Author's Note: I HAVE INTERNET AGAIN! I've been going a little stir crazy without it, but on the bright side it gave me time to write without too many distractions so I'm half way through chapter eleven for you all now =)
I'm all moved into my new place, done about 90% of the cleaning at my old place so gonna finish it next week, and my living room is fulla boxes so my next few weeks are gonna be me glaring at them as I trip over them but just not having the energy or will power to unpack yet. Plus I fucked up my knees again, thanks to the move, to going back to work and to all the cleaning *sigh* but both my fur babies seem to be settling in well! There was some growling and hissing the first few days but now they are just roaming and exploring and cos it's a new place still they both come snuggle me at night XD
Thank you to all of you lovely and awesome people who have left me reviews this last week! They made me want to work extra hard on the story so I have lots to post! Plus they just make me happy and I need that cos it's been a long, tiring and shitty few weeks. You're all the best.
Much love,
Maxx
Disclaimer: I own nothing, except the moronic brain in my head that thought it was smart to go driving the day after I moved when my entire body hurt and accidentally scraped and dinted one side of my car cos I took the corner down to my new house a little too sharply *sigh*
Content Warning: this chapter (in the third scene) contains scenes of assault, specifically of a sexual/physical nature. And brief depiction of mental health issues. Please look after yourselves and be safe.
Chapter Eight
Quinn, Rachel and Brittany stood in the parking lot. None of them had moved or said a word since Rachel's fathers had dropped them off ten minutes ago. They had seen Finn's mom's car leaving as they had arrived so they knew he was here today… The parking lot had filled up around them, cars and buses and people everywhere. No one really paid them any attention; everyone far too busy with their own lives and doing what they had to do before the bell went. Brittany fidgeted with her shirt, fingers never stilling until Quinn slipped her own hand into the dancer's. Rachel was trying to focus on her breathing – Santana had put her trust in her and she would be damned if she was going to let her down!
A few minutes later the bell did finally ring and seemed to snap the three out of it. Quinn let out a loud sigh and gently tugged Brittany with her up the steps towards the door. The taller blonde caught Rachel by the arm and pulled her with them. The hallway was packed as everyone did the usual last minute dash to and from lockers and classrooms, calling out to friends as they parted until next period.
"What do you have first, Rach?" Brittany tried her best to be cheery and nonchalant, but her eyes darted about the hallway and her grip tightened on the girls either side of her.
"English Lit. How about you?" Rachel let the blondes pull her along to their lockers.
"Quinn and I have World History. But we'll walk you to English first, okay?" Brittany asked almost hesitantly.
Rachel smiled up at the dancer and squeezed her arm. "I would really appreciate that, Brittany, thank you." She hadn't expected anything else, as the girls had been doing it all week. But today… she wasn't sure she would willingly go to class if they weren't walking her.
As they walked through the almost deserted hallways towards Rachel's first class, Quinn tensed and pulled them to a halt. She looked at Rachel with hard eyes, making the brunette do her impression of a deer in headlights.
"Isn't he in your English Lit. class?" Quinn's rage was barely contained as she spat out the pronoun.
Rachel swallowed hard and nodded, but quickly plastered a smile onto her face as she set them off walking again. "He is, yes, but seeing as we are already late for the start of class there will be no time for any conversation. And anyway, I would rather it be me than you. I don't wish to see you get into any trouble on my account, Quinn." She knew her smile was a little too bright and her voice an octave higher than normal but she didn't wish to give the blondes any more reason to be anxious.
Quinn exchanged a look with Brittany as they reached Rachel's classroom.
"Thank you for escorting me, I will see you later." The diva moved to enter the room but a hand on her arm stopped her. Now that was unusual…
For a moment, Quinn and Rachel just stared at each other. Rachel's eyes flickered to the blonde's hand and back to her conflicted gaze. Quinn so badly wanted to tell Rachel to not go in there, to just come to World History with her and Brittany, or skip class altogether and go hide in the auditorium with them… but she knew the girl would not do that. She also knew the thought of Finn being anywhere near Rachel made her feel sick. Yes, Quinn still had incredibly mixed feelings about the diva and she was still angry at her for getting Santana hurt… deep down though, the blonde knew it was not Rachel's fault. And even deeper down, Quinn felt affection for and protectiveness over the diva that if she allowed to develop… it would soon be as strong as her feelings for Santana and Brittany… she just wasn't ready for that yet. Their wounds were still too fresh.
