Three weeks later.

Breaking news!

Santana frowns in confusion as the music at the restaurant silences down the second they hear a news sender break through the sound and turns to the TV tilting her head as she sees scenes of war on screen.

''What the hell happened now?'' Mercedes asks softly sliding up to her both looking at the screen

''No idea, but breaking news doesn't sound good.'' Quinn murmurs from behind the bar, she leans against it on the other side of the area Santana is laying against and focuses on the screen.

''Just shut up for a few seconds please.'' Santana whispers the gut feeling she had during the call she had with Brittany which abruptly ended because of a siren returning.

Two soldiers went missing in action during an ambush three weeks ago.

Her legs buckle as pictures of a burning area from bird view is shown and closes her eyes. ''Please not Britt, please not Britt.'' She prays softly.

Private first class Sam Evans and Corporal Brittany Pierce

Quinn and Mercedes's eyes widen the second their best friend chokes out a sob hearing the names and quickly catch her before her legs give out. ''San!'' Quinn exclaims jumping over the bar to support her best friends weight together with Mercedes.

''Come on.'' Mercedes whispers soothingly as customers turn to them in surprise at their outburst.

Santana shakes her head and looks at the screen. ''No I have to.''

''No San…''

''Please.'' She whispers gazing into Quinn's concerned hazel orbs, Quinn blows out a breath as soon as she sees the heartbreak in her eyes and turns to Gunther as he rushes over to them.

''Can we watch this in your office?'' She requests softly, she leads Santana over to the office as he immediately nods his head and turns to Mercedes. ''Call Maribel.'' She tells her as soon as they enter the small office, she places Santana down on Gunther's desk chair watching the door close behind Mercedes without Gunther following them and glances at the TV already seeing the news running.

She reaches forward grabbing the remote control as someone from the army comes onto the screen and turns it louder for her best friend to hear.

Commander Hunter, can you tell us what happened?

We were ambushed early in the morning about three weeks ago, we tried to retreat but there were too much of them and we were all not entirely prepared for an ambush like that.

Does that mean your team failed?

Quinn's eyes widen at the question and slowly shakes her head. ''What the fuck, why is that bitch a reporter?''

No my team didn't fail, we were overpowered. But we will get our brother and sister back.

Do you know where they are?

''If he knew, he wouldn't be standing there with you bitch.'' Santana growls through her tears.

With all due respect ma'am, but if we knew, I wouldn't be standing here answering your questions. Now if you excuse me, we would like to get back to searching our brother and sister, we have a MPC who also desperately needs his partner back.

''What is a MPC?'' Quinn asks in confusion.

''Multi-Purpose Canine.'' Santana answers sadly, she points her finger at the dog currently shown sitting in front of a tent and sniffles. ''Also known as Blast, he is Britt's dog.''

Quinn engulfs her in a hug the second her voice cracks and pulls her close. ''Oh San.'' She whispers sadly as she burst into tears.

''That was the day I told you about.'' Santana whispers sadly. ''The day she video called me.''

''The day the both of you were rudely interrupted by an alarm.'' Quinn whispers in realization. ''Oh babe.'' She whispers sadly keeping her arms tightly wrapped around her best friend. ''She will be found and she will be alright babe.'' She whispers soothingly.

''Santanita!''

Quinn sighs softly in relief as Maribel jogs into the office knowing she can comfort her daughter the best and steps aside to make place for her.

Maribel rushes over to her daughter, her heart breaking as she sees the broken and lost look on her face and pulls her up from the chair and into her own arms. ''Oh mija.'' She whispers sadly.

''Mami.'' Santana whispers brokenly burying her face in her shoulder. ''She is missing.'' She chokes out on a sob.

''I heard baby.'' Maribel whispers. ''But you can't immediately assume the worst, you have to keep faith mija.'' She continues slowly running her hand through her dark locks, she exchanges a sad smile with Quinn and Mercedes as Santana just breaks down in her arms and gulps thickly.

''Let's go home baby.'' She whispers softly. ''You girls coming?'' She asks as she slowly leads her daughter out of the exit.

