an: hello

sorry it's been like months since i last posted but i will be more active now.

anyway without further ado here's chapter 8!

His eyes widen when he saw me, "My god what happened?"

I didn't know what to do or say, I felt the sudden urge to throw up.

I just stood there as he walked quickly over to me, worry clear in his eyes. "Are you okay?"

"I-"

I heard footsteps hurrying down the stairs, "Dad. You're back early."

He turned towards her, "Yeah, I finished up so I thought I'd come back early. What happened to Santana?"

She looked at me, "Oh right she just tripped last night on the stairs that's all, right San?"

I just nodded, "Yeah."

He looked at me again, there was something in his eyes, doubt? "Really?"

"Yeah, it was dark and we could barely see." Brittany said quickly.

"You've never fallen down them before." He said looking back at her.

"She was drunk, we both were, we were coming from a party."

"Drunk?! Are you out of your mind?"

"I know, I'm sorry it was just the one time, I won't do it again."

"Surely you didn't drive." He said crossing his arms.

"No one was able to offer us a drive, but obviously we made it back safe."

He sighed frustrated, "Don't do dumb shit like that again. You not only put your life in danger but Santana's. Be smarter next time."

"Yeah, okay I will, sorry."

He looked back to me, his eyebrows sketched with concern "I think we should get you to a hospital to be safe, that eye doesn't look to well."

Everything was wrong with going to the hospital, there's no doubt people like me have turned up there, while there's a good chance they wouldn't care because this is a fucked up town, but I don't want to risk it.

If they did figure it out and actually care they could call the police and Brittany...I don't know what would happen.

There's no way it would end good though.

"Don't you think that's excessive dad? I mean she's fine now." Brittany said, I could tell she was thinking what I was thinking.

"No, I don't. I think that she needs medical attention. Here I'll call your mom."

"No." I stopped him quickly, "I was actually going home now. I can just have my mom take me."

He was silent for a few seconds, "Fine." he said while still looking uncertain, "But I will take you home."

For the first time in years, I heard worry in her voice. "Dad, I-"

"My decision is final Brittany."

She went silent and glanced at me.

I grabbed my things and began to follow him out.

"I'll be back, your mom will be here shortly." He said before walking out.

I felt Brittany grab my arm roughly, and she whispered menacingly in my ear. "Keep your fucking mouth shut."

I nodded "I will."

She let me go and I quickly walked outside to Mr. Pierce's car holding back tears.

The closer we got to my house the more nervous I got.

Mami will have a fit when she sees me, she hasn't handled me getting hurt well in the past and I expect no different this time.

I'm mostly nervous on getting her to believe my story and the possibility of her taking me to the hospital.

I just can't be there.

"Santana?" Brittany's dad called out.

"Yes?"

He sighed softly "Did you really fall down those stairs?"

Suddenly I felt nauseous again.

Did he...not believe it?

"Yes." I lied

He glanced at me before looking back at the road, "Okay." He said without much conviction in his voice.

Could he...

No. 'Course not.

I played with my hands and took a deep breath, the nausea set aside.

A sense of dread washed over me.

Eventually we pulled up at my house, I was hoping Mami wouldn't be home, it would buy me some time, but of course I couldn't be so lucky.

I got out of the car and he followed suit. I pulled out my keys and unlocked my door, Mami heard and came.

"Santana." She cradled my face, "What happened? Who did this to you?"

"Nothing Mami, I just fell down the stairs last night when I was at Brittany's, it was just an accident. I'm okay, don't worry."

She furrowed her brows then she noticed Brittany's dad behind me.

"Daniel."

"Hi Maribel, I was just dropping Santana off, I came home early this morning when I saw her and she told me she fell down the stairs at my house. As you know me and Nelly work quite a bit so we weren't home last night."

Mami looked at me, "You said that Brittany's parents would be there, that's why I agreed to let you stay Santana."

"I know Mami, I thought they would be." I hated lying to her but for the moment it was necessary. "Sorry."

She shook her head, "So this was from falling down the stairs?"

"Yes." I answered, she looked doubtful.

"I should get going my wife is going to be back soon, I just wanted to make sure she got back safely."