"We will be here as soon as class lets out. You and Britt have Calc and I have Art class so we'll walk together," Quinn let her hand fall from Rachel's arm, and cleared her throat. "If that's okay with you?"
Rachel couldn't help her beaming smile. "I would like that very much, thank you, Quinn."
Quinn nodded and stepped back to Brittany's side as Rachel finally went into class. The diva got a disapproving look from her teacher but when Brittany sent the man a wave through the little glass window in the door, the teacher said nothing further to Rachel and continued with the class.
"C'mon, Britt," Quinn grumbled as she set off down the hallway with Brittany at her heels. "Before my restraint fails and I burst into that class and rip his fucking head off…"
Rachel point blank refused to even look around the room to see if Finn was there. But she didn't have to, she spent the entire class with chills running down her spine and goose bumps at the feeling of eyes drilling into the back of her head. She did her absolute best to focus on the class and tune him out but the longer it went on, the harder she had to fight the overwhelming urge to turn in her chair and snap at the boy. Santana's words echoed in her head. She took some deep, measured breaths and remembered she had a job to do today.
She could tell Brittany was incredibly anxious and Quinn was on the verge of ripping the school apart brick by brick with her bare hands so it was up to Rachel to keep them together, safe and as calm as possible. They just had to make it through the day then they would be home and in Santana's arms again… Rachel stiffened and shook the thought out of her head. If the irresistible need to kiss Santana this morning had proved anything to her it's that she wanted the girl. Badly. But she still had not figured out exactly what it was that she wanted. Or if she would even be willing or able to fit into their… situation… and now was really not the time to be trying to figure all that out! But… when things had quietened down and Santana was up to it, Rachel very much wanted to have that conversation with the girl. With all three of the girls!
The bell rung not a moment too soon. Rachel surged to her feet, shoved her books in her bag and fought her way through the crush of students heading out of the classroom. She heard him calling her name but refused to stop moving until she all but fell into the blondes waiting for her, as promised, in the hallway. Brittany encircled her with her arms the moment she appeared and Rachel held on tight, her breath coming out in a stuttery rush. She hadn't realised the boy's staring had affected her so badly but it felt like she hadn't been able to take a proper breath since she'd sat down at her desk.
"Rach, I was calling you-" Finn stepped out of the door and came face to face with Quinn, murder in her eyes as she squared up to the boy.
"I don't think she wants to talk to you. And I don't think you should EVER talk to her again," Quinn was scarily calm, her hands on her hips as she glared Finn down.
Finn found himself taking a step back subconsciously. His eyes went to Rachel and Quinn stepped into his line of sight, blocking the diva from view.
"For once in your life, Finn, do the fucking smart thing and stay the hell away from us."
"I'm here to talk to Rachel, not you. Why don't you let her decide for herself?" Finn straightened, finding his voice finally. He glared at Quinn.
Quinn smirked. She called back to Rachel without taking her eyes off the tall boy trying to loom over her menacingly. "Rach? Do you want to stay here and talk to him or do you want to walk to class with Britt and I?"
Rachel detached herself from Brittany, still keeping hold of the dancer's hand though, and turned to slip her free hand into one of Quinn's that still rested on her hips. "Class please."
Quinn could not stop the shit-eating grin taking over her face as she was pulled away from Finn by Rachel and Brittany. She flipped the boy off before spinning, wrapping Rachel's arm around her waist and slinging her arm around the diva's shoulders in full view of Finn. An action that started Rachel's heart racing and had her blushing all the way through her next class.
