's right?"
"Yeah absolutely."
"So if I wanted to do things traditionally and say ask someone for Quinn's hand in marriage they would be the correct people to go to?"
"Are you fucking serious right now?" Dani recovered quickly from the initial jaw dropping statement and giggled.
"I'm kind of old fashioned that way I guess." Santana shrugged now a little embarrassed.
"No not about that you idiot are you really going to ask Quinn to marry you?"
"I'd like to yeah"
"Well shit now I'm going to cry." Dani wiped at the corner of her eyes.
"She'll say yes right?"
"Of course she will, she worships you."
"And your folks will approve?"
"Well seeing as I've already given you an absolutely glowing reference I'm sure you won't have a problem." Dani was practically jumping from foot to foot in excitement not even bothering to stem the happy tears falling from her eyes. Quinn deserved this and she couldn't be happier for her.
"Do you think you could set something up with them then? A dinner or something? I didn't get a chance to get them alone at Quinn's Birthday because of all the people around."
"Leave it with me I will get something in place and give you a chance to chat privately."
"Thanks Dan, I want to do this right." Santana's grin lit up the whole room.
"I don't think this day could get any better."
"You got to keep it to yourself though right."
"My lips are sealed I promise."
Dani threw her arms tightly around the woman for the second time that day only this time it was returned with equal ardour.