"Thank you Daniel I really appreciate it."

"Of course, I hope you get better Santana."

"Thank you." I said softly and he made his exit.

Mami closed the door then looked at me, "Santana."

I refused to meet her eyes, I didn't like the tone in her voice, she could tell something was up.

"If you got into a fight you can tell me. I just find it hard to believe you have a swollen eye and busted lip from...stairs. I mean I'm glad you didn't break anything but.."

I gulped, "No Mami I wasn't in a fight, I really did fall, look when Brittany and I got to her house after the party it was dark, we weren't thinking straight and I uh couldn't see so I tripped before she was able to catch me."

"You tripped going up?" She asked in disbelief.

Well, shit.

"Uh no no we went upstairs then I realized I left my phone down so that's when I tripped."

She didn't say anything as she went into the kitchen, I heard shuffling and she came back with a bag of peas. "Put this on your eye amor."

I took the bag and placed the cool bag on my rapidly swollen eye.

"We're going to the hospital, this doesn't look good."

"No!" I said scaring myself even at the urgency, "I just mean, it's just a swollen eye, it's not a big deal."

"Santana, I haven't seen you since yesterday, you went to a party which I trusted you enough to do, you stayed at your girlfriends house alone mind you all night and I see you this morning with a beat up face. I don't know what happened to you but I know this didn't happen from falling down the stairs. Now, I'm not sure if you were in a fight or what but we're going and that's final."

I didn't say anything else after that.

She went upstairs to get my brothers, I heard them come into the living room where I was sitting on the couch.

"San! What happened?" Diego asked as he jogged over to me.

"Nothing buddy I was just a little clumsy last night, I'm fine."

Santiago came over as well, he just stared at me, he looked concerned.

"I'm fine hermano." I said to him.

He just nodded and looked away, I could tell he wanted to say something but didn't.

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Please, please, please, please, please,"

"Quinn I have five younger cousins, that's not going to work on me."

"Santana will be there."

Brittany raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"

Quinn rolled her eyes, "Of course that would convince you."

"Wait, Santana doesn't even like those kind of concerts."

"Well the pleading worked on her...and I may or may not have told her that you agreed already."

"Oh come on."

"Well, hey she's gonna be there so...?"

"Fine."

"Yes." Quinn chuckled and tackled the taller blonde, "Don't give me that pout you're girlfriend will be there."

Brittany laughed and struggled against her, "Yeah whatever."

QUINNS POV

"Come on dad I'm nearly 18, I can stay at home by myself." I explained fixing the shades on my eyes.

"Yeah well when you stop getting drunk and passing out at random people's house then I'll decide you're mature of enough to be left alone."

I may have passed out drunk last night but it wasn't my fault, I couldn't help but drown my sorrows, I just remember confessing to Santana which was a big mistake and then her and Brittany left. Next thing I know I'm waking up on the couch with a splitting headache.

Long story short, my dad was not happy to see me stumbling in the door.

We were currently at the hospital so he could pick up a prescription, my punishment was not being left alone. At all.

I just rolled my eyes, "Yeah okay. Well can I go the bathroom real quick, or do you need to follow me there too?"

He looked at me pointedly, "Make it quick."

"Sure thing." I walked down the hall and took off the glasses, on the way I ran into someone, "Shit sorry."

"It's okay."

I looked up after hearing the familiar voice, "San?"

"Oh, hey."

I just stared at her in shock, she was all banged up.

I felt fire run through my veins, immediately Brittany came to mind.

"San..."

"I'm fine."

"Did she do this?"

Santana glanced behind her before looking at me, "Leave it alone, I'm fine."

"You're not fine Santana, what happened?"

"I tripped down a flight of stairs, accidents happen."

"Bullshit."

"Quinn-"

"No. No fuck this." How could she continue to defend Brittany when she looks the way she does now is beyond me.

Then again, why is it taking me so long to tell someone.

"I'm getting you help."

"What?" Santana said as her eyes widened, "Quinn I'm fine, I fell."

"You're not fine, you're not. I know she did this, I know this...happened because of me, Santana I'm so sorry."