The three girls ate lunch together in the auditorium. Brittany and Quinn hanging around as Rachel practiced some vocal exercises centre stage. The girl's voice strong and incredible as ever as she belted out a verse of 'Defying Gravity' – it bounced about them and reached from wall to wall without it looking like it took any effort on Rachel's part. The diva looked so completely at home stood up there. The blondes watched her with a sense of awe – Brittany clapping enthusiastically after Rachel had finished, and Quinn sending her an approving smile.
"You need to sing at Regionals, Rachel. You belong on that stage," Quinn nudged the diva with her elbow when she re-joined them in the front row.
Rachel smiled a little bashfully. "That's very kind of you to say, Quinn. I just-"
"I know, I know, you want to give everyone else a chance, you're trying not to steal the lime light all the time!" Quinn rolled her eyes. "But some of that lime light is rightfully yours. Don't be afraid to take it. You have an incredible voice, people need to hear it." She shrugged and sat back, finishing her diet coke in one long pull.
Rachel watched the girl with wide eyes. Had Quinn Fabray just… complimented her? That… couldn't have happened… Rachel shook herself out of her negative spiral and assumptions and remembered herself. Quinn had come so far since last year. The girl was still in pain but her edges were a little softer now, and even after everything that had happened Friday evening between herself and the blonde, Rachel could see the changes. And the fact that Quinn had called Rachel this morning for help? Perhaps there was hope for them yet - a thought that made Rachel's heart flutter.
Brittany hopped to her feet. "Can we find Kurt before next period? He said he had something cute to show me! I hope he finally got that bird he's been talking about for like, two weeks now." She dragged Quinn and Rachel to their feet and bounced her way out of the auditorium.
Quinn shared an exasperated look with the diva but Rachel could see how much she adored Brittany, watching her skip up the aisles with soft eyes and an even softer smile.
"You and Brittany," Rachel couldn't stop herself from voicing her thoughts. "Are you…" she frowned, searching for the best way to phrase her question. "Girlfriends too?"
Quinn smirked at Rachel's awkwardness, the diva not quite able to meet her eyes at that moment. "That's a very simplistic way to describe our relationship but yes, essentially we are girlfriends. It's just a little different than my relationship with Santana. No better or worse, and definitely no lesser," the blonde clarified quickly. "Just different. Britt is light, whereas Santana and I are dark, thus we require a different, and perhaps more delicate, approach. That's not to say Britt doesn't have layers or issues like anyone, because she does. We just…"
"Want to protect that light in her for as long as you can." Rachel finished for her, her own eyes on the dancer waiting for them by the doors, grinning excitedly.
Quinn turned to Rachel, looking her up and down for a second. "Yes. Exactly." She didn't say anything further, instead she just held Rachel's gaze trying to decide something…
"Quinn!" Brittany whined from the doorway, snapping Quinn out of her thoughts and freeing Rachel from the rather hypnotising intensity of Quinn's stare.
"Come on then, let's go find Kurt," Quinn sighed, slipping her hand into Rachel's and then Brittany's when they caught up to her.
They had gotten almost to Kurt's locker when it dawned on Rachel that she did not have her backpack on her anymore. She turned, dropping Quinn's hand, to head back to the auditorium.
"Hey!" Quinn's fingers locked around the diva's forearm before she could even take two steps. "What's wrong?"
"I forgot my backpack." Rachel noted the blonde's hesitation, her reluctance to let her out of her sight. She knew she shouldn't feel special or smile, given the reason why, but she couldn't help it. The girl was worried about her, protective over her even. She was quite certain that it was only on Santana's orders but even so… her heart beat a little quicker. "I promise I won't even be gone two minutes, Quinn. So please don't look so worried." Rachel couldn't help bringing Quinn's hand, where it was on her arm, up to her lips and pressing a kiss to it. God, her skin's soft… Rachel shook the thought from her head and carefully pried Quinn's fingers off her before darting away back to the auditorium.
True to her word, Rachel had made it to the auditorium, grabbed her backpack and was already on her way back to the blondes with a whole minute left to go.