Quinn immediately nods her head and follows her pulling Mercedes with her. ''I will call Puck and tell him to come over too.'' She turns to Gunther as Maribel just nods her head while leading Santana out of the restaurant and sighs sadly. ''Gunther.''

''I completely understand, tell her to come back whenever she is fit enough.'' Gunther replies with a sad smile.

Quinn nods her head taking Santana's things from Mercedes as she walks out of the locker room and sighs. ''I will, C and I will be back tomorrow though.''

''No stay with her for the day.'' Gunther tells them. ''I think she needs you girls more than I need you here.'' He continues knowing his employee found love in the blonde he once called one of the best employees he ever had.

Quinn nods her head thanking him softly and turns to Mercedes as they walk out of the restaurant. ''Let's pray for the best C.''

''I don't think I can handle her reaction if we don't pray for that Q.'' Mercedes whispers. ''Her reaction the second she heard her name coming through the speakers already broke my heart.''

''She fell fast and deep.'' Quinn mutters sadly. ''We have two to comfort though, I am sure all of this also causes flashbacks for Maribel.''

''I think so too so it's good that Puck is coming over too, we need his strong and calm personality.'' Mercedes agrees knowing Maribel will try to stay strong for Santana but break the second she is alone. ''Come on let's not make them wait any longer.'' She mutters leading her to the parking lot searching for Maribel's car.

Quinn raises an eyebrow in surprise as she sees her fiance standing beside Maribel's car holding the keys and quickly walks over to him. ''I wanted to call you the second we were on the way to the house.''

''I know but I heard the news and just knew San needed all of us.'' Puck whispers as he kisses her forehead, he quickly hugs Mercedes and sighs. ''Jump in, I am driving.''

Later that night

Maribel walks into her daughters bedroom after thanking her friends for staying over and cheering them up a bit, she crawls into the bed beside her smiling sadly as she hears her soft sniffle knowing the silence of her room allowed her to think and wraps her arms tightly around her waist.

''Have faith mija.'' She whispers softly as she notices her holding one of the first pictures Brittany had send her. ''She is strong as nails, you told us that yourself.''

''You warned me for this mami, how could I have been so stupid and fall for someone who is risking her life?'' Santana asks sadly.

''Hey no, don't call your feelings stupid.'' Maribel scolds softly. ''We don't choose who we fall in love with mija and I know her being in the army is scaring you like hell but you can't control where her mind tells her to go.'' She whispers softly. ''And as much as I hate the thought of her risking her life like your papi did, her rank shows that she is damn good at it.''

Santana turns in her mami's hold and frowns. ''Her rank?'' She asks softly.

''Her friend is a private first class even though he joined the army at the same time, she is one rank above him and is a leader of small groups mija. Her rank tells me that she loves what she does, just like your papi did.'' Maribel leans forward lovingly kissing her forehead and smiles sadly. ''I understand that you hate her job, I hated it too but do you know why they do it?''

''She told me that she wanted to join the army to make the world a safer place.'' Santana whispers softly.

''Exactly, your papi did too. He joined the army right after high school, we married during his first leave, he had to go back and I found out I was pregnant thinking he would quit, but then he came home and we had a long talk.''

''What did he say?'' Santana asks curiously leaning back to lock eyes with her mami while still cuddling close.

''That he still wanted to continue because now he had an even bigger reason to fight for the safety of his family, he fought to make sure we can live peacefully without worrying that we might be in danger mija.''

''I never saw her in person, but it still hurts like hell mami. Why? Why does it hurt so much even though I only know her through letters, texts and one video call?''

''Because you still bonded with her mi corazón.'' Maribel replies softly. ''And aside from that, I also think you found your soulmate without searching.''

Santana gulps thickly her mami's words hitting deep and sniffles, she scoots closer nuzzling her face against her shoulder and gulps thickly as she feels her arms wrap tightly around her waist.

''I just need her to be okay.'' She whispers brokenly.