I knew it was my fault, I was being more than friendly to Santana at that party, I could tell Brittany was jealous, Santana looked like this because of me. I felt sick at the thought.

"This wasn't your fault." Santana said so quietly I wasn't sure I even heard her, she seemed to realize what she said, "I-I mean because I fell down the stairs, it's no one's fault but my own."

"Considering I've already been suspecting Brittany of hurting you, you can't lie to me about this. Stop protecting her, I don't get it."

"You don't know anything."

"I do know. I may not have seen it but I know what she's doing. At this point there's no denying it."

"You're delusional, you know that?" Santana said narrowing her eyes.

I stared at her in disbelief, "No, you are. I don't get you Santana I don't, all she does is hurt you and you keep protecting her why?"

"Because I love her!" Her voice cracked.

I just stared at her.

She admitted it, sort of.

"I know you love her, but she doesn't love you."

"Yes, she does. I know our relationship isn't conventional but she can change. I know she can, I'll get her help I'll-"

"She has to do that on her own, she has to want to do that for herself. That's not your job."

Her eyes began to shimmer, "Quinn, I..."

"I understand that she's probably manipulated you into thinking this was okay in some twisted way but-"

"I'm so scared."

There. There it was.

"I'm so scared Quinn, if this gets out I don't know what would happen." Her entire demeanor flipped like a switch, she started to cry. "You don't understand."

"I'll protect you. Look at me San,"

She sniffled and wiped her tears, before looking up at me.

"I will protect you if she tries to hurt you again. Okay?"

"You can't..." She said with a watery smile.

"Why?"

"She'll find me, I know she will. I love her Quinn, I really do but after last night I don't know." She glanced around to make sure we were alone, "She never got that out of hand before, she just kept...hitting me, she didn't stop. I was so scared." She whispered the last part.

Suddenly this whole thing felt so real, of course I knew it was happening, after a while there was no doubt, but hearing her admit it, it was hard seeing her being so honest and vulnerable, I've seen it before but up close like this to me, all I could feel was sadness for her, and well rage now that I know for sure Brittany did this. I'm gonna kill that bitch.

"I'm so sorry, I'm sorry you had to go through that." I didn't know what to say to her, it's hard in these situations to know the right thing to say, if there even was one.

I cant even explain why I just did that. The words just kept coming out and I couldn't stop them.

I tried so hard the entire time here to not show any sign and there I go blurting it out to Quinn.

I hate myself so much right now, the way she's looking at me with pity, I don't deserve it.

My chest tightened and I ignored the falling tears, "No, no don't do that."

"San."

She tried to reach out to me but I pulled away, "Stop."

"Okay, I'm sorry."

"Don't tell anyone."

"San come on-"

"No just-let me do it. If it gets out I want it to be me who says something."

"I get it. Just promise me you'll actually do it. I don't care if you ha yes me the rest of your life but if you don't say anything then I will."

I nodded, "Okay. I'll see you later."

I made my way back to my room where my mami and brothers were.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Mami," I sat on the hospital bed, "just ready to go."

"I know, but it's better safe than sorry."

I nodded and looked over to my brothers, Santiago stared at me again.

I gave him a small smile before the door opened.

"Hello there Lopez family I'm Dr. Allen how are you doing this morning?"

"Fine." I said, "I know it looks bad but I just fell down the stairs."

I'm going to tell someone I am, but not now, not in front of mami and the twins, it's too much at once.

"I see." He stood in front of me and checked my bruises, "Hm."

I felt uncomfortable under his eyes as they sketched my face.

"How'd you fall?"

"Sorry?"

"Down the stairs."

"Oh." I cleared my throat, "It was dark and I couldn't see much and I missed the first step so I slipped."

"What kind of stairs were they?"

"Um, regular?"

"Carpet or wood?"

"Wood."

"Mhm." He picked up his clipboard and wrote something down. "We'll have to get you some ointment for the scarring and antibiotics. Ice your eye every night from 10-20 minutes. As for the bruises they should heal naturally."

Don't I know.

"Then I want to check you out again in a few weeks. If you have any issues just call."

"Thank you." Mami said.