"Rachel?" The voice came from the back of the auditorium, exactly where she was heading, and it made her blood run cold.
Taking a deep breath and steeling herself, Rachel turned a little and watched Finn walk towards her. She couldn't help herself as she backed up more and more the closer he got to her until her back hit the stage and she had nowhere left to go.
"I just want to talk, Rach. That's all. And," he hesitated, looking down at his feet. "I wanted to apologize."
A frown found its way onto Rachel's face but her guard was up, even when the boy stopped a few feet away from her and came no closer.
"I don't have time to talk right now, Finn. Lunch is almost over, we-"
"It will only take a minute, Rach. I just need you to know how sorry I am, that I never meant to hurt you or upset you," Finn spoke quietly, as if he were afraid someone would hear him. "I just wanted you to know that I still love you and I still want to be with you. So when they hurt you and they're done with you, I'll still be here, okay?"
Rachel scowled at him. "And what is that supposed to mean, Finn?"
"I know you don't see it yet, but you will. They aren't good for you, Rachel! But I'll always be here to look after you, okay?" Finn jabbed a thumb at himself, taking a step towards her.
Rachel held her ground, straightening and folding her arms across her chest as she looked up at him with anger. "How do you know what they are for me? You have no idea who they even are any more, Finn. And you really have no clue as to who I am!"
"I… I know who you are, Rachel," He shook his head in confusion. "And I definitely know who those lying, backstabbing bitches are!"
Rachel couldn't even begin to voice her feelings right then. How much it hurt her to hear Finn use such awful and untrue words to describe the girls she lov- uh… to describe her friends. He was being cruel and petty and once again he was certainly not listening to her! She did not take her eyes off him as she drew in a calming breath and chose her words meticulously.
"Finn," Rachel dropped her arms to her sides and spoke as clearly and as calmly as she could manage. "I am not interested in you. Not as a boyfriend, not as a lover, not as anything more than a friend. I apologise if this hurts your feelings, I never meant to. But I do not wish to be with you. So I would appreciate it if you would grant me my personal space and understand that my life is my own to do with as I choose. I will be friends with whomsoever I choose to be friends with, and neither you nor anyone else has a say in that. Do I make myself clear?" She raised her eyebrows at him, waiting for a response.
After a few seconds, Finn nodded, not able to look at the diva.
"Good. Now if you will excuse me, Finn, I have to get back," She swung her backpack onto her shoulders and stepped around the tall boy, giving him a wide berth.
"You're going back to them, right?" He called after her.
Rachel rolled her eyes but neither stopped nor answered him. She was almost out of the auditorium, her fingers gripped the door handle and she- Finn grabbed her and pulled her back. He spun her and a split second later, he was kissing her. His tongue forced its way into her mouth and his arms trapped her, one hand on the back of her neck and one creeping down her back towards her-
She struggled against him, hands balling into fists as she tried to push him off her, squirming and flailing to free herself from his hold. But it was no use. Finn was too strong for her and he was not taking no for an answer this time. Rachel did not stop though, she punched at every bit of him she could reach, kicked at his legs- Finn pushed her up against the door, holding her prisoner even more, while he caught her flailing hands in one of his giant ones and renewed the vigour with which he kissed her.
Fear froze Rachel's brain then. She knew she could not fight him off, if he wanted to do anything more than just kiss her there was no way she could stop him… He was too strong, too big, too heavy, too… tears blurred her vision and her lungs felt like they were being crushed inside her chest. She knew a panic attack would soon be on her… she knew Finn would not stop unless she made him…
Rachel bit down as hard as she could on Finn's tongue. The boy's shriek of pain almost deafened her as he jerked away, blood dripping from his mouth, eyes wide in shock.
"What the fuck? Why would you-"
Before he could finish, the auditorium door next to where Rachel was huddled, spitting blood from her own mouth, flew open with a bang. Quinn, wild eyed and in full Lion Quinn mode, stood there. Brittany and Kurt appearing behind her to take in the scene. Rachel had never been so relieved in all her life to see anyone.