''She will be, keep on believing in that mi corazón.'' Maribel whispers promisingly, she pulls her close as she feels tears wetting her shirt and kisses her head. ''I'm here mija, don't bottle your feelings up.''

Quinn sniffles pulling away from Santana's door as she hears the sniffles inside quieting down and tiptoes down the hall to the guest room, she walks in wiping away her tears and looks at her fiance and Mercedes. ''They just fell asleep.''

''That's good.'' Puck breaths out as he runs a hand over his Mohawk. ''God damn this sucks.''

''It will suck more the second Santana finds out what Brittany planned from afar.'' Mercedes murmurs looking up from her phone in shock.

''Huh?''

''What?'' Puck and Quinn ask in unison turning to her.

Mercedes smiles slightly and holds her phone out for them showing the group chat they have with some of their colleagues. ''Just read this.''

From Jessica: Hey do any of you know a Brittany?

Quinn raises an eyebrow at the question and scrolls down reading a lot of no's, she stops at Mercedes's reply and tilts her head.

To best work group: I kinda do just like Q and S, why?

From Jessica: We just had a group of two tough looking guys and one girl coming in and asking to be served by Dani, you all know a customers wish is our command so we send her to them. They were the biggest assholes, but only to her, whenever one of us walked past they were friendly as fuck.

''What the hell?'' Quinn asks in surprise looking up at Mercedes, Mercedes laughs as Puck also turns to her in surprise and nods her head to her phone.

''It's getting better, continue.''

Quinn raises an eyebrow leaning back into Puck's arms so he can read with her and scrolls down to read more texts from Jessica.

From Jessica: They continued being assholes until Dani flipped her shit and told them that looking tough doesn't mean that they are and challenged them, she started to insult them and the girl who accompanied those guys fucking decked her.

From Jessica: She did it so fucking subtly that no one except for us noticed, Dani's cheek turned red instantly and she attacked her.

''Holy fuck, we missed some action.'' Puck breaths out laughing, Quinn hums in agreement and scrolls down to read more.

From Jessica: They went outside to clear there beef and Jackson went over to the guys asking what their deal is, not because he was mad Dani got hurt, but just curious why they wanted Dani.

From Jackson: I'll take it from here Jess, alright so I asked them what their deal was and one of the guys replied:

From Jackson: That Brittany told them that she likes to fuck over girls and asked them to teach her a lesson, I have no idea who Brittany and what the reason behind all of this is but yeah it was very eventful.

From Mercedes: Well I sure do, let's leave it at that for now.

Quinn laughs softly at Mercedes's dry reply and looks up at her. ''Well damn, Brittany just had someone beat Dani up for what she did to San.''

''Looks like San found herself someone who will walk through hell for her.'' Puck whispers with a grin. ''If this shit comes out, Brittany will be fucked.''

Mercedes shakes her head and snickers. ''No she made sure nothing is followed back to any of them, those guys paid cash, the alley the girl pulled Dani in is known as one where robbers hide and Jess mentioned that it looked like they all were wearing wigs.''

She turns to Quinn and smiles slightly. ''I have no idea how Brittany managed to do that and who those guys were, but I like that girl.''

''That makes two of us C.'' Quinn whispers a small smile playing on her lips.

''Make that three, anyone who is out to protect my family, is amazing in my books and I am glad Dani faced karma.'' Puck tells them.

''Amen Puck.'' Mercedes exclaims with a grin, she glances at the time and sighs. ''Alright let's go to bed, I am sure San and Mari will wake up early.''

Quinn and Puck nod their heads in agreement watching Mercedes walk out of the room after wishing them a good night and scoot under the duvet, Quinn sighs softly cuddling into her fiance's strong hold and nuzzles her face in his chest. ''I hope Brittany will be fine.''

''I do too babe.'' Puck murmurs as he kisses the top of her head. ''Let's just continue hoping and send out good vibes, we can't start doubting it because San will immediately pick up on it.''

''I know.'' Quinn whispers as she cuddles closer. ''Let's sleep, good night babe.''

''Good night baby, love you.''

''Love you too.''