"Of course. I'll have the nurse come in with your prescriptions and discharge papers." He placed a hand on my shoulder, "Feel better Santana."

As we walked back to the car j thought back to the conversation I had with Quinn.

In the moment I felt like I could tell anyone because I told her but now I'm not sure.

I said I'd tell someone because it sounded so easy at the time, but I'm not sure I can.

I guess it was easier admitting to Quinn because she knew this whole time. She already knew, could tell what was going on, but no one else does and that's what makes telling someone else difficult.

I noticed Quinn leaving with her dad and made a decision in that moment.

"Mami I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?"

"Uh Quinn is here and I just wanna say hi."

"Oh okay we'll be in the car."

I made my way over to Quinn, ignoring the flutter in my chest when I saw her wearing those glasses.

"Quinn."

She stopped and looked at me, "Uh I'll be there in a second dad."

She pulled me to the side of the building, "Everything okay?"

"Yeah I just need your help with something."

"Anything."

"I think I should break up with Brittany before telling anyone, and I...I want you to be there in case she..."

She nodded, "I get it and of course I'll be there. Whatever you need."

"Thank you Quinn."

"No problem. I'm proud of you Santana." She took off her glasses, "This is a really big step, you're tougher than you think."

I looked down to cover the smile creeping onto my face, "Yeah, thanks." I looked up at her to see her with a small smile, "So um tomorrow?"

"Yeah. I'll give you a lift if you want."

"That would be nice." I moved some hair out of my face, "I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Yeah, I hope your eye gets better."

"Thanks." I looked at her once more before going back to the car.

"Hey, Quinn we'll be right back!"

"What?!"

"I said we'll be right back, I think Brittany drunk too much!"

"Oh okay I'll save the seats!"

"Okay!" Santana shouted over the loud concert.

She held Brittany's hand as they made their way out of the crowded place and towards the restrooms.

"Okay let's get you cleaned up."

"Mm San I love you." A drunk Brittany confessed as she leaned on the other girl.

Santana looked at her, "And you're drunk."

"I may be drunk but I love you." She looked deeply into her eyes, "With all my heart."

Santana smiled, "I love you too."

"You do?"

"Of course." She said as she wet a paper towel before dabbing it on Brittany's forehead.

"How much?"

"So much."

"Enough to want to have sex?"

Santana stopped her movements, "Well uh..." She threw away the paper towel. "I don't know."

"You said you loved me though."

"I do Brittany but-"

"So why can't we? It's been a year."

"Brittany can we not talk about this right now?" Santana said and shifted uncomfortably.

"You never want to talk about it. I've been treating you so well, I mean I take you out, I buy you gifts, it's like what am I even trying for anymore?"

Santana looked hurt, "I never asked you to do all those things and if that's the reasons you do them then-"

"No San no I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that, I do those things because I love you. It's just getting annoying that we haven't done anything besides make out."

"Well I told you already I'm not ready, you promised to respect my wishes."

"Yeah because I didn't think it would take this fucking long." Brittany groaned, "It's just sex, what are you afraid of?"

"It's not just sex to me, Brittany." Santana said wrapping her arms around herself, "I don't like you like this, I think I'm going to leave." She said before turning to leave however it was stopped as Brittany grabbed her pretty roughly to her.

"Don't."

"Brittany let me go." She struggled.

"Come on, let me show you that I can take care of you." She said low and grabbed her girlfriends wrists.

"Brittany, stop." Santana begged in a strained voice.

She backed the shorter girl up against the wall, "Just relax."

"Brittany-" She felt tears spring in her eyes, "Stop please."

Brittany only held her wrist tighter, "Come on baby, let's do it now, I'll make you feel good."

"No Brittany I don't want to please stop, you're scaring me."

"You don't have to be scared. It's me." She pinned the girls wrists on the wall.

Santana struggled against the strong grip, "Please."

Brittany looked into her eyes before letting go and dropping her wrists, "Whatever." She said before leaving.

Santana didn't realize she was shaking till she looked at her hands, she slid down the wall and hugged her knees to her chest.

She sobbed quietly.

an: hope you enjoyed, next chapter will be up soon!