"What. The fuck. Did you do to her?" Quinn could barely speak, her voice shook with anger, her eyes ablaze and locked in on Finn.
The boy stood a few feet away, trying to stop the bleeding, wiping blood on his sleeve, but more kept coming. He looked a little pale but went even paler when he saw Quinn stalk towards him.
"Quinn…" Rachel's voice was so quiet she thought the girl wouldn't hear her as she slid to the floor, pulling her knees to her chest tight.
But Quinn heard her. She whipped around and saw the diva in a ball on the floor, blood staining her mouth, tears falling steadily from her wide brown eyes. The blonde's heart almost stopped. Rachel was in her arms before she knew what was happening. She wrapped her up, the diva clawing to get hold of her, holding on so tight, as sobs fell from her lips, face buried in Quinn's chest. She was going to kill him. But not yet. Rachel needed her first.
They vaguely heard a strangled cry before Brittany's arms were around them both and the tall blonde was pressing kisses into their hair, their faces, wherever she could reach. Quinn murmured reassurances in her soft voice, rocking them gently until Rachel could get a grip on her breathing again.
Kurt stood in the doorway, his face a mask of horror as he stared from the three girls on the floor to his step-brother, bleeding profusely from the mouth, clutching his crotch. "What did you do, Finn?" He couldn't quite bring himself to meet Finn's eyes, his brain already piecing together what had happened.
"Kurt-"
"No. Do not say a word. You are not the person I thought you were and I am horrified at having to call you my family," Kurt turned from his step-brother and knelt by the girls. "I'm going to get the Nurse. I will be right back, look after her."
"You better take him with you," Quinn met Kurt's eyes, and the boy almost recoiled at the pure hatred and fury he saw. "Or there won't be anything left of him by the time you get back."
Kurt nodded stiffly. He turned, grabbed Finn's arm in a vice grip and dragged him forcefully up the stairs and out of the auditorium without another word - Finn waddling awkwardly, one hand covering his mouth, one hand holding the front of his jeans.
Rachel jumped at the sound of the door swinging shut, making Quinn press a kiss to her temple and rub a hand up and down her back soothingly.
"You're safe now, Rach. We got you. I am so sorry. We should have been here. I should never have let you go alone," Quinn beat herself up. "This never would have happened if Santana was here, she would have made sure-"
Rachel pressed a hand gently to Quinn's mouth and shook her head. "Don't. Please."
Quinn, eyes wide, nodded. Before Rachel could take her hand back, Quinn covered it with one of her own and pressed a kiss to the diva's palm. "We got you."
Rachel nodded tearfully and buried her face back in Quinn's chest.
It probably hadn't been her best idea to text Santana but she couldn't not. She knew the girl needed to rest and heal and she'd been through so much this last week. Quinn needed her though, she needed to be safe in her and Brittany's arms more than she needed anything else right then. Rachel was in with the School Nurse and Brittany and Quinn had been made to wait outside. So there they waited, pacing impatiently, jumpy and anxious as hell.
Quinn knew she should have been able to handle this, it was school, for God's sake! She should have been able to keep Rachel safe for a week without Santana! God, she hated how she couldn't even do that right. She was so pathetic, so weak, so fucking useless… The black thoughts kept pouring in and swirling around and around in Quinn's head until she could think of nothing else. Until they were a black hole sucking her in, crushing her until there was nothing left but darkness in her world. She needed someone… something… Quinn reached out for Brittany blindly.
"Q? Britt?"
Quinn's heart ached in her chest at Santana's voice. It kicked a hole in the blackness just big enough for Quinn to get an arm through. She spun and was back in her girlfriend's arms again, Brittany only a split second behind her. Santana grunted in pain as they slammed into her but refused to let go of either of them. She let out a stuttery breath and kissed them both wherever she could reach. None of them spoke for the longest time. They just held onto each other desperately.
"Q?" Santana tried rousing the blonde clinging to her chest but got no response. "Quinn?" Still nothing. Santana's heart was in her throat now, panic setting in again. "Baby, please, look at me, tell me you're okay, tell me… just tell me what happened. Please?" She begged, voice cracking. Quinn had not been in any state to explain on the phone and Santana had just wanted to get to the school as fast as she could so she hadn't pushed.
But Quinn didn't move, couldn't move. She was so exhausted and so angry; her heart hurt so much and her head was full of so much darkness that she couldn't do it. She just needed Santana to hold her. Just for a little while longer. Please. She needed her strength right then because it had taken all of hers just to keep herself together to support Rachel.
Santana pressed a kiss to her forehead and held her tighter. She had seen that blank look in Quinn's eye, the tightness in her jaw, the tension in her body, and had known the girl was lost in her darkness. "It's okay, mi feroz león, I'm here. I've got you. Just keep breathing for me, okay?" She whispered into the blonde's ear, placing a soft kiss there. She knew exactly how awful Quinn's mind could get, it was her own worst enemy some days. Santana knew from her own experiences that you couldn't just not listen, it was your own fucking mind! So she had promised both the blondes long ago that it didn't matter what bullshit their brains told them, what lies it slipped in and tried to convince them of, she would always be there to help them fight it and she would never lie to them.
Brittany tightened her grip on them both, resting her head on Quinn's carefully, nuzzling into her hair so that she knew Brittany was there and sending her all the love she could. The action always made Quinn and Santana smile, now was no different. Quinn nudged Brittany back with her own head affectionately before burying her face back into Santana's neck.
"Britt? Mi Corazon, I need you to be strong and tell me what happened. Are you hurt? Is Quinn?" Santana felt Quinn shake her head against her, Brittany following suit – the dancer pulled away a little to meet Santana's gaze but kept her arms locked around her and Quinn.
"Finn managed to get Rachel alone. He… He used Kurt as a distraction and… and I fell for it, San, I'm so stupid!" Brittany's big blue eyes filled with tears as she choked out the last word.
"Hey, no! No, you are not!" Santana untangled an arm from around Quinn – the shorter blonde still clinging to her desperately – and tugged Brittany to her gently by the back of her neck, pressing their foreheads together. "This is not your fault, Britt. It's not either of your faults, okay?" She brought their lips together, Brittany's hand cupping her face as they kissed slow and deep until she felt Brittany's trembling lessen. Pulling away, Santana smiled softly, that always did the trick with the dancer – Quinn however was a little bit more complicated. "What happened, Britt? I need to know the rest."
Brittany swallowed back the lump in her throat and pushed herself on. "He-He cornered her in the auditorium and-and he wouldn't listen to her, she told him 'no', she said she told him 'no' but he just… He wouldn't let her go so she bit him and I kicked him just like you showed me to do on a boy, San! We-We should have got there sooner, I'm so sorry, San, I'm so-" The dancer's words were cut short by a strangled sob.
Santana tugged the girl back into the embrace and held her close. The Latina's face darkened, her jaw clenched tight, eyes set and stormy, mouth a sharp, thin line as she tried to control her anger. "Where's Rachel?" Her voice was hard and low. It made Quinn shiver and she finally looked up at the Latina.
"The Nurse is checking her over. She's shaken more than physically hurt," Quinn managed to murmur, her head back on Santana's shoulder. "We aren't allowed in."
"Like fuck we aren't! Come on, we need to be there for her." Santana gave her girls' one last squeeze before turning on her heels and marching right into the Nurse's office.
When the Nurse heard her door open she whipped round. "This is a private office and a private meeting with another student, you need to-"
Santana ignored the woman as her eyes landed on Rachel, sat huddled on a chair in the corner, eyes downcast. Her breath caught in her throat. The diva was holding a bloody tissue, red still stained her mouth a little, her face streaked with tears and her clothes and hair were out of place, very un-Rachel-like. Anger flowed through her like her blood was gasoline and someone had set it alight. It almost consumed her until… Rachel looked up at her. The look of pure relief and happiness at seeing her standing there immediately turned Santana's anger to such an all-consuming need to have the girl in her arms that nothing else mattered in that moment.
All she had to do was open her arms and Rachel was in them, holding her like Santana was the only dry bit of land in a world of water. She couldn't even bring herself to care that Rachel was crushing her injured shoulder and it was starting to throb like hell. She just needed to feel the girl against her, feel her arms around her, feel her chest rise and fall, feel her breath on her neck… she just needed to know that Rachel was okay.
"I-I'm so sorry, Santana, I f-failed you. Y-You believed in m-me and I let you d-down," Rachel sobbed, her face pushed hard into Santana's chest muffling her a little.
Santana just about managed to keep herself together. "You did no such thing, Rach. You have nothing to apologise for, I promise you!"
Rachel could only shake her head, making the Latina hold her tighter. After a few minutes of the Nurse glaring at them, Santana finally moved to let Rachel go so the woman could finish whatever it was she had been doing. But Rachel tensed and refused to let go, fingers locking together behind Santana's back as she shoved her face even harder into the Latina.
"Please don't leave me, Santana, please," the diva choked out.
Santana pressed her own face into Rachel's hair and inhaled deeply, before leaving a firm kiss there. "I'm not going anywhere, mi Estrella. We're all here with you and we aren't going anywhere."
The blondes wrapped their arms around Rachel too, taking turns to pass her between them before Rachel landed back in Santana's arms and nuzzled into her neck. Santana's heart jumped at the contact and she smiled into the embrace. Her brain had been screaming curse words and playing every horrible, awful scenario to her from the moment she had gotten Quinn's text. It finally quietened down now so she could just about think above the profanity and terror.
"Now, you gotta finish up with the nurse, okay? For my sanity, if nothing else!" The Latina held up a hand when Rachel tried to argue.
The diva nodded, releasing her hold on Santana reluctantly and went back to sit down opposite the incredibly pissed off looking Nurse glaring at the girls by the door. Santana returned her glare. The Nurse sighed and sat down, finally resuming her conversation with Rachel. While they were talking, Santana slipped her hand into Quinn's and tugged her into the far corner by the door, Brittany moving to sit by Rachel, entwining their fingers together without a word.
"I have to report this," Santana gestured at her injuries, keeping her voice a whisper. "To Figgins."
Quinn raised an eyebrow at her. "I thought you didn't want to?"
"I thought if I did I'd paint a target on you all, I thought I'd make the situation worse but clearly," the Latina glanced over at the diva, her anxious gaze flitting back and forth between the Nurse and the girls in the corner, checking they were still there. "He's not gotten the message and this cannot happen again. Not to her, not to you two, not to any other girl he sets his sights on." She just about managed to get her words out through gritted teeth. Her anger palpable – the pain in her shoulder only spurring it on.
"Okay."
"Okay?"
Quinn nodded, folding her arms across her chest, a determined glint in her eye. "I was pissed that you didn't report the motherfucker to the police after what he did to you, but I didn't want to push." The blonde softened a little, her hand cupping Santana's face, the Latina leaning into the touch. "You scared the fuck out of me, S. I thought I'd- I thought we'd lost you. Seeing you crumpled on the floor like that?" A deep frown set on her face as she shook the images from her head as if it would magically get rid of them completely and stop the nightmares she had been having since the incident. "And now, seeing Rachel like… like that?" Quinn could barely bring herself to look over at the diva.
"I know," Santana pulled the blonde to her, letting the girl bury her face in her neck.
"We can't just do nothing, S," Quinn grabbed handfuls of the Latina's flannel shirt, hands balling into fists.
Santana pressed a kiss to her temple. "I know. We won't. Not this time." She rubbed gentle circles into Quinn's back with one hand, her other lost in the blonde's hair. She felt the girl relax into her with a deep sigh and Santana finally felt her own heart leave her throat and return to its normal place in her chest. This was far from over – she would not let Finn get away with this – but her girls were all in one piece and still alive.
All three of them.
AN: I love hearing your thoughts so don't hesitate to review! I'm writing this story for the love of the characters and for my own mental health and love of writing, all I ask is that's respected =)